As I mentioned on Monday I love sharing a birthday with my friend Madison. Mine is the 3^rd. Hers the 4^th. We always share the fun. We admitted to each other it helps us feel less selfish during the celebrations. It’s not all for me…. Its for us! It's just better that way, ya know? So, for the fun Birthday weekend we agreed that The Velo Fellow would be the perfect spot. The small and cozy atmosphere plus all the great food and drinks makes this one of my favorite places to go in downtown Greenville! It really was wonderful. I spent the night enjoying a lot of laughs with eight of my favorite people and what else could a Birthday girl ask for?!? Nothing, I tell you. Absolutley nothing at all!!

^^ Laughing at my big mouth... literally.

^^ The Fiancé sneaking a picture but I caught him!

Twenty Six is going to be a great year. I can feel it in my bones. I realized how truly blessed I am when I was told to make a wish before blowing out my candles on Sunday night. I closed my eyes and then couldn’t think of anything. Literally… nothing came to mind to wish for. Then I murmured something like "I can’t. I have everything I need" and I completely meant every word of it. I have everything I could possibly want and I thank the Lord for it every single day!!!

11 things about a super awesome Birthday girl...

I'm sure most of you thought I was talking about myself but I'm not.

I'm talking about this wonderful friend of mine....

To help wish one of my best friends a very happy Birthday I thought I’d celebrate her 26th year by sharing 11 things I love about her.

1. after almost ten years of friendship we are closer than ever.

2. i had the privilege of causing her need for sour cream while eating chips and salsa.

3. we have gone weeks and sometimes months without seeing each other but it never feels that way.

4. i can never have a birthday without thinking of Madi since hers is always a day after mine!

5. the two of us can sit and talk forever about anything…

6. our mutual love for Homestar Runner.

7. i almost ALWAYS guess what type of food Madison is craving… even if it switches from Taco bell to Krispy Kreme in less than two minutes.

8. anytime I listen to Shane & Shane I can’t help but remember the nights in High School when we would sit and listen to every song for hours while drinking coffee and smoking cheap honey flavored cigars.

9. my grandmother will forever call Madison “the missionary girl” and I absolutely love it!

10. i honestly love her sweet man to pieces and i know she loves mine, that is a true blessing.

11. her heart is on fire for the Lord and because of this I know Madison will change the world someday.

I’m honored to call Madison my best friend but she is more than that, she’s my sister in Christ and I know that will never change! Happy Birthday, sweet friend of mine! I love you!!

Thanks-living // January

Obviously January has been a little busy. Too busy to sit and blog as much as I want unfortunately {hello first post this week} but I’m okay with that, a busy life is a full life and I can am thankful for it. I’m also thankful for this wonderful little monthly wrap up I’ve grown to love so much!

1 // Squeezing in as much time as possible with this wonderful book. Yea… there are nights where I crawl in bed and make excuses and fall asleep without even picking up my bible, I’m human. But then there are nights when I crawl in bed with a hot cup of tea and spend quality time with those very important words. Time where I can sit and read and write and talk to the Lord which always helps me understand myself a little bit more.

2 // I know I’ve already shared so many pictures from my first shower but I still feel so thankful for that Saturday morning! Everything was so beautiful and sweet. I’m thankful for the ladies that worked so hard to make it happen and for the ladies that took some time to come and love on me a little bit. I honestly feel like I can’t say thank you enough!

3 // My friend Katie looks pretty cute standing next to her fireplace, right? I’m so happy I could be there to help with the painting, moving and eating an awesome meatball sub at her and her hubby’s new home! I love those two people so much and I’m so happy I have true friends who I can really DO LIFE WITH. Not just be a part of life but really come beside friends and be there to help, encourage and pray for them daily. The Lord has truly blessed me with wonderful friends and I’m so thankful for that!

4 // This month has been a little crazy with all the wedding plans taking place but then I realized something. During all the busyness and little bit of confusion I didn’t get stressed. Not even once. And for a girl that usually gets stressed a little too easily all I could do was smile. I am thankful to have a Mom that isn’t pushy and realizes that this is my wedding day… so far we haven’t had any Bridezilla or Momzilla moments and that is simply wonderful!
I also love having a fiancé that really does enjoy being apart of every step even if it means pressing pause on his video game to look at an idea I found on Pinterest. I mean, let’s be honest… a man that can press pause is a keeper in my book!

shake it off.

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!!!