Christmas Card Fun

If I like to do anything, I like to create random things, such as Christmas cards. I'm not saying I'm a professional at it. Far from it, actually. But, I've had fun the past few years playing around with some family pictures and creating a Christmas card. In 2007 I created this one and last year I did this one. Apparently in 2008 I was too busy to create such a card.

I find it very funny, however, that I do this and then we never actually send out the card. Fortunately, a lot of our family friends read my blog, so each year that I've posted it, they've been given a glimpse into our little family.

A few weeks ago we had a girls night at Heather's house, and we were joking about me doing a Christmas card all by my lonesome. Listen, I'm not saying that single girls cannot do a Christmas card, but I personally feel funny doing one myself. If you're single and you send one out every year, more power to you. You are so much more confident than me! So, instead of me posing with Annika, Kristy's baby, and freaking out all my friends and family, I've yet again, played around with some of our family pictures and have created a variety of fun cards.

If you've not heard of the website Picnik, then you are missing out. It's a really fun site that lets you edit pictures in some really fun ways. For the past year I've really enjoyed playing around on it. That's where I did all my editing for the cards below.

Anyway, I just think Christmas cards are really fun, so I thought I'd share a bit of my card making with you. No worries, though, I'll post our real one closer to Christmas day.



This one might be my favorite as it is a correct representation of our crazy family. I love it.




Happy card making, friends!

Exposed: What's Your Story?

I have written and re-written this blog post a million times. I'm just not sure my words can convey the joy or thankfulness in my heart over this past weekend, but I am just going to write from my heart, not let my perfectionist mentality get in the way and hopefully you'll hear how amazing our God is.

I don't know about you, but I personally love hearing testimonies. To hear how God has transformed a person's life is a very powerful thing. Often times I think we think that God doesn't perform miracles like He did in the Bible, and although He may not be performing miracles outwardly, inwardly I think He's in the business of doing many miracles in the hearts of His people. Hearing how God has worked in someone else's heart brings hope to your own heart. Certainly, if He can transform their life, He can transform mine.

When I was in college, before I was even offered or took this job as girls minister, I remember being at Taco Bueno with Megan, my college roommate at the time, telling her that if I could plan a retreat for girls it would be one where I could bring in multiple people to share their testimonies with the girls. I just thought it would be really neat. Do you remember that, Megan?

Fast forward three years later, not only am I a girls minister, but I'm in the process of planning my third girls retreat and not sure what it's going to look like. Then I remembered that conversation at the very spiritual Taco Bueno, so I took that idea to my team of ladies that I am forever indebted to, they all thought it was a great idea, so I pursued that route and started praying asking the Lord to put ladies on my heart to share their story.

This was a very tricky thing, because we wanted ladies that could be relevant, share clearly, would be willing, could communicate it well to middle school and high school girls, but that also love the Lord with all their heart. Sharing something so sacred and tender isn't easy, so I didn't want to take this lightly. I was so nervous to ask the ladies placed on my heart, because I didn't want any of them to feel pressure to say yes in the least bit. No would have been a perfectly fine answer, but at the same time, I was believing God to provide three speakers.

Praise the Lord, after some time of thinking and praying through it, each of them said yes and we were able to move forward. I'm pretty sure I did a happy dance in my office the morning I got my last email because I just so relieved. God had provided! Not only that, but the vision I had years before was really going to happen. How exciting!

Of course, over time, retreat took over my life and every thought, then finally, this past weekend it came and went. To me, even though I've never planned a wedding, it feels very much just like that. You plan and plan for months, it lasts all of 22 hours, and then it's over.

My friend Debbie led worship for us all weekend and she is just superb. The girls loved her! And so did I! Just so real, honest and fun. She leads worship at a church here in town, so I was so thankful that she'd give up a weekend to come hang with some crazy girls!

Friday night my friend Penny, who I've known almost my entire life, shared her story. I love her to pieces and she cracks me up. Interestingly enough, her daughter is a senior in our youth group and was there this weekend. I am so thankful for Penny and her willingness to share even with her own flesh and blood among the girls. Penny is a wonderful teacher, and a really great story teller. I wish all of you could spend 10 minutes with her. She is the real deal, no beating around the bush. I love her!

That night we did a lip sync and I laughed so hard! The girls only had 45 minutes to practice their song, so it made it all the better. Plus, the props? Oh, the props they had to use. I love that they get so into these little things. It makes my heart so happy!

After little sleep, Saturday morning came quickly and my new friend, Laura, one of our adult leaders' best friends, shared her story. She lives in Austin and funny enough, her brother-in-law was the speaker at my high school senior spring retreat. We loved him, so it was really fun to have her there. Public speaking is not her thing, but she counsels girls one-on-one and is very passionate about her story so was willing to do this for them and me. You would have never known that public speaking is not her thing, she did so wonderful and I know it hit home with the girls. I am so thankful for her for many reasons!

In between all of the sessions, the girls went to a small group where they could debrief what they just heard, answer some questions and think about their own story. I think that is so important, because if not, they may never take the time to really think about what they just heard.

After lunch I had a guys panel come in and do an hour long Q&A with the girls. Can you say powerful? These girls hear almost daily from us to dress modestly, remain pure, guys are visual, and yada, yada, yada, but to hear it out of a guys mouth, how different guys really are, puts things in a greater perspective. They did awesome! The girls hung on to every word they said!

For the last session, my sweet friend Amanda shared her story. She wrote about her experience here and it brought me to tears. I am so thankful for her obedience to God to share her story, even though that's not her thing and even when her flesh felt so weak, with my girls. When we are at our weakest, He is stronger in us and Amanda was testimony to that on Saturday. I think she underestimates her gift of teaching. But that's just me. Not only did she just share Saturday afternoon, she hung out with us all weekend and that was really fun! I loved having her there. I can't tell you enough how much I adore and look up to that girl. I love her, too!

Funny enough, even though each of these ladies said speaking wasn't their thing, each one of them did an excellent job at clearly conveying how God had transformed their lives. I know, because I was there, and because the girls are still talking about it. They left a mark on those hearts. A mark for eternity. You can't hear stories like theirs and not want to respond to the gospel. You can't hear stories like theirs and not want God to do the same thing in your life. And to get that as a middle school student, or a high school student? Oh my word, that's powerful. No amount of thank yous I say, or no amount of me telling you how thankful I am for each of them is enough. I'm truly beyond thankful.

You know what else blows my mind? I challenged the girls this weekend to raise $256 for Rescue Life. That amount of money rescues two girls from human trafficking. There is nothing greater than being a part of someone else's story and I wanted them to see that. We live in a culture that revolves around us, but there is so much going on around us that we ignore. By the end of the retreat they had raised $331. And they're still giving! I am so proud. I challenged them to keep giving and praying for these girls caught in this awful trap. I pray those chains are broken soon!

I don't know what your testimony is. I don't know how God has worked in your life. But if you are in Jesus Christ, He IS working in your life. Let Him work in your life. Then take some time to share it with somebody who could benefit from it. And really, who can't? Even though we may look like we have it all together, or that we've lived a close to perfect life, not one of us has. We're not fooling anybody. Expose someone to the gospel. You never know the difference you'll make. A redeemed and transformed life is a powerful thing. Use it for God's Glory!

In a nutshell, here is my facebook status from yesterday. I am overwhelmed by God's goodness.

‎77 girls = a lot of estrogen, 20 leaders = a huge blessing, 3 speakers willing to share their story = a gift from God, 1 worship leader = awesome, one hotel = swanky, 4 guys for the Q&A panel = wisdom and entertainment, rescue life = $331 raised, getting to serve, love and watch the girls worship and seek after Jesus = priceless. I'm so blessed. Jesus is better!

P.S. I'm hoping to have some pictures up tomorrow!

Jesus is Better

This coming weekend is my third Girls Retreat. That means that for the next five days I will eat, breathe and sleep all things retreat. Since it is my third retreat I feel like I have a better handle on all the little details that go into planning such an event, but it still wears me out nonetheless. Every year when we have our personal and ministry reviews at church, they ask us to list the things that energize us and the things that burden us. Ironically, the same things that energize me, also wear me out. So as much as I love planning Girls Retreat, the moment it ends I'm complete toast. Actually, I typically can't sleep that night cause my mind is going ninety to nothing, but you get the point.

Anyway, one difficult thing about working in student ministry is the fact that church, more often than not, is just something our students do because they're dragged there and are just going through the motions. Worship means nothing. The teaching means nothing. Visitors mean nothing. You know, they are basically talking bodies. I can say that because that was me. I lived, eat and breathed church. I grew up in church. But church was all I knew. It was comfortable and I like it, but it was nothing more than that. Honestly, that's not just an issue in student ministry, it's an issue throughout the entire church, but I won't go there.

The same happens with retreats and camps. The same students attend said events, have a little spiritual high after all is said and done, and then within three weeks are back to their normal self.
I don't say this with one ounce of judgement, I'm just stating the sad truth.

Ever since I've been working in student ministry, my prayer is that these trips don't just give our students a spiritual high, but that on some level, they are changed from the inside out by Jesus Christ. He doesn't just reside at a beach side, or in a fancy hotel, or at a nice home. Nor is He just a feeling. If you are in Christ, He resides inside of you and you have as much of Him as you need or as much as you'll ask for.

I didn't grasp that until my senior year of high school, and I only wish I'd of gotten it sooner. I wish it would have clicked that Jesus was so much better than everything else I was chasing after.

Jesus is better than me.

Jesus is better than you.

Jesus is better than facebook.

Jesus is better than your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Jesus is better than church.

Jesus is better than your favorite TV show.

Jesus is better than pornography.

Jesus is better than your children.

Jesus is better than all the money in the world.

Jesus is better than that sin you cherish.

Jesus is better than your favorite Bible study teacher.

Jesus is better than all your desires and dreams.

I could go on and on.

Jesus is simply better. So much better.

I'm not saying I chase after Him as hard as I should. I fall so short every single day, but my head knows He's better and my heart is trying to catch up.

This retreat is different in many ways. Out of all the retreats so far, I can honestly say I'm looking forward to this one the most. I have three different ladies coming in to share their testimony of how Jesus changed their life; how He's become better to them. I have a guys panel coming in to share about modesty and purity. We're getting involved, giving to and praying for a ministry dealing with human trafficking. Those are just a few of the things I'm excited about.

I'm praying with all my being that this is the weekend it clicks for my girls. My fear is that they'll leave after they graduate with a sense that Jesus is boring and that He's not worth pursuing. And as far as the statistics looks, my fears aren't that irrational. More and more students are walking away from their faith once it's time for them to really own it on their own.

Would you pray for my girls retreat as well? Would you pray for each of the ladies coming to share their testimony? That Jesus would be so evident in them that it's contagious and that the Lord would give them the perfect words to say? Would you pray for the girl's hearts, that they'd be tender to what the Lord wants to do in them. We have our entire lives to take this generation to the throne and plead on their behalf that they'd fall head over heals in love with Jesus. But I have one week to pray that they'd grasp the fact that Jesus is so much better. Oh, that they'd offer their entire lives to Him. I'm praying the same thing for my heart as well. Join me?

In the words of Donna Stuart's song, Radiant, Jesus YOU are better, I give you ALL of me. Amen!

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3: 17 - 18

I'm Such a Punk

I spent this past Monday and Tuesday out at Camp Tejas with the beloved pastors of my church. The fact that they asked me to join them on their retreat was a complete honor and I was really looking forward to hanging out with them in a different setting. Plus, this retreat is considered the rest and rejuvenation retreat and I wasn’t about to pass up that opportunity, even though I had the choice. Besides all staff lunch once a month when we’re all together, I typically hang out with the same four or five pastors, specifically the ones I serve with, so it was good for me to be around all of them in a less intimidating environment.

I had huge plans on my agenda to nap and read a lot, but I’ll have you know that I took zero naps and read not one page of my book. From the minute we got there to the minute we left, I decided to try new things out with people I do not know very well and loved every second of it.

So, what did I do, you ask? I am so glad you asked.

I did spend some quality time with the Lord, played a round of Frisbee Golf, watched some students (not ours) zip line, played a little basketball, enjoyed a campfire that involved singing, praying and roasting mini-marshmallows, played a Q&A game, watched a Brian Regan DVD, read a book in one hour with the staff, discussed the book, shot a 44 Magnum and some other guns, zip lined myself, and went home.

I’ve realized over the years two things about myself. I am a very social person and thrive around people and I easily give into peer pressure.

Although I did learn in my chapter of reading that “No” is a complete sentence, that word does not come naturally to me. I’m a people pleaser at best.

Hence the shooting of the scariest gun to ever exist, basketball, Frisbee golf and so on and so forth.

BUT, with that said, I had the best time and wouldn’t trade those 48 hours for anything or done it any different. Since I really didn’t know what to expect on this retreat, I just kind of went with the flow and I’m so glad I did. Not that I don’t love reading or napping, but I think if I would have stuck to my original plan, I would have been slightly bored. I can read and nap whenever, but it’s not every day I can hang with the men and do things that don’t come naturally to me. Like shooting guns.

I am so thankful that for such a time as this the Lord has placed me on such a wonderful staff full of different personalities, perspectives and seasons of life. I’m definitely the youngest with the least amount of experience in ministry, so to watch and learn from this is something I don’t take for granted. My prayer is that I steward this position well and work at it with excellence.

Me, David, JJ and Brenda right before we headed down the zip line.

I was about to poop on myself I was so nervous. Sorry for the visual.

Off we go!

I LOVE a good zip line. It's the climbing and waiting part that I don't love.

Can we discuss the fact that the harness flatters no one?

Thankful to be alive to tell you all about it! So fun, that I went back for more.


Whatever you do, don't miss this video of my shooting the 44 Magnum. In my head I kept singing "Annie Get Your Gun". What an adrenaline rush that was. I don't plan on going back for more anytime soon.

A Day in Aggieland

As a disclaimer, I feel like I need to start this post by saying that I did not attend A&M. Technically, I am not an Aggie. But, if A&M would consider adoption, I'd be at the top of the list. Both of my brother's went there, practically all of my BFF's went there and I'm almost certain that I've been to as many A&M football games as I have Sam Houston football games, if not more. Huntsville and College Station are connected by one highway and during college, me and HWY 30 became BFF. I lived there. Needless to say, I love College Station and more importantly, the spirit of Aggieland!

Every year, a mom at my church hosts an A&M tailgate party. Typically, we have it when A&M and Baylor play each other, but this year that game is in Waco, so she changed the tailgate to today. I blogged about those days here and here. I'm not exaggerating when I say that our entire church either went, currently attends or is planning on going to A&M. If not there, Baylor. Hence why we normally tailgate on Baylor day.

Besides the fact that this day guarantee's I'll see my little brother, it's also very fun to see all of our old students! There is nothing better than catching up with them over a loaded baked potato.

Today was the perfect weather day for such an occasion! It was beautiful, low humidity, with a tiny chill in the air, but not cold enough to make us miserable, quite unlike last year.

We laughed, talked, took pictures, stuffed our faces and then when it was time for everyone to watch A&M kill OU, we stayed to watch the flyover and then I headed back home with my parental units. I don't know what's gotten into me the last month or so, but I've been really into keeping up with college football. Y'all, I could have cared less about it my entire life. Why all the sudden do I feel the need to know every detail? Either way, I'm enjoying this new found passion of mine. It could potentially be very short lived. Only time will tell.

It was such a wonderful day! There is nothing like spending the day with your fabulous family and wonderful friends, most of whom I've known my entire life. I am so blessed!


After my dad fixed his potato, I looked over to see him sitting all by his lonesome. Apparently he wanted to eat in peace and quiet.

This picture cracks me up. My mom wanted to take a picture of me and Kev, but captured this right before we actually smiled. It looks as though I'm instructing him on how to actually eat his potato. I've always been a very helpful big sister. Hilarious!

Our little set up.

This is the "CBC/A&M Under 30 year old annual picture." Love it!

The family, minus Brien!

Bethany! Also known as my roommate. : )

Claire, my ex-roommate. Don't you love her cute new hair-do?

Sweet Jane!

I love these girls to bits!

I wish you all could experience the flyover with my family. My mom literally cries just talking about it. But truly, it is so neat!

The best part about this post is that I'm proud to announce that A&M did beat the heck out of OU. I have one very proud little brother.

This is where I'll end with...thanks and gig 'em.

De-lurking is Delightful

I’ve done a post like this before and this week after my friend did one, I thought it would be fun to do it again.

Blog world is most definitely a very interesting and unique place. I think it’s funny when I meet someone who reads my blog that I don’t know (not that this happens often, it’s happened maybe three times) and the first thing they ask me is, “I feel like such a stalker, but do you care if I read your blog?” I’m always very gracious (at least I hope so), but what I would like you to know is that if I didn’t want you reading my blog, I wouldn’t have it on the world wide web for everyone and their mom to read. You catch my drift?

Whether we know each other or not, you are totally welcome here! I love blogging and don’t plan on stopping it any time soon and love meeting new friends through this little world. However, I’m always really intrigued to see who does read my blog.

Between my sitemeter, google reader and some other things I have a small idea of how many folks read it, but I don’t know a lick about who you are.

When I started blogging, which will be four years in January, I think I had three readers that consisted of my BFF’s. I don’t even think my mom read back then because she probably didn’t know how to get to it. Anyway, I never started blogging to gain readers, but I have to admit, it is fun to get comments from people I don’t know that resonate with me on this or that. You make blogging even more fun than it already is and for you and I am thankful. I mean it! This blog has been way more of a blessing to me than anything else.

So for fun, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’ve never commented or you always comment, let’s play a little Q&A game. I ask you a questions and you give me answers. Listen, there are some blogs I read that I’ve never, ever commented on, so don’t feel weird. De-lurking really is delightful.

1) What is your name?

2) Where do you live?

3) What do you do?

4) Have we ever met?

5) Do we have something in common? (Ex. Ministry, single, tall, likes chocolate, singing, do you listen to songs over and over again…you know…anything!)

6) For fun, what has been your favorite vacation or favorite place to travel?

De-lurk away and thank you for stopping by. It will be really fun to hear from you!

Happy Wednesday!

Three Blind Mice

Before I say anything, can we talk about the fact that it's stinking November? Where in the world has 2010 gone? November brings many fun things that I am looking forward to. Girls Retreat, A&M tailgate party, my mom's birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas music. Can I get an amen? These next two months are my favorite!

Anyway, enough about November. We have all month to talk about it!

This past weekend was fabulous. I realized last week that I didn't have one thing on the calendar the entire weekend and that made my heart so happy! It gave me a chance to just be and do things that were fun for me.

These fun things included...

Eating at Pappasito's on Friday night for dinner with some friends. You can never go wrong with Mexican food, and more specifically, chicken fajitas to begin the weekend.

Traveling to Huntsville on Saturday morning to have lunch with some precious girlfriends from college at Farmhouse. The longer I'm out of college, the less I go back. But, it is always wonderful and I'm so thankful for not only those girls the Lord blessed me with during those years, but also that town that means so much to me. You grow so much in college! It's just fun to be there and remember all the changes and fun times that took place.

The only thing that irritates me is the fact that I took one picture. We were too busy chatting and catching up! Jen and I in front of the cars. ;)


Visiting the Christmas Tree Farm with some friends from Bible study on Saturday night. We went on a hayride, had a few bonfires, played a few games, roasted some hot dogs and marshmallows and all around had a wonderful time. The best part was the weather! It wasn't freezing so we weren't shivering and miserable, but it was chilly enough to have a fire and be warmed by it. I loved it! There may have even been some guitar playing and singing, but would you expect less? That's only necessary.

Singing on praise team Sunday morning. My typical Sunday mornings consist of being with both the Middle School and High School groups, so singing is always a treat to me to be in the main service.

Sunday afternoon I cancelled my small group with my freshman girls for multiple reasons, which left me free all day after church. I could not tell you the last time that happened and it was so great! Instead of going straight to a meeting after lunch, and then to small group, I went home goods shopping with the roomies and enjoyed an afternoon off. It was so great!

I think my favorite highlight of the weekend, however, was our impromptu costume party. In all reality, we didn't have plans for the evening so we texted our friends that were coming over to just hang out and told them they wouldn't be allowed in if they didn't have a costume. Of course, we were kidding but figured it would be funny if they showed up dressed up. It didn't shock us at all when they did show up dressed in disguise and we proceeded to laugh for what seemed like hours. Twenty minutes before they got there we also decided we should dress up and had the grand idea to be the three blind mice minus a few essentials like a cane, whiskers, ears and a tail. I think this meant we just ended up being three blind roommates. We're pitiful like that!

I wasn't sure if kids typically trick-or-treated in apartment complexes, but I was hoping we'd have some. Unfortunately, we didn't have even one. We only bought one bag of candy, but still, there are miniature Snickers bars and Peanut M&M's staring at me in the face. Resisting chocolate is not what I do best.

Despite the lack of trick-or-treaters, we had the best time and feasted on pizza and laughter. Ha!
Here is Ben, the scuba dude, and Mike, the nerd. Hilarious! No worries, after this photo was taken Ben changed into some more appropriate clothing.

And here are the three blind mice. I mean, three blind roommates.

Hope y'all had a restful weekend as well!

Happy Monday and Happy November!