Summer Recap & Getting Up To Date!

Well it sure has been a while since I typed away here on my blog. A lot has happened over the last months since my previous blog. Although these things may seem totally unimportant to you (and thats okay) I'm just catching up on life here in the blog world. Not so sure where to begin, but oh well... here goes. Joel & I are still trying to conquer the 1st year of marriage....its hard! I love my husband more than life itself, but boy oh boy does it take work! Thankfully God blessed me with an incredible man who spends his life completely devoted to me (praise Jesus!). I will say though lately I have had a strong sense of missing my hometown and the friends I cherish so dearly. We can chat on the phone and see our lives via facebook, but there is nothing like being with your girls and having that time. Joel & I got to visit Cincinnati a few months ago and it was fantastic seeing the people I love! HOWEVER, God is changing my heart daily to open more to those here where I live, which is a good thing because I have a feeling we are meant to be here. Up until recently we weren't certain where we would be in Ministry, here in Mobile or if God had other plans. So I believe I gaurded myself from having relationships needed... afterall...I had moved avay from all of my friends and I couldn't stand the thought of having to detach all over again. I sure am glad though we know we will be in Mobile and I am looking forward to what is has to bring for us.
We have 4 babies now... I think we have added three since the last blog lol.  Abby came to us Easter morning. As I was walking into church I saw this little black and white dog by the church doors...so what do I do? Pick her up (with my Easter dress on) and carry her back to the house... in my high heels. Abby was sick for the first few weeks we had here. When we got her to the vet we found out she had parvo, and it was suggested to us to have her put to sleep. She was a fighter though, and now she is just a four legged crazy girl! Next we got August, and he was a runaway...from a church member...a youth to be exact... BUT  it all worked out and he loves being our biggest baby....sometimes I think he believes he is a teacup poodle when in reality he is a lab mix. The last and final dog we got is Austin. This story is heartbreaking so I'll keep it short. He couldd have only been about 5 weeks old the day I found him, he was found next to his family who had been hit, and was the only survivor. All four of our babies bring so much happiness to our home.

We got to spend some time down at the beach with my inlaws this past summer. We had a great time playing hearts all hours of the night.

My family also came in town for mine & my dad's birthday, it was so nice to host them for the first time in our house!

My husband Joel & I have started the CAMS Program. This is part of the process that enables Joel to become licensed by the Church of God. Thankfully we have been given the opportunity to do this from home, and will only have to travel to Birmingham 3 times. I am so proud of Joel for taking the initiative to become ordained. Not only does having credentials help in being a great minister, but the it helps in providing for our family, and I am so appreciative of his hard work to give us what we need and want.

Next coming up in life is our SEVEN DAY cruise... which I cannot be more thrilled about! We are going with Joe'ls family and two other families. This will be the first true vacation for us. Our honeymoon was spent in New Orleans and it was great, but very cold! So we are excited to spend some quality time together in some better weather! This won't be our first cruise for either of us, but it will be our first cruise together! We leave September 24th aboard Oasis of The Seas, Royal Caribbean, SERIOUSLY CAN'T WAIT!

This is our ship!

Well friends I will try to do a better job blogging, until the next time, God bless!

- Sarah