Timing.

you know in life when things start to all come together and you begin to realize that all of the cheers, kindness, encouragement and support from other is what got you there....?? I'm feeling like I am entering that place in my life... I am just so thankful and so blessed to keep living my dreams and trusting God every step of the way!! 

P.S. That print above is made by my incredible roommate, Mary Morgan!!! Get you some of that.  Check her stuff out here!! 

2014.

which means, it is time for all things new... and boy, am I ready for new!

I figured this post is the best way to get back into the swing of blogging... I'm going to list some "resolutions" or goals for my year.  I'm not going to list them all... I'll still keep a few to myself... but hopefully this will be something I can look back and see growth, wisdom and change!

• Pay for a strangers meal-- This was inspired from this story--    This year, I want to be thoughtful and intentional in little ways like this!
  

• Read God's word in some way, every day.  I want His word to truly guide my life, I want to not be able to live without it.  This is going to take discipline because this is no particularly my normal... but it should be!!!! 
• I want to wake up in prayer. I will admit that I don't wake up in prayer and thanksgiving to God.  I am NOT a fan of mornings anyways so usually after the 5th time I have hit the snooze button, I hit the floor in a panic/hurry because I've got to get going! I want to wake up and spend time preparing my day with God, That should be the most important part of my morning routine (or lack there of)!  Anyone else guilty of lounging in bed before getting up and wasting time checking social media (Instagram, Email, Facebook, Blogs, etc)??? ... therefore, on to my next goal....
• I want to forget my phone more often. I want to be able to be without it and NOT worry about whats going on.  This is definitely one thing that I have come to admire about Kyle.  He leaves his phone at home on Sunday mornings and doesn't worry about it one bit.  Now, I do understand there is a healthy balance of making sure I am available when someone needs me... but I just want to be able to disconnect from my phone being a #1 priority! 
• Carry my "BIG" camera around more. I want to not only associate my camera with "working" but with documenting my own life!!! I've got to get back to that. This is so true...
  
  
• Just Read. and not on my phone, but a real, tangible book. I just want to awaken a passion for reading! I feel like that can impact so many aspects of my life! 
• Be intentional. As you can see, this is the main theme in all my resolutions and goals for 2014... I want to slow down and take time to be present in every moment. Soak it in, be the best faithful woman, friend, girlfriend, teacher, and stranger. 
• Blog more. I am not saying I will blog all the time or blog about every little detail of my life... but I just want to blog more. 
• Hand write more letters.  To anyone and everyone. I LOVE getting sweet, intentional notes that are hand written... all thanks to my Mo-mo who is the world's best/sweetest letter writer!!!!!

Oh AND although I am ready for 2014... here were some highlights of 2013:

• My family took an amazing trip together to Hawaii. 
• Wadely graduated high school and entered his Freshman year at Lipscomb University, my alma mater. 
• I had amazing Student Teaching/Intern experiences at Lipscomb Elementary and Trinity Elementary. 
• Graduated with my Masters in Education from MTSU
• Kyle and I celebrated 3 years together! 
• We got a new roommate, Alexandra! We adore her.
• I found out I am going to be an Aunt AGAIN! Baby Boy is due April 2014!! 

• God continued to open doors of opportunity in my life.  I'm thankful He is in charge!

Here we go, 2014...

Keep on Dreamin'

Sometimes, this just hits home to me.  I am guilty of throwing my heart into just about everything I do... and sometimes, that results in some heart break. I am thankful that God carries me through that pain... and keeps encouraging me to dream even bigger!  

*Yep, this is a "returning to blogging" post. I have gone on hiatuses many of times... I'm so glad I can just pick it right back up.

Here's to a 2013 full of dreams!!!  

Crock Pot Apple Butter

 So sometime last week, we were expected to get globs of snow.  Everyone was causing a ruckus and snatching bread of the shelf, left and right! I decided it was a perfect time to try out my new Crock Pot that Kyle got me for Christmas, I was ecstatic!

oh p.s. no snow, actually it almost reached 70 degrees about 3 days later... WELCOME TO TENNESSEE! 

Here's my recipe, I studied a bazillion before creating my own...and its yummy! warning: It isn't the quickest recipe but it is worth it!

Enjoy.

Libby's Crock Pot Apple Butter

12 large apples (Could definitely use more!)

2 tsp cinnamon 

2 cups white sugar  

1 cup brown sugar 

  1/4 tsp cloves 

2 dashes of nutmeg

1 T vanilla

Peel, core and half all apples.

I'm sure you could have used one of those fancy-schmancy apple peelers... but this is how my grandmother does it!

 Throw them all in your crock pot with 1Tbsp of Vanilla. 

Cover and cook on low for about 7 hours.

 (about 2 hours in, the magical mixture starts to make the house smell insanely delicious!)

At about 7 hours, you can mash the apples with a fork.  They will mush apart like butter!

Stir in the sugar and spices!

  

Cover and let meld together for 5-6 more hours.

I ended up using an immersion blender to mix it to the perfect consistency. If you don't have one, I'm sure you can use any mixer or just leave it chunky!

Over the time, it starts to darken like apple butter! 

The ONLY bad part is that is only makes about a jar and a half... but it is finger-lickin' good! 

 Next time, I think I will use MORE apples! And maybe even granny smith ones... but regardless, this recipe was a success!!! 

It was Kyle-approved which is always a good sign! 

Here's to good eats!

____________________________

Libby's Crock Pot Apple Butter

12 large apples (Could definitely use more!)

2 tsp cinnamon 

2 cups white sugar  

1 cup brown sugar 

  1/4 tsp cloves 

2 dashes of nutmeg

1 T vanilla

Peel, core and half all apples.

Throw them all in your crock pot with 1Tbsp of Vanilla.

Cover and cook on low for about 7 hours.

At about 7 hours, you can mash the apples with a fork. 

Stir in the sugar and spices! 

Cover and let meld together for 5-6 more hours.

Enjoy!

Alabama vs. Notre Dame National Championship 2013

On Sunday, January 6 we headed to Orlando, Florida for the BCS National Championship game!

All the flights were booked to Miami and Ft Lauderdale, so we drove from Orlando to Miami! At least we rode in style! I ordered some Alabama magnets for our rental van. :) 

  .... our first eatery stop was Mulligans Seafood Grill! It was on the water and gorgeous! Just look!

 

Once we got to Ft. Lauderdale, we had an awesome time leading up to the big game!! When we first arrived at the hotel, we were asked to be interviewed for TV! He just asked us what we excited us most about the game. How cool!

 

 After our moment in the spotlight, we headed out for some yummy milkshakes at the Moonlite Diner!  They were so delish. We should've gotten another one before we left!

... and Monday morning, we went back to the Moonlite diner! Yeah, it was that delicious!

  Then, we drove around A1A in South Miami to see the beach and all the local sites! We even saw where the players were staying! That was just so surreal!

 We had a late lunch/pre-game dinner at Houstons, Our family's favorite restaurant! Even though they didnt even have FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS and HOT BACON DRESSING!!! How awful!! At least they had spinach dip... whew, I almost smacked that waiter!

  At about 6:30, we headed to Sunlife stadium!!!!!! I had all kinds of butterflies!!

 It was electric in the stadium! I can't describe it!

 

 

 THE GAME WAS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

 I still can't believe I was AT the 2013 National Championship!!!! Our boys did so awesome!

 I am so grateful to have shared this memory with some of my favorite people!

 Alabama won their 3rd Coaches Trophy in 4 Years! I am so proud of our boys! It so special to be able to witness this CRYSTAL DYNASTY!!!

  I know this is a memory I will never forget!!!!!

Roll Tide! 

Happy New Year to You!

I realize I chose the oddest times to pick blogging back up... and I always say I will keep it up... and I don't! So, this time, I will just post... with no extra promises! Therefore, there will be no disappointments... right?! ... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Here are some things that I am looking forward to in 2013:

1. We're going the National Championship on Monday!!!! and I am uber pumped!!!!  I think it all set in today when I started packing my bag! I have no idea what to pack... I mean, how much  houndstooth should I pack!?! 

Who knows, I might make it on the jumbo-tron like Lanie and Dad did in 1992!!? But I bet I won't be propped up on my Dad's shoulder... I mean, we could try!

2. Wadely graduates High-School!   

I think I am prepared for this... but I still can't believe it is time for our baby boy to graduate!! Somebody pinch me...

 

3. Sadie Bug's 2nd Birthday!

I can't believe this either! I feel like I blinked and 2 years flew by like a flash! 

I'm sure there will be more days like this below as she enters her 2's and 3's... 

but I don't care ONE bit! I love that she loves her Aunt "B" so much ... It makes my heart swell 4x the size! 

...pure cuteness...

4. Interning and Graduating from my Masters of Education program at MTSU!

It has been such a blessing and I know God has his hand in this... I'm excited and anxious to get in the classroom! 

5. My Photography Business! Every year, God continues to bless me with new and creative opportunities! I've already thought through some lofty goals.... but I think they are achievable this year! 

  6. Lastly, my Jesus Calling Journal. I've had this for three years now and It continues to be a powerful inspiration in my life! If you dont have this yet, go to the store or download the app TODAY! It's worth every single penny. 

"I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"... Lets go 2013, I'm ready!! #Jesuscalling

Night night and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Coming back to my Favorite Things!

seeing as it has been a bajillion years since I have blogged... If I attempted to catch you up on life, there wouldn't be enough space on this page and heck, I don't have that kind of time! So, I am resorting to a Libby Barker original, "A Few of My Favorite Things"

1. Mr. Kegley.

  I could get into all kinds of cheesy, mushy stuff  but let's just leave him at the #1 spot and move on....

2. Sadie!

She probably is one of my distractions from blogging. Because if I have free time at home, I want to be talking to her, seeing how her day went and playing all kinds of silly games. My roommates laugh  when I am on Facetime with her because I will do just about anything and be as loud as possible to entertain her and teach her new things!
Here is a video I will cherish for my lifetime, this is a normal Facetime session with Baby bug!

We love that she loves to be with us! She has come up to Go-go's house for extended stays while Lanie and Bret have certain events and Sadie just waves "Bye"! What a comforting feeling to know your baby is just so happy while you are away... She ought to be, we just drool over her the whole time!

She LOVES Uncle Wade! She loves to drive his truck or sit shotgun and jam to music... Here is a video we just adore. We were cranking up Eric Church's "My Kind of Love" and she was just shaking and schimmy-ing... She truly is my namesake! AND She did NOT want any other song either! guess we got ourselves a little EC fan, Kyle would be so proud!
**See she also has her basketball close... She really is one of us!!!**


I just never knew my heart could expand and love deeper until I met this little bug. She truly has me wrapped around her finger and I am just so blessed to be her Aunt!

3. Rural Hill Church Camp.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."- Matt 19:26
The greatest week of the year!


I might say this every year... but there is no doubt in my mind that this year was THE BEST YEAR EVER! I can't even explain all the amazing aspects.



My cabin was incredible.

We won the Cleanest Cabin Overall and the first cabin to go viral! Check out in the In-house Tour on Youtube!


It was remarkable to see leadership be the "popular" thing to do.  Does that make sense? Maybe this photo will show you...

The older boys model such powerful leadership in Christ that the younger boys wanted to do the same! How remarkable is that? That will just melt you heart into a million pieces. Whew. God is so good!

 ... my brother being one of those.  Wadely leading worship is a memory my heart will never forget!
 I also love to mail my brother ridiculous letters... This one is straight from Reba McEntire!

My team was perfect in everyway!  I have never had a crew of kiddos be so encouraging and uplifting in the heat of the day... and losing every game! I was just so proud of them. We cheered and high-fived more in creating these photos below then the ONE time we won a game! Haha. 

 

I love getting to spend an unlimited time with people that inspire and bring out the true ME!
Even during free-time... I haven't done a back flip in 6 years!


here is my "What Camp Means to Me" quote from the year....
"It is home! We may come from all different places, spiritually and mentally, but this place is filled w/ the overwhelming goodness of God. This year God used amazing people of all ages to exemplify the power of leadership and faithfulness…and it was contagious! Can’t we do camp all summer?" 


Here is the link to this year's Camp Video
 

ALSO... This same week, the Tennessean published an article about Rural Hill's multiracial congregation and it made the front page! front page! There is no secret formula for making it work but truly shows the power of showing pure, authentic and unconditional love from God.  I love looking at all of our camp photos because they are a true representation of us as a church! Full of color, full of all ages and full of love! 

The article was full of statistics... can you believe out of 12,000 Churches of Christ, less than 1% are considered multiracial? From being raised at Rural Hill since I was 11, I cannot imagine church in a different way.  It doesn't matter how old you are... 2 to 92... we do not see color!

I feel like there are so many things missing from this post to do RH Church camp justice! But I think this song sums it all up:

4. My graduate school. 
I am pursuing my Masters in Education (K-6) at MTSU and I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be! Isn't that an awesome feeling? Everything fits together so perfectly, I know it is in God's plan!

5. Country Music. 
You truly are a Tennessee girl when country songs speak to you... Here is a perfect song to end on! Danielle Peck's "Isn't that Everything"




"I know Jesus loves me up in that sky above me... All that I have is all I need, Isn't that everything?"I hope to keep this same mindset and happiness in everyday of my life! 

... I could think of 20 more things to add! Who knows, I might blog again tomorrow...? I am making no promises!

 Enjoy, It's good to be back!