WE'RE Pregnant?!

Hello again! It has been a while! In fact, since my last post, something huge has happened... We're expecting a baby! Our little fella is due to join us on 12/12/12! Crazy due date, huh?

So in light of the human that is growing in my belly, I was inspired to write.

You know what I despise?
When people (women) say "We're pregnant!"

I love my husband and I am so thankful and blessed to be starting a family with him. He is very supportive and has been great at indulging my cravings. He doesn't mind if dinner isn't cooked or if the house is dirty. He lets me cry when I'm super pregnant emo and doesn't get frustrated with me. He's okay with the fact that I won't cook red meat right now and he seems to be getting used to sharing the bed with me and my huge Snoogle pillow. He's not intimidated by the long list of honey-dos I've made him and I've never once heard him complain. He loves feeling our boy move and talks to him regularly. He's been working hard and saving money so that I can take 12 weeks off work. In a word, he's AMAZING.

But, he's not pregnant.

He wasn't nauseous for 9 weeks. He's been enjoying his adult beverages. His feet aren't swollen. He didn't have to have 2 of those wonderful sonograms where the probe DOESN'T go on your belly. He doesn't waddle. His clothes still fit him just fine. He has tons of energy. He doesn't have heartburn. He's not stopped up and he's not having random nosebleeds. He's not crying for NO reason.

He's not pregnant. I am.

And while he gets to skip out on all of the worst of it, he's also missing the best of it. He doesn't get to experience a baby boy growing and moving and changing in his belly. I do. And yes, I get uncomfortable and I hurt at times, but I'm experiencing the most incredible thing in life. God chose me to do this.

We are not pregnant. We are getting ready to start a family, and it is such an overwhelming but absolutely INCREDIBLE feeling.

The Story

A month or so ago, our church began an awesome journey. In the light of a new book by Max Lucado called The Story, our pastor set us all on a mission-- to read the entire Bible. Now, I will admit, as a person raised in the church, I have vowed (and even attempted) to do this upon several occasions, but I have failed. The task has always seemed so big, so daunting, and honestly, so impossible... Until now.

The Story is a book that tells the story of the Bible in chronological order, and it is divided in to 32 chapters. Our church is doing a book study, and our pastor is preaching over one chapter a week. People, this means that I will have read the entire bible before Thanksgiving!!!! How cool is that?! By reading a chapter a week, not only is the task feasible, it is more understandable! I am loving it... And I feel so blessed to be a part of a church that is helping so many of us achieve this goal.

It's going to be an incredible ride.

I Gave In...

I am now on Book 3 of the Hunger Games Trilogy, thanks to a coworker and boredom during the STAAR test.

Let's be honest-- They are EVERYTHING they're cracked up to be and then some. At the rate I'm going, I'll be finished in a couple of days. They're just THAT good.

In other news, I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Such a wonderful reminder that He is Risen, He is Risen indeed!!!!! :)

STAAR is Over... Phew!

This past week, my 8th graders took their Math STAAR test. If you don't know, we have progressed from the TAAS we took when I was in school, to TAKS, and now to STAAR. This new test is supposed to have more rigor, be longer, and a lot more intense. Needless to say, the entire feeling around the school in the last few months has been anxiety of the unknown, stress of preparing our students, and pure exhaustion of both teachers and students. We have worked out tails off.

Tuesday morning, I woke up feeling a lot of pressure. I was thankful that in only a few short hours my students would be finished; however, I couldn't help feeling anxious about how they would do.

My principal came by first thing that morning to ask how I felt (truly probably already knowing the answer)... I spewed out my fears for my students and my stresses, and he just this... "Ally, remember: the battle is ours, but the outcome is the Lord's."

With those simply, but oh so powerful words, I felt my shoulders relax and tears of thankfulness formed in my eyes. How could I have forgotten? How could I have gotten so caught up in my fears to remember what the Lord says-- That fear is the opposite of faith. At at the end of the day, I have faith. I have faith that I did all that I could to prepare my students... Faith that I fought a good battle.

Now, I just need to wait for the outcome that the Lord already has planned.

Songs That Never Get Old

Lately I have been hearing some of my old faves, and I realized that I should be over them by now. However, for some unknown reason, they just don't get old!! So anyhow, here they are:

"Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol

"It Ends Tonight" by All American Rejects

"Sugar We're Going Down" by Fall Out Boy

"Miracle" by Foo Fighters

"Good Life" by OneRepublic

"High" by James Blunt

Anything by David Gray, David Ramirez or Dave Barnes or Evans Blue

"All the Same" by Sick Puppies

"Fix You" by Coldplay

"Ever the Same" by Rob Thomas

"Prelude 2/21" by AFI

"9 Crimes" by Damien Rice

"Ghost" by Howie Day

"Everything" by Lifehouse

"Coming Undone" by Korn

"Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne

"Element" by Moses Mayfield

That's all I can think of for now but I'm sure there are many many more. Check some of them out (especially the ones you've never heard of)! You won't be disappointed!! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

From my family to yours!!!!

PS- In 2007, I got Valentine's flowers from an anonymous person... If you're that person, can you please come forward? I think 5 years of anonymity is enough, don't you? I'm just sayin...

Have a great day!! Oh and by the way-- My heart-shaped cinnamon rolls did NOT turn out. Dang!

These Are My Confessions...

Well, it's been a crazy few weeks and I feel like getting some things off of my chest:

1. I am now helping coach my school's cheerleading squad. It has been a month since I've agreed and there have already been about, um, 76 times that I asked myself what I was thinking! No really, it is going to be a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to getting to have a different relationship with my students. Truth be told, being the Math teacher kinda sucks sometimes.

2. I just ate a chocolate cookie, and I don't even really like cookies that much.

3. As much as I LOOOOVE music, I did not watch the Grammy's, nor was I tempted to. I think award shows annoy me more than I let on. I don't know why, but they annoy me.

4. I FINALLY watched Breaking Dawn Saturday night. My husband watched it too. He talks a big game, but I think he actually likes it. Shh... Don't tell. Wait, aren't these MY confessions? So, anyway, what is it about the stinkin' Twilight books/movies that make my inner 13-year old come out?? I loved it, by the way.

5. I'm really wishing I hadn't eaten that cookie... It was massive by the way. I got the recipe off Pinterest because my hubby loves cookies like I love music. It was delish, but I think I did something wrong because they didn't look like the pictures. Oh well!

6. I have been writing a book for a few years. Only two people know about it (until now, of course)! I keep getting writer's block. I'm thinking I might have it finished by 2042 at the rate I'm going.

7. I am very honored by winning a blog award from my friend Ryan. She is A-Mazing! Silly girl thinks that just because I post lots of baby pictures that I'm ready for babies of my own. You see, the thing is, I love my niece and I love my friends' babies, and the pics of them are cuter than the other pics on my computer. So sue me! :)

8. I'm secretly afraid that teaching 13-year olds has squashed my want to have children. Don't get my wrong, I have some great students, but whoa are they moody! I live in my own little soap opera.

9. My husband just named my cookies, "coonies" because he says they're like a mix of a cookie and brownie. Told you they didn't turn out like the ones on Pinterest!!

10. I am loving Project Scripture. I am on week 7 and the verse is:

"For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith-- And this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- Not by works so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Welp, I guess that's enough for now. I am exhausted and am getting up early in the morning to attempt heart-shaped cinnamon rolls for my hubby for V-Day. Wish me luck! Have a great week!

Worldless Wednesday

Christmas Fun-- A little late!

Our niece's first Christmas was SO much fun! I'm not sure who loved it more... Us or her! Matt and I aren't quite ready for kids, but I can't imagine how incredible it is to have kids at Christmastime. It is something I am looking forward to for sure. :)

Hope everyone had an amazing holiday!

52 Weeks

Thanks to a couple of sweet friends (and Pinterest), I'm now participating in the 52 Bible verses in a year. I am two weeks behind, but did not want to miss this verse:

But by the grace of God, I am what I am.

-1 Corinthians 15:10

I took a red 5x7 frame I found at Target, a piece of cardstock to put in the frame, and some cute little 3-D butterfly stickers (to add a little "froof"), and put it all together. Now, I will just use a dry erase marker to change the verse each week. I will post a picture soon!!

Here's to 51 more beautiful verses.

Sunday Excitement

Tonight, I curled up in bed to finally watch Private Practice from the other night and ended up with a very pleasant surprise. At the very beginning of the show, a song was playing in the background-- I kept thinking "Wow this sounds familiar." Anybody that really knows me knows that I am a bit of a music junkie... It's almost ridiculous! I backed up to the beginning and listened to it again. When recognition hit me, you could have knocked me over with a feather... My sweet friend from college, David Ramirez's song "Fires" was on Private Practice! (You can read about him HERE). At first it was just the instrumental, but I still thought it was pretty dang cool. Then, in the very last 5 minutes of the show (you know, when all the sappy things happen), the entire song played, voice and all! CHECK IT OUT! :)

After a wonderful service at church and hearing David on PP, I'm feeling pretty dang good. Bring it on Monday!

My Music Monday

Love this.
I Heard the Bells by Mercy Me

You HAVE to listen to the words... Such a great song. :)

Welcome, Baby Adler.

My best friend, Lauren had her baby boy the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Isn't he handsome? Thankfully, I was off for Thanksgiving break and was able to head to Little Rock as soon as I heard she was in labor. Unfortunately, the little guy was born THIRTY minutes before I got there! The good news is-- No one was allowed back until a while after I arrived, so I guess I didn't miss too much. I can't wait to head back up there to see him again. :)

Baby Fever... NAH!

I guess it's just because I'm at that age, but I feel like all of my friends are having or have babies. I am in my late 20's (not too far from 30-- EEK!), and babies are everywhere!

In just one week's time, I got to see some of my favorites!

1. My PRECIOUS PRECIOUS niece Luxiee: (I'm a baby bit partial!)

2. Madden, my college roommate Katie's little girl. She is SO cute!!!

3. Stella Jo-- My friend Faith's little girl. Just look at those eyes!!

4. MR. Tate Armstrong- My other college roommate's baby boy. We just met, but I am already crazy about the little fella!

AND, My BFF Lauren is due in only 5 days!!! I am so excited to take myself to Little Rock to meet the little guy. He is going to be SO handsome!

Yeah... And, I'm still not ready to start having kids. Thanks for asking, though. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Soul Satisfied

It has been a minute since I have blogged, and lots of things have been going on in the Houchin Household! Let me just catch you up!

1. Our sweet friends Jake and Chelsi got married. Aren't they CUTE?!

2. My best friend Lauren is only ONE month away from being a mommy. We threw a shower for her baby boy Adler. She really cleaned up, but still need so many things. It's crazy that babies can be SO small, but require SO much. :) I can't wait to meet the little guy and shower him with kisses. He's already spoiled rotten.

3. I have rekindled an old friendship. It's going to take a while to make up for lost time, but we have so much fun together, and I'm glad that we're friends again. :)

4. My dad just turned 52. Shh... Don't tell him I told you. Happy Birthday Dad!

5. My rockstar brother got a promotion... He's the youngest district manager in the history of his company!! WOO HOO BRUDDA! Not only is he bossing around his elders, he also got a B.A. Acura TL for a company car. Um, what happened to Chevy Malibus? So jealous, I mean PROUD of him. :)

6. My husband is awesome. Even though he works ALL the time.

7. We are buying a really old, bulky desk for his office-- Because Pinterest has inspired me to make it into something beautiful. I have been on this blog ALL day. I mean, when I wasn't teaching the youth of America, of course.

8. Don't tell Matt-- But I'm a little afraid that I will quit before my project (named above) is finished. It happened with the dining room table, and I think he's still not happy with me that he had to finish all 6 chairs. Oops. I can't help it-- Sometimes my imagination is more than my work ethic can handle.

9. I AM SUPER EXCITED because my friend, David Ramirez is playing in DALLAS next week!!! I don't care how tired I am, my bootay will be there. As I type this, I am listening to his new songs, drinking wine, and I might have cried a little a few minutes. This is something else I can't help... Music makes me sappy... Or is it the wine? In all honesty though, his music is BEAUTIFUL. You can listen to him here. I'm loving on his new stuff. L-O-V-I-N-G.

10. I'm going to pour another glass of wine. Goodnight all!

My Music Monday- A Day Late

I am DYING to share a new song! The youth music leader at our church sang this a few weeks ago. I set out on a mission to find out the name of the song because I just HAD to download it. Thanks to a wonderful student that goes to my church, I found it! Check it out!!

"Manifesto" by The City Harmonic

And, all of the people of God sing along, AMEN!!

Be Still

After a terrible week, I got some much-needed inspiration from a coworker... She said she found a verse that made her think of me.

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
--Exodus 14:13-14

I have been struggling. I have been trying to change things that I have no control over. I have stressed, cried, and yelled. None of this has helped, so it is time to change my tactics.

I will BE STILL.

Happy Anniversary!

My hubby and I had the most wonderful weekend. In honor of our first anniversary, we spent the entire weekend in Fort Worth posted up in a hotel downtown.... We treated ourselves to much-needed massages, did a little shopping, ate at the yummiest restaurant for lunch, and went to one of our favorites for dinner. And even though we agreed to not spend much money on presents for one another (and instead, be able to spend more on our weekend), my sweet husband got me a necklace that looks al ot like this:

I haven't taken a pic of the real thing and this is the closest pic I can find. I love it. And I love my husband. Here's to 50+ more year. :)

Loving on Fall

I FINALLY got my house all ready for Fall! So what if it was 100 degrees today?!

Here are some of my fall favorites: Bath and Body Works candles are a must. My absolute favorite is Leaves. It is DELISH.

I love all things owl. My classroom is decorated in owls... I have found most of my little decorative owls at Marshalls. They have the best stuff, and it's cheap too!

I am SO lucky to have a mom that has such a knack at decorating... She made me a couple of fall wreaths that are beautiful!! I will take pics of them later to share!

I have several sets of decorative pumpkins. Love love love them. These are from Pottery Barn. I don't have them, but aren't they stinkin' cute?! I have found most of my pumpkins also at Marshalls. Best. Store. Ever.

And while these jars are hardly "fall," they are my newest purchase. My mom and I went to my Mother-in-law's best friends' store, Simply Everything, on Saturday and I couldn't not by these! Aren't they precious?! I put rice, beans and pasta in them. LOVE!

Just a side note, if you go to the Simply Everything website, you can see a few of our wedding pics, which brings me to my MOST favorite thing about Fall:

Our first anniversary is this Sunday, the 18th. I can't believe it's already been a year! My husband says he has something planned for the weekend, so I guess we'll see!

Happy FALL!