Home Sweet Home

Well…it is official! At the end of January we signed what seemed like a never-ending stack of papers and were given the keys to our very first home! After nearly three years of living in a one-bedroom apartment, we couldn’t have been happier to cross the threshold of our new residence.

We immediately began splashing paint samples on the wall and mapping out the perfect spot for each piece of furniture. With the help of our loving friends and family, we painted virtually all of the rooms upstairs and moved our furniture from the apartment in just two weekends. We can’t thank everyone enough for the long hours of hard work!

After settling in a few more weeks, Brad and I took it upon ourselves to paint the entire downstairs and with that, I mean there isn’t a white wall in sight! J Piece by piece we are turning what used to be a new empty house, into a warm and cozy home!

Enjoy a peek inside below:

Counting Our Blessings

SOOO much has happened over the last year! With that said, I thought I should take a moment to embrace our family highlights of 2011.

Just 10 months ago Brad and I discovered life-changing news that we were expecting our first child! I remember the exact day and moment that I told Brad he was going to be a daddy and the look on his face was absolutely priceless. His tears of joy will be an expression I will never forget. It suddenly became even more real when the doctor revealed to us that we would be having a little girl. The thought of pink bows, dresses and shopping suddenly started to flood my mind as I began to imagine what she would look like. As I turned to look at Brad’s expression, it seemed as though he had dollar signs shimmering in his eyes. All he could think about was wedding expenses, clothes, and inventing creative ways to fight off any future boys that dared to come into her life. That was all put to rest when he first locked eyes with his sweet baby girl at 11:45pm on November 9^th, 2011. Let’s just say… baby Addison has her daddy wrapped around her tiny little fingers!

So far we love the role of being parents and enjoy spending every waking minute with Addison Grace. However, we quickly learned that having a newborn is not all hugs and kisses, LOL. Projectile feces, fountain-like spit-up, sleepless nights, and of course the never-ending loads of laundry quickly took reign over our daily routine. Nevertheless, Brad and I are both committed in working together as we take a walk into this new season of our lives and we wouldn’t trade a minute of it for the world!

On a different note, Brad started a new job this past fall with Enterprise. After leaving Chick-fil-A last spring, we went through a rough summer of uncertainty, not knowing where Brad was called to serve. After continuous prayer, for both wisdom and direction, God carried us through that dark time and led Brad to a job that has been nothing but a blessing to our family. Brad is able to work just ten minutes from home and has the unique opportunity to come home for lunch everyday. He is certainly enjoying a much better work/life balance, which makes for a more happier and healthier home all around!

To close out the year of 2011, Brad and I decided to buy our first house! We are all set to begin moving in towards the end of January and are looking forward to the many new memories in our new home together in 2012!

We're Pregnant!

It's a Girl!

Let us Give Thanks!

Thanksgiving was extra special for me this year as Brad had the opportunity to travel with my family to Maine! It had been a few years since my family had gathered together at my grandparents’ log home and it was so nice to catch up and spend time with everybody again!

Along with my aunt and uncle, Brad and I enjoyed sleeping alongside the Atlantic Ocean. My uncle’s beach house is just a step away from the shoreline and the scenery there is absolutely beautiful. We can’t thank my aunt and uncle enough for the morning walks on the beach and the wonderful places they showed us along the way.

With only four days, we made sure to make the most of our time and show Brad around town! We enjoyed delicious lobster rolls at a local spot called Rudy’s and captured several snapshots of the unique scenery in and around the Portland area. We visited a few of the famous lighthouses along the coast, went on a cliff walk and traveled a couple extra miles to catch sight of the quaint little town, Kennebunkport, home of the well-known, George Bush Sr. family estate.

From all of us down here in Texas…

Thank y’all for making our trip to Maine extra special!

A Better Trip, Next Fall!

I know it’s been a while since the last time I wrote, but believe me when I say, I have so much to share with all of you! As many of you know, I decided to forego my plans for the LPGA Tour. Being away from loved ones alongside the constant hustle and bustle that comes with traveling week-in and week-out, was not a life that I felt was right for me. However, I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to compete in the tournaments this past summer, as I was able to have a sample of what life on tour would entail. I believe God used that time to grow my faith, my strength, and my endurance, which also helped me reevaluate my priorities in life. In the weeks leading up to Q-school, I felt a hesitation in my heart and with consistent prayer; I knew that God had a different direction for my life. My heart has always burned with a passion for children and I have decided to pursue my degree in teaching and serve children in hopes to make a lasting impact on their life!

As for Brad and I together, we have added a new addition to our family, and no…it’s not a baby, but a puppy! A chocolate and white Shih-Tzu, weighing around 1.5 lbs when we welcomed him home. It seems for quite some time now, Brad has longed for a Harley Davidson bike, and well, as a loving wife, I compromised, and we named our sweet boy – Harley! J Now, at 14 weeks, Harley is still quite petite for his breed; weighing-in at roughly 4.3lbs. Regardless, we couldn’t be happier and we are enjoying his love each and everyday!

On a different note, just this past week Brad and I were in for a wake-up call that would remind us of how precious our time is on this earth together. Thursday evening, Brad was enjoying his regular ride home from work (Only about 10 minutes away), when in a split second of time, he was involved in an accident leaving his truck looking like nothing but a beat up accordion. As it turned out, a deer had gone to cross the road and needless to say, after being struck by one careless Mini-Van and two Ford pick-up trucks, the deer didn’t quite make it to the other side. With Brad’s truck totaled and impacted as much as it was, it is an absolute miracle that Brad walked away from the accident without a scratch and we can only praise the Lord for that!

Brad is also nearly ten months into his training program with Chick-Fil-A and things are going very well for him at the store. Just this past weekend Brad competed in the annual soccer tournament in which Chick-Fil-A Magnolia (Brad’s store) and Chick-Fil-A Alden Bridge, play against each other in hopes to claim the Skipper Cup! After a long game that went into overtime, Chick-Fil-A Magnolia obtained the cup once again! With honor, they have the cup displayed in their store for all to see! Great Job, Team!

Keep on, Keeping on!

“Keep on, keeping on” has become our cheering phrase of the month for both Brad and I as we are continuing to persevere through this season in our life. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to compete in a few golf tournaments, which has allowed me to test my game under pressure and aid in my preparation for Q-School, in just over a month. With my golf game progressing slower than I had hoped, feelings of frustration, discouragement, and embarrassment have been lurking around my mind lately. Quite often, I have caught myself questioning my calling, even though I clearly know in my heart what it is I need to do. With out the encouragement and support from both my parents and Brad, the fear of failure would still have me caught in the devil’s trap of doubt and deception. Slowly but surely I have continually placed one foot in front of the other clinging to God’s truth.

This past weekend, I headed out for yet another tournament in San Antonio. I felt good going into the tournament and told God that whether I played well or not, I was playing for His glory and not mine. With each round, my game displayed tremendous improvement and I knew that God’s hand was at work, yet it wasn’t until I walked into the scoring room on that final day of the tournament, that God completely revealed Himself to me in a way that was absolutely perfect! Sitting on the table directly in front of the scoreboard were three eagles, which happened to be the trophies for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place. Immediately I was reminded of a book I began reading at the beginning of this journey, Never Give Up by Joyce Meyer. Countless times, Joyce refers to the character of the eagle and the symbology of the eagle within the Bible. The eagle is one of nature’s best examples of strength, perseverance, and determination- one who never gives up!

You see, just before this tournament I was beginning to wonder whether I was supposed to be pursuing this vision. I couldn’t help but think how all odds are against me, which was leading me to believe that maybe I had set my expectations too high. Yet, at this down point in my journey where I doubt was going to lead me astray once again, God intervened and the tide turned in my game. With God’s strength, I finished 2^nd in the tournament and I whole-heartedly believe God gave me that eagle as a message to keep on, keeping on! So with that, I will cling to God’s promise and follow Him in unwavering faith and obedience.

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40: 31

Fun in the Sun!

Sorry for the delay…this post has been sittin’ in the bucket for a while now, and I just now got around to publishing it! ENJOY ;)

What better way to kickoff the summer then to cruise along the waters of lake Travis, in Austin, Texas! Accompanied with family and friends, Brad and I spent just a couple of days visiting our beloved Capital City! With our personal tour guides (Niki & Aaron) we were able to capture Austin’s breathtaking countryside while riding the waves and soaking up some luscious golden rays!

Following our water rendezvous, we spent the following day gallivanting the city, where we enjoyed a tasty pastry at Sandra Bullocks quaint bakery shop, Walton’s, and toured the inside of our State Capitol Building, where Brad and his dad had the privilege of taking an inside peak to Dan Patrick’s office. After working up a bit of an appetite, we dined at a well-known pizza shop called Home Slice, a place I highly recommend to any devout pizza lovers. It was absolutely Delicious!

Cruise along with us as we remember our Austin adventures together!

A Month to Remember

A time of celebration, marking two memorable milestones, seemed to define the month of May for us, young Fields’! Just a few weeks ago, I graduated from Sam Houston State University and couldn’t be more excited to turn the page in our life together! With each day I am striving to follow God’s footsteps as He slowly reveals to me my place in this world. Most recently, Brad and I feel led to pursue golf and so, with a willing heart, I am faithfully pressing onward to prepare for LPGA Q-School in the fall. Brad, on the other hand, is continually growing as a leader and learning more and more everyday about what it means to manage a business without sacrificing faith-based principles.

Just this weekend, we celebrated a second milestone, as we had the opportunity to get away for a few days and enjoy our 1- year anniversary in good ol’ New Orleans, Louisiana! From the famous beignets at Café Du Monde, to the yummy Poy Boys on the French Quarter, Brad and I embraced the Cajun lifestyle to the fullest! In every direction, there seemed to be creative artistry and talented street performers lining Jackson Square!

Following our eventful day around town, we traveled 90 miles to Baton Rouge to sing and dance the night away at the Bayou Country Fest, featuring country singers: Keith Urban, Kelly Pickler, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Jake Owen, Brooks & Dunn, and Kenny Chesney. We can’t thank Mom and Dad (Fields) enough for giving us these tickets, as the precious memories will always be remembered!

Please, take a tour with us below as we relive just a few of the many exciting moments we had along our journey and in these past couple of weeks! Thank you family and friends for the love you show us and each other each day! God Bless.