..i have a lot of words, but none for a title..

i was reading back through parts of my blog today.  i don't know if i've ever done that before in {wg&l}.  have you ever gone back through your blog or old journals?  it was so interesting and awesome.  i don't know if i just always thought 'a million years from now this will be so great to look back on'...but in reality i started blogging about 2 years ago and there are already milestones & tidbits that i found myself completely pouring over that didn't happen that long ago.  i'm so glad that i have so many memories & moments recorded here.  i forget all too easily.

so that's my encouragement to you today...go back through that tattered journal, click back through your last year of posts online.  how cool to reflect on the season of life God had you in, what you got to be a part of, what you were able to see, do, enjoy, experiece & learn.  if you haven't spent the last few years documenting life now would be a great time to start! 

i think i've shared this before here, but i always think of this scripture when i think of looking back:

"When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,  “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

...“In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’  For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over.  He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”
joshua 4:1-7 & 21-24

take note of what God is doing and where he's moving.  write it down, make a 'memorial' so when your kids/friends/family say 'what do these stones mean?' you can tell them what the Lord has done & who He is.  it will serve to point people to Christ...forever.

*****

so some things that i didn't document yet because i only have words...not images.

life has slowed down a little bit this week.  it is a great feeling.  i feel like i can pursue people again.  and i have time to read.  i love both of those things.

last week ben & i had the opportunity to go on a date.  sometimes we're able to have dinner together but i really was wanting a whole night where we could just hangout and connect again.  i crave that a lot more than him - really good quality time.  so we got to go to dinner & movie.  its kind of our normal date night routine but i really enjoy it.  we went to texas road house which might sound pretty greaseball but we've never had a bad time or bad food so i'm really for it.  we had a surprise 1/2 price app, the nicest server & yummy steak.  we had a gift card but thought it only had a few bucks on it.  it turned out that we only paid $10 on our whole bill & just getting to talk about life was my favorite.  then we went to see harry potter 7.  i was really exited about it coming out.  i'm not sure why i was so expectant but i was.  no we weren't dressed as wizards but it did cross my mind.  a whole evening with my best friend - i'll take it!

the following night we had our annual drive in movie night out in winchester, ky with our lafayette friends.  there was a smaller crowd than we normally have which initially really got me down & none of our other girl leaders were able to come so i just felt kind of alone & discouraged. i was disappointed that this really great opportunity was going to be missed since it just didn't feel like there was much interest kid-wise.  but then i remembered -the 15-20 kids we got to be with were 15-20 more kids than we would have gotten to see otherwise so it was a perfect time for bonding & loving them lavishly.  and it was.  and what did we see?  harry potter 7.  so hp7 x 2 = hp14 & that happened.

this past weekend we traveled up to chicago for a family reunion.  it was a really sweet time to visit everyone.  one of my favorite parts of the weekend aside from the road trips, awesome thunderstorms, trips to the family's d & d itailian deli's {you must go} & madda's breakfast was talking about what God is doing in the lives of people in ben's family.  i hope to dive in to that very soon here on the blog {maybe even with some special guests - fingers crossed}.

and finally, tonight we get to meet our nephew.  ahhhhhh!  i hope we haven't missed too much in his first 2 weeks of life.  i can't wait to hold him.  don't worry, i'll be taking my camera to document all his cuteness, unlike my picturelessness of all the other adventures i just mentioned.

 if you're still reading this...you're a saint.  all my love & happy friday.  

{image found here}

my cousins' cousin

so my dad has 2 brothers.  my uncle wayne married my aunt sheri long before i came along.  they have two wonderful daughters that i was blessed to grow up with.  my cousins also have another cousin, my aunt sheri's neice {not related to me}.  her name is natalie and she is on this season of hell's kitchen.  ben & i have been watching it religiously cheering on our non-relative that is related to all our relatives.  she has done an awesome job and this past week it was so fun to see how many people including chef ramsey respected & had confidence in her & her skills.  i hope she wins it all!  she is representing kentucky well.

...get it girl...

a new addition: cormac landon

i'm so excited to announce that i have a new baby nephew!  my brother & his wife welcomed their little bundle of joy into the world a little over a week ago and all signs point to absolutely precious.  i haven't gotten to meet him in person yet but i'm hoping that will change very soon.  i mean look at that face.  i need to hold him!  i got sick with bronchitis & a possible sinus infection the day after we returned from camp & i was still sick when babe was born.  the following weekend, still sicky, we threw shannon's party weekend & by the time i was healed benny & i were off to chicago for a family reunion.  so all that to say...i want to squeeze him & can't wait to meet him!  i'm so proud of my bro & sil for being such great parents already!

you can check in on momma greta  & get more details {here}.

pablo's party

so there's this fella, {pabs i like to call him} that goes to lafayette and who loves the Lord. ben has had the honor {and i mean that, honor} or walking with pabs from the start. he got to see pablo move from death to life and then run with him after God. i know that discipling pabs has been such a huge joy & encouragement to ben. witnessing their relationship & watching pabs' heart grow has also been a gigantic blessing to me.

a few weeks ago it was pabs' birthday. his girlfriend,emily, is one of my favorite friends and was planning him a surprise party to celebrate. i don't think that he had ever had a friends & family party before & she really wanted him to feel special & celebrated. of course, we were on board!

she invited all kinds of friends and family that love pabs dearly to come out for the evening, have a cookout, volleyball, cornhole & birthday cake.  the whole deal.  a lot of these kids are the ones i said have an extra-special place in my heart.  this big ol' crew of juniors, some of which are following hard after Christ and some who have only heard about him.  walking into a backyard full of these friends - what great joy.

pablo came in blindfolded into the backyard where his friends and fam were waiting.  he was surprised & overwhelmed & even got a little choked up.  it was just about one of the sweetest things i've ever witnessed.

we sang & celebrated.  it was a beautiful day.

"for what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

bachelorette bash

good morning friends.  i made a little something for shan & the girls to remember our wonderful weekend together.  i had never used this program before & had no idea what i was doing {he he - awkward laugh}.  i got all the way to the end to find out that i had to pay to put my own music to the video sooo...if you'd like just hit play on this little guy below and then enjoy the show. 

ps...the slideshow likely started without you hitting play, you may have to go a few pics back to begin at the very beginning {a very good place to start}. 

pss or pps {i don't know what that stands for...} if you are browsing through google reader you won't be able to see the slideshow, you gotta come to the blog.

i had a blast with you all. 

-all my love-

jen

{many of these pics were stolen from jenna...duh}

shannonagans {baaaaaaahahah you should name your blog that s.w}

..a collection of memories celebrating our dear friend shannnon..

the beautiful bride-to-be

::some decorations for the par-tay::

this was my first time making these paper bag flowers & i really liked them.  i will definitely use them again in the future.  right now they are still strung around my house and i get excited everytime i see them.  see the 'how to' {HERE}.

candles stacked on love books & pics of the happy couple complete the entryway.

{sidenote: i think i'm going to spray paint my mirror here.  any color suggestions?}

mini-poms & a bundle of food.  i couldn't get a shot before we grazed but shew...it was yummy.

sweet tea, lemonade, ale 8's & striped straws.  welcome to kentucky.

i made this paper doily bunting for the first time too.  i wanted to make more than one but i don't know what i did with my extra bias tape.  when i find it i'm going to go ahead and whip up a second so that i can double hang them more like {THIS}.  and i really like the mini with a different colored tape, done & done.

this is the same free paper i printed for the invites, strung up along the chalkboard

friends

:: favors::

i got a bundle of white chocolate covered pretzels {& they were good}.  we just wrapped them up in more paper lunch sacks {40 / $1 at the dollar store} & sealed them closed with a little note.  thanks lib for the paper!  it was perfect. 

::games:;

i enlisted the aid one of my besties rachel to take care of the "games".  neither of us wanted to super traditional games & she did a fantastic job of finding perfect organized fun for us girls.

first, she had the girls break up into pairs.  one girl would be the model and the other would be the designer.  one roll of toilet paper & see what you can do.  i felt like i was watching project runway.  my friends are so creative & hilarious.

warning: if you force your friends to wrap up in toilet paper from head to toe, make sure you don't also stand them next to an open flame.  jenna did catch on fire and yes, it was one of the funniest things i've ever seen.  after jenna was 'put out' shannon exclaimed "best shower ever!" so maybe you should let your friends be set aflame.

i think this was immediately before "the incident," look how happy she is was.

shannon played michael kors / heidi klum & chose the winning partnership.  i made the winning ladies flower pins to take home with them {see below}.  i thought they were sweet.

the next game was in fact not a game but a craft.  rach found a & s two serving platters & porcelain paint & had the girls decorate some pretties for them to take home & keep.  something from each of her guests!  so fun right?

brainstorming

..cory gettin' to work..

more creative juices flowing.

i baked the platter & bowl last night to set the paint but didn't take an 'after' picture.  i'm sorry ladies.  i hope the simonds get to use them forever!

we finished off the afternoon showering shan with wonderful, practical & precious presents to help the newlyweds start their home & life together.

the bride with her momma & sis.  so fun that they could all be together.

..shannon's super fun bridal party..

congrats sweet friends.  i hope you had so much fun celebrating this past weekend {i know i did}. i hope that it served not only to bring great joy but to build you up in Christ & for a marriage that glorifies Him.

***

thank you all you girlies who helped me out so much organizing, planning, baking, making etc for the weekend to be such a great success!  i know it was for shan but i felt really well loved by that too.  my sick little self would have just curled up & quit without you.  and thank you benny for cleaning our disaster house.  you're literally the sweetest hubs.

bridal shower invites

so i haven't gotten all the pics together to record all the fun of the actual shower {yes it happened & it was glorious}.  the only pictures i managed to organize were the invites i sent out for said shower.

originally i had about 4 ideas in my head.  things in my head aren't exactly the same as things in real life but i finally decided on an idea and went for it.  i printed paper, FREE, from {HERE}, got kraft paper cards at hobby lobby and got to work.  for my first few invites i strung the little bunting triangles on string like i had on my little gift bag {HERE} but for some reason i was finding it much more challenging this go 'round.  i don't know if it was the weight of my paper, the glue or what...but i didn't like it.  so i improvised and went with a 'string' made out of cream cardstock instead.  it was much more time-efficient and i liked the look just as well.  they are plain & simple but that is kind of like me.  i could have covered them in glitter and that would have probably been more like shannon but i was fresh out of my glitter paper.  looking back i think i might have just stitched across instead on my sewing machine but hey, live and learn.

i printed in dark gray, rounded the corners and then sent them to all our lovely friends requesting their presence.

one little bunting ink stamp & one love postage stamp later they were ready to roll...

have you seen these?  i really like them.  like i even want to send out our bills with love stamps.

...party posts to come...

sparkles

as i've mentioned, i am preparing for this weekend.  we are celebrating my friend shannon & her impending nuptials to a very sweet andy.  i hope it is a gloriously girly few days, jam-packed with all things lovely & sweet but most importantly, blissful days with besties being genuine, laughing our faces off, relaxing & lavishing love on our dear friend.

pinterest is just about the best & worst thing that could happen to a party.  i have about a billion things i would like to do {how fabulous to have so much inspiration} but at the same time you can't have 4 themes, 600 different kinds of decorations & 12 different types of favors soooo...i've been trying to carefully plan out what i commit my time, effort & dollars to because i mean, i want our parties to be darling, not crazy.  originally i thought i would share some of my party ideas with you but then i decided that would spoil all the fun so...you'll just have to wait.  only 3 more days til we get this party started!

i also have about 20 posts in waiting to catch my 'online journal' up on life.  i don't know if this week will be the week for that.  somehow i doubt it.  but please keep checkin' in on me.  i promise they're coming....slowly but surely.

twl 2011

i can't write much because i have about 1,000 things to take care of but i wanted to say that we're back!  back from an awesome, challenging, exciting, eternally significant week with 50 of our favorite friends.  thank you so much to anyone who has been lifting us up in prayer.  God is so good & i can't wait to share more!