My New Family

Last weekend we went to Jeff's annual family reunion. I've never been to a family reunion before - unless this past Thanksgiving counts - cause there are only 8 of my family members still living and it would be a pretty small affair. So, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it was SO fun!!! We had a great time and it is crazy how huge Jeff's family is. His dad is one of 8 siblings and his dad's dad is one of 7 - so you do the math. I think there was something like 105 people there! They had a skeet shoot, Johnny (Jeff's Dad) won 1st place and Jeff came in a very close 2nd!


This is Jeff's Dad & Paw Paw at the shoot

Then we went to a big dinner and there was a dance and everything! It was really fun!

Playing with the fake sheep at the restaurant


cow roping....pulling


Me & the Hus


The Priours! =)


me & Jeff at his Uncle's house on his birthday!!! He's a quarter of a century old now!

St. Patrick's Day

I’ve never heard the story of St. Patrick before, and want to share it with you in preparation for St. Patrick ’s Day next week. Normally all I meditate on over this day is making sure I have something green on, but this year I want to meditate on the life of this man and how his life tells the story of the worth of Jesus above all else.
St. Patrick was actually a missionary slave. He was captured at age 16 and taken to Ireland where he lived as a slave for the next 6 years. While in captivity he grew in his faith. Patrick also learned the Celtic language and about the Celtic religion of Druidism. After 6 years of slavery he heard a voice in his dreams one night that told him ‘You will return to your own country.’ And a few nights later the voice said ‘See, your ship is ready’ so the next morning he got up, walked 200 miles to the ocean and got on a ship that was waiting for him. After his escape he went to France and joined the monastery where he eventually became a bishop. Again he had a vision where a group from Ireland spoke in one voice asking him to ‘Come.’ Against the wishes of his family, because it was well known that escaped slaves were woven into giant wicker baskets and burned over a fire, he returned to the land of his captivity in hopes of bringing the Gospel. Because he learned language and culture while in captivity, he was able to communicate the Gospel in ways that the Irish could connect with. His life was threatened several times and his death was even decreed, but he kept preaching and finally the King gave him an audience in which he shared the good news and performed some miracles. The King and members of his family became Christians – legend has it this is where Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity. By the time of his death Patrick had converted nearly the entire Island and disproved the Druids they had once followed. This is the prayer of St. Patrick

As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart
of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth
of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen

This story was taken from Stan Park’s article: God’s Redemptive History.

There are several things I find fascinating and convicting about this story. Patrick was captured at such a young age and spent 6 years as a slave not cursing God but growing in his faith and training himself to hear God’s voice. Then when God miraculously frees him and tells him there is a ship waiting for him Patrick just walks out of captivity and heads toward the ocean… for 200 miles. I’m pretty sure after the first 5 I would have decided I was crazy and that there was no ship. I LOVE the things that faith requires from us! God didn’t teleport Patrick to the ocean or tell him exactly how far he would have to go to find the ship, or give him the ships coordinates – he just told him he would be free and that there would be a ship. And Patrick trusted him – for 200 miles and he was not disappointed. THEN he goes to the monastery works his way up and is eventually a bishop when he senses God calling him to return to the land of his captivity. He knows what is at stake and has every reason to NOT return, and he goes anyway. He is NOT initially well received, he suffers at the hands of the people he is trying to reach but he does not give up. There is even an edict issued for his death, which I presume that the King would know something about, and even still he gains an audience with the King and the whole royal family is converted! I have to believe that has something to do with the tremendous amount of suffering that Patrick was subjected to and yet he did not waver or turn back – that says something about the great worth of Jesus above all worldly things.
P.S. – St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, that is next Monday and it is during holy week this year – how appropriate.

love dance

I saw this painting online a few months ago and decided I wanted to paint it for our bedroom. It didn't turn out like I thought that it would, but I think I still like it.

The Ranch!

Jeff is always talking about this imaginary 'ranch'. I mean for the last 8 years I've heard about Pittsburgh and pine trees, tractors and the ranch house ... but I'd never seen it. Until last weekend! He finally took me to the ranch, and it turns out that it does exist - I even took pictures to prove it.


Jeff's grandpa bought this ranch when his kids were little, his family name is Abney.


The ranch hand himself. Jeff set up targets for us and I shot a 22... and hit his target instead of mine... even though I was aiming at mine.


we watched the sunset from the back porch and grilled hamburgers....errr I sat on the porch and Jeff grilled burgers.

Man, I got this hilarious video of us driving through the pasture with the cows and them going CRAZY because they thought we were going to feed them and I've never seen cows go crazy before... but in the midst of the craziness I somehow deleted the video - but it was pretty dang funny.

Since you are dying to know..

I was tagged by Kasey Berry, so here goes:

10 years ago:
I was in 8th grade at Kaffie Middle School. I had recently become a Christian and started going to First Baptist Church Corpus Christi. I was dating the guy of my middle school dreams – Mike Gonzalez =o) This was also the stage where I listened to Silverchair or WOW 1997 and wore metallic blue Doc Martins … and thought they were Awesome!

Things on my to do list today:
According to my Outlook Calendar…
Absolutely nothing – that’s sad, I guess that would explain why I am doing this at work instead of work.
I need to book lodging and rental cars for some Doctors, go work out, make dinner, get some canvases to finish my paintings, send Elyse some wedding pics, get in touch with the Caller Times, Call Chelsea, mail the last of the thank you notes.

What would I do if I was suddenly became a Billionaire?
Laugh… a lot. And then I would give lots of money to Organizations and people that I like such as: The Courtney’s, Bertrand’s, Buy Shoes Save Lives, Bread for The World, International Justice Mission, The Simple Way, Fair Trade Commission, Mission Waco/Arlington, Frontiers, Blood Water Mission, The One Campaign, Hillary Clinton… just kidding, Jubilee Project, Invisible Children… etc. Then I would try to find ways to fund other energy sources, like windmills, and solar energy. I would pay off my college loans, pay off my parent’s debt, buy a hybrid car, and let Jeff do his investing thing.

Three of my bad habits:
Going days without actually drinking any water
Messing with my hair
Speaking before I think… or speaking against my better judgment

Five jobs I have had:
Behavioral Health Logistics Coordinator at Staff Care, Inc.
Administrative Assistant Farmers Insurance
Gymnastics Coach at FLIPS
Receptionist Mattson Financial Services
Mentor/Tutor at Brazos Middle School with Waco READS

Five things people don't know about me:
I had to really think about this b/c I’m a pretty open book…
1. When I was really little I had to wear a special shoe on my foot because I was pigeon toed
2. I am somehow distantly related to Will Rogers
3. Sometimes I like to watch celebrity gossip shows…
4. I can’t remember world leaders… even when I try. It doesn’t matter how much I’ve heard about them or how many times I see their name, I will inevitably forget
5. I went to jump rope camp in 7th grade… and was in a group of 6-10 year olds.

I tag: Chelsea, Michelle, & Beth G.

good weekend

I just had a really great weekend! But not the kind that makes me dread going to work tomorrow, the kind that makes me excited about moving forward and leaves me feeling refreshed and happy. There wasn't anything eventful about it really, it was just what I needed. On Friday we made dinner and watched Michael Clayton, it is a pretty good movie. And as usual I went to bed early on Friday - I'm alway so tired at the end of the week! I woke up early Saturday because I can't help it and went to go work out at the place in the apartment complex. I worked out way longer than usual because the Obama vs. Clinton debate was on TV and I was intrigued. Then Jeff woke up and we made breakfast and watched the final episodes of season 1 of 24. I decided I don't really like that show, but that's another story. Then I got ready and made a casserole and fruit salad and Jeff made brownie pie and we went to hang out with the soon to be Mr. & Mrs. Ryan McCrady (they are getting married in 3 weeks!). Ryan grilled these massive steaks on the grill - it was INCREDIBLE! Oh yeah! .... sidenote: funny story of Saturday. So, Jeff is in the shower and I'm just picking up around the apartment and I sneezed really loudly and he thought I was screaming so he jumps out the shower with soap all over his face and hair and runs into the bedroom (where I am) and is like 'WHAT'S WRONG?!'... I can't figure out why he thinks I'm hurt so I'm just staring at him and then I realized he thought I was yelling and we laughed hysterically and he got back in the shower. Then today was pretty relaxed, I decided I wanted to paint some pictures for our living room, so I did that while Jeff was watching his mandatory defensive driving video. sidenote: all weekend Jeff was giving me random driving facts like, 'Did you know that there are 18 million vehicles registered in the state of Texas?'. So, I painted a picture, it will be the first of three for the living room, here it is:

We also went for a walk today, because the weather was BEAUTIFUL! While we were walking we found this old softball field and I was reminding Jeff of how we used to go play softball after school just for fun. We ended up going back to the apt and getting bats and gloves and going to the store to buy some balls. We went back to the field and had so much fun playing catch and hitting, or swinging if you are me. =o)
Tonight I was just relaxing and thinking about how happiness is a choice. This isn't anything revolutionary, it is just easy for me to allow myself to become a victim of my circumstances and not CHOOSE my attitude. I'm really happy this weekend and excited about my job, going to First Baptist Arlington, meeting new people, being a wife and building our life together. AND I got my haircut last week! It's not a 'cute married haircut' (case in point: Chelsea) but it is shorter than it has been, and I have a new love/hate relationship with my bangs. Here's a picture of the hair:

Jeff is cracking me up, he is sitting here talking defensive driving, 'Did you know Texas has the most bridges in the United States?...WOW, there are 301,000 miles of roads in Texas.'

Title

I can't think of what to call this post? It is a coming out of hibernation of sorts. I haven't posted in a while because I'm not sure what to say... I'm still not, but thought I'd give it a try anyway. Sometimes I feel like in order to be ABLE to post on here I have to have some kind of news, event, story to share - and I don't really... I just want to process. So, you've been warned:
Life is different. Seems obvious enough - get married, move to new city, start new job... life will be different. Some days the adjustment isn't really a big deal, and other days I can't stand it, but life goes on and it gets better.
I feel like I should preface anything else I'm about to say with, marriage is great - I love being married and my husband is incredible. That being said, I miss my friends, I miss my team, I miss Waco and Woodway, and being familiar with everything. All in all I think it was pretty necessary for us to move away and I can see ways we have grown individually and together already that would have been a lot more difficult had we not moved.
I have felt in a way that I haven't in a long time (probably since I was living in Turkey) that NOTHING can satisfy except for Jesus. It is easy when Jeff is really the only friend that I have in the Bedfordish area, or see daily to want him to meet my needs and want him to satisfy me. And he can't... I mean, he can in the immediate kind of way, but not in the deep, sustaining way that my soul longs for. And for the first time in my life, I'm having to choose Jesus daily without anyone (husband excluded) around me spurring me in that direction on a daily basis. Honestly, I pretty pridefully expected that I wouldn't struggle with that choice, but I have, a lot, and there have been several days I have not chosen wisely.
Ultimately, I'm thankful for this time (however long it lasts) because I KNOW now that my hope, my joy, my Jesus does not rely on my home group, my roommates, my teammates, my friends or any other of life's circumstances. I would have said I believed that... but it has been good to be tested in that and see what I'm really standing on. Truthfully, I have stood on many of your shoulders and have felt kind of empty without you - but I know it isn't YOU that makes me stronger, it is Jesus IN you and even when you aren't with me I still have access to that kind of strength...but it doesn't come as naturally as it did beside you. That's really all I've been wanting to say...I miss you, but I'm feeling disciplined and refined in a way that reminds me of the gracious Father love of God that is always calling us to wholeness and holiness. And that's a good feeling, I haven't felt the burning fires of refinement in a while... and it hurts and the pain reminds me to be soft and moldable. It is good.