Day #6-Picture of Something that Makes You Happy

I was thinking about what makes me happy and that are lots of things that make me truly happy. I'm not sure I can narrow it down to just ONE thing. But if I had to choose one thing, it would be....

My fiance and best friend, Ben, is something that makes me truly happy. Sorry to get all sappy, but he is the BEST guy I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and one of the best people in general that I've ever known. Ben has such a caring, servants heart. Some of the things he does and says just blows me away. He is your typical, southern gentleman who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He doesn't meet a stranger and is an excellent leader. I can't wait to marry him on April 16th and have him as the leader of our family and get to call him MY husband. Never in my wildest dreams did I think God would have blessed me with someone like Ben.

A few other things that make me happy are:

1.) Christmas
2.) My dogs, Lacy & Gracie
3.) Big family get togethers
4.) Bonding with a patient at work
5.) Killing my first deer :)
6.) Being at the lake, riding in a boat
7.) When God shows me something new

Day #5-Siblings

Today I'm supposed to write about my siblings. Well...I have one brother. His name is Luke and he is 19 years old (will be 20 in January). Surprisingly he is an awesome cook (he works at Archie's Oyster Bar in Auburn as a cook and he is the kitchen manager) and he also can do awesome yard work (he works for Williamson's Lawn). He loves to work on his truck, hunt, fish, mud ride....anything that a typical southern boy likes to do. Luke is excellent at fixing stuff and is such a handy man. He may be tall and skinny, but that boy is STRONG.

I never would have thought that I would be that close to my brother because we are 7 years apart in age, but the older we get, the closer we get. It makes me feel good to know that I have a brother who loves me, takes up for me and does anything he can to protect me. I feel that's what he's supposed to do....

Opelika game 2007

Summer 2008

Christmas 2009

St. Patrick's Day 2010

"There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother." ~Astrid Alauda

Day #4

On day #4 of the blog challenge, you're supposed to write about your parents, but I have a little something else I would like to share today.
Yesterday I killed my very first deer, the very first time I ever went hunting. It was SO exciting and fun! I am still feeling the excitement! It all started with a little target shooting yesterday at Ben's farm. I had been telling him that I needed to target shoot because I eventually wanted to go hunting. I was a little nervous about shooting the gun because I know guns usually "kick" and I was scared it would hurt. I went out to Ben's farm right around lunch time (yes, in the nasty rain) and we practiced. I was so surprised that the gun I shot didn't kick me at all (well...it didn't hurt at all.) After several practice shots, Ben said I was good to go.
At the last minute Ben decided that it would be a great day for hunting (because of the weather) and figured we would see some deer if we went as long as I could stand sitting in a tree stand with it raining some. I decided that I needed to take the chance, so we both suited up and headed out to his lease land. The scariest part was climbing in the stand! I couldn't believe how nervous I was about that. I'm not normally scared of heights, but I think it was the fact that the wind was blowing, therefore the tree was moving and it just made me nervous. Within 10 minutes, we had already seen 3 doe and a 5 pt that was way too far to shoot. We saw several other doe (one that I ALMOST shot at, but hesitated and she walked away) and then saw a spike walk RIGHT in front of our stand at about 8 yds away! It was really neat. There was a green field that we kept eyeing just waiting for something to walk out. I started getting pretty cold and my hands were like ice, but Ben said it was getting to be "prime time" and I decided I was not giving up now. Then all of a sudden, a doe walked onto the green field...I started getting excited....so I pulled the gun up, found the doe in the scope and watched her...I waited a little too long b/c she walked behind a tree. There was a smaller deer right behind her, but I knew I wasn't going to shoot that. Then all of a sudden another one walked into the green field...what appeared to be a good size doe. I lined it up, and didn't hesitate. I shot the deer and it literally dropped like a sack of potatoes at about 90 yds away. Ben was so excited...I think he was more excited than me at first. He was like "ahh you dropped it, I can't believe you dropped it!!" Ben grabbed the gun for me and was going to shoot the other doe that had been in the field, but she ran away. We got out of the stand and walked to see my kill and realized it was a spike!! I know normally you don't shoot spikes, but it was my first time and we could tell that it was a spike from the stand. We met up with Ben's cousin Chris Adams and the photo shoot began. I got a little blood on my cheeks and started posing away. :) After loading it up, we went by Chris Schnarr's house to show it off (and take more pictures).
It was such a fun and exciting experience. I never would have thought that I would have actually ENJOYED hunting. I always wanted to go just to go and maybe even kill a deer (just to say I killed one). But I sorta can't wait to go again and hopefully kill a bigger buck next time. I am blessed that my first experience deer hunting was a good one. Saw lots of deer, it wasn't TOO cold (although I got pretty cold) and I ended the hunt with a kill. Doesn't get any better than that!!

"Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me..."--Genesis 27:3
Here are some pictures from the night...

Day #3-Your First Love

"This is how we ought to know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."--1 John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son. That whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life."--John 3:16

Growing up I always heard the song, "Jesus Loves Me", but didn't really understand what it actually meant until I was much older. I went through elementary school and high school knowing that God loved me and He had a plan, and knew what I should do, but I didn't necessarily do it. I wasn't a "bad kid" by any means, but I didn't have a strong relationship with God like I do now. Most people drift away from their beliefs and their relationship with God when they go off to college. They start experiencing new things and somehow get caught up in the everyday life, forgetting what's truly important. The opposite was true for me. I started college and immediately began going to church by myself every Sunday morning. That lead to me getting involved in the college ministry at our church as well. Once I started going, I jumped in head first and haven't regretted it since. After learning how important a strong faith and relationship with God is, my life changed. I saw things in a different way...it really is true when the Bible says,

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."--Romans 12:2

I experienced a full-on "renewing of my mind" and it was such an exciting thing to experience. It's all been history from there. Sure, I have my times where I don't spend as much time reading the Word as I should...I don't spend enough time in church or at bible study, but one thing I do know to be true is that God's love never fails. We may experience heartache and other people may disappoint us (more than once) but it is HIS love that is constant. I know that His amazing grace has been poured out over me even when I don't deserve it. But that's why God is SO good. He loves us even when we fail. He has the true "agape" love for us.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. "--1 John 4: 7-12

See, God is in the business of love. That's what He does best. I strive each day to love others, even when it's hard because He loves me even when I am unlovable...

Day # 2-Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

Day #2 of the 30 day blog challenge is to tell the meaning behind your blog name. My blog title is "Something Heavenly" and it comes from the Santus Real song called, "Whatever You're Doing". You can listen to the song and watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN9J8eqKovY

The part of the song that's my favorite (where my blog title came from) is when the song says,

"I surrender to whatever you're doing inside of me,

it feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace.

Though it's hard to surrender to what I can't see,

I'm giving into something heavenly."

I've felt like God has really been working on my heart big time these last couple of years. There have been things to happen in my life that I don't understand..I don't understand God's timing, I don't understand His ways. But the bible tells us that His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. I've been SO stubborn at times waiting on God's will that it's only hurt me in the end. God only wants to save us from things that hurt us and sometimes that's the very thing that we choose. Sometimes it may hurt so bad...to our very core..it may seem like chaos, but that's what the song says...that even though it feels like chaos, we should have peace knowing that God is behind it ALL. Even though we can't see our future and it's hard to hand over control of our lives, we just need to give into something that's WAY bigger than us. He's up to something that's bigger than us and bigger than our circumstances, if we just let Him work. This song is my heart's cry...it's such a great song and the reason behind my blog name :)

Oh...and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

"Give THANKS to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

--Psalm 107:1

30 Day Blog Challenge

I stole this idea from a friend at work. It's a 30 day blog challenge. Each day you write about something different, so I thought I would try it since I've been extra lazy in my blogging (Thanks Katherine!!)

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture and 15 random facts about me.
Well, for those of you who don't know me, my name is Amy Michelle Callaway. I am 26 years old and live in Opelika, AL. I have worked the past 2 years at Baptist East in Montgomery in Labor & Deliver/High Risk OB. I love being a nurse...it's what God has called me to do and I think it fits me perfectly. I got engaged on August 13th to the sweetest, best guy I've ever met. Ben and I will be getting married on April 16th at our church (where we met). You can go to our wedding website here: http://weddingwire.com/amycallawayandbenadams
the password is: adams

This is such an exciting time in my life as well as stressful. I can't wait to marry my best friend and God's man for me in just a few short months!

15 Random Facts About Me

1.) Anyone that knows me well, knows that I have a deathly, ABNORMAL fear of birds….always have and always will. Don’t ask why or how…that’s just how I am and it’s not going to change. People that know that about me always try to figure it out, but it’s just the way I am, there’s no explanation for it.

2.)I could eat a chicken finger anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Although it’s not necessarily my favorite food, I have always liked them. My mom says that I was such a picky eater as a child, that’s all I would eat :)

3.)I wear my emotions on my sleeve. Usually you can know how I am feeling just by looking at my face. I don’t hide it very well….although if you ask me…I’ll deny it (typical girl, huh?)

4.)I’ve been told I have “champagne” taste with only “beer” money. That seems to be true.

5.)I love it when God shows me something new…

6.)I always dust off my feet before I get into my bed.

7.)I drink all dark beverages (usually) including COFFEE, through a straw. I know, sounds crazy to drink coffee through a straw. Ever since I got my braces about 7 years ago, I have been very particular about my teeth and about getting them stained and so forth, so that’s why.

8.)When I was in 5th grade, I was on Entertainment Tonight. It was a quick clip, but still, I had my moment of fame….and no, I’m not lying.

9.)Most people would be surprised to know that I have 2 tattoos. I don’t mind telling that. It’s on my lower abdomen and it’s of an Icthus (Jesus fish). And my latest one is on my left wrist of the word "agape". I got this to be a constant reminder of God's unconditional love for me. It also reminds me to try and love people unconditionally. It is by grace that I'm saved through faith...all of this because of God's agape love.

10.)I still do math by counting on my fingers or on paper, even simple math…..I took math classes in college all the way up to Calculus II, but to this day, I count on my fingers.

11.)People always ask me if I am related to the Callaways of “Callaway Gardens” or “Callaway Golf”….sadly, I have to tell them “no”.

12.)I always have a bottle of water beside my bed.

13.) I am addicted to trash TV. I always tell myself I'm not going to get caught up in ANOTHER reality TV show, but I do. I couldn't believe I actually started watching "Jerseylicious" one day!

14.) I love laughing. Laughing is my favorite thing to do. I know people say it might be a bad thing if you laugh at yourself or your own jokes, but I love it when I do that. I think it says that you have a sense of humor. I also like to surround myself with people that make me laugh. I find that I have a better day that way.

15.) I've always been told that patience is a virtue..well...it's a virtue that I clearly don't have sometimes. I feel like God has really been working on me the last several years on helping me gain some patience in my life. It's a tough thing to learn, but I KNOW that I will be a better person because of it.

Oh....and this is my FAVORITE time of year! I love decorating for all the holidays and enjoying family time..it's the GREATEST!

The BIG GREEN Monster

We all know that monster..that big green monster that finds it's way into our lives when we least expect it. It's the monster that can cause heartache, distraction, pride and worry. That BIG GREEN monster is what I like to call....jealousy.

This past week, our bible study was on jealousy and although it's hard to admit (out loud), it really spoke to me. After going through this lesson, I was able to admit to myself and to someone else that I have some "jealous" areas in my life that I need to work on. Everything in this lesson is true and spoke volumes to me, so I thought I would share just in case it's something anyone else needed to hear as well.

The Truth About Jealousy

"Just because we see someone advancing before us does not mean that God is withholding His goodness toward us. He may be simply preparing us for what will come in the future."

I know I have had a VERY hard time with this about certain things in my life. I used to not understand why all my friends were getting married and I kept having failed relationship after failed relationship. Now, I see why...God knew I would meet Ben and God was rescuing me from all those other relationships that may have been good, but they weren't God's plan. At times, I don't understand why God hasn't granted me a huge desire of my heart---to have children (when everyone else is having them), but I have to remind myself that He sees the bigger picture as I see only the here and now.

"God loves us with an everlasting love, and He has a plan for our lives. This plan, however, may not unfold at the same time as God's plan for another person. We need to be patient and wait for God to give us His blessings at the right time. When we become jealous, we risk missing His best gifts because we are focused only on what we do not have. When we choose this route, a lot of time can be wasted entertaining feelings of heartache, frustration, worry and envy."

God may as well have been standing right in front of me speaking this to me, because it sure felt like it! I have to remember that Satan's primary goal is to shift my attention/focus away from God and onto my circumstances. The enemy wants me to become jealous, distracted and prideful. Lots of times our circumstances don't make sense to us from our perspective, but from God's point of view, they make perfect sense.

"God knows what we need and what we can handle. He may want to bless us in a certain area, but if He knows we are not ready for the blessing, He will withhold it for a later time. Are you willing to wait?"

Disarming Jealousy

How can we effectively deal with the jealousy in our own lives?

1.) ADMIT that we are envious.

2.) ACKNOWLEDGE that we are in conflict with God.

3.) THANK God for what He has done in our lives. (Mrs. Karen said one time that whenever you feel down and don't understand why something is happening...think of something to be thankful for. It's hard to be mad and thankful at the same time.)

4.) PRAY and ask God to help us see the heart of the other person at the center of conflict.

5.) We need to be willing to WAIT for God to work. (As we wait, we can listen for His voice of instruction.)

6.) ASK God to help us hear His voice over the clamor of the world.

7.) DELIGHT yourself in God. ("Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."--Psalm 37:4)

I have SO much in my life to be thankful for...I don't want to ruin that by letting the enemy get a foothold with jealousy. I know this lesson really spoke to me, I hope it spoke to you too! :)

On a completely different note, Beth (Ben's sister) had a baby shower today. It was so much fun! I can't wait for my very first niece, Katelyn, to get here at the end of February!