Christmas "Kick off"

This weekend kicked off our "Christmas season".
First we had our annual Decorating Party at my mom and dads house:)



Every year, we decorate to my favorite Christmas Album... Amy Grant!!!!!!,
Dad and Christian pick out the tree.
Alicia and I bake something yummy:)!!!


Trav and I plan the games and we top it all off
with a White Elephant gift exchange and a little game of Farkle!!

Then on Saturday it was off to my work Christmas Party!!


My boss always cooks these AMAZING dinners for us! This year it was short ribs, green beans with hazelnuts, homemade lemon meringue pie, and a chocolate torte!
Food was wonderful, as usual, and its always fun to hang out outside of the office:)


My co-workers have become my "extended family" after 12 years of working together, that's only natural!!



This was a very busy weekend! But an amazing one for sure! I was able to take my mind off of "things" and just relax and celebrate with those that I love so much!
Oh yeah...plus I colored my hair!!!

Patience has NEVER been my strong point

Patience is a "virtue", patience is a "blessing", patience is "character", patience IS SOOO HARD!!!!
As many of you know we are going through Infertility treatments. Needless to say this has been a tough, grueling time for us. It's been emotionally and financially draining.

The doctors didn't find any specific reason for my infertility, however have put me on Clomid. Clomid is a fertility drug used to strengthen the egg. The pill (clomid) is taken for 5 days on certain days of a women's cycle. It can increase your chances of having multiples (only 5%) but most get pregnant using Clomid within 6 months.
Clomid is only effective for 3 successful cycles. A successful cycle is weighed by the level of progesterone in your blood on day 21 of your cycle (or of course if you become pregnant). The progesterone should be higher than 15, no less than 10!! This indicates a successful round of Clomid. Clomid looses its effectiveness after 3cycles.
I am currently on my second cycle, however the first cycle was NOT successful, so this could be my first "successful" cycle. Thus enters the PATIENCE, or my lack thereof. Today was day 21 of my cycle so I gave blood and wait for the results.
My patience is thinning, due to the fact that I feel like I'm been doing all the "right" things, but still seeing NO results.

I'm sharing all of this with you, to ask you to please pray for T and I. We are very discouraged. We have been trying to conceive for 2 years, and have been waiting for the Lords perfect timing. I do know He does have a perfect time, and His timing is NEVER my timing...
Each month is such a roller coaster of emotions. Clomid has its own side effects, not to mention that as a rule, I am an emotional person...top my natural emotional self with a ton of extra hormones...all I can say is POOR TRAVIS...
Thank you for your prayers for our family!!

Felt like Home:)

We had an AMAZING Thanksgiving! This year we were spending the day with Travs family in Orange County.
The day started off slow, really relaxing...we weren't expected at their house
until 2. We watched a movie, had breakfast & hung out in our pajamas! It was perfect, until we started out to the O.C.
TRAFFIC...ugh. There was so much traffic that it took us 35 minutes to go 5 miles.

When we did arrive, the day just got better. Trav and I have been married almost 4 years, but I can honestly say that this was the first time I truly felt like part of the "Covey" family. It was such a great feeling to be accepted (even though we were late) and just loved on. My mother-n-law, Karen, was so open and I really felt like she was enjoying my company. I even helped with the dishes!! (now that's family)
So, I was so very thankful this year that the Coveys and I have grown closer and our relationship keeps developing!
God is so faithful!! I know I keep saying that but its so true:)

The day after Thanksgiving we invited T's parents over for a decorating party at our house! In my pajamas, I decorated the tree with Karen and T and his dad hung the lights and did all the "manly" stuff. Again, I am so blessed to have been given such cool in-laws! Karen and I bonded over Amy Grant:) and told stories of Christmas's past. I do think I may have cried too:) We ended the night with a friendly game of WII bowling!!

We ended our Holiday weekend by throwing a Family Game night at our house! Mom, dad, Alica, Christian and us:) The WII was the center of the "gaming" but we did play 4 games of FARKLE! My mom won all but one:(

Family, Fun, and lots of thanks!!! That about sums up my Thanksgiving!
I could truly go on and on about all the things we are thankful for!! This past year has been an amazing one...We found a Church Home, T got promoted, We finally started fertility treatment, I have made some new girlfriends, we joined a marriage group, we realized that God can still use us:), and there is just too much to name here, but again...GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!!!

Not your typical Womens Retreat!

I had an amazing time at the retreat, but not for the obvious reasons. The teaching focus of the weekend was "The bride of Christ"...
The speaker was just not my style. I had a hard time focusing on what she was saying and felt myself being easily distracted. That's NOT to say that I didn't learn anything, but not in the typical way.

What I walked away with was an AMAZING look into my heart & the motives of my actions or lack of actions regarding our finances. I hate conflict, so if there was any "issues" with our finances...I would just ignore it until we got paid again. I know some of you think I'm CRAZY, (I am) but I was just so uncomfortable talking about anything regarding our money.
At the retreat I attended a Budget & Finance workshop (at the nudging of the Lord) I actually felt like this was tailored just for me. My heart was so burdened that weekend with the fiances, and I just felt like "this is why I am here".
As I sat in the workshop soaking up all the information, my heart became more heavy by the minute. I knew the way I had been "avoiding" and making decisions without consulting T was WRONG...I heard it LOUD & CLEAR!

AS soon as the workshop was over, a nap was in order! After the nap, I spent some time with the Lord confessing, thanking Him, and praising Him! He has been so faithful even thru my avoidance He has always provided for us!!
But...my heart knew that there was more to be done...I had to confess to T, and ask him for forgiveness as well. T was way excited about the pending new financial plan, he forgave me right away and jumped on board!!!

I went into this weekend expecting to meet with God, but never imagined it would be in my checkbook! He never ceases to AMAZE me and SURPRISE me!

Below are some of the "budget tips":
Spend all your money on paper BEFORE you cash your check.
Create a zero based budget: List out all your monthly expenses & zero out all money
Then:
Step 1- Set up an emergency fund (at least $1000.00)
Step 2- Put all extra money towards paying off debt (including cars, credit cards)
Step 3- Save 3-6 months of expenses in bank

I was intimidated at first! But the whole point of step 1 is so if anything comes up unexpectedly you don't have to stop paying down your debt, you just take it from your emergency fund and you continue paying down your debt as planned.
As you are paying down your debt you start with the smallest debt to the biggest debt. Pay off the smallest one first, then apply that money to the next debt in line. Soon you will be making large payments in your biggest debt, therefore, you are well on your way to being DEBT-FREE!!!!

P.S. We are still on Step 1....this is a process people!!!!!!

Living the dream!

No, we are NOT pregnant...this is Halloween!!!! I was literally "living my dream" and T was a construction worker! We went to the Harvest Festival at our church. We had such an amazing weekend!(not just because I got to "pretend" I was pregnant)

God is so good and so faithful!! He knows EXACTLY what and who we need in our lives. When I look back on this past year, I can see the Lord guiding T and I in our every step. He lead us to our church family where we have just been loved on and blessed in so many ways! The friendships we have made, and continue to make, remind us of Gods love. Our marriage group and the Youth leadership team have been placed specifically in our lives for such a time as this!




An awesome couple has been put in our lives that have struggled with infertility and have gone thru EXACTLY what we are currently going thru. God is so good!!

Dwayne and Deneva lead the marriage group, and their friendship has been so comforting and so encouraging to us. God is so good!!



Nate and Elise have been a source of refreshment. Nate and T have a lot in common and Elise is so easy to talk to(plus she cut my hair and I love it!!) God is so good!!



Ecclesiastes 4:10 If one falls down, a friend can help him up.

We are so thankful that we are surrounded by those that love the Lord, and love us!!
This past year has been so "full" for us! Full of friends, love and challenges, but God is so good and faithful!

My professional Worrier!!

After a long hiatus...I'M BACK!!
I just wanted to share with you a little of what has been on my heart as of late.

As T and I are going thru infertility testing/treatment I have found that my anxiety level has been extremely high. All the "what ifs" have been taking over my thought life, and I have found it hard to trust in the Lord and His perfect plan for me.

Gods timing is perfect. A few Sundays ago the Pastor talked on "The Antidote to Anxiety". I felt the Lord speaking to me very clearly...here is what He said:

Worry or anxiety is an attempt to control the uncontrollable: and as some of you know I like to be in control! This really hit home in my heart. I felt like I truly needed to just lay all my burdens down, and leave them. Leave them at the foot of the cross, let Jesus be my professional worrier:)

God is my Source:
When I feel like I don't know: He is my source of Wisdom (Ps. 36:9)
When I have no energy: He is my source of Strength (Isa. 48:5)
When I am depressed: He is my source of Happiness (Ps. 43:4)
When I feel hopeless: He is my source of Hope (Rom. 15:13)
When I feel stressed: He is my source of Peace (Rom. 15:33)
When I feel irritated: He is my source of Patience (Hosea 15:5)
When I feel overwhelmed: He is my source of Salvation (Heb. 5:9)
When I want to give up: He is my source of Encouragement (Rom. 15:5)

I just LOVE the fact that whenever I "feel" a certain way, I can look back on this list and be encouraged that He is my source. My Strength, Happiness, Hope, Peace, Patience,Salvation and encouragement ALL comes from HIM!!!!!

God is my professional worrier...is He yours??

Jr. High Kidnapping!!

At the crack of dawn on Saturday morning,(6...but hey, its a Saturday) Jason (the Youth pastor)..had this cool idea to "kidnap" some unsuspecting junior highers that were soundly asleep in their beds...(insert creepy laughing sound)So, Of course we were totally in!!!

First we pick up Natalie!

Then Renee & Rebekah


Followed by Vincent...

Then Janelle

and Justin...

and Sara

On to get Isaac...no picture...
Then, on to Dennys for breakfast!!!



The BEST part, for me, was seeing where all the kids live and getting a peek into their world. I have to admit it was pretty cool seeing them all "messed up and tired" looking to, but in all fairness I specifically didn't wear makeup...just to fit in with them! (I won't mention the fact that I didn't wash off my makeup from the night before, so in truth I had a little on my eyes)

So, here is my breakdown of the morning:
Janelle: not a morning person, does not like surprises...
Renee: orders her food by pointing at it on the menu:)
Rebekah: Doesn't like scary movies
Natalie: her house smells like Thanksgiving and Christmas...sooo yummy
Sara: is very cultured in her food palate
Justin: is into computers
Isaac: likes to always look his best
Vincent: likes to listen to Kutless and Reliant K
Junior Highers: Love em, love their energy, love their eagerness to let you know them!
Myself: At least 3 cups of coffee before I "lighten" up in the am...
Trav: The most consistent man you will EVER meet
Jason: likes Tai food, has a HUGE heart for the youth
Krista: isn't a morning person either, gives her all at everything she does:)
Jessica: luvs her brother and has such a sweet relationship with him...reminds me of my brother and I


What an amazing way to start our day!!!