2 are better than 1

My 1st Marathon

2011-05-02T15:04:00.000-04:00

Wooo! Back in February I completed my 1st marathon! It was the 14th annual Myrtle Beach Marathon and I had the privilege of running with my Dad. If you've read my blog for any length of time, you would know that running and I have had a pretty deep history. There have been good times and there have been brutal times, but February 19th was a pretty good time for us.

We headed down to the beach on Friday with some of our best friends and Leah in tow. The pre-race jitters were approaching as we got closer and closer. We headed straight for the expo so I could pick up my race packet...then we headed to our hotel. I had to get up pretty early the next day...race time was at 6:30am so we ate dinner and then it was time for bed. I woke up the next day pretty pumped. My adrenaline was high and I was ready to go! Adam and I met my Dad and Suzanne at the start where we got warmed up.

Adam and I before the start.

Juicin' up :)

I'm probably thinking, "are you sure about this...?"

Last hug before the gun.

The gun went off at precisely 6:30am for the runners to start. The first couple of miles were great. The info I'm about to share with you might be TMI for some of you, so if you don't want to hear it, skip to the next paragraph. There were portajons starting at mile 1 and let me tell you the lines were longer than you could imagine. If you wanted anywhere near a good time, you were not standing in a line. So, at about mile 2 I had to make a pit stop (it was all the nerves). So I quickly ran behind a bush and was back on the course in no time. My Dad always said, "you're not really a true marathon-er if you've never ducked behind a bush". So...I guess I'm a true marathon-er!

Anyways, miles 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were going great! Adam and the crew (Suzanne, Sarah, Jeremy, and Leah) were all waiting for us at about mile 8 for some much needed support and fuel. We saw them and stopped to grab some gatorade and kisses from Leah. Let me tell you, seeing them was like a dream come true!

We were off again. Can I just take a minute and say how proud I was of my husband? He was the best supporter ever! Everytime I saw him he had a gatorade and a water in one hand and a banana in the other. Great job baby.

So miles 9, 10, and 11 were good. We were coming up on mile 12 and passed the point where the half-marathon-ers turned off to finish and the crazy ones kept going. That was pretty brutal for me...physically and mentally. But we kept truckin on. The next time we met up with the crew was at mile 16. Adam had everything ready for my Dad and I...it was kind of like a buffet now that I think about it! Bananas, Gatorade, water, body glide...what more could you need? Sarah was Leah's 2nd mom that day. She was great and I love her.

And we were off again. Whenever you leave your support group along the race (especially a marathon) it kills you mentally! But I just kept counting down the miles until we saw them again.

Miles 16 and 17 were hard. The wind was killer, but luckily I had my Dad to draft behind some of the way. The scenery was beautiful...we saw the sun rising over the horizon of the water which took my mind off things for a while and saw some beautiful houses along the way. I loved that it was such a flat course, but didn't need all that wind. Mile 18 came up on us and my Dad started to get some minor cramps. He always told me during our training that he would get me to a certain point and then tell me to go on so he wouldn't hinder my potential. (Lots of life lessons to learn there...another post for another time).

So at mile 18, I was on my own.

I knew the next time I would see the crew would be at mile 23 so I was anxiously counting down every mile in anticipation of the next. Miles 19, 20, 21, and 22 were vicious. This was the point where everyone around me slowed to an exhausted walk. This was mentally draining as well. Seeing everyone around me walking and lustfully longing after that same thought...draining. I knew I had to keep going. One more mile until I saw them.

Here I am...mile 23. There they are. My amazing husband ready to give me whatever I needed. It was literally like a mirage. Is this for real? Were they really there? Did I really only have 3.2 miles to go?

Hard stuff. My Dad showed up about 8 minutes behind me.

To anyone who has ever run a marathon before you will know exactly what I'm about to say. Running the last three miles was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Yes, even harder than birthing a 9 lb. baby. Absolutely brutal, atrocious, horrific, dreadful, awful, horrendous and any other synonym you can think of for bad. But, I got through them (barely). Another side note: if you are a spectator (especially at a marathon)...do not EVER say, "you're almost there", "the worst is behind you", "you've only got a little more", or anything of that matter to a runner whose got more than 400 yards to finish. Please and Thank you.

So, there...I did it. I finished my very first marathon. It took me a whopping 4 hourse and 41 minutes. Pretty good for my first one, I would say.

Coming thru the finish.

No comment needed.

Hug from my little.

My main man.

Tired is an understatement.

Watching my Dad come in was a proud moment for me. He did great! Finished in under 5 hours.

PaPa with Leah.

Right about this time, the negative caloric intake, lack of hydration, exhaustion, and heat were kicking in.

I could not have done any of this without this man. He is an amazing role model for me and I have promised him that when I turn 60 years old, I have to run a marathon with my daughter. I promise, Dad.

I have to say, I have loved every last minute of this process. My dad always told me that the training was the hardest part of running a marathon and it is true. I am proud to say that I ran my first marathon with my Dad beside me from start (3 milers) to finish (20 milers). I love you dad and I am so proud to say that I ran my first marathon with you!

Elevation Church

2011-04-01T15:24:00.000-04:00

Elevation Church exists so that people far from God will be filled with life in Christ. It has been our church home since February 2007. Pastor Steven Furtick is the Senior Pastor at Elevation who has a true passion for reaching those far from God. In February of 2006, Elevation opened its doors to about 120 members. Currently Elevation is serving the city of Charlotte as one of the fastest growing churches in America with over 11,000 professions of faith and over 2,200 baptisms since its beginning. God is truly in the midst of things at Elevation and we are not afraid to boldly follow after his calling to reach the city of Charlotte. Elevation is one church with multiple locations. We currently offer 12 worship experience times during the weekend across four locations.

Generosity, audacity, and honor are just three of the important qualities Elevation carries out. You can go here to read what we call "The Code" which is our core set of values. Pastor Steven truly has a vision from the Lord and it is such an honor to be under his leadership and to serve at a great church that is growing and expanding God's Kingdom. If you live in the Charlotte area and don't attend a church, I HIGHLY recommend you visit Elevation. You will be treated like a VIP and honored as a guest of ours. Go here to find all the info you need on times and locations and we'll see you on Sunday!

image {via}

Blind Runner

2011-03-01T15:15:00.001-05:00

Two weekends ago I finally did something I had always wanted to do (and wondered if I could do). I ran my first marathon. It was the 2011 Myrtle Beach Marathon. Some people have called me crazy and others have taken their hats off, but that's not what I wanted to write about today.

{I do have pictures and another post coming about my experience}

I had the privilege of running with my Dad, which made all the difference in the world. When you run in a race, you kind of size everyone else up as you go...well, maybe I just do that. I look at everyone around me. I look at people's strides, the way they run, their shoes, who they're running with, and I unashamingly admit that I do look at their apparel for ideas to add to my future running apparel collection. :)

Mile 7 was different.

My dad and I were cruising along and I looked up and I saw about 100 yards ahead of me two people running with their arms attached somehow. At first I thought this is just one of those crazy things you see during a race for people to get noticed (I thought they were running with handcuffs). But when we got about 25 yards away I realized what it was.

A blind runner and his guide running with a string attached to each one of their wrists.

I was in awe. I looked them up and later found that it was Army Captain Ivan Castro and his guide Lt. Col. Fred Dummar. Please go here to read about his story (it's definitely worth an extra 2 minutes to read). They had matching running shirts on that said their names on the back as well as their roles..."Guide" & "Blind Runner". My Dad and I ran close by them for a little while and then we went our separate ways. Can I just tell you that it was such an inspiration to run by them even if it was for a short while. I couldn't help but get emotional (yes, I'm a sensitive girl and yes, it threw my breathing off) but I truly believe I was in the right place at the right time.

image {via} (Captain Castro on the left)

I couldn't help but think about that picture and how so much it mimics the picture of us and our Heavenly Father. Call me cliche if you want...I don't care. If you look at the picture above, Captain Castro is unbelievably fit. I mean I guess that's the norm if you're an Army Captain. He has all the ability in the world to run. However, it's that one factor that has the possibility to hold him back from doing the things that he would really like to do. Captain Castro has made a conscious decision to not let that hold him back...he found a solution...a guide. It would be a shame for him to put all of his hard work and abilities to waste just because of one thing.

Same with us. God has given each one of us different talents and abilities that He wants to see us use. How dare us sit around and put all the abilities He has given us to waste and not use them for His glory. BUT...there's always that one thing that tries to hold us back from what God has destined for us. Don't let it!

God has graciously volunteered himself as your guide. You are completely fit to do the things God has for you in this life. {This} is also a really good article to read from The Sun News in Myrtle Beach about his experience running the Myrtle Beach Marathon. In it, he says that it is definitely not easy for him to run...he runs in a zig zag and sometimes is not able to miss potholes or bumps in the road, which makes it that much harder. He says that his guide has to be on the lookout for those things way far in advance.

How can you not trace this back to Christ? How He sees the big picture? And how he guides you and leads you through life hoping that you'll follow his lead to miss the potholes and bumps? He'll allow you to experience those "bumps", but there's always a string attached...he'll always guide you through them.

We are all blind runners. We are all completely able and fit to do the things God has called us to do. He is our guide to whom we can trust. He will lead us to the finish.

I'm in Denial.

2011-02-16T08:15:00.000-05:00

My little girl turns 1 today (2-15). I.cannot.believe.it. Seriously, are you kidding me? How could these 12 months fly by as fast as they did. To all the experienced mamas out there...you were right. Time flies. To be quite honest, it's very bittersweet for me. I don't really have a baby anymore, but I am so looking forward to all the fun times we're going to have together in the near future. Leah is absolutely amazing and probably the cutest one year old you'll ever feast your eyes on.

This past year has been so much fun for all of us...we've...

-been on vacations together (mountains, beach, here...there)

-gone on countless walks around the neighborhood

-celebrated our first Mother's/Father's day

-experienced many firsts (1st diaper change, 1st smile, 1st laugh, 1st sleep through the night, 1st roll over, 1st patty cake, 1st peek-a-boo, 1st sit, 1st tooth, 1st solid foods, 1st word...dada, 1st crawl, 1st walk, & now a 1st birthday)

-started back to school/daycare

-had our first holidays (Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Valentine's Day)

And so much more...

Leah has taught me so much. There truly is a love none other than a love you have for a child. Leah has been a gift and a joy to have not only in our lives, but in the lives of all of our family and friends. She has all the potential in the world to be and do whatever the Lord has for her. It is our (mine & Adam's) job to call that potential out in her so she can one day have the confidence to do those things.

Leah is a beautiful little girl with a sweet spirit who has the potential to change the world one day. I am truly humbled and honored to be her Mom.

Watch out world...

My Running Adventures

2011-01-12T15:11:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all of the in between! The Hamilton's had an amazing Christmas and New Year and we hope/wish you did too!

Over on the right hand side of my blog under the "about me" section, you will see that it says "lazy runner". Well I am proud to say that is not true anymore! You see, I had always been a runner...I guess...because I grew up in a family of runners. I had always been apart of races, events, meets, etc. Nothing was really serious hence the word "lazy". Well, all that has changed and I have to say that I am a different runner now than what I was back then.

I am training for a marathon! Woo hoo! I had always wanted to do one and when I was younger, I thought I would have done one by now, but it's never too late, right? Well, after Leah was born, I had this crazy idea that I wanted to run a marathon by the time she turns 1. She was born in February 2010 and in May of 2010 I ran my first race back sans being pregnant. It was only a 5k and my goal was to just break 30 min. Ha...can I just say it was one of my most embarrassing races ever. Not only did I finish in 31 minutes, but I puked twice. Did I mention it was only a 5k...3 miles? Now I did just have a baby 3 months before, but still.

Anyways, from that point forward I would go out and run every now and then, but nothing too serious. Not until September was when I decided once and for all I was going to enter the 2011 Myrtle Beach Marathon that would be happening in February. I had some knowledge on how to train for races, but nothing like a marathon, so who did I call? None other than the main man himself...my Dad!

My dad was a running machine back in the day. He's done well over 50 marathons including the Marine Corps Marathon, Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado, and even the Boston Marathon. Back in high school, the track coaches were naturally more occupied with the sprinters than with the endurance runners, so my dad took me under his wing and ultimately got me to regionals. He's great.

I was kind of nervous at first because he was pretty hard core back in the day and wouldn't let me slide with any of the complaints of "I've got a cramp, my side's hurting, I can't go on"...he would just keep running and tell me to get up there with him. I thought my world was going to end, but he knew what he was doing.

So, anyway, back to the marathon. I called him and told him I had registered and that there was no turning back. He agreed to help me train. I've got to tell you that once you get over that hump of discipline, it's all downhill from there. I am the least disciplined person in my training, but if you've got a goal and you truly care about it, you will get over the hump and actually enjoy the process! I was telling Adam about how I dreaded so much to go out and do 3 miles, but now I actually look forward to running 7, 8, and 9 miles on short days.

When I was younger, my dad used to always tell me, "Elizabeth, you have so much potential in this sport". Every time we would run together and I started to complain, he would bring up that "p" word. I never believed him. He said something to me a couple of months ago on one of our runs in my old neighborhood. We were talking about old times and the word potential came up and he told me again that I had so much potential back then but I had even more today. He said that I never reached my potential because I didn't want it.

Holy moly there you have it. My dad is great, that day he taught me something. Your potential never leaves you. The desire to reach your potential can disappear causing you to regress and settle back in a mediocre life.

I'm sorry this blog post has been a bit lengthy (I guess I'm making up for lost time) but I have thoroughly enjoyed writing it. Now, instead of calling myself a "lazy runner" I can confidently say that I'm a proud runner! Thank you Dad for bringing out the best in me!

Myrtle Beach Marathon Countdown...38 days.

Join the bandwagon...

2010-12-07T15:15:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year, and you know you need some...yes, I'm talking about Christmas cards. Adam and I have never really sent out Christmas cards and if we did it would be the ones you would get at a drug store for $3. But, since this year we have little Leah, we thought why not? So the search began. Ultimately, we ended up loving Shutterfly for its selection and mainly the prices! We had used shutterfly before for these and they turned out amazing!

For our Christmas cards, I have lots of favorites, but I have narrowed them down to this one:

this one:

or this one:

I am really loving all of these, so it is going to be hard for us to choose! I guess you'll just have to wait and see! :)

What's really cool is that shutterfly is offering 50 FREE Christmas Cards to bloggers who blog about this giveaway! Crazy I know! You can read more about it HERE and participate if you would like!! Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying this Christmas season and really remember what it's truly about! :)

Gratitude

2010-11-25T10:54:00.000-05:00

Today here at school, all I see around me are kids with Indian hats on, fall decorations, the smell of our Thanksgiving feast, and happy faces by all (especially the teachers)...which can only mean one thing...Thanksgiving is here! Now, we all know about Thanksgiving and how we should all be thankful for everything we have and how we are so blessed. Yes, yes and yes. We should be thankful everyday. Just recently, the Lord has been showing and teaching me something new about Thanksgiving.

What's the first thing that pops in your head about Thanksgiving (other than a full belly)? Thankfulness or gratitude, right? Well, when I thought of gratitude, immediately, the Lord put this word in my mind...generosity. Call me crazy, but I had never thought about this before, but gratitude and generosity completely go hand in hand!

I wrote this on my twitter a couple of days ago (yes, I tweet...@elizabethh3, and if you don't, you should), "Gratitude is shown through generosity. You have been blessed, so be a blessing to someone else today".

Really...when you think about it, how do you express your gratitude? You say "thank you" right? Well, yes that's one way, but being generous by far shows your gratefulness the most! You know the saying, "actions speak louder than words", it's true.

If you are reading this, chances are you have a computer, chances are you are under a roof, chances are you are probably having a nice drink or snack right now as well. If so, you are among the top 5% of the wealthiest people in the world. You have been blessed.

I want to be more like Him. I give because He gave me life. Who am I to keep everything He's given me to myself? How else is a better way to share the love of Christ? This Thanksgiving, I'm grateful, very grateful for my life and everything/everyone in it. I know you're thankful too, but this year, show your thanks through generosity. It will bless you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." -1 Timothy 6:17-19

Worship

2010-10-14T14:11:00.000-04:00

Most people have an idea of worship...or when they hear the word "worship" they associate that with different things that they were raised with, or taught. What most people don't understand (yes, even Christians) is that worship is a verb. It is an action word.

Idea: a thought, conception, or notion, a plan of action; an intention.

If you just have an idea of worship and haven't actually followed through with it, what good is it? The definition I got above is from dictionary.com and I especially like the last part..."a plan of action". Yes, it is smart to have a plan of action, but what good is it if you don't follow through?

What good are your thoughts if you don't act them out? Our actions are probably the most influential weapon we have towards this world. The Lord wants your worship. He wants you to come before him humbly and with a broken heart. He wants you to realize that it's not all about you...He wants you to stop being selfish. He wants you to surrender.

In the bible, it talks about having faith like a child. Children dream big, think big, and have huge imaginations. They don't care what people say about them...they're not worried about looking funny. They have audacious faith. Ok, well I've kind of rambled and spilled my heart a little in this post, but I do have a point!

Worship is an action. This morning, I had the privlege of sitting in on one of our school chapels. The 2nd grade at our school sang for us and quoted scripture all about worship. The whole experience was unbelievably pure. They taught me again what worship was all about. There was one instance where they were singing a song with the lyrics, "let everything that has breath praise the Lord", and in the middle of the song, every 2nd grader raised his/her hands in surrender to our Lord. I couldn't help it...tears welled up in my eyes and God brought me back to the heart of a child.

They weren't concerned about who was looking at them and they weren't embarrassed. The God of this Universe has given us everything that we could ever ask for or imagine in our lives. Today, as I was reminded by 65 second graders, we need to acknowledge and surrender our lives to Him and show him with our actions in worship.

Psalm 150

¹ Praise the LORD. ^[a]
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.

² Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.

³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

⁴ praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,

⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

"It's been a while" - is an understatement!

2010-09-06T21:44:00.000-04:00

So...it's been a while...haha...funny right? More like, "it's been way, way, way too long" since I've written on my blog!

Dear Beloved Blog,
I'm sorry I've neglected you this whole Summer. You were low on the totem poll and quite frankly it's not that I forgot about you...it's that I was too busy spending my long summer days with my charming husband and my lovely daughter. Forgive me.

So anyways...if you are still reading my blog, or if I just have "ghost readers", I'm back. No promises made, I will be writing a lot more often about, well, everything. I thought of a lot of good posts to write over the summer and even planned them out in my head, but my fingers never got to typing them. I'm working on the coordination of thinking --> planning --> writing and hopefully I will get better. It's all about follow thru right?

Well, given the fact that I have not posted on here since my birthday (I guess that doesn't count because Adam posted), I will try and catch everyone up on our summer.

May: got out of school (yay!), went to the beach, Leah turned 3 months and rolled over.
June: layed around, went to the pool, Leah turned 4 months and started solid foods, celebrated my birthday, went to the beach.
July: layed around, Leah turned 5 months and is sitting up, went to the mountains.
August: layed around, Leah turned 6 months and is almost crawling, started school again.

Leah at the beach holding her pacie like a ring pop.

Well, I hope I've gained some of my readers back because I will be sure to write more often. Love you all...and to my blog, I love you more.

Happy Birthday!!!!

2010-06-17T08:41:00.003-04:00

This is the other half of two are better than one writing this morning. And I must say that my other half (Elizabeth) is what makes our family! Today is a very special day in the life of our little family because it is Mommies birthday! I will not disclose her age for all to know, but she looks better today than the day I married her! As you all know this has been a big year for us. Our precious daughter Leah Elizabeth Hamilton came into the world on February 15th of this year. She has been an amazing gift from God and through her I have witnessed Elizabeth turn from wife to wife/mommy! Through the past 4 months I have witnessed Elizabeth grow in tremendous ways. She is one of the strongest people I have ever met. The day she gave birth to Leah she had already worked a half day teaching, then we left straight from school to go to the hospital, then she had a baby at 6:30 that night and then she stayed up for the next 4 days feeding her upwards of 18 times a day(The hospital documents these things)! That is what I am talking about, a little warrior! She sacrifices beyond belief. She never sleeps a full 8 hours except for today because I am making her! She loves her husband! Not many husbands could write that these days, but I know my wife loves me! She prays for me, she counsels me through my pain, she sees my every need and meets it! She is an amazing woman! But most importantly she loves Jesus. She has a passion for Christ and his word and I love to hear her speak about Him and pray to Him! She is a tremendous daughter, wife, and now mother! Today, Elizabeth I honor you and tell you that I love you and I am never leaving you or Leah! We are in this thing for the long-haul and no matter how rough things can get I am always going to show up and fight for your heart! I hope you have a fabulous day at....... THE SPA!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Love,

Daddy and Leah

Here are some pictures of our journey thus far!

Tips for New Moms: 02

2010-05-30T09:33:00.000-04:00

02: Don't have a cow when your hair starts to fall out in chunks about 3 months after you give birth.

Because I did. And I still am. For about 3 weeks now I have literally had chunks of hair falling out in the shower, when I brush my hair, straighten my hair, or just whatever...it falls out. Everyone tells me it's normal, but if it keeps going on, I'll probably be bald soon. Leah gets the brunt of it all too because no matter what I do, I find some of my hair on her, in her hands, or even in her toes. I have even found a strand or two in her diaper before. I know pretty gross, but what can I do?

So, when your hair starts to fall out, don't panic. It's normal. Or so they say. :)

Tips for New Moms: 01

2010-05-25T10:34:00.000-04:00

I'm going to start something new on my blog. You have probably already guessed what it is from my title. Yes...tips for new moms. Almost everyday I find myself learning something new as a mom that I had no idea of or hadn't read in any of the books. So, I thought I'd help some new moms out there to have a better understanding of what to expect from being a mom. Please don't take this as some kind of expert advise, because frankly I've only been a mom for 3 1/2 months and I'm learning new things everyday. These are just tips of what I've found out that works and doesn't work as a Mom. I'd love to hear any other advise you more "experienced moms" have because I'm all about learning from the best! So, hear it goes...

01: Start packing for vacations at least 3 days in advance.

This has been a huge struggle for me. If you know me, you know that I am the world's best procrastinator! I wait to the last minute to do everything (clean, pack, work, study, etc.), but when you have a baby, that all has to change! I'm still working on it, but I think I've gotten a little better (though Adam might tell you differently).

If you have a baby or are thinking about having a baby, prepare to take anything and everything with you wherever you go! Like pretty much every baby, Leah gets bored sitting or laying somewhere pretty quick. You put her in her swing, she wants to move, put her in her boppy seat, she wants to move, lay her on the floor, she wants to move, put her in your lap, she wants to move, sit her in her bumbo seat, she wants to move...you get the idea. So, we take everything!

Adam has a Jeep and by the time we're done packing everything you can't see out of the windows. I'm sure we'll get better as time goes on, but I'm perfectly content taking everything "just in case". Since we do take a lot, it takes a while getting it all together, so, the final verdict....start early!

Empowerment

2010-05-19T09:24:00.000-04:00

em-pow-er [em-pou-er]
1. to give power or authority to; authorize, esp. by legal or official means.
2. to enable or permit

Our Pastor started a new sermon series called "e". No...not for Elevation, but for "empowerment". It was a great sermon with key points that really opened your eyes and made you realize what the "church" is really here for.

Elevation is known for our mission statement, "So that people far from God will be filled with life in Christ". It is our mission to reach the city of Charlotte in so many ways. Elevation is also known for not doing anything mediocre. Everything is done with excellence, which is what the Bible calls us to do as a church. And part of doing things with excellence is not having an array, or rather, a "buffet" of things within our church. For example, that's why you don't see a Men's ministry, a women's ministry, a missions ministry, a singles ministry, a college ministry, a special needs ministry, a hearing impaired ministry, a senior adults ministry, and I could go on and on. Now before any of you have a cow, or stop reading, I am NOT saying these things are bad or wrong to have in the church. Here me out. Some churches do these things great and are reaching so many people through them, which is awesome!

People all the time ask the staff at Elevation, "why is there no men's ministry", "where is your single's ministry", etc. I think most people grew up in the tradition and mindset that there has to be a "pastor" leading these ministries...I know I did! The answer Elevation always gives to these types of questions is, "why don't YOU do it"? Why don't I do it?

Pastor preached from Ephesians 4:11-13 which basically says that all of us are given a gift from the Lord...our passion. And we are to use our gift/passion to reach the world, which creates great and perfect unity in Christ.

Man! Just let that marinate a little bit. Don't you feel convicted? I know I do! God's given me a great gift and as long as I keep it covered up, tucked away in box, protected from the world...it's useless and a great insult to my God. Just think...if we all discovered our passion, the passion God has instilled in you, and used it for the Glory of God, this world would be a different place!

Pastor stated in his sermon that "Pastors are God's gift to the church and the church is God's gift to the world". Pastors share the vision God has for us and we, as a church, are to take that vision and form strategies of how to implement the vision in our everyday lives.

He also said that rather focusing on entitlement ("pastors") we need to focus more on empowerment. We, as a church, need to feel empowered to take our passions and do something with them to reach this city. Even though the majority of us can't call ourselves "pastors", we DO have the authority and the power to take our gift and use it and let that be our ministry.

Elevation has had community groups meet all over Charlotte since the start of the church. These community groups meet each week to fellowship with other believers, discuss the sermon from the previous week, and to just do "life" with other fellow Christians. These community groups are taking a turn for the better this coming season. Instead of being called "community groups", they will be called "egroups". The "e" standing for empowerment.

As group leaders, we were told to discover our passion and let our group be centered around that. For example, Adam's passion is teaching and he loves taking the sermon Pastor preaches each week and dissecting it and discussing it with others. So...our "egroup" will probably focus on the series' we do in the church and discussing them with our group to provide application.

Pastor gave examples of other passions people may have. Everything from Missions, to students, to sports. Pastor Furtick is empowering us as a church to take our passions and use them to reach the city of Charlotte bringing everything back to our mission statement, "to see people far from God be filled with life in Christ". This is where all of our "ministries" will surface. Men's ministries, women's ministries, missions, sports ministries, etc. will all be brought to life.

Forgive me for such a long post, but I just wanted to share what was on my heart the past couple of days. Will you use your gift/passion God has given you to empower you to reach this city, or will you keep it safely tucked away? God has called His people to take risks for His glory...no worries, He's always on your side. I'll leave you with a quote from this past Sunday...

"We are placed here for a purpose, guided by a passion and empowered by the Spirit of God."

Edible baby.

2010-05-17T09:08:00.000-04:00

Couldn't you just eat her up? This weekend we went to Rufus and Taylor's engagement party. The weather was very nice, but it was hot! Leah had never really been 'hot' before, so when she started to get a little dewy she didn't like it. But Adam did manage to get this completely adorable shot of her. Sometimes I still can't believe she's mine!

Truly blessed!

All the girls...

2010-05-11T12:19:00.000-04:00

These are just some of the women in my life that make me feel special...

Mom, thanks for being the best Mom around! If you can't tell from my last post, I love you very much!

Sara, thanks for being a great Sister. You're always there when I need to talk and you seem to know just what to say!

Harleigh, thanks for being cutest niece ever! I love being your Aunt and your "tiger" noise is my favorite!

And this little girl...

Leah, thank you for being my sweet daughter! You mean the world to me and I would do anything for you!

My Mom

2010-05-10T14:19:00.000-04:00

I know Mother's Day was yesterday, however there was no time to post because of all the festivities! :) And I celebrate my Mom everyday, so today is no different!

Everyone has one, young or old, short or tall, dark skinned or light...a mother. Call her whatever you like, Mom, mama, madre, mere, Mother, she will forever be your Mom. My mom carries many names. Some days I call her my rock, some days she's my comforter, somedays my best friend, or my discipliner. She was my provider and only wanted the best for my sister and I. My mom was, and still is the most selfless, giving person that I know. Not only is she giving in her finnces, but more giving with her time, which to me, is one of the most valuable things you can give. She has always had an ear ready to listen whenever I needed to talk...whether it was when I was six and someone took my pencil at school or when I was faced with the everyday occuring drama that went along with middle or high school, she was there. When I dated boys in college and a date didn't go right or on my graduation day when I wasn't able to walk across the stage, she was there.

Her ear was ready to listen when Adam and I started dating and I wanted to tell her all the amazing things he had done for me. And when he popped the question and the daya we got married she heard all my excitments and calmed my nerves. Even to this day, now that I have my own family, I call her every morning on my way to work to talk about everyday life and the things that come along with it. She is a great listener.

My mom is an amazing woman who wears many hats. It is because of her that I can call myself a Christian, a friend, a wife, a daughter, and a Mother. She has taught me everything I know about character and poise. She has led me through the ups and downs of life and has been my lifesaver when I started to go under. Giving up is not part of my Mom's vocabulary and it is with her experiences that I have seen her push through the toughest of times. She has watched me grow from the tiniest of babies to the Mother that I am today and now I get the privilege to watch her as a Grandmother to four very precious grand kids. There is such a legacy behind my Mom's eyes and I can only hope that I will carry that legacy on someday.

Thank you Mom, for loving me with your whole heart. Thank you for putting your family first and everything else second. Thank you for loving the Lord and for teaching me how to as well. Thank you for sacrificing everything you have so that we would not be without. Thank you for teaching me how to be a Mother. You are truly my hero and I am so thankful and blessed to have the relationship we have with each other. You are my everything and I love you forever!

Birthdays

2010-05-07T15:00:00.002-04:00

Birthdays are a huge deal to me. It's your own special personal holiday you get to celebrate every year. Most people get caught up in the fact that you're turning one year older, however I just love hanging out with the people you love, decorating the house with streamers and balloons, maybe opening up a few presents here and there (you know you like presents too), and of course the cake and ice cream! I love it when birthdays roll around because it just gives you the excuse to spend money and go all out to make somebody else feel special (and not have your husband getting mad at you for spending money).

So, with that said, we've got some birthday's coming up! My sister's birthday is May 10th, my Dad's birthday is June 8th, my other brother and sister's birthdays are June 10th and 11th, my birthday is June 17th, and my Mom's birthday is July 8th! We've got lots of summer birthdays. This weekend we are celebrating my sister's birthday at my dad's house after the race on Saturday (I can't believe I'm running in a race Saturday that I haven't trained for...haha). Anyways, we're all going back to my Dad's house to order pizza and celebrate Sara. Unfortunately, Adam won't be in attendance because he'll be at a driving class for cough, cough, a ticket he got on the way home from Leah's first doctor's appt. Sorry babe, but there's consequences for everything. I still love you though.

This year my dad is turning the big 6-0 so you know I've got to do something up big for him! Last year we had a little get together at our house for him which was a blast! We'll see what this year has in store for him...

Here are a few pics from his birthday last year:

Birthdays are a great thing! If your birthday is coming up, I hope you have a happy, happy birthday spending it with the ones you love!

Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-06T12:05:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was cinco de mayo and mine and Adam's 3 year anniversary. It's kind of funny to think that we picked May 5th to get married and then a year later both of us becoming Spanish teachers! Funny stuff.

I looked up the traditional gift for 3 years and it was leather, which was perfect because I knew exactly what I could get Adam. For a while Adam wanted a front pocket wallet but has never bought himself one. To be quite honest, I think he forgot he wanted one. So...off to Fossil I went to get my hubby a genuine leather front pocket wallet. Needless to say, when I gave it to him, he loved it and then remembered how much he wanted one.

I also wanted to do something kind of different for him...so I ordered 3 cupcakes to be delivered to our house. One that had, "I love you", one that had, "5-5-07", and one that had, "AHE" (our initials) on it. He really liked those too and they were very yummy! But, can I just take a minute and speak my heart? Having a joint account has its perks, but when, ahem, your husband constantly looks at the account, it takes the surprise and suspense out of everything! Oh well, he still liked them.

To my surprise, Adam came home with 2 dozen beautiful roses and a very sweet card for me. We also went out to my favorite restaurant, Olive Garden, for dinner. A huge thanks to Adam's mom for watching our sweet Leah while we went to dinner. Yesterday was great! Here's a picture of my roses and the cupcakes (excuse the bite taken out of one of them...Adam couldn't wait).

Adam,
Thank you for a wonderful 3 years! You are my everything and it is such a privilege to be your wife. I love how you love me and I love watching you love Leah. Having the title of Mrs. Adam Hamilton is such an honor and having you by my side in everything brings so much joy to my life! I love you with all my heart and I am so excited to see what the next 50, 60, or even 70 years have in store for us! 2 are always better than 1!

My new title: Mom

2010-05-04T13:33:00.000-04:00

My first Mother's day is coming up and I couldn't be more excited! It's kind of surreal celebrating a holiday where I'm used to focusing all my attention on my Mom and all the Mom's around me. This year, I get to join in on all the fun celebrating such a thoughtful holiday!

I have learned so many things about being a Mom in just the short 3 months of Leah's life. I'll post more about my experiences closer to Mother's day, but probably the most important thing I've experienced in being a Mom is the love for a child.

There is truly nothing like it and no one can ever take it away from you. I'm sure I've got lots to learn in the coming years on being a Mom, but I do know one thing and that is my love will only grow and deepen for Leah every day of my life.

This quote always seems to enter my mind when I think about love and how it grows...

"For you see, each day I love you more. Today more than yesterday, and less than tomorrow." -Rosemonde Gerard

I love you sweet Leah!

The Bobcats

2010-04-25T13:03:00.000-04:00

Well, the Bobcats finally made it to the playoffs. Since the loss we had last night, it doesn't look like they'll make it past the first round, but a BIG congrats to them for making it this far.

Back in 2004 I had this crazy idea to try out for their cheerleading team, the Rally Cats. It was a long shot, but I made it! I went on to cheer for them for the next 4 years and it was truly a great experience. I met a lot of great people, performed for thousands, got a front row seat to the games, and so much more.

Cheering for the Bobcats will allow me to, one day, tell Leah some great stories and is an experience I'll always remember. Here are a few pics for your viewing pleasure...

Tryouts one year

During a time out

This was when the Sting (women's NBA) was in Charlotte

After every game, we would go up and entertain the crowds.

Adam and I after a game.

Some of the Rally Cats came to our wedding and we stunted...fun, fun!

Running.

2010-04-20T14:53:00.000-04:00

In light of coming events, I thought it would be very appropriate to make the first of my soon to be many posts about running.

Now if you know me at all you know that running is not my favorite thing to do. I grew up with a family of runners. Almost every weekend was spent either attending a race someone was running in or actually running in a race myself. I was apart of a running club growing up and I ran track/cross country all through middle school and high school. Running was my thing. My dad trained me a lot growing up and I ran with my brothers to get ready and help train for a cross country race or for a 5k on the weekends. My dad would train me so hard because he saw what I didn't see (or feel, frankly) in my talent. He would always tell me, "Elizabeth you've got so much potential in this sport if you would stick with it." In that moment in time I didn't believe him. I guess I just got burnt out. I never really quit running, but I am slack in the discipline of training for races and events. For example, I signed up to do a 5k on May 8. Have I ran any? Nope. (I just slapped my hand).

I guess you could say that I've always been a "runner" but I am no where near what I could be if I "stuck with it" and had the discipline of training. As I write this, it reminds me of my Christian life. I have always been a "christian", but I am nowhere near the Christian I am called to be because of my lack of discipline of being in God's word. Will God ever give up on me? Nope. He knows my potential so He's going to keep pushing me until I reach my potential in Him. Just like my dad. Even to this day my dad asks me about my running and invites me to run in certain races. He offers to train me and run with me to help me reach my potential (that I still have). I've come to know that your potential never leaves you...it's just hidden until you reach the level you are supposed to be at. Everyone's got some kind of potential in them...and you've probably got the most potential in something you don't particularly love to do (at least that's how it is for me). I've also found that when you train and are disciplined in the thing that you're pursuing (in my case, running) it becomes easier and more fun and you're more likely to do it because it becomes a habit (which is how I should be in my Christian walk).

Whew. I did not intend for this post to go in the direction it did...I guess that's just been on my heart lately. On a more lighter note, I'll leave you with a few pictures of my glory days as a runner...hopefully I'll one day reach the potential that I've always had inside me, and Dad, thanks for pushing me and for seeing the potential in me. You're the best!

This is me after I finished the Myrtle Beach 1/2 Marathon in 2004.

This is me coming up to the finish line. I'm usually very focused and will have a pretty funny look on my face!

Lots of stuff...

2010-04-20T14:50:00.000-04:00

I was looking through some old pictures the other day and I thought to myself, "I should blog about these". So...as often as I can, I'm going to post a picture/blog post to allow my readers to gain more incite about who I am and what I'm all about. Hope you enjoy!

Things that make me happy...

2010-04-11T15:49:00.000-04:00

These sunflowers...

This little girl...

This very handsome man...

What makes you happy?

Easter

2010-04-06T17:47:00.000-04:00

This week is mine and Adam's Spring Break...so we unfortunately weren't able to go to Elevation's pivotal Easter service. Thankfully, we were updated on twitter and Elevation's website of all the exciting things that went on that day. If you were unaware, there were over 11,500 people in attendance, 700+ salvations, and 18,000+ donations given to different outreach programs Elevation partners with. Words can't describe the impact that was placed on the city of Charlotte that day and it was all done for the glory of God. People always seem to ask, "why are y'all all about the numbers?"...well, I'm glad you asked! Yes, we are completely stoked about the numbers...every number represents a story and every number is a life changed. Isn't our purpose as Christians is to grow and expand His Kingdom? Well then, of course, you HAVE to be all about the numbers! Praise God there were over 700 salvations that day! There were even more all around the city that should be talked about and broadcasted! The Lord is at work in Charlotte and I am blessed to be apart of such a bold and audacious movement that's shaking our city! If you want to read more about Easter Sunday, click here. I hope everyone had an amazing Easter and I pray that we all recognize what Christ did for us everyday of our lives and remember that we worship a Risen King! I'll leave you with a cute picture of Leah and Adam representing Elevation in spirit!

Nursery Pics

2010-03-17T09:26:00.000-04:00

Please don't hate me! I know I promised a LONG time ago to post some finished nursery pics...as you can see I never did. Most of you have probably already seen these from facebook. We had some of our great friends and awesome photographers come take pictures of Leah when she was 12 days old. They also took some amazing pics of her nursery...so without further adieu...

[gallery]

All pics courtesy of The Beautiful Mess.

2010-03-09T08:23:00.000-05:00

Want to see the cutest baby ever? Go here.

My better half

2010-03-04T09:52:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to take a few moments to talk about my amazing husband. I am completely in awe when I think about our relationship and why God chose me to be his wife. I know I've talked on here about how Adam is such an amazing man, but can I just tell you that he's even more wonderful being a Dad!

Pretty much all during the day I get emails asking me to send him pictures of his little princess. When he comes home he makes a bee-line to wherever she is to see if she's sleeping or awake and to give her a kiss. He feeds, burps, changes (yes, changes), and holds her whenever he can. He stares at her when she sleeps and says over and over how beautiful she is. He is an amazing Dad.

Some of you might know Adam has a couple of extra jobs on top of his full-time teaching job. He gets up at 4:45am every morning to drive the morning bus route for the Elementary kids at our school, he tutors multiple students after school each week, and he heads up after-school detention. He does all of this because he loves our family and he will do anything and everything he can to provide for us.

Adam, nothing you do goes unnoticed. Leah and I appreciate everything you do for our family! You are an amazing man of God, a devoted husband, and one proud Daddy! I love you with all my heart and never forget that you have what it takes to do whatever you want to in this world and Leah and I could not be happier to be on this adventure with you! Love you!

Leah's Story...

2010-02-23T13:56:00.000-05:00

She's here...and I'm finally updating! It has definitely been a big transition for Adam and I with her being here! A good one though! I thought I would post and tell about Leah's birth story.

It all started Saturday (Feb. 13th) night. I had been feeling good all day and then towards the end of the night I started getting really bad back pain with some contractions. I though Adam and I were headed to the hospital that night, but my contractions were too far apart...so we went to bed. Sunday morning I woke up normal. I was kind of disappointed because I was ready to go! All day Sunday I felt normal and Adam and I just stayed around our house and hung out. We went to bed that night and we woke up Monday (Feb. 15th) morning ready to go to work. As I was getting ready I started getting a dull ache in my back and didn't really think anything of it because Saturday's pains were so much worse! Well...

I got to work that morning around 7am and got everything ready for the day. My first class isn't until 8am. At around 7:30 I started getting cramps in my lower abdomen (kind of like menstrual cramps). They would come and go and 8 o'clock came around and my first class was coming in. Little did I know that these little "cramps" would soon turn into unbearable contractions! Well, I started teaching my class and as the class progressed, so did my cramps. Towards the end they were getting pretty bad, so when the class ended I went ahead and went down to the school nurse to see what she had to say. She told me to call my doctor and talk to them.

As I was on the phone with the Dr. my cramps were getting worse and worse and closer and closer. I knew that this was it! I had already had an appointment for that afternoon, but they told me to go ahead and come in. This was at 9am. So, I went down to Adam's room (thankfully we both work at the same school) and told him what was going on and he was excited! There was no panic or being scared, but excitement and readiness! Adam and I left the school and got to the Dr. at about 9:45am. He told me I was 3cm dialated and 90% effaced and that we needed to go ahead and head to the hospital! Keep in mind that I was in serious pain at this point and my wonderful husband, Adam, was doing an awesome job of "coaching" me though all of it!

We left the Dr. and went straight home to get our stuff. Everything was already packed, we just had to get a few last minute things together. I was in such a hurry to leave the house because I wanted to make sure we got to the hospital in time. We left our house at around 11am and Adam said I was climbing the walls of the Jeep. We got to the hospital at around 11:45ish and one of the first faces I saw was a nurse that Adam and I went to high school with. I felt relieved because I knew she would take care of us! We got all settled in the room and I got in my stylish hospital gown and the next thing I knew we were waiting for the epidural to come.

We didn't have to wait long...it came, but they had to do it three different times because the catheder that they put in my back kept kinking to where the medicine wouldn't go through. Finally they got it right and it was pretty much smooth sailing from there.

The rest of the day I laid in the bed and watched my contractions I was having but not feeling :) Our family had all came to the hospital as well as some of our best friends! The nurses kept coming in saying I was progressing pretty fast...3 cm, 6 cm, 8 cm, then the perfect 10 cm.

Like I said everything progressed pretty fast...I was 10 cm at about 5:45 and at 6:34pm Adam and I had ourselves a beautiful, perfect baby girl! Now, listen to this...as soon as she came out, I heard the Dr. say, "this one's a big one". All the nurses were taking guesses on her weight. They were saying, "8.3 or 8.5"...oh no...she was 9 lbs. 3 oz.! A big one indeed! I had no clue she would be that big. When you hear 9 lbs. 3 oz. you automatically think of a chunky little baby, but she was nothing near chunky. She was also 20.5 in. long which made her very proportioned. I can't get over how perfect she was.

So overall, my labor/delivery experience was great! It wasn't long, it wasn't too painful and we got to take home a beautiful baby girl!! I'll leave you with a few pictures...

[caption id="attachment_400" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="She loved getting her hair washed!"][/caption]

I'm ready!

2010-02-13T13:39:00.000-05:00

It seems like all I post about lately is Leah. I can't help it. She has consumed my thoughts and actions. She was supposed to arrive yesterday, but she has decided she will be fashionably late. Maybe she's waiting for Valentine's day. I just got through hanging up the last of her clothes and I think she may have more clothes than I'll know what to do with. We'll just have to play dress up during the day.

[caption id="attachment_388" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Her closet :)"][/caption]

On another note, when I got home from school today I found the most beautiful bouquet of tulips waiting on the counter for me along with some chocolates and a card. My husband's the best! He knows I love tulips and chocolate is pretty high on my list and to top it off, he surprised me with a couple's massage to have after Leah comes. I'm so thankful to be married to such an amazing man of God who would do anything for his family! Love you babe!

[caption id="attachment_392" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Happy Valentine\'s Day!"][/caption]

Letters to Leah

2010-02-03T17:46:00.000-05:00

If you haven't been seen my other blog yet, click here to check it out! :)

Thirty-One

2010-01-29T16:56:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I have yet to post about my new business! I guess I have been pretty wrapped up in all the baby stuff I'm doing. Well, I've started a new business for myself! I am officially a new thirty-one gifts consultant! What is Thirty-One? Well, Thirty-One is a company that sells a variety of cute products. You name it, they probably have it. Everything from bags, to wallets, to baby bibs, to storage containers/totes. I can't name everything because it would take too long, so go to my website and look around for yourself! I am positive you'll fall in love with everything the first time you see it! That's what happened to me!

Every month there are specials that happen and for the month of February monogramming is only $1. It is usually $6, so that's a savings of $5 on each product! Click here to read more about it. The new spring/summer catalog will go into effect February 1st and you will not be disappointed with the new fabrics and products they are offering! Just click on my website and look around and if anything jumps out at you just place an order and voila! Or...if you are interested in hosting a Thirty-One party or a catalog party send me an email or leave me a comment and you can earn free and half priced items for yourself!

I am very excited about this opportunity I have and I want everyone I know (and don't know) to be able to experience it with me!

Nesting, yes!

2010-01-23T04:14:00.000-05:00

Well, from my last post I had said that I thought I was nesting...well, it's official I am! This past weekend, I got up and started to do anything and everything I could in Leah's nursery and around the house. I was able to wash all her clothes and put some finishing touches on her nursery. I have been sleeping through the night, but I have been getting up very early every morning. Today I am so excited because I have 2 showers for Leah! One is this morning at my mom's and the other is tonight with all my cheerleaders and their moms. It is going to be a long day, but a really fun day! I can't wait! We could probably call this weekend the weekend of showers because tomorrow one of my best friends is throwing me another shower! Woo hoo!

There's no really different news on Leah's status. She's still really warm and comfortable in her little home, but everything could change any day! Adam and I are sitting on go and are very anxious to finally see her! We'll just have to wait and see!

Nesting, maybe?

2010-01-10T18:27:00.000-05:00

I don't know, but I might have entered into the nesting stage. (Or I could just be "wanting" to be in the nesting stage because I'm so anxious to meet my little girl). For the past two days I have had sudden bursts of energy to get things done. Usually I'm either in bed or asleep on the couch by 9:00pm, but as you can see it's 10:15 and I'm wide awake writing a post! I know...it's a miracle! I'm dying to get things done in Leah's nursery, but I keep getting delayed. Adam and I were going to go to Hobby Lobby today to pick up a few things to do some wall art in her room, but they were closed. Needless to say I was disappointed, but I do respect their willingness to be closed for a day of worship and rest. Then, I had waited all day to get some pictures developed to put in her nursery and waited an hour at CVS to get them done...but did that happen...nope. I got frustrated and my emotions got the best of me and I left. We're supposed to be getting her bedding sometime this month and I can't wait to put everything together! We are also ordering a very cool wall decal from one of my favorite sites. I'm very excited about it! Oh! We also went and got Leah a coming home outfit today. We wanted to get her some different sized outfits to bring to the hospital for her to come home in because we don't know how big she'll be. Speaking of clothes, I'm so ready to start washing all her clothes (which will take me about a week)...but I'm waiting to see if I get any of the "Dreft" detergent at any of my showers.

I know Adam is about tired of me being pregnant. He's ready for me to be normal again and for all my mood swings and emotional outbursts to subside. Only 5 more weeks babe (or sooner)! Well, I've got to start winding down...work always comes on Monday! Goodnight!

Christmas 2009...Success!

2009-12-28T16:32:00.000-05:00

This Christmas seemed to fly by! It seemed like Adam and I had our schedule jammed packed with shopping, cooking, wrapping, spending time with friends & family, volunteering, etc. It's always fun though because we get to do all this stuff we never do during the year!

It all started a couple of days before Christmas when my Dad's kids all got together to spend time with each other at my Dad's house. I always love doing that because I don't really get to see my brothers and sisters often. Christmas Eve was our church's Christmas Eve service which was amazing! Adam and I were able to volunteer that night and see hundreds of life changes. That night we went over to his parent's house and had Christmas with them. They got Adam and I a very useful, sweet Christmas gift...go here to see it. Christmas day, we woke up and I cooked Adam breakfast with my new waffle maker that his parents gave us. We had breakfast together and then got ready for the day's festivities! We headed off to my mom's side of the family in Rock Hill and then went back to my Mom's house to have Christmas with her. After we left there, we went down to my Dad's side of the family and had Christmas there. It was definitely a packed day, but I loved being able to see all my family that I never really get to see otherwise.

This Christmas was also our last Christmas as just a married couple. Next Christmas it will be me, Adam and Leah! I can't wait! She'll be 10 months old and probably crawling around and able to tear open some presents! I'm so excited for that! Anyway...this Christmas was great and I was so blessed to be able to spend it with the best husband in the world and the best families anyone could ever ask for! Hope everyone else had a very Merry Christmas!

All Done!

2009-12-23T13:24:00.000-05:00

Today marks the day we finally finished all of our Christmas shopping! The day before Christmas eve...that's how we do it! And...we've wrapped everything too! Well, Adam wrapped everything...I was the "tape giver outer". Adam has some mad wrapping skills, so I let him do his thing! The next two days are going to be very busy with us. I've got to say that I am truly more excited about Christmas eve than I am Christmas! I cannot wait to go to our church's Christmas Eve service downtown! There has been a lot of talk about this event for months and tomorrow it is actually here! They had one today at 3pm and there are three services tomorrow. The amount of lives that will be changed will be unbelievable and I can't wait to experience it with my own eyes! I'm sure I will have a lot to talk about after the next two days, so until then...Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Something New

2009-12-21T19:31:00.000-05:00

I've started something new...well...I've started a couple of things new, but I'll save those for different posts. As you all probably know, Adam and I are expecting our first daughter on February 12, 2010. Throughout my pregnancy I have been writing letters to her telling her what's been going on. So...I thought it would be a great idea to start another blog fully devoted to letters to my precious baby girl. I'm NOT abandoning this blog...I will still be on here to write about everyday things, Elevation, my husband, work, life, etc. I just felt that since Leah is already so special to me I would start something new fully devoted to her. So, please check back here for updates and new posts, but please check out my new blog, "Letters to Leah"! I hope everyone has had a great Monday!

Exciting things to come!

2009-12-20T13:14:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow Adam and I are getting something special done. Our last ultrasound of Leah was at about 18 weeks when we found out she was a girl. I have been wanting to get another ultrasound just to see her again and to re-assure myself that she is my little princess. I was told that we wouldn't get another ultrasound unless it was necessary. Some of our close friends in our small group recommended some places to get a 3D ultrasound done. I checked them out and they had some great specials going on (maybe because of Christmas), but we are getting one tomorrow! It's our Christmas present to each other this year and we are both so excited! You get to invite up to 10 family members to come and sit in a theater style room and see the ultrasound on a 100 inch screen. So, Adam's parents, his brother, my mom and dad, and my sister are all coming to see Leah. I couldn't be more excited because if you've ever seen the before and after pictures of these ultrasounds, it's pretty amazing how close they look like their ultrasound picture when they are born! Technology is amazing! I will be sure to post some pictures after we get them!

On another note, I said in my previous post that if I did any Christmas shopping I would update you...well...we did! Saturday we got some of our shopping done, but not all of it. We braved the mall and pushed through our way of the crowded aisles. Adam and I told each other that when we go back, we will definitely be going in the morning.

Today was an exciting day at our church because it was the commitment day for our one year pledge for the building we are building in Blakeney. The leaders of the church gave a couple of weeks ago and the outcome was simply God. 400 leaders gave $1.5 which was the amount we had to have by the end of the year to close on the land. I am so proud to be apart of such a huge move of God and I could not think of something better to give to than a church who is investing in the city of Charlotte and more importantly in the lives of millions of people around the globe. Today we had the privilege of giving away $250,000 to the different outreach ministries we partner with around Charlotte. I'm still in awe of the generosity and faith of our church and Adam and I feel truly blessed to be apart of just a portion of it.

I hope everyone has a great Sunday night...I'm scared to ask this question...Vikings or Panthers?

1 more day...

2009-12-17T07:33:00.000-05:00

Yes...just 1 more day until mine and Adam's Christmas break starts! I could not be more excited! Everyone is always asking me how I feel and up until yesterday I've said I feel great! Yesterday it kind of hit me like a ton of bricks! I came home exhausted and took a long nap. It seems like now I am getting more and more tired especially toward the end of the day and when I get home, I just want to crash! I guess being 32 weeks pregnant will do it to ya. So, needless to say, I am looking forward to my Christmas break spending time with Adam and the rest of our family and friends!

As usual, we have not even started on our Christmas shopping (we're last minute shoppers)...we might start tonight, but you never know with us! I will try and keep you updated on our progress, but if you don't see a lot of updates you can probably guess that we haven't gotten very far. Until then...Feliz Navidad!

I understand...

2009-12-08T08:28:00.000-05:00

Yes, I understand if I don't have any readers anymore because of me being lazy and not posting more regularly. But for those of you who seem to find your way back to my pitiful little blog I call "2 are better than 1", I appreciate you! I promise to be better about posting in the future because I know all of you are dying to know what's going on in my very eventful life...haha!

Anyway, this post will be kind of random since I haven't posted in a while. I don't have any updated nursery pictures yet (tear), but I will soon. Currently, Leah's room is full of Christmas boxes and some other random things like our vacuum, so I'll wait until we have a place to put those things to let the outside world in on our little girl's sweet bedroom.

Speaking of Christmas, Adam and I went and picked out our Christmas tree the Friday after Thanksgiving. It's a tradition his family has done since he's been little and a new tradition for Adam and I to do together. This year was our third year picking our tree and it was fun just like every year. Next year, we'll have a little girl we'll have to keep bundled up out on the tree farm! Leah and Mom just might have to stay in the car and let Dad do the picking...we might tough it out though! Usually, we put our tree in a corner in our living room. If we did that, we'd have to rearrange all our furniture, which is a lot of work. This year, since I'm 30 weeks pregnant, and Adam's back still isn't all that great, we decided on a different location. I have to say I like it a lot better where we put it! You can see our tree from all angles...from the living room, dining room, hallway, and kitchen (yes, we do have a small, but cozy house). It's great! Adam put the lights on 2 Sunday's ago and we finally decorated it this past Sunday. I love it!

I know that I've also promised you some belly shots. I have to admit, Adam and I haven't done too well on those either. Man, if I'm going to be a Mom in 10 weeks, I better get it together! :) Anyway, I'll give you two pictures of my belly at 29 weeks. Hopefully from here on out, I'll have a picture a week for you to see my sweet baby girl growing!

I'm so in love with her! Have a great Tuesday!

Nursery Pics

2009-11-08T14:43:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are a few pics of Leah's nursery. It's pretty empty now...we still have to get a mattress, some rugs, etc., but we do have her bedding ordered! A huge thanks goes out to Adam's parents for helping us tape the room and paint...we've couldn't have done it without you (no really, I do not like painting)! And the bookshelf you see is the one I got for Adam's birthday 2 years ago which he painted and did a great job on! It looks awesome babe!

Leah, your room is coming together! We are even more excited to meet you very soon! But for now, you just stay nice and warm in there and we'll meet you in about 14 weeks! We love you!

[caption id="attachment_346" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Here we are in the painting process."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_344" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="The finished product."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_349" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="We are going to recover the rocker you see."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_350" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="The bookcase Adam painted."][/caption]

I will be sure to add some more pictures as we do more stuff, so be sure to check back!

Happy Birthday Leah!

2009-11-07T07:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Leah turned 26 weeks. I can't believe it! She is getting so big and is moving around so much! I was getting ready for work yesterday and something hit me…I think I finally realized how big I am getting. I've had such a good pregnancy so far and I feel very blessed to have a healthy baby but I got up yesterday and I found it hard for me to catch my breath. It kind of feels like everything is pushed up in my chest. I know…i know this is just one of the secrets of pregnancy that I am slowly but surely funding out, but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

On another note, Leah's nursery is coming out quite nicely! Adam's parents came over and they helped us paint the nursery. We ended up painting it a color I found online…Robin's egg by Benjamin Moore. It's kind of a blue green color. We are going to be putting accents of a bright sunshine yellow color in it as well. I have some pictures but I'm writing this on my phone so I'll have to upload them later.

Well we are on our way up to Boone for the ASU game so when we get back I'll have some nursery pictures and maybe even a belly picture or two. Have a great Saturday!

My Amazing Husband

2009-10-23T07:41:00.000-04:00

Well, yesterday was just one of those days. Let me explain...woke up, went to work, had a dentist appt. to get 2 cavities filled, came back to school because my girls had 2 back-to-back games to cheer at, and finally got home at around 9:30pm. That may not seem like a long day to some of you, but to a pregnant person, it's a different story!

Taking our stuff out of the car and transporting it to the house from the garage is an ordeal for us (just because we always have so much stuff)! So when we pulled into the garage last night I was not looking forward to lugging all my stuff in from the day...but when I opened the trunk, I saw a very pretty wrapped gift with a card on top that said, "Elizabeth". My spirits immediately lifted because I love surprises! I asked Adam who it was from and he wouldn't tell me.

Well, when we got inside I opened the card and, what do you know, it was from my amazing husband! Now, let me preface this a little...

You see being pregnant is a wonderful thing, but when your clothes start to get tight and you have to "button" your jeans with a rubber band, and even when your comfy t-shirts are fitting snug, it seems like your insecurities are at an all time high. Even though you know you have a growing baby inside you and it's a wonderful thing, there's still something that's hard about not fitting into your "normal" clothes (at least from a pregnant woman's point of view...all my pregnant friends know what I'm talking about)! It's always an ordeal for me to pick out what I'm going to wear the next day and Adam always finds me standing in my closet staring at my pre-pregnancy clothes wishing I could still wear some of them. Every time before he leaves me in my slumber, he always embraces me and tells me I am beautiful no matter what I look like.

Ok, so I start to open my gift and I find two, yes two, very cute maternity long sleeve shirts that fit like a glove and a bag of Reece's! My man knows me! I love it that my hubby has a great sense of style and I love it even more when he tucks all my insecurities away and makes me feel beautiful...as long as he thinks I am, that's all that matters (and it makes me a happy girl)!

I know this may seem un-important to you, but it's the little things that count and when Adam does these things for me to show me he loves me, it speaks volumes! So, thank you to my sweet husband whom I love with all my heart! Thank you for being my best friend, the man of my dreams, my soul mate, and Leah's father. You mean the world to me and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Grumbling and Complaining

2009-10-15T16:22:00.000-04:00

This morning, Adam and I did a devotion together and it was on grumbling and complaining. It really hit me hard because now that I think about it, (if I'm being honest) I grumble and complain quite often. It could be over big stuff or the smallest thing...but I do it. I think it's our natural reaction when things don't go our way. We are such a self-centered society, wanting anything and everything we can get our hands on. Whether it's a certain job, guy, more money, etc...we just want things to go our way and if they don't we hang our heads and complain and whine about it.

As Christians we need to remember that in order for God's will to happen for our lives we have to do things His way...not ours (that was from our pastor. It's so true though...how far do you think you'll get in life if your way doesn't happen and you just mope around about it? You are in your position (whatever you do) for a reason and even though you know in your heart it's not where you're going to be forever, you have to be patient and realize God has you there for a specific purpose...it could just be a small stepping stone to something bigger and better He has for your life in the future! God works for the good of those who love him...He's on your side! Stay faithful to Him through the little things (don't grumble or complain) and you will slowly start to see what exactly He has planned for your life.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing." ~Philippians 2:14

Half Way There!

2009-10-01T10:17:00.000-04:00

My Sweet Princess,
I cannot believe that in less than 20 weeks you will be in my arms! I am so excited to see your sweet face! I know you are going to be breathtakingly beautiful! I love it when you let me know that you're in there and sometimes I can't even sleep at night because you love to dance!

On Monday (9/28), your Daddy and I had our 5th doctor's appointment (or I like to call it the "half way doctor's appt."). Everything went perfectly! The nurse took your heart beat and it was 146 bpm which she said was great! When the doctor came in, she measured my belly and I measured right at 20 weeks. You are perfectly on track! Although, I do feel like I have grown over night...especially at the end of the day! You are growing so fast! They didn't take any pictures of you this time, which was kind of a bummer because I love to see what you're doing in there! Most of the time you are sleeping, or sucking your thumb, but sometimes you are a squirmy little thing! (Maybe Mommy needs to lay off the sugar)! They also took my weight and she said that was normal too. The nurse told me I should gain about a pound a week from here on out. We'll see how that goes! I will go back to the doctor again when you are 24 weeks for another checkup.

Time seems to be flying by so quickly and I want to make sure that I cherish this special time I have with you. I never want to take any kick, squirm, jab, or weird pain for granted! Your Daddy and I love you so much and we thank the Lord everyday for our little miracle! So for the meanwhile, stay warm in there, and don't kick me too hard (well...just kidding, you can do whatever you like!) and we will see you in about 20 weeks!

Love Your Mommy

Powerful Sunday

2009-09-21T17:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, our church had a one weekend only "Student Takeover" event. Pastor Steven reached out to our students yesterday and the results were amazing! Over 7000 in attendance at all of our locations, and 500 salvations! God is incredible and His glory is displayed at Elevation every Sunday!

Even though Pastor preached to the students, his message was applicable to everyone! I believe one of his greatest gifts is, of course, preaching, but also being able to relate to everyone in the room. He listed the 4 most important questions students/adults would have to answer.

The first question was "What is that in your hand"? This was a question of calling. He used the passage out of Exodus 4:2-5 (read it). God has given you a gift...something that you're passionate about. What's the potential God has put in your hand for you to use to change your generation? You should surrender it and let God's work be shown through your actions.

The second question was "Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God"? This is a question of acceptance. I think this is the one I struggle with the most. Pastor said something a couple of weeks ago which made me think of this: "Don't let your need for acceptance interfere with other people's need for Jesus" (I might have said that before on here)...but it's so true! We shouldn't be so selfish-minded and worried over what "man" thinks of us. Salvation is through Christ alone...read this. Pastor commented on the whole VMA incident with Kanye West and Taylor Swift. He said that it wasn't Kanye's award to give, so he should've kept his mouth shut (I added the last part). Basically when it comes down to it, when you face Jesus one day, you'll either accept your award of eternity in Heaven, or the total opposite. Ok, I've talked enough about that one. :)

The third question was "How can a young man keep his way pure"? This is a question of integrity and Pastor used this verse to answer it. It's pretty straight forward in my opinion. Live according to His word. Everyone always says "it's impossible in today's culture to do that"...no it's not. Pastor said that it is very possible to live in a counter-cultural way. Live according to God's design.

The fourth, and last, question was "Who do you say I am"? A question of eternity. Jesus asked this to Simon Peter here. Pastor gave the example of "Facebook Faith" which was very relevant to students as well as adults. If you don't know what facebook is...basically it's a social networking site where you have the option to "accept" people you may know to become your friends. Jesus isn't up in Heaven looking for "friends" down here on earth. It's not like he's lonely. So often, the question comes up..."have you accepted Jesus into your heart?" Jesus doesn't want your acceptance...He wants you to be a fully devoted follower of Him. It's not who your friends say He is, or who your parents say He is...but who do you say He is?

Ok, I know this was a long post and thank you for reading if you got to the end! It was a huge Sunday at our church and something totally worth sharing about! You should really watch the sermon for yourself...Pastor Steven does a lot better job than I do! Go here to watch. Enjoy!

PS: My belly's getting bigger (pics to come)!

It's a...

2009-09-09T13:02:00.000-04:00

Well, today Adam and I went to the doctor and we found out what we're having! All the days leading up to this day crawled by and now...we know! I am so excited to finally start thinking about names, colors for the nursery, registering, buying clothes, and so much more!! The nurse said that she was for sure of the sex of the baby and that we had nothing to worry about. The ultrasound was mainly done today to make sure our baby has everything...2 eyes, 1 nose, 1 mouth, 2 arms, 2 legs, etc. and also of course to tell us whether we were having a boy or girl! Everything looked great and our baby's heart rate was 143 bpm.

Well, I can't hold it back anymore...to everyone who thought we were having a boy...you're WRONG!

IT'S A GIRL!

Yay! Adam and I are so excited and we couldn't be more thankful and feel more blessed that the Lord has given us a daughter! What's even better is that my sister had her little girl 10 months ago, so they'll be close enough in age to be playmates...and to get her hand-me-downs! Anyway, we're so excited and we wanted to share with all our readers the great news! Check back for updates!

17 weeks!

2009-09-04T09:12:00.000-04:00

Today marks me being 17 weeks pregnant! I can't believe how fast it's already gone! Pretty soon, I'll be at the half way point! Crazy stuff! I get these little updates every week telling me how things are going, how big my baby is, and how I'm changing. This week, our little one is as big as an onion and is about 5 inches long. We go this coming Wednesday to find out if it's a boy or a girl and we can't wait! Looks like from my poll that people think it's a girl...we'll see! Anyway, just a random little post about my sweet baby! Hope everyone has a great Labor Day Weekend!

Back to School...

2009-08-30T15:38:00.000-04:00

This past Wednesday, Adam and I started back to school. I have to admit, it was pretty hard to get back into the swing of things (and I'm still trying to adjust), but I think this year is going to be a great year! Last year was the first year the Elementary students had Spanish, so this year I feel like they're starting off with more of a foundation...which makes it a little easier (and more fun) for me and for them! I am also teaching TK and K this year which is new, but they are so cute...I can't wait!

One day this past week I talked with my 6th graders how Spanish and the Great Commission are related. It was really neat because I could see their minds turning and really making the connection between the two. I told them that I looked up the word "commission" and found that it means things like, to give an order to, or someone granted authority to do a particular action.

The "Great" Commission (or great order) says that we (as Christians) should go and make disciples of all nations. God, who is over all authority gives us the power to be witnesses here on earth until He comes back. Today, we went to Adam's parent's church and we got to go to their Sunday School class. Adam's Dad taught their class today and he talked about this very thing. I thought it was really neat because it was pretty much the same thing I talked about with my class on Friday. He taught in Acts 2:1-14 and specifically in verse 8, it tells us that we are given the power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us to become witnesses not only to the world around us, but even to the people as close as our next door neighbors.

We all "know" we should be witnesses to the people around us, but how many of us are actually bold enough to act upon the "order" that we are given from God, himself? I know that I have been guilty many times, but all it takes is one sentence to hopefully change someone's destiny. I was looking over my service notes one Sunday where our pastor talked about our faith and witnessing to others, when the Lord put something on my heart. I wrote it down because I didn't want to forget it. Now, I'm not one of those people that say they "hear" God, but I do believe that He speaks to you many different ways and you should always have your ears and heart open to listen. Here's what He gave me...

"Don't let your insecurities get in the way of other people's need for Jesus".

In the words of my Pastor, "you have everything you need, to do everything God has called you to do". So...don't let the devil talk you out of speaking the truth to someone! Odds are, he probably will, so expect it, but don't give into it!

Anyway, that's my little word of encouragement to myself and to all of you! Thanks for reading! :)

Another Doc. appt...

2009-08-14T04:53:00.000-04:00

We had another doctor's appointment this past Wednesday to get my results back from all the bloodwork. Everything came back normal and my doctor told me the risks for miscarriage go down tremendously since I am in my 2nd trimester. We also got to hear our baby's heartbeat again which is always a good sound! I've only gained a pound so far, but she told me I will start gaining about .5 lb per week now. I've also gotten kind of lazy on my exercising, but I plan to start back soon!

The past 3 days we've had cheerleading camp for the girls at the school. My future sister-in-law (whose also the coach for ASU) came down and did the camp for us. It was very fun and helpful, but also very hot and exhausting! I guess it gave me a little taste of how I'll feel after a full workday. Afternoon naps are definitely going to help me, and my sweet husband encourages me to take them because he knows I'm tired. I love him!

Adam and I will go back to the doctor in about 4 weeks to see what we're having (I'm about 14 weeks along). It's crazy because it seems to go by so fast! So...I want to leave everyone with a little poll...girl or boy?

[polldaddy poll=1873754]

13 weeks...I've graduated!

2009-08-04T15:58:00.000-04:00

I am officially 13 weeks. Yes...I've graduated into my 2nd trimester! Woo hoo! No more queseyness...(well maybe a little more). Adam and I went to our 3rd doctor's appt. this past Monday for my 1st Trimester screening. The nurse took some pictures (which I'll post at the end) and I got some blood taken. She told us that as far as she can tell with the pictures, everything looks great, but we won't know for sure until my bloodwork comes back. We go back next Wednesday to get all the results.

While she was taking the ultrasound, she needed to get a specific picture, but low and behold...our baby was sound asleep! She even poked around on my stomach to see if she could wake him/her up...no such luck! I guess that could be a good thing when they come into this world! So most of the pictures you'll see, the baby is sleeping!

I've pretty much gotten out of being quesey feeling all the time. The only time I feel bad is when I wait too long to eat. The tiredness is still there and I've had people tell me that it only gets worse! I'll be starting back work in a couple weeks, so I guess we'll see how it goes...pray for Adam!

Our little baby is so cute already (maybe I'm a little biased)! I'll leave you with a few pictures of Baby Hamilton...

[caption id="attachment_291" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="A profile shot (head is to the right)."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_294" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="This is one of my favorites...he/she looks all snuggled up!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_296" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Another profile shot!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_297" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Here\'s a close up...you can see its nose, lips, and chin! (very photogenic already)!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_298" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="A good shot of its arm...and all 5 fingers!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_299" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Here\'s a shot of its legs...his/her feet are heel to heel."][/caption]

Not Feeling Good

2009-07-15T13:59:00.000-04:00

Well, today I am officially 10 wks pregnant. Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with all the throw-up stuff. Unfortunately, I am queasy all the time and I feel exhausted most of the day. Nothing (food wise) sounds good to me so it's hard for me to stir up an appetite. Thankfully, I only have 3 more weeks of this stuff! Check back for updates...I've got to find something to eat :(

Long time...BIG news!

2009-07-09T06:23:00.000-04:00

First of all, my apologies for abandoning this blog! I guess you could say there was a drought, famine, or whatever you want to call it on the "2 are better than 1" blog. Anyway, my last post was Memorial Day and there has been a lot going on since then.

Let's see if I can sum up...Adam and I went to the beach with my family for a week. It was the first time in probably 12 years that I have been down with my side of the family and we had a blast. Adam discovered his love of fishing thanks to my Uncle Drenner and his boat.
When we got back, Adam's dad, my dad and I entered a 5k on a golf course. Hard stuff. Anyway, it turns out that I won 1st Female overall and Adam's dad won 3rd in his age group! It was his first race he'd ever run...congrats Dad #2! I'll post pics later...

The last week in June we got to go to the beach again with Adam's family. This was my 4th year going with them (I think) and I always love going down there. We rent a house at Ocean Isle with about 12 of his other family members and it's one trip that I look forwad going on every year! I'll post pics later for that too...

I've saved the biggest news of the summer for last...drum roll please...
On June 10th, 2009, Adam and I found out that we are expecting!! Yes, it is true, I am currently 9 weeks pregnant! People have asked us, "did you plan it?, was it a surprise?", well...let's just say God's timing is perfect and He knows what He's doing! It actually works out pretty good...I'm due February 12th, 2010 and will be out for so many weeks, then I won't have long until I get to stay home with the baby for the summer! Adam and I both are truly excited about this new chapter that has begun in our lives. There will be some changes, but change is always good...right? Now, I am new at this...obviously...so check back because I may have questions, wonderings, and comments for all you moms out there to help me out with! Until then, I'll leave you with our first pictures of our little gummy bear!
[caption id="attachment_278" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Gummy bear #1"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_279" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Gummy bear #2"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_280" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Gummy bear #3"][/caption]

We are truly excited to see what God as blessed us with. Please keep us in your prayers as well as our little one! I'm sure I'll be posting a lot more in the coming months with updates and such...so be sure to check back!

PS: (It feels good to have finally gotten that secret out!)

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T17:45:00.000-04:00

Adam and I got back from the beach today for a Memorial Day weekend trip...it was also biker week down there, but that in itself is another post for the future!

To be honest with you, I've only really started appreciating Memorial Day a couple of years ago. Before, it was always the question, "beach or no beach?". When we got home today, I was checking some emails and of course, my facebook, and I came across a picture that my Uncle Drenner posted of my Paw Paw in WWII:
[caption id="attachment_271" align="aligncenter" width="453" caption="On the island of Okinawa in WWII"][/caption]

Adam never got a chance to meet my Paw Paw because he died of liver cancer in 2000. My Paw Paw was a great man of honor, integrity, loyalty, kindness, generosity, and a whole bunch of other qualities. The best quality I think he possessed was his love. He loved the Lord first, his wife second, his family third, and his church next. The one that I most admire about him was his love for his wife.

My Maw Maw was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and instead of putting her in a nursing home, my Paw Paw chose to take care of her at home with the help of my Mom and her brothers. The amount of love that he showed towards my Maw Maw was undeniably sincere, even when she had no idea who he was or what he was doing in her house. The amount of strength he had to love and take care of his wife till death do them part was incredible. My Maw Maw went to be with the Lord in 1998 at their house in the early morning under a beautiful sunrise.

My favorite memory of my Paw Paw was when he would make his famous fudge for everyone at Christmas time! It was to die for! I found a recipe to try to mimic what he had made and it tasted just like it, only I can't find it anymore! He also taught me how to play "13". It's a solitare game where he told me, "you won't win but once every 20 times you play, but you have to play consecutive times and you have to shuffle about 20 times in between each time you play". Needless to say, I've only won a handful of times! When all the grandkids were little he would also dress up as Santa Claus and come to the house and let us sit on his lap to tell him what we wanted for Christmas.

I have so many good memories of my Grandparents and I am so thankful to have gotten to know them as I grew up! I will never forget my Maw Maw's smile and hearing her be called her nickname, "tootsie"! I will also never forget my Paw Paw's hugs and the way he looked at my sister and I when we would leave their house.

Thank you Paw Paw for your service in the military. I will forever be grateful! Someday soon we will meet again and have a huge family reunion with our Heavenly Father!! Until then, you both will always be in my heart!

A Bad Mouth

2009-05-21T07:25:00.000-04:00

I have a bad mouth...no, not that way...I mean my teeth are bad! It all started yesterday when I went for my routine 6 month (maybe it's been longer than that) checkup at the dentist. A little background information...I HATE the dentist (no offense)! You know how little kids grow up with bad ears and have ear infections all the time...not me, I had a bad mouth. Ever since I can remember everytime I went to the dentist they always told me I needed to come back to get a cavity filled or something. Throughout my life, I've probably had 10 cavities, 2 root canals, two crowns, and my wisdom teeth out...no one's counting.

So, I go to the dentist yesterday expecting them to tell me, "oh, well, you have a small cavity forming, but it can wait a couple of months.", no, no, no...instead, this is how it went down:

Dental Hygenist: I think I see some cavities...let me go get the dentist.
Dentist: Oh my, you do have some cavities!
Me: (rolling my eyes)
Dentist: It looks like you have 4 cavities...2 on both sides of your mouth.
Me: (Great).
Dentist: And it also appears that you have one cavity under your crown.
Me: (thinking to myself)...how in the world do I have a cavity under a crown on a tooth that has had a root canal???
Dentist: Let me get my instrument and poke around just to make sure...(poking)...yes, there's a cavity under there alright.
Dentist: (talking to me)...we'll have to go in and remove the crown, fill the cavity, and replace the crown on that tooth.
Dentist: [Lynn] schedule her for her appts.

Man, just my luck. So, after I get all scheduled, the insurance lady tells me how this all works out...can I just say, "whoa"! Talk about some expensive visits!!

I just want to say to my Mom and Dad...and now to Adam...I'm sorry for all the mouth trouble I've caused you guys. I vow to cut back on my sugar intake and I promise to take better care of my teeth (not that I don't brush already!). Just pray that this isn't genetic!

A massive amount of sweets = lots of money
A new toothbrush/floss = $4.47
Amount of gas it took to get to the dentist = $2.78
Dentist Visit = Free
5 Cavities & a Crown = NOT Priceless!

A Face Lift

2009-05-19T10:31:00.002-04:00

To all my readers (there maybe 5 of you) :) I've changed my blog site. I will not be posting on this particular site anymore...there's a new one.

Go here to check it out.

I will keep this up for a little bit, but I will soon be deleting this blog. If you know of anyone who reads...pass this along...I don't want to lose my readers! Anyway, hope you like the new look! It's still a work in progress, so be patient with me! See you there!

A Little Change Never Hurt Anyone...

2009-05-19T06:29:00.000-04:00

I've changed again...ok, not me...just my blog! I have always wondered how I could convert my old blogging host to a new one. Well, I did some looking around and figured out how to do it! (I'm proud of myself...I'm almost up there in "computer saviness" with my sweet hubby)! Don't ask me why, I just wanted something different...I'm one of those people who like to change things around a lot for no particular reason(especially furniture). I will post a link from my old site to my new one, but if you know of any readers who aren't up on the times yet...pass the word along! I've made it easy on you...

old blog: www.elizabethhamilton.blogspot.com
new blog: www.elizabethhamilton.wordpress.com

Aside from all the changes, Adam and I are done with school for the year!! Wooo! We have teacher workdays until Thursday, and then Friday we leave for the beach! We officially have 88 days of relaxing and enjoying the best season of all...summer! Teaching has it's downfalls sometimes, but the advantages outweigh them by far!

Here's to a little change and a relaxing summer!!

5k...Ear Infection...Mother's Day...Graduation

2009-05-14T09:47:00.019-04:00

Ok...a lot has happened since I've posted last! My apologies for not posting sooner, in a more consistent fashion :)!

This past Saturday, my Dad and I ran in the Beach Blast 5k in Albemarle, NC. It was a ton of fun! I grew up running races, and I haven't ran one in a while and I forgot how much fun they were! I had a blast hanging out with my Dad and my time wasn't too shabby either (26:45)! We plan on running another one June 6th in Locust, NC. Races are good to run because they keep you motivated and disciplined training for them, and you always have a good feeling of accomplishment after you finish! Here are a few pics from the Beach Blast!

This was pre-race...

Running the last stretch

My Dad and I after the race

This past week I had a cold which ended up in my ear. After the race on Saturday it was killing me so we went to the Urgent Care and they put me on anti-biotics. They've worked, but I can't hear a thing out of my left ear. It's very annoying, but I've kind of gotten used to it now.

My poor ear...

Sunday was Mother's Day and Graduation day for John Mark. My mom and I went to church Sunday morning and had the privilege of hearing Pastor's wife, Holly, speak. Go here to listen to it...great stuff! Adam and I both gave our mom's the coolest present! We got 2 baskets and filled them with some of their favorite things. My mom loves the beach (I wonder where I get that from!) so we thought it would be a good idea to fill her basket with beach stuff...which is great because we're going in 2 weeks!

Here are their baskets (my mom's is the one on the left)

Mom, I just want to tell you how much of a great mother you are! You have raised me to be the person that I am today and I can't thank anyone else but you! It's my job now to make you feel like the most special person on this earth and I love doing it! You are truly my hero and my role model and I love you with my whole heart!

After my mom and I hung out together for a couple of hours Adam, his family and I headed up to Boone to see John Mark graduate. We were so proud of him and I know his mom couldn't have had a more perfect Mother's day gift than to see her son graduate!

Here's all of us minus Adam and Amanda

Brothers...

Well, that's it...but if I'm posting all these pictures, I can't leave out the cutest one of the bunch!

She's ready for summer!

(raising my right hand)...I, Elizabeth Hamilton, do hereby promise to post a lot more frequent, consistent posts so I do not have to smush everything into one long post for my readers to get bored reading. Thanks!

5k...Ear Infection...Mother's Day...Graduation

2009-05-14T09:47:00.018-04:00

2 are better than 1

2009-05-05T12:39:00.006-04:00

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my sweetie! Two years ago today I married the greatest person in the world! I can't believe it has been 2 years! Adam has been everything I've ever wanted in a husband and he has definitely made all my dreams come true! Unfortunately, I am sick today, but Adam has made me feel like a princess!

It all started last night...yesterday, today, Thursday and Friday I have cheerleading tryouts for HGBCS which are from 5-7. Adam and I drove separately to school yesterday, so he went home when I stayed at the school. He knew that I started feeling bad yesterday, so he told me he'd have everything taken care of when I got home. Man, oh man! Well, it was pouring when I left school last night, so I was completely soaken, which didn't help the way I felt. I was really down in the dumps as I was driving home and having a pity party for myself. But when I got to the back door of our house, I saw a vase of flowers on the counter, candles lit, dinner ready, a completely clean house, laundry done, trash taken out, lunches made for the next day, and coffee on auto for the next morning. All that with a bad back makes my man the greatest man alive!

This morning I woke up feeling worse and didn't want to get out of bed. My straightener is terrible, so you can probably guess that I wasn't in a good about my hair (it's a girl thing). Then, here comes Adam around the corner with a card in his hands. It was the sweetest card and his words couldn't have come at a more perfect time (he told me that I was beautiful)...my hair wasn't much of a worry then. Today, we also had to drive separately to school because Adam has therapy right after. Well, the coffee didn't really turn out this morning, which was a bummer, but come to find out Adam made a surprise trip by McDonald's to get us some coffee and a biscuit! He's such a sweetie!

I teach some of the kids that he has for Spanish and they all came in today wishing us a Happy Anniversary and told me that I was all he talked about in Spanish class. I was probably blushing, but I didn't care. Then one student said, "yea Mrs. Hamilton, 2 years are better than 1"! She was exactly right! I know it's kind of Corny, but 2 years are better than 1...hence my title!

Thank you Adam for an amazing two years! You are the man of my dreams and you have totally swept me off my feet! Every girl's dream is to be a princess in a fairy tale and I can definitely say that I am living my dream! Love you hottie! Here's to many more years together as husband and wife!

PS: Adam and I are both Spanish teachers, so I can't end this post without saying, "Feliz Cinco de Mayo"!

2 are better than 1

2009-05-05T12:39:00.005-04:00

Powerful Stuff

2009-04-28T13:47:00.004-04:00

Well, if you read my last post, you could probably tell that I am very proud of my church and my Pastor! This past Sunday was incredible and was a home run for what Pastor Steven wanted to happen! If you haven't heard, or don't know, Ted & Gayle Haggard came to Elevation and told their story of forgivness and grace. You can go here to listen to it. You will want to...you will be blessed!

Pastor Steven opened up the service by saying a few things before the Haggard's came out. He was talking about grace and one of the things he said was that we are a church that's full of grace. The Lord came and died for everyone, not just for a select few...and we ALL have fallen short of the glory of God. He also said that we were a church that stands for what we're for...not what we're against, and we are for God's grace and forgivness! Man, that just fires me up...doesn't it you?

I'm not going to go into detail about the interview (that's why I gave you a link)...but I do want to say something about one of the things Ted Haggard said. Pastor Steven asked him a question concerning his sin and how low things really got. Mr. Haggard's response was powerful! Of course he went on to say that things were the worst they've ever been, the lowest they've ever gotten. But then he said something that I've never thought about...

"As soon as sin becomes a secret, it has power."

Wow. Something clicked with me and it all made sense. Once your sin becomes a secret, it has power over you. That's why we're called, as believers, "to confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).

Don't keep your sins hidden...you have the power to overcome them...Jesus overcame them for you on the cross so that you may be victorious!! My heart fills with joy everytime I think about what He did! Why hide your sin and let it overtake you when Jesus has already paid that price for you? Confess your sins so that you may be healed! Believe in your heart that He loves you and died for you so that you may expierence the spiritual freedom that is offered. You are bound no more by your chains of darkness...all you have to do is believe and surrender your life to Him and you can expierence first hand what He has to offer you.

Whew...I didn't mean to preach, but I get so excited when I think about that and I just want everyone else to expierence the joy that I have because of what He's done for me. Thank you Jesus!!

Powerful Stuff

2009-04-28T13:47:00.003-04:00

Proud of my Pastor!

2009-04-24T10:16:00.003-04:00

I can't even begin to tell you the joy that I have in my heart for my church, and my pastor! I have never thought of Sunday as my favorite day of the week until 2 years ago when Adam and I started attending Elevation. Yes, that's right...not a Friday or Saturday, but Sunday! Last Sunday we had the privilege of hearing Pastor Steven live at the Uptown campus. It was amazing...as always! Pastor also made an exciting announcement...Ted Haggard will be joining Pastor on Sunday for an interview. Now, before you go crazy...check out the website Elevation made in honor of this Sunday to answer any questions you may have. He also appeared on Fox News Rising Thursday morning with Mark Mathis to talk about it. I am definitely proud of my Pastor! Mark Mathis even said, "this cat can preach"! You can go here to see the interview.

On another note, this past week I had the privilege of leading about 20 students to Christ!! Most of them were rededications, but about 6 or 7 of them were first time decisions! I told my kids that Jesus comes before Spanish and anytime I have the opportunity to talk about Him...I will. It's the greatest feeling in the world to have kids tell you they want to give their lives to Him! It reassures me that that's the reason I'm here teaching in this school! Woo!

This was a kind of random post, but I'll leave you with a quote I read that is pretty powerful..."The power that produces the blessing comes through brokenness and death, death by crucifixion." ~Max Lucado

Happy Friday!

Proud of my Pastor!

2009-04-24T10:16:00.002-04:00

Kids and Disney World

2009-04-15T10:15:00.004-04:00

Well, Spring Break is over and it's back to school. Sorry for the all the should-have-been posted updates that I never did! I'm a bad blogger. Anyway, Disney World was amazing and I would have to say that it is definitely in my top 3 vacations! If you've never been...GO! Especially since Adam and I don't have kids yet it was a fun experience for us! I'm sure things will be different when we do have kids with us. As Adam and I took one of our many breaks in the parks, we came up with a list of criteria for families taking kids to Disney World.

Disclaimer: This is mine and Adam's opinions, so if I offend anyone...sorry.

Criteria for taking Kids to Disney World:
1. They must meet the minimum age requirement of 7 (7 is kind of pushing it).
2. They must be able to walk on their own (no strollers)!
3. They must be able to go to the bathroom on their own.
4. Compromise is key if you have more than one kid when it comes to rides...so they must understand the concept of going on rides they don't want to or rides their other siblings want to go on.
5. Fighting/arguing is not an option...Disney World is a magical place...don't ruin it for your kids.
6. This kind of goes along with #5...don't yell at your kids in the park (especially in line)...you will be stared at and your kids will be mortified.
7. Make sure they understand your expectations of them and you're both on the same page.
8. HAVE FUN!!!

Adam and I came up with these "rules" as we saw each one of them being broken in the parks. I'm sure they'll change by the time we have kids...until then, it's just me and my babe (hopefully we'll be back soon)!

Here's what it kind of looked like:

Until then, I have to leave you with this...

M-I-C...see ya real soon!...K-E-Y...why? because we like you!...M-O-U-S-E!!

Kids and Disney World

2009-04-15T10:15:00.003-04:00

Florida - Sea World

2009-04-06T20:21:00.019-04:00

Well...we've made it to Florida! This is actually our 2nd day here. Yesterday was kind of like a "chill" day to just be lazy. Today we went to Sea World! It was so much fun! The weather has been nice so far...today was the worst day of this whole week and it wasn't even that bad (just a few showers here and there). The rest of the week is suppose to be sunny and in the lower 70s! Tomorrow is Adam's Dad's birthday, so we are going to the Magic Kingdom (he gets in free). I think that is the ultimate birthday present...going to Disney World on your birthday...man! Ok, back to Sea World...

First of all, when we got there we had to park clear across the other side of the highway (well, not really...just far away). We were able to catch a tram to the entrance which was good.

We stopped by the dolphins first...

Then headed over to the underwater viewings of Shamu...

Here's some of the Shamu show...

Then we saw some penguins...

Last but not least, the seals and sea lions...

Here are the nice people who allowed us to tag along (aka mom and dad #2)...

And here's us...

Ok, so I know this is a lot, but what do you expect?? It's Disney World! Make sure you check back for updates...Magic Kingdom tomorrow!!

Florida - Sea World

2009-04-06T20:21:00.018-04:00

Un día más

2009-04-02T07:59:00.003-04:00

Sí, solo hay un día más de un par de cosas. En primer lugar hay sólo un día dejó la escuela. Bueno para mí. Adam está fuera mañana para hacer frente a algunas cosas warrenty casa. Voy a tener un día complete de trabajo en la escuela y después voy a ser zona residencial de la partida de mi ultimo trabajo linces juego. Sniff Sniff. En Segundo lugar, sólo tengo un día más sin postres. Estoy tan emocionada y un plan para comer muchos postres en la próxima semana. He decidido que si alguna vez hacer esto de Nuevo que voy a hacer una promesa sin azúcar. Ahora que sería duro. Por ultimo sólo tenemos un día más hasta que la licencia de Disney World. No creo que me ha emocionado esta en mucho tiempo sobre algo. Esté a la defensive porque estoy seguro. Voy a publicar algunas actualizaciones durante la semana. Hasta Luego!

Ok...in English...

"Yes, there is only one day left for a couple of things. First and foremost, there is only one day left of school...well for me. Adam is taking tomorrow off to deal with some home warrenty stuff. I will have a full day of work at school and then I'll be heading uptown to work my last Bobcats game (sniff...sniff). Secondly, I only have one more day of no desserts! Yay! I am so excited and I plan to eat a lot of them next week! I have decided that if I ever do this again, I will do a "no sugar" promise. Now that would be close to impossible for me! Lastly, we only have one more day until we leave for Disney World!! I don't think I've been this excited about something in a long time! Keep a lookout because I'm sure I'll be posting some updates throughout the week! Until then...hasta luego!"

(I will not be doing a lot of posts like this...just wanted to change it up a little!)

Un día más

2009-04-02T07:59:00.002-04:00

Countdown Status...

2009-03-30T12:51:00.003-04:00

Well...only 4 more days until "operation no sweets" is over and 4 more days until we leave for Disney!! I cannot tell you how excited I am for this countdown to be over!! I have to say that even though I haven't been eating sweets, I have been eating other things that aren't too healthy for you either, so my "no sweets" thing was kind of neutralized with things like cereal and chips.

As far as Disney goes...I think I am more excited to go than a 7 year old on his birthday! I guess that's because I'm a huge kid at heart and I've only been to Disney once (I think I was 9). I have to stay positive during this week and keep myself busy because it is all I can do keep my mind off of Friday and wishing it was here! So, I'll leave you with a question...What was the best vacation you've ever been on and what made it so special?

Countdown Status...

2009-03-30T12:51:00.002-04:00

Clay jars, Torches, and Trumpets

2009-03-25T11:50:00.006-04:00

These are the 3 things Gideon and his army used to defeat the Midianites in Judges 7. No, there's no mistake...they had no double-sided swords, or shields...just clay jars, torches and trumpets. When I read this I didn't really take heart to the fact that these weapons are important to know about! It was only after I did a little more research to find the importance of these things to our spiritual life.

Now, if you know Gideon, you would know that he wasn't this great man. His family was the weakest of the Israelites and he was the youngest in his family (not a prime choice for a warrior). But the Lord had different plans for him. Gideon was called to deliver the Midianites into the Israelites hands with the Lord's strength. We all know how it turns out, but have you ever thought about the weapons that were used?

This is what I found...WE are the clay jars, Jesus is the torch within the jar, and our testimonies are the trumpet call which we are asked to sound. Maybe you've thought about this, but when I found this it all started to make sense. Every time trials, dips, or strife are among us we are forced to rely on the promises of God. We are forced to carry out His plan with obedience and have faith that His promises are true. We have to be fully broken to receive the life Jesus has for us. With each trial we face, our clay jar is cracked. (I don't know about you, but I have a lot of cracks in my jar). The more your clay jar is cracked, the brighter the torch (Jesus) can shine through. The more you become broken in Him, the more Christ will shine through your life.

Gideon defeated the Midianites by

"blowing the trumpets and smashing the jars grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted 'a sword for the Lord and for Gideon'" ~Judges 7:20

The Midianites ran for their lives and the Lord delivered them into Gideon's hand. The cracks in our jars show our weaknesses, but as Christians, the light that shines through the cracks show our power through Jesus Christ. There is great power in our weaknesses and the best victories often come when we are at our weakest. This enables Christ to shine brighter and receive all the glory when our trials have been defeated.

Have you ever heard the saying, "Jesus is the potter and I'm the clay"? Well, it's very true! The Lord will test you, He will allow trials to enter into your life, He will allow those cracks to appear until your jar is broken and all that's left is the torch lighting your path.

Don't become dis-heartened when you face trials. Your goal is to smash the clay jar so that the torch can shine!

Clay jars, Torches, and Trumpets

2009-03-25T11:50:00.005-04:00

Awesome Honey Pecan Pork Chops

2009-03-20T14:46:00.004-04:00

Adam, being the great husband that he is, came up with our "menu of meals" for the week and one of the meals he chose was Honey Pecan pork chops. I decided to ask my mom over for dinner last night and thought this would be the perfect thing to make. Let me just tell you..."awesome" doesn't quite describe it...it was more like a superb, delicious, yummy, tummy filling, satisfying, awesome dinner! It had just the right amount of sweetness to it (which made me happy)...kind of like a sweet potato! Anyway, I should of taken a picture of it, but I didn't. I'll leave you with the recipe so you can try it and then tell me how you like it!

1 1/4 lbs. boneless pork loin, lb.ed thin
1/2 cup all-purpose flour for coating
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup chopped pecans

1) In a shallow dish, mix together flour, salt and pepper. Dredge pork cutlets in the flour mixture.
2) In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add chops, and brown both sides. Transfer to a warm plate.
3) Mix honey and pecans into the pan drippings. Heat through, stirring constantly. Pour sauce over cutlets.

I served this with green beans and rolls and it was the perfect meal. I also made some extra chopped pecans and used them the next day for a salad (just an idea)...definitely a favorite of mine! Enjoy!

PS: Operation "No Sweets" - still a success...15 days until Disney!

Awesome Honey Pecan Pork Chops

2009-03-20T14:46:00.003-04:00

Operation "No Sweets" - Day 1

2009-03-16T12:46:00.003-04:00

So far so good on the no sweets until spring break thing. I do have about 9 more hours though til the end of the day. I have a feeling it will get harder, but I think as long as I can keep my mind off eating, I'll be ok.

On another note, I had a great Bible class today! I don't call myself the best bible teacher by any means, but today was great! I even had a student say, "This was a fun Bible class today!". I love it when I get to incorporate the things our Pastor says in my Bible class with the curriculum we are doing at that moment. I actually got to get in some things Pastor said in a few sermons in this one class! We are talking about Gideon in Judges 6-8 and how he was not your typical "warrior" but God chose him anyway to lead the Israelites. I was able to incorporate some of the things Pastor said in his "dip" series like the "3 R's"...Receive, Remember, & Respond. I told them that Gideon had to receive the activity God was sending him, remember God's past faithfulness even when Gideon doubted (the way God always brought the Israelites through battles), and respond to who God wanted him to become (a stong leader). Shoutout to Pastor Steven!

My kids also have a memory verse this week from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 which talks about honoring the body God gave you. We ended up talking about hanging out with the wrong crowds and how they will bring you down if you're not careful. I was so excited when I thought about this...I told them that we were going to do a little illustration. Adam's parents told me about an illustration that they did in their Sunday School class once. So, I got 2 students up front and pulled 2 desks up. I had one of my biggest (tallest) students stand on top of the chair and told him to try to pull the other student up to the 2nd chair. He tried and tried and couldn't do it. Then I told the student who was on the floor to try to pull Charlie down and he did right away. They had a blast with this and I proceeded to tell them that if you're hanging around people you shouldn't be around and you're telling yourself that you will change their ways, it's never going to happen. However, it is very easy for them to pull you down (out of God's hands) into their "world". I challenged them to look at their lives and ask themselves if who they're hanging out with is influencing their behaviors for the good or for the bad. Shoutout to Mom and Dad #2 (thanks for the idea)!!

Alright, sorry to keep rambling...keep watching for operation "no sweets" updates, and oh yea, 20 days til Disney!!

Operation "No Sweets" - Day 1

2009-03-16T12:46:00.002-04:00

Me, like desserts?...No!

2009-03-13T14:02:00.004-04:00

Well, if you know me at all, you know I love anything sweet (everything from chocolate to sweet potatoes). It has come to my attention that I am not really a healthy eater and that I eat way too many sweets! People tell me that it won't hurt me now, but I don't want to feel (or see) the hurt later. So I have made a goal.

"No sweets from now until the day we leave for Disney."

That is approximately 22 days. I can do that right? Let's keep our fingers crossed! Now, when I say sweets, I mean the bad sweets (like ice cream, candy, chocolate, cake, pies, etc.) I'm not taking out my fruit or sweet potatoes...I wouldn't last if I did that! I guess you could call this the "No Desserts Pact" or whatever you want to say. I will have updates on how I'm doing and if I maybe sneaked a few marshmallows in or something :) Until then, desserts = bad.

Me, like desserts?...No!

2009-03-13T14:02:00.003-04:00

Thank You IKEA

2009-03-09T18:09:00.007-04:00

Ever since IKEA opened a couple of weeks ago, Adam and I have been every chance we could get. Shhhhh...I have a secret...Adam likes going and picking out things for our house just as much as I do, and I have to say that he is pretty good at it! Everything has definately been a joint effort! Thanks Adam for the "interior designer" in you! I'll leave you with a few pics of our recent purchases...

Here is our desk

Here is our little couch & table

And our office...

PS: 29 days til Disney!

Thank You IKEA

2009-03-09T18:09:00.006-04:00

The Countdown has begun!

2009-03-04T14:08:00.004-05:00

In T-minus 31 days, Adam and I will be heading to Orlando, FL for spring break! Adam's parents invited us to go with them and we can't wait! I mean, how can you turn down a trip to Disney World (a place where all your dreams come true)??? Disney World is not just for kids people, it's for the kids at heart too! (I will always be a kid at heart, so I guess that means I can go for the rest of my life)! Adam and I are so excited and today I started my countdown (well I started it a couple of weeks ago, but it really begins now since it's so close). So, in 31 days, we will be at the place where only magical things happen!

Mickey, you better hold on to your ears...the Hamilton's will be there soon! (OK, that was a little Corney, forgive me!)

The Countdown has begun!

2009-03-04T14:08:00.003-05:00

New & Improved

2009-02-27T13:10:00.006-05:00

Adam and I have a new love...IKEA! I was dreaming of the day it would come to our town and it's here! IKEA is the biggest furniture distributor in the world. It originally started in Sweden and there are stores all over the world now (I have a 5th grader who told me she has been to ones in Germany, Russia, Paris, and here...I thought that was cool). Anyway, IKEA has anything and everything you could think of at a very low price...name it and they've got it (almost). For example, Adam and I have bought everything from a pack of knifes ($2.99), to a 6ft mirror ($99), to a toilet brush ($1). Here are some pictures to show off some new things we got for our living room...

Here is a shot of everything...

Here's our new mirror!

New pillows and vase...

If you haven't been there yet...go! If you don't have one in your town, check out ikea.com for your viewing pleasure.

New & Improved

2009-02-27T13:10:00.005-05:00

Talent at its Best!

2009-02-25T12:36:00.004-05:00

Our friends, Candice and Daniel, took pictures of us about a month ago (go here to see some of them...turn your volume up). As you can tell from their work, they are great at what they do! While they were taking our pics, they had an incredibly talented videographer (I think that's the word), Jared, shoot our "shoot" to catch Daniel and Candice in action for their new promo video. Can I just tell you that these are the best pictures anyone has ever taken of us and Adam and I cannot be more grateful for them!!

Listen up people...if you are in need of photographers for an event, wedding, new baby, or anything these are the people to get (click here)! They are so sweet and genuine and work together to achieve the best shots they can get! Taking pictures can be uncomfortable for some people, but they make you feel right at home and when you feel at home, you get amazing shots!

Candice and Daniel...this post is for you...thank you for taking amazing pictures for us, they will be forever cherished! Keep doing what you're doing, you both are very talented photographers and I can't wait to see where your business takes you!

Talent at its Best!

2009-02-25T12:36:00.003-05:00

Bleed Purple...

2009-02-23T12:37:00.003-05:00

Our pastor just finished a series called the "Purple People Leader". (Go here to check it out). Basically it was a series all about pulling the leadership potential out of anyone and everyone. This series definitely encouraged me...especially with the job that I have now! I am in a position to bring out leadership qualities in generations to come and I don't want to take that for granted!

He told us that we were peculiar people (hence the title "purple people leaders") with a remarkable purpose. One Sunday he talked about being visionary leaders (Adam and I missed that Sunday, but hearing from other people, it probably made the most sense to me...especially in understanding how our church works and the vision that our Pastor has for Elevation).

Being in a leadership position and not having a vision of where you want to go or where you want to be is not good. Teachers have a vision to see their students succeed, Realtors have visions to sell houses, Salesmen have visions to make their quota, Doctors and nurses have visions to help heal people, and so on. Everyone is in a position of leadership no matter where you work, who you are, or what you hope to be one day. And once you figure that out, you've got to set your sights on a vision.

With every vision comes a strategy, or a plan on how to accomplish your goals. Our pastor gave the example of Noah. God gave Noah the vision to build an ark for him and his family and the animals to keep them safe from the flood waters. Noah obeyed God and God did what He promised. But...don't you think Noah had doubts running through his head? He probably had people telling him that he's crazy and wondering why he was taking all his time to do this. Noah knew what he had to do, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he had a strategy on how or why he did things. Pastor Steven read a verse that summed everything up...

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." ~Hebrews 11:7

Do you get it? You have your vision...you don't have your strategy...however, when you have faith in the middle of those two things, God will unfold the strategy as you choose to follow and obey what He commands. Picture "vision" knocking on the door of "strategy" but it can't get in until you unlock it with the key of "faith". Maybe that's a little cheesy for you, but it completely helps me understand the vision that Pastor Steven has for Elevation. One of his goals is to have 10,000 people in attendance by 2010. He's got the vision and the faith it takes for the Lord to unfold the strategy on how we'll get there.

I know this was kind of a long post, but I hope that it encourages some of you to become visionary leaders even if a strategy hasn't been revealed to you yet. All you have to have is faith as small as a mustard seed to see the amazing works God can do in you life!

Bleed Purple...

2009-02-23T12:37:00.002-05:00

God's Promises

2009-02-17T12:59:00.003-05:00

Promise: A declaration that something will, or will not be done, given, etc.
Declaration: That which is declared or proclaimed; announcement; distinct statement; formal expression, avowal.
Proclamation: Something that is proclaimed; a public and official announcement.
Announcement: The act of making known publicly.

Lately during my devotions "God's promises" have been a reoccurring topic. I haven't realized quite yet if God is teaching me something, or if He wants to use me to encourage someone. Well, I think it's both. A couple of weeks ago our pastor talked about God's promises and how there is a process you go through before you get to the payoff...

Promise--->Process--->Payoff

...and how God's promises to us never change or will go away, however you might have to go through a grueling process to receive the remarkable payoff He has promised you. I am currently doing a Beth Moore bible study on David and yesterday it talked about this topic and she used Romans 4:20-22 to explain it. Man these verses are perfect:

"20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

We are seen as righteous when we believe and have faith that God has the power to perform and carry through all the promises He has made us! If you're going through a valley or through some dark areas in your life...hold on! There is a light at the end of the tunnel and even though you may not see it right this moment, it's there and it's coming! Stay faithful because in the end you will be seen as righteous in the eyes of God when you receive your payoff! God's promises are meant to be made public. He has made declarations of mercy and love for you and He wants you to accept those things and make it known to the public that you are loved by the God of this Universe! Do not let the temptations of "unbelief", "doubt", and "impatience" enter into your thoughts...they could delay God's blessings in your life. Instead fill your minds with hope and perseverance...long for a heart of obedience and patience. God's promises are true, you just have to be faithful and believe.

God's Promises

2009-02-17T12:59:00.002-05:00

2009-02-16T09:35:00.007-05:00

Like I promised...this post is dedicated to Valentine's day and all the special things Adam did for me (I love to brag on my man)!

Well, the day started off as any other day...we woke up, had our coffee, watched some tv, Adam started working on our taxes. Adam was in our office working when I walked in and opened the blinds...and what did I see?? A fed-ex truck in front of our house. I didn't have a clue he was coming to our house until I saw him walking up our sidewalk. My mind started asking questions, "what did I order?", "is this a mistake?"...no mistake here, Adam had 30 tulips delivered to the house...for me!! Now, I'm not one of those girls who say flowers are a waste of money because they die anyway...no sir, I love flowers and tulips are my favorite! You can't help but smile when you look at them!

The day doesn't end there...we got to eat at one of our favorite restaurants (with no wait) and he told me to pack my bags because we were going to one of our favorite places in Charlotte for the night! Man, did he surprise me! The next morning, we woke up and went to The Original Pancake House to eat breakfast (best pancakes around) and then went "shopping" around at our favorite places (the tray you see was one of our purchases)!

I could not have asked for a more special, romantic, sweet Valentine's Day and I am so blessed to have a husband who knows my heart so well. Thank you Adam for making that day one of the most fun days ever!

2009-02-16T09:35:00.006-05:00

The Love Doctor is in....

2009-02-14T14:08:00.003-05:00

Happy Valentine's day people! Man, I hope your day has been "lovely" so far because my day has been the best! Adam definately over did it, but if you couldn't tell from my last post...this is my favorite holiday! I can't tell you about it now, more details to come later...until then, "love is in the air..."!

Te amo!

The Love Doctor is in....

2009-02-14T14:08:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day Eve!

2009-02-13T07:27:00.003-05:00

Valentine's Day is tomorrow and I am super excited! Most people think Valentine's Day is overrated and stupid, but man oh man...not me!! Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday...yes, even over Christmas (it comes in at a very close 2nd). I don't know why...I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic! Adam tells me he's got something special planned for tomorrow and I can't wait! I guess it's just all the surprises and having a day where it's all about the love.

It's very easy for me to get caught up in all the gushy stuff, but I keep reminding myself, and want to remind you that Christ showed His ultimate love for us when He died on the cross to save us from death. When we receive Him as our Savior we receive His love and that is the greatest gift we could ever ask for. I want to encourage you to remember that as you celebrate Valentine's Day, and remember that "it's Christ in you who's shining through when you give your love away" ~Elevation Worship.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." ~1 Corinthians 13:13

Happy Valentine's Day Eve!

2009-02-13T07:27:00.002-05:00

The Verdict is In...

2009-02-11T11:19:00.003-05:00

Well, Adam had his MRI yesterday and he went to the doc's today for his results. They found a pinched nerve in his lower back that seems to be causing him all his pain. They said it wasn't too badly pinched, however pinched nerves can cause different amounts of pain in different people. Thank you for all of you who prayed and I ask that you keep praying because he is going to probably have to get a cortizone shot in his nerve to straighten everything out.

Thank you Lord for answering our prayers and for allowing the doctors to find a cause to Adam's pain. Continue to give us patience through this process. Thank you for your promises and your faithfulness to us. We love you! Amen.

The Verdict is In...

2009-02-11T11:19:00.002-05:00