Over that past few weeks I’ve been allowing something to bother me. One of those things that you know you aren’t in control of but you still let it drive you crazy and even make you a little bit mad. I hate it when I feel this way… I know that I am who I am. I am a believer and I am forgiven. I am a hard worker. I am a rule follower. I appreciate words of affirmation. I could go on and on with little details about myself but the most important part of me is my heart and who it belongs to. He is in control of my days and I know He is trying to teach me something… I can only pray that I realize what that is before I drive myself mad.

During all this frustration I started the new SheReadsTruth study this week and I honestly don’t think it could have come at a better time. The first day of the study explained “What we think is what we become” and I know it seems pretty simple but when I read those words I felt a light bulb turn on! Negative thoughts create a negative attitude. Duh, Cassie. With that I snapped out of it. I’m going to do my best to not let the little things annoy me. All the things that I have no control over will not control me. I pray that I will stay positive and with that attitude my surroundings will change also. Life is too short and way too sweet to focus on the bad. In the words of Florence…. “And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back so shake him off!”

When I saw this view at work yesterday I realized that every day is a new day and what you choose to do with that day is in your hands. You can choose to be bitter and angry, or you can choose to have a heart like God... forgive and love even when its hard because thats exactly what he does for us every single morning. Forgive & Love.

"don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Philipians 4:6-7

yellow tulips are my favorite!

On Saturday morning I had my first Bridal Shower!!! A Kitchen Shower to be exact, all thanks to my wonderful friends in Spartanburg, Whitney and Rebecca. Everything was so beautiful from my favorite flowers all over the house to the sweet faces that came to celebrate with me. I am so thankful for good friends!! Everyone brought their favorite recipe on the cute recipe cards that will match my future Kitchen Aid Mixer... its moments like Saturday morning that help me realize how wonderful 2013 will be. Not only do I have a wonderful man to spend the rest of my life with but I'm also surrounded by amazing women and I know that is a true blessing.

Saturday morning was perfect and I can't even describe how thankful I am! 

Happiness overload in my heart, pure happiness!!! 

Christmas in January

With the Christmas and New Years constantly staying busy it’s hard to squeeze in a little girl time and honestly, Girl Time is important! So, we’ve started to make a tradition where we exchange gifts & have dinner and drinks after December has already passed us by. Honestly, I think it’s brilliant. Save a little Christmas fun for mid January, heck yea, why not?!?

It’s also fun to find that a lot of my Christmas gifts this year were very “I’m going to be a wife really soon” kind of gifts. I gladly packed up my adorable apron from Katie along with my cute spice jar and ornament from Jocie until I’m a married woman. My little stash of stuff is really growing and I’m so excited to save it! It makes me do a little happy dance when I think about unpacking all the fun things I’ve collected over the last several months later on this year. It’s surreal for sure but also so very, very wonderful!!!

**Thanks to Jocie and her self timing camera for the picture of the three of us above. Thank God for technology! and for wonderful friends!! :)

Arm full of happiness

Over the weekend I did a lot of this....

Just looking at this picture makes my heart so stinkin happy and I sure do miss that baby a lot. I wish they lived in Greenville so badly. Last week was one of those weeks that just happen and you lay in bed on Sunday night and you aren’t sure how it went by so quickly? You find yourself dreading the Monday morning ahead more than normal because it’s the first full week of work in almost a month. Then you drag yourself out of bed so you can go to the early Hot Yoga class only to find that your mat that’s always left in your safely marked cubby is gone. Not just any mat… your favorite mat. The mat that cost you $80. So then you get stuck with a borrowed mat that needs a towel on top so you won’t slide but you still slide because it’s not your mat that never lets you slide which only makes you mad at yourself for leaving your favorite mat at the yoga studio in the first place. So there you are… lying on a borrowed mat with stinging hands that feel something like rug burn thanks to that stupid towel and you feel pretty dumb for putting your trust in a small wooden box that’s supposed to keep your yoga mat safe and sound. But really… who cares about stolen mats and burning hands when you look at that adorable picture of the cutest nephew in the whole world…? Am I right? I think I am.

So I am going to try my best to have a forgiving heart. Instead of being mad about a silly earthly item I want to be thankful for all that the Lord has given me. Thankful for the chance to wake up every morning and live a life for Him. I regret spending most of Monday morning in that hot room irritated and huffing when my hands or feet would slide. I wish I could take back the thoughts of anger and replace them with thoughts of forgiveness and love but I am thankful to serve a God that loves. A God that I can turn to and repent.

Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you

Acts 3:19 (MSG)

Glad to link up with the lovely Becky at Apples of Gold today!

One of my new favorite reads!!!

NJ Littles.

During the eight days I spent in New Jersey there were a lot of little moments that made me smile. Made me stop and really appreciate the future family that the Lord has given me. Not only am I thankful for all of them but I am thankful that I can be ME when I am with them. Not Cassie that everyone sees on the outside but the true Cassie. The silly, hyper, oversleeping, random, clumsy, blurting Cassie. 

while celebrating on New Years Eve one of the little cousins followed me around and would sneak her little hand in mine while I was talking to someone else // the game of Apples to Apples on Eliya Family Game Night and my comment about Prince Charming.... I guess my filter has permanently been set to OFF with this family // staying up later than Peter and talking to a cousin and a sister... A little girl time is always nice // on the way home from picking up Pizza for the "saying goodbye party" Peter used one of his strange voices which caused a large amount of laughter from both of us, he's special... and I love him // watching the snow fall outside while I helped my future mother-in-law and sister cook in the kitchen

I know I may sound like a broken record but I love this family... 

I also know it won't be the last time I say it. 

Hello, 2013!

After a few days with a sick fiancé it was pretty exciting to get dressed up and have a memorable New Years Eve! I was thankful that he was feeling better so we could enjoy the night & I could also enjoy a New Years kiss! Let me tell ya, after 4 days of no kisses it was a real treat. Peter’s sister and brother in law hosted the party thanks to the snow delaying a house warming party a couple nights before. It was everything a New Years party should have been - fun, loud, party hats, noise makers, lots of food and one particular auntie banging a stainless steel spoon and pot together… you know, the normal for an Eliya New Years Eve.

I'm secretly hoping that next year we will have a big New Years party at our first home... seriously crossing my fingers because that would be so much fun! I'll be working on that pinterest board now just in case.

2012 in a Bubble!

2012 has been a whirlwind of awesome. I didn't realize how crazy this year was until I took a little journey through the months on my blog. Here are some of my favorite memories from the past year that have made me even more thankful than I could have imagined! 

1 // celebrated the beginning of 2012 with Jocie and Katie -We had no idea how special this night was at the time but now I am even more thankful since we were separated this year

2 // shared 11 Things about me and continued to grow closer to God

3 // i shared "A letter from God" and didn't realize how crucial these words were for my heart at that time

4 // a certain someone made his way back in my heart and I went to a wonderful bible study at church

5 // a trip to NY, a lake day with dear friends & simple dates with Peter made the month of May perfect 

6 // enjoyed the beautiful weather with lunch and a hike in the mountains then dinner downtown which is one of my most favorite days in the past year

7 // the fab 6 had a girls night and said goodbye to Anne

8 // exciting trip to St. Maartin with my favorite guy and some of his family

then a trip to NJ/NY for Peter's sisters wedding

9 // bachelorette weekend in Asheville for Jocie

10 // my friend girl got married....

and I got engaged... October was a GOOD month for love

11 // I got to meet the sweetest baby boy 

12 // celebrated Christmas with my ladies and my man 

I kind of think that 2012 was the best year yet but with all the plans ahead {mainly wedding plans ;)} I have a feeling 2013 will offer some stiff competition for the "best year yet" title but I'm okay with that! Bring it on.... I'm ready!!!