.cookies.coffee.cubbies.

A new blog...

2011-05-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

I've decided to start fresh and move to a new blog, hope you'll follow me over there:

http://alightthatshines.blogspot.com/

A proposal...

2010-05-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

Exciting news!! I now have a shiny ring on my left hand, and a sweet guy to call fiance!

Here's the story for all who want to know...

My roomies from Denton told me a few weeks ago that they were going to have a party to celebrate the semester being done and summer starting, and they said they were going to rent out the top floor of the Hydrant (an awesome coffee shop in downtown Denton). I thought the plan sounded awesome, and that Wednesday Susan asked me if I wanted to ride with her out there since she was planning on going too, perfect idea! Meanwhile, Kyle had casually mentioned that he would be hanging out with the guys on Thursday. So Thursday rolls around, I head over to Susan's house at 4 (seriously I walked in the door at 4, I'm very punctual) and we went to Starbucks before we headed out to the party. Anyways we are just talking away the whole way out there and pull up to the Hydrant. I grab my tray of cookies (because I really thought it was a party, and I made cookies) and we head inside. Susan says she's gonna stop in the bathroom but I can just head upstairs and she'll meet me there. As I'm walking towards the stairs, the manager says "Are you with the party?" and I replied, "Yeah..." and he said "okay you can go up" I thought man...that guy is hard core about who he lets upstairs. haha.

So walking up the stairs and they have a few turns on them, I turned the first corner and saw rose petals on the ground and thought..that's weird decoration for a summer party but okay, then I turned the next corner and saw a trail of rose petals leading to Kyle sitting on a stool with a guitar. My heart started racing, and I just started walking towards him and said "what is going on?" He asked me to sit down, and I put the cookies on a ledge (realizing that there wasn't really a party haha). Kyle sang "New Day" by Robbie Seay, which has been our song pretty much all along, and I love it. Then he walked over to my chair and went on one knee and told me how he's loved me since so early in our relationship, and how God has brought us together for so many reasons, and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with me...and then he asked me to marry him and I said YES!

Then Kyle prayed over us, which was an amazing moment. We have been very intentional about keeping our personal walks with God separate, knowing that as a non-married couple that is important to do. So to sit there and have Kyle pray for us, after making such a huge decision, was so wonderful.

I was so so so surprised, and it was so fun to hear all the back stories behind the planning. Like how Ashley and Sam had kept a secret, and how Susan and Kimmel had been in on the planning, and the conversation Kyle had with my dad. It was all perfect.

Kyle on the stool where he sang to me

"I had no idea!!!"The beautiful ring, thanks to Susan for the picture idea

We are so excited, and so thankful for all the love and support!!

Summer!

2010-05-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Finals are over, and the sun is shinning nice and bright, which can only mean one thing--SUMMER!

Kenge came for the weekend, and we had a great time. Ate lots of food and talked about life, it was just what I needed. We discovered the amazingness of Rita's... It's like Italian ice with frozen custard. We both got mango and it was delicious. I can tell that it's going to be something I crave this summer. It was a great weekend!

Now to enjoy the peace and quiet until the job gets lined up and summer school starts. Probably gonna enjoy my new comforter that Kenge talked me into purchasing for myself for an early bday present, it's so comfortable.

Your Love is Strong

2010-05-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

I feel like anytime I've listened to my ipod, or itunes, or even music in my car this song has come on. And it's been stuck in my head all week. I've been meditating on the words yesterday and today, and I feel like it's more than a coincidence that I've heard it so many times this week. It's a crazy week--finals, moving out, moving back home, waiting to hear about a job, and just not being fully sure what is in store. But God is bigger than all that, and I am going to rely on His strength and His plan.

Enjoy it... Jon Foreman has a version and so does Robbie Seay, both are great.

"Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons"

Any songs stuck in your head this week?

Mother's Day

2010-05-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

I know it's been like 5 years since I wrote in here, but no use in excuses or in an attempt to "catch-up" so I'll just start from here and have the best intentions of writing more.

Sunday was Mother's Day, as you know, and I may be biased but I am pretty sure I have the best mama there is. I've learned so much from her and I respect her lots. Right now in my head I'm playing through the advice she's given me, probably more humorous than most "motherly advice" but that's my mama for you. This is my favorite:

When I got glasses she told me if anyone made fun of me, I should take my glasses off and say "I wish I didn't have these cause then I wouldn't have to look at your ugly face." To which I was horrified since I was still a shy, quiet girl. (I guess I still kind of am haha)

I admire my mama's sense of humor, and she has taught me to make the most out of the situations life deals you. She knows how to make people laugh, even when it's with an inappropriate comment/word. I have learned to take life less seriously and to enjoy every situation from her. She is a genuine person, which I truly admire. She loves helping others, and I think she would give you just about anything she had if you wanted it (or even just commented on how much you like it). She picks up on little things that people say and finds a way to give personal gifts because of it. I have a pile full of cards she's mailed me while I've been at school, and I have learned the importance of writing people notes from her.

All this to say mama Peg, as she is called from people who aren't lucky enough to have her as their own mama, but have her as a second mom, is worthy of a whole lot more than a blog post but I wanted to give this to her.

I also made her a pretty delicious lunch, which I forgot to take pictures of, but thankfully I got all the recipes from Food Gawker so I'll show you their pictures.

Main dish: Chipotle Lime Shrimp, which we made into delicious tacos

Side Dish: Broccoli with Lemon Almond Butter (delicious!)
Dessert: Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
It was all delicious, and worth making again.

Anyways I love you mama! And I hope everyone else had an awesome Mother's Day as well!

Snow and Food, perfect weekend

2010-02-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

So I woke up Thursday morning to about 2" of snow on the ground and news that UNT was still having class, which I was not happy about. I made the trip back to Denton, and became less bitter on the way because it was way too beautiful to be upset. I trekked through the snowstorm to class because I had a quiz to take, came back to the apartment and got the glorious text that said campus was closing at noon. After much convincing from both my parents and Kyle, I headed home and prayed that class would be canceled for Friday too. And thankfully it was!

Highlight of the snow was taking Jordan out in it, she went crazy! I wish I had taken a video of her, unfortuntely I'm just not that good. Jo would stick her nose in the snow and then come up and have snow all over her face, then she would jump all around like a bunny. She had a blast! She ran around with Nick and his friends as they had a snowball fight and it was just the cutest thing ever. I took some pics of her on my good camera, so I'll have to put those up soon.

Thankfully the snow didn't stop any of me and Kyle's Valentine's Day plans. Since I have class, we decided to celebrate on Saturday night. Last year I was still dealing with Mono, and wasn't up for a big dinner or going out so Kyle was super sweet and made an indoor picnic for us, complete with a smore machine. It was so wonderful, and perfectly us. So this year we decided to skip the restaurants and typical vday stuff, and have a night that fit us--cooking, olympics, and relaxing. I found some awesome recipes in my Rachel Ray magazine for dinner and dessert. We made a Nutella semifriado Friday night so it would be nice and frozen for Saturday, and then we made a meat rigatoni pasta for dinner. It was delicious, not to brag but yummy!! haha. Here are some pictures of our fun night

I wore my apron that he gave me for Christmas
Kyle had to run to the store and buy a cheese grater cause we couldn't find one at his house haha
The finished pasta, Kyle is kinda a messy stir-er haha, but an awesome chef!

The finished product

And with all the excitement, I forgot to take a picture of our dessert presentation, but it was amazing!

Hope your Valentine's days were delicious and full of love

Matt Chandler's story

2010-02-02T20:39:00.000-08:00

The AP did a story about Matt Chandler that was published earlier this week, and it is so inspiring. It is amazing to see his faith during this difficult time and to see that amist all the suffering God's grace has been woven throughout the situation. When I read the article the second time, it brought me to tears that right before his seizure he was feeding his baby girl, put her in her bouncy seat and the next thing he remembers is waking up in the hospital. How good is God that he had perfect timing to make sure that his little girl was safe before the seizure took place. In Matt's video blog he has commented on other moments where God's grace has shone through and I love that he can see these even from his point of view. His faith is very encouraging, and he and his family are in my prayers every day.

I know it's a long article, but it's worth the time I promise.

Suffering well: Faith tested by pastor's cancer

By ERIC GORSKI, AP National Writer Eric Gorski, Ap National Writer Sun Jan 31, 12:01 am ET

DALLAS – Matt Chandler doesn't feel anything when the radiation penetrates his brain. It could start to burn later in treatment. But it hasn't been bad, this time lying on the slab. Not yet, anyway.

Chandler's lanky 6-foot-5-inch frame rests on a table at Baylor University Medical Center. He wears the same kind of jeans he wears preaching to 6,000 people at The Village Church in suburban Flower Mound, where the 35-year-old pastor is a rising star of evangelical Christianity.

Another cancer patient Chandler has gotten to know spends his time in radiation imagining that he's playing a round of golf at his favorite course. Chandler on this first Monday in January is reflecting on Colossians 1:15-23, about the pre-eminence of Christ and making peace through the blood of his cross.

Chandler's hands are crossed over his chest. He wears a mask with white webbing that keeps his head still when metal fingers slide into place on the radiation machine, delivering the highest possible dose to what is considered to be fatal and incurable brain cancer.

This is Matt Chandler's new normal. Each weekday, he spends two hours in the car — driven from his suburban home to downtown Dallas — for eight minutes of radiation and Scripture.

At the hospital, Chandler sees other patients in gowns who get chemotherapy through catheters in their chests and is thankful he gets his in pills before going to sleep at home next to his wife.

Chandler is trying to suffer well. He would never ask for such a trial, but in some ways he welcomes this cancer. He says he feels grateful that God has counted him worthy to endure it. He has always preached that God will bring both joy and suffering but is only recently learning to experience the latter.

Since all this began on Thanksgiving morning, Chandler says he has asked "why me?" just once, in a moment of weakness.

He is praying that God will heal him. He wants to grow old, to walk his two daughters down the aisle and see his son become a better athlete than he ever was.

Whatever happens, he says, is God's will, and God has his reasons. For Chandler, that does not mean waiting for his fate. It means fighting for his life.

___

Thanksgiving morning, a normal morning at the Chandler home.

The coffee brews itself. Matt wakes up, pours himself a cup, black and strong like always, and sits on the couch. He feeds 6-month-old Norah from a bottle. Burps her. Puts her in her bouncy seat.

The next thing Chandler knows, he is lying in a hospital bed.

What Chandler does not remember is that he suffered a seizure and collapsed in front of the fireplace, rattling the pokers. He does not remember biting through his tongue.

He does not remember his wife, Lauren, shielding the kids as he shook on the floor. Or, later, ripping the IV out of his arm and punching a medic in the face.

During the ambulance ride, Lauren, 29, looks back from the passenger seat at her husband in restraints.

He is looking at her but through her.

She texts the women in her Bible study and asks them to pray.

At the hospital, Matt comes to.

"Honey, what happened?"

"You had a seizure."

He realizes that their two older children — Audrey, 7, and Reid, 4 — had seen it.

"Are the kids OK?"

Tears well up in his eyes.

"They're fine. They're fine."

He dozes off, wakes up and asks about the kids again. The same exchange repeats itself five times, always ending the same way, with Matt tearing up.

In short order, Chandler is wheeled back for a CT scan, followed by an MRI.

Not long afterward, the ER doctor walks in and sits next to him.

"You have a small mass on your frontal lobe. You need to see a specialist."

It was Thanksgiving. Chandler had not seen his kids for hours. He had collapsed in front of them. For whatever reason, those grim words from a doctor he'd never met did not cause his heart to drop. What Chandler thought was, "OK, we'll deal with that." Getting the news meant he could go home.

___

Chandler can be sober and silly, charming and tough. He'll call men "bro" and women "mama." He drives a 2001 Chevy Impala with 144,000 miles and a broken radio. He calls it the "Gimpala"

One of Chandler's sayings is, "It's OK to not be OK — just don't stay there." In other words, your doubts and questions are welcome at The Village Church, but eventually you need to pull it together.

He's also been known to begin sermons with the warning, "I'm going to yell at you from the Bible."

Chandler's long, meaty messages untangle large chunks of Scripture, a stark contrast to the "Eight Ways to Overcome Fear" sermons common to evangelical megachurches that took off in the 1980s. His approach appeals, he believes, to a generation looking for transcendence and power.

His theology teaches that all men are wicked, that human beings have offended a loving and sovereign God, and that God saves through Jesus' death, burial and resurrection — not because people do good deeds. In short, Chandler is a Calvinist, holding to a belief system growing more popular with young evangelicals.

"Matt goes right at Bible Belt Christianity and exposes the problems with it," says Collin Hansen, author of "Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists." "He says, 'Enough of this playing around and trying to be relevant and using cultural touch points. Let's talk God's words.'"

Chandler's background does not suggest someone suited to the role. He grew up a military kid, drifting from Olympia, Wash., to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Alameda, Calif., and Galveston, Texas.

Chandler was taught that Christianity meant not listening to secular music or seeing R-rated movies. He developed what he calls a small and "man-centered" view of God — that God will bless people who are good. That began to change when a high school football teammate started talking about the Gospel.

After graduating from a small Baptist college, Chandler became a fiery evangelist who led a popular college Bible study and traveled the Christian speaking circuit. He was hired from another church in 2002 at age 28 to lead what is now The Village Church, a Southern Baptist congregation that claimed 160 members at the time.

The church now meets in a newly renovated former Albertson's grocery store with a 1,430-seat auditorium; two satellite campuses are flourishing in Denton and Dallas. Chandler has a podcast following in the thousands and speaks at large conferences.

"What Matt does works because it resonates with the deep longing of the soul the average person can't even identify," said Anne Lincoln Holibaugh, the church's children's ministry director.

___

Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The Chandlers meet with Dr. David Barnett, chief of neurosurgery at Baylor University Medical Center.

The weekend had brought hope: A well-meaning church member who is a radiologist looked at Matt's MRI and concluded the mass was encapsulated, or contained to a specific area.

But Barnett delivers very different news. He saw what appeared to be a primary brain tumor — meaning a tumor that had formed in the brain — that was not contained. It had branches.

"Matt, I think you're dealing with something serious," Barnett says. "We need to do something about it quickly. Go home. Talk it over with your wife. Pray about it."

Chandler is facing brain surgery. He schedules it for that Friday, Dec. 4.

He is scared.

Questions start to haunt him. Am I going to wake up and be me? Am I going to wake up and remember Lauren?

The surgery begins around 2 p.m. A biopsy determines that it is, indeed, a primary brain tumor.

As far as Chandler knows, there is no history of cancer in his family. His tumor, like most others, was likely caused by a genetic abnormality, Barnett says. There's no way of knowing how long it's been there.

The surgeon is aggressive, pushing to remove as much of the mass as possible. It's in a relatively good place in the brain's "silent hemisphere," removed from areas that control most language skills.

The hospital has an intraoperative MRI, which allows surgeons to remove part of a tumor, stop, take a picture, look more closely, then go in and remove more. Barnett uses it twice during Chandler's surgery.

"You cannot be a timid neurosurgeon when you deal with these things," Barnett says later. "Your first shot is your best shot at treating this. I wanted to get as much of the tumor out as humanly possible, but I also wanted to be careful not to permanently injure him. It's a fine balance between the two."

Seven hours after entering surgery, Matt is wheeled to intensive care.

His head is swollen and wrapped in a bandage.

His irises are quivering.

Chandler wakes to Barnett's voice.

"Matt ... Matt ... Who am I?"

He knows the answer. Relief. His left side is numb. His facial expressions are frozen and his voice has no pitch, what doctors call a "flat affect."

This is all good, leading Barnett to believe he pushed hard but not too hard.

Each day after the surgery, Chandler gets better, stronger.

"The first four days were just ... not scary, but hard," Lauren says. "I'm wondering, 'How much of this will stay? How much of this will be normal? How much of this will be the new normal?'"

Tuesday after surgery. Barnett meets with Lauren and Brian Miller, chairman of the church's elder board. The final pathology results are not in, but Barnett shares what he knows — the tumor was malignant, fast-growing and mean.

Though he removed what he could see, such tumors send tiny fingers of cells beyond their borders — and eventually a branch will reach back and grow another brain tumor, Barnett says.

Barnett asks Lauren and Miller to keep the diagnosis to themselves for a week so Matt can concentrate fully on recovering from surgery.

On Dec. 15, Barnett shares the pathology results with the Chandlers. Tumors are designated by grade — with Grade 1 being the least aggressive and Grade 4 being the most.

Chandler's tumor is a Grade 3.

The average life expectancy in such cases, Barnett says, is approximately two to three years. The doctor says later, in an interview, he believes Chandler will live longer because of the aggressive surgery, treatment and Chandler's otherwise good health.

There's also a chance that "God smiles upon us" and the cancer goes into remission for years, says Barnett, a devout Christian.

Before the meeting ends, Matt prays that his children and others do not grow resentful.

"Lord, you gave this to me for a reason. Let me run with it and do the best I can with it."

Barnett says later that he's witnessed many tragedies and miracles. He has seen how people handle life-changing moments. He called Chandler's attitude one of the most amazing he's seen.

Chandler says learning he had brain cancer was "kind of like getting punched in the gut. You take the shot, you try not to vomit, then you get back to doing what you do, believing what you believe.

"We never felt — still have not felt — betrayed by the Lord or abandoned by the Lord. I can honestly say, we haven't asked the question, 'Why?' or wondered, 'Why me, why not somebody else?' We just haven't gotten to that place. I'm not saying we won't get there. I'm just saying it hasn't happened yet."

Later, Chandler clarified that. There was one moment when he looked at a Christmas card, saw a picture of a man who chronically cheated on his wife and thought, "Why not that guy?"

Chandler confessed to Lauren that his thoughts were wicked and wrong.

___

Monday, Jan. 4, a month after surgery. Morning breaks with 4-year-old Reid singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" at full volume. Matt sits at his laptop in the dining room, nursing a cup of green tea.

He's preparing to drive to a homeopathic clinic for an infusion of Vitamin C to bolster the immune system, followed by the long drive to downtown Dallas for radiation. He's in the midst of a six-week program of radiation and chemotherapy, to be followed by a break and more treatment.

Chandler never thought such a trial would shake his faith. But until now, that was just hope in the abstract.

"This has not surprised God," Chandler says on the drive home. "He is not in a panic right now trying to figure out what to do with me or this disease. Those things have been warm blankets, man."

Chandler has, however, wrestled with the tension between belief in an all-powerful God and what he, as a mere mortal, can do about his situation. He believes he has responsibilities: to use his brain, to take advantage of technology, to walk in faith and hope, to pray for healing and then "see what God wants to do."

"Knowing that if God is outside time and I am inside time, that puts some severe limitations on my ability to crack all the codes," he says. "The more I've studied, the more I go, 'Yes, God is sovereign, and he does ask us to pray ... and he does change his mind.' How all that will work is in some aspects a mystery."

Since falling ill, Chandler has gotten letters from the governor and pastors in Sudan. He has tried to steer attention to others, including a 6-year-old Arizona girl with cancer.

At church, he has deflected sympathy with reassurances that this is a good thing, that he is not shrinking back. Chandler has preached the last two weekends and is planning trips to South Africa and England. He recently lost his hair to radiation but got a positive lab report last week and feels strong.

"The human experience commonly shared is suffering," said Mark Driscoll, pastor of Seattle's Mars Hill Church and a friend of Chandler's. "If he suffers well, that might be the most important sermon he's ever preached."

Chandler would rather this not have happened. But he is drinking life in — watching his son build sandcastles at the park, preaching each sermon as if eternity is at stake — and feeling a heightened sense of reality.

"It's carpe diem on steroids," he says.

At the dinner table on the sixth day of radiation, new normal looks like this: Reid in Spiderman pajamas. Peanut butter and jelly dipped in honey for the kids, turkey chili for the adults.

And peppermint ice cream.

It is a diaper changed, dishes done.

Matt Chandler takes his chemo pills and goes to bed, grateful for another day.

2009 in recap

2010-01-04T20:33:00.000-08:00

Although this year has been a hard year for many people, I have many things to be thankful for and wanted to recall them as we head into a new year full of adventures and journeys.

Having an intimate relationship with a God who loves me unconditionally
A family that I love being around and who support me and make me smile every day
A boyfriend who is also my best friend and who encourages me through every adventure life presents
Leading an amazing group of high school girls in their walk with God
Being able to go to Vietnam over the summer
Seeing pure joy in the kids eyes at the orphanages it was like Jesus was looking right at me
Being placed with two awesome, godly roommates at UNT
Time spent eating with friends or playing games, just enjoying each other
Forming a Bible study group with our campus park girls
Joy from knowing I am where God has called me to be
Learning to be patient and obedient through my long stretch with Mono
Realizing how precious of a gift life is from God
Being able to see lots of extended family all through out the year
Seeing my brother grow in his relationship with God
Having many adventures with Kyle that have lead us to all kinds of restuarants, cities, states, and all filled with laughs and pictures
The time I have gotten to spend reading with the kids in Haltom City each week
All the amazing people that have had an impact on my life small or large

A few goals I have for this year:

Read through my ESV Study Bible this year
Make relationships with people in my classes
Be a prayer warrior in all situations
Be unashamed and unembarrassed to share the love and light of God with people
Put others before my self

Hope your holiday season was wonderful and relaxing!

My enemy...my sinuses.

2009-12-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

For the past two or three years I've had a pretty chronic sinus infection, meaning it never goes away. Between October and the end of November I was on four different rounds of antibiotics, all of which would make my infection go down for about a week and a half and then the headaches would come back. I was fed up with the headaches, being exhausted, and all the antibiotics messing with my body, so I went to see an ENT. (Ear Nose and Throat Doctor)

We have a family history of bad sinus structure, sinus infections aren't hereditary but bone structure is hereditary and that's where my problem comes from. The doctor did a CT scan on my face and said the openings of my sinuses were closed and he thought a balloon surgery would work well for my problem. So Friday I had my surgery, my mama, dad and Kyle were all there waiting for me. The nurses got me prepped, laughed at me for not knowing how to put the booties on, and got me hooked up to an IV. The doctor said my surgery would be about an hour, it ended up lasting closer to three. The balloon surgery only worked on two so they had to cut and scrape the other two. The doctor said my bone structure was very bad and definitely causing bad sinus infections and headaches.

I'm still pretty sore, and have two small black eyes from the blood settling. Most of my pain has been my throat from the breathing tube that they had in while I was out, apparently the tube scrapped up my mouth and throat pretty bad and that's been annoying. But I'm recovering well, not very swollen and you really can't even tell I had surgery. I'm thankful for all the people taking care of me, I'm so lucky! My parents have both woken up in the middle of the night to make me toast and give me my medicine. Kyle has been right next to me for like four days straight almost haha. He makes me smile and laugh, and tells me I'm beautiful even with a big cold sore on my lip and black eye haha. I'm the luckiest girl in the world, no questions asked.

Now I'm just ready to be off my pain medicine, too many episodes of Intervention have made me scared of strong medicine. I should just need it for a few more days, mostly to help my throat heal so I can eat still. I can breathe better already and haven't had a headache in 4 days which is a record! haha.

Hope your week is going well and you're enjoying this beautiful Christmas week! :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2009-12-13T17:22:00.000-08:00

This weekend was filled with Christmas cheer and I loved it!

Thursday night we were blessed with an amazing Christmas concert at Northwood with Shane and Shane, Phil Wickham and Bethany Dillion. I didn't know many of Bethany's songs before the concert but she did an amazing job, and she was super funny. Hands down favorite part of the show was Phil. I have seen him once before at my favorite place Common Grounds but it was before I had heard any of his songs. I was thinking it was going to be all Christmas songs, but I was mistaking and so happy that I was. I have been listening to Phil's new cd like non stop for 2 weeks and absolutely love it. I love the song Eden and especially Cielo which he sang. Here are some lyrics:
"'I'm reaching for the One who brought me out of death and into life
But I can't lift my hands high enough
Life my hands high enough
When I'm reaching for You my God
I can't lift my hands high enough
Life my hands high enough
When I'm reaching for You my God"

Friday after studying all day at an awesome coffeehouse called Roots, Kyle had come up with an awesome date for us so we made cookies. And lots of them! We made sugar cookie cut outs of angels, trees, stars, lights, snowmen, etc. We also made gingerbread men and angels, and the pretzel turtles (with rolos and pecans) And we also made Yum Bars (as named Aarika) they are absolutely delicious. Saltine crackers, carmel (homemade! that's right) and chocolate, sprinkled with pecans. We had an audience of Nick's friends for this one, and they were absolutely amazed at the process. I love baking and how it can bring people together. We have lots of these cookies to give out, we still have to package them up though. I'm so lucky that I have an awesome boyfriend who encourages my baking and bakes with me, he's amazing for so many reasons I'm so blessed.

Saturday after studying all day again at Roots (this time Kyle came along and helped and just hung out while I studied which helped), and going on a trip to the crazy mall looking for a gift that we still haven't found, we went to Kyle's staff Christmas party. This was a first for me, I was supposed to go with him last year but we had a slight scheduling problem haha. We had an awesome time, got to hang out with friends, eat some delicious food, and be entertained by the cutest little boy ever. I love how Christmas brings people together and gives us an opportunity to show our appreciation for others.

As for the next few days, I will be studying my life away pretty much. I have two finals tomorrow and one on Tuesday. I am so ready to be done!

Horders and other random things

2009-12-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

So basically my blogspot has just become a place for me to read other people's blogs, which I absolutely love. I am the kind of person who discretely listens to random people's conversations when I'm out to dinner, and pretty much know their life story by the end of the meal. (Kyle would disagree with the discretely part but I'm sticking to my story) My freshman year of college, Kenge and I had a paper thin wall and we could hear ever word that the girl who lived next to us would say when she was on the phone. We basically knew her whole life story without ever introducing ourselves to her, we would awkwardly pass her in the hall wondering if she knew as much about us as we knew about her. I would be sitting on my super high bed, "studying" and find myself paused waiting to hear the end of Celeste's conversation about riding horses or buying a dress for formal. Oh the joys of freshman year, staying up late "studying", failing every one of my firsts tests, what were we thinking Kenge? haha. There was a point to this story...oh yes, I enjoy reading other's blogs much more than writing my own.

Lately I have started many random shows, mostly just for a week then I forget about it among the hundreds of pages I need to read for class and just life in general. One has stuck though, it's a show on A & E called Horders. Hording is a condition where people collect many random things, and won't throw stuff away. They become oddly attached to things that most of us would consider junk and toss without thinking. One of the shows was about a lady who horded food, and that one was pretty insane. There were bugs everywhere, things rotted, and she still ate most of it. I think my inner psychologist that is developing is just completely drawn to the show, not because of the disgusting factor but because I want to know what is going through those people's heads. The cases are very extreme that they feature on the show, but I'm sure most of us know someone with a much milder case. Most of the psychologists who study hording also study OCD making me think there is a connection between the two, which makes sense.

Here's an example of a house of a horder. Basically just stuff everywhere, maybe clothes, food, animals, whatever it may be.

Whatever the case, it is a crazy situation. Just makes me realize how many people in this world are so desperate for true joy that they will cling on to a mass amount of things to try and attain this state. None of these things can ever bring joy, and these stories prove it because the person just keeps buying more and more, and never sees the problem until too late. The only place that true joy can come from is our Father, who gives without ceasing and loves with no end and yet we turn to trash instead. I do it all the time by choosing to sleep in instead of waking up to spend time with my glorious Creator, or by ignoring the pressing call He has placed on my heart because of fear. It's crazy to see how much of a hold material things have on our society and how much trust we place in them.

I've been listening to Phil Wickham's new cd Heaven & Earth just over and over tonight, it has beautiful lyrics and makes me even more in awe of my Savior.

"Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong and never let you go
oh you're not alone
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms"
-Safe, Phil Wickham

I would much rather put my trust in Him than in my junk and materials, and that's a continuous truth that I have to remind myself of. I mean the Creator of the sky and the stars holds me in His hands, how amazing is that!

we made it home!

2009-07-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

we landed in DFW around 9 am yesterday morning. We had to go through customs which took close to an hour, and was frustrating because we were so close and had to wait so long to get through. It was an amazing trip and some how the flight home didn't seem as bad as the way there. Maybe because I had memories of this that made that flight so small compared to the joy we were a part of...

more pictures to come I promise...

love.

on the way home...

2009-07-08T16:03:00.001-07:00

We are back in the Tokyo airport, camped out in front of the AA ticket counter right now waiting for our boarding passes. It was a good flight considering it was pretty empty so we got to stretch out and sleep. My stomach is a bit queezy still so I'm trying to take it easy, not sure if I'm hungry though. I'll probably try something little in just a bit.

One flight down and one long flight to go.... The weird thing is we leave at 11:30 am Thursday Tokyo time and arrive in DFW at 9 am Thursday their time. I still don't understand it.

I'll post lots of pictures and stuff after we get home. :)

love.

Lake resort update :)

2009-07-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

We are very tired, but are having an awesome time. Me, Kyle, Matt, Debbie, and Kathy Hupp went to dinner tonight at a place called Jaspas. I had fish and chips and it was amazing, and we all got a mini molten chocolate cake for dessert. It was absolutely amazing :)

The lake resort was fun, it was really like a miniature theme park kind of. We went right to the orphanage on the bus, it was about a 3 hour drive from Hanoi. We were supposed to be painting but it was raining, which was definitely an answered prayer. Since it was raining and the older kids were busy, we got to hold the babies!!!! They had 18 babies and they were the sweetest thing ever. I held a boy named Bin and he is 5 months old. They were the sweetest things ever, I just wanted to bring them home. We headed to the hotel and got checked in and headed back to the orphanage to play with the older kids. I hung out with a special needs girl, she had downs and I couldn't get her name cuz the translators couldn't understand her. She was the happiest thing ever with the beanie babies we gave her. We went over to one of the exchange students from next year's house for dinner, it was beautiful!! His mom is a famous scientist over here and we were actually at their weekend house, which was huge and so pretty. They served us the best meal we have had over here so far, and brought in people from the town to put on a show for us. It was so sweet.

Today the kids came to the resort and we played on some paddle boats and games and stuff, and then went swimming in the afternoon at the pool there. We had lunch (more not so delicious food especially after our wonderful dinner) and got back here around 5.

back in Hanoi

2009-07-04T03:29:00.000-07:00

We are back from the beach. It was an amazing time with such wonderful kids. The joy in their eyes was so contagious and so lovely to be around. We all had a hard time saying goodbye this morning.

Had some free time this afternoon and me, Edi, and Rachel went out shopping. We found some really good deals on some pretty stuff. I think I have all my gifts that I needed besides 2, but those have been hard to find. That will be my mission before we leave. We are going to a nicer restaurant tonight where there is Vietnamese food. I'm very glad that we have had American food for the last two meals otherwise I wouldn't be looking forward to tonight, but after some pizza and a cheeseburger I'm ready for some rice and seafood. :)

Tomorrow we head out to a lake with a different orphanage and we are staying overnight at a hotel out there. I wanted to put up just a few pictures before we head out for dinner.The beach at Do Son, don't you want to just jump in ;)

Nick and his little sweet boyMe and one of the little boys
My two girls

love.

Tuesday night

2009-06-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

So it is Tuesday night here, and it has been a long day and a crazy night. We went to a traditional Vietnamese restaurant for dinner tonight. The food was very different but me and Nick both tried all of it. We got to sit with Quan and talk with him, and after dinner we got to go over to his house. He is very nice and we were thankful to get to know him.

Currently we are sitting in the hotel room with no ac and no internet, so I’m hoping to post this before we leave. We also had a lizard in our room right above my bed. Thankfully Kyle came to the rescue and caught it because I was not going to be able to sleep with it crawling around. Hopefully the air will come back soon because I don’t think I can sleep with it this hot and humid.

Tomorrow really early we leave for the beach with the orphanage, we are really excited. Just needing some sleep before a very busy few days.

Love.

Internet and power are back on thank the Lord!

Day 1

2009-06-30T03:46:00.000-07:00

Today has been full of adventures. We slept until about 6, and both me and Nick were surprisingly rested. Had some breakfast at the hotel and headed over to the orphanage. Most of the kids were not there today, but we did get to meet a few and they were adorable. I am so excited to spend more time with them at the beach. I think I am helping out with the little kid house, and they are so precious. The kids had an awesome time playing and seeing our cameras and stuff. Then we headed back to the hotel and were on our own for lunch.

We went with a group to Al Fresco's which is kind of like a Chili's. It was tasty, I wasn't feeling too good. My malaria medicine isn't sitting too well with me, and is making me queezy. So I headed back to the hotel and rested for a while. It was nice to be in the air conditioning and cool off. I went out shopping with Kyle after I started feeling better. It's such a unique environment here. The driving is insane, but somehow no one gets in accidents. The shops are just all open front and are organized by categories so all the sunglasses are in one place and the backpacks together. I got some fun stuff and a new backpack so that will be my carry on.

We're heading to dinner now with the exchange students for next year, so we are very excited!

Don't have pictures to upload yet, I'll try and do that tonight before we leave in the morning because I won't have internet for a few days.

Love.

in Hanoi

2009-06-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Hanoi last night, pretty much just settled in and fell asleep.

Well it is 6:30 here, and the city is bright as can be (the sun rises at like 5:30 here) and busy as a bee. Me and Nick both commented at the fact that we have never been this awake at 6:30. We're just getting our luggages worked out and getting ready and then we are going to go to breakfast at the hotel. Nick slept really good, I slept good once I got my ear plugs in. The ac was making some funny noises and kept waking me up. Hopefully we'll feel this rested every morning. We're heading over to the orphanage to meet the kids this morning, we are both very excited about that! I'll write more this afternoon!

long day of flights

2009-06-29T00:17:00.000-07:00

Wrote this on the plane on the way to Tokyo and just wrote the italic part before I posted it:

We left this morning for Vietnam. We’re on the first leg of the trip as I write this, and it’s creeping by. The first flight is from DFW to Tokyo, about 12 hours. We left Sunday at noon Dallas time, and it is currently about 1 pm Monday Tokyo time. I still don’t understand the whole time difference and especially the day difference.

I forgot my jacket at home this morning, which I mostly just had for the plane since I’m always cold. I couldn’t find a jacket in the terminal besides an XL for $40 so I bought a fleece blanket, which has come in handy on the plane. I have that on my legs, and the one they give us around my arms. I’m not too fond of my carry on luggage, only because it’s heavy and hard to get stuff out when it’s under the seat.

Let’s see what else has happened…Edi was so sweet and switched seats with Kyle so the three of us have been hanging out. Actually, Kyle has been playing DS, Nick has been messing with the movies that we can watch, and I have been listening to music trying to fall asleep and watched Bride Wars earlier. I took some sleep aid, and got about 20 minutes of sleep out of it. It helped me fall asleep but not stay asleep after Nick got in my face and said my name, about made me pee my pants.

Nick left his passport holder in the bathroom, and the flight attendant gave him quite the look when she gave it back. He claims he never took it off, so I guess it was magic! (an AJ quote) Hopefully that’s the only time he forgets it! We were only over South Dakota at the time too! Don’t worry mama- He won’t lose it! I bought 2 big water bottles, and I’m still really thirsty. Kyle went back and got me 3 glasses of water, I think it’s the dumb malaria medicine.

We are 2 hours away from Tokyo and then we have a 5 ½ hour flight which is going to be killer. Hopefully I can sleep for that one! And hopefully Nick does too because he’s getting quite ansy right now.

Anyways, I’ll post this when we get to Tokyo. It’s a great trip, just ready to be on land and able to move around more! Mama and Dad- miss you guys already!

My carry on is driving me crazy, probably going to buy a backpack in Vietnam and use that for the way home. We got off our first flight, and had to go back through security and now we are just hanging out until we board at 6 pm Tokyo time which is like 5 am Dallas time. I slept for another 30 minutes before we landed, it was really nice. Woke up for dinner...at 12:30 at night? It was either pizza or chicken and rice, both me and Nick went for pizza, Kyle went for the chicken. I really wasn't hungry and the chicken wasn't too good so I gave most of my pizza to Kyle.

Nick and Dustin are have a good time in the airport. Checking out the Japanese toilets, thank the Lord they also have American toilets. It feels so good to be able to stretch out my legs, I'm so tired but I really should go walk around before our 5 hour flight to Hanoi.

lots of love.

Nick's face pretty much the whole plane ride

But I can still make him smileKyle playing the DSHappy that we got to all sit together :)

Packing

2009-06-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

We leave tomorrow morning for our trip, and it hasn't fully hit me yet. I get little moments where I realize how soon it is, but I think it will be on the plane when I get really excited and ready to leave. Right now my mind is on packing and making sure all my stuff for summer school is ready when I get back so I don't have to think about it over there.

Packing has never been my strong point, I use a method I call "piles". Pretty much it just means my floor is a disaster and my excuse is "I'm packing!" We had a mom from Vietnam come visit our house looking for an exchange house for her son, and of course we gave her a full tour of the house. I was so embarrassed at the fact that my floor looked like a tornado had gone through, but she was the sweetest lady ever and she put her arm on my shoulder and was like "it's okay, you are packing." It was adorable, and amazing to get to talk to her about her culture and life, it made me extremely excited to go over to Vietnam.

As the piles are starting to move into my luggage and not much is left on my floor, I realize there is always mess before anything can be organized. I love little moments when you see the bigger plan. I know packing isn't really that big of a deal, but it is amazing that the mess of a floor eventually turned into a packed suitcase ready to go where I have been called to go.

I'm off to breakfast with the family for our morning before we leave.

love.

Excitement is growing!

2009-06-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

Camp was amazing, I had some amazing encounters with God and got to spend time with some absolutely wonderful girls and meet some new friends. Basically, it was an awesome and absolutely exhausting week all rolled into one. Last week was spent trying to catch up on sleep while staying busy with baby sitting and life in general.

Now it's time to pack and prepare for Vietnam! We leave on Sunday, it's so crazy that it's already here. It seemed so far away when we were talking about it, but now it's here and I can't wait. I'm not an expert packer by far, but I have gotten a lot better since leaving for college. It will still take me twice as long to pack as anyone else, and I'll have to run out to the store to buy a few last minute things, it never fails. But it will be wonderful!

I have been taking every opportunity I can to take pictures with my good camera. I'm not taking it with me and I'm going to wish I did, but I know my focus needs to be on the kids and seeing them with eyes of the kingdom not a behind a lens. I got some awesome pictures from babysitting Friday night and Saturday morning for the Wetzig boys, so I'll post some of those :)

look at that sweet boy, his shirt says chicks dig me

I love baby feet.

perfect.

ah i love this shot, especially the door in the background

love.

Camp

2009-06-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we head out for our Element Camp 09. Which is Northwood's youth camp for this summer. We are heading to Howard Paine University for 4 days. I am very excited because first of all I know God has amazing plans for these youth, and for the leaders, and secondly because I have never been to a church camp before. Growing up, our church didn't offer summer camps so this is a new experience for me! I went to Line Camp the summer before I started college so I've at least been to a camp in general haha, plus the whole college experience in general prepares you for life in general haha.

So hopefully I'll have lots of pictures to post, and I know I'll have amazing experiences of God working in our students' lives. Please be praying for everyone involved-that God would be in control of this camp, to remove any distractions from the students' minds and the leaders' as well, safety, and amazing encounters with God's love, grace, and redeeming power for all involved!

It's Official

2009-05-29T10:01:00.001-07:00

Now I have an awesome stamp for the back of the cards me and my mama have been making.

It says "Sweet Sage" which is the name that Kyle helped me come up with.

We've been making cards out of the pictures I've taken with my new camera, and we should have lots to make now cuz I printed out about 100 for my mama for her birthday yesterday! Let me know if you want some!

love.

difference of ages

2009-05-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

I've had a couple realizations of age the past weekend. I guess it's probably because I turned the big 2-0 yesterday. A.J. asked me how many fingers old I was going to be and I said "all your fingers and all your toes" and felt so old. Now I realize 20 really isn't that old, but it just doesn't feel like I should already be 20. I feel like I just started driving, and just graduated from high school...but I love the chapter of my life that I am in now.

Kyle bought a game for the Wii called "Cooking Mama" for us to play, and I'm pretty much addicted to it. You use the remote to chop up vegetables and stir ingredients together and there is a grilling level that Kyle loves. Anyways we were having a blast playing it, and I was finally getting the hang of it. Then one of Nick's friends walks in and goes "You guys are playing a cooking video game? for fun?" haha...I guess our idea of fun is a little different than theirs.

Ours involves safe cooking, fun.

Theirs involves going to Goodwill, buying big wheels and riding them down the big hill in our neighborhood dressed in our old play clothes...unsafe but hilarious.

I guess I'll stick to Cooking Mama, real cooking with my new chef's knife and cooking mat, taking pictures of their crazy ideas, and enjoying the beauty of everything around me.

kids

2009-05-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

It only seems fitting to do a blog entry about kids since they are the ones I spend the majority of my time with. I started babysitting pretty young, mostly for my brother or the neighbors when my parents were close by. Needless to say I got burnt out on babysitting very fast. If you've ever met my brother you would understand. In high school I babysat every now and then, but never enjoyed it or looked forward to going. Last summer I started babysitting for a family with two boys (AJ and Jack and now Ben) and absolutely fell in love with them. God really placed a love for kids in my heart and I try to find as many ways possible to serve around them. My Sunday school kids always bring a smile to my face, and I love hearing their views on life, God, and problems. This past week they were talking about birthdays, and I said mine was coming up so they asked how old I was going to be and I said "20" One of the girls looked right at me and said "You better start looking for a husband then!" She is five. Seriously? Moments like that just make me laugh.

Being around kids all day is difficult and wears me out, but in the moments where I am just annoyed or exhausted, God always sends relief. Either in the form of a crazy comment like AJ's last week-- We were leaving the park (which is always an adventure!) and I was pushing them in the stroller back home and I hear AJ saying "No Jack don't touch my peeter, you can touch my leg." and then they would both start laughing. They are crazy, and so hilarious. But the moments that really but things in perspective for me is when I hear them talk about God. They don't have a big list of questions to bring up God like we do, or read books on evangelism they just speak without fear. On the way home from the park AJ was asking "Who makes the river flow?" and I just answered "um it just flows cuz of the water." and he answered, "No, God makes it flow." It just brought a huge smile to my face, and so much joy to know that this little boy knows Gods amazing power and love. Last summer in my Sunday school class I told a little girl her dress was very pretty and asked her if her mom gave it to her. She looked at me straight in the eye and said "No God gave me this dress." So beautiful.

Jesus called the children to Him because they have a true faith in Him. Untainted by the world, unaffected by fear, unchanged by doubts. Yet Jesus tells us we as adults have to leave everything we have and then come to Him. Obviously we have things to learn from the kids.

love.

DC

2009-05-06T10:07:00.001-07:00

Realized I never blogged about my DC trip. My dad had a conference in DC last week and asked me if I wanted to go with him, so of course I jumped at the chance. It was beautiful weather the first two days we were there, close to 90, then it dropped down to about 60 and rainy.

The first day me and my dad tried to find Georgetown because I had heard it had beautiful houses, and I wanted to get some good pictures. We took the Metro, turned the wrong way when we got off and ended up walking a couple miles before we realized we were by "the mall." Which was also a great place to spend the afternoon. We saw the Lincoln monument, Vietnam memorial, Korean memorial, Lincoln memorial, and lots of other stuff. It was awesome.

The next day, I decided to do a double decker bus tour. I took the Metro to Union station and headed out on my journey. The bus makes about 25 stops, and you can get off at any of them, walk around, take pictures, and catch the next bus (they come every 25 minutes). The tour, without any stops takes about 2 1/2 hours. I got a good seat up on the top and started taking some awesome pictures! I got off at the National Cathedral, but there was a service going on so I couldn't take pictures inside. It is massive, and beautiful. The craftsmanship that went into building it, and carving each pillar is amazing. I also got off in Georgetown for some lunch, and found a cute little sandwich place and got an amazing chicken salad sandwich. Overall it was an awesome tour, got an awkward suntan, and some pretty good pictures.

On Wednesday me and my dad headed back to the National Cathedral, because I wanted him to see it and I wanted to take pictures inside. It's hard to even describe how huge it is, and how intricate the designs are inside. I'll add some pictures so you can feel like you were there!

It was an awesome time, I love going on trips with my dad. We always have fun, and find cool places to eat and see. I found a new favorite sandwich/breakfast place (Cosi) and we ate some awesome fish at a restaurant one night, and just had a good time.

Beautiful trees in bloom

So many amazing buildings

Finally made it to Georgetown and it's beautiful

The detail on the buildings is unbelievable

Loved this clock, and the building behind it

Inside the National Cathedral

Unbelievable stain glass windows, one even has moon rock in it

A new take on birthday presents

2009-04-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

My birthday is quickly approaching, and I'm reaching a new decade in my life. Which is so crazy, and I can't believe I will no longer be a "teenager" haha. I think Kyle is excited that he will no longer say "my girlfriend is nineteen." Anyways with a birthday comes presents, and I always get questions like "what do you want for your birthday" like everyone gets as that day approaches. The thing is I never know what to ask for, and especially this year because I really don't need anything. I usually just tell people "eh I don't know, whatever!" But I decided this year I was going to be more responsible with my choices.

All I really want is to spend time with the people I love and enjoy some good food. Which seems simple enough, but for so many families right now that isn't an option, and that breaks my heart. I have been volunteering out in Haltom City in various ways, and last Tuesday I was leaving The Academy at West Birdville school and saw the line out the door of people lining up for groceries at the Christian Center. It brought tears to my eyes because there are some weeks when I go to the grocery store three times and throw so many things in my cart without even a glance at the price. It also was very moving because Kyle and I have made a commitment to sacrifice one date a month and use that money to buy cans and take them out to the Christian Center. It has been such a humbling experience and taught us the importance of serving together. So as all this is running through my head, I decided that I am going to take an extra can donation out to Haltom City on Monday the 25th, so they can hand it out on Tuesday (which is my birthday how amazing is that timing). I want my birthday to bring joy to more people than just me, God has blessed my life in so many ways and He has called me to share that with those who are going through a hard time. I've told my family that if they want to add an extra donation I will be using it to buy cans. If anyone would like to donate any money, it goes to a wonderful cause and the families really appreciate it. Just let me know!

The only other thing that is on my list is a few things from Toms shoes. If you have never heard of them, let me give you a quick introduction. They started about 3 years ago after being over in Argentina and seeing all these kids with no shoes. After coming back to America, they started a shoe company with the motto "one for one" for every pair of shoes bought, they donate a pair of shoes to kids in need.They have already given over 140,000 pairs of shoes to kids in need. It is an amazing operation, with tangible goals. I love wearing my Toms because along with being comfortable, they are eye catching and I love when people ask me about them so I can tell them of the amazing company. Check them out for yourself

love.

Lip Sync

2009-04-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

NSM had their 2nd Lip Sync competition last night, and it was a blast. Their were 8 teams that competed, all with awesome acts. The admission was $3 and then there were buckets at the back for change donations to add an extra vote on to the team whose bucket collected the most money. All the money is going towards buying school supplies for The Academy at West Birdville in Haltom City. Which is a cause close to my heart. Those kids are so precious and fun to be around. I had the privileged to help with Kid's Cafe this semester, which feeds dinner to the kids who stay after school. I also just started volunteering in the Reading classroom, and had an awesome time. Each of the kids was so excited just to sit and get to read to someone, to have someone listen and show them attention.

Me and Jaime's girls had put together an awesome act in a very short period of time. I had been talking up our act, especially to Nick since his team won last year. I'm really not a stage person, but I had agreed to a very small part in the act. I enjoyed the time outside of church that we got to spend with these girls, and grow closer to them. We had many laughs, and crazy moments, just good time together.

And I am happy to announce that we are the 2009 Lip Sync Champions!! :)
We won the coveted glittery goblet of fame. Our act was a mix of Disney songs, including Be Our Guest and Part of Your World. I played the part of Belle in Be Our Guest, which was really fun. I'm hoping to put up the video of it, but I'm in DC right now and the video is in Texas so that's a bit of a problem.

I'm so proud of those girls, they are great and I love them.

love.

Excitement

2009-04-23T12:51:00.001-07:00

It's been another week filled with things to do, but it's been a great week and it's only getting better.

Sunday is NSM's Lip sync and so me and Jaime have been helping our girls rehearse and figure costumes out. I am pretty dang sure that we are going to win! :) The Lip sync starts at 6pm in the Plex, and it supports the youth trip to Mexico, so come watch us!!

Tonight Kyle and I get to go over to the Kimmel's house for game night. Not just Susan's house anymore! It's always a fun time to get to hang out, play some games, and enjoy laughs together.

Tomorrow night I'm helping with Revive, which is an awesome program at our church for families with special needs kids. It gives the parents a night out, with free child care at a place where people will love their kids. It's amazing, I love those kids and being around them. Kendra is coming on Saturday! I miss those girls and I'm so glad she's coming up here to hang out for the day.

Pretty sure the weekend will be filled with laughs and pictures, my favorite. So expect them next week.

love.

Crazy weekend

2009-04-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

My weekend was full of friends, love, food, coffee, music, laughter, and pictures--couldn't have asked for anything better!

Susan and Andrew got married on Friday, which was so beautiful and exciting. I went early with the groomsmen, and helped set everything up. It was so fun to be a part of their wedding, and just to be around for the day. I love them both, and I am so excited for them to start their life together. One lady asked me if I was friends with the bride or groom, and I said um both? And she asked me, well who did you meet first? And I said well Susan, but my boyfriend is the best man. So I'm here for both of them!! I loved all the opportunities throughout the week that I got to know some awesome ladies better. Through the bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, and setting up at the wedding.

It was a beautiful wedding, and God was definitely holding off the rain for them. We were all praying for the rain to stop, and it ended up being the perfect weather for the wedding.

Kyle caught the garter, which was really funny to see my dad's face when that happened. Pretty sure that's a ways down the road, but he is such an amazing guy! And was a great best man haha.

Saturday we did some lip sync practice with our girls--pretty sure we are going to win! Come watch us on Sunday night at the Plex!! Then me and Kyle drove down to Waco, which was a nice get a way after a crazy week. We got to see the girls, and eat Rudy's which is delicious BBQ. Of course we went to Common Grounds, I just love it. I miss seeing the girls and walking to CG like every day haha, but we had a great time catching up. Then we headed over and watched Robbie Seay in concert!! :) love.

Engaging with others

2009-04-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

I just love how much patience God has, especially when it comes to realizing things He has been trying to teach us for so long. I mean if I was Him, by the second time I would be like COME ON! OPEN YOUR EYES! That's why I'm thankful God isn't created in our image, but that we are created in His.

Something He has been trying to teach me for a while now is the importance of community. While I was sick, this is what I struggled with the most, being alone all day. It made me realize how we as humans are created to be around each other and not in solitary. But I think the devil has really hooked on to the American ideal of personal space and reserved nature. After being home and at the house all day by myself, it was weird to be around people, I would want my own space or feel crowded. Just because I had been so used to being on my own. But Jesus doesn't call us to be on our own, He calls us to be in community.

During that time, even when I was feeling crowded, something in side of me was screaming out to those around me, wanting to be near them. When my mom would come home from work I would just follow her around, wanting to be close and hear her. It makes me want to go to nursing homes or hospitals and just sit with people, hear there story, tell them mine, just be close to them and connect with them. I think that is something God is calling me to do, that's one of the things He taught me through the mono. There are so many times when I get to caught up in myself and don't focus on the beautiful people around me.

It's such a beautiful moment when I realize how long God has been speaking to me about an issue, how many people He has used, how many situations big and small. It's incredible. Realizing the importance of community has been a journey, and now that I really see it I know it's been something God has wanted me to figure out for so long. From leading a DNOW group, serving at Kid's Cafe with others and connecting with those amazing kids, a couple sermons (including Dustin's dating sermon tonight), and surprisingly while running errands.

I usually make a point to say hi to the cashier or any greeters, and carry on any kind of conversation they start, but I don't usually press them for conversation. This past week so many times I've been going through the check out line, and while I'm focused on getting my money out I realize I haven't asked them how their day is and we have had no conversation beyond "hi." I know it's such a little thing, but God works in amazing ways. The thing that keeps popping in my head is when I was sick, and finally felt like I could venture out to Walmart, I got to like isle 2 and was sweaty and not feeling good. I pushed myself probably more than I should but found what I was looking for, checked out, and was leaving. There was this older Indian man at the door greeting people, and he smiled at me real big and asked me how I was doing and if I had found everything okay, and he gave me a sweet little side hug and told me to have a great day. I know he probably wasn't supposed to hug me, but it wasn't in a creepy way haha. That moment just sticks out to me because he was going beyond his job of saying "hi" and "bye" and connected with me. It brought a smile to my face, and a little joy into the pain I was feeling. After all, isn't that what all of us are called to do for each other?

love.

Life from behind a lens

2009-04-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

I have always loved photography, and spend hours looking through photo blogs. I've been debating buying a nice camera for over a year, and finally caved in a couple weeks ago. I figure since I've thought about it for so long, and bought it myself that I would be sure to use it a bunch. And I already have! I went out in my backyard the first day, and then to the park. Me and Kyle went to the zoo this weekend so I got to take some awesome animal pictures. I was a little upset because I forgot my regular digital camera to take pictures of us with (since I'm a pro at taking our picture haha)

I still have lots to learn, but it's so much fun. When we are driving now, I'm looking all around at signs and houses thinking "that would be a good picture" haha. Just wanted to share some of my favorites so far:

Easter egg funThis monkey was so funny, that is a carrot in his mouth

Giraffes

A bird

Nick sliding home :)

love.

Signposts

2009-04-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

"The kingdom also calls us to be signposts along the road of life, pointing to the reality of heaven and our King. It calls us to hold that sign up among those who suffer. The kingdom shows up, and we stand in the midst of their suffering with them and declare they are loved."

I've been reading This Beautiful Mess by Rick McKinley, it has opened my eyes to the kingdom of God all around me. There are so many times when I get too focused on myself, or my schedule, or some pain I am in, and miss out on the beauty that God has so carefully placed all around me. I love that quote that says we are to be signposts, because it just requires us to go out into the world. To go out into the world and be an example of God's love for His people. To comfort people in times of suffering, to feed those who are hungry, to talk to those who are lonely, and to love kids. Because when we experience the full kingdom of God, either when Jesus comes back in all His glory, or when we finally get to His throne in heaven, there will be no more suffering, or hunger, or loneliness, and we are to be that example to the world around us. Jesus says in Matthew 18 "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

My goal is to become less focused on myself and more focused on the creation that God has placed around me. To let go of some of my self-awareness and run around outside in the grass like a kid would do, and feel God's creation around me. And to make sure to say hi to those I cross paths with each day and to ask them how they are doing, I am never to busy to be relational to one of God's precious children.

love.

Autism Awareness Month

2009-04-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

My mama is an aid in the STARS classroom, which is for kids with high functioning Autism. The kids are in regular classrooms but come down when they need help with certain work or are having trouble in their classroom. I love hearing all her stories about the kids, the funny things they say, and their amazing abilities.

I used to go in every week when I was a senior in high school and just help out. Kyle and I had been talking about going in for a long time, because I wanted him to meet the boys. We decided to go in yesterday, and my mama told the boys we were coming in. They were so excited to hang out with Kyle (I was pretty much just along for the ride haha) and talk to someone who knew video games and movies.

We had a really good time :) Kyle played pokemon with one boy for a while and then watched another build a mix between Indiana Jones and Spongebob movie set out of legos. These boys are amazing, they all are unique and most of them have some extraordinary skill. Like memorizing movie release dates, or doing math problems in their head, or building sets out of legos. It was so nice to spend the afternoon with them, and to see a little bit of the world through their view.

It is Autism Awareness month, and I am so glad we got to hang out with these boys and see how precious they are. Autism affects 1 in 150, and is more likely to occur in boys than girls. There is a spectrum of autism, and each case is individual. But most importantly these kids are wonderful and deserve respect, love, and care. I am so thankful for my mom's job and her amazing heart for these kids.

Here's a website to check out more info on these wonderful kids http://www.autismspeaks.org/index.php

God calls us to love everyone and look for opportunities to reach out to those different than us and to share His love for them.

Babysitting

2009-04-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

So I have been blessed to find an amazing family that I have babysat for almost a year. They have two boys and one on the way. I love the time I get to spend with the boys because they have such an untainted view of the world. Everything is good, and fun, and if they fall down or get hurt they forget about it a few minutes later and are laughing again.

Yesterday was a tough day for me because of some family situations, and I was having a hard time focusing on what was going on. On my way over to babysit I was just praying that God would give me peace of mind so that I could enjoy my time with these boys and give them my full attention and love. Man God is good! We had a wonderful time, they always make me laugh. Jack is a crazy man and runs around but whenever I sit down he always comes and sits on my lap or right next to me which I love. AJ is a talker, and can remember things so well. Whenever I ask "Do you know where I ate last night?" He says "Yeah." Which always makes me laugh. Or if you say "AJ how's your snack?" He'll say, "Doing good."

I brought over plastic lizards yesterday for April Fool's Day. I thought we could play a joke on their mom when she got home and have them say "April Fool's". But AJ told me "I don't want to say that!" So we had fun just playing with them, AJ would bring it over by my face and I would pretend to freak out and he just looked at me and goes "It's not a real lizard Maddie." I guess he's more mature than I am! haha.

Being around them, and my Sunday school kids, just reminds me of the beauty of life. And I am so thankful for the time I get to spend with them doing all the fun things I enjoy...coloring, play-dough, chalk, bubbles...I mean it doesn't get better than that!!

love.

Hail!

2009-03-31T18:15:00.000-07:00

So last night we had a major hail storm. It came out of nowhere, and not at very good timing. We are getting our roof redone, so we have half the shingles off and just tarps up there. Thankfully we didn't get any water damage, and so far the they haven't found any damaged shingles. My car got a few dings on it, not surprising considering the size of the hail and the amount we got.

That's Nick holding one of the bigger pieces of the hail. He was crazy and running around the front yard picking up pieces of it. Probably not smart because the storm was still right over head with lightning hitting pretty close. But now we have hail pieces in our freezer...not too many people can say that haha ;)

New blog

2009-03-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

So I caved in and started a blog. Having extra time, it will be nice to share what is going on. Still trying to get all the kinks worked out but it's going good so far.

love.