#Victory2017

Victory - a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.

2014 - A year of prayer and trusting.
2015 - A year of change, love, answered prayer, and some struggle.
2016 - A year of more answered prayer and lots of transition.
2017 - A year of VICTORY. 

This year our word is Victory. 

It's amazing - I started this post in January, and here it is August and I never finished it.

I can tell you that this year has truly been a year of victory. 

This year God settled some things and now we have Ava half the time.

This year my best friend overcame cancer and was healed in the arms of Jesus. 

This year we will welcome a baby girl, Sawyer Jane, a baby we had hoped for but who came as complete sweet surprise. 

This year a job opportunity became available to provide more financially for our family, as well as less stress so MORE focus could be on our family. 

This year IS a year of Victory. 

This year has not been easy. 
No cake walks here. 
But this year has been laced with victory.

Victory is a way of life we can walk in when we walk with Jesus. Ultimately, no matter the circumstance, victory is always ours to claim in Jesus name. 

I surely haven't always lived with this perspective, and sometimes my pessimistic nature gets the best of me. Thankfully, God provided me with a sweet husband who is quick to remind me of that VICTORY when I need a paradigm shift. 

It would have been easy to be upset that Rebekah wasn't healed here, where I wanted to it happen. I could have easily sat in selfishness that my best friend wouldn't get to experience this pregnancy with me, or that she wouldn't get to experience pregnancy at all. I could have been upset for her husband who in the world's eyes was left all alone. Or upset for her family who is surely missing their sister and daughter. But I couldn't be any of those things. It hit me one day as I was making cookies, like Beck and I had done countless times, that I wasn't crying and upset over her absence. Then instantly I felt terrible for not feeling that sorrow I thought should accompany her being gone.. But I could hear her voice, I could see her push my shoulder and tell me to "Get over it, TP - You know where I am, you know I am healed, and you know you'll see me again. I don't even miss you!" I laughed out loud and then did begin to cry, sweet tears of joy, not sadness. 

Two weeks before Rebekah walked into heaven, I went to visit and it was just she and I for a few minutes, she kept asking to touch my belly, she kissed my belly, told my belly "I love you kid, you don't even know." Beck was excited about this girl (who we both thought was a boy at the time..). 

It's funny because as much as I wish she was here, I don't. 

I know the joy, the peace, the wholeness she is experiencing and I wouldn't wish this Earth on her again. I can't wait to see her again. I can't wait for her to meet Sawyer one day in Heaven. To see the girl who carries part of her name. 

THAT is victory. 

To face death with a smile because it isn't the end. 

Rebekah is victorious. 

We can do that every day. Face death with a smile, because no matter how hard the circumstance, it isn't ever going to be our end. 

Jesus is our end. 
He is THE victory. 

So if you're struggling today to see the good, cling to the promise that ALL things work out for good for those who love and seek HIM. You may not see the good until you're on the other side of heaven, but eventually you'll see it. Find joy in that. Claim it. It's yours because of Jesus. 

Victory - a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.

Our victory over Satan was won on the cross. We can walk every day knowing that our steps, though sometimes trudging and not always easy, are moving towards Jesus. 

Praying God's peace on and all over you as you walk through tough stuff, He's there. Cling to him and claim that victory!

So you asked me how Rebekah's doing...

I'll tell you this is something that has been on my heart to write for a few weeks now as many of you have reached out to know how our sweet friend is currently feeling.

For those of you who don't know, Rebekah is a woman who has battled cancer for close to half of her life. One who's smile never leaves, no matter the difficulty or the pain. One who isn't bothered by any little thing, and never fails to tell you straight.

Her most recent fight has been more difficult than others. But GOD has sustained both she and her husband as they've leaned heavily into His side. I've watched them walk through deep waters with a firm grip on Jesus' hand. Never claiming it was easy, but always claiming Jesus strength in their weakness. Jared has upheld his wife in the highest manner, caring for her exactly as he vowed to, as Christ loved the church. Sacrificially and with the utmost servitude.

Right now, medically things look grim. To the world it seems that goodbyes should be said and final words exchanged. But let's not forget the God we serve. The God who has proclaimed that by HIS wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

I'm going to be bold and say something that has the possibility of hurting your feelings, or offending you in some way, please know that's not my intention. What I want to share with you is truth. Truth that Jared and Rebekah are believing and want nothing more then for you to come alongside in agreement with them. But if you question it, or have any ounce of unbelief, I ask that you kindly keep your prayers to yourself, or maybe ask God to change them before you continue. We believe that Rebekah's healing is just one part of an even grander plan that God has in store for this community and for this world, quite honestly. This healing has been spoken and proclaimed over her with Christ's authority. And has been confirmed in so many instances, too many to list in one sitting.

John 14:12 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Jesus spoke and told the disciples that they (we) would do even greater things than He did. If you recall, Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, and RAISED people from the dead. And yet here, He tells us we will do greater. So why can't we claim healing over the cells in Rebekah's body? Not simply accepting "God's Will" - ie. praying "Well if it's her time Lord.. we trust you..." but crying out in the authority given to you through Christ Jesus "Lord we KNOW that you are POWERFUL and we KNOW that you are the SAME God today that you were when you walked the Earth and healed the sick - YOU live in US - YOU told us we would do GREATER things - REBEKAH WILL DO GREATER THINGS - Rebekah's body rebukes this sick and claims the healing that you already won when you died on that cross. by YOUR wounds she IS healed."

THIS is the prayer Jared asks you to pray for his wife.

THIS is the prayer Rebekah asks that you pray over her. 

THIS is prayer that steps into the authority given when we walk with Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:18-23 States 

18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Christ's Resurrection was such an overwhelming display of God's power that this was actually the MIGHTIEST work of God ever recorded! The Resurrection was opposed by Satan and all his cohorts. However his forces were confused and defeated by our Lord Jesus Christ, who arose, ascended, and is now seated at the right hand of the father far above them.

[Paraphrased from book by Kenneth E. Hagin, The Believer's Authority]

Colossians 2:15 (NIV)

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he [Christ] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

These are the same demonic powers we have to deal with, but, thank God, Jesus defeated them. Other translations say He "put them to "nought" or "paralyzed them."

The source of our authority is found in this resurrection and exalting of Christ by God. Notice in the 18th verse that the Holy Spirit through Paul prays that the eyes of the Ephesians' understanding -- their spirits -- might be opened to these truths. He wanted all churches -- all believers -- to be enlightened. You will never understand the authority of the believer only with your intellect; you must get the spiritual revelation of it. You must believe it by Faith. 

[Paraphrased from book by Kenneth E. Hagin, The Believer's Authority]

I wasn't sure how to say those last few paragraphs on my own, so I used a source to help explain. 

What I want you to understand is that the state of Rebekah's health is a nonissue when you ask "How is she?". Physically? She's got cancer that's ripping through her body. Spiritually? Emotionally? Rebekah is right where she needs to be. Taking authority over her body and claiming the healing that is promised through Christ's death and resurrection. Rebekah trusts with 150% of who she is that she will be healed on THIS side of heaven. That there is MORE work to be done to further God's kingdom, and she wants to do whatever she can to bring Him and Him only, all the glory and all the praise. 

So you asked me how Rebekah's doing, and what you can do to help...

You can pray with FULL BELIEF that this is NOT the end. 

That healing is on the horizon and that GOD will be GLORIFIED through it all.

Ouch.

The last few days have been more than difficult. They've just plain ole hurt.

Thursday night did not go the way I ever thought it would, Mickey ran into the woods like she usually does, and came back when I called.. but when we got inside everything went wrong. She seemed fine but had a cut on her head, it was bleeding pretty profusely and I got some hydrogen peroxide to clean it. When I got back to her a few seconds later she was laying on the rug and didn't want to get up. I got her into the kitchen where she laid out on the floor and cried out in pain. I instantly became hysterical, calling Jake with no answer, then my Mom. I wrapped Mickey into her blanket, got her in the car and rushed her to the emergency vet a few miles away. On the ride over she continued to cry out and all I could do was cry to Jesus to touch her.

When we got to the vet she perked up, she walked around and we took that as a sign that maybe this wasn't as serious as it seemed, she would get better. We went back to the exam room and waited for her to be looked at, she just sat in my lap, I loved on her, told her she would be fine. I prayed over her and asked Jesus to touch her.. I had peace that all would be well. The vet seemed to think it was a bite of some sort, they took X-rays and couldn't see much because the swelling was getting worse. They put her back in an oxygen crate, gave her something for the pain, and something to bring the swelling down.. it was beginning to constrict her airway so that's what they were focused on, bring swelling down. They were going to watch her overnight, keep her airway clear, checking her often. I reached into that crate, wrapped my arms around her, and she began to cry as I prayed over her. I asked that God would keep her calm, that she would feel as if she was home with Hank and Elsa, I asked for wisdom for the Vet and Vet tech who were attending to her, and thanked Jesus for their help. I told Mickey that I loved her, and that soon she would be home and back to normal. I cried and cried over her, but still trusted that Jesus would take care of her. And He did. Just not the way I expected...

We got a phone call at 2am that she was gone. She didn't make it through the night. They tried to intubate but it was too late.. Mickey wasn't with us any more. It felt like part of me was just ripped out from under me and I couldn't breathe. It seems crazy, she's "just a dog" right? I shouldn't be that upset...but I was. I was devastated. I felt guilty like I didn't do enough, I shouldn't have wasted time in Chobee and should have gotten home sooner when it was light out.. then she would probably be okay. Maybe I should have spoken up sooner when we were waiting for her to be examined, if they would have X-Rayed her sooner maybe they would have been able to do more.. so many what if's.. so many "I should have's"... this just sucked. It wasn't fair.

I asked God, why? You gave me peace when I left there that she would be okay? Why did you take her? Immediately in that place of darkness the Holy Spirit spoke to me, He said "You don't have to know that, Taylor. You just have to trust Me." I told God it was unfair, she was such a good pup. The Holy Spirit said "And how fair was it for Jesus to die on a cross? He was such a good man.." God sent his only Son to hang on a cross so that He could have a relationship with ME. At any moment he could have snapped his fingers and said "Nahh, not today. I can't handle this." But He didn't, He watched, and He hurt, and He grieved because He knew that this was the way to have a relationship with me. "Wow.. you love me that much. You watched your son hang on a cross.. how much more do you understand my hurting heart.. how much more can you comfort me when you suffered the ultimate loss.." You see, God loves us so much that regardless of the hurt, no matter how big or how small it may seem to some, if it rocks your world, it rocks His too.

I was blessed on Friday by my Principal who allowed me to go home. He saw me that morning and didn't even know what had happened, but he knew that school was not a place I could be at the moment... honestly it would have scared my students.. haha Puffy face, crying constantly, not something they needed to witness. 

Jake and I spent Friday at home, we cried, we loved on Hank and Elsa, we went to lunch with family to get out of the house.. made sure we went somewhere the pups could go also. Before we headed to lunch we stopped by the Vet to pay for Mickey's cremation.. I walked out with a receipt and a report. A report that basically said that Mickey was fine.. trauma to the head, died of a constricted airway.. That's it?! She died because someone didn't check her soon enough to see that she wasn't breathing?? My exact words to Jake were "How am I supposed to accept this? I CANNOT accept this??" And instantly the Holy Spirit spoke again "How do parents accept the death of their unborn child without any explanation... or the death of any child for that matter?" And then God reminded me.. "Death does not take away from the joy of new life..." because my thoughts were - No more dogs. I'm done. I can't do this again. But when couples lose one child, soon they try for another. And that new life doesn't take away from the life that was lost, if anything it makes you appreciate it more. 

Then as we were heading home from lunch.. I was watching Hank and Elsa look out the window to the ocean.. I kept thinking about how I could have always had Mickey on a leash, no real freedom. Yes I would've been able to keep her safe, knowing always what she was doing and where she was, but she wouldn't have enjoyed life, she wouldn't have loved me as much as she did, she would have tolerated me because I fed her. Mickey had run of the yard and of the woods behind our house, and she loved it. She would gazelle leap through it every chance she got. She loved to explore and was full of adventure. She was athletic, hilarious, and full of energy - and most of that is because of the freedom we allowed her. The best parts of her personality came through in the freedom she was given.

Then my thoughts went to our Creator, the one who designs us with desires, dreams, talents, and characteristics. All of which come out in the freedom He allows us. God doesn't put us on a leash and keep us close.. though sometimes I wish He would. He allows us the freedom to make our own decisions and to seek Him on our own. How many times do we make decisions that cause pain, physical, emotional, and/or spiritual pain to not only ourselves but to our Creator. How many times do we make decisions that grieve His heart.. Mickey's choice to go into the woods doesn't hurt me, it's the fact that I was responsible for her and she got hurt on my watch. God knows us, He takes responsibility for us, and it hurts Him when we get hurt on His watch.. How much more does He understand My heart through this loss of our sweet Mickey?

God is good, ALL the time. No matter how hard, or how painful. He is constant. He is consistent.

He is good. 

I'm sure God could have healed Mickey, but for whatever reason He decided to do that on the other side of Heaven. I know this happens to many in different situations, with loved ones, friends, etc. We may never know the why but we have a promise that every tear shed is accounted for, and each one will be redeemed in HIS time. I live with the promise that my end is Victory, in a place where pain will cease to exist. So I'll carry my cross as I wait for the crown, and praise Jesus every step of the way.

I believe I'll see Mickey again in Heaven one day. That she'll meet me at the gate with her crooked tail and happy smile. Until then, I'll remember that smile and appreciate the ones around me who are still here for me to love on. 

To every parent who's lost a child - I know losing a dog can't compare but I feel like God gave me a glimpse of what it's like.. to come home to an empty room with their bed and belongings. To feel the empty of a hole only they filled. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm so sorry you've had to feel that hole. I pray that you know Jesus and that you let him hold you when you can't keep yourself up. And if you don't know Him, I pray you find Him, because I can assure you that walking with Him is so much better than walking without Him.

High five to you if you made it all the way through this.. this might be "Michelle" worthy just by the length! (You'll have to check out my Mom's blog to understand that..lol)

I'll leave you with some pics of our sweet girl. She was quite the light. 

Oh so good.

God is good.

He blesses me undeservingly and without limit. 

The biggest blessing thus far, my husband.

He's a man who loves me like Christ loves the church. 

He takes care of me, loves unconditionally, and reminds me everyday how special he thinks I am. 

He takes time to just listen when I need an ear, and hugs me from behind when he can see my anxiety rising. 

He's the optimist my sometimes pessimistic alter ego needs. 

He keeps me in check, and is always pointing me back to Jesus. 

He reminds me that I'm strong when I sometimes feel bogged down and weak. 

He prays BIG prayers, and believes in THE big God who hears and can answer them. 

Life just ain't the cake walk we want it to be. But God is so faithful to provide us with a hand to hold in His Holy Spirit and His word. And usually on more than one occasion we get blessed with people to hug us and hold us too. My husband is my favorite hug..

God revealed to me long before Jake and I were even dating that he was going to be my husband. I look back on the last three years and am so thankful for the hard stuff. It was 10 months of prayer after meeting Jake and hanging out with him a little, that taught me how to trust Jesus even when I couldn't see the whole picture. God asked me to pray for a man that I barely knew, and eventually revealed that I would one day marry him. It didn't make any sense. Many days being obedient sucked. It was hard. But I knew that I knew there was a purpose in my prayer, and that God had never asked me to do anything before that wasn't for a reason.. I had to trust him. I'm overjoyed that I did. Because I was obedient when it wasn't easy, because I prayed what and when the Holy Spirit prompted, I ended up with a husband who is more than I ever could have imagined.

Jake is a man who loves with every ounce of who he is.
He's compassionate, dependable, and would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it.
He's hard working and oh so creative when it comes to anything he can make with his hands.
He's my favorite everything.

If God is asking you to do something that doesn't quite make sense right now, I can't encourage you enough to stick to it. Do what He's asking and KNOW that His plans for you are GOOD. They will always turn out far better than anything you could have planned yourself. Sometimes it takes a bit of time to see the good, but He promises you'll see it eventually.

Press on!

God gets it. He comes through.

Yesterday I posted about trust, how it wasn't easy, but that it's what God asks of us. To trust without a limit.

The thing is that we are human, Christ dwells within us we contain the same power that HE did when He lived on this Earth, we still feel those feelings of the flesh. We have to learn how to keep them in check, and see them just as feelings, not as truth.

I've written about how feelings are just that.. FEELINGS.

The thing is that you can claim God's truth over your feelings.

You can claim peace over your anxiety.

You can claim joy over negativeness.

When you realize the power you have, through Jesus, it's almost like you can stand taller. Your chest pokes out more and the weight is lifted. You can look at the hard circumstance and be okay. You can see the struggle and still have peace that it's going to turn out okay, because God promises that. Sometimes the good isn't seen until we're on the other side of heaven, but we must believe that there is good.

I don't know what tomorrow holds, BUT GOD gives me just what I need to get through today. I don't have to know all the answers, I just need the answers for today.

TODAY.

He knew I would feel this way today.
He knew there would be ups and downs.
He holds in both of those, higher than my high, and tightly in my lows.

He gets it.

It doesn't lessen the purpose, it doesn't belittle my calling, it makes greater the joy that is coming.

And there is MORE joy that is coming - because I know that there is much joy already even in the struggle. But there is more that is to come... I await the day that is to come. The day I can say "YES! I get it now!!" Whether here or in Heaven, I'll get to say that. I'll get to see the Joy. Because God is good. He is who He says He is. And He will do what He has promised He will do.

He will come through for me.

This song by Bethel was good to me today, so I thought I'd share it with you.

                                            "Faithful To The End"

We're heaven-spun creations
His pride and adoration
Treasures woven by his love

His careful hands they hold us
Safe within His promise
Of calling and of destiny

I will sing of all You've done
I'll remember how far You carried me
From beginning until the end
You are faithful, faithful to the end

A Father's heart that's for me
A never ending story
Of love that's always chasing me

His kindness overwhelming
And hope for me unending
He's never given up on me

I will sing of all You've done
I'll remember how far You carried me
From beginning until the end
You are faithful, faithful to the end

There wasn't a day
That You weren't by my side
There wasn't a day
That You let me fall
All of my life
Your love has been true
All of my life
I will worship You

Trust

I'm unsure of how clear this blog will be, there's a million thoughts circulating in my head right now, too many to journal quickly enough to get them all down, so I type.

Trust - it's not an easy thing. We live in an imperfect world where most everything we encounter can fail. Maybe we haven't experienced every type of failure, and maybe most people in our lives are trustworthy.. but I don't think that makes it easier. As humans we do what we can to trick ourselves into believing that we are in control. We plan our lives and write things in pretty planners with the hopes that what is written will go our way. And though many things might, it is inevitable that a plan will fail. A parent will fail. A husband will fail. A friend will fail. A pastor will fail. Our car will fail. I will fail. We fail. 

And though this may sound cliche, God doesn't fail. He didn't write a second plan, the first one is as it is. He is sovereign. 

I've struggled recently with an anger that I couldn't put my finger on until the trust word came up. I'm not quite sure if I was angry with the situation itself or the fact that it just wasn't going the way I thought it should. It didn't match what I was writing in my "pretty planner" and that made me angry... But all the while through the anger I heard God ask me to trust him, He whispered quietly as I yelled or cried. He used my husband and close friends to remind me where my hope lies, to trust HIM. 

Life is rarely easy, but good things can be found in even the worst of situations. God asks us to trust him without borders or limits. He wants us to understand that while we can't see the whole picture HE can. And that in the midst of the struggle He holds us with the promise that He is in control. Many of our circumstances are not ideal, but hanging on a cross wasn't ideal for a man who did no wrong..BUT GOD made good from that. Surely He'll do the same for us. 

We have to look at our circumstances and think BUT GOD.... not BUT THE WORLD says... BUT MY mom says... BUT MY friend says.... BUT GOD SAYS..

We have to dive into scripture to speak it over our lives. We can't live on the secondhand faith of our parents or our pastor. Our faith must become our own. 

Believe me when I tell you that these words are meant for me but I'm sharing them with the hope that someone who like me, is struggling to trust in a situation will be further encouraged to look to Jesus for the hope that only he can provide. 

The scripture below is found in Isaiah 61 - it spoke to me this week when listening to Joyce Meyer speak about brokenness vs wholeness. 

Verse 7 says "Instead of shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance, and so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours."

You see we can't look back on what we think should have happened, or what we're missing out on because it didn't go the way we planned. We have to know that when we trade our ashes God gives us beauty. And that what we thought we should have had God doubles our portion and really what we get is greater than what was in OUR original plan. "Instead of ashes the oil of joy..." (vs 3) You can have joy when it doesn't go your way. You can have peace when walls seem to be crumbling around you because God is sovereign.. and He can take any negative thing we've been through and make it good. You must believe that regardless of circumstance, HE can make ALL things good. 

He will. It's who He is.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor 

1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lordis on me, 

because the Lordhas anointed me 

to proclaim good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

to proclaim freedom for the captives 

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor 

and the day of vengeance of our God, 

to comfort all who mourn, 

3and provide for those who grieve in Zion— 

to bestow on them a crown of beauty 

instead of ashes, 

the oil of joy 

instead of mourning, 

and a garment of praise 

instead of a spirit of despair. 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, 

a planting of the Lord

for the display of his splendor. 

4They will rebuild the ancient ruins 

and restore the places long devastated; 

they will renew the ruined cities 

that have been devastated for generations. 

5Strangers will shepherd your flocks; 

foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 

6And you will be called priests of the Lord, 

you will be named ministers of our God. 

You will feed on the wealth of nations, 

and in their riches you will boast. 

7Instead of your shame 

you will receive a double portion, 

and instead of disgrace 

you will rejoice in your inheritance. 

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, 

and everlasting joy will be yours. 

8“For I, the Lord, love justice; 

I hate robbery and wrongdoing. 

In my faithfulness I will reward my people 

and make an everlasting covenant with them. 

9Their descendants will be known among the nations 

and their offspring among the peoples. 

All who see them will acknowledge 

that they are a people the Lordhas blessed.” 

10I delight greatly in the Lord; 

my soul rejoices in my God. 

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation 

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, 

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, 

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

11For as the soil makes the sprout come up 

and a garden causes seeds to grow, 

so the Sovereign Lordwill make righteousness 

and praise spring up before all nations.

Mini Vaca taught me this... my husband is too nice.

Jake and I started our week in Orlando at a Timeshare, just for two nights.. it was short but kind of FREE so we weren't complaining! It's nice to get out of town and enjoy each other's company outside of the normal routine. Sunday started with Sunday School and Church at Westside, then we headed to Chobee to drop off the dogs.. Well two of them. Our big guy is spending the week up in TN with his "Grandparents" - they were kind enough to take him along and we're quite sure he's loving life. His Uncle Nic was excited that Hank was able to hang out with his son, Moose on Father's day weekend.. ha! (I assure you we do know that they are in fact dogs, but they're family.)

     

ANYWAY - After dropping off the crazy little white faced ones at my parents we were off! Once to the hotel we got up to our room to get settled. We scoped out the pools and then got ready for dinner. With the NBA championship on TV we opted for the Ale house down the road to enjoy the game. Jake can talk to anybody and made friends with the guy sitting next to him at the Bar. Jake is nice. I saw this at dinner, but I also saw it the next morning. 

You see the reason our two night vacation was "free" was because we had to sit through a ninety minute presentation about why we should buy this timeshare... we are in no position to buy a timeshare so we went in with the mindset of NO we are not interested but give us your best pitch, we'll give you our best "no thank you", and be on our way $175 dollars richer... Our ninety minute presentation turned into a 3 hour presentation as my husband is just TOO NICE. It was quite funny and by the end of it I was so ready to sit by the pool that I looked at Jake and very nicely said "SHUT UP" when the salesman walked away. When we left with our gift card in hand I told Jake that I knew who would do the negotiating next time we went to buy a vehicle.. and it didn't rhyme with rake..

We enjoyed the rest of our day by the pool and then showered up and headed to a restaurant that Jake has been raving about since last October when he visited while at a school conference. It's called  The Pharmacy, and had a real 1930's speakeasy feel. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was just as awesome. We got two different meals and shared them, and I ate an oyster for the first time!!

This was the entrance.. So cool!!

That night we slept like babies with full tummies and got up early to pack and head to Seaworld the next day.. We rode every roller coaster sitting on the front row and most of them twice! We watched my favorite show with the Sea Lions and Otters, and ended the day with a Shamu Ice Cream bar. 

This weekend away was just what we needed after a pretty stressful first few weeks of summer, thank you Jesus for blessing us with the opportunity!