Thanksgiving...a little different this year!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

This year Thanksgiving will look at little different for the Whittens. Jon is working- most of his employees wanted the day off so Jon agreed. He is such an awesome boss! We have been together for almost 8 years and married for almost 6 and he has never worked a holiday so I am trying to be understanding. I know that his employees are very thankful to not have to work, and it is really a small thing overall.
He will work 9-9 tomorrow, and I will do the visits with family by myself. I am grateful to see my family, but I will miss my husband something terrible. However, I am looking forward to the drive to Tuscaloosa and Gordo...lots of me time to sing loudly! Of course my mom and I will start our Black Friday shopping tomorrow night and well into to Friday.
Black Friday shopping is a tradition that my mom and I have done for years...and most of the time there really isn't anything that we are going to get we just can not let it pass us by without joining in the fun. Black Friday for us is like hunting this time of year for the men in our family! It's a must!!!
My Grandmother has said this year will be the last year that we do Thanksgiving at their house so that is little sad, but I am sure we will find a way to get together. I have lunch with my mom's side of the family, and dinner with my daddy and family. Tonight we celebrate Thanksgiving with Jon's family which I am sure will be fun. It seems changes are happening so we might as well embrace them and make the most of it.
The Holidays just seem to be a little different this year. As much as I am looking forward to this years holidays...I am so anticipating 2013!!!! Already so many things planned...exciting things! 

I hope your Thanksgiving is amazing, and that you find the time you spend with your family to be sweet filled with lots of memories. I know the Whittens have so much to be thankful for...more than we deserve!

Hugs, Lisa

What if it never happens?

What if "IT" never happens? It being several different things that I have planned for my life...dreams...hopes...visions...things that God has placed on my heart...but what if IT...never happens?
I am choosing to trust that God works all things together for our good, and that his knows the plan much better then I do. I believe that if those things were never going to happen then God would never have put such strong desires in your heart...but when they look impossible or hopeless...how do you keep your chin up and your faith strong?
However, instead of dwelling on the things that have not happened....such as having a precious baby Whitten....I am going to chose to start listing the gifts I have been given....

• I am so beyond grateful for a God who sent his beloved son, Jesus, to die for a sinner like me. Who planned me and set me apart before I was even thought of by my parents. He loves me so much and my relationship with him is such a gift!
• Jon-I am so thankful for the man who God chose for me. He loves me well, and he loves making me happy. He cares for the small things in my life that others would consider trivial. He is a good man, a wonderful protector, a provider, my friend, a set of arms who I fit in just perfectly, the only man I can imagine living my adventure in life with...he is mine...and I love him!
• My momma- she is my biggest fan! She cheers for me and believes in me! Everyone needs a cheerleader in life and mine just happens to be my momma!
• I am so thankful for the air that I woke up breathing this morning. So many are dealing with sickness and health issues...and we are never promised tomorrow. So the fact that I woke up breathing fresh air this morning is a gift! In spite of the day that I am having I will celebrate because I have life!
• I am grateful for the amazing church family that we are surrounded by and are able to "DO" life with. They are some of the best friends and family a girl could ask for. They pray for us, they celebrate with us in the joys that life brings, they have held us up and comforted us with some of the heartbreak that we have had....they allow us to be just who we are...and love us for it.
• The children- our friends children, my MPACT girls, Jon's ranger boys, the little ones at church....family...I am grateful for them. Jon and I get to share in the lives of many children and that means so much to me. That our friends and church family trust us to take their children and care for them...to go out and have fun...make memories...and share in their little lives brings so much joy to my heart! It brings some sense of purpose and relief to the fact that I still do not have my own. We get to be the best AUNT AND UNCLE....Mrs. Lisa and Mr. Jon...and that means something. Those who allow us to share in their child's life...thank you! You have blessed us!
• My mother-in-law! She is an amazingly strong woman and one of the best RNs I know of. She and I could not be more different, but over the last couple years Jesus has changed me and opened my eyes...he is bridging the gap between our differences...and she is a wonderful lady who cares for so many! She raised an amazing son...and for that I could not be more thankful!
• Autumn! I love this time of year. Driving along a back country road with the leaves blowing all over the road brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. I believe autumn is a gift God gives me every year because he loves me! This season reminds of so many great memories....
• I am thankful for CVS and VCI. Jon and I both have jobs we enjoy and they enable us to do the things we love to do outside of work. We both have bosses that are awesome, and we find our work fulfilling. Not everyone can say that! It is a gift!

The list could go on and on, but just listing the few that I have my spirit already is starting to feel lighter! Thank you Jesus for reminding me to find the light and joy even in the simple things...and not just at Thanksgiving, but all the time!

Hello There! My blogging comes in spurts...and I really would love to be more consistent. I am going to work on that. Things have been so super busy and life has a way of just flying by. With all that being said...I am going to give it another shot. I have several topics that I would love to discuss so we will see what happens!

But for now...it's good to be back!

Big hugs,
Lisa

3 Things....

Three things a guys should want to change about his girl...her last name, her address, and her viewpoint on men!

Thank you for all of the above Jon Whitten! You are the absolute best ever!

All my love,
the luckiest girl in the world

All of God's Promises...

God is so super faithful, and I know that his promises are true! His words are true...they are life!
In my relationship with Jesus I have never known him to be unfaithful or his promises to be lies. Jesus has put so many dreams, ideas, thoughts, and promises in my heart...our heart... that it overflows. I am amazed at how he loves and cares for me and Jon. I can honestly say that if he calls me to the edge of a cliff and said JUMP Lisa...I would have too...compelled too! I have committed my all to him and his plan! I know that he has been faithful to catch me every single time in the past. Every step with him brings new adventures and challenges, but I would not have it any other way!  My worst days now are better than my best days without Jesus! He is indeed the lover of my soul!
There is a promise that is so dear and close to my heart, and I know that my father will be faithful to bring that to fruition! However, the waiting is hard sometimes! You can become discouraged which is why it is so important to surround yourself with amazing friends (Warrior Chicks) to help hold your feet to the fire and keep you encouraged when it gets tough to hold on!
A dear friend sent this prayer/message today to encourage my heart...I wanted to share so you might be encouraged....
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts I think toward you, say the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

My prayer for you is to trust that God He loves you and you are his little girl that he treasures. I pray that the fact that this promise is not coming as quickly as you hope does not hinder those truths. I pray that this is not something the enemy can use to hurt you and make you feel rejected by Dad. I pray the Holy Spirit will comfort you and give you peace, and that you will feel His tangible prescence holding you today.

Psalm 5:11-12 But let all those who rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those who love your name be joyful in You. For You O Lord will bless the righteous with favor You will surround them as a shield.
Jesus help me to be patient and wait on you! Help me to keep joy at the forefront as I wait on you! Your timing is always right, and nothing catches you by surprise! Therefore, I know that you know better than I what the next great adventure for the Whittens will be, and I eagerly anticipate the journey!
I am not afraid...I was born for this!

What I am Loving Wednesday....

It's HuMp DaY!!!! So thankful that it is a new day! Here's what I am loving this Wednesday....

My Spring Bouquet of flowers that I arranged for my desk at work! I have decided that I am going to pretend that it is Spring time until it actually arrives! I am ready for pedicures, flip flops, and summer dresses!

The No Sew Blanket class that I taught last night! It was so exciting to have so many women show up, and the blankets turned out WONDERFUL! The Cover the Earth project is going to be AWESOME! Thanks ladies for coming out to play with me!

My miniature side kick Emily aka Lulu, Lady EmmaLou, Princess Emily etc! She is so stink'in cute, and she tells everyone that we are best friend-enzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

My 3 FREE Zoya nail polishes that I got from Art of Beauty! They are awesome colors, and I cannot wait to try them!



I love so loving the fact that Friday night is the Girls night PJ party! Should be a blast! Dinner, movies, and girl chat all in our cozy PJs!

As usual, I am loving my hubby, Jon! He surprised me this week with a really sweet card and an xbox card to get the extra songs for my Dance Central game! What more could a girl ask for!  Side note: Danced so hard this week I think I might have hurt my knee! Insert: [Sad Face Here]!

HAPPY WEDNESDAY....

Thanks to Jamie for hosting!

We're Famous....

Ok, so maybe not really famous, but we did make The Secret Bed and Breakfast blog!!!
Jon and I went to The Secret for a little getaway at the first of the year.  The views were beautiful! We stayed in the Tree House which was just perfect for us!
The Innkeepers, Mrs. Diann and Mr. Carl were fabulous!

(This image was taken from their website!)
We loved every minute of it!  Thanks for such an awesome trip and experience guys! We CANNOT wait to come visit again!
If you want a great B&B experience then go visit The Secret!
By the way, we are going to be sending some friends that way soon, and I am still planning the girls weekend to enjoy the rooftop pool!  BIG HUGS!