Adrenaline

This past week has absolutely FLOWN by. I am not ready for it to be Friday because I still feel like I have tons to do and literally no time to do it.

I have worked everyday, entertained family, gone to meetings, shopped my head off (for Florida) and gone ninety to nothin' every minute of every day and I am about to collapse. But, I can't quite do that. I have a bridesmaids dress to wear and a wedding to stand in that needs my undivided energy and attention. That's where the adrenaline kicks in. I am running on pure adrenaline, folks. This has to decrease my life span by at least 20 years. Who invented stress?! Stress, be gone!

But, we had a FABULOUS time while our family was here this past week. Yes, it added to the stress, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Since they live in Colorado, our gatherings are few and far between, so any time spent with them is extra special. Not only did they celebrate our graduations with us, they also celebrated my birthday with me! That is rare. I can count the number of times I've celebrated my birthday with extended family on one hand. Crazy! Monday I had to work, but after work we had a low key night in uptown Houston where our good friend lives in a high rise condo! We had a great view, ordered in from Canyon Cafe and enjoyed ourselves. It was so nice! Jen met us there and my good friend, Claire, joined us as well! Thank you, everybody, for making my birthday spectacular! I love y'all!

Well folks, I must be going. I've got 2 bags to pack (one for the wedding weekend and one for Florida), a road trip to take, a wedding to be in (in Waco), a drive back home and a trip to Florida starting at 4:30 AM Sunday morning. If you think of us, would you pray for our youth trip to Florida?! We would greatly appreciate it.

Love you all!

Three Generations

My dad wanted a ''squishy face'' picture! Cute!

My sidekicks!
Also known as my cousins! :) I called for some assistance, and they gladly joined me! I love it. Thank you, Jen, for being a fabulous photographer! ;) I love you!
My girls :)
The view of Uptown Houston...or the Galleria!

The Non-Functioning Brain

I am about to drop in my bed from over exhaustion (if that even makes sense) but I had to drop in to say hello, and that yes, I am indeed still alive and well. Just VERY, VERY busy.

Starting last Wednesday we have had family here for Kevyn's graduation and then our combined graduation party this past Saturday. It was an absolute BLAST, but the baggy eyes have set in. I really can't believe I am still awake at this point, but since I had a free moment I felt the need to catch up on your lives. Some I did. Some I did not.

Anyway, this week is exiting and exhausting all in one. Tomorrow is my birthday (WOO HOO!) so I'll be the big 23. I, unfortunately, have to work ;0) but after that we plan on going to dinner with the whole fam and some friends. It should be fun!

This week is also the week before our Florida trip, which is always insane. We are constantly going and pretty much melt the minute we get on the bus and can actually stop for a moment.

BUT, folks, that's not all. Not only is it my birthday and the week before Florida, it is also my roommates wedding this weekend in Waco! So, I have to be packed and ready to go to Florida by Thursday, so that I can head out Friday for the wedding weekend and drive back to Houston Saturday night to make it to the church by 4:30 AM so we can load the buses and leave on Sunday morning. I am already tired typing it out. (Oh, and did I mention we will have family here till this Wednesday?!)

Of course, I am SO EXCITED for the wedding. It's finally here. It's just that there is TONS to get done before the shin dig. Although I am sure Megan is feeling the brute of it too since she is the bride and has plenty to get done herself.

So, with all that said, you may not see much of me the next two weeks. That's why I felt the need to get a quick 'update' post in before all of this took place. Is that wrong?! :)

Well, folks, I am off. This almost 23 year old needs to get her beauty rest. Wrinkles are just around the corner. Aren't they?!

Love y'all!

Madame Tussauds

Hey there, sweet friends! First of all, thank you for your sweet comments from my post below. Y'all never cease to encourage me. Seriously. Blogville is such a blessing!

Anyway, I should be cleaning my room at the moment since we have tons of family joining us starting Wednesday, but I just had to take a break for a moment to share with you some Madame Tussauds pictures from Vegas.

Madame Tussauds is a wax museum where they re-create all sorts of famous people and then display them for your enjoyment. It was so cool! They literally take the measurements of the stars and create them to be EXACTLY how they are in real life. Shape, height, size, make-up and all. We had such a blast walking through and taking pictures with our famous friends. At first I was a little freaked out because they look so real I was afraid they would come alive and grab me or something. I know, weird fear, but that's how 'alive' they looked.

Of course, Matthew McConaughey was amongst the group so you know that I didn't miss a picture with him! ;)

Sweet Matthew himself!

We all needed a picture with the pretty Cameron Diaz out front!

Presenting Mr. and Mrs. George Clooney

Arnold Palmer. This was for our dads!



See, I am not THAT tall! ;)

Sweet Timmy. We love you!

Brad and Angelina (For the record, Brad looked the worst out of any of them. It was sad.)
I had to do this once...but doesn't she look freakishly real?

This is the guy who creates everyone. He too, is a wax character.

Our good man, Abe!
They're BFF
Jackie-O

Houston...we have a problem.

President George Bush. He looked so serious.
Princess Diana. This was kind of odd. But she looked so good!

Jen really does have a special bond with the presidents!

I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day! Much love your way!

Chosen

As a girl, I long to be the chosen one.

We all long to be the chosen one. Whether it be chosen for a team, chosen for a solo, chosen for a job, chosen to be a mother, chosen to be a wife, and the list goes one.

There is something about being chosen that makes us feel special. Feel loved. Feel accepted. The problem is, in this life we won't always be the chosen one. Teams will disappoint us, people will disappoint us. Life won't always go as planned, and most times it won't go as we want it, either.

In my life right now, in complete honesty, I long to be the one that HE chooses. And by that I mean my future husband, whoever that may be.

Some days I am completely content and feel absolutely blessed by the life I have been given, then other days I feel completely discontent. I want more. I want this life, or that life.

Why couldn't he have pursued me? Why a different girl? What is wrong with me? Why didn't he CHOOSE me?

As an almost 23 year old girl who has never been kissed, or better yet never even been on a date, these questions run through my head. No, not constantly, but the days that I am discontent, this is what, if you peered into my mind, you would see. These are the days I am most mad at myself. Why does my mind think like that? Well one, I am a girl and two, I have a longing to married.

But really, the reason is because those are the days I forget that the ultimate One that matters, Jesus Christ, has CHOSEN me. He has accepted me. Shouldn't that be enough? I am His treasured possession. Therefore, I am a treasure.

"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." Deuteronomy 7:6

"I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you." Isaiah 41:9

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight..." Isaiah 42:1

So why is it after I hear that they have chosen someone else do I still throw a pity party for myself? I am human and I am not letting myself be filled with the holy spirit. Period. HE is the ONLY thing that will fill that void that I am missing. HE is the only 'thing' that will make my life content.

The honest truth is, contentment doesn't come because of circumstances. Contentment is something that continually has to be practiced and learned, it's not a natural human feeling, because as humans we always want more. But, as Christians, in Christ, we have a hope. Yes, I can say that most times I am a pretty content person. I thoroughly enjoy that life Christ has blessed me with. But at times I just want more, or just want to be that chosen one. This is something that I have been wrestling with all week. These weeks come and go.

Sometimes my desire to meet my future husband, or even go on a date, for that matter are more than others. This is one of those weeks. I have been, more so, discontent.

I am not writing all this for a pity party at all. I am simply writing this for myself. It is a reminder to me that in all HIS timing is perfect and yet again, I am CHOSEN by the one that matters most.

These are also the weeks, to get my mind in the right place, that I constantly pray for my future husband and truly ask the Lord to grow us where we are now to be the perfect husband and wife for each other when that time comes. That he would prepare me to serve and love my husband more than I could ever imagine and vice versa. That we would truly be each others perfect compliment. Praying is the only thing I can do because who knows the Lord's time table?! Not me. Who knows, it could be one week from now or 11 years from now. All I can do is pray, and pray, and pray. That HE would be preparing our hearts.

Until then, all I know is the Lord has me to himself and He loves that! It is a time in my life where I can fall head over heals in love with Jesus, because frankly, I have nothing else to fall head over heals in love with. And I'm sure once I get married, I'll have to remind myself even more that HE is truly the only thing that satisfies and HE was still the first to CHOOSE me.

"Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard." Acts 22:14-15

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD." Proverbs 18:22

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:11-13

A College Graduate

That's all, folks. I am done. Done forever!

Yesterday I proudly walked across that stage and received my stinkin' college degree! Can I say surreal? I took a deep breath and I felt such a release! All of the stress of college is gone forever. I love it!

It was such a special day, yet an exhausting one for the whole family! My little brothers prom was also last night, so he was not able to attend. But, the rest of my family came and some of my sweet, sweet Sam girls came, too. It meant the world to me!

Right after graduation my parents had to split and head to Kev's prom stuff. Bless their hearts, they were up all night (12-6) helping at SNAP (Senior Night After Prom). I was sad to miss Kev all dressed up, but you clearly can't be everywhere at once.

Since my parents we going to be gone all night, instead of me sitting at home alone, I spent the night with my Sam girls! It seemed so appropriate to spend such that night with such a special group of girls. We had a blast. After graduation we headed to none other than Chuy's! I love me some good ole' Mexican food and that definitely hit the spot. We had a blast there and laughed our heads off! We then headed to a hotel close to my house. It was so fun to spend the night with some of the most precious friends that I met while in college. It was a super ending to such a wonderful chapter in my life. We of course had much to talk about, and had some major laughs. These are the times that I will miss. I know they will continue to happen, but I know they will be few and far between.

We also went and saw What Happens In Vegas! HILARIOUS! I, of course, had a partial love to the movie since I just returned from Vegas. It was great!

All in all, my day was wonderful. I can't believe I have a college degree. I truly don't feel old enough, but at the same time I was so ready to have it!

I can't express enough to my friends and family how much I appreciate the support they gave me during that chapter of my life. It is overwhelming. I truly could not have done it without y'all! So, from the bottom of heart, I hope you hear and know how much I absolutely adore, appreciate and love you!

Enjoy some pictures of such a memorable day! And please, excuse the not-so-lovely cap and cap hair. :)