The Story of Us...15 years and counting

Tomorrow (12/29/15) marks 15 years since the day that Josh and I consider the beginning of our dating relationship.  As we celebrate 15 years, I thought I'd share our story.

Josh and I met around age 12 when my family began attending the same church that Josh and his family attended. We were in the same Sunday school class and then the same youth group. I'm not sure about Josh, but I quickly developed a crush! I was super shy so I tried to admire him quietly but I'm afraid it was probably pretty obvious. I loved any opportunity to sit beside him and memorized things he would say to me ( I know I know. ..how lame #younglove). The youth would sit on the back pew during Sunday morning services and occasionally the preacher would instruct the congregation to hold hands during prayer. Oh how excited I was when I was sitting next to him and we had to hold hands!

I remember daydreaming about him falling in love with me and marrying me. I even remember praying for my future husband and all the while thinking of him.

In December 2000, things started to change. We were chosen to play Joseph and Mary in the live nativity at church. He seemed kind of flirty that night. Then on December 29, 2000, we went to a youth conference with our youth group. I noticed that everywhere I turned that day, he was right there. ..at the breakout sessions. ...recreation....lunch...and the concert/conference.  That night during the concert, everyone else went down to be close to the stage. Josh made some excuse to stay in his seat...and I came up with an excuse to stay with him. The next thing I knew, we were holding hands!

Holding hands led to long telephone conversations. We did all the classic "you hang up...no, you hang up" "I love you." "I love you more. I win!" Since we were only 15 and not old enough to officially "date", he and his mom would pick me up to go to his house to watch a movie or he would come home with me for Sunday lunch. Our first official date after getting our drivers licenses was Taco Bell, a movie, and putt putt.


We spent our high school years and college years together...dating 7 years before we were able to finally get married.

He is still my very best friend and the love of my life. We have been through our share of ups and downs and are stronger for it. We learned so much together about life and love.

I am so thankful that God made him for me! I am so thankful that I started dating my husband when we were just 15. I'm blessed to have already spent half of my life with him and I look forward to what God has for our future.

My Heart this Christmas

I LOVE Christmas! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. People are excited and generous. There are lights everywhere and tons of fun stuff to do with my family.

As Christmas quickly approaches,  I've been enjoying Christmas music on the radio and have read several Christmas devotions using my You version Bible app. All this has got me really thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, I've always known that Christmas is about Jesus and the Virgin birth and the star and the manger and the shepherds. But do you know that it is so much more than that?!

Think for a moment about life before Jesus. The world was a dark place. There was no hope. People didn't have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them to lead and guide their lives. They didn't have Jesus as the mediator between them and God. They had to rely on a priest to intercede on their behalf and rely on sacrificial livestock to atone for the wrongs they committed. They didn't have a "personal relationship" with their Heavenly Father.

But Christmas changed all this! ! Hallelujah! !!

God sent His Son into this desperate place. He sent Light into our darkness.  He sent Hope and Peace.

Jesus is....the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, the Life, Wonderful Counselor,  Everlasting Father, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, Savior, Redeemer. Christmas is Jesus! The turning point in history when hope was born.

I am so thankful that I live in a world after Christmas. Even though the world we live in seems as desperate if not more than the world before Christmas, we have hope. We know Jesus is the answer. There is a Light in the darkness....and this Light can give us peace, hope and joy!!!


I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and pray that you celebrate Jesus!

Who am I trying to impress?

In our Bible study on Wednesday night, we discussed the gift of simplicity.  Jesus lived a simple life and instructed His disciples to follow His example. We talked about simplifying our lives in the areas of commitments and possessions and relationships and schedules, etc.

Since our discussion, my mind has been busy thinking about areas that I need to simplify.  I mean even the title of my blog should clue you in to the fact that my life is anything but simple!

As I reflect on my life and why I have what I have and do what I do, I'm very much aware of the fact that I am bad about comparing myself to others. I need to stay busy because busy schedules are impressive. I can't give my kids a simple cake and ice cream birthday party because everyone else I know has Pinterest PERFECT parties. I have to get a photographer to take unique pictures of my family because that is what people do now (my cell phone pics and mommy photography is just not impressive enough).

But I'm asking myself, who am I really impressing?? Who should I impress??

The Bible says in 1 Samu7el 16:7b "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
And Colossians 3:2 says "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

I'm wearing myself out trying to impress others when they are not who I should be worried about anyway. Although Pinterest perfect parties are not bad....my motive behind trying to have one is. And maybe making commitments isn't wrong, we should consider our motives. When we simplify our lives, we are better capable of focusing on what is truly important- our Heavenly Father, our family, etc.

Don't be surprised if I say no to some events and commitments. ..don't be surprised if we have a simple birthday party at home... don't be surprised if I'm not wearing the latest fashion. ...don't be surprised if you see a lot of the stuff I own being given away or thrown away. I'm ready to focus on what is important and pleasing the MOST IMPORTANT.

Life Changing Faith- ramblings from my heart

This weekend, I spent time on a women's retreat with our church. The speaker was a great woman of faith who had been through some horrible trials yet has such strong faith.

I know that trials test and grow your faith but I want a life changing faith that grows every day. A few thoughts of my heart since the retreat include: Am I changed when I spend time reading God's Word? Am I allowing Him to work in and through me to accomplish His purpose and will for my life? Can the world see Jesus in me?

I truly want Him to be my desire. I want my time spent with Him each day to be the highlight of my day and I want to finish my "quiet time" feeling like I have been with Jesus. I want to hear Him speaking to my heart and I want to be changed and transformed into the woman of God that He has created me to be.

All too often, I think others  believe that I have it all together. Because I am facilitating a women's Bible study, they think I have my quiet time and my faith perfected. Confession: I do not! Faith in God is a process. It requires a close, intimate relationship with Jesus. Just like all relationships, we must invest time and attention to our relationship with Him.

So how do I do this? I struggle with MAKING time each day to spend in prayer, Bible study, and meditation.I have a crazy, busy life! But it is possible! Personally, I use a Bible app where I read a verse each morning and also do some of the devotionals that the app offers. I usually spend my time in the shower each morning praying to Him. Some days (it should be EVERY day) I spend time at home during my lunch break reading my Bible. I talk to God in prayer throughout the day as differect things come up.

So...my plan- I truly want to grow! I want to have a strong life changing faith. I plan to work harder to make time each day to spend with Jesus. I plan to prayerfully seek Him before I begin reading His word. I plan to meditate on the scripture and do some journaling. I want my heart to be transformed by the powerful Word of God.

Life is about......relationships

This has been a recurrent theme in my heart this week. "Life is about relationships." And our pastor actually made the exact same comment several times in today's sermon....so I feel  like God is trying to tell me something!! Maybe I need to get my priorities straight and focus on the relationships in my life rather than everything else.

This week has been wonderful and full of time with a lot of my favorite people! It was fall break for our big kids, so Josh and I took the week off for some vacation, rest, and family fun. We went to the beach with friends, went to the fair as a family of 5, and spent time with my family (parents, sisters, and nieces).

So....the relationships in my life-

My Spouse-

Josh is truly my best friend. He is my right-hand man. He is my high school sweetheart. He is the love of my life. God has truly blessed us with a wonderful marriage. Yes, there are plenty of ups and downs but we are facing them together.

My babies-

Addie, Asher, and Asa are 3 of my greatest blessings. They are so fun and full of life. I enjoyed some time with all 3 and even some quiet one on one moments with each one this week. Addie is a big helper and very smart. She is usually very well behaved. Asher is all boy and can be quite the challenge at times but can also be super sweet. Asa is all hugs and kisses- everything is new to him and he is enjoying exploring his world.

My family-

I am super thankful to live close to my parents and inlaws. They are a huge help and support and my kids adore them. My sisters and I aren't as close as we once were- due to distance and busy-ness but they are still 2 of my very best friends. And my nieces are so sweet and have such a sweet relationship with my kids. I'm thankful that my kids have cousins to grow up with!

My friends-

 I have some amazing friends. I am not one who has been good at maintaining lifetime friendships but the friends that I have acquired in this stage of my life are sure to be my forever friends. I love that our kids are growing up together.

My Soul Sisters-

 this is my women's Bible study group. I love  these women more and more with each passing week. They are inspiring and uplifting. I'm thankful to have a group of Godly women to do life with.




All these relationships are important and impact the person that I am but......the most important relationship in this life (and the next) is my relationship with God. Yes, I think that is what He wants me to remember. The God of the universe is madly in love with me and wants a daily, personal relationship with me. How amazing is that?? He wants me to talk to Him every day and He wants to talk to ME! He wants me to read His Word and find my delight and joy in Him. He wants to be everything to me- my provider, my protector, my comforter, my joy, my deliverer, my sustainer, my hope, my peace.......


All the relationships in my life are so important. Sadly, I often neglect the most important one. I have all these other relationships because of HIM. Every good and perfect gift comes from HIM. He gives me life and breath. He is the reason that I live and move and breathe. May I glorify Him in all my relationships but most importantly, may I daily pursue a closer walk with my Lord and Savior.

Bye, bye 20s! Hello 30s!

I remember when 30 was old. Well today I am 30 and I can honestly say that I don't feel so old! As I was recently reminded every birthday is a blessing and I accomplished a lot in my 20s! So as I celebrate another year and entering into a new decade of my life, let's take a quick look back......

My 20s were definitely crazy, busy, beautiful years!

* I graduated THREE times in my 20s! At age 22, I graduated with my associates degree in nursing from Gordon College (now Gordon State). At age 24, I graduated with my BSN from the Medical College of Georgia (now Georgia Regents). At age 28, I graduated with my MSN as a family nurse practitioner from Georgia College and State University.

*I married my high school sweetheart and best friend at the age of 22. So thankful that Joshua Swatts has been a part of my 20s and will be a part of my 30s, 40s, 50s,60s, ok you get the idea ;)

*I became a mother in my 20s! At the age of 24, Josh and I welcomed Addison Grace into the world. Not too long after that, at the age of 26, Asher Tillman joined our family. And then, 11 months ago today, when I was 29, Asa Joseph came along!

I've also had several great jobs and made some amazing friends in my 20s.

Sadly, everything I dreamed about as a teenager- getting married, having babies, and being a nurse- were accomplished in my 20s.....so what now?


I think my 30s will be the best years yet! I get to enjoy my dreams come true. I doubt when this decade is over that I'll have so many accomplishments to remember but I plan on loving on my husband and babies and being the best wife and mother I can be! I plan to be the best NP that I can be and to serve my patients with the gifts that God has blessed me with. I plan to continue serving God and growing in Him.

I will not be sad about getting older....I'm going to embrace my 30s and make the most of every day of this beautiful decade :)

Happy 2015!!

Some people make New Years resolutions....and some people look down on New Years resolutions. I almost always make them, but I always struggle to keep them. The new year is definitely a great time to pause and reflect on what has worked well and what has not. I do believe it is also a great time to set goals (or resolutions) for the year ahead. My goals for 2015 are much like my resolutions of previous years but I will share them here. I will strive to meet these goals for 2015-

1. Grow in my relationship with Jesus

2. Date Josh more :)

3. Do lots of fun stuff with my kids

4. Eat healthier and get more exercise (and hopefully lose some weight, too)

5. Be more organized

I'm sure there are a lot of other things in my life that I can improve on as well. This list is a good start. I'm excited to see what 2015 brings!