Home Sweet Hollywood!

While Little Rock is where I would refer to as Home Sweet Home, Tori is Home Sweet Home in Hollywood! Let me just tell you-I am so pumped up that my favorite show has not failed me and has premiered yet again...Thank You Oxygen! Seriously, if you have not seen this show you have to...set your DVR it is awesome! It is the most wholesome reality show out there for sure. It is all about the life of a young couple with two kids trying to balance their careers and raise a family at the same time.

Tori and I go way back and when I say way back, I am refering to the fact that Tori was pretty much present through most of my adolescent/young adult years. I was totally into 90210, I was there every Wednesday night living it with them although they were a little bit older than me at the time. I have always loved Tori who was otherwise known as Donna Martin at the time. She was the one that consistently tried to make good decisions and be a kind caring person. Yeah she was portrayed as nieve, but so were most of the rest of us at the time. Ah, doesn't this picture just take you back?

Then there are the Lifetime Movies...I don't know about you, but for me there is nothing better than a Lifetime movie on a rainy day. Of course for me this Lifetime rainy movie day has to be one that has taken Billy away with his own plans...a Lifetime movie is unfortunately just not his cup of tea. Have you ever caught Co-Ed Call Girl on Lifetime? If not, it is for sure a must see...it is a little cheezy, but a movie about how a college girl gets caught up in the money that can be made as an escort after the pressure from a girlfriend of hers. I won't ruin it for you, but as in most Lifetime movies there is a good outcome after lessons are learned.

Basically, I just can't help but like Tori because I feel like she is just like us. She is extremely down to earth and experiences the same troubles that we all do just living life day to day. My best friend Tennyson and I joke that if she only knew us, we would definately be instant friends. You will see exactly what I am talking about when you watch Home Sweet Hollywood, she is just like us and I love that about the show!

I had a great week and finished the weekend off with some much needed yard work. It was hot here this weekend, but I was so thankful because it was just two weeks ago that it would not stop raining. I cleaned out my front and side flower beds and then put some miracle grow on the bed of impatients that I planted a couple of weeks ago in the back yard. I love doing yard work because most of the time there is instant gratification after a long days work.

Church was wonderful today, we finished the last part of a new series called Life Songs. The last three weeks the sermon was kind of a forum style. There were couples selected to give their testimony and each week was different than the week before. It is always so wonderful to see how Great our God is and it is amazing to hear how He has worked in these peoples lives and helped them to overcome some major hurdles that life has thrown their way. For me, it is just a great reminder that God is always there and that all things are possible through him!

I hope that you have a Wonderful week!

Natalie

Out of Order?

For the last couple of months, Billy and I have been looking for a new church that we could embrace and get involved in as a couple. We have visited a couple of churches and I have done some background research on their respective pastors. I had heard some really great things about Pastor Alex Himaya and The Church at Battlecreek. I had listened to a couple of his sermons online and was amazed at the way that he was able to put things into perspective in terms of everyday life. I also loved that he had a presence about him that always made it interesting and fun at the same time. Each sermon that I listened to seemed to fly by and I found myself sad that it was over and I absolutely love that feeling. This was the sermon, actually the first part of a new series that the church was doing that sucked me in...

http://www.churchatbattlecreek.com/series/outoforder/outoforder.html

Follow the link to this sermon above and listen-I promise that you will not be disappointed! It is the full sermon so it is an hour long, but if it grabs your interest like it did mine the hour will just fly by. This series deals with marriage, parenting, and will teach and guide you the way that God intended these things to be. If you listen to this video, please send me a comment and let me know what you think!

Aside from the loving the series, Billy and I visited the church yesterday and I am happy to report that we loved it! There are a bunch of couples/families that are around the same age as us, but also a mix of other age groups as well. They did 42 baby dedications on Sunday and it was absolutely precious...I cannot wait to have a little one of our own and for us to be one of those parents making the commitment to teach our child everything about God and his never ending love for us! As usual, the sermon by Pastor Alex was great...It was part 4 of the series that I mentioned above. Next week, they are starting a series highlighting testimonies of 4 people in the church and their path that not only led them to the church, but also to God. I can't wait and I am so excited that we have finally found a place that we feel like home at-I am so happy that we have finally found a place that we together can call "our church!"

Natalie

Just look at these Little Gems!

I have been totally consumed by this activity this week...

The boys are playing baseball this year and I couldn't be more pumped up! I don't think that I have ever had as much fun as I do watching my sweet baby nephews play baseball. In the past I have always imagined myself having girls and dressing them up in the cutest pink frilly outfits with the biggest bows, but I want you to know that baseball has changed me.

I know that the Lord will give me what he thinks that I need, but I have always secretly hoped that was girls. I am hear to tell you now that I would be so excited to have a little boy now too! I just think that it is so fun seeming them play ball and it is so cute how they get so into it! Tyler plays first base and I know that I am partial, but I think that he might have a future in MLB. His stance on base absolutely cracks me up! Bryson has played both the outfield as well as catcher. It makes me laugh because all the kids beg to play catcher and I think it's because you get to dress up and wear what they think is a costume-so cute! They both have consistently made some big hits, Tyler even hit an in filed home run...Go Cubs!

Here are a few thoughts on this Good Friday. "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." 1 Peter 2:24

Jesus willingly was crucified after being falsely accused of crimes all so that he could pay for our sins. He did this for us, to show us His love! He was crowned with Glory. I am amazed by the love that He shows me each and every day! He is absolutely amazing!

Have a Great Easter Weekend!

Natalie

This is just the beginning...

For me, this whole "blog" thing started by visiting the blogs of some girlfriends of mine. After a few weeks, I was pretty much hooked! I found a network of blogger girls that shared the same interests as me...I was super pumped! So, I began thinking about starting my own blog and I think that this is going to be a great avenue for me to share the day to day happenings of my life.

I got engaged on Christmas Eve 2008 and I am currently planning a "WeddingMoon" to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. I need you to know that this means that I have officially launched my "super planner mode." While this degree of planning might seem stressful to others, it provides me with the utmost satisfaction. I take great comfort in the fact that I have left no stone unturned and nothing makes me more excited than when I can add some new figures to my wedding cost analysis spreadsheet-weird, I know. I can say at this point that I am almost there...We have decided on a fabulous resort DreamsPalmBeach that I am absolutely in love with and can't wait to get married there!

Well, that is it from me for now...hope that you have a great week!

Natalie