Playing Catch Up!

I haven't blogged in a while so I wil catch you up on life.  I transferred my church membership to Harris Creek Baptist Church and I love it!  I am getting so involved and I can't wait to see what God has in store for me.

Baylor is a little rascal, as you can see!  He is chewing everything and always making a mess.  I feel like a mother with a toddler - I have to spank and swat and say NO more with each day.  However, I learning to praise him for the good things that I might expect, but it helps him - I just know it.  A funny story that happened over Thanksgiving Break.  I took Baylor over to our neighbors to show them his tricks (sit, high five, lay down and roll over) and he was so distracted at being "cute" that he didn't do anything.  On the walk back over to my hours I told Laura Leigh, "I wish he would have done more of his tricks - but at least he sat down.  That at least shows that he is an athlete."  Oh. my. gosh!  I didn't realize how ridiculous that sounded until after I said it and Laura Leigh repeated me.  Haha.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Baylor loves sleeping in my bed!!!  And some mornings I can't even find him!  He is the cutest thing!  I have been leaving him in my bathroom while i am gone throughout the day because I was coming home to my nike shorts without crotches... so anyways - he was getting into the toilet paper and trash can - but after several days of being spanked.. he learned his lesson (or I hope) but so far... I haven't found any toilet paper.  But today I left him at home with Piper - in my room.  We will see how that works out!

One of my very dear friends got married on Saturday night.  She married a former baseball player and their wedding was so sweet.  Of course, I know I have said this before, I cried the whole time.  The pastor had them write about each other and hand it in before the wedding and he used it during the ceremony.  The things that Ben said about Natalie Stagg were beautiful.  The ceremony started out like this:            "Do you believe in miracles?  Ben sure does.  After passing a note to Natalie 5 years ago that said "If I have a chance at all with you, call me."  is now ending up in a marriage."   I mean seriously!  How much more romantic can you be!  The wedding was so romantic and sweet.  Natalie is a lucky and was a beautiful bride!  

There were tons of fun things at the wedding:  a really fun part was the Arkansas Razorback Themed Photo Booth!!  It was so much fun that all 3 of us girls and my mom got in there and took some pictures.  They took the pictures and put them in a book and we got to write on them for Natalie and Ben!  What a sweet idea!  

 Then over where the grooms cake was they decorated with Ben's Razorback Baseball paraphernalia and baseballs and stuff.  It was so cute!  You know my love of baseball and weddings - so put them together and it is the perfect day and perfect way to decorate a wedding. Just check out these pictures...  

I WANT MY WEDDING TO LOOK LIKE THIS!

The food in the "baseball tent" was corn dogs, ring pops, sour punch straws, cracker jack boxes, pickles, and gum balls!  I love the way they kept the theme throughout and to every single detail.  Natalie's mom is a reader of mine and she just did a lovely job of imagining and creating all of the ideas for this wedding reception!

 

This is the groom's cake.... HOW AMAZING IS THIS!  I think it is just a wonderful way to show off the love of baseball and a beautiful wedding. I even love the way that they set the cake up on vases of baseballs and grass.  How unique!!  OH MY GOODNESS!  can you tell?

Over thanksgiving - Baylor made a friend.  My dad absolutely loved baylor and they spent a good deal of time together when I went with my Turner Cousins to see Twilight.  Okay.  Let's talk about Twilight - I heard some mixed reviews.. It was amazing.  I cried through the wedding part - it was just so sweet.. I couldn't resist.

Favorite line of the movie:

"Meet you at the alter." 

"I'll be the one in white."

Yes please and thank you!

Life is so wonderful when you have someone wonderful to share it with!  I am glad I have BAYLOR :)

Be Charmed and spend your day with Bliss!

Abby Turner

Kati's Giveaway!!!

So Kati over at Kati's Get Away is doing her very first giveaway!!

Kati started blogging several years ago and just recently she inspired me to keep a blog.

She blogs about all of her mommy things.  She is always so crafty!  And I love how she always posts about her son, Ryder.  Here are some of my favorite Blog Posts about Ryder:

My Lil Man Countin' :  a video about the cute little guy!!

Ryder is Blessed :  an adorable party Kati put on for Ryder!!!  Of course:  BASEBALL THEME!

Package From Waco:  Oh my goodness I sent Ryder a Birthday gift and haha this video is soo precious!

Anyways:  Kati is giving away a SCENTSY!! WOOO  I love Scentsy's!!! I have like 5 already!  Can't wait to expand though :)

But in honor of Kati getting her wisdom teeth out - I thought I would tell you my funny story.

I got off the anesthesia and I was asking my mom for a letter so I could write the Doctor a thank you note.  And then I walked up and down the hall to find my doctor who had taken my wisdom teeth out and I kept saying

"You are a good doctor!  Thank you" And repeating that over and over again.

The funniest part though:  I started bouncing (bending at the knee) and when my mom asked me why I was walking a few steps and bouncing all of the way out of the office... I simply replied in the most matter of fact way:  "Mom, gosh, I have to make sure my knees work!!!" haha - Little did I know 2 years later I would literally be having surgery to make my knees work properly again (ACL surgery).

Do you have any funny anesthesia or wisdom teeth stories?!

Here are a couple of hilarious videos:  The first one is a little long - but this kid is hilarious!!

and then the infamous:

Let's all encourage Kati this week!!  Hopefully she had a funny experience like these two!

Go leave her a comment at Katisgetaway.blogspot.com

Or leave a funny story here!

Have a great week!

Charmed Bliss
Abby

simplicity.

I am not simplistic.  That is just not a word that describes me.  Ask any of my friends and roommates over the past 4 years - I like to have "junk" on every inch of my walls 0 I don't like empty wall space.  Last year I even attempted to be simplistic.  I only brought a few things with me... Then, I went to walmart.

Oh goodness.  That's what today's sermon was on.

Wow.

On Friday I read this blog about Compassion International.  If you don't know what that is - figure it out!  It is an organization that helps children in third world countries survive - with just $35 a month you can sponsor a child and love on them with letters and they are being fed and clothed with your money!

I have never felt comfortable talking about missions.  In fact, I am not usually the volunteer to raise my hand and say I will go to some foreign place on the globe.  But recently I have felt like this:

or this::

My heart has grown for the world outside my own.  I have this growing urge to help those less fortunate than me.

As we enter this Holiday Season I am thinking about the gifts I will buy for my immediate family, my close friends, and the things I will do for my coworkers - Yes.  They are great gestures of how much I care for them... but what happened to the importance of time - or spending quality time with them?

What happened to LOVE around the Holiday season?  We need to unclutter our lives to see what is essential.

This year I encourage you to make christmas cards, make bread, jam, butter, or sweets for those around you instead of buying material goods.

And lastly - get involved in a  mission opportunity.  The one below is what I am going to urge my family and friends to get involved in and it is called Advent Conspiracy.  This video made me cry in church this morning.  Why?  Because there is such a need for a necessity like water in this world - and I am too caught up in the tan knee boots that I want or the cute outfit on Pinterest that I need - or what about that awesome craft idea that I just found on Pinterest  - these things do not matter.  What matters is these children getting water.  Spend time with the ones you love this Holiday Season and use the money that you would have spent on gifts - to give the ultimate gift - water for a thirsty parched child in a third world country.

Advent Conspiracy does not call you to go above and beyond what you would spend this Holiday Season it calls you give the money you would have used - and spend it not on toys or presents, but spend it on a water well for a multitude of people in a third world country.

Are you going to a Christmas party in the coming month and a half?  Instead of Secret Santa, could you get everyone at the party to give that $10-$15 they would have spent on that gift to Advent Conspiracy?  Can you buy a box of cookies instead and all sit around and bake and talk to each other - better yet - could you sing christmas carols around the neighborhood or in a near by nursing home or children's shelter?

Don't "budget' for this - DIVERT the money you would spend.  Get your family together.  Instead of stocking stuffers this year spend that $30 on Advent Conspiracy!  Instead of that tie you were going to buy for your dad - print a .13 cent picture off at Walgreens and write him a note on the back of it - and spend the rest of that $24.87 on Advent Conspiracy.

Together we can start a movement.  Together we can build a well!

TOGETHER WE CAN SHOW WHAT THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IS.

Philippians 4:10-13

"I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. 

the little things in life

I haven't been busy lately... I really haven't been doing anything productive at all and I obviously haven't been on my blog in a week or so.  But I have been working on intentional relationships in my life here in Waco.  Which I know that if you have been following my blog, you know that intentional relationships are much needed in my life right now.  Well I just got back from lunch with my GA office mate Ashley - and boy oh boy do we have so much in common!!  It was really fun and we have decided to start hanging out more often and are going to hang out Friday and Sunday this weekend :)  That makes my heart happy because I know that because of my faithfulness to trust God during this season in my life He is in turn being faithful with me.  

The Lord is a GREAT GOD!

In church on Sunday, we sang a song written by Sara Groves, these are some of the lyrics:

Lord I have a heavy burden *its* all I've seen and know
But your word is like a fire
and I cannot let it go

And when I'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I see Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them 

I could be finished with blog right now... and it would be worth it!  I could not have said it better.  When I am weary and overwrought and I think that my life is sooo hard.... Just think of all of the people that have had harder times that you - think of Paul and Silas and how they were praising God from jail!  WOW.  Is that how I act?  Is that how I am on a constant basis - do I praise God when times get hard?

Be charmed today!

NOW FOR THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE!!

Having guests at your house for Thanksgiving?  How about these cute pumpkin candles for place holders? 

And what about Christmas decorations for your house?!?!  I LOVE THIS ONE!  oh holy night with big funky stars!  so cute and I love the garland.  I just wish I had a fireplace at my house to decorate like this!

My little girl (appropriately named Turner) will be wearing this at some point during her like.  How cute is this little snowman! haha

This idea to the right is from Joy's Hope.  I am thinking about doing something similar for my coworkers for Thanksgiving!  

We will see what happens - but I just think this is sooo cute!!!

 CRAFTY WEEKEND AHEAD::

So Ashley and I are having a crafty weekend and these are some of the things I am going to make:

Cute makeup bag, different types of canvases for my house!, and these very cute different types of bracelets and some cute headbands!!! WOOO! I am zoo excited!

i got this wreath for my front door for homecoming last weekend!  Isn't it cute!  I hoping that I can make a christmas one similar to it!  :)

For homecoming last week Chris August came and did an outdoor concert!  It was freezing and I took Baylor.  He was a huge hit and all of the little kids loved playing with him.  But by the end of the night he was tuckered out and snuggled up in my north face and feel asleep!  It was precious!  Baylor has also started sleeping in my laundry basket!  HE LOVES IT.  The other morning I was letting him go to the bathroom and all of the sudden I lost him.  Frantically I searched for him outside - guess what... that little stinker had slipped upstairs and I found him in the laundry basket... I love this little guy!
                 If you have not heard of the neat graphic design from this company - GO TO THE LINK!!!  It is amazing!  I love it so far as you can see I have been doodling all over it and I love making notes on my schedule!  Go over to ERIN CONDREN and look around her store!  I also got some cute address labels!  They are so creative and I love their colors!!!

I am going to the DAVE BARNES concert on Friday night:  So I will leave you with a music video :)

 




Have a great day!


 

Number One.

I am thinking this will be the first of many....

Thought you might enjoy this at 8 am - if you blog read in the morning at work!

I just want to let you know - I am not a morning person, but this morning was registration for our athletes and so that means work started at 5:30 am to get all of our athletes registered before the normal population registers at 8 am. 

I am so lucky to have such a WONDERFUL job!  With great people. 

Actually - I kind of liked the early morning...  it gets 2 hours out of the way FAST

and

I turned on my worship music this morning and had a great sesh with my Lord!!

Okay... now for the best part: 

Please enjoy this as much as I did. :)

My Life After the WORLD SERIES

As you know I am a huge Cardinals fan.  So of course I went t o the World Series game on Thursday and Friday.  I actually saw the best game ever played by an major league baseball team, Game 6.  It was intense.  It was emotional.  But most of all it was so much fun!  

I went to a Cardinals game back in July - when they played the Cubs - yes I blogged about it.  Check that out here. Don't judge I was in a relationship then, however, I am not bitter against that but honestly know that Taylor was in my life for a reason and I am better because of it - I also know that those were great memories.  

Back to the game!  I left after my test on Thursday morning and headed to Dallas Love Field and flew to St. Louis where Mr. Doug, dad's friend, was waiting to pick me up.  We drove to his office where his son, Thor, Thor's wife Katie, and Thor's sister Lia were all waiting gear on to go to the game!!! woo!!

I didn't quite know how this was going to work out - you know me not knowing them and everything - but it was soo much fun!    They were hilarious and very into the Cardinals and the game.  

In the top of the 7th when the Cardinals gave up not one home run, but 2 - Lia, Katie, and I were standing in line for the bathroom and were seriously contemplating leaving the game.  That is when Thor came up and said we are at the WORLD SERIES - we are NOT leaving! 

So we stayed.  And boy - are we glad we did.  All night I had been yelling FREEESSSSEEEYYYY BBBBAAAABBBYYYY and everyone around me was like you are crazy!  Freese has struck out twice and grounded out once and you are still yelling for him.  The game is over - there is a full count and one pitch left.  BUT I STILL BELIEVED - as did every other Cardinals fan I'm guessing...

And what happened next was epic.

Freese hit the wall.

Not only did he hit the wall...

Cruz didn't catch the ball.

We tied and went into extra innings...

Thats right - I was there.  It was epic!  It was so fun!!!  And I was so proud of the little red birds! I almost started crying!

The paper from Friday Morning!! WOOOOOO - Go FREESSEEEEYYY BBAAABBYYYY

So of course - I stayed in St. Louis on Friday for the game and went with Mr. Doug, his son Clayton, and his nephew, Andrew.  It was so much fun and I had a freaking blast!  Freese of course won MVP and I will post more pictures later of this epic game and my experience, but I haven't uploaded my pictures yet.  So just be patient with me!!

We won the game!!  We won the WORLD SERIES AND I WAS THERE!!!!

Favorite quote of the game came from my boss 

Bart:    "Hey, isn't your dad a defense attorney? Maybe he can call La Russa and help the Cards out"(top of the 6th when we let 2 HR get past us)

Me: "Hey!  Dad got ahold of La Russa in the 8th!  Thanks for the advice!"

(after we won Game 6)

My boys!  They won - they did it big!  And I am so proud.  Shoot. I don't even know these guys - but I am still soo proud!!

And of course along with every other girl in the united states that understands or appreciates baseball - they are in love with David Freese.  However, I was in love first.  I ONLY say that because I got a special made world series 2011 jersey with Freese's name on the back of it on Thursday afternoon - BEFORE he hit that epic 2 home run to win Game 6.

be blessed.  I sure know I am.  And I know these guys are too!!

I know this whole blog post was about Baseball... but what is better than Baseball?

God's Infinite Worth!  

His unfailing love and his continuing faithfulness to us and our journey!

So what has been going on in my life lately?

Let me tell you:

I started going to church at Harris Creek Baptist Church a couple of month's back and I am so thrilled about getting involved there!  I started emailing back and forth with Pastor Brady and told him look... I am ready to get involved.  I would love to be on the worship team - but everybody loves that.  Everybody loves singing in front of people... so I told him let me help out behind the scenes.  I just want to serve.  So he put me to work!!  I am starting in the baby room, which might be a bad decision ( I might get baby fever) (no worries... I am still super single!! haha)  I am just kidding I can't wait.  On Sunday morning I will be working from 8:45 - 10:30 with the babies and I could not be happier!  I am also meeting with Galan, one of their minister's about starting a college aged life group for some overflow girls get this:  AT MY HOUSE!!  I can not wait to see what God has in store for my life in the next several months.

I say that God's power is so mighty, but so many times I get discouraged and down because things aren't working out NOW!  well guess what,  4 months into the semester - I still haven't found that close group of friends - but I did go to a friend's house on Monday night and had a blast!  I also am getting super involved in church - and know that it is just a matter of time before God places some unique people in my life.  

God is amazing!  So I leave you with the Rush of Fools song:  When our Hearts Sing!

You are infinite worth

                                            When we've not the words

Our hearts will sing

We are here on the earth

And somehow we 're heard

When our hearts sing to You

You are more than what we can sing

                                       You are God and nothing we bring

Is fit for a King

So, search us and know deep in our souls

We praise You

These words are so true!  And they should be evident in our lives everyday!  I get so happy just thinking about how great God is!  WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

It's a Charmed Bliss Kind of day!

Abby