Jarred's Birthday Week

David and Kimberly were out of town all week, so Jarred and I kept the babies (Brodie and Lola) at our apartment. They were good for us and didn't once have an accident on the floor. We loved getting to play and cuddle with them.

 

This was our first full week back at school, and I started my internship Monday morning (bright and early at 4:45 am!) at LiveFit7. Needless to say, it was a busy week. So by the time Friday got here, Jarred and I were excited to sleep in a little and go to breakfast at Stellar Beans for his birthday. We have been wanting to try the beignets there for sometime. And they are so delicious! Jarred splurged and had a pour over Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. The pour over process is really neat to watch!

 

At work, Jarred got to enjoy a yummy strawberry coconut cake made by our Marketing Director, Irene. Also, one of our team member's (Marcus) mom, who also goes to our church, made some tasty cupcakes for the team.

 

My "little sister" Kadie handmade a card for Jarred that says the following:

Jarred, I love you. Good luck. Happy birthbay. I hope you have a good time. Thank you. I love you. From: Kadie. To: Jarred

 

Saturday night we went to Kyoto, a Hibachi restuarant, to celebrate Jarred's birthday with David and Kimberly. It was a busy, fun week. Then, we were thankful for a day of rest today.

Indescribable gift

One of my favorite regulars that comes in Chick-fil-A is Ms. Bessie. She has been coming in since we opened in August 2011, and Jarred and I have grown to love this sweet elderly lady. She talks quite often about her husband who passed away several years ago. She loves him and misses him dearly.She always reminds us to take care of each other and love each other.

A few weeks ago Ms. Bessie commented on the price of her regular 4-nugget kid's meal going up a few cents. She said that if we went up on our prices again, she wouldn't be able to come eat at her favorite place anymore. Another customer overheard what Ms. Bessie had said and later gave Kimberly $100 to anonymously buy a gift card to give to Ms. Bessie.

Fast forward to today. Ms. Bessie came in for her usual. She explained that she used the last of her $100 gift card the other day. Still, she couldn't believe that someone had anonymously given it to her. Ms. Bessie told me that she just wish she knew who had paid for it so she could thank the person. I told her it was a blessing from the Lord and she could thank Him.

After Ms. Bessie got settled into her usual table by the window, a lady approached me asking about Ms. Bessie. The lady had overheard me telling Ms. Bessie that the gift card was a blessing from the Lord. This lady handed over her debit card and asked to purchase a $25 gift card anonymoulsy for Ms. Bessie.

This has been on my mind all day. Two anonymous customers sacrificed some money to give a gift to someone they had never even met. That's a pretty cool story to me. But a much more amazing story is the ultimate gift that God gives His children. God SACRIFICED HIS SON for us disobedient sinners. No one deserves this wonderful gift. However, God, full of grace and compassion, decided to give us life. So often I cannot comprehend the awesomeness of this. It's indescribable.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

"God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood - to be received by faith." Romans 3:25

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion." Psalm 103:2-4

The year in review . . .

Happy New Year! I've enjoyed reminiscing over the last year. . .

 

Jarred and I started taking classes at McNeese

 

 

We celebrated David and Kimberly's wedding as a bridesmaid and groomsman

 

We took a trip to Seattle to see the Space Needle and the first Starbucks

 

We spent a relaxing week on a family beach trip with the Griffins

 

We celebrated Lindy's 30th birthday in Atlanta

 

 We received Chick-fil-A scholarships for school

 

We spent a weekend in Macon for Maggie's 3rd birthday

 

We had Thanksgiving in Mobile at the Davis' house

 

I became a "big sister" and began mentoring Kadie

 

We met baby Katie

 

We went to our first Hawks game 

 

And we celebrated our first anniversary!!!

A trip to New Orleans

 

 

And a romantic dinner at Embers

 

 

When looking over our last year, I am convicted about how there is such much for which to give thanks to the Lord. He has met our needs and overwhelmed us with His love and grace in 2012.

 

Psalm 100

 

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His court with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever,

His faithfulness continues through all generations."