the.turley.family

Not sure what to title this one so I just started typing. We'll see what comes to mind by the end. So, I just finished a novel by James Patterson called Suzanne's Letters to Nicholas . Great read. I think I may have to recategorize myself from "not a reader" to "good-book lover". I don't feel it necessary to call myself an avid reader quite yet because I still need the book to hook me by about chapter 3 to be willing to stick it out, but I am starting my third book in a matter of two weeks, which is completely abnormal for me! Who knows maybe some day my self given title will change again. Anyway, the prompt for me wanting to write this post comes from a section of that book. I'm warning you now if you feel the need to read the book yourself you may want to stop reading this post now because I'm about to give away the ending. Suzanne, the book's namesake, dies suddenly at the end and to add to it her one year old baby boy, Nicholas, dies ...

the beginnings of sausage stuffing Matt's delicious turkey table: pre-food; set & ready finally got to use my apron! the sides: sausage stuffing, hashbrown casserole, and candied yams our beautiful table yum! We are incredibly blessed and grateful for the Lord's provision in our lives. Such a great first Thanksgiving as husband & wife!

While sitting on our couch, I grab my computer and pull up Facebook. Instead of the normal "what's on your mind" in the status bar it read "what are you thankful for?" Instead of writing a lengthy status on Facebook I decided to write it here. I can think through it and jot down each thing that comes to mind, which is exactly what I plan to do. This post may end up being quite random, but one theme running throughout will be a heart of thankfulness.  I'm thankful for... my relationship with Jesus Christ where I experience grace and have the promise of eternity with my creator my husband who pursued me and strives to be more and more like Christ my family - dad, mom, step-dad, brother, mamaw, extended family my fabulous in-laws - they took me in like they had known me their whole lives and made me part of their wonderful family the church we have joined our lives with and the fact that they've become our family the girls I get to do life w...

Oh, housekeeping Why can't I be like the girls who have this innate love for keeping a home tidy? Why can't I be one of those women who just naturally love doing dishes and laundry and dusting and ...? Why can't I enjoy being organized and neat? I can only find one word to answer those questions. Sanctification. I married a man, who I adore, who loves to have a clean house that is not cluttered. I, however, do not seem to have the same affection for a tidy home. Now, don't get me wrong it feels good when our house is clean and put together the way it should be, but it doesn't get under my skin when it's not. For my husband, that is not the case. This is one of the many ways God is sanctifying us. I know myself - I am 100% an extrovert who loves people and make being with people the priority. If I have the choice of spending time with people I will choose it over any other option in most situations. While this is one of my greatest strengths it is ver...

11.16.12 It's here! Last year we had our first annual Rich Pond Fall Youth Retreat where the theme "Invert" shaped our conversations about the fact that we are to be less and HE is to be more. John 3:30 was our key verse and we talked all weekend about how we can elevate Christ and take the focus off ourselves. Now, we've made it a full year and we're gearing up for the second annual fall retreat! Our theme has yet to be revealed to the students so on the off chance that any of them will be reading this I will hold off on saying what it is for this year. I can say though how excited I am for this weekend! Our leaders have been preparing and diligently working to make sure that this weekend is not only fun and engaging for our students, but a time for them to soak in truths from God's Word and walk away different. I believe our topic, wisely chosen by our youth pastor, is relevant and will make our students think. I am so much looking forward to seeing how t...

Sunday night at our church we had a social media forum discussing the good and not-so-good of all things social media. It was well orchestrated by the staff of our church and the panel that participated were knowledgeable and well spoken. I'm really hoping everyone who attended benefited from the wisdom provided by the panel. I'd like to share a little bit from the night, but first need to throw out some of the social media forums we discussed...   and more. Our discussion was focused on the use of Facebook. Mostly about how to apply Biblical principals to our use of that particular social media forum as well as any other platform we choose to us. Here are just a few things I took away from the discussion... Two camps: "all-in" or "all-out" and neither are necessarily wise. "All-in" is used to describe those who are 100% devoted to the use of social media and many times neglect to think about some of the dangers associated with them. ...

Back in October we had the opportunity to babysit some not-so-baby-size boys. Two boys from our church family were picked up from school by me on a Friday and stayed with us until Saturday evening. This was my first experience in a car rider line at a school and while the school has it down to a science I was still a little anxious as to whether or not I was following correct procedures, if I'd be allowed to get the boys, if I was messing up some parent who knows the routine....in my head I could hear some friends of mine saying "fear of man, Lindsey, just stop worrying" and they would most likely be proven right by the pounding in my chest that didn't stop until I had both boys safely in my car! The title of this post was inspired by the fact that the whole weekend I kept having the thought "God, you are teaching us, always preparing us for what's to come". It was a joy to have the boys in our home and a joy to watch my husband with these two precious...

I feel the need to play catch up just a bit with this blog. Last Fall our story began and on Saturday May 5, 2012 our lives were joined as one before our family and friends and most importantly before God. That day was beautiful, hot , but beautiful and so unbelievably joyful. So many people we love joined us that day and we are extremely grateful for the support and love we felt from all in attendance. There were those we love who were unable to be there and we are equally grateful for their presence in our lives and their support of our marriage. Marriage has been a joy. On November 5 it will be 6 months since we became husband and wife. I know for myself and for Matt from talking with him it has been a daily learning experience. Studying my husband and being studied by him. Using what we've learned in the time (no matter how short) we've been together to put the other's needs above our own. It is a lovely process and I'm grateful that it is one of the ways God...