is it just me or is everyone and their mom getting engaged or pregnant lately? I say this because my one of my besties, Robin, got engaged tonight (wooohoooo!!!) and she's one of the many as of late, clicking that next status box on facebook of "engaged to...".
here's my tribute to robin for tonight, in the form of a picture of the 2 of us :)
let's see...what else is going on...
my grandma passed away last week. i know that's a huge pendulum swing in the other direction from talking about babies and engagement, but....oh well. she was an amazing women, a real picture of a servant, especially to her family. I've always admired her quiet strength and heart for others, which didn't cease even when she was hours away from going home with the Lord; she was praying for us, her family; praying that we would be ok, and that the Lord's name would be glorified. Praise the Lord! "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15 Last week was such a huge blessing to my family and me. The Lord's hand was so clear in everything, and he really glorified himself through the week. He showed me comfort, love, and support through the Body. I've never felt so loved, cared for, and prayed for. I'm so thankful for the community of people the Lord has put in my life! Here's a picture from Christmas of me and my grandma :) I love her and miss her.
what else, what else?
things have just been busy. work, youth, driving to see Brad :), etc. speaking of...here's a pic of Brad and I :)
oooooo and Leah and I went to see B-Spears in concert at the American Airlines center. Don't judge! Here are a few pictures from that!
That's us giving Brit the thumbs up while she's singing classic Britney and post the amazing hip-hop dancers.
and here's me and Ash. the two single ones left of the sandwich:
ok, that's all for now! Love yall! I'm going to go watch a chick flick and sing single ladies. Thank you Beyonce, thank you.
I've seriously neglected the blogging world. Just haven't felt like writing much lately. However, I will post some pictures from the recent months :)
Mom and I at Christmas :)
Brad and I at New Years (serious faces...obviously)---I made him dress up, and the hat was way too big...
Ash and I...risking death on the way to Amanda's wedding to take pictures while driving.
Amanda and Jordan are married!!
Can't believe she's married :)
Beast. My brother's puppy for 3 days....until the owners realized he got out and came and found him... we bonded. :(
The end. :)
World Mandate in Waco this weekend!! woohoo!!
Angela tagged me to do this, so since she is in Romania, I will...and because I feel bad i haven't blogged in a long time...woooops
8 TV shows I watch...(the only one that's consistent is The Office...)
1. The Office
2. Pushing Daisies
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Private Practice
5. Flip that House
6. Passport to Europe
7. Ace of Cakes
8. Gossip Girl
8 Things that Happened to Me Today...(it's only 1pm so not a lot so far...)
1. I woke up to Alarm #1--turned it off---then woke up again to Alarm #2
2. Shower
3. Late for Church, but there nonetheless
4. Worshiped our great God & King with my brothers and sisters---i love our family.
5. Talked to some wonderful people i hadn't seen in a while @ church
6. ate leftovers from girls night @ Olive Garden :)
7. checked email, facebook, etc.
8. now doing this---but am about to leave and go to a coffee shop to read for a while :)
8 Things I Look Forward to...
1. Reading this afternoon
2. the days i have off to spend time w/ my family for Christmas
3. World Mandate in January
4. for the first time in years, spending New Year's Eve w/ my friends
5. figuring out the next step the Lord has for me
6. seeing what the Lord is going to do and how he's going to use my friends for the purpose of his Kingdom
7. New experiences
8. seeing where the Lord will take all of us in '09
8 Things I Wish For...
1. to be single-minded for Christ
2. to travel the world
3. discernment
4. to see and/or talk to my family more, all of them, not just my parents and brother
5. deep relationships within my community
6. boldness
7. to live missionally
8. to taste and see the Glory of the Lord.
I tag...(although i don't expect all of them to do it)
Ash
Robin
Brother
Kimberly
Jen
Alyssa
Hello friends,
It's a slow morning here at the office, and thus, i am blogging. I like these mornings, and this one in particular because as walked out the door this morning, i was greeted with an amazingly cool breeze that sent chills up me. love it! This weather makes me want a peppermint mocha from Starbucks, but alas, i cannot have one because that will just put me in "holiday season" mode, and get me all excited for Christmas. This cannot happen, because it's only mid-October.
By the way, there is apparently a pumpkin patch in Flower Mound, and i really want to go. I do realize that i am not 5 years old anymore, but still think it would be fun---and produce some wonderful autumn pictures. :) (i like saying "autumn" better than "fall"...it's prettier.)
I just read the living proof ministries blog, and it made me happy. (see it under "websites" on the side) Beth (we're on a first name basis) posted about her road trip to NYC, and it made me giggle at my desk. I tried to surpress it as my boss walked by...not sure i did a very good job. Anywho, her post made me want to take a road trip, and made me want to go to NYC...maybe a road trip to NYC is in order!! ohhhh wait, i work for a living....and i only get so many days off a year....danggg itttt. I still want to go again, really bad. The taste of it i got when Rob and i went this past spring break just wasn't enough. It was good for the time, but i want to go again and just be able to sit somewhere for a while and soak it up, people watch, and shop, of course. H&M and Strawberry are calling me. (but my bank account brings me back to reality)
Mmmm coffee on a cold day is wonderful...
So are the songs that have played on my ipod this morning, by the way. (I like to put it on shuffle to get variety) Started off with "Every Season" by Nichole Nordeman. Love Love Love that song. It seriously stirrs my affections for the Lord, reminding me to strive to see him in everything. Here are the lyrics:
Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer
And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn
And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter
And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring.
Alright, that's all for now. I'll probably have more later...but now I must go pick up McAlister's for our office lunch. Yummmmm :)
PS- for those of you who enjoy good books, Christianaudio.com has All of Grace by Charles Spurgeon free to download. Thank you, brother, for telling me. I downloaded it last night :)
There's something about days like today that just makes me want to curl up with a good book, sip on a warm cup of coffee, and listen to the rain. There's something about living in Texas that has just allowed me to really cherish a rainy days like this. I think it's probably the combination of the scorching hot summer weather and just the way the rain kind of makes everything slow down; whether it be traffic on the morning commute to work, or just my spirit. I can practically hear the trees and grass breathe a sigh of relief with the steady shower. I love it. On a day like this when i was in college (i feel so old saying that--but i am out of college now...) more likely than not i would use the rain as an excuse to lay in bed a little longer...letting the minutes slip away, as well as my 9 o'clock class. :) Then i would head over to my Starbucks 2 exits down the road, chat with my favorite baristas, sit in one of the purple velvet chairs, and take in life. greatness.
just FYI, this post is actually several half-posts combined.
So...speaking of the rain...i feel like...when it rains, it pours.----feel free to take that literally or figuratively. In this case...well, i mean it both ways because it did literally pour yesterday...both ways....oh goodness.
I finally finished my journal that I've had since December. FINALLY. I was getting tired of that thing---it was just so stinkin thick; I was starting to think it was a never-ending journal, straight out of a Harry Potter book, or something.
That said, i figured that since I'm starting a brand new journal, it's probably time for a new blog post as well...it's been a while.
I'll be honest...I have probably almost 20 unpublished blog posts that I've started, but never finished. Some i was just blogging because i hadn't in a while, and in all of them, i just couldn't finish my thoughts. More honestly---I think also one of the main reasons they were never published or finished is because on most of them, my pride took over and i started putting pressure on myself to write something insightful and meaningful---as if wisdom and insight ever come from me---they do not.
To begin my new journal, i decided to write out a list of goals (more like hopes) that i have for it. Here are a few of them, in no particular order:
1) that it be filled with beautiful poetry---that of others, and my own. I used to write a lot of poetry---soul bearing poetry. In the last few years the creativity and "soul bearing" just hasn't come like it used to, and any attempt tends to leave me a bit dejected.
2)that it be full of tales of sanctifying, God-glorifying relationships---relationships in which i am completely raw, completely me; opening myself up to the hurt that could befall me, and to the love that could develop and endure
3)at the risk of sounding lame...let's just be honest...i hope that there's something about a guy in there too
4)I pray that it is full of victories over sin, an opening of my heart, and an ever increasing passion for Christ.
Yesterday morning, I read something on the Living Proof Ministries Blog that relates to my current struggles. It comes from the book Devotions for a Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas, and although I am not married, I think this could be applied to any kind of relationship.
Personal worship is an absolute necessity for a strong marriage. It comes down to this: If I stop receiving from God, I start demanding from others. Instead of appreciating and loving and serving others, I become disappointed in them. Instead of cherishing my wife, I become aware of her shortcomings. I take out my frustrations with a less-than-perfect life and somehow blame her for my lack of fulfillment.
But when my heart gets filled by God's love and acceptance, I'm set free to love instead of worrying about being loved. I'm motivated to serve instead of becoming obsessed about whether I'm being served. I'm moved to cherish instead of feeling unappreciated.
My only frustration with this is that we cannot choose when we "receive" from God. God has his own timing. I think the key here is to keep seeking and praying and seeking and wrestling; because He has promised that if we seek and knock, he'll open the door. That's where I'm at right now---yay step study---praying and asking, seeking and wrestling, waiting for the heart change. Honestly, this entire process has become pretty wearisome, but I can rest in the fact that God is faithful, merciful, and his love endures. I yearn for my heart to know the kind of love described above.
OK, I'm actually going to post this one! miracle of miracles!
hope everyone is doing well! sorry it's been so long!
PS - job is going well; youth is going well; house has DVR now, so that's amazing; the office starts in a few weeks, as does Grey's anatomy---and once again, yay for DVR :) and yay for you if you made it all the way through my post.
love y'all
So, I realize this is me posting like 3 times in the last couple weeks...and yes, i am even surprised at myself---but i just had to let everyone know that i got a job!!! wooohooo! a full-time job, with benefits and everything--i'm officially an 8-5er starting next week. ahhhhh
i'm such a grown up.
Me getting this job was completely orchestrated by the Lord. It's undeniable. If you want the story on how it's been so evident, let me know and i'll tell it to you because i don't feel like typing everything right now...maybe later.
And, i would also like to say how amazing the Lord is with blessing me with so many amazing people around me. I have THE most AMAZING friends in the entire world. They challenge me daily, keep me accountable, and are real with me---and that is something i cherish so much.
Thank you for being such amazing friends. The Lord is definitely working on me through you and I am so thankful.
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corin. 5:21
Praise the Lord :)
