Boom! Done!

I MADE IT!

Today is my final "official" day as Project Manager/Meter Operations for the City of Dallas/Star Parking! It has been quite a learning experience to say the least. Training the person taking my place has really tested my patience and my ability to be slow to anger... but it's over! He's on his own now :) (Although I am sure I will be getting phone calls for about the next month or so...)

A BIG thanks to my husband for being so loving and patient with me throughout this job and then the process of leaving. He has been so wonderful while I have been stressed, frustrated, and unsure of myself. I have gained a lot of knowledge about management, operating a very large project, and dealing with a high stress job.

Now on to the next adventure! My first lesson will be on January 6th and I am excited to get started :) I will have a few days to really prepare our studio and make it "homey & comfortable" for teaching and I am so looking forward to it. Thanks to my in-laws for our new office chair and "student" chair! I can't wait to get them in the studio.

On a different note: I think I am going to begin blogging my favorite recipes since cooking is my new favorite hobby. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do!

Have a wonderfully safe and blessed new year everyone!

Love yall!

Blessings

Things I recognize as blessings:
1. My Godly Husband
2. My Precious Puppies & Beautiful House
3. My Loving & Supportive Family
4. The Chance God Has Given Me to Pursue My Dreams
5. The Friends That the Lord Has Placed in My Life
6. A New Church Family

Blessings I Take For Granted:
1. A Healthy Body & Mind
2. Waking up Each Morning With Purpose
3. Jesus Christ Shedding His Blood so That I Could Have Eternal Life in Heaven
4. The Gifts and Abilities God Gave Me
5. No Debt (other than college)
6. Knowing That No Matter My Transgressions The Lord Forgives Me

I am going to make a real effort to shrink the "Blessing I Take For Granted" list and become more aware of God's blessings in my everyday life. I tend to reflect around this time of year (especially with the decade coming to a rapid end) and look back at how I have spent the last year.
In this decade I graduated from high school, graduated from college, married my best friend, bought a house, added two precious puppies to our family, allowed the Lord to transform my heart, found a home church that I am excited about, got a 'Big Girl' job, & faced many, many demons.
Thank you Lord for the this past year and for the past 10 years. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for your promise. Thank you for your grace. May I grow closer to you during the next 10 years.

Love you all! Be blessed!

TGIF!

We made it! Friday has arrived! This time next week Philip and I will be celebrating our second Christmas as husband and wife :)

I am praying that this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be filled with joy and love within all of your families. I understand that the holidays can bring on a feeling of angst and trepidation. I pray that you will all find joy in celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Happy (almost) Birthday Jesus!!

I Just Love a Good Countdown!

Only 10 work days left for this Project Manager! :)

I have been waking up every morning with the number of days left flashing brilliantly in my mind. It is so exciting to have a husband who is just as excited as I am. He has been such a wonderful supporter! Every night he prays that I will make it through these last few days and that I will be blessed by my new adventure. (Thank you honey!)

I think our "pups" are excited too because that means Mommy gets to stay with them and they don't have to be 'locked up' during the day ;) (Mommy is excited about that too, haha)

Thanks again to everyone who has been so wonderful and supportive... ONLY 10 DAYS!!!

Sweet Emails Make My Heart Happy :-D

I just thought I would share a few emails that I recieved from people in the City of Dallas after they learned that I would be leaving...

"Courtney: You will be missed!!! You have been excellent to work with and I wish you the very best in your new endeavors! What a great opportunity to work from home. I have done that before and it really helps to bring some balance to your life. I just signed my daughter up for voice lessons through Mesquite ISD and she loves it! Best of luck! Keep in touch."

"It will be sad to see you go. You will truly be missed. I hope they realize that. Unfortunately, we never appreciate people until they are gone. I want to say thank you for all your hard work and I appreciate you! I wish you happiness and success. May God’s blessing be on with you."

"I hate to see you go, but I wish you well with your new opportunity. Thanks for all your hard work."

It almost makes all the stress, rude emails, & immaturity worth it.... ALMOST! :)

"Everything Rides on Faith Now"

It is becoming more and more real that I am going to be leaving a job with a steady paycheck and I am constantly finding myself doubting God's plan. I am human and willing to admit that I go through plenty of valleys. Satan has a way of beating me down and sadly I tend to let him (and then take over in beating myself up). This morning I was imagining how it will be when I am teaching voice lessons and my joy was being slowly extinguished by thoughts of failure.

So I prayed.

"Lord, please take control of these doubts and fears and turn them into excitment and joy. I am not in control and I thank you for the wisdom to recognize this. You gave me gifts that I can use for your glory and I desperately need you now."

God has his hands on me and my sweet family. I am finding peace is knowing that this is part of his plan for us. If you will, please pray that I can overcome this 'sickness' (as I call it) of letting Satan convince me that I am not good enough.

Love you all!

Christmas Cards....

I am looking for some help in this area...
First, does anyone know of any low price (free would be even better!) ways to send out Christmas Cards this year? Phil and I have never done it and I would just love to start this year :)
Second, I need addresses, if you would like to recieve a Christmas Card from the Collins' please send me your address! Email me @ Courtneyscollins@yahoo.com or Facebook me :)
THANKS A BUNCH!

Love you guys.

Tacky Sweater Party!

Philip and I will be hosting our first Christmas party at our house on December 18th! :) Of course to make it interesting we are making it a "Tacky Sweater" party, it should be a blast. We are excited to have our friends over and share in some wonderful fellowship. We have the greatest friends and we are so thankful for all of them and what they bring to our lives. Can't wait to see what everyone will wear, with our group of friends I expect nothing but the tackiest!!