Those 4 words that changed my life!

It is so hard to believe but a year ago today my wonderful (now) husband asked me to be his wife. It is crazy how fast time goes by...since the Mr. popped the question we have BOTH graduated from college, added another nephew, gotten married, seen friends get married, and so much more! This past year has been the most amazing year of my life. I am so blessed and can't wait to see where the next year will take me and the Mr.! Here are some pictures from a year ago:

Right after he popped the question...I wish I could go back to that night, what an amazing feeling!

Showing off my new bling! He couldn't have done better picking it out (he only had a couple of subtle hints)!

The set up! So surprised to see him in the dressing room at a bridal salon I had no idea what was going on!

Coming out to a room full of loved ones...I was so glad that we got to share that moment with some of our family, it just made it even more special!

Fun weekends!

So for some reason it wouldn't let me move the pictures around, so they are not in the right order...sorry!
The UWG Football Stadium

Beth's Bachlorette Party

Out to eat for Beth's Bachlorette party

The brand new Alpha Gamma Delta house

Nate and his Daugher Addison for her first UGA game

Matt and I have had two amazing weekends in a row! We have been feeling a little bit like recluses lately because we normally don't do much on the weekends for whatever reason it may be. But these past two weekends have been so fun!

The weekend before last we went to Carrollton on Friday and I helped out with Alpha Gams recruitment, it was also my first time seeing the brand new Alpha Gam house which is beautiful! It was so fun to see all the girls and feel like I was back in college (but it was also so great not to have to actually rush!) I spent the night with my best friends that night and Matt had a guys night with his old roommates!

The next day we went to visit some of our good friends Nate and Bekah Conner who just welcomed the most precious baby girl (Addison Makayla Conner). She is so adorable and we were so glad to have the chance to get to see her!

After that Matt and I and a bunch of friends went to the first West Georgia football game in the new stadium! For those of you who don't know West Georgia just now decided to step it up (after over 100 years), and they finally built a greek village, football stadium, and coliseum! Anyways that was such a neat experience to be a part of that and spend even more time with friends. The rest of the weekend we spent recouping!

This past weekend on Friday we went to eat at my best friend and her husbands house (Jessica & Jacob) it was so much fun talking, eating, and even playing some games! Then Saturday I went to a bachlorette party for my good friend Beth in Atlanta...it was a great time. We got a room at the Palomar hotel in Atl. then went to Marlow's Tavern for dinner and went out to Cosmolava after that. It was such a blast...I love all these girls and had the most fun!

The next day Matt, Christine and the boys, Matt's mom, and Kyle went to a family reunion for Matt's mom's side of the family which was a rather interesting day but fun none the less. Needless to say we were exhausted by the time 8:00pm rolled around on Sunday night and we are looking forward to having a rather lazy weekend this weekend!

Happy B-Day Charley!

Well it's actually a little late...better late than never though huh? Our little Charley is 1 year old! Who is Charley you might ask? He is our sweet, trouble making, annoying little Cavachon pup! We got Charley almost a year ago now and I really can't believe just how much he has grown... it's crazy! We have had a great time with him though...we have cleaned up lots of messes, given him an uncountable number of baths (next time we will not get a white dog), had plenty of laughs at him (he has no space awareness so he falls off things a lot) , had many snuggle moments, frustrating moments, and lots and lots of kisses! It is funny how dogs can put a smile on your face no matter what mood you are in, and Charley has certainly brought a few more smiles to our lives! We love you little Char Char Happy Birthday.
Really soon after we got him...he's so little The Aycock's at Christmas 08...Char open your eyes! "I promise I didn't do it!"Stuck! This is after his first haircut that I gave him, must say I am pretty proud of my grooming skills!

Ode to my wonderful husband

Can I just tell you how great I think Mr. Aycock is? There is nothing that he did particularly that sparked this post I was just sitting and thinking about all the things that I do or say that he puts up with! Like lately I have been having a bit of an "early life crisis" lets call it, and he is just so wonderful making me laugh when I am crying or stressed, laughing at me when I am being totally over the top, and he is always on my team! Yes he is a great husband and sometimes I think I could just eat him up I love him that much. So here are just a few of the reasons I can't get enough of that Mr. Aycock:

1. He works so hard and gives 110% to everything in his life (being a husband, teacher, brother, and son)

2. He is very humble (except in sports haha) and I am learning so much about humility from his example

3. He gives the best hugs in the world...it's true

4. He always knows how to put a smile on my face no matter what the situation is

5. I love talking (dreaming) about our future

6. I know he will be the best father ever

7. He will go along with most of my crazy and spontaneous ideas

8. He keeps me grounded

9. He can't seem to stay on his "side" of the bed when he is sleeping (but I secretly love being able to know that he is right next to me)

10. I love how we can still drive in the car for hours without ever turning on the radio because we are talking the whole time.

What a sweet boy!

Ok I admit it...

Well I was browsing through the library the other day (don't know why because I am in a bit of a reading rut right now and I am still mid book and have about 2 more on the shelf at home to ready to read) anyways back to browsing the library...looking through the racks and racks of books I noticed something about myself, I judge books by their covers. It's true I can't help it. I am a bit of what they call a "chick lit" lover and I must admit if the cover isn't super cute I am not really inclined to read it! Horrible I know but it is the truth, please tell me I'm not the only one who would prefer reading this book:

Over this book:Which by the way Chasing Harry Winston IS as cute as it's cover!

Thought I would be a better blogger

When I started this blog I really thought I would be a much better blogger so I must apologize to anyone out there who actually reads this. When I started I had the best of intentions...I thought I would be funny and have great stories to tell, I also thought I would do it like everyday and give great ideas and advice....hummm didn't really turn out that way! But don't you worry I am not going anywhere I will still try my hardest lol! Ok so to catch everyone up on my life...because I know you are dying to know! One of my best friends went away to law school all the way in Ft. Lauderdale, FL I will miss her dearly but we did send her away in style with a surprise going away party which was so fun! Last weekend I went to a fiesta wedding shower for one of my great friends Beth. It was so much fun and I even ended up spending the night and getting to have a fun girls night with some of my great friends! Matt has had his second full week of work and he comes home with fun stories every night I love hearing them so much! I however am still in the grueling process of finding, applying, and interviewing for every position possible! Uhhh what a pain in the butt I am so ready to find something already! Charley is doing great...he is a little wild child at times but we love him non the less and I even brought him home a toy the other day and let me tell you...if you have a dog and they don't have a KONG toy you need to go get them one ASAP. I got Charley one on Monday of this week and he has yet to put it down! It goes outside with him when he goes to the bathroom, and the second he gets out of his crate in the morning he is desperately searching for it, and if you even remotely look like you might try and take it away from him he will get up and move away from you! This is also the only toy he has that he hasn't been able to tear up and eat the little pieces of it and then make mommy clean up his regurgitated remains so I am loving just as much as Charley! Well that is my sad attempt at getting "caught up" but now I have to do some laundry, cleaning and go for a run! I promise I will try and get better!

Nugget of Truth

For those of you who don't know Matt and I have really been struggling with finding jobs. Matt currently has a summer job but that is about to be over and we still have nothing lined up so needless to say we are getting very nervous. This week has also been especially difficult because we have had two slaps in the face when it comes to jobs and it is just getting harder and harder to stay positive and hopeful when you have things that are constantly getting your hopes up and then being let down! So anyways with that little bit of background I just wanted to share a bit of what the Lord shared with me this morning...I came across this verse and it really struck a cord with me:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

Isa. 43:1-3

My interpretation of this verse is that He doesn't say IF we go through hard times and struggles He says WHEN we go through hard times He WILL be there and we will not be overwhelmed nor will we be burned because He is with us. I think it is so normal in hard times to feel like He is not hearing your cries; but I think God is slowly revealing to me that He is right next to me to catch me if I fall but He knows it will make me so much stronger if I go through the fire.

"but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isa. 40:31

It's sort of like kids learning to ride a bike, as a parent you want to hold on to the bike so they don't fall...but the only way they will learn and become strong bike riders is to let go and maybe watch them struggle and even fall a time or two but you are there to comfort, encourage, and occasionally nurse some boo-boos! So this might make no sense to anyone but me, but I just thought I would share...and ask that you please pray for us right now during this mini fire...that the Lord will reveal his plan for our lives and that He would continue to open doors and show us where He wants us and also that we would continue to trust fully in Him that He will provide for all of our needs! Thanks guys and please let us know what we can pray for you about!