Vacation Bucket list

Since my wonderful husband never went on a real vacation before we started dating, I thought it might be fun to create a vacation bucket list of places we'd like to go. Being someone who LOVES to travel I know I'll be the main one to make our list, but the important part will be that we go to these places together. I haven't fully ran this idea by him yet, but since I found out that he was planning on trying to surprise me with a vacation sometime in the near future, I'm pretty sure he'll like the idea. I don't have alot of places for our list yet, but I'm going to share them with you anyway. If you have any places you think we should add to the list please feel free to share. :)

1. Disneyworld- ok we can already mark this one off! Jamie and I already went there the 1st year we dated. In fact, we were there for my birthday AND we got engaged there!! But Disney is amazing, and its a place I know we both can't get enough of. Hopefully its a place we'll travel to once or twice with our kiddies (once we start a family that is!)

2. Discovery Cove

As long as our finances allow it...we will be going here for our 2 year anniversary next year!! I happened to come across Discovery Cove on Facebook through my newsfeed, and I automatically knew it was a place I HAD to go to. They have all kinds of sea and wildlife, you can chill in your own personal cabana while being served breakfast, lunch, and all the snacks you can eat, you also get to take a tour through the private aviary and feed the birds, go snorkeling, get a lesson with the trainers, a private photo shoot with two of the dolphins, AND....

swim with the dolphins!! This is something I have wanted to do for years!! The only slight downside...Jamie doesn't know how to swim. But we're staying positive that he can either learn before the trip, or that he can wear a lifevest and at least participate in the training and swimming with dolphins part of the day along with all the inland activities of course! I'll be excited if we can mark this off the list in Feburary next year!! :-)

3. New York City

Ok, anyone who knows me should know why I want to visit NYC...one word...Broadway!! As a singer/actress how could I not want to go to NYC and see at least one show on Broadway?! This trip might take a little convincing on Jamie though...he hates cities...and crowds!! But now that I've turned him into a Gleek maybe I can convince him we need to go and see the places they filmed during season 2 (and the last episode of 3).

4. Costa Rica

I have to be honest about something....I probably wouldn't have developed an interest in Costa Rica if it wasn't for the 1st season of Love In The Wild. But after getting to see different parts of Costa Rica, who wouldn't want to visit at least once? Jamie is all for this vacation...we both just have to get over our fear of flying!! This trip might also become a reality sometime this year or next if I get into the Life business and commit my time to it. (They send people on vacations once every 6 months for your 1st year and a half!)

5. Universal Studios

This has to be the next on our list as far as amusment parks! We are both amusement park nuts, and I couldn't think of a better place to go then Universal!! I've seen the rides...they look amazing! And now that they've added the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, how can we not make a trip?!

6. Australia

I've never been, but I have a feeling I'd LOVE the down under!! This is another trip Jamie and I would have to get over the fear of flying though. But I'd love to visit Sydney Harbor, and see kangaroos and koalas up close and personal.

7. Six Flags

This is another on the "must go's" for amusement parks. The closest one to us is Atlanta, making it a definite for us. :-)

8.Paris

Yet another place we'd have to fly but seeing the Eiffel tower in person would make it worth the journey!!

9. Hawaii- ok with this one we'd have two options as far as getting there. One we could fly (yawn) OR we could take a road trip through the US and end up in Cali then take a boat to the islands. So far I LOVE the sound of option 2!!

10. Last but not least, how could mention California without adding:

Disneyland!! They have different rides and attractions from Disneyworld, so it would definitely be worth the trip for us. And while in Cali, we could visit LA, see the Hollywood sign, travel down Santa Monica blvd, and visit San Francisco.

Any suggestions of more places for us to add?

Sexperiment

A few weeks ago my Pastor introduced a series to our church called Sexperiment. I know what most of you are thinking...What kind of church are you going to?? What in the world is "Sexperiment"?? Well let me tell you something... this series has changed my opinion of sex FOREVER!! During the series we even had the honor to hear Lauren, our Pastor's wife preach a few times. She was magnificant, I'm pretty sure the advice she and Matt had for the married couples of our church will change us all for the better. As someone who's marriage is FAR from perfect I'd like to say that learning about sex in church of all places has lead to several discussions that will undoubtedly change us for the better over time, and I'd like to take the time to share why...

First off let me explain a little about what the Sexperiment series was, and about the 7-day challenge that was issued starting this past Sunday. The series was a 4 week series all about sex...how society has changed sex for the worse, and how important sex is for married couples. During week one of the series Pastor Matt told us that on average most married couples only have sex 3-4 times a month. That's only once per week!! And if I can get completely candid for a moment I'll admit that my husband and I currently fall into that group of couples, and its something I'm not happy with. Did you know that sex is not only one of the greatest gifts from God, but when done with your husband/wife it and in the right context it can be one of the most natural and beautiful ways to worship our Heavenly Father? I'm not going to lie, until this series God would be the last thing on my mind during sex, and if He did come across my mind I would feel odd and honestly somewhat sinful. Matt and Lauren also gave us "homework" to do during each week, along with a bunch of tips on what the wives should do for their husbands and vice versa, along with what our roles in marriage are (Ephesians 5). Now on to the challenge...all of the married couples at Journey were challenged to have sex for 7 days straight! Once again you're probably wondering, "What kind of church do you go to?!" My answer: Only the Godliest, weirdest, most AWESOME church in history! Below is a link to one of the sermons during the series, if you're married you should take time to listen and learn why its ok to get "rowdy" in the bedroom, and if you're single you should take a listen and learn why its well worth the wait! I highly encourage you to go to www.thejourney.info and listen to the rest of the series as well!

http://thejourney.info/FAITHNETWORK_USERFILESTORE/audiolibraries/ministries/f1e45b8e-3515-4139-8cb3-568b3af0a395/mp3/06.10.12Sexperiment915.mp3

I'd like to close out the blog with some scriptures about sex and marriage. I know this is probably the...umm...weirdest blog I've ever written, but I hope it inspires other married couples to grow even closer with eachother and God in the same way it has encouraged me to want to be closer to my husband.

(Proverbs 5:15-19) Drink water from your own well—share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in public, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Don't share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving doe, a graceful deer. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.

(1 Corinthians 7:2-5) But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

~Shay~

Growing up

Last Thursday my younger brother Sam graduated from Pinebrook Elementary. I can't believe he's growing up so fast! Not only did he graduate....but he did it in style by earning SIX awards during the graduation/awards ceremony! In his honor I decided to dedicate a posting full of pictures from his big day and decked out in Pinebrook colors, green and orange. :-) So enjoy Sam...this blog's for you!!

This is a collage of Sam's baby pics they showed during the ceremony. The lighting in the gym is horrible for someone like me with an older camera, but I promise you his baby pics are adorable!

Some of the 4th graders accepting their awards.

 Sam is in the front row wearing a blue and black striped shirt...I'm still SOOOO proud of him!

 Accepting more awards...

I wanted to post my pictures of his awards, but my batteries died as I was uploading all the pics to the computer. He got awards for Leadership, Hall helpers, Best classroom helper, Presidential Fitness, and we can't remember the others. Either way I'm one proud sister! Way too go Sam...now go enjoy your summer! :-)

The new and improved Shay

Hello readers!!
                         It has been quite sometime since I've posted a decent post, so I've decided its WAY beyond time to update my blog. I've started reading several new blogs (some by friends and others by people I've never met before), and the one thing they all had in common was...they all inspire me!! I've learned so much by following these blogs, and inspiration is something I look for constantly. These blogs challenge me to think outside the box, and to go above and beyond to better myself. I hope that one day my blog can do the same for someone, so I've decided to make some changes.

First off, from now on I'm going to stop writing about random things that hold no true meaning...I'm going to stick to stuff I know and love. Whether it's my Ray of Sonshine home business (more to come on that in a new post later!), the Life business I'm involved in (this will also get its own posting because its so awesome it deserves its own post!), horses and Journey's End, my walk in faith and Journey church, music, theater, food/cooking, family and friends....etc!

I'll also start trying to update more frequently because I've become a HUGE slacker when it comes to my blog. I make time to read all these other blogs, but have neglected this blog completely. As someone who LOVES to write, and also someone who loves to inspire and hopes to change the world one day for the better (maybe blog writing isn't the way to accomplish this, but hey...its a start!!) you would think I would actually find time to type up at least one blog a week. I hate to admit I've caved into society and spend most of my free time on Facebook playing games, on my phone playing Angry Birds (in my defense who doesn't like Angry Birds), or sitting on the couch watching tv and consuming unneeded calories. The amount of free time I've had recently is CRAZY, and instead of sitting around doing the "same ol' same" I'm going to dedicate that time to my readers. I hope you guys will enjoy the slight changes and I look forward to your feedback! :-)