My Valentine's Day...and My Valentine

Hi, My name is Mandy and I'm a "Reformed Valentine's Day Hater". Turns out, once you have a good Valentine, you have every reason to enjoy Valentine's Day. And, as it turns out, I can see right through your "I don't like Valentine's Day b/c you should love me every day" line as well. Moving on.

We, really I, have been working hard to get my kitchen remodel done. And...I didn't complete my task until this evening.


So, we had breakfast for dinner, which my Hubby loves breakfast. I baked a Chocolate Chip Red Velvet Cake, which he, and CB, had seconds.

I love my husband. He is so wonderful to me, and he is a great Daddy to Carly Beth. I'm so grateful for him and proud of
him. He is an amazing man.


P.S. Thank you for my Valentine's treat!


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Location:6th St NW,Hickory,United States

Family Date

Tuesday we went out to dinner at one of my favorite local spots: Geppeto's Pizza. It was kids night, and Carly was so excited for pizza!


The highlight of her night was the Buzz Lightyear the balloon man made for her. Unfortunately I didn't get a good picture of him to share.



The highlight for me was the cherry dessert pizza! It is my favorite!




I'm thinking we may make a tradition of this...

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Location:Hickory, NC

New House, New Beginnings

Well, we are moved, for the most part...kind of.

This is Carly Beth in her Kyle Busch hat. CB LOVES her new room. She barely leaves it! She cooks and has tea parties all day long!! 

 This is an "in the process" picture of the new flooring in the kitchen. I'm painting cabinets this week and I can't wait to show you the finished product!!

 This was the day I picked up the keys...I just love that we even have a skeleton key for the doors!

 This photo is of the hens in their new home. They are on the farm at my Mom's.  They are going to be so happy here!!

Regardless of the harder parts of this move, this has already changed our lives. We are so blessed and thankful. God is showing us the path He has prepared for us, and we are so excited of where it may lead us! 

God Was Listening After All

I'm sitting on my couch in Concord looking at everything around me...there's a LOT left to do before Saturday. It's Moving Day! We are moving to Hickory! God has worked out every last detail and a decision that my Husband made on a whim has been awesome. Granted, I've done a lot of packing, donating and throwing away in the past couple weeks, but I know that there's a whole group of people that will be waiting for us when we get there on Saturday to help unload and unpack...and just welcome us HOME.
I am so grateful. Between you and me...just days before the decision was made an this was all set into motion, I had a prayer moment, bowed at the front of the stage at Kinetic Church. I cried out, yelled really, and asked God why He wasn't listening to me. I was feeling like my prayers
for weeks were falling on deaf ears. I begged for a sign that He hadn't forgotten me or cast me to the side. Mere days passed and as soon as we decided we were 100% sure on moving, a job opportunity presents itself for Todd. It's looking like he may only have to commute back to Concord for work a couple weeks. My family has helped us pack and also prepare our new home. They will be there when we arrive Saturday to help get us settled.
I feel a little silly admitting that through my emotions I conveniently forgot God's
Promises in His word were the only proof I really needed. But I'm glad He looked past my audacity and called my bluff.

God really is listening when you cry out, stay faithful, and He will too.


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Location:Pine Cir Dr NW,Concord,United States

Santa's Visit!

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Location:Stillwater Ct,Concord,United States

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!







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Location:Hampton Dr,Conover,United States

30 Things To Do Before I'm 30

It's time to figure out my progress...here we go!

And Here's The List, in no particular order...

1. Get a tattoo of a Dove - been meaning to do this for years.
2. Read the works of C.S. Lewis. I completed the Chronicles of Narnia and I'm working on Mere Christianity.
3. Discover a way to serve using my passion for Healthy Family relationships.
4. Move back to Hickory. Accomplished this the second week of January!
5. Lose 20 lbs.
6. "Run" a 5k
7. Start doing Yoga twice a week.
8. Learn the final dance from "Dirty Dancing".
9. Stay at the Grove Park Inn.
10. Have a makeover.
11. Learn to make ravioli.
12. Learn to ride a horse.
13. Bake bread from scratch, starting with grinding my own flour. I'm getting good at baking bread, I'm looking for a grinder :)
14. Read my 1 year Bible from start to finish, not getting distracted by the Christmas story.(I always go back to Luke when December comes.)So far so good.
15. Learn my family heritage.
16. Make something and sell it on Etsy.com.
17. Be chosen to give the Vision or Communion Moment at Kinetic Church.I tried to do this one before we moved but they wouldn't let me. I won't be achieving this one.
18. Write a cookbook.I'm in the process! I'm working one finding recipes and trying them out.
19. Read at least 50 NEW (as in I haven't read them before) books.
20. Learn how and become a pro at making Marshmallows.
21. Cook my way through two cookbooks, not skipping any recipes, and blog about it. (Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution and Ina Garten's Back to Basics) just ordered my
Cookbooks!!
22. Learn my Mamaw's Lifestory.I'm working on this one too.
23. Develop a habit of making all our condiments: ketchup, mustard, vanilla extract, mayonnaise, butter, jelly, sour cream etc...
24. Become 100% organic and local for all our food needs.
25. Adopt a child through Compassion International.
26. Be intentional about our home being less chaotic - there's always clutter.
27. Be 100% fast food free except for the occasional Sonic
Strawberry Lime-ade.
28. Be better about our family blog and keeping up with Carly Beth's Milestones.I'm blogging a lot!!
29. Start a book club.I'm reading CS Lewis with a friend of mine and getting ready to start reading "Sun Stand Still" with another...
30. Let my hair grow for one year - only getting the occasional trim every 2-3 months. Doing great here!!





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Location:Helen Dr NW,Concord,United States