Our Story.

So I decided to finally tell you all how Reese and I came together. It literally was placed together by God because there is no other way it could have possibly happened, and that is such an amazing thing knowing that God has had our relationship in his hands this whole time.

Well... for starters Reese and I are not from the same city or area code, he is from about an hour away from where I live. The summer going into my sophomore year in high school I was texting someone back and forth. My reply never went to that person and instead went to Reese, in a different city where I did not know anyone. I never typed in a phone number or did anything because I was in the middle of the conversation. I also did not know that my reply had gone to him so when I got a text from his number saying "Who is this?" I was wondering the same thing. We randomly started talking and I met him a few weeks later and started dating on August 6th, 2008! {Man that seems like forever ago!}

My Sophomore Year Homecoming

I honestly cannot even remember before the time I had met Reese. He has changed my life forever. I have experienced so many new things with him and have so many great memories because he is in my life. His family has taken me in as though they have known me forever and I am now one of their own. I love going up to visit and spend time with them and they all have a special place in my heart, and I am so grateful for how much they have shown that they care about me. 

My 16th birthday!

Reese knows how to make me smile and brighten my day. At the beginning of our relationship {and honestly, in my opinion, up until about 1.5 to 2 years ago} I was very emotional and I think hard to handle. I haven't had the greatest boyfriends in the past and I was not sure what a good relationship looked like. Reese has taught me how to trust, how to be independent, how to love, how to be supportive, how much I want to be a godly woman, and how much I need Christ in my life everyday. I seriously cannot thank him enough for everything he has done for me in the time we have been together. I know that he probably has given up some things or time with friends to spend time with me, especially during the weekends I would go visit him. I am so thankful for his good morals and his sweet, caring heart.

I made this collage and posted it on Instagram for our 5 year anniversary this year. It is so cool to see all of these pictures from five different years all combined together. We have changed and grown so much together and I cannot wait to see what pictures and memories we have in another 5 years together. 

Reese, Thank you so much for being there everyday for me. You have such a great heart and live such a Godly life. I am so thankful that I have such a godly man in my life to lead me and us. Thank you for sacrificing so much for me and for loving me every single day! I love you so much and cannot wait to see what else God has in store for our relationship.

Thanks for reading through my mushy, gushy post. I am so lucky so have that special person in my life and I pray that each of you have one in yours!

xo, Danielle 

Life Lately!

So I know I haven't posted anything lately but a lot has been going on! Along with school I've been doing other things like work and just fun things that happen during this time of year! 

Reese and I went to Date Night at our church! It was fun to get out and actually do something with our friends who are dating. :) 

One of the football games we went to... UK hasn't won any but one game this year but we still try to support them {Reese better at it than I am, I get bored really easily!}

We had meal packing at church for Haiti. Over the course of a few days my church was able to pack over 1.4 million meals! It seriously is so humbling to think that we are packing meals for these people whom I may meet when I go to Haiti. 

Last weekend Reese, myself, and a few other friends went to the Alabama vs. UK football game. We knew that we probably wouldn't win but we didn't play too badly! The sunset though that night was absolutely beautiful! I love seeing these sunsets that God has made us. 

That Sunday we went to a Chris Tomlin concert which was amazing! Louie Giglio was able to come and speak to us for a little bit and it made me so excited for Passion 2014. It really is a life changing experience and I don't think you could start off a year any better.

Then we had Big Blue Madness, which is the start of basketball season at UK and we get to see all of the basketball players for both the girls and the boys teams. And the following day there was a pre-season NBA game, Pelicans vs. Wizards, that was held in my city. We have past players {aka AWESOME PLAYERS} on both of these teams so it was fun to get to watch them play on our court again! 

This is being posted while I am in Haiti, so please continue to pray for me, and also our team for safe travels, good health, and one amazing experience! Thanks :)

xo, Danielle

1 Week.

One week. One week until I leave the country for the first time ever. One week until I will be in a whole new world, completely opposite from what I am used to. One week until my mission trip to Haiti. One week until my life changes forever. I cannot express how I feel about this experience coming up. I have been trying to go on a mission trip for over a year now and it is actually happening, in one week. There are some days where I am extremely excited and others where I can barely think about not being in the country and being so far away from everyone; and I just feel this way because I honestly have NO idea what to expect no matter how many pictures I look at. I absolutely know that this experience will change my life and I cannot wait to see what God does with me. But I do know that I am very anxious and nervous about the whole situation. I have been praying that God will ease my nerves and that when we touch down in Haiti I will know that I am meant to be there and that He completely has a purpose for me being on this trip. 

I ask that you all pray for me over this next week as I prepare for Haiti and also my team. Please pray that we all make it safely there and that we open our hearts to God over the week and help to share His word and love to these Haitian people. And please pray that each of us has an easy adjustment to the different culture and being so far from home. 

I won't be posting anything live, except for one post, over the next two weeks but I am planning on having a few posts scheduled to upload. I pray that each of you have a great weekend and week ahead. 

xo, Danielle

Favorite Things About Fall.

I am so happy that it is finally fall. There are so many exciting things that happen during the fall time and it just seems to make life even better!

Here are my favorite things about fall:

-Starbucks Caramel Mocha

-Riding boots

-Scarves.. I have a serious obsession!

-Beautiful days

-The amazing weather

-Candles

-Pumpkins

-Comfort food {chili and soups are my fave}

-Family time

-Warm sweaters/cardigans

-Coffee in general {I've really started liking diff kinds lately}

-Hot chocolate

What do you love about Fall?? :)

xo, Danielle

I was accepted!!

Guess what everyone?!? I was ACCEPTED into the Teacher Education Program at my school!!! I could not be anymore excited!! :) I am so thankful and relieved that this whole process of getting into the program is over. I have been working/dealing with all of it since November. But I seriously am so blessed that God has given me a chance to get that much closer to becoming a teacher! Teaching truly is what I want to do for the rest of my life & I am so excited to see where God takes me with it! 

Tonight to celebrate Reese, his sister, and I went out to dinner at Old Chicago. I've only been there once before and wasn't the biggest fan but tonight it was soo good! We shared a pepperoni and pineapple pizza {which after it was eaten I realized I had forgotten to take a picture of it... oops!} and then got this delicious cookie for dessert! 

We were on the side of town where Half Price Books was and it is kind of a tradition for Reese and I to always go there when we are close {it's his favorite, so gotta make the boy happy!} And I keep telling him that we need to start making our game collection. So while looking around I found Scattergories and was so excited to get it! Plus I only got it for $8, pretty good deal if you ask me! When we got back to his place we all played it together and it was so much fun! :)

I seriously could not be more thankful for this boy! He truly has been by my side throughout this whole process of trying to get into the Teacher Education Program. It has been such a long, tough process but I have had him right by my side supporting me every day! I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend, he's the sweetest. 

I hope you all are doing well and have had a great week! Its been a busy week for me with all of my school work but I have some posts planned that I am going to work on right now! {Even some that I have planned to post while I am in Haiti} Goodnight y'all and have a great weekend.

xo, Danielle

October.

Guys, I seriously can't believe it is already October! 2013 has flown by. I have SO much going on this month, I literally am just going to have to pray through it all {which I would/should do anyways}. Here is everything I have going on this month! 

Tuesday {October 1st} I had my interview for the Teaching Education Program at my school. I have been going through this process since November and am so ready to get through it all and hopefully get into the program so I can start taking courses related more towards teaching. I am however, thankful that I wasn't able to apply last semester because I have gotten to have some experience with the after school program I work at. It went really well and I wasn't nervous/intimidated at all!! God really was with me during the process! 

This week I have two papers due {one tomorrow & one Saturday} on top of having a training for work all day Saturday... {yuck!} and then we are having family come over for a cook out. Tonight I have a meal packing to go to at my church for Haiti! They have already gotten 1 million meals packed, and are going for 1.4 million! Then on Monday I have to go get two more shots for Haiti :/ 

The weeks leading up to Haiti I have a lot to do for school. I have three tests before I leave and just normal reading and homework to do. I also have two {or three...} projects that will be due. Even though I only have 12 hours this semester, I don't think I have ever been this busy... it wears me out! 

Two weekends before I leave I have a concert to go to {Chris Tomlin} and before that I have a Haiti meeting! Then the following weekend I have family in town, both my aunt & uncles birthdays, Big Blue Madness {this will be a post all in itself!}, Pelicans vs. Wizards NBA game, and our commissioning service for Haiti! CAN YOU SAY BUSY?!? And this is all on top of working and school, and just my normal routine. 

I really am stressed about the next three weeks leading up to Haiti, but I know that God will get me through them and the things that I have to do aren't as important as what I am going to do in Haiti. I'm starting to get a bit anxious/nervous for Haiti but I know it will be life changing. I really can't wait to go and just have this amazing experience, and to share it with you all!

{On a side note... I really do not understand exactly what is going on with the government, but the morning I woke up and heard how the government shutdown this verse above was the verse of the day. If only our government could take this verse into mind and realize that no matter what they do, they are not the ones in control... HE IS IN CONTROL! And I believe he will do whatever he wants to do with our government for the better of our world and people.}

Anyways...Please be praying for me over these next few weeks for school and also as I prepare for this trip. I can't wait to share with you all everything that happens over the next few weeks! I hope everyone is doing well and has a great end to their weeks and a relaxing weekend! 

Xo, 

Danielle