MIA from Blogworld & NC Trip

I was totally on a roll with my posting and then life just got in the way again as it always does. I meant to tell you all that we were going on a VACATION but forgot....so I'll tell you now! :) (Whoever reads this :))

Well we did go on that little vaca and had an amazing time! Some of the most generous and giving people that you will ever meet let Matt and I and his parents and my sis-in-law Kelly and John go and stay in their beautiful humongous log cabin on the top of a mountain in North Carolina. It was so wonderful, restful, and an overall great weekend!

Here are some pics of the trip...

All in all it was a great time! :) We are so thankful and blessed that we have times off work to rest and relax.


I have quite a bit on my heart so I will be posting more this weekend!

Being Cinderella Today...

It's been a great weekend already.....last night (while my hubs was working) I went over to some of our friends from church's house for a dinner and game night....we had so much fun playing The Game of Things.....if ya'll have never played it you should! It can get a little inappropriate but is really fun. :) Today I have promised myself I will be acting as Cinderella pre Prince Charming and cleaning our whole house today from top to bottom, doing the laundry that has been piling up, and finishing cleaning out and organizing my closet and bring some organization back to our other closets. It is much needed....and since Matt is working and it is super dreary and rainy outside I figure today is a great day to do it!

Happy Saturday to everyone! :)

My heart breaks...

for the people of Haiti. I realize how extremely selfish I am when I can go about my day normally and not even hardly think about how much pain and suffering is going on in another part of the world. I imagine for a second what if that earthquake had happened here? What would life be like living it out instead of just watching it on TV? If it were my husband or sisters or parents who died while in a building that came crumbling down? My reaction and outlook would be A LOT DIFFERENT. I want God to break my selfish, sinful heart and give me a love that comes from HIM for these people who are hurting.

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." -Ephesians 5:1-2

My best friend Sarah Morris went on a mission trip to Haiti last year and I remember her saying how incredible it was and that the children in the orphanage they went to help desperately wanted to be loved and held. She fell in love with the sweet little people while she was there and I know their team (as well as many other groups that have gone to Haiti) made a difference....I'm sure some of those precious ones trusted in Christ while she was there and are now resting with Him in eternity.

Our God is sovereign. Nothing is out of his control. My prayer is that He comforts the people who remain, who are physically and emotionally hurting and brings a peace only he can bring to their country. I pray that he works in the hearts of people from other places in the world to use this experience to step out of their comfort zones and "Go" if the Lord is calling them. Our Heavenly Father is at work through this tragedy and I trust in his holy plan. Please be in prayer for this country and do anything you can to help.....we are so blessed and can do so much with what we have.

Blessed Be Your Name

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's 'all as it should be'

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name

Monday, Monday....

Why is it so hard to get out of bed on a Monday morning? So hard that when your alarm goes off you turn it off because you just want to curl up (because it is 14 degrees outside in FLORIDA) and pretend that you didn't hear it until your husband practically is pushing you out of bed saying, "Did you know your alarm went off?" I apologize for the ridiculously long run on sentence but it was needed. :)

We just watched Office Space last week and that movie just cracks me up with the whole "Somebody's got a case of the Mondays?" and "Yeahhhhh...I'm gonna need you to come in on Saturday." .....I definitely have a case of the Mondays but am going to try to overcome it! :)

Slim in 6 and Our Church Building Grand Opening!

So I am determined to eat healthier and exercise more consistently this year (just like everyone and their brother :))....but I am bringing back a faithful old friend to help me in this venture. Here she is....

Debbie Siebers from Beach Body's Slim in 6 has helped me to be healthy and fit before, and I am going to her again! Although I've never done the every day workout for 6 weeks, this is a GREAT workout that really gives you cardio and tones EVERY part of your body....there are 3 videos starting with "Start it Up", "Ramp it Up", and "Burn it Up". Let me just say I've never been able to get all the way through "Burn it Up" but that is going to be my goal! I just finished doing the 48 minute Ramp it Up and my body is pretty much hating me right now. :) It'll like me again after I try to whip it into shape....hopefully! I really want to be consistent so I am going to make a schedule of what days of the week I am going to do this workout....do ya'll think 4-5 times per week is a good amount of workouts?

So, on to other news.....tomorrow is an exciting day for our church! It is the Grand Opening of our brand new building.....one that in all of Four Oak's history has never had! Praise the Lord because he has allowed us to have "ministry hub" as we are calling it so that we can easier reach people with the gospel in Tallahassee. I am so thankful that we have a church home and praying that God will allow for many new families who don't know Him to come! Tomorrow will be a great and exciting day celebrating the Lord's faithfulness. :)

Loving These Lately

Okay, so lately I have been slightly obsessed with these two amazing house renovations/DIY blogs with the possibility of us buying a house this year....

• All Bower Power
• Young House Love

Just take a look. I think I pretty much would like to move into Katie Bower's house it is so absolutely perfectly my style and gorgeous! And each blog gives TONS of info/advice on how to make or do crafts/decor so you can save money. I love it!

Here are a couple of pictures from the most beautiful house....I am hoping someday ours can look somewhat like this

2010....It's Going to be a Great Year :)

I am out of my funk and am really excited about 2010. It is going to be a GREAT year for the Garlich household....I just know it.

I am excited about some big changes that may happen this year with our jobs and moving to another city. Ultimately we are trusting in Christ and his will for our lives which makes me breathe one huge sigh of relief. My God is completely sovereign and I am so thankful for his undeserved grace and love for his people.


And I just have to tell you how happy and blessed I am to have a husband who is such a wonderful gift from the Lord....

Matthew Ryan planned a wonderful night on New Year's Eve and it reminded me of our dating years. We got dressed up and he opened up the car door for me every time we got in it! We went to a really yummy restaurant that I have always wanted to try by my work and then he reached in his pocket and came out with a piece of paper folded up. As he was unfolding it, I was smiling because I pretty much knew what it was. My husband acts a lot of the time like a "Mr. Tough Guy" but deep down is the most romantic guy who just melts my heart. All throughout our college and dating years and while we were engaged, he would write me letters....letters on my birthday, just because letters, tiny pieces of paper with words and things of why he loves me, on our anniversary he has decided he will write a letter to me each anniversary we share and as he was explaining it he said "that way after 50 years of marriage we can look back and see how God was at work in our marriage...and we can show our children and grandchildren." You can only imagine I was pretty much sobbing as he was talking. Anyways, he knows that my love language is pretty much 100% words of affirmation and that when he writes things to me it literally makes me swoon.

So, sitting there on New Year's he read to me ways that he wants to grow as a husband and leader and man of God in this new year....it was pretty awesome to hear how Christ is moving in his heart. Some of his things were....

1. Be in the word more

2. Lead our prayer/bible study time together before we go to bed

3. Have a date night with me once a week

4. Help out around our house more with cleaning, etc., taking more responsibility at home

I am truly blessed to have right beside me a man who loves Christ first and loves me next and pursues me in our marriage.

I'll wrap up the post with some of our pictures from Christmas (I know it has nothing to do with the post but I just want to put them on here.)

All right peeps....I'm out! Ya'll have a great weekend!