My Epiphany....

Alright, so I was driving to work this morning listening to a CD that I had made last night from my ITUNES. Well, the song "Battle Hymn of Love" by Kathy Mattea came on. Now that song was the song that Daddy and Regina had at their wedding so I already knew the song, but this morning it brought to light a entirely new meaning for me. Here are they lyrics:

I will pledge my heart to the love we share Through the good and the bad times too I'll forsake my rest For your happiness 'Til my death I will stand by you With God as my witness This vow I will make To have and to hold you No other to take For rich or for poor Under skies grey or blue 'Til my death I will stand by you

There are wars and there are rumors Of wars yet to come Temptations we'll have to walk through Though others may tremble I will not run 'Til my death I will stand by you I will put on the armor of faithfulness To fight for a heart that is true 'Til the battle is won,I will not rest 'Til my death I will stand by you With God as my witness This vow I will make To have and to hold you No other to take For rich or for poor Under skies grey or blue 'Til my death I will stand by you 'Til the battle is won I will not run 'Til my death I will stand by you

So...the whole new meaning thing. I was listening, actually listening to the words. I was like WOW! You know there was that song that says LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD...well it shouldn't be. Yes, couple/husbands and wives will and do certainly fight, but it should not be a battlefield between on another. There are to many things, problems, temptations that come against you as a couple to have a battlefield in your own home. What this song reveled to me this morning was that we...in the union of marry should become one as a "army" to fight against the things that the world and the devil will bring against us in marriage, not fight against one another. I mean I have heard this often in our marriage class..., but this morning it hit me. When you get married you do become one, you don't have to fight by yourself any longer, you have a partner...you can go "into battle together". So I felt like this song this morning was really declaring that to each other that we are committed to fight against all the "bad things" that are going to come, but we took a vow that until our death we will stand by one another.

So, I guess what I am really saying is that I am glad to be in Jon's army. I love him so much and no matter what I will fight beside him, with him, and even for him when he can't fight for himself because sometimes in life we just get weary.

"Battle Hymn of Love" has always been a pretty song to me, but now it is a song that moves me and reminds me of the union and responsibilities as a couple to always stand together and keep our love strong! Til my death I will stand by him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIjj1mLa_38

Uh...ok

Alright, so the past weekend was great. Erica's wedding was really sweet. I still have to get all the pictures downloaded to the computer so I can post them here.
On Sunday Jonathan and I went with our friends Will and Erin to explore parts of Birmingham. We went downtown and ate at Mellow Mushroom. It was really good. Then we walked around downtown, and went to one of the park for a little football. The highlight of Sunday's adventure was our trip to Vulcan. We got to go up to the top, and it was the most beautiful sight. The weather was wonderful. Jon was scared, because he is scared of heights! HA! I forgot, but he was a real trooper. I got some really cool pictures of that as well.
So tomorrow is Jonathan's 24th birthday. He is having a get together with all of his friends Saturday. I am making him a cake, and we are grilling out. We had dinner at his mom's last night, and then tonight we are going to my mom's for his birthday dinner. So that should be good times. I am taking him shopping Sunday. He wants new golf balls. Easy enough, huh? He so funny.
The first Sunday in November Daddy and Regina are coming up to our house. We are getting to take them to dinner at Cajun Steamers for Regina's birthday. Since Jon and Regina are cooking buddies, so I have been told, Jon is making her a cake. He is going to display his skills for her! LOL I will post pictures of that process because that should ensure some laughs. Jonathan making a cake...that is laughable. Hopefully that will turn out OK. I can't wait! It is birthdays all around!
My friends Krystal and Tiffany are suppose to be meeting me at the Galleria Saturday for a day of hanging out and dinning. I can't wait. I haven't seen them in what feels like FOREVER!
We have finally gotten some rain which we needed badly. I do believe the rain has brought the fall temperatures too. Jon and I have not been running the air conditioner which has been really lovely. I love sleeping with my windows opened.
I am so ready for the holidays. I can't wait to hang out with my family. This will be mine and Jon's first Christmas together which will be more than fantastic. Life at the moment is going rather well! :)
I have to go to the doctor for blood work on Thursday, and I will have a follow up appointment on the following Thursday to discuss my results. I believe everything is fine!?!
So I just have one quick prayer request: My friend Dana asked me to put to keep her friend Becky in my prayers. I put her on my prayer list at church, and if you guys could say a quick word for her too I would appreciate it. Becky is a young mother with two children and a great husband, but she is battling breast cancer for the third time. The doctor told her they could not do anymore radiation only chemo. The cancer has metastasized in her chest in part of her lungs. It is just hard on them. My Sunday School teacher's sister is going through pretty much the same thing. Dana is having a very hard time with it not only because it is her best friend, but she works with people at the hospital everyday who are battling cancer. So, God is a big God, so please just say a prayer for Becky, Michelle, and my friend Dana.
Well, I will post more later...other than a few things that are tense right now, I feel rather blessed! Hugs, Lisa

Railroad Express to the Pumpkin Patch

On October the 13th, Jonathan and I set out on an adventure to the Heart of Dixie Railroad where we took the train to the pumpkin patch. It was loads of fun. We were almost the only adults there without children, but it was great times. We took the train, went to the pumpkin patch, I picked a fabulous pumpkin, I got my face painted, took pictures in front of the great pumpkin, and thought about going on the hay ride, but opted not to so another couple with their two small children could ride. It was so much fun that Jon and I are going to try to go back for the Polar Express. Here are the pictures.

Jon and Me as we began our train ride. This is the picture of our pumpkin once we carved it and put the liquid candle in it. I thought is picture was awesome.

Introductions

Well, I have a couple new friends...well they aren't really new any more because we have worked together for a while now, but I wanted to introduce them to you all.

First is one of my "new" great friends, Janna. Janna graduated from UNA and she is a wonderful person. She inspires me to find a cause, believe in it, and do all you can to support it. She and I have the most fun conversations! She is getting married in March! She is a fabulous person.

Next is my boss and friend, Amanda. She is so easy to talk to, and we have lots of interesting stories to swap. She is patient with me at work, and she is great to work for! Amanda and her husband are having a baby in May. So I get to share the whole pregnancy stuff with her. She is great! I love watching her grow, and hearing most of her stories, the scary stuff though makes me never want kids with Jonathan. If we do maybe it will be down the road once I forget all of the bad things that have a happened to my friends and sister during pregnancy. My friend, Cheyenne, is actually gone on maternity leave so I will have to post her picture later on with the new baby. However, she is one of the most funny people I have ever met. I know she will have the most adorable baby. I can't wait. I also can't wait for her to come back to work!

FOUR and No MORE!

Oh my...this birthday was better than I could have ever imagined! However, I am certainly over the desire to have birthday cake for a while. In all I had four birthday cakes. One from my company for my party which was a fourth of a sheet. Then my mom had me one which was a round cake, but it was rather large, it was red, white, and pink. Then on my birthday Jonathan got me a pink and green ice cream cake, which was wonderful! He sang me happy birthday while I ate my piece. So sweet. Then today I got to work and one of the ladies there had brought me a cake Friday. It was a full sheet cake, decorated like autumn with happy birthday Lisa on it. So sweet, but way to much cake for me. I felt so loved! I got some really nice and incredibly unexpected gifts! I am so blessed to have so many thoughtful and special people in my life who make me feel like a million bucks!

Daddy and Regina called me Saturday morning at 6 something and sang happy birthday. I was so happy to hear from them! They sent me card that my daddy picked out and it made me cry! Man I am a self proclaimed daddy's girl! They are so good to me. Then mom called at about 7. My big brother Joey called...and we talked for a bit. Then Timmy and Uncle Bobby called! Funny thing was almost all of Jonathan's friends called or sent me emails wishing me happy birthday so I guess they must really like me too! LOL Well....more about my birthday celebration with Jon to come with pictures from the Pumpkin patch.

Reflections...who is that girl in the mirror?

Reflections...who is that girl in the mirror? Who am I? Well, I am Lisa Marie Bordelon Whitten.

So I think that every year one should take inventory of their life thus far, and over the past year. I was driving to work this morning thinking quietly to myself, "Wow this has been a crazy year, I have graduated college with honors, gotten married to my best friend, I now have a house, a grown up job that I love, new friends, old friends that I have grown closer too, a recently expanded family that I have grown more fond and appreciative of, and new nephew who is just the cutest thing ever, and a wonderful church family that is great, and lastly but not least a new CVS store for my husband. Oh, and I forgot to mention the load of responsibility that comes with all of those things! :)

As I was driving to work I phoned my mother like I always do. We talk at least twice a day. She always makes me feel special that entire week of my birthday. Then like she was there with me while I was having my reflection this morning she says, "Baby girl, this has been a huge year for you. You have had several big changes happen this year." I laughed and said yes...but I was like wow she is so right. I mean I got a new last name, I am living with a BOY for crying out loud that is a huge change, I am living in a new city, I have completed a cycle of education that has been on going since I was 5!

I have to admit I am a much different person than I was a year ago. My priorities have changed, for the better I might add. I now make it a point to spend time with my folks and try not to let to much time pass without talking to them, and letting them know that I love them. I do not waste time trying to make friends with people that I know 5 years from now wont' matter. I concentrate on keeping the friendships I have strong, and the new friendships that I have growing. I try each and everyday to be a wonderful wife to the fabulous husband God has so graciously blessed me with.

I have to say that being 23 was great, and I love all the changes that have happened. I just feel so much more grown up. Don't get me wrong I still like to have fun, and Jon continuously reminds me how goofy and silly I am, but I just see things a bit differently, different things are more important that they were a few years ago.

So as I reflection on the past year, and look forward to another memory filled wonderful year, I thank God for giving me one more year of great things, and thank him for letting me live to see another. He is GOOD! I am going to try and post some pictures from my big moments at 23, and then of course more pictures will follow of the birthday festivities to come. Happy Birthday to ME.

Thanks to all of you who have taken part in my big changes, and who have watched me make my transformation! HUGS!

Birthday Week Festivites

Well, my birthday is rapidly approaching, and to my surprise I have already begun to celebrate. On Monday, my boss at work sent me a list of questions asking me what is my favorite kind of cake, where I would like to go for lunch and a few others, and then my momma called to ask me what I would to have for dinner at my birthday party she is throwing me. I was like wow!
So today my wonderful boss, Amanda, to me to lunch. We went to Pizza Hut, ate and talked. It was great. Tomorrow afternoon she is having me a birthday party at work for me cake and all. Thursday night my Momma is having me a birthday party with my favorite meal and cake. Friday working is providing me breakfast because I will not be here Saturday, my actual birthday. I also am taking a half day Friday so Jon and I can run to Florence to get me fitted for Erica's wedding. Saturday Jon and I are celebrating my birthday with lots of adventures! I can't wait. I feel so loved and special. This has turned out to be a special birthday, the big 24!

Homestead Hallow Harvest Festival

Jonathan and I went to the HOMESTEAD HALLOW HARVEST FESTIVAL this weekend in Springville, Alabama. It was so much FUN. Jon was such a great sport. He knew this was so important to me because I had been looking forward to it for over a month now. I was so excited upon arriving that I was squealing. He just giggled and said I was goofy! We took some pictures, and did a little shopping. Of course Jon's favorite part was getting all of the festival food like a funnel cake, roast corn, nachos, kettle corn, and he got me some boiled peanuts. It was a perfect afternoon. I got to see all of the pioneer things like blacksmiths, broom making, candle making, soap making, wood working, the moon shine distillery. It was great. I got to tour a pioneer house and get my picture made with the pioneer lady. She laughed. She said she had taken pictures with kids before, but never adults. As we passed the moon shine distillery this little boy asked his mom what that was...she said nothing that he needed to worry about because he would never have any! I thought that was hilarious. I love the fall weather. It was so much fun spending the day doing something I love with my best friend. Good memories. Enjoy the pictures....this next weekend adventure is my trip to the pumpkin patch and the railroad!

Oh MY....what pretty flowers.

Well, as I had mentioned earlier in my last post that Jonathan was out of town for a bit last week. He left early Monday. I had already started missing him before he had backed out of the driveway good. I have a tendency to be sick when he is not here...I just I make myself sick thinking about it. Well, by Monday afternoon I missed him so bad. Then the florist came walking in with a vase full of flowers. He said these are for Lisa Whitten. I was like shut up, that is me! Well, Jonathan had sent me flowers...hot pink I might add. The card said I LOVE YOU, Jon. I almost cried. He sure made me feel loved and he completely made my week. Here are some pictures. I still have them, but I took them home over the weekend. They are not in my living room!