Thankful

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Last night at church, we had a ladies' ministry dinner and dessert. The speaker, Macy Maddox, talked about being thankful in and for everything in our lives. This verse is one of many she used to point us to the need for thankfulness at all times. Beth Moore describes the opposite of this verse in her book, "Discover the Victory of Total Surrender." She describes this as a "no-fail prescription for anxiety." --

"Do not be calm about anything, but in everything, by dwelling on it constantly and feeling picked on by God, with thoughts like 'and this is the thanks I get,' present your aggravations to everyone you know but Him. And the acid in your stomach, which transcends all milk products, will cause you an ulcer, and the doctor bills will cause you a heart attack and you will lose your mind." -Beth Moore

I don't know about you... but that is definitely NOT how I want to live my life. Being thankful is the secret to having peace with God. Macy described going through each activity of our day simply saying thanks to God. I tried to focus more on this today as I woke up, spent time with a friend, washed dishes, made some dessert, washed clothes, folded clothes, washed dishes again, and spent time with family. I have to say, I feel more refreshed today. The challenge will be tomorrow when I have to get up super early and work all day... my thankfulness seems to lessen when I become more busy. I am praying the Lord will change my attitude and give me a true heart of thanksgiving.

One thing I have been thinking about so much over the past week is how thankful I am for my family. Last Sunday, Brother Al spoke on family as a counter-cultural witness. Growing up, I never thought of my family as very counter-cultural, but in the past few years, I have realized how blessed I am to have such Godly parents who have stayed faithful to each other and have fostered a spiritual environment in our home. Here are the basic points from the sermon:

1. Marriage is a God-ordained, life-long union of a man and a woman (Mark 10:2-9)

2. Children are a gift from God to be embraced with gladness (Psalm 127:3-5)

3. Fathers are responsible under God for the spiritual welfare of their children (Eph. 6:4)

4. Mothers are responsible under God to create a home environment where their children can flourish (Titus 2:3-5)

The Lord has given me such a strong desire to be a mother. I am so blessed to work with new mothers each day and help bring new life and blessings into this world. I am so excited for the day the Lord gives Blake and I the biggest blessing of all in a child. (Don't go telling people we are having kids... I'm just talking about the future. Haha!)

Titus 2:3-5 says: "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

Brother Al talked about how many women these days are working outside the home. I understand that this is necessary for some women and their families, but the Lord tells us so clearly here that we, as women, are to be homemakers. I don't think there is anything wrong with working, but I just challenge you to ask yourself what your motivation is. The glory of God should be our main focus in every decision that we make. I have not arrived at the perfect life, by any means. I just wanted to share with y'all what the Lord has taught me and my convictions about family. I hope I haven't rambled too much. Thanks for reading, and I pray something I said will challenge or encourage you today.

Family

This past weekend was the Auburn vs. Clemson game in Auburn. Some of my family was able to come up for the game, and we had such a great time! The game was a nail-biter for sure... we went into overtime and finally won. We got pretty lucky if you ask me! So here are a few pictures from the weekend...

Sorry I haven't been blogging recently. Work has been very busy recently. On my days off, I'm consumed with laundry, dishes, and all my other wifely duties! =) I will be working on night shift in just 3 short weeks! Eeek!! I'm a little nervous, but also very excited about the people I will be working with on night shift. So... I'll have to let y'all know how it goes!

Another thing I have been busy with recently is trying new things with my sewing machine. Here are a few pictures of things I have done for my soon-to-be-born niece Tatum!!

My other project has been working on an Auburn flag! I have to say... it was a challenge but ended as a huge success!! =)

So as you can see... it started out with one piece of plain orange fabric and one piece of plain blue fabric. After lots of pinning, seams, and cutting... it came together!! War Eagle!!

Cruisin' to Mexico!

 I will begin this post with a warning... you are about to see LOTS of pictures. They may cause you to want to be on vacation... so please continue with caution:

Blake's excited about finally being on the cruise ship!!

 

The atrium... it was incredible!

Pool and waterslide... we actually never even got in this pool. haha!

Within a few hours of being on the cruise, we made some new friends and won a "ship on a stick"!! For those who have been on a Carnival cruise, you know how big of a deal this is...

At our first show!

Playing mini-golf with some incredible wind!!

On the top deck of the ship

Our hilarious waiter is the one with the jacket who is posing there for me! haha! His assistant is the one on the left. They were so much fun!

Dressed up for the Captain's Dinner

This is a long story... but the short version is that these break dancers had a show. We innocently went to WATCH, when I was chosen as a "volunteer" to dance in front of everyone. I was a bit embarrassed, but it is a good story to tell now! haha!

In Cozumel!! We went on a sailboat out to a coral reef where we went snorkeling in the morning... it was sooo amazing!

Then we went to the beach!

On the sailboat making our way back to the pier

When we were back on land... we rented this moped and drove around the island awhile!

Eating lunch at Margaritaville!

On the moped in Mexico!

We finished our last night on the ship by singing "Hey Ya" at karaoke! It was a memorable experience for us and for those listening. haha!

So obviously... we had a really great time on the cruise! It was my first cruise, and I LOVED it! We are already planning another family cruise next May! I can't wait!! =) I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about going on one! Hope y'all enjoyed the pictures!

A New Beginning

I am about 2 weeks late in writing this post, but whatever happened to the phrase- "Better late than never." So forgive me that it has taken so long, but here is the update on our apartment. We moved in 2 weeks ago, and have been loving every minute since then! The Lord truly has blessed us with a wonderful new home. I just wanted to share some pictures with y'all... so come along for the tour. This is our new beginning.

Welcome to the Thaxton home! 

The wreath was actually used on the outside doors at the church last year at our wedding.

From the front door to the left is the dining area. (Those are my beautiful anniversary flowers from Blake! They were such a wonderful surprise!)

From the front door to the right is the living room

 Our AMAZING kitchen! So in love with our countertops and all of our new appliances!

Such a great pantry!

 It's the little things that matter... like having an ice maker =)

 Guest bathroom between the kitchen and guest bedroom. (I left out a picture of the guest bedroom for now. It is still a work in progress...)

Off of the living room... we have a "sunroom"

 The sunroom will soon be home to my sewing machine! =) Also, the wicker is a paint job in progress... it won't be all different colors like that for long.

 The "bar"/decorative area/storage between the living room and master bedroom

 The laundry room across from the bar. This is a HUGE upgrade from the "laundry hall" we had before.

 The master bedroom

 Other half of the master bedroom

Master bathroom

Well that ends our tour!! I hope you enjoyed. Let me know what you think!

Love Never Fails

Today is a big day for me and Blake... it's our 1 year anniversary!! I cannot believe it has already been 1 year! Time really does fly. We have had so many wonderful memories over the past year. I can't even begin to describe all we have been through over the past 365 days. The Lord has taught me so much about love... true love. So in honor of our anniversary, I am just going to share a few verses of Scripture about love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 13:34-35

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

P.S. We are all moved in to our apartment. I will post a blog later this week with pictures!! Get excited!!

The future...

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ...  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.   -Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34

The Lord reminded me of this verse today. I am so so encouraged by the Lord's promises to his children!! First, let me catch everyone up on "The Thaxton Life"...

I started my job as a labor and delivery nurse June 1 in Montgomery. It has been such an incredible experience so far. I have a ton to learn but am so so grateful for the preceptor I have. She is wonderful, and I am really looking forward to learning all I can from her over the next few months. I am working about 3 days a week right now and will move to night shift around October. Also, I am taking the NCLEX (state boards to get my nursing license) tomorrow!!! I am trying not to be anxious or nervous about it. I will keep you up to date about those results... I should know by this weekend.

The other big news around our home is that Blake is going back to graduate school starting this fall!! Yes... that's only about a month away. He just started thinking about this idea about a week ago, and he is actually up at the school right now starting his research! When it's the Lord's timing... it's amazing how things just fall into place. It is truly a huge testimony to the Lord's provision for all our needs. The plan right now is for Blake to get his masters in science, which should take a year (August-August). He will be taking class and helping a professor with research. His research is something to do with organic fertilizer... that's all I understand about it right now. haha! I'm sure I'll be hearing lots about it and can explain it more in the future. Blake and I are both really excited about this new open door and wonderful opportunity for him! 

One other piece of news... we are moving into our new apartment in a month from TODAY!!!! =) I cannot even begin to tell you how thrilled we are about this! I will leave you with a few pictures of our new place...

Please keep both of us in your prayers as we transition into this new chapter in our life together.

Dining area to the left when you walk in

Kitchen!!! One of my favorite parts...

Pantry!

Living room... to the right when you walk in

The "sun room"... random room off the living room

The "bar"-- We'll have to get creative decorating this area

The master bedroom

The master bathroom

Finally... my first walk-in closet!! =)

Guest bedroom

Guest bathroom

That's all for now... I'll get to post pictures in a month with our things all moved in!! =)