Anniversary Trip 2009 (Day 2 AM/Afternoon)

This is a two-part post because of the mass of pictures. This post entails what we decided to do during the day before we went to the Opry to see the one and only Wynonna :) The first thing we did was head to find this restaurant called Mad Donna's and then drive through Germantown. Everything was pretty much closed at the time because of the time change. Our stomach's are still on Eastern time though so we headed to the city market. It was definitely catering to a population thinking Obama was God. There was even a picture with Obama praying and Biblical references about how he is a prophet of God... seriously?! Come on!!! Ok so here are the pics of the morning and afternoon:


We still aren't sure what this is but we saw it from way off. It is quite beautiful. We both agreed that if we were govenator that we'd want to live here.

A water fountain that people were playing in memoralizing Tennessee's history.

The concrete before you get to those water fountains is a map of Tennessee.

Driving downtown passing the Ryman.

Here I am with Elvis :) He was cement and a lot cooler than the hunk a hunka burnin' love hugging on him... literally burning--96 degrees and tons of humidity (look at the hair!)


We got so hot and hungry that we decided to step into this little bar called Baily's and get an iced cold drink and some nachoes. I had a little fun with picnik.com on this picture but I think it turned out great!

A few places down from Baily's was a place called Second Fiddle. There was live music and Dustin was really excited that he found a real Ediphone.

So this is about 5 minutes into staring at the darn thing!
The awesome band that was playing for us.


Our first trip to Tootsie's.

Tooties's on the left and Second Fiddle on the right.

Cops for Eric.

Hard Rock's guitar and boy was it a Hard day down town in the heat!!

Up next: Swimming and Wynonna :)

Anniversary Trip 2009 (Day 1)

We decided to get married on May 14, 2005 and we really aren't sure why we chose May because our license plates are due, Indy 500 weekend, Dustin's Dayton Hamfest, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, graduations, and the list goes on! So needless to say getting away for our anniversary is impossible in May! June is our step in month for us to vacation.

This year we decided to visit Nashville, TN again as we went there for our 1st year anniversary and fell in love! When I looked on the website for who all was going to be playing and I saw Wynonna, I booked the tickets then :) We got Gold Circle Seating tickets front and center :) Wynonna is my soul girl that's for sure. I love her passion and her resemblence in society.

So for our trip--
Friday:

Dustin asked me to search for some wineries or distilleries to stop at for a romantic dinner and a bottle of wine picnic. I found this one: Heavenly Hills Distillery and Vineyard. The scenery was beautiful and we were excited. We walk into the door and the greeter asks us where we were from and then informs us that we just missed the last tour and last tasting. What a bummer to start off vacation like this!!

So after walking around quickly because she restated that they were closing in 20 minutes--translation LEAVE--we left to go back into Bardstown, Ky. What we thought of to be a romantic dinner was cancelled and we went for an imagination romance theme at Long John Silver's with fish tacos and diet root beer! Teaching has taught me a lot about being flexible and creative.
By the way, the fish tacos were to die for! Yum-o!


Here are the barrell houses we couldn't go into because we were 20 minutes late.

After lots of driving after the disappointment, we land in Nashville!!!!


Here is my attempt at creative photography of our hotel :)

More pics to come as we are off to the show tonight!! Go Wy!!!

Esther--A must study!

I recently stepped out in the name of God and said yes to Him. My accountability girls and I wanted to do a bible study and we were set on doing Breaking Free by Beth Moore. A few weeks into the study I saw that God wanted me to take this elsewhere and lead it at The Creek. I said, "Fine God, if you REALLY want me to do this, you'll make a way that I cannot deny this is coming from you and not my own ambitions to teach/lead in church." A week later at Ignite (see blog at right) Paulette mentioned to me that we should do a Beth Moore study in the name of Ignite for ladies while we are in the off season of normal Ignite lessons. I still sat back not saying anything other than, "Yeah that sounds like a good idea!" She then mentions that I... yes ME, Danielle, should facilitate BREAKING FREE. OH MY GOODNESS... Hello God! With Him speaking so clearly in my face there was no way I could say no. So I've been leading that study at the Creek and have been so blessed thus far :)

I then began getting the itch to study something else alongside Breaking Free. In steps the Esther study. Can I say OH MY GOSH! I love dramas. I'm the queen of Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Law & Order, etc. I even LOVE drama movies of any sort! Girls, this is D to the RAMA! In just Chapter 1 of Esther, I felt like my favorite character died in a movie! Vashti is forever etched in my heart. The most beautiful woman with a beautiful sprit. I envision that she's the woman we all see before our husbands do! You all know what I'm saying too, I know you do! She stood up to her Persian King husband, Xerxes, in order to not be paraded in front of drunken men. Seriously, how gross would that feel?! She was at her own party with all the women around enjoying herself, probably gossiping, laughing, and just girling out and to be disrupted with the thought of nasty, un-showered, drunken men ogling her--yuck! Because she said no, she was then exiled and killed. I miss her!! I wish there had been a funeral scene so I could have felt some closure of her character dying! But if she hadn't stood up to her husband for her beliefs, we wouldn't have the learning experiences of Esther. I will definitely keep updating on my venture with Esther :)

By the way if anyone is wanting to do this study or talk about it with me, which I'd so love!! you can get the member book on Life Way's Website or a place like Amazon.

Redecorating our bedroom

My last day of school with my students was June 9th. I had a meeting the rest of that afternoon and the day afterward. That following weekend we went to my parent's house and spent some fun time with the family and went shopping. I got the curtains you see below at JCPenney in Fort Wayne. That following Monday (this past Monday) I went back to my classroom to work and get finished up moving into my new room. Yes it is a NEW room :) Wahoo!! The A/C works and everything! So anyway, this past Monday I went to Lowe's to get some samples of two kinds of paint and a gallon of primer. Tuesday I got up and spackled, sanded, and primered the walls and then tried the two kinds of paint. Winter Flannel won out by far so Wednesday I went back to Lowe's to get a gallon of it. May I say I absolutely love LOVE the Valspar paint!!!! I trimmed in a white satin. I think it turned out pretty well and with Dustin's stamp of approval, I feel like a total HGTV girl! :)

These are obviously the curtains. They need some work getting them just right. I love my curtain rod though. Leaves, so 70s, but I love them!


Here s the bedspread, sheets, and pillows we got at JCPenney too! To the left is a bedside table or a "smoking" table made 60 years ago in Dustin's family. To the right I just put together this quick shelving system for all my bed supplies haha. I always do my Bible study lying on the bed so that needs to be there, and of course I have a ton of other accessories!!

Next up: The kitchen!

Flowers

This year I decided to change my black thumb into a green one. This is my attempt at planting. Notice anything not planted in barrels is Dustin's beautiful work!

Recent Shenanegans :)

I know I haven't been keeping up faithfully lately, but I just haven't had the timeor patience to upload much stuff! Here is a quick review of what's been going on lately.


Here Dustin and I are posing at Stout Field getting ready to get on the buses to go to the Indy 500.

Here is Kevin and Lisa. They are a couple of great friends :)

Dustin and I at Shallo's because I was craving homemade potato chips! This same day we went to get flowers for the yard :) (Pics coming)

Cyndi, Jim, Jenny, and me. This is our lunch group and we've eaten together all year. Jim is retiring and we decided to get him a warm lunch from Cracker Barrel and have a gaudy lunch table for the day :)

Kim, Amy, Erika, and I at Kim's re-baptism. I'm telling you this is a true testimony of our group! I love you girls!

Derrick, Hodari, Me, Jeremy, Rashaad. These are my body guards and some of my favorite gentlemen this year! I will miss them dearly!!


7th Period at the end of the day Friday (June 5th). They wanted to write on my chalk board. They all asked permission because they know how I hate a dirty chalk board! haha

Posers :)

Devin, Jeremy and I posing before 7th period is over. Our last Friday of the year!

I walk back into my room after the kids leave on Friday and this is what I find....
I love these kids!!!!

Amazing Grace... My Chains are GONE!

**As I posted on: http://igniteforwomen.blogspot.com


It all began last fall when I had a miscarriage. As devastated as I was, I thought I was over the emotional pain. Every time I went to the store and saw a brand new baby held by a proud mother I’d cry instantly without warning. There was nothing else I could do but seek God. Through much prayer and an emotional depressive state, God answered my prayers in a HUGE way!

January rolls around and I was super excited to go to the kick-off of Ignite and have an authentic relationship with God and these ladies that attended. The second Ignite meeting had me sitting at a very full table of women ready to discuss. I was excited to be the table leader because the women seemed so into the message that night. We were of all ages and all backgrounds. The discussion was rich and phenomenal. After that night’s discussion Erika and Kim said to me, “Be our friend. We all had pregnancy problems.” I didn’t think too much of it because many of us ladies are superficial sometimes in that we want to call people our friends, yet not have that commitment that it takes to keep a friendship strong.

That following week/weekend I received an email asking about a time to meet for dinner on Monday. I was included in the email as if I really had an opinion (haha). I get to Damon’s on Monday and meet Erika, Kim, and Amy. The atmosphere and discussion just felt right from the beginning.

Come to find out, God made us into accountability partners!! We decided to take our group further and study Breaking Free. Kim was struggling with unbelief as her captive or bondage. She was completely unaware of this problem until she started studying deeper. Through Kim’s experience the three of us girls got together and prayed over her every day. Few wanted guidance on what to say to her to keep her accountable. That next Monday when we were all a bit nervous of how the night was going to play out, wouldn’t you know it that God already took care of it! Kim came to us professing her unbelief (even though she was saved and baptized at a young age) and wanted to draw the line in the sand and give her life fully to God.

Monday, May 25, 2009 Kim rededicated her life to God by professing He is Lord who died on the cross and rose again for HER! Monday, June 1, 2009 Kim was re-baptized as a symbol that her unbelief, though will be challenged by the enemy, is gone and she will seek the Truth!

Ladies, come join Breaking Free!!! God is using Beth Moore’s lessons to draw us closer to Him! This study will reveal bondages or captivities that you don’t even think you have! Jesus can draw us closer to Him the more we see what our captivities are. Are you willing to step out on that oh so uncomfortable ledge and let God take over? Giving my YES to God to facilitate this study has felt so good! He’s got so much more planned for me! Let’s find out what He has planned for you!