This Will be Random

Okay, so let's just be honest, I have had no desire to blog whatsoever the past week. I'll peak in here and there, but I just haven't been in the blogging mood. I've actually been in quite some mood since after the 1st. It's just kind of a funk mood. I don't know really how to explain it, and I don't have any reasoning for it, it just is. I mean, my mind has been going ninety to nothin' on some different things, nothing big, just thinking about a lot, so that could contribute to the funkiness that is my personality as of late, but whatever it is, I am ready to shake it.

Not to toot my horn or anything, but I am normally a spit-fire kind of girl. Not to reserved, kind of loud and obnoxious. Who knows, maybe this mood is to give my peeps a break! Insert laugh here.

On top of that, there just hasn't been much to blog about, so why try to make something up?

However, I figured that it was probably time to attempt at least a random blog. So, here goes my life since last Thursday.

Friday: After sleeping in, I joined Jen for a Chinese lunch. It was much needed and SO good. I think the last time I ate Chinese food was before Thanksgiving. And folks, if you knew how many times a week Chinese food was apart of my diet, you would think that was a sin. And indeed, it was. Needless to say, I inhaled it. Okay, now I can't even remember what I did the rest of the day. Pitiful.

Saturday: I joined the lovely Claire for an early showing of Marley & Me. So cute and so unbelievably emotional. It's amazing to me how attached you can get to a dog you don't even know. After the movie we hung out with her sweet family at her house and made a delicious Italian dinner. It was so good and I felt so domestic.

Sunday: It was our first Sunday back since the holidays as a youth group, so it was nice to see our precious cherubs and talk all about the holiday's. Bless their hearts, they were so not ready to go back to school the next day. That night I made my normal trek over to HFBC and heard a wonderful message from Curtis Jones. It was fun hearing him for the first time (besides LIT) in a more "teaching" kind of setting and he did great! And he also cracked me up. Home dude is funny! One thing he said that has so stuck with me and that I have pondered over is that when we taste our weakness, it pushes us past our pride/comfort zone into a place of spiritual growth! Amen! I pray we never grow stagnant in our walk and that we would get pushed into a place of spiritual growth. Oh, that we would be willing to do what it takes! It has been such a treat to hear Afshin and him these past 2 weeks. However, going to HFBC is a treat for me anyway because Gregg never fails to deliver a mighty word.

Monday: Believe it or not, I was so ready to be back at work. Granted, I loved my time off, but I was really ready for a routine and to get started on all the exciting things that are about to happen at church. Also, I met Jackie for lunch at Cafe' Express and that was such a delight. We had tons of fun catching up and just chatting. Since bible study was a little different last semester, I didn't get the pleasure of seeing her every Tuesday. No worries, though, come Tuesday I'll get to hug her every week! I'm so ready for bible study to start!

Tuesday: Now, yesterday was truly a day to blog about. It was my parents 30th Anniversary! Y'all, that is totally crazy to me. Once I thought about it, I realized that 30 years is a really long time. I told them I am praying for grandchildren for them in the next 20 years. We are pulling for Kevyn to come through for us on this! Totally kidding. First they need a daughter or son-in-law! They were sweet to treat us all to Churrasco's to celebrate. It is a family favorite and totally watering-in-your-mouth good. We don't turn down Churrasco's. Ever. In a world where divorce is ramped, I am so grateful that my parents have a strong, loving, Godly marriage. It is rare indeed. Happy Anniversary, y'all! I love y'all dearly.

Today has been a pretty average day. Worked. Had meetings. Had another fun lunch date with a few of the old high school peeps who are home from college, and had youth group tonight. Now, I am facebooking and blogging. Very productive.

Tomorrow, on my day off, I plan on tackling my room yet again and getting rid of things. Some how I have accumulated more things that I know what to do with. It is quite insane.

Well folks, I am off. Enjoy some pictures of our "date" night with the family at Churrasco's.

And lastly, I leave you with my first memory verse. In a time where my mind has been going ninety to nothin', this verse has been a great anchor for my soul. This picture is currently the desktop on my work and home computer. As much as I look at a computer, it is a helpful way to memorize the verse, and clearly a wonderful reminder throughout the day of our sweet Lord. I will trust in the Lord, because HE IS the Rock Eternal. Amen!

Highlights of 2008

This was originally supposed to be posted January 1st. However, it took me a few days to finish it. It's still a new year though, right?!

As I was doing my normal routine this morning, I was thinking about 2008 and all that has gone on. In my opinion, it has been a pretty huge year. Really, it all boils down to the fact that I became a grown up, but still. I am sure as life goes on, each year will have it's mountain's and valley's and some year's will be bigger than others, but so far, in my 23 years of life, 2008 has been one for remembering. So, here is a walk down memory lane.

It all started in January when I officially became a Houstonian again after living in Huntsville for 4 years to student teach. Here we are at our apartment our last night. We pulled our mattresses out in the living room because we're cool like that!

Student teaching took over my life from January to May. Remember at the end of one of my placements when my sweet 3rd Graders wrote me the cutest letters known to mankind? Adorable. I still look at them from time to time and get a complete kick out of them. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go here. And here.

This was also during the time in which I took a shower at 2:00 in the morning. Insane, y'all. Absolutely insane.

After a semester of student teaching, learning that Barbie has a new boyfriend, and the Lord working on my heart, I decided not to teach right away and became the Girls Ministry Director at my church on May 5th! I am still in shock, but am having the biggest blast and am learning all about what it's like to be in ministry.

I traveled to Las Vegas for our 3rd Annual Girls Weeked (Yes, it is spelled right!) and had an absolute blast with 2 of my favorite girls. However, we did miss Sally this year! Can't wait for Girls Weeked 'o9. Where, oh where will it be??!

After enjoying the 5 year plan, I FINALLY graduated from college May 17th! Praise the Good Lord!

My little brother graduated from high school and went off to college! Woo Hoo!

Was honored to be apart of this beautiful girl's wedding in Waco on 06-07-08. A beautiful day indeed.

Mr. and Mrs. Fast

I bought my first (new) car (a Nissan Rouge) July 5th. Whoa. I am now very enthusiastically paying it off!

It was my complete honor and joy to sing with this girl...
In this girl's wedding. 07-26-08

The sister I never had! I love me some Kelly.

I spent a weekend in August with some crazy people that I met on the Internet. Crazy how God works things out! ;) And still, no matter how I justify this to people, some people think I'm still crazy! I love y'all! Siesta Fiesta was a blast!

Hurricane IKE decided to bless us with his presence, in September, leaving us without electricity for almost 2 weeks...and a new roof.

Flew to Colorado unexpectedly with my family during the hurricane business to attend the funeral of my Great Uncle Herm. However, we also got to spend some sweet time with our precious family!

Attended LIT for 10 weeks and got to sit under the teachings of these 2 fabulous ladies. Probably the highlight of my year! HE is so good, and so is His WORD.

I put on my first ever girls retreat in November with 80 girls. All Glory to HIM! And we can't forget the way the Lord worked out every detail so that Abby and Shelly could be apart of it. I am still in awe! (I am still waiting on some pictures from the retreat, or I'd have a different picture for you!)

I spent a week in Mexico over Thanksgiving with a fabulous team and helped run a conference for the missionaries of CAM. (Please forgive me for my lack of telling y'all about Mexico. My life is crazy!)

It SNOWED in HOUSTON, TX on December 10th. We don't forget these things, folks.

Got a word that so resonated with my heart at Converge. Not to mention I spent the evening with some special ladies.

"Blessed are you when what comes naturally to others, comes supernaturally to you."

Was honord, yet again, to stand by my sweet friend, Jen on her wedding day. 12-13-08. I love this girl to pieces.

Spent one evening with some of my favorite people on the planet. My BFF's and world travelers. It had been a year and a half, people. A year and a half. Huge deal!

Enjoyed Christmas with my family.

And the best brothers ever.

And finally, brought in the new year with some sweet friends.

And family!

It's so funny, after looking back and posting all this, I can't help but Praise the Lord and thank Him for the many blessings he has so graciously poured out on my life.

I can get so caught up in the little things, and in the things I don't have, and so often forget to sit down and just be thankful. I truly have nothing to complain about, yet I find myself doing just that so much. I have an amazing family and the world's best friends a girl could ask for. Plus, did we forget what I do for a living? I get to work with girls! Y'all, He is so good. However, I hope and pray that even if all this was stripped away, that I would still long to bless His name. Yes, it would be more than hard, but He is truly all we need. (Oh, to believe and hold fast to that!)

I am so excited for 2009. I absolutely cannot wait to see what He has in store for this year. I have a feeling He has huge things up his sleeve if I am willing to cooperate and obey! He is a huge God despite my very small, ineffecitive without Him self. I pray He shows up huge for you, as well! I pray that He would be our everything. And lastly, I pray that 2009 would be an even better year than 2008! Happy New Year!