Celebrating 17 years of Marriage...

17 years ago I said "I do" to my sweet man in front of our family & friends. We were a mere 20 years old. WHAT...were our parents thinking letting us get married so young..??? Because the thought of my daughter getting married in less than 7 years...FREAKS THIS MOM OUT!! LOL!

Look at us...we were so clueless...I mean so happy...:)

Really...it is only by God's grace & mercy that we have made it thru life together. We both just needed to grow up  alittle...so we did it together as a couple. You know they always say opposites attract...and that's us for sure in a lot of ways...but what binds us together is our love for Jesus Christ & our desire to serve him. I always think it's good for a couple to be opposite in some ways..

.keeps it real & pushes the other to grow! 

I saw Matt on top of a mountain in Colorado @ Youthquake. It's a trip that our youth groups took together. He is from Stillwater & I am from Owasso & our churches would frequently go on trips together. For me...it was love at first sight pretty much. Him...it took him awhile to fall under my red-headed spell...:) He was shy with girls & kept his distance...just watching & observing. I was the wild red head that needed to be tamed and as time went on God worked on my heart & lead me to full time ministry. 

We both "ended up" at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO where we became instant friends & hung out with the same crowd. I have told the story about us before so I won't go there again. But we started dating our Jr. year in October...engaged in February...married in June. Yea..fast!

So here we are...17 years later...3 kids & serving God in His church. We are blessed more than we could have EVER imagined. Matt is my best friend...he listens to me...encourages me...loves me with an unconditional love...sees the good in me...he's trustworthy...faithful...makes me feel sexy...patient with me ( I require a lot)...adores me...there is no one else I would rather sit next too...hug...grow old with...and call my Husband. His love for the Lord is authentic...he truly lives it out in his daily life. 

Besides...He is just so darn cute!!! 

Happy  17th Anniversary Matt!!

I Love you

Joy & I are featured on Leading & Loving it!!

Go here to see what Lori posted about our meeting!! So excited!!

Thanks Lori for featuring us on L & L it!!

PCB Day 4

This is how I start off the morning here...breakfast & coffee on the balcony...

I'm gonna miss the view next week...

Then the sand smoothers come by...Jaden's dream job...he & his best bud Baylor are gonna move here some day & do this...hopefully they will have a nice house for their moms to come stay in!!

Today we headed to St. Andrews Park to see the Jettys. Never heard of them until this week...

It's a long pile of rocks that you can climb out into the ocean. Doesn't look very far...but when you climb  the whole thing...trust me...it is!!

Lauren really wanted to do it...and since one of my goals this year is too..HAVE MORE FUN...I went with her. It was scary in some places...but we did it and it was worth it!!

They all scuba dived almost all day also. Those pics will come from the underwater camera when I get it developed.

The kids with the Jettys..

Had a little picnic...

Went looking for Alligators...but didn't see any!!

Then we looked up and say this amazing rainbow around the sun. I tell you what girls...it was a sight to behold. This picture does not even begin to show you how beautiful it was! 

I felt like God was looking down on us thru this big eye ball in the sky or something. I keep waiting for the trumpets to sound!!

St. Andrews Park was a great day. But we are burnt like bacon!! It has been really hot...good...but hard on the skin!! We have been using 50 sunblock! I forgot the tops of my feet & the back of my legs today..OUCH! I know...I know..you are feeling so sorry for me huh? LOL I don't blame you really if you want to smack me while I'm sitting on the beach...:) 

We took some family pics...I need you to tell me what you think. I will post them later. 

PCB Day 3

And that my friends...is a breakfast of champions!!! We don't buy stuff like this much at our house so Jaden is taking it all in. He is also fascinated with these wine glasses. It makes me smile. 

And before too long he is out on the beach doing this...he snorkels constantly and brings his treasures up to show us. Just excited about the last one as he is about the first one he catches. Infact, the only thing sunburn on the poor child is the top of his head!! 

This is our little "fort" for the week. Notice the movie star under the umbrella there...Ms. Brooke

Matt & I...:) He makes me smile..

Later we had a little pedi on the balcony...blue & purple toes for Brooke!

We walked along the pier by our condo.

The girls having fun

Our Condo

Ended our evening shopping @ Pier park & eating @ Five Guys...nothing like a good O burger & fries to top of your day at the beach!!

I took a few pics of the ocean tonight on the pier. I could honesty just take pictures all day out there. God's love is so wide & so deep for us. The ocean just captivates me. 

PCB Day 2

The weather was just amazing today here. This is our view from our balcony....I could really look at this all day LONG and NEVER get tired of it. Standing in AWE of God's creation...the colors...just take my  breath away.

Just hanging with the family...the kids

Matt & I...um...you won't see me in my suit in a pic...

The whole family

Buried in the sand..

The kids have been dying to go Parasailing...but when it came time to do it...Jaden was scared. It's pretty pricey to do it..so we wanted all 3 kids to go at once so it would save us some money...you know...the budget thing. He would NOT go without Matt...so we kinda tricked him & Matt rode out on the boat with them. When it came time to saddle up....Matt says...you're going without me. Jaden gave him a look...but did it. I was so proud of him for going. But HE LOVED IT!!!! They had to ride a banana boat that is pulled by a wave runner out to the parasailing boat. It was a crazy fun ride for them!

The kids Parasailing...:)

For dinner we ate at Captain Jacks all you can eat crab legs! My kids love crab legs...we don't get them hardly ever because of the price...so we ate until we almost puked!! LOL!

They also had dessert...

So...another day on the beach. It's so relaxing and fun as a family. Hope all of you get a chance to spend time with your family this summer. NO matter if it's in your backyard or somewhere else. 

Panama Day 1...

One of the best parts...meeting Joy which I blogged about already...
but onto our day!

We hit our favorite pizza place down here...

Mellow Mushroom!!

Why do we love this place? Well...their ingredients is all natural...made fresh right there!

This is my favorite pizza...(not my fam's fav. just mine)

It has...roma tomatoes, olive oil & garlic, spinach, feta cheese, sun dried tomatoes...YUM!!

Brooke enjoying her pizza...

Jaden found Optimus Prime from Transformers...

When we got home there was a water tornado out in the ocean!

We headed to the beach & did some boogie boardin!

Jaden made a fort for his Gooey Ducks...yep Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs taught Jaden about Gooey Ducks...

We saw Dolphins...hard to tell from this pic...but this is one...

***I interrupt  this blog to tell you I did something I can't believe I did...I left my telephoto lens at home for my Canon Rebel...yes...I am so sick...I can't believe I did that...almost cried...***

This is Matt & the kids in the ocean...we have seen sting rays every day. They don't bother anyone, but they freak us out a little. You know Steve Irwin was killed by one...my kids adored him so that freaks them out a little. :) But they are getting over it. 

We have had a fabulous relaxing time so far. So thankful for the opportunity to be here. The ocean amazes me still. I love the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Never gets old.

Meeting my Virtual Friend Joy...

I have always wanted to meet one of my bloggy friends & today that happened!!!


A few months ago Lori over at Leading & Loving interviewed Joy Henderson...in her interview she mentioned that she lived in Panama City. Well, of course I had to go check her out & tell her that my family & I would be vacationing in PC soon & would love to meet her!! Joy & I started chatting on FB & following each other blogs...she is precious!!


Welp...today was the day...I got to hug Joy's neck...meet her hubby & her adorable children! Matt & I took the kids to their church where Cory is the student pastor & I got to sit next to her & worship the Lord with her!!

Her precious family!!

There is an instant connection between Pastor's wives that no one else can understand...unless you are one. The Hendersons have been at Callaway Assembly of God for 8 years.  We hope to catch up with them again this week. 

Thank you Joy for welcoming us to your church this morning. It was such a blessing to get to meet you. 

Thanks Lori Wilhite for connecting all us PWs...it's been life changing. Can't wait to hug Lori's neck someday soon too.