Memorial Day Weekend

So honestly, this weekend was fabulous! I lounged around all day Saturday, which was a first in many Saturday's I was able to do this. Chad and I went out and bought us a grill later on that evening! I am so excited about this! Such a little thing to so many people but this is so huge to me! It's a Charmglow all stainless steel grill! It came in the box so we had to assemble it, that was a feat all in itself. Chad only got frustrated with me a couple of times. Apparently I'm not very good at reading directions.... smile. But it is all put together and ready to be used! Didn't we do a great job?

So on the the fabulousness of the weekend! We were invited to go hang out on Smith Lake with an amazing couple that we have become fast friends with here in Oxford, Kristen and Matt. Kristen's parents have a place on the water and we went and played all day Sunday and Monday! It was just great. It was great to hang out and feel a part of a family. It's so difficult to be away from both of our families. It was nice to feel family interaction again. I attempted to get up on the skis but to no avail. I tried at least! I'm determined to learn this summer though! Chad was amazing! He is so talented out on the water! I couldn't do anything he was doing! But I guess that's why I married him, he makes up for the areas I'm lacking in! ;-) We are so thankful for people that have opened their arms to us and enveloped us in love here. We appreciate it more than they will ever know!

We headed back yesterday in the late afternoon anxious to see our sweet baby kitties and watch Miss Universe! My friend Rachel Smith is the amazing woman who won the crown of Miss USA in March. She placed 4th runner up at Miss Universe last night! I'm so extremely proud of her! She's full of poise and grace! We need a good role model like her in the "crown" spotlight to be an example of what young girls should strive to be more like. She's an amazing Christian and sweet as pie. A true asset to the crown.

So all in all, I just wanted to give a short update on what our weekend was like. It was much needed for Chad and I to have fun, let loose and not worry about a schedule. We've both been so busy with work and traveling that I feel as if we have had no time to just breathe. It was nice to play and have fun in the sun.

This weekend, however, will be the highlight of my week. My parents and dear brother are coming in town Friday for my birthday weekend! My birthday is this Sunday, June 3rd. Saturday, I wanted to grill out steaks and have baked potatoes for my birthday (so really, that's why we got the grill). Sunday we're all going to church and then headed out to a nice brunch. I'm just so excited for them to get here! My brother has never been to our new town or house and my parents haven't been back since we moved in the beginning of January! So I know they're anxious to see what the house looks like almost 5 months later and to see their sweet grandkitties! Smile. So this will be a great weekend as well! Life is picking up pace and getting interesting so I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for Chad and I as we continue to figure out what this marriage thing is all about! ;-)

I wish you all a wonderful rest of the month of May and I hope you all had a fun and safe Memorial Day. Remember to keep our troops (past and present) in your prayers. We love you all and I'm sure we'll have updates and pictures of my birthday weekend next week for you all to see! Be sure and check in and leave us a note!

Below are pictures from the weekend at the lake:

Chad skiing!

Chad about to teach me to ski!

Me trying to get up on the skis!

Kristen and I about to play on the wave runner!

Chad and I on the pontoon!

Kristen and I on the ski boat!

Chad and I headed out to play on the wave runner!

We're almost home!

The second we got home the kitties wanted to explore the outside!

Ollie was so glad to have his daddy home!

Nattie was happy to see mommy!

"Let's Settle It Once and For All..."

...there are no shortcuts to reality! A meteor is on a
shortcut as it proceeds to burn out, but not a star,
with its steady light so often depended upon by
navigators. Unless the time factor is acknowledged
from the heart, there is always danger of turning
to the false enticement of a shortcut via the means
of "experiences," and "blessings," where one becomes
pathetically enmeshed in the vortex of ever-changing "feelings,"
adrift from the moorings of scriptural facts.
-Miles J. Stanford
THE GREEN LETTERS: PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

I wanted to piggy-back onto Lauren's last post, first off, with some understanding. As you've probably noticed or read...there have been trials to face. These are not trials because of the town or people in which we're surrounded. They are trials of patience. Something Lauren and I (probably most of you) deal with is the expectation of seeing/experiencing something here and now. We often look to others' situations that may seem ideal and immediately think that we should experience the same thing. Well...here are some things that God has settled within His Word and my heart.

God has called us to utter neediness of Him realizing that there is no strength within ourselves to alter or change the timing of His plan (Isaiah 40:13-14, 25-28). He tells me to seek first His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33); His promises never have or never will fail. However, He has an eternity to fulfill His promises (Philippians 1:6). Really...the list could and probably should go on and on.

Recognizing these basics are absolutely essential for any Christ Follower! Do I remember these truths in my flesh, my crowded/needy for logic head everyday? Unfortunately no. I do know truths in my heart; however, that's where faith trumps probabilities. Thank you, Lord, for "leaving Your spirit until your work on earth is done"!

So...in conclusion...I'm reminded, once again, of an unfailing, immutable (unchanging), sovereign Savior who never told me that any of this life was about me. Thank You for Your control, God, and thank You for not leaving this life up to me.

Varying Emotions

So this past weekend I headed up to Memphis to surprise my mom. My dad and I had been collaborating on this for 6 weeks now. I would leave work early, drive to Memphis and surprise my mom at the Crescent Club. All went as planned and she was shocked and excited to see me. I think she had to do a double take. It was classic. And of course, I loved it. I love being so sneaky sometimes.

Saturday I visited my "girls night group". When I lived in Memphis there were a group of 8 of us girls that would get together every Wednesday night without fail. So I woke up at 7 am to visit with them all morning. I then ended up meeting up with mom and we went and ate lunch with my best friend Catherine and we all headed to the Collierville Mall to do some shopping. Now I had not come to Memphis with the intention of shopping in the least. Well, those plans quickly flew out the window. I ended up hitting all the sales and we shopped for 5 hours! I didn't come home empty handed to my husband though. He got two shorts and two polos out of the deal. (I'm such a sweet wife!)

Sunday morning I looked forward to the most. I couldn't wait to go to Living Hope for church. I knew so many of these people from the old Germantown Baptist and it just felt like home. Bill Christian delivered the message and spoke on being an "investment partner". He talked about how we need to be able to come to a church where we aren't afraid to show our flaws because we know we'll still be loved. He made the point that we all need someone in our life that we can call and say "I NEED HELP" and have them listen. He just went on and on about how we need to be that to someone else and have someone like that in our own lives. That hit home for me. The last few months I have really been struggling with our move to a new town and church. I felt stolen from in a way. At the end of our time in Memphis Chad and I were really developing some awesome relationships with people and investing in eachother. I had my girls night out group and Chad had his accountability partner and staff from Germantown to lean on. I thought to myself (and said it out loud to Chad frequently) that if the Lord is blessing us with all of these amazing people and relationships then why would he want to uproot us from all of that?! I was angry. We moved January 12th to Oxford and since then I have felt an emptiness of relationships everyday. Going back to Memphis really gets all those angry and bitter emotions stirring. I honestly feel as if I can't help it! Yes, selfishly, I desire so badly to be back in Memphis where I'm comfortable! But I'm to the point where I'm crying out, "I NEED HELP". I'll be honest, I have had the roughest 4 months of my life lately. Don't get me wrong, Chad has been great. He's been supportive and sympathetic towards my feelings. I just have a hard time with being away from Memphis and everyone in it. So anyway, back to Sunday. As I drove down the road after leaving my parents house I just started bawling my eyes out. I couldn't control myself. I just felt so sick. So I made an "I NEED HELP" call. I called my "investment partner" and just cried like a baby. I continuously kept saying "I can't leave, I can't go back, I just can't do it". When I leave a city and head back to where my house and husband are, I want to feel as if I'm going "home". I didn't feel that way. I felt as if I was leaving "home". And I didn't like it. I cried, ranted, cried, sniffled, talked and laughed a little. My "investment partner" encouraged me but yet let me cry and rant and cry some more with it all ending up in laughter. I wasn't afraid to cry out for help. I vowed to myself that I wouldn't be afraid to cry out anymore. I will not be ashamed of my flaws and what I've been through. The LORD is with me and dwells in me. That's all I need to know. I just want to truly find where He is wanting me in life and just be a servant. Now, I'm not writing this so people will feel sorry for me. I'm writing this to let people know that it's ok to cry out for help! Please know that the Lord is continuously teaching. He never stops. I'm continuously learning. I'm almost 22 years old and definitely know that I will never know it all. All the time I want to know God's purpose in a situation. But it's not my decision whether he reveals it when I want or not. The Lord calls us to be still and wait. To pick up our cross and follow Him, everyday, whether we feel like it or not. That is what I'm going to do, everyday for the rest of my life. Please be encouraged that there is an "investment partner" out there for you. Seek them, vent to them, encourage them and most of all, accept and love them.

Thank you all for praying for Chad and I through this difficult time. We are learning constantly. We are so blessed to have each of you in our lives. God is so good!

Well...I guess it's my turn...

I've really been looking forward to joining the great blogosphere, so what better way to join... with my partner in crime, my wife. I say welcome to all of our viewers as friends and friends-to-be! So...how do you really start off your very first blog entry? My prayer is that this will not only be used as a way to just keep in touch...but a way to share the savoring of a Great God from a couple who loves each other more than anything second to Christ the Savior. Bear with us as we get things rolling on a regular basis.

~Introducing Lauren~

Hey everyone! I'm Lauren Watson, married to Chad obviously! Chad and I have been married 10 months now and I'm still loving it! (Now who knows if he'll have the same answer... smile) There is no way I could've gone through these last 2 1/2 years without him by my side. He is an amazing rock of support and mature beyond his years. (Well most days at least... smile) I am so blessed to be married to a God fearing and encouraging man. I cannot imagine my life without him. I am currently working as a designer and manager of Webb Home here in Oxford, Alabama. I really do love my job. It's been a tremendous blessing in my life.

I have a huge heart for missions, specifically missions in South Africa. I have traveled there twice now and can't wait to go back! I competed in beauty pageants for about 6 years and now help backstage and coaching girls as much as I can. I believe they helped me mature into the person I am today. I have an amazing family who I love and miss dearly and would do absolutely anything for them. I also have some of the most fabulous friends a girl could ask for in life. They have been there for me when I thought everyone else wasn't. I am so thankful.

I, personally, wanted to start blogging to have sort of an outlet as such. Now that we live in Alabama away from most of our family and friends this will be a great way for everyone to keep up with our craziness and to also hear from other people! I'll try to post on a regular basis to keep everyone on the up and up. Please feel free to sign and let us know you're out there reading! We love you all. May the Lord bless you and keep you.