To Blog or not to Blog...

Well, here we go....
I have never kept a diary, a journal, or even been a "scrapbooker"...I love taking pictures, and save them on my computer- that's about the extent of my memory-keeping. I realized as I began to read the Blog's of close family members and friends, how sweet it will be one day to look back and re-read all of the thoughts, feelings, and memories recorded in their blog. I want our children (someday) to be able to read through this and know exactly what I was thinking or feeling during many of the most memorable times in our life.

Im not sure, at the moment, how in-depth I will get on here....we shall see!! :) I hope to be able to "Vent" some of my feelings, insecurities, and also prayer needs on here. If no one ever reads this, and it's just for me to 'get it all out', and have a record of memories other than pictures...then that's good enough for me!

I want to start by telling anyone who may read this to go to THE BLOG that has and is changing my life daily...well, there are actually several.

The first blog I ever read was:
 http://mrstroop.blogspot.com  - written by one of the sweetest and Godliest women Ive ever had the pleasure of getting to know. Her husband was my geometry teacher, and...due to a brain-block I was borth with that makes me unable to understand ANYTHING math related...my geometry tutor as well! I was also blessed to babysit for them when they had 4 of their (I believe) 9 children! So many sweet memories of those days. What a wonderful, inspiring, and HONEST blog she has. I also have SO enjoyed reading her "thankful Thursday" posts each week...I just may try and do something similar!

The second blog I love to read through, with a box of tissues in hand, is:
http://annalightministries.com/ Let me just say- I had lunch with Anna Light about a month ago, and in that one hour, I learned more than I have in YEARS! She is a true God-send because so much of what she has struggled with, and OVERCOME is exactly what I struggle with on a DAILY basis. That one thing is insecurity. Constantly believing lies from the enemy that I am Fat, I am Ugly, I am not good enough, not smart enough....etc.....lies, lies, lies! Just go to her page, and read all that she has learned through searching the WORD DAILY for the real TRUTH! It is inspiring, and almost a daily devotional for me every morning to go back and re-read all the truth's from scripture that she has used to FIGHT the daily battle of insecurity. Anna Light is awesome....her last name says it all- she is a BRIGHT LIGHT for all who have the pleasure of knowing her!

The third blog that recently has become something I cant stop checking is:
http://prayingforliz.blogspot.com/ This is a blog that sums up what being a part of the FAMILY of God is all about! There was a sweet girl in Conway, AR who was recently in a very serious car accident. I knew her older sister, but only got to meet Elizabeth once. A dear friend of hers started this blog as a Prayer/Praise update, and to continue to update all her friends on her condition! It is absolutely amazing to read comments from people who never even met Liz, and are praying ALL OVER THE country!!! I read this multiple times a day and have been praying fervently with SO MANY other people for Elizabeth's recovery!! So far- SO many answered prayers. WOW is all I can say!

The final blog that I SO enjoy reading comes from my incredible sister-in-law:
http://www.millerbigtopcircus.blogspot.com/ I like to call Jami "super woman"! She seriously can do more than anyone I know, always putting others first, being an amazing wife and mother of 3, while smiling, and keeping a beautiful home! She recently started her own business- www.workjunkee.com , homeschools my nephew, Caleb, manages to cook the best meals ever, and also has two other part time jobs! Seriously- I want to be her someday!! She also must be the most organized person I know. We recently had the pleasure of spending some time in Houston with them and always leave feeling refreshed, encouraged, and inspired to hopefully be the amazing parents she and Austin are someday. I must say though- Ryan jokes that anytime I have "baby fever" he is planning a trip to Houston....we could definitely EASE into 3 young children, but starting off with that many is a bit overwhelming for us right now! lol! I love reading this blog because Jami is SO REAL. She is honest about how hard, fun, crazy, rewarding, exciting, scary, and wonderful it is to be a mom!

So there you have it- why I started a blog. And yes, the name of it may be a little cheesy, but like I said- the soup is too! (Also my favorite soup that I could literally eat every day)
Stay tuned for more posts about the story of Ryan and I...our first year of marriage, and what's to come in the future! :)

Closing with my absolute favorite verse:
John 16:33- "I have come that you might have peace. In this world you will have trials and tribulations, but take heart, for I have overcome the world."