I feel like so many people are going through a rough time right now. Whether it is finances, heart aches, health issues, or tough relationships. I have friends going through all of the above and personally. I am going through some of them myself.

I wholeheartedly believe in speaking life into people. Words are so important because you can rip someone to pieces or you can lift their spirits and give them the encouragement they may need to get through the day. I wanted to give all of you a little encouragement today along with myself. I could definitely use it right now.

Via

Via

Via

 

Welcome to the third week of Monday Mingling! We had over 80 people link-up last week! How awesome!  I hope you will join us again and link-up below.

As we mentioned last week, we have started offering a co-host option. Due to an overwhelming response, we have co-hosts set up for the next 8 weeks! Please introduce yourself to our first two ladies and be sure to follow their blogs!

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Sierra @ Oh, Just Living the Dream

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

I am a turn-off-the-alarm-7-times person in the morning, a 4th Grade teacher by day, and an avid movie lover by night. I love to travel the world and teach! So far I have been to Kenya, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Fiji and Hawaii with many more travels on the way! I blog about the inner workings of life–love, heartbreak, God, teaching, family, traveling, and just life in general!

Rules:

1. Follow both of your hosts via GFC.

(first 2 links below)

2. Follow both of your co-hosts via GFC
(next 2 links)

3. Link up your main blog URL, not a specific post.

4. Link back to us by grabbing our button.

5. Tweet, Facebook, and Pin this blog hop. The more you spread the word the more people will link up, and the more success you will have! 


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6. Be sure to visit other blogs! Don’t just link up and wait for others to find you. 

Let’s get this party started!!…

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Don’t forget to enter my Valentine’s Giveaway!

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Hello loves!! Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating love with your significant others, friends and families! Ry and I don’t have any big plans for tonight since I have still been battling this cold, so I think we are going to stay in and avoid the crowds. On the plus side, I woke up to this this morning! Just what every sick girl needs- a cookie! 🙂

Today, I’m linking up with Melissa for the Valentine’s Day link-up! We were instructed to answer the following questions and then give them to our husbands to answer and see how the answers compare. I can’t wait to read everyone’s answers! Let’s do this…

Her Answers:

-How long have you been married? 1.5 years
-Where was your first date? We hung out so much that I really don’t remember where our first date date was.
-Where was your first kiss? Gatlinburg, TN. It was snowing and it was perfect.
-Who first said, “I love you”? Ryan, after his friends wedding in Birmingham. I was pretty shocked because we had only been dating for one month, but when you know, you know I guess.
-What were your wedding colors? It was a fall wedding so we had tradittional fall colors- Yellow, brown, orange, a little red and green.
-What is her most commonly used phrase? I say “:really?” very sarcastically.
-Who is her celebrity crush? I have several. Gavin DeGraw, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Buble, etc.
-What is the best meal she has ever cooked you? Probably vegetables and meat. That is his favorite meal.
-What is the worst meal she has ever cooked you? Vegetable Soup. I put the noodles in way too early and they exploded in the soup and it tasted awful. Apparently I am not meant to cook the easiest thing in the world.
-What is the most-played song on her iPod? Something from Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble or one of my soul sistas (Tina, Aretha, etc.)
-What would she say is your most annoying habit? Biting his nails. Two year olds bite their nails. Not 27 year olds. 
-What is the last thing she does before she goes to bed? Pees. I have to go pee right before I go to sleep, even if I went 5 minutes before.
If you could throw out one item of her clothing what would it be? I’m not sure about this one. He has never said anything about any of my clothes, although I do wear t-shirts almost daily and he probably wishes I dressed better. I don’t know that he would throw them out though because that would cause serious issues, counseling, etc.
What would you say is your favorite thing about her? She is the most charming, beautiful, fun, loving person in the world. Right?
-What’s her go-to drink at Starbucks? White Chocolate Mocha unless it is Peppermint Mocha season.
-What’s her blog’s name?! Southern Sunflowers and Coffee Beans


His Answers:


How long have you been married? Almost a year and a half
Where was your first date? Depends on what you call a date. I would say it was a double date to the movies.
Where was your first kiss? In Gatlinburg
Who first said, “I love you”? Me
What were your wedding colors?  I remember there being a lot of orange and brown
What is her most commonly used phrase? “Are you serious?”
Who is her celebrity crush? Matthew McConaughey
What is the best meal she has ever cooked you? Vegetable night
What is the worst meal she has ever cooked you? She hasn’t made me anything I didn’t eat
What is the most-played song on her iPod? Proud Mary
What would she say is your most annoying habit? The faces I make
What is the last thing she does before she goes to bed? Puts lotion on her hands and turns out the lamp
If you could throw out one item of her clothing what would it be? I don’t dislike any of her clothes.
What would you say is your favorite thing about her? When she smiles
What’s her go-to drink at Starbucks? Right now its a White Chocolate Mocha
What’s her blog’s name?! Southern Sunflowers and Coffee Beans


He did pretty darn good! Happy Valentine’s Day to all my bloggy friends and readers!

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In honor of Valentine’s Day being this week, I wanted to tell you the story of how Ryan and I met. There is no doubt in my mind that God had his hand in this 100%. It’s kind of a crazy story but hopefully you will get it at the end. Here goes…

Ryan and I have a mutual friend named Shane. I knew Shane years and years ago when his family lived in Montgomery because they went to Landmark and our parents were friends. I reconnected with him my freshman year of college. We all attended a small christian college (that I left after one year – that’s another story) and we became really good friends. He lived with two other guys, Mike and Dozier, who I also became good friends with. Mike and Dozier played on the college golf team with Ryan.

Me and Shane in Pigeon Forge.

On Christmas day 2007, I got a phone call from Shane. He wanted me to come to Gatlinburg, TN, for New Years with him and a couple of friends. I agreed to go and also invited my good friend, Hannah. We left a couple days later and met everyone in Huntsville. That was my first time to lay eyes on Ryan. At the time, I had no clue who this kid was but I did know he was pretty. We were in a hurry to get on the road so we didn’t get introduced.

Hannah and me in Gatlinburg.

We both liked each other instantly, but neither of us acted on it. We just hung out and had a great time. Then on New Years eve, he gave me a New Years kiss outside while it was snowing. It was the perfect moment and the perfect kiss. I know that’s cheesy, but it’s true. We were both a bit shy with each other after that, which I later found out was because he had a girlfriend at the time. Yep. I was not too happy with him when I found that out. He had been trying to break up with her for a while, but he hadn’t been able to follow through with it because of other reasons. That’s another story I’m not going to get into, but it is an important part of how we met so I can’t exactly leave it out.

Me and Ryan on New Years eve.

Once I found out he had a girlfriend when we kissed, I wouldn’t speak to him for several days. I was really upset and felt betrayed, plus I had psycho ex-girlfriend going off on me on Facebook for days. I’m not one to put up with this sort of drama and I resented him for putting me in that situation.

One night about a week after we got home from Gatlinburg, Shane conned me into going to his apartment to hang out and talk and promised me that Ryan was not there. Another lie, but this time, it was a good lie. The boys wanted me to go out to the porch to wait on them to join me and when I walked out there, Ryan was sitting on the chair playing his guitar. I’m such a sucker.

He apologized to me and told me he had ended things with his ex and that it was over for good. I told him I didn’t want to date him for a while until he was sure he was over everything and that it was truly over. I didn’t want to get suckered in again. I told him I’d be happy to be friends with him but no more than that.

That all changed a little over a month later after much swooning and pursuing. We had created a really good friendship and had so many mutual friends that it worked out so perfectly. He asked me to be his girlfriend on February 10th, 5 years ago.

We have many similarities, but opposite personalities. I am very high strung and he is very laid back. I am loud and crazy, he is calm and level headed. We balance each other out and we play off of each others personalities. We have such a special bond and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world. He told me he loved me for the first time a month later. It scared me because it was so soon, but when you know, you know. We just knew we were going to get married the moment we started dating. We wanted the same things in life, we had the same beliefs and similar families. Everything was perfectly folded together. As crazy as that first week or two was, it was so worth all of the good that has come out of it. Not all beginnings are fairy tale perfect, but we definitely have a fairy tale life now.

Thank you to my precious friend, Shane. Without you, we would have never known each other.

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While you’re here, enter these incredible giveaway’s that I’m a part of!

Welcome to the second week of Monday Mingling! Thank you so much for joining us last week. We had such a great turnout and owe it all to you lovely ladies! I hope you will join us again and link-up below.

We are going to start offering a co-host option. If you are interested in co-hosting Monday Mingling, please fill out this form.

Remember, you must complete all mandatory (bold) entries to be chosen winner- and all winning entries will be verified!

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Hi everyone! I have a special treat for you today! I’d love for you to meet Sarah from Mama’s Got It Together. She blogs and owns an amazing Etsy shop that offers several planners and organizational printables. You can follow her via Facebook or Twitter as well.

Welcome, Sarah!

I am a blogging, work at home *brand new* mama with a passion for everything organizing, productivity & efficiency. I use these printables everyday to stay organized & clear some of the “clutter” from my brain. It is my hope that they will make a difference in your life, too! At Mama’s Got It Together you’ll find printable planners & more to organize your home, life, family, and even your home business or blog.

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