9 on the 9th

I guess I'll keep this going...thanks Alana!

Life has been happening quite quickly for me over the past few weeks and I've LOVED every minute of it! Here are 9 happenings!

1. I got a job for the month of July!! WAHOO! I don't start my nanny job until August 1, so I found a job to hold me over until then at an upscale salon, Jerry Heston's Hairstyling, as a receptionist.

2. Picked my boy up at the airport and spent an entire week with him! He spoiled me so much!



3. My old roomie came in town and I cooked an amazing enchilada supper for her and some other friends (a great recipe by this wonderful person!!!), baked a delicious chocolate meringue pie, and we had a fun game night playing Apples to Apples!!



4. Heard the words "I love you" by the most wonderful person ever, Joshua Christian Whitlock....and I love it more and more everytime I hear it!

5. Here's a crazy one....WENT RING BROWSING! AH! Josh and I were at the mall and he pulled me into a ring store so he could know what I like...the rest is up to him.

6. Went to a concert and firework show the night before the 4th of July with some friends!



7. Spent the 4th of July on a Firework Cruise on the Ohio River and saw a great firework show!



8. Had another friend, Tom, come in town over the holiday and we all went to Six Flags!



9. Started the receptionist job and have been doctoring my feet since....I'm on them all day long...no sitting allowed...no time to sit really....a very busy and demanding job. But I love it!

My Dad: Hero, Mentor, Best Friend

My dad is THE greatest dad in the world. I often refer to him as Mr. Mom. Growing up, my dad took the “morning shift” and mom took the “night shift” (as my mother refers to it now and then). Dad would wake my sisters and I up to get ready for school, get our breakfast ready, and my favorite, CURL OUR HAIR! Only a few burns in the beginning, but in a matter of time he was a pro!! There are so many more things I could tell you about my dad, but the one thing that sticks out to me the most is what a spiritual leader he has become.

You see, my dad grew up in a Catholic household, later gave his life over to Christ, but never had that example of a spiritual leader. I feel so blessed to be in a home where I could see my dad grow into the spiritual leader he is now. Throughout jr. high and high school I saw my dad attend men’s Bible studies, become an active leader in our church, lead our family to seek God everyday and trust him in the hard times, aid in leading his parents to Christ (HUGE BLESSING), and teach us girls what it means to have a growing relationship with the Lord.

The most visible change I’ve seen in my dad over the years has been the change after going on mission trips. Remember my dad grew up Catholic and never had the chance to do anything like a mission trip, but watched us girls go on mission trip with our youth group and could see a change in us and desired that as well. Three years ago my dad was blessed with the opportunity to lead a group of people from our church on a mission trip to Africa. I remember how his entire attitude and outlook on life changed after that. Looking through pictures, shedding tears, and sharing his stories was a moment in life I will never forget. My dad was totally and completely sold out to Christ! He had been in the past, but it was SO evident to me then. The next year, he led another group of people from our church to Brazil, and was blessed to return there again this year. Last week my dad and others from our church met up with people from California, Alabama, and Florida to help build another church in Limoeiro do Norte, Brazil. They built a church in record time, finishing up about a half a day early! Thus, they were able to spend lots of time in the community telling people about Christ, handing out soccer balls, playing with the kids, and enjoying fellowship with one another. If you would like to read more about this trip, visit their blog!

Here are a few pictures from their trip.





I can’t tell you how proud of my dad I am. I boast about how wonderful of a man he is and how blessed I am to see him grow in the Lord over the years! He’s an inspiration and a hero to me….he’s one of my best friends! I love you so much dad and I thank God everyday for blessing me with a dad who loves you as much as he does!