Thankful Reflection

This was a challenging week.  Joey is in his second week of work in Fort Worth out of six for the summer, and our best "Waco friends" officially moved to Dallas on Monday.  The two combined have made it feel like our life is in transition right now.  With one more year of school left, and the hardest year at that, I have spent a lot of time thinking, and sometimes worrying, about where we will end up and what God has in store for our lives. 

Joey and I are reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren together this summer while we are apart, and the thing I keep coming back to is God telling me that life is not on hold because I feel like we are in transition.  We are to live fully where ever we are and in whatever we are doing.  I am such a planner and think so often about the future that sometimes I get too concerned about what is to come and loose sight of being thankful for where I am now.  I like my ability to dream and think ahead, but sometimes I think Satan uses it to distract me from opportunities God is giving me now.  In the book there is a poem by Russell Kelfer that inspired me to focus on the sovereignty of God.

You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God.

So, in effort to focus on the purpose God has for me right here and now, I have challenged myself to focus on the things that remind me how blessed we are.  My goal is to just take it week by week- and sometimes day by day, and to be thankful for the little happy's that God gives me along the way.  It is easy to get overwhelmed with fear of the unknown.  So, in focusing on the little things that I can be thankful for right now, I plan to stay positive and hopefully not miss opportunities He is giving me now.


These are the things I am thankful for this week:
1. Time we got to spend in Brenham on vacation with Joey's mom and sister.
2. Joey took care of as many of the manly house chores that he normally handles as he could before he left on Sunday.
3. Shay Bear sent me an early birthday present in the mail with a sweet note of encouragement.
4. Mom texted and called to check on me a few times. :)  I felt loved.
5. Dancing with the Stars finals was on Monday and Tuesday and Hines & Kym won!
6. Season premier of the Bachelorette was on Monday night!
7. Text messages this week from Megan letting me know she already misses me and is excited about us visiting this weekend.
8. The book I'm reading right now, The Rainmaker by John Grisham, got really good!
9. A productive week at work and a job that I enjoy and challenges me to grow.
10. I got to spend a lot of time with Harley after work this week, and I am very thankful that she is part of our family.
11. This is a long weekend for Memorial Day.  I am leaving tonight to be in Dallas Friday through Monday to spend time with my hubby, grandparents, and friends!  Yay for long weekends! 

Hope your holiday weekend is filled with a chance to relax and spend time with family and friends!

DWTS Finals

Tonight was Part 1 of the Dancing With the Stars finals, and I am finally decided!  I have really had a hard time ranking my top three.  They are all so different, so it's been hard.  I like all three of the stars that made it to the finals, but Hines and Kym have risen to the top as my favorite!  I just love the energy and genuineness they always bring, and their free-style dance tonight was really fun!  The judges have Hines & Kym and Chelsie & Mark tied at first, so the viewer votes will determine the winner.  All my votes went to Hines.  The results are on tomorrow night, so we'll see!

Weekend in Brenham

We enjoyed a fun little get-away to Brenham, Texas this weekend with Momma Hance and Jennifer.  Carol planned this weekend vacation for us to all get away and relax together a few months ago, and it was fabulous!  She rented the cutest country house for us all to stay in right outside of Brenham.  It had all the personal touches of southern hospitality that made it a really neat place to stay.  They even stocked the refrigerator with breakfast fixings before we got there including these homemade Pecan Pie Muffins that were very yummy!  See the recipe below.  Scenic Hill Vacations has many cabins that they rent out to guests.  We stayed at The Farmhouse.  See pictures of the cute house here.  It was the perfect place for a family vaction.

We all arrived on Friday afternoon, and after exploring and doting about the house we went to dinner at BT Longhorn Saloon & Steakhouse in downtown Brenham.  Yum!  Then we went to the movie theatre to see the new Pirates of the Carribean movie that just came out.  We finished off our first day of vacation enjoying a glass of wine on the porch at our house.  I'm feeling relaxed just thinking about it!

Saturday morning we slept in, had breakfast, and headed to downtown Brenham to enjoy local shopping.  We had lunch at a cute diner called "Must be Heaven", and it certainly was heavenly!  Great sandwiches and homemade pie... We left there a few pounds heavier for sure, but it was well worth it!  We shopped a little more and then went to the local "Pleasant Hill Winery" for a tour and tasting.  This was my first visit to a winery so I enjoyed it.  Then we went back to the house and enjoyed a few hours of reading in the hammock out front and playing games.  This place had several perfect spots for kicking back with a good book, but was also stocked with every game you could want to play which made it perfect because Joey doesn't sit still very well on vacation, and I love to get lost in a good book with beautiful senery surrounding me.  That night we headed back into town for dinner at this amazing little Italian place called "Volare".  To say that we ate well on this trip would be an understatemnt.  The night ended with an air hockey tournament back at the house that got a little rowdy to say the least.  Hance's are competitive in case you didn't know!

On our last day in Brenham we made it to a few of the little stores we didn't get to the day before and enjoyed another good meal at the "Bread Basket Cafe".  I decided to buy a antique trunk that we had spotted the day before on sale for only $25. 

It has a lot of character and is a perfect momento from our great weekend.  We brought it home and found a newspaper in it from Missouri dated in 1973.  How cool!  We ended the day with another visit to "Must be Heaven" for one last sweet treat before we packed up and hit the road.

Thank you, Momma Hance, for an amazing weekend!  We enjoyed it very much and loved spending time all together.

Jennifer, Joey, Me, and Carol

Pecan Pie Muffins

recipe courtesy of Scenic Hill Vacations

2 eggs

1 1/2 sticks of melted butter

1/2 cup of flour

1 cup of chopped pecans

1 cup of light brown sugar

Mix together sugar, pecans, and flour.  Blend the butter and eggs, then add to the dry ingredients.  Use a mini muffin cup pan.  Grease and flour each cup, and then add the batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

A Bittersweet Week

This is the Roush's last week before they move to Dallas and start a new journey with a church in Coppell.  We have known they would be leaving for several months, but I can't believe the time has come.  Joey and I love the Roush's and count Rich and Megan as some of our closest friends.  Our friendship began about 2 years ago when we met in the same premarital education class.  From the beginning we shared many things in common preparing for summer weddings, being newly weds, Joey and Rich being in school, and Megan and I both working for non-profits.  Not only could we relate to being at similar stages in life, but quickly learned we watch several of the same shows on tv, were both getting high-energy puppies that have since become best friends, and attend the same church in Waco where we became part of a newly wed Sunday School class together .  Our time spent together with the Roush's has been marked with so many great memories.  Though they will be in another city, I know we will remain close friends. 

Megan and I have had to take turns reminding each other to focus on God's goodness through this transition.  The decision to move and begin this new journey of ministry has God's handiwork apparent all over it.  I know the Rosh's will do amazing things in their new community, and I look forward to hearing about the lives they touch.  I look foward to our continued friendship, though it may look a little differenly than watching The Bachelor together every Monday night and Grey's Anatomy on Thursdays, and letting the dogs play together on nights when they have way too much energy for us to handle.  We may not take turns cooking for each other every week or get to go on double dates quite as often, but you can bet our cars are going to have a few extra miles on them and our phones are going to get a little more use because our friendship will continue.  We are so blessed to know Rich and Megan and look forward to many more memories in the future.

First Kiss

This is too funny! I think mom and dad have a little player on their hands... I saw this on Good Morning America this morning and had to share.

The Last 5 Dancing

Dancing with the Stars is what I look forward to on Monday nights.  I love the live music, the great costumes, the lights, the excitement and sometimes drama of a live show, and the overall energy. The judges are of course also a big part of the entertainment on this show.  Though Joey does not watch the show with me, he even laughs at the boisterous comments from Bruno when he sees bits in passing.  I love Carrie Ann's honesty and the way she emotionally connects to the story of many of the dances.  Len is usually very fair despite his super traditional preferences in choreography, and his British accent just makes him  fun to listen to.

 This season did not have me as excited as others have when it comes to the celebrities that would be dancing, but I have come to love the Final Five.

Chelsea Kane & Mark Ballas

Chelsea has been one of my favorites from the beginning.  I didn't know who she was before the show, but she is a star from the Disney Channel.  I think she is just so cute, and the routines that Mark choreographs for them are always really creative.  He definitely thinks outside of the box and their edgy performances never fail to entertain, but have sometimes gotten them flack from the judges.  I am rooting for Chelsea and Mark to go all the way!

Kirstie Alley & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Who doesn't love Kirstie?  She is hilarious!  I love watching the segments from her and Max's week of practice.  She is definitely motivated and works hard, but she can laugh at herself which is totally refreshing.  She and Max have had a few mishaps during live performances, but the way Kirstie deals with them make her a winner.  She cracks me up and I am rooting for her to stay around!

Romeo & Chelsie Hightower

Romeo is known for his swagger that he brings to the dance floor.  Even in technical ballroom dances he finds ways to make it his own and let his personality shine through.  I think that is what makes viewers love him.  He is young, but works hard and always has fun.

Ralph Macchio & Karina Smirnoff

Ralph is one that I did not recognize when the show started.  His claim to fame is his role as the original Karate Kid.  He is now a dad in his forties and doesn't look like much to worry about in this competition, but has been on the top a couple of weeks in this season.  He works hard and has great technique.  He is an actor, so most of the time his performances are good too.  We'll see how far it can take him!

Hines Ward & Kym Johnson

Hines and Kym are both so cute!  Hines is a football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers and has a surprising gracefulness on the dance floor.  I think of professional football players as intimidating and rough, but Hines is the opposite of that on this show.  He always looks like he is having fun and his smile lights up their performances.  He is a hard worker too.  More than once there have been clips of him practicing his steps at home in the evening with a pillow as his dance partner.  Hines just seems like a nice and genuine guy.  I am definitely rooting for Hines and Kym!

So, the top three that I would love to see in the finals in a couple of weeks.... Chelsea, Hines, and Kirstie.  We'll see!  I am off to see how they do tonight.... 

Easter Celebration

Easter did not come and go without significance for me this year.  I am sad to say that I believe it probably has in the past.  I was reflecting on the holidays that we as Christians celebrate, and it struck me in a new and refreshed way that Easter is the greatest of them all!  I love Christmas and all of the festivities that begin right after Thanksgiving and carry on throughout the whole month of December.  There is an excitement and anticipation that no one can deny surrounding Christmas.  I love celebrating birthdays and if you would have asked me before what my favorite holiday was, I would have told you without hesitation- Christmas.  But, this year it was really my prayer that Easter would resonate with my soul.  That it would not just come and go with the normalcy of any other weekend. 

We had a wonderful and meaningful Easter weekend.  Joey did not have class on Friday, and while I did not get the day off from work, I had some comp time to make up from events I have had lately, so only worked in the morning.  We spent the late afternoon and early evening at the Roush's.  They were babysitting their sweet niece, so we got to meet her and join them for dinner.  After that we came home to watch The Passion.  I have seen the movie a couple of times, but not very recently.  It really stirred up some emotion in me, and the awe of the sacrifice Christ made for me resonated strongly. 

Saturday was filled with some quality time for me and the hubs and we got to watch Tegan for the Roush's for the day.  Meg and Rich came over for dinner, and then Joey and I got our Easter eggs ready to hunt the next day.  We each bought a package of 12 eggs that we were going to fill with coupons and candy for each other to hunt on Easter.  I grew up with young siblings, so hunting eggs on Easter is a tradition that I don't plan to quit anytime soon.  Don't our eggs suit us perfectly?

Sunday morning we went to church and enjoyed a wonderful worship service.  I love to see everyone in their new Easter clothes squeezing into the full sanctuary.  The fresh Easter lilies lining the stage and the hymns that are so appropriate to celebrate a risen Savior fill me with excitement.  In Sunday School we studied in detail the death and Resurrection of our Lord.  I love the new things that jump off the page with meaning when we study scripture in a group with fellow believers.  It is such a cool thing when we are able to see a story we have studied for years with a new and refreshing wonder. 

Joey and I came home from church and hunted for the Easter eggs we had hidden around the house for each other.  It was pretty fun, and sometimes challenging to remember where we had hidden them when one of us needed a clue.  :)

Then, the Roush's came over and Meg and me cooked a big Easter lunch for us all.  Even the dogs got bones.  It was a meaningful and refreshing Easter weekend around here that made me thankful for many things, but especially for the holiday that reminds us to meditate and remember the price that was paid for our sins.  He is Risen and we are Free!  We sang, In Christ Alone, at church on Sunday.  It is one of my favorite hymns!  We sang it at our wedding as well.  The lyrics are a perfect way to worship our Risen Savior.

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless Babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From a life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Could ever pluck me from His hand

'Til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I stand

Peter Cottontail Update

Well friends, our little Peter Cottontail bunny is no longer with us.  The next day we found him laying next to Harley in the yard again.  I shooed her into the house to make an assessment.  He was breathing, but this time, didn't look so good.  Poor guy got caught by our puppy again and didn't make it.  Within a few minutes he wasn't breathing anymore.  Joey scooped him up in a box and gave him a burial.  We are sad for the little guy, but happy he is at peace now.  No more trauma by a husky dog for him.

Our Visit from an Easter Bunny

This visit from the Easter Bunny came early and not with cute little eggs filled with candy.  Yesterday, right about the time I got home from work, I was on the phone with my mom, Joey was studying, and Harley was outside in the backyard.  Joey came out of the study and looked at Harley through the window.  He saw her playing with something, so he opened the door to get a better look.  She picked up the little fluffly thing she had been playing with and took off.  Joey yelled at me that she had an animal!  I screamed, told my mom I'd call her back, and joined the chase.  The animal in her mouth is making the most horrible sqeaking sound.  I thought I heard the squeaking from inside earlier, but in the distraction of getting home and being on the phone just wrote it off as a toy.  Harley is very fast and her favorite game is keep-away.  So, we are yelling all kind of things- "No!", "Sit!", "Bad Girl!", "Harley, Come!", "Wanna Treat?"... and she is just sprinting circles around the backyard.  Finally, we coordinated our efforts and got Harley cornered.  She didn't want to drop the new toy she'd found, but finally Joey pried her mouth open and this is what fell out...

OH MY GOSH, right?!  This sweet tiny little baby bunny was covered in slobber and so scared!  We shoved Harley inside the house and tried to figure out if the little guy was ok.  There was no blood and despite being shocked almost to death I'm sure, he was moving a little, so I was hopefull he would make it.

I wrapped him in a towel and left him alone in the shade on our porch to calm down.  We went and got on the internet to read about these little guys and it didn't look good for our little Peter Cotton Tail.  There were articles about how fragile life is for these little guys and about how they often don't make it through a traumatic experience because the stress overwhelms them, or that they can't make it on their own if they are too young to be separated from momma bunny.  But, we had no idea how old he was and hoped for the best!  After about an hour I could see he was moving around a bit and decided to take him back up on the hill in our back yard.  We looked around for a nest and didn't find one, but thought he must have come from under the fence up on top of the hill.  We checked on him periodically last night and he made it back under the fence, so I am hopefull he made it!  I felt so awful for this poor little guy.  I know Harley just thought he was a fun little toy.  I mean his squeak sounded exactly like the way her toys squeak!  But, this little Easter Bunny had no idea what he was in for when he ventured into our backyard.  I picture him making it back to his home and telling all his friends to steer clear of that backyard with the black and white furry beast.  

Joey was proud of his little hunter and I was horrified that our puppy could have been a murderer.  I realize now that she just thought little Peter Cotton Tail was a fun new toy and had no idea she was harming a live baby animal.  We are still hoping the Easter Bunny visits our house this weekend, but understand if he decides to stay away.  Happy Easter week! 

Go March for Babies!

It's that time of year again!  We have our Waco March for Babies walk coming up this weekend.  I have been super busy getting ready for it this week, but wanted to let you know I probably won't appear here again until next week.  I would appreciate your prayers for sanity, calm nerves, and a successful event.  This is my third year to run March for Babies and I can't believe how much I've learned and how much our event has grown.  I am fortunate to love my job (most of the time) and the organization I work for.  You know I enjoy putting on events, and my job allows me to do that for a great cause.  Helping ensure that all babies get a healthy start is what the March of Dimes is all about.  If you would like to donate to our team or join us, I have posted the link below.  Thanks for your support!

http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1500530

Go March for Babies!