Living Joyfully

We're Having a BABY!

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:38:00 +0000

Joe and I are excited to annouce that we are expecting!!!

Right now I am only about 4 1/2 weeks (I know super early).

We found out about a week ago. It was Sunday afternoon and I woke up from a nap and decided a take a test knowing that I was still a week early. And much to my surprise did a faint little line show up. I run out to Joe and asked him if he saw a line. He didn't have much of a reaction. He pretty much said that we were seeing things. So I took another test and the same faint line appeared. Finally I said we need to get a digital test. That came up with "Yes+" Joe said "Does that mean it is positive?" Finally he started to get excited.

I called my parents right away and we went to Evansville this weekend to tell Joe's family. I went to see a nurse yesterday to get a family history and go to see the doctor next week!! Everything is great so far!!

And here is the proof!

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Family Room Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:40:00 +0000

A few months ago my parents came to our house for a "work weekend." I had many tasks that I needed a handy man for. One of this was thing project. This is what the living room looked before.

Here is after. We made a "faux" fireplace. We installed a mantel and hung our TV on the wall. It made for more walking room. And now I get to decorate a mantel!

I still need to get some candles and a fireplace screen to make my "fire place" look more real (hence half of the mantel!)

These are some of my fall decorations. Thank you Hobby Lobby! As soon as these went up I realdy started planning for Christmas and a row of 5 stockings!

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Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:19:00 +0000

This year again we had our Halloween outreach for the church where we passed out candy with our church info and did popcorn and cotton candy.

And of course I dressed the dogs up!

Cooper was a banana because our friend Aaron was going to be a monkey.

I knew I needed the right costume for Annie and she is definitely no princess. So she was dressed as a prisoner!

They were a hit again and Joe said that one father said his kids talked for an hour about the Banana dog so he had to come check it out for himself! I think the dogs enjoyed all the attention and the dropped popcorn.

Here are some the students hard at work serving.

Did you have a fun Halloween?

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Canoeing

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Joe and I went canoeing in Edinburgh with some of my coworkers and their spouses. Joe and I have never been canoeing together and have only a couple of trips separately. There were some strong warnings that he is not to capsize the boat!

There were only a few times where we were going circles, or running into stuff but all in all it was a great adventure! It was nice and relaxing to

Afterwards, I decided that this would be a great pre-marital counseling session. It is definitely Communication 101! You can learn a lot about communication styles with canoeing. For example, when I get scared I start shrieking or repeating "Big branch coming up! Big branch coming up!"

We even started planning our next canoe trip! Did you do anything fun this weekend?

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Nesting

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:34:00 +0000

I was nesting a little bit in the house today. Right after we moved in, Joe and I hung a lot of stuff on the walls around our house. And our house definitely felt like a home but I had just not done many things since in ways of decorating.

Today as I was procrastinating on cleaning, I was in the garage and found mirrors, and picture frames that had been in our rental house. So I got on my kick and starting hanging things everyone. I couldn't find a hammer so I used a hand weight I had...I just starting making do when no hubby is around.

I get on these nesting kicks all of a sudden. I think I have everything the way I want them but then the I start rearranging things, loving pictures in magazines. With Fall quickly approaching, I keep thinking about all the decorations we need to make our home cuuute!

I always will question if this is truly what I should be focused on or is it really just futile. But I thinking my main calling in life is to be a wife, besides being a Child of God. This comes before church ministry or work. And one of my main responsibilities is making a home for us, a peaceful one. Although I know in reality Joe probably doesn't care if this picture looks better over here, I know that I am using my skills to provide.

Now I definitely have this no where figured out in my head or in practice. Our house is no where near peaceful and we don't even have kids yet, but I am always striving.

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Our Life in the Ministry

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Today marks the one year anniversary of the day the church voted Joe into being the Senior Pastor. It was quite a journey to even get to that point. After the former pastor left right before we got married, many people approached Joe to full the role. Even as we were decorating the church for our wedding someone called Joe about this. I said "Absolutely not!" I was excited about being a Student Minister's wife, investing in youth, and starting a ministry together.

Fast forward a couple of months. Joe at this time had been the interim pastor, filling the pulpit, and I could see that he really enjoyed it. One day as we stood in our kitchen, I told him if you wanted to put your resume in, that I would support you. I think I thought even then, we are so young, there is no way this could happen!

But one year ago today the church voted Joe in and we started this new ride together in ministry. We've had our high peaks and our low valleys. We've had days where we have barely seen each other or barely even seen home.

But there are somethings I have learned in the last year.

Ministry is way less about me and more about following God
The congregation is definitely observing you but will pick you up when you fall
I am a lot more sensitive to criticism than I realized.
There many more blessings than trials, but you need to look for them with a heart of gratitude.
That even in the valleys God is near.

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Locks of Love

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:22:00 +0000

I chopped 12 inches off my hair today.

That's the most I have ever cut off. I have been talking for awhile about cuttin my hair and with our church directories coming up, I knew now was the time. I have been growing my hair since before the wedding. I thought I would be more emotional about it, but I was happy to be off with it!

So without further ado here is me probably about a pound lighter holding my proud pony tail!

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Sewing

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:19:00 +0000

Last weekend, I finally took my sewing machine out of the box. Sadly, it had not been used since I received at Christmas.

One of my friends is an avid sewer so I went to her house for lessons. I learned how to thread my machine, sewing in straight lines, and I made an oven mitt!

So now I am practicing with my sewing machine on the kitchen table, making straight lines, and slowly becoming a sewer or is it seamstress?

I even offered Joe to hem one his suit pants but he politely declined!

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Annie

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:15:00 +0000

I haven't written on here about Annie in a long time. Annie came into our lives by surprise and definitely was been a handful! She is all puppy, full of energy, and loves everyone that she meets! It's hard for her to understand if someone doesn't want to stop and love her!

Cooper and Annie have become fast friends and she loves to wrestle with Levi.

Just like life with a kitten, I am not sure I was ready for a puppy. She is into everything, very hyper, and full of puppyness. But then all of sudden she will lay down next to you on the couch, give a puppy sigh and you automatically fall in love!

She's a keeper! And today she is leaving for 2 days to have her 'special' surgery! Hopefully absence does make the heart grower fonder.

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If You Thought It was Someone's Birthday...

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:49:00 +0000

....you were right! It's mine!

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noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:14:00 +0000

Between minor floods, church activities, work, family, and weekend adventures....I haven't posted in awhile.

I promise to make up for that very soon!

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Envirosax

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:51:00 +0000

One of the doctors came into work with this really cute bag. It's called an Envirosax. It is a reasuble shopping bag that made from light weight material that you can roll up and put in your purse. It is kind of like a windbreaer. I think we all think that resuable shopping bags are a good idea but we forget to use them or leave them in the car but these you can carry around with you. They can also carry 44 pounds! And they come in really great colors and patterns! The one on top is the one that I got.

You can save the world...one plastic bag at a time!

Make sure to check it out on their website at Environsax.com

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A Prayer for Pastor's Wives

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Mrs. Mary Mohler offered this prayer at the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention for Pastor's Wives.

Father, what an honor it is to lift up my sisters in Christ who serve as pastors’ wives.

Thank you for raising up these women to serve you in this unique and vital calling.

I pray your blessing upon each one—wherever she serves across our denomination.

May she be mindful of the role she alone fills in the church as the wife of the pastor.

May she take seriously the importance of respecting her husband, encouraging him, praying for him and loving him with all of her heart.

May she never underestimate the importance of watching well over the ways of her household as she seeks to provide a happy home environment that will be a welcome refuge for him from the pressures and perils of ministry.

If you bless her with the wonderful gift of motherhood, may she nurture her children in such a way that they not only love and follow you, Lord, but also that they come to love their life in a ministry family as she ensures they appreciate the privileges that are theirs in this special calling.

As she serves your church, may she enthusiastically develop and use the gifts and talents that you have already given her through the power of the Holy Spirit. May she foster a deep and abiding love for the people to whom you have called her to serve.

As the women of her church look to her as a mentor, and they will, may she seize that opportunity to reflect godliness, contentment, honesty, compassion and perseverance. In order to do so, may she embrace the daily discipline of being a serious student of your Word, committing it to memory and spending much time in prayer.

Guard her heart; guard her mind; guard her tongue; guard her feet as she seeks to not grow weary in well doing even as many of her completed tasks may seem to go unnoticed. May she truly do her husband good and not harm, all the days of her life.

Your word tells us that “the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the entire earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” I pray boldly that you will find us to be just that kind of people and that you will use us as ministry wives alongside our husbands to do great things for the kingdom for the sake of the Gospel and for your glory.

You also tell us that you are able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” and with that in mind, I ask all of these things in the powerful and matchless name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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The Past Month

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:07:00 +0000

I haven't updated in a long time! Partly because I have been busy and partly because I forget to update!

The last month has been busy and fun. We had a 4th of July party at our house. We planned for lots of people because we have a huge backyard. But it rained, and RAINED all day. It started being comical about an hour before everyone came over when it was pouring! But we had lots of fun and I even made this Flag Cake.

This past week was Vacation Bible School. The theme was Boomerang Express. I helped with music and I think I might sing the theme song for the rest of my life.

Joe and I also have a new niece. Her name is Camden Rhys. She is beautiful. We went to Evansville on Friday night to see her and spend time with family and friends. Next time we go down hopefully I will see her awake!

I promise to do better at taking pictures this next month!

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Sleeping in a King

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:17:00 +0000

So Joe and I set up our King size bed on Saturday, we moved our queen size bedframe into the guest bedroom (which goes really well with the chair rail). I was running back and forth between the queen size bed in the guest bedroom and the King size bed in our bedroom and I was like WOW!

There is even for a Cooper on the bed! Joe said he woke up the past two mornings with my on the very end of the bed and Cooper right up next to me all sprawled out! That most definitely needs to change.

We only have sheets for the bed but we still need to decide on a comforter. I found one that was pretty similar at my favorite store (Target!) so I don't have to change the curtains and accessories.

*I can't find my camera battery charger so sorry no pictures until I do!

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KING Size Bed

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:32:00 +0000

Today Joe and I went to Ikea again. It was totally Joe's idea to go.

The most exciting purchase (besides finally getting curtains for our office) is a King size bed frame. One of the biggest 'fights' we have is over the bed. I always feel like Joe is all over me and my feet always manage to be on Joe's side. Joe's parents are nice enough to trade our Queen size mattress for their King size mattress.

We decided that if this doesn't work, we're going for a California King!

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Wedding Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:03:00 +0000

Last Sunday was our 1 year wedding anniversary! We spent the day in Evansville and then traveled down to Joe's parent's lake house in Kentucky for the week. I really enjoyed watching our wedding ceremony again and looking back on this las year together. (If you haven't seen our wedding video, you need to see it here.

It has been the best and the quickest year of my life! We have really started to mold our life together, adjusted to each other and building upon our marriage. To all who have yet been married, know that marriage takes work and effort in order to make it work, but so worth it!

I love my husband!

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Our Fence!

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:34:00 +0000

The most exciting part of my week so far is...our new fence!

We got a privacy fence installed and I don't know who is happier, me or the dogs! The PLAN is for the dogs to be outside when we are not home. Just the two days with the fence my dogs are a lot calmer when they are inside.

But the funniest part of the new fence is to look out the door to the backyard and see Cooper sitting there wanting to come in! I tell him he has a whole yard to run around in but I think he is most content by our sides....oh silly Cooper!

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Happy Birthday, Cooper!

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:21:00 +0000

Today is Cooper's birthday (sort of). Today marks the one year anniversary of the day we got him so we decided that he is going to turn three today!

He started his birthday celebration with some good ol' canned dog food. That is quite a treat for him so he scarfed that down pretty quickly.

Then we went on his favorite...a car ride! He hung his head out the window and didn't even wear a seat belt! We took him to McDonald's for his very own ice cream cone! (Of course Joe wouldn't let him eat that in his new car)

At first you could tell Cooper did not know what to think about this. Cooper has had ice cream before but we have never let him have any so at first he was little timid.

After a few licks, Cooper became quite a fan of birthdays!

He didn't even share his cone with Annie!

He also got his a new squeaky toy but I think Annie thought that it was her birthday present!

He ended his night with a nap on the living room floor while we watched the finale of American Idol....I think he had a stomachache!

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Guest Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:19:00 +0000

Here is the guest bedroom before with the previous owners. Here is the guest bedroom after! We painted (two coats of primer and two coats of paint) and changed the overhead lighting. We also got new bedding because our critters ruined our old bedding. I still need to get a second curtain panel and we need bedside tables.

What do you think?

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Our Herb Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:04:00 +0000

A few coworkers at work surprised me with a herb garden. Many of them have overflowing gardens and I decided once we got our new house that I wanted a garden.

Before when recipes called for fresh herbs I had to buy a packet from the grocery store.

We have basil, rosemary, parsley, thyme, and oregano.

Complete with a blue ribbon!

My plan next year is to start a veggie garden on the side of our house.

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New House, New Rules

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 18 May 2009 01:57:00 +0000

One of my goals in moving to our new house was doing a better job keeping it clean. A lady at work told me about Flylady and the little steps you do to keep your house clean. At our old house, we had CHAOS (can't have anyone every syndrome).

The first step is to keep your kitchen sink shining. There is this long process to getting your sink clean. My goal is have my sink clean and free of dishes every night before I go to bed. Now I cannot say this has happened every night but I am doing pretty good!

This has moved over into other areas of our house. Hubby is doing a good job of making the bed every morning (because I get up before him). But this morning, Joe gets up way before me on Sundays and I came back into the bedroom and thought 'Joe didn't make the bed this morning!' I forgot that I was the last one up!

Our house is staying a lot nicer! No dogs are allowed on our new couch! So with our new house, we have new rules! Do you have any rules for your house?

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Bathroom Makeovers!

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:12:00 +0000

The bathrooms did not take a whole lot to change. We painted, replaced the cabinet hardware, and installed new towel fixtures.

Here is the half bath before: it was sponge painted that texture on the wall.

And here is the half bathroom after! When we were buying towel racks, Joe did not understand why we needed one for the half bathroom. Boys....

This is the full bathroom before. I still can't fully describe the color.

And after! It's pretty similar to our bathroom before.

We still need to get new bathroom lights and I have a michevous idea to paint the bathroom cabinet black in the half bathroom..but a certain someone doesn't think that is a good idea.

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Our Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:15:00 +0000

Here is our bedroom before....

And our bedroom after!

We painted and hung a new ceiling fan. It does look similar to our bedroom before. Do you see a Joe in this picture?

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Living Room

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Mayes) — Wed, 06 May 2009 02:59:00 +0000

The living room was also fun to decorate! Here are the before pictures when we looked at the house.

And here is the after! We painted, got a new chaise sectional and our new TV!

We still have some transformations up our sleeve but we love our new living room!

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