End of May, New Apartment, and Kids Camp

Wow!!  Has life been crazy in the McCormick household.  I've been so busy it's been forever since i've been able to sit in front of a computer and put it all on paper!  But, it's been a wonderful busy!!

End of May:
The end of May came and school came to an end!  It was bittersweet packing up my classroom those last few days! My wonderful co-workers threw me a going away party!  I have been so blessed making such great friends at work!  I am going to miss them so much!!!  It is such a blessing to go to work and be surrounded by your friends!!  Thank you Oak Grove family for making my two years there the best!!  

New Apartment:
As soon as we were able to leave school, I hopped in my car and drove to Cleveland.  OKRA Kids Camp was about to start and I had to get to work.  During this time, John and I had decided on looking for a place to live and move to Cleveland in July!  This would give us time to settle before school started.  Well, lets just say I drove to Cleveland on Thursday, and we had an apartment by Friday!!!  Talk about crazy!!  Camp was starting on Monday, and we could start moving in on Wednesday!!!  In two weekends, we were moved out of our house and settled in Cleveland...ohh and on top of this I was working the camp all day!!  So we are now official residents of Cleveland, MS and have absolutely loved being together.  One of our good friends and his wife also live in our apt complex.  It has been so great getting to know Amanda and hang out with her and Kevin.  We have started a bible study once and week.  I am so happy to have a new friend and continue to get to know her more!!!

Kids Camp:
This was my 3rd year having the opportunity to work the OKRA Kids Camp

Outdoor + Kids = Recreation and Activity

This camp is such an amazing camp for the kids in the delta area.  They come for a week straight and are introduced to new sports and recreation activities as well as nutrition.  This camp is so dear to me!  It is so exciting to see our staff pour into our youth and help establish a health way of life for them!  Our wish is that these kids leave camp with a love for recreation and a drive to make healthy choices!!!

It has been a crazy few weeks!!  I cannot wait to see what this next year has in store for us!!

Psalm 25:4

"Make me know your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths"

I have not blogged in what seems like forever!  But it's simply because I have some news I have been wanting to share but have been waiting (wish I could say patiently) on the finalization.  

John and I are moving to Cleveland!!  We are so excited for this next step in our lives.  For those of you  who know, since John and I have been married are jobs have pulled us in separate directions.  For 6 months he lived in Florida, and for the past year has been in Cleveland during the week and home on the weekends!

I had been struggling with the idea of applying for a job down there.  I have one more year to fulfill my commitment to MS and was simply scared of this idea of moving.  I'm from DeSoto County and went to school here, our family is here, this is what I know.  But the Lord really put it on my heart to stop being selfish and take a leap of faith.  Can I be honest with you, this is probably the first "big" leap of faith I have taken.  I knew I needed to be with John and that was it!!!  So I jumped!  SCAREY!!  I applied for the jobs I was able too, got my recommendations together and tweeked the resume!  I said from the beginning Lord, this is in Your hands!  

Two weeks into the process, I received a phone call from the principal at Cypress Parks Elementary and then Pearman.  My principal gave me a Friday off, and I was Cleveland bound with the hopes of getting a job.  The first interview was with Pearman and that afternoon was the interview with Cypress Parks.  Walking into that second interview I was so nervous!  I kept saying over and over again, Lord, I leave it in Your hands! It's all in Your hands!  This was the only thing keeping me calm.  As I waited for the interview to begin, I looked around her office!  Everywhere there was scripture and crosses and angels.  I slowly began to calm down.  As she was getting ready to walk in her office, I looked down and on the edge of her desk was a ceramic bible with the words, "The Lord's hands are what hold you!" I was almost in tears.  There it was, just as clear as could be.  I felt the Lord saying, Amber, I've got it!  Trust me!  The interview could not of gone better.  It turned into a conversation about our faith and how trusting in the Lord and having faith can be such a positive influence in your teaching.  We talked about how teaching was our mission work and that it was up to us to make an impact with the students.  She then introduced to me to her staff and showed me around.  It felt so right.  As we were leaving, she told me she would know by Tuesday and would let me know!  I left the school, got home, and within 30 minutes received a phone call being offered the 4th grade Math and Science position.  I was so thrilled, but part of me held back the excitement.  It would not be official til the board approved the position a week and a half later.  Can I just say that was a long time!  But I told myself, the Lord is holding you.  He has a plan for you!  John and I were so close to finally being able to do what married couples do!  Live in the same house in the same town!!!
Well time went on and I hadn't heard anything.  I knew the Lord was simply making me practice that virtue of patience that I am NOT good at.  I tried so hard not to stress and worry but it was hard.  I could not resign here in Hernando until I for sure had a job in Cleveland.  We could not start looking for a place to live until I for sure had a job there!  After talking to my family and friends I knew I had to simply let His plan unfold.  Saturday, as I was getting the mail I saw a letter from the Cleveland School District School Board.  There it was, my approval letter!  I am now and employee of the Cleveland School District!!

I cannot tell you how happy I am!  This next year is going to be such an adventure!  The Lord continually shows me His faithfulness, even when I struggled in letting Him have it!

25 reasons I love you on your 25th birthday...

...25...  

Because your 25, our car insurance drops drastically!!  ha ha, I had to add this one:)

...24... 
You drive when we go somewhere so I don't have too
(or maybe it's so you don't have to deal with my driving)

...23...

Your laid-backness (word?)  Boy do you balance me out.  Whenever I get in PLAN PLAN PLAN mode and stressed, your attitude to go with the flow always brings me back.  I don't know what we'd do with two of me

...22...

You push me to run the last part of my mile even when I want to walk it!!

...21...

You love to travel, we have only been married two years and have had some of the best vacations; can't wait to finish our bucket list of vacations with you!!

...20...

Your humor, never knowing what is coming from you next  

...19...

You can sing :)

...18...

I love that you made the decision to call and hang out before you left for basic training:) that phone call started it all

...17...

Your selfless decision to serve our country at the age of 17
I'm so proud of you and can't wait to see where flight school takes us

...16...

Every once in awhile, you let me pick out the movie

...15...

you will eat what I cook for dinner

...14...

You can always randomly quote a movie or sing lyrics to a song that goes with any conversation we have

...13...

Your asked to marry me!  Friday the 13, August 2010. 

...12...

You accept me for who I am

...11...
2011 was our wedding year!  I love that you were apart of the planning and helped me make decisions!!

...10...

You brought Rowdy Bear into our lives!

...9...

You always know what to say, when to say it, and when a hug will do

...8...

I love anticipating a welcome hug and kiss from you every Friday

...7...

When we are with friends or in public and you look at me with a look that says I love you!

...6...

your "get ready" look you do in the mirror when you are getting ready for the day

...5...

Your values of family! 

...4...

Our late night conversations about anything and everything

...3...

Your Smile:  I love seeing that genuine smile when you are really excited about something or just happy!  It makes my day!

...2...

the way you make me feel like i'm special

...1...

Your love for the Lord!  Knowing I have a godly husband who wants to raise our family with godly morals and loves his wife in a godly way means the world to me!  I am so blessed to have you in my life baby!

HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY JOHN!!!

i love you

These are a few of my favorite things....

God!  I love knowing I have a Savior who loves me unconditionally and is a God of forgiveness and grace!  I love digging into His word and learning more and more about His mercy!!  We serve an awesome God!!

John!  Do you know just how much I love that man!  Words will never describe the true happiness I feel with him!

          Family!  Family is so near and dear to my heart!  So blessed to have a wonder family!

• Sundays!  I love waking up and seeing my husband beside me, getting breakfast (usually Starbucks), heading to church, dinner with family, then the rest of the afternoon is just me, hubby, and rowdy time!  

Reading!  There is nothing like diving into a good book.  I tend to get "lost" in them and before I know it, it's either 3am or I just finished the last page!  Really enjoying Francine River's series on the 5 women who were apart of the lineage of Christ!

Rowdy!  Knowing this little dog will have his head resting in the window seal at 3:30 when I pull in the driveway from work makes smile!  He's a good snuggle bug too!!

Military!  I love being an American and supporting our men and women in the service!  So thankful for all of them and their families who swore to protect and serve our nation.  I wish more people felt this way!

Beach!  Planning that vacation is just ahhh!  Knowing a whole week on the beach, soaking up the sunshine, and listening to the waves hit the shore is just paradise!  I mean, we did get married on the beach!  Can't wait til July!!

Running!  Being able to exercise and clear your head is good therapy!  That push of going just a little bit further and hitting your goal is bliss!!

Dallas Cowboys!  Love those Cowboys!!  Waiting on the season to start:) hopefully we will have a better one!!

Pinterest!  Filling in that down time with crafts or cooking is good for the soul!  

Frozen Yogurt Dates!  Those random urges to get in the car, go to the nearest yogurt store, and sit outside with my man and enjoy some yummy loaded frozen yogurt!!

5K Season

so, it's that time of year when everyone decides to hit the gym and get beach ready.  And I'm guilty:(  
But, I love this time of year, because it's when John and I start doing the 5K's.  I'm super excited about our first one coming up.  It is the Orphan Run Mississippi on April 20 at Longview Point in Hernando, MS.  I am so glad to be helping out with the cause too!  The Uganda Orphanage Project.  Children have such a special place in my heart, especially those who are in such need of just the basics like food and shelter.  What better way to love on these precious children than by running to raise money so they can have a home.  I highly encourage anyone who will be in the area that day to come!  Even if you have NEVER ran in your life, you can walk it!!! 

http://orphanrunms.eventbrite.com

GO SIGN UP!!!

I am so glad we finally have the weather to get outside and run!!!  It is my way to just think of everything going on in life, pray on big decisions, and just zone out the rest of the world! Little Rowdy Man loves to get his daily mile in too!! This little dude can keep up!!!

If anyone knows of any 5K's coming up please share!!!!!

Have a blessed week everyone!!

"Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." 

Hebrews 12:1

Names of God

On Wednesday night, our pastor has been doing a group bible study on the Names of God!  Can I tell you just how powerful this has been!  To know that God is the God of EVERYTHING!!  His names tell us this!  I have been so humbled and filled with His word during this study.  I have learned to pray and seek God in such a different way.  Our pastor has encouraged us that when we are praying, to call upon the Lord using the name He has given us for our situation!  It has totally changed my prayer life ya'll!!  I have learned to pray in a way that I never thought I could.  I was so guilty of just praying the typical before you go to sleep prayer and not really going to the Lord with the things I was dealing with, good or bad!  I have been able to just open my heart and let Him continually mold it and give me a desire to want to talk to Him more.  I have learned there are so many different ways to pray!!!  He hears our every need!!  So, I am going to share the names we have discussed thus far and encourage you to use His names!  He gives them to us in His word to call upon them!!!  

• ADONAI: LORD or MASTER

This name of God is written in the bible as Lord.  It speaks of God's authority over everyone and everything else.  Adonai speaks of personal surrender to His authority.  

"Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.  I said to the Lord, 'You are my ADONAI; I have not good besides You."  

• EL: The God of Strength and Power

We should exalt His strength and seek His strength

"The LORD is their strength." Pslam 28:8

• ELOHIM: The eternal creator God

God is the source of all life, so we know that our lives are sacred and have a purpose

Pslam 42

• EL ELYON: God Most High

God is not subject to anyone or anything!!

"Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High." Gen. 14:19

• EL SHADDAI: God Almighty

God can accomplish everything He desires and decrees

"May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples." Gen. 28:3

• EL RO'I: The All-Seeing God

God sees our pain, our obedience, and no one gets away with anything!

"Your are a God who sees..." Gen. 16:13

• YAHWEH (or Jehovah): The Proper Name of God,  HE IS!

"He is solitary in His majesty, unique in His excellency, and peerless in His perfections.  He sustains all, but is Himself independent of all.  He gives to all and is enriched by none."  A.W. Pink

*written in the bible as LORD, used over 6,000x times!!

"Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the LORD (Yahweh), and exult before him." Pslam 68:4

I cannot wait to share more with you as the bible study continues.  Lift up His name today if you have not already, and if you have, do it again!!  We should praise him with every breath we breathe!!  

Thank you Heavenly Father for showing us Your power and love through Your names!  

Happy Sunday everyone!! Hope you have a great week!!!

Rowdy Bear

My Story,
Daddy suprised mommy with me one Sunday morning in December.  They had been talking for awhile about getting a dog.  (mommy had baby fever, and my job was to fix it).  Daddy looked around for about 2 weeks for the perfect dog.  He came by my previous owners one day to visit.  I tried my best to be the one he picked.  I was laid back and didn't cause a fuss.  And thats just what he wanted!!  I was picked to join his family.  I was so excited when I knew I was going to live with another family, but a little scared.  I had never been outside before:(  Daddy scheduled to meet up with my breeder that next Sunday. 
On Sunday, Mommy and Daddy were getting ready for church.  They usually have breakfast together on Sundays.  Daddy told Mommy he was going to just go pick up breakfast from McDonalds and bring it home for them to eat before church.  Mommy got so frustrated because she was all ready and thought it would be easier to just grab breakfast then head to church from there.  But Daddy insited so she just waited around at the house.  He was trying to get out of the house to go pick me up. 
My breeder put a big red bow around my neck and got me ready for my new home.  I was so nervous.  When I reached the new house, Daddy put me on the couch and called Mommy in there.  She screamed, which scared me and I peed.  She was so excited and instantly I got lots of hugs and kisses.  They took me to Petco and got me all the stuff us puppies need.  I was spoiled from the get-go.  I remember Mommy and Daddy's familys coming over after church to meet me.  I was so happy to be with my new family.  To this day, I run the house hold.  I love to play with my monkeys, wrestle with Daddy, and sit at Mommy's feet and protect her when Daddy isn't home.  I am the luckiest dog in the world.

First day with my new family, I was so little

My best friend Jazze

Snuggling with Momma after Daddy left (I like his side of the bed)

Just relaxing

Waiting on Daddy to get home from work

Love having my belly scratched

Mommy dressed me up as a Pirate, I didn't like it:(