Holy...
Brian and I are sitting here doing work and of COURSE we have the TV on, it's the background music to our always-exciting (obviously) life. Anyway, tonight the program of choice is, "So You Think You can Dance".
WOW.
These people are freaks. I'm serious. I just watched some contortionist dude bend in places that are ABSOLUTELY not supposed to do that. Seriously...I just tried to find something on YouTube to show you guys what I mean...and nothing I have found can even compare to what I just saw. Cuhraaaaaazyyyyy.
This guy totally just put Richard Kekher to shame.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
tenderhearted
A significant number of my friends are struggling right now. Interestingly enough, many of their struggles are blaringly similar. In talking with them, I have become acutely aware of my emotions. We have talked a lot about how emotional females are and how it is so difficult to keep ourselves from just masking our feelings. It's difficult to know when to act on your emotions and when to suppress them.
We were created by God in His image, right? So...with that said, we were created with TENDER hearts! God gave us hearts that can be happy, sad, and broken, and He rejoices in that. We can honor God not only in our joy and happiness, but in our sadness too. He is glorified when we are true to the hearts that He gave us. I mean, come on, even Jesus cried! In suppressing every negative feeling we have, we are denying the tenderhearted and CHRIST-LIKE spirit that God has given us.
The difficult part seems to be discernment. How can we discern which feelings are from our selfish flesh and which are a result of Christ like hearts? Although I don't have the answer, I know that the answer CAN be found from God. I KNOW that if we are seeking Him and asking Him for wisdom and discernment, He will grant those things to us. His word promises it.
Something I have learned is that my heart is SO influenced by the spirit! Yes, my flesh weighs in all the time, but when I am seeking God and asking Him to give me Godly desires I should TRUST those feelings. Sometimes, sharing those feelings will sharpen someone you love. Sometimes sharing them is the first step to resolving a situation and in doing so, allowing God's glory to overflow. We are his vessels, and when we ignore our spirit, we are robbing ourselves of something that God is trying to do within us AND through us.
This world is an intimidating place. The world tells us that beauty=size 2 jeans with a 32C, that strength=putting on a happy face and masking your struggles at all costs, and that a calloused heart is the only way to go.
God tells us that beauty is an expression of our hearts. God tells us that strength is being true to our hearts and trusting in Him to provide all we need to make it through. God tells us that a tender heart is what He desires for us, and that only when we let go of ourselves can we experience the peace that we long for. God is the ONLY one who gives us The Truth.
We were created by God in His image, right? So...with that said, we were created with TENDER hearts! God gave us hearts that can be happy, sad, and broken, and He rejoices in that. We can honor God not only in our joy and happiness, but in our sadness too. He is glorified when we are true to the hearts that He gave us. I mean, come on, even Jesus cried! In suppressing every negative feeling we have, we are denying the tenderhearted and CHRIST-LIKE spirit that God has given us.
The difficult part seems to be discernment. How can we discern which feelings are from our selfish flesh and which are a result of Christ like hearts? Although I don't have the answer, I know that the answer CAN be found from God. I KNOW that if we are seeking Him and asking Him for wisdom and discernment, He will grant those things to us. His word promises it.
Something I have learned is that my heart is SO influenced by the spirit! Yes, my flesh weighs in all the time, but when I am seeking God and asking Him to give me Godly desires I should TRUST those feelings. Sometimes, sharing those feelings will sharpen someone you love. Sometimes sharing them is the first step to resolving a situation and in doing so, allowing God's glory to overflow. We are his vessels, and when we ignore our spirit, we are robbing ourselves of something that God is trying to do within us AND through us.
This world is an intimidating place. The world tells us that beauty=size 2 jeans with a 32C, that strength=putting on a happy face and masking your struggles at all costs, and that a calloused heart is the only way to go.
God tells us that beauty is an expression of our hearts. God tells us that strength is being true to our hearts and trusting in Him to provide all we need to make it through. God tells us that a tender heart is what He desires for us, and that only when we let go of ourselves can we experience the peace that we long for. God is the ONLY one who gives us The Truth.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Welcome to the tornado in my head...
For some reason, my head is SWIRLING with random thoughts right now. gotta get them out:
I love my job. FOR real. It's awesome and I ACTUALLY look forward to going to work every day!
We had a "team party" with our vball team and tonight and decided that we're gonna start doing it once a month. It was a bunch of 20-somethings and then 72-yr-old Jack and his wife. PS- 72-yr-old Jack is a STUD vball player. I hope I can be like Jack when I'M 72.
I decided I want to live in an olllld Victorian looking house when I grow up. THey're SO cool and have so much character! I love them. There's this area in Tyler called the "Azalea District". OMGOODNESS I'm in love with it. All of the houses are super old but gorgeous and their yards are COVERED with azaleas...and a bunch of other fun landscaping. I love it. And there are parks every few blocks...it's just...GREAT.
Rileton is in Costa and I can't WAIT to hear from him! It turns out that Sarah Ford's little sister is there too! RANDOM/I'm glad he has a teeny little bit of unexpected familiarity over there with him.
This wknd is B's bday and his parentals are coming into town. I'm EXCITED bc we're taking them to this AMAZING crawfish place that some friends of ours just introduced us too. They'll be obsessed.
This is SO super gay, but I want to know SO BAD if Jessica and Tony are still dating or not!! (pathetic...I know...but it's consuming my mind!)
My mom has braces and she looks so cute.
I found out today at our trainer meeting that this summer the East Texas Crisis Center wants 2 trainers to come help with their kids day camp once a week. I am PUMPED and hope it works out bc in the car on the way home from Austin this wknd I was JUST telling B how much I miss being involved in those kinds of things like we were in Austin. It's so hard when you move to a new place to figure out where to find cool opportunities like this.
I had the greatest time in Austin this weekend. It was seriously one of the best weekends I've had in a loooooooooooooooooooooooong time. I LOVE Brian. I LOVE Austin. I'm soooo happy I got to see all the ACU ppl in New B (congrats Nugster!). I'm super happy I got to see Tbaby graduate (UT commencement is THE.BOMB.)! I loved hangin with Rileton a little more before he left for Costa. Ahhhhh it was just a super amazing weekend with gorgeous weather, lots of ppl i LOVELOVELOVE, fun time with the hubster, a church service that MOVED me....God is good :)
K...bedtime. Peace.
I love my job. FOR real. It's awesome and I ACTUALLY look forward to going to work every day!
We had a "team party" with our vball team and tonight and decided that we're gonna start doing it once a month. It was a bunch of 20-somethings and then 72-yr-old Jack and his wife. PS- 72-yr-old Jack is a STUD vball player. I hope I can be like Jack when I'M 72.
I decided I want to live in an olllld Victorian looking house when I grow up. THey're SO cool and have so much character! I love them. There's this area in Tyler called the "Azalea District". OMGOODNESS I'm in love with it. All of the houses are super old but gorgeous and their yards are COVERED with azaleas...and a bunch of other fun landscaping. I love it. And there are parks every few blocks...it's just...GREAT.
Rileton is in Costa and I can't WAIT to hear from him! It turns out that Sarah Ford's little sister is there too! RANDOM/I'm glad he has a teeny little bit of unexpected familiarity over there with him.
This wknd is B's bday and his parentals are coming into town. I'm EXCITED bc we're taking them to this AMAZING crawfish place that some friends of ours just introduced us too. They'll be obsessed.
This is SO super gay, but I want to know SO BAD if Jessica and Tony are still dating or not!! (pathetic...I know...but it's consuming my mind!)
My mom has braces and she looks so cute.
I found out today at our trainer meeting that this summer the East Texas Crisis Center wants 2 trainers to come help with their kids day camp once a week. I am PUMPED and hope it works out bc in the car on the way home from Austin this wknd I was JUST telling B how much I miss being involved in those kinds of things like we were in Austin. It's so hard when you move to a new place to figure out where to find cool opportunities like this.
I had the greatest time in Austin this weekend. It was seriously one of the best weekends I've had in a loooooooooooooooooooooooong time. I LOVE Brian. I LOVE Austin. I'm soooo happy I got to see all the ACU ppl in New B (congrats Nugster!). I'm super happy I got to see Tbaby graduate (UT commencement is THE.BOMB.)! I loved hangin with Rileton a little more before he left for Costa. Ahhhhh it was just a super amazing weekend with gorgeous weather, lots of ppl i LOVELOVELOVE, fun time with the hubster, a church service that MOVED me....God is good :)
K...bedtime. Peace.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
TONY! TONY! TONY!...
Okay, so I am totally a Tony Romo Fan. I love the guy. HOWEVER, he is THE most tone deaf person I have ever heard... well...with maybe a few exceptions from my childhood :) Some of you may know who I'm referring to...but, I digress.
Please just take a look at the following vid. It's only a minute long. However, you may only be able to stand a few seconds of it. He prob should have invited his girlfriend to help him out on this one...
And now I hand it over to Mr. Romo:
Please just take a look at the following vid. It's only a minute long. However, you may only be able to stand a few seconds of it. He prob should have invited his girlfriend to help him out on this one...
And now I hand it over to Mr. Romo:
Friday, May 9, 2008
Dear God, Thank You for Tyler...
I am way thankful for Tyler, Texas. Um...wait. Let me re-phrase. I'm just way thankful for God. DUH, right? It's just that...I have recently been let in on some pretty cool info. Apparently, God TOTALLY has a purpose for Brian and I being here. Who'd'a thunk it? haha...I know, I know. I'm pathetic. I mean...I have told people all along that I totally trust in where God leads us and am ENTHUSED to honor His will as He reveals it to us by opening and closing doors. Um...talkin the talk. Walking the walk?...not so much.
I realized that I have been treating Tyler as a short resting point on a much larger journey. But, who am I to say that it is only a rest stop? Who am I to think that I KNOW what God has planned for our future? For all I know, we could spend the rest of our lives here. I have NO idea. HOWEVER, God recently slapped me on the wrist and awakened me to the fact that I have not been ACTING faithfully. I have chosen my steps carefully, building relationship here, but with the idea in the back of my mind that it would only be temporary. Proof of my total and complete trust in Him would look more like me embracing that THIS is my home. THIS is God's will for my life right now. I should be searching and seeking His purpose for me IN THIS PLACE. DUH. I'm pretty sure a 2nd grader could have taught me THIS lesson.
Anyway, I'm excited :) I KNOW without a SHADOW of a doubt that there is an INCREDIBLE purpose for Brian and me in Tyler, Texas. Tyler, Texas is EXACTLY where we are supposed to be right now, and I am SO happy to be reminded of that. I am excited not only to continue to seek Him, but to actually LISTEN to His reponse.
Sometimes, I am so dumb.
Yay, God :)
I realized that I have been treating Tyler as a short resting point on a much larger journey. But, who am I to say that it is only a rest stop? Who am I to think that I KNOW what God has planned for our future? For all I know, we could spend the rest of our lives here. I have NO idea. HOWEVER, God recently slapped me on the wrist and awakened me to the fact that I have not been ACTING faithfully. I have chosen my steps carefully, building relationship here, but with the idea in the back of my mind that it would only be temporary. Proof of my total and complete trust in Him would look more like me embracing that THIS is my home. THIS is God's will for my life right now. I should be searching and seeking His purpose for me IN THIS PLACE. DUH. I'm pretty sure a 2nd grader could have taught me THIS lesson.
Anyway, I'm excited :) I KNOW without a SHADOW of a doubt that there is an INCREDIBLE purpose for Brian and me in Tyler, Texas. Tyler, Texas is EXACTLY where we are supposed to be right now, and I am SO happy to be reminded of that. I am excited not only to continue to seek Him, but to actually LISTEN to His reponse.
Sometimes, I am so dumb.
Yay, God :)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Prayer Request:
Got a prayer request for you guys:
Keep Rileton in your prayers. Pray for where God is leading him. Pray for God to give him wisdom and to open doors for him. Also, He's going to Costa Rica in a couple of weeks so prayyyy for safety and for God to just be moving like crazy in his heart during that time! Pray that God will give him clarity and discernment in his decision making.
K...thanks. You guys are the bomb.
Keep Rileton in your prayers. Pray for where God is leading him. Pray for God to give him wisdom and to open doors for him. Also, He's going to Costa Rica in a couple of weeks so prayyyy for safety and for God to just be moving like crazy in his heart during that time! Pray that God will give him clarity and discernment in his decision making.
K...thanks. You guys are the bomb.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Baffling
So I did an assessment for some guy at the gym today who talked to me about his weed-smoking habits for about 15 minutes like it was nooooooooo biggie. He's married with children and has absolutely no reservations about the fact that he's a pot smoker. He says he just started a year and a half ago and it's just "nice". He knows he should "probably cut back" since he's trying to get in shape, but it's his guilty pleasure...like chocolate is for hormonal women.
Umm...NO. NOT the same thing, brother. Not even close.
HA!
I was laughing slash apalled, but trying NOT to condone, while refraining from sounding judgmental. It was a tough one. I was baffled.
How weird, though, right!? Who shares their weed smoking habits in the freaking BIBLE BELT of East Texas for allll to hear?? I have to admire his honesty. Good for him. But...then again...not so good either...
Umm...NO. NOT the same thing, brother. Not even close.
HA!
I was laughing slash apalled, but trying NOT to condone, while refraining from sounding judgmental. It was a tough one. I was baffled.
How weird, though, right!? Who shares their weed smoking habits in the freaking BIBLE BELT of East Texas for allll to hear?? I have to admire his honesty. Good for him. But...then again...not so good either...
Monday, April 28, 2008
Just like new...
I finally cleaned the house this weekend. Well...some of it. Brian was outta town hunting, so I locked myself inside and cleaned the heck out of the living and dining rooms. I guess the MAJOR task was more of the organizing. Since Brian doesn't have an office for work, our house is his office. Since our house doesn't have an actual office, it is TOUGH to keep his stuff organized and in one place. Anyway, I went through giant piles of papers, mail, boxes, shoes, etc and FINALLY got the house looking beautiful and BIG and clean-the way it looked when we first moved in!
It feels SOOOO good to come home, now. YAY :)
My next big task will be the laundry room and garage. I gotta do 2 rooms at a time. It's just the way I work.
PS- I have a test Tuesday and my Lab Final on Friday...say a little prayer for me if you don't mind :)
Have a TERRIFIC week!
Peace :)
It feels SOOOO good to come home, now. YAY :)
My next big task will be the laundry room and garage. I gotta do 2 rooms at a time. It's just the way I work.
PS- I have a test Tuesday and my Lab Final on Friday...say a little prayer for me if you don't mind :)
Have a TERRIFIC week!
Peace :)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Sargeant Cune & Pretty Nicole
So, today Cune (my prophetic gym owner) trained some of the female trainers. Apparently this used to be a weekly tradish, but has kind of fallen off the map in recent months. Anywho, we're picking it back up! I'm way excited. I LOVE working out with other people. SO much more entertaining. Um...sad story though. It made me realize how NOT in great shape I am. I'll blame part of it on our pregnancy situation from the last few weeks. I was definitely not quite feeling up to par. But STILL! It felt sooooooooo good and I'm POSITIVE that I'm gonna be super sore tomorrow. And I'm way excited about that. It's been a while! At the end of the workout Cune pulled a fast one on me, though. We ran 3 miles! YUCK. I am NOT a runner. I mean, I can do it, but the THOUGHT of doing it does not excite me in the LEAST! Unless I'm at Town Lake in my beloved Austin :) We trucked through it, though, and I feel awesome and exhausted tonight! I think I'm going to sleep amaaaazingly!
I have started getting a lot closer with some of the girls who train at Premier with me. They're awesome. They have been ultra sweet and I am reallyyyy excited to continue getting to know them. I think me and 2 others, Emily & Markquette, are gonna start doing a weekly lunch. Fun :) Em and her bf of a LONG time are going through a break up and she is reallyyyy struggling, but is starting to see God working through it! Yay God :)
I talked with Cune for a while today about our miscarriage and he was superrr empathic. He and his wife went through a miscarriage at 24 weeks before they were Christians. He said it was one of the most difficult things he's ever experienced, BUT it led to him finding and accepting Jesus and ultimately has led to an amaaazing ministry that he has in Tyler! Just another example of how awesome God is, and how incredible it is to look back at our struggles and see where The Lord has been working like crazy through them.
Finally, I must post this BEAUTIFUL picture of one gorgeous actress who is a FAV of one of my best friends. Lately I have been noticing Nicole's age starting to show, but DANNNNG, this pic was taken a few days ago and that girl is bangin! So Kayla, this one's for you...
K...love you guys and hope you all have a terrific week :) Mer and Jacci...you guys have an AWESOME time together this weekend! I'll be thinkin of you 4 :) Roberto- you are in our prayers BIG TIME! T-babe, I'm prayin like crazy for your interview and for the END OF YOUR COLLEGE CAREER! Loobs- I'm writing you another letter in the morning! And, PS- I miss you! Hub- you're the bomb :)
Love <3
I have started getting a lot closer with some of the girls who train at Premier with me. They're awesome. They have been ultra sweet and I am reallyyyy excited to continue getting to know them. I think me and 2 others, Emily & Markquette, are gonna start doing a weekly lunch. Fun :) Em and her bf of a LONG time are going through a break up and she is reallyyyy struggling, but is starting to see God working through it! Yay God :)
I talked with Cune for a while today about our miscarriage and he was superrr empathic. He and his wife went through a miscarriage at 24 weeks before they were Christians. He said it was one of the most difficult things he's ever experienced, BUT it led to him finding and accepting Jesus and ultimately has led to an amaaazing ministry that he has in Tyler! Just another example of how awesome God is, and how incredible it is to look back at our struggles and see where The Lord has been working like crazy through them.
Finally, I must post this BEAUTIFUL picture of one gorgeous actress who is a FAV of one of my best friends. Lately I have been noticing Nicole's age starting to show, but DANNNNG, this pic was taken a few days ago and that girl is bangin! So Kayla, this one's for you...
K...love you guys and hope you all have a terrific week :) Mer and Jacci...you guys have an AWESOME time together this weekend! I'll be thinkin of you 4 :) Roberto- you are in our prayers BIG TIME! T-babe, I'm prayin like crazy for your interview and for the END OF YOUR COLLEGE CAREER! Loobs- I'm writing you another letter in the morning! And, PS- I miss you! Hub- you're the bomb :)
Love <3
Friday, April 18, 2008
Quick Update:
I think most of the blog world probably already knows, but I just want to make sure...
Brian and I found out OFFICIALLY that I miscarried. The baby just never developed properly, so we lost it. At this point, we are just feeling peaceful. We have suspected that this was the case for quite some time, so it feels good to have confirmation. Although we just recently found out, we started the mourning/healing process over a week ago. We were just never able to work on FINISHING it until now :) Thanks for the love/support/encouragement. We love you guys!
We are now waiting just a little while to decide what we want to do in terms of actually TRYING to get pregnant. We'd love some help praying that we are seeking God's timing and not our own :)
We're going to The Shoog this weekend for Reidster's blessing. Can't wait :) Riles will be there too, and the Curry Connection hasn't been together for quite a while!
PS- Reidy officially informed my parents this past week that he's going to San Diego State. Crazy! I think we're all sad he's going to be SO far away, but excited for a FUN opportunity!
Hope everyone's weekend rocks.
Love <3
Brian and I found out OFFICIALLY that I miscarried. The baby just never developed properly, so we lost it. At this point, we are just feeling peaceful. We have suspected that this was the case for quite some time, so it feels good to have confirmation. Although we just recently found out, we started the mourning/healing process over a week ago. We were just never able to work on FINISHING it until now :) Thanks for the love/support/encouragement. We love you guys!
We are now waiting just a little while to decide what we want to do in terms of actually TRYING to get pregnant. We'd love some help praying that we are seeking God's timing and not our own :)
We're going to The Shoog this weekend for Reidster's blessing. Can't wait :) Riles will be there too, and the Curry Connection hasn't been together for quite a while!
PS- Reidy officially informed my parents this past week that he's going to San Diego State. Crazy! I think we're all sad he's going to be SO far away, but excited for a FUN opportunity!
Hope everyone's weekend rocks.
Love <3
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