New Years Eve

Happy 2014!



Christmas 2013

So I'm a little behind on this post but here goes: Christmas 2013 was awesome!!  To say I am a blessed girl is an understatement!  I had so much fun getting to see all my family and celebrate my favorite holiday.  Christmas Eve services were wonderful, we ate way too much food, and we were all ridiculously spoiled.  Below are a few pictures from all of our celebrations :) 

Christmas Eve morning

Matching boys :)

Before Christmas Eve services

: )

Christmas Day!

Aren't they adorable?!

Love.

Sam wouldn't sit still ;)

Mann Family Christmas



Christmas in Nashville!

Jared and I took a weekend trip to Nashville to get the Gaylord Opryland Christmas experience.  We left the day I took my final exam for my MBA so to say I was ready to get there is an understatement.  It was so much fun!  I've been to the hotel several times but I always discover new things when I go.  Below are a few pictures from our weekend :)  

We discovered peppermint candy cane blizzards on the way....yum!!

Beautiful view from the room!

Before our carriage ride through the lights!

Delta riverboat ride

Nashville Predators game!

ICE!  Gotta love how those blue coats make you look life a big blue poofball ; )!

Yes we did turn into kids for a few minutes to enjoy the ice slide :)

Beautiful Nativity!

I would love to have you as a follower on GFC or Bloglovin :)

I love to hear any comments, tips or thoughts anyone likes to share so please comment below!

Also, follow me here to see more of our daily lives:

Instagram: @thepeacockroost

WW/Fitness Instagram: @kmpeacock_ww

Twitter: @kelseympeacock

Pinterest: @kmannpeacock

Facebook: The Peacock Roost

Enter your email on the right in the Follow By Email box and get an email update anytime I post on the blog!

Thanks for reading!!

The Next Chapter

My previous post was about the one word I chose for 2014.  Never did I think that one word would be put to the test so quickly AND before 2014 even started!  God was working on making some changes in my life that I was not expecting but I am so excited about!  I am happy to finally be able to share that I will be starting my career with Old National Bank tomorrow!  I will be serving as the Financial Advisor for all of their Owensboro branches.  I feel unbelievably blessed to have this opportunity and am excited to get started!  All prayers appreciated during this exciting transition time :)

Pinterest Inspired: Red Jeans

I saw the below outfit on Pinterest and realized I had every piece but had never thought about putting this combination together before.  I was pretty happy with how it turned out (Pinterest link)!  I had a roadtrip to Nashville the day I wore this and it was comfortable but still cute for traveling.

Button Down (similar)/Scarf (similar)/Jeans (similar)/Boots (similar)

One Word

We were recently challenged with reading the book One Word for work to prepare ourselves for 2014.  I had no idea what to expect when sitting down to read this book.  I knew that it was supposed to be motivational and that you could finish it in 44 minutes.  What I didn't know was the profound impact it was about to have on my life.

The book says that you will discover your word through listening, prayer and paying attention to things you notice throughout the day.  Some people find their words quicker than others.  The book is full of motivational stories of how this book has changed people's lives.  I am a big fan of motivational reading but I just wasn't sure I was buying into this process the first chapter.  The concept of the book is picking one word to live by for the following year.  A word that can apply to all aspects of your life and that encompasses the main things you want to accomplish in 2014.  My family nickname is Radio and these people expected me to pick ONE word?  Oh jeez.  I knew this was going to be a struggle.  I prayed before reading the book that God would show me my word.  I wanted to ensure that I was going through this process with an open mind and heart that would help me discover His plan for my 2014.  

When reading the book it challenges you to think of what you need, what you want to accomplish, what's in your way and what needs to go.  When thinking about 2014 my answers were:

Need:

Stronger relationship with God

Focus on what I wanted for my future

Improved relationships

Healthier lifestyle

Patience, understanding and peace

Accomplish:

Discover God's next steps in my life

Stronger relationships with God, family & friends

Dedicate myself to improved health

Greater understanding

In my way:

Lack of dedication to health and personal life management

Bad sleep habits

Taking on too much

Not giving everything to God and thinking I could handle it myself

Go:

Unnecessary time consuming activities

Excuses for not taking better care of myself

Expectations of being able to handle everything I wanted to take on

I spent quite a bit of time in prayer over the above and put a lot of thought into this exercise.  My word came to me through song.  I love gospel music.  I enjoy modern Christian music but nothing is better than old gospel :)  The song I Surrender All was stuck in my head.   Even though I love that song, I hadn't thought of it in forever!  I immediately went to YouTube to give it a listen and found this.  Listening to Oprah tell her story and then Faith Hill sing this song, tears literally started pouring down my face and I realized that was it.  My word had come to me.  Surrender.  So many times I think that I am in total control of my life and I can handle it all by myself. I needed this in my face reminder from God that He is the ruler of my life and that I need to turn to Him to guide my footsteps.  

I committed in that moment to surrendering it all to Him.  I would follow the steps He laid out for me and try not to question or doubt because I do not know what is best.  I knew that I could  no longer try to handle it all by myself and needed to lean on Him to find success in all areas of my life.  It was amazing how many changes began to take place.  I could feel a greater sense of peace almost immediately that is still present.  I find myself going to prayer in moments of doubt, frustration, happiness and joy when before that wouldn't always have been my first step.  I am working hard to follow what I feel like God wants me to do and it has taken some very rewarding turns.  My next blog will focus on one recent major life event that tested my commitment to this word.  Below are the lyrics to I Surrender All.  In moments that I doubt my ability to commit to this word, I remind myself of these powerful lyrics and the even more powerful God who is guiding my footsteps.  I plan to document important moments of this journey throughout the year so that I can fully remember and share the profound impacts of this one word.  "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." Jeremiah 10:23

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation,
Glory, glory, to His name!

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

Goodbye Auburn

I am so happy to say that I am officially finished with my MBA!  It has been a long, stressful, rewarding, challenging, exciting road and it's a bittersweet end. I enjoyed my time as an Auburn student and will always support this wonderful school!  

I was required to return to Auburn to finish my Capstone course in preparation for graduation.  I once read somewhere that you never realize how much you as a person have changed until you return to a place that hasn't.  I never fully understood that thought until I arrived on Auburn's campus.  Spending time on campus was wonderful (although most was spent cramming in the library); however, being on campus led me to reflect on how much has changed since I started this path.  I am such a different person with a different perspective now than I was as a fresh faced graduate student when I arrived.   

All the late nights, stress, tears, lack of sleep, moments of doubt and frustration are now completely worth it.  I could not be more thankful for the support I have received while finishing my masters.  Whether it was a night off just to have fun with friends, a pep talk from best friends, family or co-workers, a good cry and talk with God, or just a smile and words of encouragement, I have been unbelievably blessed with the amount of love and support I have had in this process.  

Now I am looking forward to just relaxing and enjoying the Christmas season!  I honestly do not think the fact that I am officially done with tests and homework has even hit me fully yet.  I know myself and I highly doubt that I am forever finished with school but I am definitely going to take a break!  Here's to a wonderful Christmas that is not filled with stress, multinational finance problems, or late night final practice exams :) War Eagle! 

Right after our Capstone presentation

Surprise from my sweet co-workers :)

THE AUBURN CREED

I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work. 

I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully. 

I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men. 

I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities. 

I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all. 

I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all. 

I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God." 

And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it. 
-George Petrie (1945)