In the words of Josh Groban ~ You raise me up so I can stand on mountains, You raise me up to walk on stormy seas, I am strong when I am on your shoulders... you raise me up to more than I can be.

This song was played at my wedding while my mom and dad, and mother in law, and grandparents walked down the isle to their seats... Man it seems like forever ago... so many times I would like to go back to that day and just stand back and smile about it all again. Now just thinking about it.. I am so thankful for my family. I do not get to see them too much, and I wish we lived in the same town... but you know they are always there for me. I have an awesome family and great support system. I have the best sisters anyone could ask for! I love them so much and am so proud of them. So many times they have been my rock and the sure thing in my life... we always knew that blood runs thick... you hurt me you will answer to my sisters... and let me tell you that is not something anyone wanted to do... lol and vice versa... we have always been there and Im positive we will always be there until time ends for each of us. Its funny how that a picture like this can provoke so many thoughts. :) Anyway I love my family so very much! and I am a product of my family! When I looked at this picture I thought of how that so many people have carried me and encouraged me and just lifted me up... but have I? Do I? Is it in me? Yes I do believe it has been instilled in me to be the best person I can be all the way around.. and be there for the people who need you... etc. both by my mom and dad and also by the Lord! I want to be the kind of person who can see someone in need and help share the need. I want to be an encourager.. not for my glory or recognition but so that I can help someone like I have been helped... I want to lift my brothers and sisters up in prayer and strengthen them through the word of God! So that they will know that God is also with them and will do great things for them when they trust him! I am so thankful to be from a family that practiced this! and MOM thank you for being an encourager and teaching me to be the same! and you guys too... daddy, gabby, mary, and jeri! I love you all so much!

Okay now every one who reads this... leave me your comments on what comes to your mind when you see this picture! ~ Until next time Shani

Christopher and Shannon Marie Haggard

Our Second Anniversary Date Night

The Fiddler on the Roof

Well where do I start??? Hmm I guess I will start with my husband is the best and he really went to great lengths to show me last night how much he really loves me and wants to make me happy.... why you say???? Well first because we celebrated early our 2nd anniversary and he took me to see "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Orpheam in Memphis, TN.... okay whats so big about that??? Well my hunny knows how much I love musicals and even though he may not like them... he took me anyway! lol

We had the best romantic night last night... actually we had an all around wonderful day yesterday... We decided to celebrate our anniversary early because of his work schedule and well because the play was only going to be going on this week :) I couldnt have picked a better day! Chris came to work yesterday and took me out for lunch, and we went to the part afterward to talk and just relax before I had to go back to work. After work I rushed home to get dressed so we could get on the road. Chris surprised me with dinner by taking me to Texas De Brazil. WOW is all I can say! I felt like I had died and went to heaven! The decor was breathtaking, the food tantalizing, and my husband was gorgeous! Of course we dressed up and (tearing up... I forgot my camera) But its okay... thats why Im blogging this! I was wearing my cute little black dress and carried a black clutch, and Chris was wearing his black suit with the blue shirt and tie that was of a black and blue design... we really looked sharp! lol

So did I die and go to heaven for real???? Well I dont want to be pinched! lol okay so we got to the restaurant at 6:30 and it really was amazing... It reminded me of the Carnivore in Kenya, only this wasnt the exotic game and well it wasnt with a group of people... just me and the love of my life. The salad was first... and OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Thank God for food! LOL The lobster bisque was simply the best! It put Red Lobster to shame! So anyway we had the most romantic dinner I think we have ever had! After we were through... we made our way back to the parking garage (we opted not to walk the few blocks... mainly because we were so full and it also looked like it would rain any minute. So we found a parking place a block away and got inside with 4 minutes to spare...We had to race up 4 flights of steps in about a minute because they were fixing to shut the door! AHH... so not only had we just ate... but come on... that was the most exercise I have gotten in a WHILE!!! It was so much fun though! So sweat pouring we were ushered to our seats that well someone was sitting it... so we took the nearby (good thing it wasnt packed out yet!) whew! The first scene opened up and I couldnt stop smiling... I looked over at Chris for a few times and he had the biggest smile on his face too! He was literally enjoying it! I think between the awesomeness of the evening to the smile on his face... it made me even the more happier! And wow to have the chance in a lifetime to see the Legendary Topal on stage!!!!! Was amazing! I laughed and cried... we took pics with our cell phones, and even a nice couple took a pic of us and sent it too us! Thank you Jesus for nice people. She asked if we were newly weds... lol I told her we were celebrating our second anniversary... but to be honest I feel like its sorta brand new again! I dont know when, where, or how things change but God has done something beautiful between us and I dont think he is done! So after the play was over we headed out only to find it was pouring... So here my chivalrous husband comes to my rescue and takes his suit coat off and puts it over my head and we rush through the rain! We stopped for donuts on the way home... yes perfect finish to the night! Thank you Jesus for 2 years and thank you for my wonderful Godly husband!

A bunch of little nothings :o>

Hey there all you bloggers that don't read my blog.... (me tearing up *sniff, sniff ~ sigh*)

just stopping by to let everyone know I am alive and kicking! :) well alive in Jesus and kicking the devil that is! I got to work at the Manila office today... of which I have to say I love... I guess because I live in this tiny town, but the people that have been in here today have been actually nice! Shocker yes well when you work in the places around here... you have to wonder. So anyway I got to go home for lunch and it was so nice... Chris was working so it was just me and Gigi. I got to sit down and read some in my Bible. I love to be able to just sit and not hurry, and be able to reflect. I have to keep reminding myself that Jesus has that standard raised up really high for me and my family.... (You know when the enemy comes in like a flood... the Lord will lift up a standard) I need a really big and high one! It seems like if its not one thing its another... from sickness to sickness and missing so much work, and in turn financial struggles... makes one wonder where God is... or what have we done wrong or I done wrong for me to get us into such a perdiciment? Why has my family suffered so much... and no I am nothing at all... but it really does make me wonder... but then I remember that it rains on the just and the unjust alike and God is God... He never allows things to come to us that has not already gone through his ever capable hands... Its funny but it seems like ever since we switched churches and really buckled down and started doing something for the Lord ~ things have come up in every direction. Which, I guess is good because I have always heard that the devil fights the hardest where he fears the most. I have to believe that God is in our midst and he is taking care of us, and this spirit of sickness and infirmity will leave our family! In Jesus name!

Well I do believe it to be true that if you want rainbows you have to put up with the rain. I love flowers and I really like this picture because to me it makes me think of a life that is surrendered to God.. (first because of the bowing significance) then because of the color. Let me elaborate for you ~ When we surrender our life to Gods perfect will, he will color our lives with his unconditional love, his powerful grace, his divine favor, his mighty strength and that is just a few of the things he showers on us as we surrender to him. But it does not get that way over night or by chance. Sometimes it is a painful process that we have to go through... It is surrendering our wills, our wants, our dreams, our hopes to his... and learning to find his will, his wants .... dreaming through his dreams and hoping through his hopes for our lives.

When it rains I am always looking for a rainbow in the sky... mostly because I love to see them.. I view them as the mighty handiwork of our great God, and two because I am a big kid and I love pretty things and every color! not to mention just for fun... I still believe in leprechauns... lol anyway... Rainbows have always been significant to me with the promises of God in my life personally.... I feel like it is not only a sign of approval outward to me.. but a promise that he will do what he said he would do in my life.. whenever I have ever been to the point of breaking in the midst of a battle and I pray for a sign that God is still with me and still going to do what he has promised.... he sends a confirmation and a rainbow. Someone can say its coincidence or whatever they may.. but This is what I believe for me... and it means so much too me so see this in times of my life that are bleak... when Jesus is molding me, and making me.

I can remember various trials that I have been through and great blessings... I remember when I was so blessed to get to go to Kenya Africa... I was on cloud nine literally... all my dreams had come true... I believed that Jesus wanted me there and that he was going to make sure that I got there... and would you know... not a moment too soon or too late all of the funds and paperwork was taken care of right on time... and as my family drove me to Atlanta... (my first flight,. without my parents and overseas at that.) well my mom told me later when they were watching my plane take off that there was a rainbow in the sky... now it may not mean much to anyone... but It meant everything to me... and I still cry thinking about it. I remember that when I was in my teens I was involved in an accident and we saw a beautiful rainbow right before it... and no one was hurt. One of my very favorite times was a couple of years ago when I was going through the hardest battle of my life and the Lord had spoke to me and told me that he would bless me more abundantly...and I saw a double rainbow over my apartment. But yet when I think about the times when the rainbows appeared in my life... I think of the trial that I was going through and what it did in me... as a result of that the intertwining colors came into my life.... it was like God was saying , Shannon you think this is majestic and beautiful, just wait and see what I do inside of you, for you and through you.

I'm writing this as I am going through another hard battle... we go from battlefield to battlefield, I'm thinking...and in the midst there is rest and comfort and God is right there... but I don't want to be found laying down on the battlefield, I don't want to put my sword down or take my armor off no matter how heavy that it may be, these are just some thoughts of mine. I know that I will see the other side of this battle. I cannot see right now what my outcome may be but I know that if I stay close to the Lord and don't lay down and relax but keep fighting I will make it to where Jesus wants me to be... I want Jesus to make me into the beautiful flower he wants me to be.... Maybe it will be as colorful as the one above... :)