And so it begins!

Hi Friends!

Well, as Court mentioned in the last blog, I made the move to Dallas this week! What an adventure this week has been too! 6AM Monday morning, my parents and I took off from Phoenix and headed out for the 16 some hours ahead through the beautiful landscape of Southern AZ, New Mexico and of course West Texas ( note my hint of sarcasm there). Here are a few pictures from my adventures!

Smiley pancakes at the Waffle House in Tucson.

These were some of the items that could be purchased at one of the random gas stations we stopped at once in Texas. It was pretty easy to tell we had entered the Longhorn State after this :)

 Funny Shannon story!!
I made a reservation for a storage unit last week for everything I need to store while I am living with my sister here in Dallas. My furniture that I needed to store is equivalent to about a one bedroom apartment. So I get here to Dallas, go through all the paperwork at the storage facility and follow the Storage guy out with my truck load full of stuff only to find that the unit I rented is none other than the picture to the left. FOLKS! This wasn't going to cut it! In my head, I pictured at least double this size so I just started laughing. Apparently, I wasn't paying attention when I picked the size of the storage unit. Oops! Thankfully, there was another unit that was the size I had in my head and all worked out well. I'm pretty sure, I am the only person in the world who would make this mistake though, so I had to share :)

Lastly, here is a picture of the street I live on for the time being. Being a native Arizona girl, I have never ever experienced any type of fall season, so these trees are really new to me! Our God sure is creative!

Leaving Arizona was so hard in the sense that I am so fully blessed there with amazing friends and family. But knowing that this move is something God had for me made leaving that much more sweet. To know that I have life-long friendships in Arizona and yet God still has more for me somewhere else is beyond incredible! He really longs to bless us beyond anything we could ever imagine. I am excited for what is to come and so blessed for what He has already given to me. Much more to come :)

Love,
Shan

And She's Off!

This weekend was a whirlwind of activity and emotion!
After Thanksgiving with our families, Shan and I moved out of our apartment.
Saturday we had a very full day of moving and swinging (I had to go to a 3 hour swing dance practice after moving ) !
Can I just say, we have the best friends EVER!
We had so many people come and help us move, it was a breeze (maybe not for the guys...they did all the heavy stuff!).
Then Saturday night we camped out in the empty living room for one last night.
...after the fact, sleepovers aren't as fun when you are an adult and like your sleep...the hard floors did not make for a restful night's sleep!
It was definately worth it though!
We got up Sunday morning and made pancakes before heading to church.

Pancakes and sleepy heads!

     Our empty apartment. 

Shan is currently driving to Texas with her parents and a U haul with everything she owns.
It is amazing how much stuff we can accumulate over the years!
But she was able to get it all in one truck and headed off to her new adventure!

It's not that far...right?

 Here's to a crazy new adventure with God written aaaallll over it!
Shan, I am so excited to see all that God has for you in Texas! Safe Driving!

Thanksgiving

Someday I hope my home looks something like this for the holidays...

VIA Pinterest

 

Currently it looks like this:

 

That's right folks, packing is in full swing and it is so bittersweet. 

Everyday it gets more and more real...In less than a week, Shan will be in Texas!

I am so so excited for her new adventure...but it will definitely be hard!

The next few days will certainly be a blur.

We have thanksgiving, packing, and moving right around the corner!

Lot's to do!

With that said, I thought I'd get in my Thanksgiving list in a little early, (if not now...it likely won't happen :) )

 

10 Things I am Thankful for:

1.God's grace and love...without I would be nothing.

2.  Family...the older I get the more I realize how special it is to be close to my family. 

I love the relationships I have with my parents and my brothers. They mean so much to me!

3. Friends: They have become my family as well...together we walk through life's high's and lows....

 I am one blessed lady!

4. Seasons of Growth: This year has been a challenge in many ways...

but with challenge, ALWAYS comes growth, and for that I am grateful.

5. Hope: There is light at the end of the tunnel folks! always...

That's just the way God works :) 

6. Coffee: It's seen me through many a rough day!

7.  Sweaters: They just make any day a little cozier and happier!

8. Work: I am grateful to have a job, to have provision for my needs.

9.  Lip Balm: Let's face it...this stuff is Bomb! Who wants crusty lips?? 

Ew! (currently enjoying EOS in melon ;) )

10. My Brothers: I know I already said family...but I am just so thankful that I have two amazing brothers that love and protect me. 

They inspire me, and give me high standards for my someday husband. 

They are amazing!

 

 Feel free to share what you're thankful for! 

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!!

 

Just a Little Lowder

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I took some newborn pictures for some friends of mine, and I am finally getting to share them!
This little guy is a cutie! It was to be expected...with parents like his, good looks were pretty much a given.
I can't believe how good Brody did as we poked and posed and dressed and undressed him.
To our surprise, he was happiest when naked lying on the in the sun perfectly posed. :)
I had a wonderful time capturing this beautiful family on film.
Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I did!

Welcome to the world Little Lowder!

XOXO,
C

Deep in the heart of Texas

Update on Shan!

Ok folks, I have news! Big news! 

This gal is making a move. A huge move for me. This gal is moving to Dallas. That's right, Texas :)

Dallas has actually been a dream of mine for like 8 years now. My sister and her lovely family live there and I have always taken any time I can get off to visit, throughout college and into my first years of having a big girl job. I have always been drawn to something there. Maybe how nice the people are or how green it is ( especially compared to AZ). Or perhaps just because God placed it on my heart so long ago :)

Over the years, I have made several attempts to find a reason to move out there but God has never let anything pull through. Timing has been off more than once too, so after several failed attempts, I finally just let it go. After all  I have such a full life in Phoenix. My parents, church and all of my friends. Not to mention the bible study I am part of that has been a huge part of my life for the past 3 years. I mean, I am one blessed girl!

It's funny though how if you listen to God and let something go when you are supposed to, it just might come back to you again and even better than before! Timing, after-all is everything. That's how I feel about this move. I wasn't even looking for a job there, and God gave me this amazing opportunity to work for a growing church doing something I am so passionate about. It is so true that God's plans for you are always so much better than anything you can come up with yourself. If I had moved when I wanted to, I would have missed out on so much that God still had for me here in Phoenix and may not have been able to step into the opportunity I now have.

This verse sums all of this up ever so perfectly:

"Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand."

 - Proverbs 19:21

So, having said that, the countdown is on, people! In a week and a half, I will be taking a U-haul across the scenic route of west Texas headed to my new city. More updates to come on this new adventure :)

Much love,
Shan

Slow

This morning I had a moment...

The kind where you realize you are overwhelmed...

Too many emotions, too many thoughts.

Stop, Courtney...take a breath.

As I lay in bed contemplating when I would actually decide to push myself up and out,

I started to pray and reflect about why I am overwhelmed.

And I decided to change my heart, shift my attitude.

Life is busy...it will always be.

I don't want to spend time worrying and fretting about something that can't change...won't change.

So, today...I am taking a break. 

Choosing to remember that I am where I ought to be.

Even when it doesn't look like I think it should.

I am choosing to live in the Joy of my Savior.

I am choosing to believe in the life My God has for me.

In the promises He has spoken over me.

In the Love He has shown me.

I am choosing to enjoy the people around me.

To love them, to cherish them and bless them.

Today is a good day...because I choose for it to be. :)

Shirt: Forever 21    White Pants: Thrifted   Keds: Target   Sunnies: Dollar Store!   Watch Necklace: Gifted

I am listening to this beautiful song by Audrey Assad this morning.

The lyrics and melody are so sweet, so beautiful.

 I hope you listen and reflect on the words, and the truth they hold.

and I hope that you enjoy today...because you can. :)

Because God is moving and He is moving you...

even when you don't feel it. 

-C

Here are the lyrics if you want to read them :)

Mouse Ears

To be known and loved is a beautiful thing.
This weekend Shan and I went to Disneyland with a few of our friends.
We had so much fun being silly with these ladies.
There is something so amazing about being yourself with people...
knowing that they care about you, and that you care about them...
knowing that they know your faults and love you anyways...
that they know what makes you laugh...
what makes you cringe....
its wonderful to be known.


Here are a few instagram shots from the weekend...I will post a few real photos later :)

Goodbye Cali,
Until next time!
C

Sunday Funday

We love Sundays around here!

Well, we are generally pretty happy-go-lucky about most days, but especially Sundays.

Why you ask? 

We love our church. 

We both agree that we have never seen a church with so much compassion for people.

It doesn't matter what walk of life, what mistakes, what situations a person has been through. 

We are so grateful for Pastors and a congregation that embrace people in their fallen state, picking them back up to start again in the newness of Christ. 

After all, isn't that Christ does? 

Romans 3:23-24 says:

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus"

What a beautiful promise we live in daily. 

That despite our fallen state, we are justified freely in Christ's redemptive grace.

Another reason we love Sundays is that we get to spend quality time with our dear friends. 

Last week we went to a new place in town called McCallister's. 

A lovely salad and sandwhich shop.

We spent entirely too much time chit chattin' it up about the current dating scene, and why there are so few couples around us.

It was thoroughly entertaining, and we enjoyed every moment....and we are still single. :)

Court Wore:

Cream Dress: Papaya     Blue Top: Thrifted

Earrings: NEW YORK BABY :) Shan brought them back for me :) She's the best!!

Shan Wore:

Stripe Topped: Buffalo Exchange (Ralph Lauren $5)     Skirt: Thrifted (Banana)     Shoes: Last Chance (Steve Madden)

That's all folks,

Shan and Court

Garden 24

There is a park near where I work that has become one of my happy places lately.
I frequently take my lunch break under the beautiful trees and watch the ducks on the lake.
It is just so peaceful and restful.
I can't tell you how many times God has met me there to share in my day.
It has been special to me over the past year.
So, this year I decided I wanted to have a lovely party in the park with my some of my dearest friends for my Birthday.
It was perfectly lovely.
We played croquet, then sat on quilts as the sun set while eating some fabulous food.
As I sat listening to the different conversations and laughter that were going on around me,
I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed and blessed by the people God has placed in my life.
Each friend there, and many others that were not, have touched my life in such a special way.
It was the perfect beginning to a new year of life.
Thank you to everyone that has made this past year special, and who will be there for me this new year.
You are special and I love you.

Happy end to another week,

C