I'm Free...Free Faillin'

By far the most thrilling thing I've experienced this far. Speaking of far, this was so far outside of my comfort zone I'm not even sure what to say...cowabunga dude...hang ten...

I will say this, that it was an amazing experience and I'd totally do it again if it weren't so expensive! The jump was everything I thought it would be and more; considering I've had three years to get my expectations up about this, I was not disappointed.

So here's to my first 25 years and I'm looking forward to lots more adventures to come!

I'll get pictures up of Charlie's jump too just as soon as I can get his video!

Birthday Bash

Last Monday I turned the BIG 2-5...I can rember the first time I ever heard that phrase and it was on Full House. Stephanie Tanner was turning the BIG 1-0 and I thought she was every so clever for saying that.

Sweet Toby always makes you feel special every day but he was espeically cute on October 5th

I am loving the new Victoria Secret univeristy wear! They have the cutest A&M shirts and PJs...Mama, Daddy and Kelley had the hook up for me :-)


After a long day of driving to College Station and back to get my offical transcripts for Texas Teach the family met up at Outback Steakhouse for some yummy steak and lobster.

Sine I'll only be 25 once I wanted to document all of the things that were important to me this year...

Top 5 Things (non-human) I Couldn't Live Without
My Bible
The Internet
My favorite books
Diet Coke
Shopping

Top 5 Favorite Movies
Life is Beautiful
House Bunny
The Private Eyes
Dumb and Dumber
The Little Mermaid

Top 5 Songs I Could Listen To Over and Over Again
What do I kow of Holy - Addison Road
Anything Jack Johnson
Elevation - U2
Anything Brad Paisley
Return to Me - Dean Martin

Top 5 People Who Have Influenced Your Life in a Positive Way
Charlie - for his determination and positive attitude
Daddy - for teaching me how to set and accomplish goals
Mama - for showing me the value of loving persistence
Kelley - for being the kind of wife and mother I'd love to be someday
Kati- for being my partner in crime

Top 5 Things That Stay in Your Purse at All Times
Wallet
Sunglasses
Cell Phone
Pen
Hand sanitizer

Top 5 Moments That Changed Your Life Forever
8th grade retreat
Meeting Charlie
Graduating College
Getting Married
December 25, 2007

Top 5 Obsessions You Have Right Now
Finding random bookstores
Skydiving
Any Beth Moore bible study
Finding old movies: Swiss Family Robinson, Parent Trap with Haley Mills, Summer Magic
Decorating

5 Places You Would Like to Go
Barcelona, Spain
Lunch with the Cast of The Office
Houston's downtown resale stores:Blue Bird Circle, The Guild, The Associate League
To the Set of Seinfeld
To Sleep

Big Bend: Part I

Last March the family went on a trip we've been planning for two years. Between weddings and babies being born; this trip was put way on the back burner. Even in the crowded suburban I am happy to say we didn't take a moment of or time together for granted; I was so glad to finally be able to spend time with my family.

We were a little worried about the weather being nice once we finally made the 10 hour road trip o the park but I can honestly say it was a perfect trip. The air, crisp and clean. The sky, clear and beautiful.

After seeing this licence plate, I felt kind of convicted about complaining about our state wide trek...

We went to church on the Saturday before we reached the park. This was the sweetest country church you'll ever attend. At the end of the service the whole church sang "Happy Birthday" for all the parishioners who'd had their birthday that week. The song went something like this:
"Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday God Loves you
Happy Birthday to you..."
At first I thought this was a little too corny, even for a west Texas county church. But when I heard the last line of the song my eyes welled up with tears...God cares about our special occasions. Being the perfect parent that He is, He wants to know me intimately. He longs to give me good things and let me be amazed by His faithfulness. I know this is alot to take from a Happy Birthday song but sometimes that's all God needs to speak to us...

(Switching gears)
And you all should be glad to know Big Foot is actually masquerading in west Texas as an adorable 5 year old boy...just kidding of course, this is an action shot of Nate playing outside after church.

Daddy requested the cabin with the best view and we weren't disappointed...the view totally made up for the long hours of travel.

I lucked out and got my very own bed out of the three available in the cabin. I guess being Aunt Fuzzy does have it's perks!

And I guess God felt like showing off on our first night. The sunsets were glorious and we all know "we'll never see another one like it"!

Be Grateful

Be Grateful
for good music, for dark chocolate,
for a place to call home, for warm hugs,
for quiet time, freedom to dream,
for family time,for understanding souls,
for kindred spirits,for true forgiveness,
for sweet memories,for pink bubblegum,
for silliness, for red shoes,
for blue skies, for every breath,
for sunshine on your face, for a child's laughter,
for God's grace

What do you believe?

"I believe life is more than survival.
I believe the heart is more than a muscle.
I believe we can know right from wrong.
I believe in hope and freedom.
I believe my life can make a difference.
I believe the message of the cross.
What do you believe?"

This past weekend I got to share a very special experience with my dad...an Aggie Football Game. We drove up Saturday afternoon watched A&M BTHO New Mexico, 41 to 6. I have been so blessed to be able to spend so much time with my parents this summer...Big Bend with Daddy, D.C. with Mama ...While the circumstances aren't the best in the world I have treasured our time together. Through a messy situation God is giving me gifts of beautiful memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. While I should be thankful for the good times my flesh still wishes for more. And I wish for so many things:

I wish I didn't have to drive 30 minutes each way to work
I wish I would have nurtured my faith walk sooner.
I wish I wouldn't have tried to pick up the pieces by myself.
I wish things were different...

But as the saying goes, "your back bone has to be stronger than your wish bone." And God specializes in messes. Even the ones we walk directly into and I want to be part of God's clean up process. I could choose to thrown myself on the floor and cry, “It’s not fair,” and I may gain some sympathy but it certainly won't change the fact there's a mess to deal with. I believe God is leading me to something higher and where that leads I do not go alone. God promises in Joshua 1:5 “I will never leave you or forsake you.” I am thankful I'm not designed to work alone; Christ is always there holding me up, showing me the sneaky messes that like to hide and giving me to courage to confront them. Working with the Lord is not easy; He is so thorough and I am always pushed to grow but I'd rather work with Him because alone I'll only make a bigger mess. Through Christ I can move from just wishing to belief that no matter how stinky or deep my mess may be I never have to work alone.

The Rock

Have you ever been rock climbing? Like "legit" rock climbing outside on an actual mountain?
That is a goal for me but for the sake of safety I figure I need to start slowly and with professional help from the savvy people at Texas Rock Gym:-)

Although I've never personally experienced climbing out in the elements I have gotten to see some amazing "mountains" in Big Bend this past March; amazing by Texas standards. Seeing them from a distance I could tell places were jagged and trecherous.

When we'd hike go hiking up the steeper trails you could tell the wind got stronger and the air thinner. Take that description and multiply it a few million and then I imagine you'll get something close to Everest. These past few months I've felt like that's what Charlie and I have been tackeling...Everest.

It is a dangerous mountain that at times mocks our desire to climb it. It is a route with no consideration for struggle or self-pity.
It can be scary and lonely and dark.
Have you ever been here? Have you ever felt like you were in over your head before you even began?
I’m standing in a spot very familiar to me...the beginning.
I have made several attempts to get my grip on places that will not give way so I can truly make progress.
I back up to have a clearer perspective of the terrain and find the right niche where my fingers can slip through.
It seems like I'm missing the mark with each reach. I can hear the voice of the enemy saying too closely, "You can never reach the top. You're too weak. You can't even get off the ground. This is too hard."
And he's right...alone, We'll never be able to make the assent.
Alone, our measly progress leaves us emotionally exhausted and disoriented.

“What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?” ~ Job 6:11
I think, I’ll pray more. I'll try harder. I'll choose the higher ground, I'll just be better somehow...
But that road is wide and will never lead to what is on the other side of the summit.
I want to dance through this valley with grace and trust. To fight the good fight and prove I'm up to the task of making the climb. I want to see the beautiful prize beyond the heart ache.
What will it take?
Grace.

We receive grace from a God who died to bring us restoration.

“I will restore to you the years the swarming locust has eaten.” ~ Joel 2:25

We praise a God who championed Calvary so we wouldn’t have to climb alone.

He pulls us close and tells us, we are His children, He loves us and his will is for us to get to the other side.

We catch glimpses of it. We can almost taste it.
But the climb isn't over and this time we're not alone.
Jesus is there to hold and protect us. We just have to surrender our selfishness, our worries and be available to be carried. Just because it is hard doesn't mean we're alone, but are safe in His arms.

Summa Time III: Sack Hounds

Toby is wonderful company for me. From evening walks to playing with his mailman doll (thanks to Karen and Toby our sponsor couple from our wedding) we have a great time together. One of the many reasons why I love him is that we connect through an activity near and dear to my heart...NAPPING!

Here we are in M.P. when he was just 2 months old...

and then in College Station last Christmas when he was about 4 months. No matter what mischief he may have gotten into my heart instantly softens when I see these cuddly pictures. No doubt he is the laziest dog in the morning...he likes to stretch, yawn really big and then plop back down on his little doggie bed. Some times we actually have to carry him outside to go potty in the morning....but believe this "thatz only in da monin" the rest of the day he's heck on wheels!