austin.

my sweet husband took me on a trip to austin this weekend. we spend most of our travel time going seeing family so we decided to explore texas a little more.
austin is a neat cool  weird place. it was wonderful to get away to spend some time together.
i have never seen so many graphic print tights with cut-off jean shorts in my life.

the beautiful capitol building

and our drive home is when snowpacalypse 2011...

radical.

so i'm reading a new book, radical by david platt.

here are a few tid-bits:

"we desperately need to explore how much of our understanding of the gospel is american and how much is biblical." ouch.

"we are afraid that if we stop and really look at God in his word, we might discover that he evokes a greater awe and demands deeper worship than we are ready to give him." double ouch.

today i am thankful for grace. i am thankful that the Lord pursues me and is faithful even when i am not. i am thankful that he loves enough to make me feel the ouches and by feeling the ouches i will be refined and blessed. i will be blessed because seeking the Lord is the source of joy.

now, off to austin for a little romantic get-away...

1.1.11

i know what you're thinking...2 in one day? yes, people.


david and i have been doing some reflecting on this year. we have had such an unbelievable amount of blessing. one thing that we always come back to is that all of the awesome things that we have gotten to experience are directly from the Lord. He has shown us favor and blessed us tremendously.


i was under the impression that we were starting a new decade. apparently, we're not? not sure about that. i did some thinking about where i have been this decade.
 when the year 2000 rang in, i was in the 7th grade, on the phone with my "boyfriend" (matt mcnutt) who my dad hated loathed. special.
this decade i...


graduated from high school
had 4 glorious years at auburn.
was redeemed by the Lord.
got married.
moved to a new place far away.


my prayer is that i will be as changed in this coming decade i have been in this one.

"search, o God, and know my heart;
try me and know my anxious thoughts;
and see if there be any hurtful way in me;
and lead me in the everlasting way."

catch up.

well friends, it's been a while.
we have been in alabama/georgia visiting fam. it has been a lot of fun, but we needed some good ole' relaxation. i have never been so thankful that we have teacher schedules. thank you, Lord.
here are some highlights of the month:

my dear friend, kristen arnold (tufts) got married in auburn. it was so much fun to see friends...and be in auburn. duh.

went to my grandmother's house for some clemons family time.

i love this pic (below) because it is of some of my most favorite people.

got to spend some time with this guy...

and meet this guy. his name is jackson and he is my step-nephew. 

then continued the tour in marietta to have some brannen fam time. 

our hearts are full from time with family and people that we love so much. we're so thankful for all of them. 

whew...

Rewind.

Tonight my life is rewinding back 15 years to the days of slumber party. Since our men are cruising (tough life, I know) the girls are having a slumber party! It will be complete with sweet treats and pizza. I'm thrilled. It Promises to have tears shed and dark circles in the morning. So thankful to have a group of women that I love and admire. They show how to love the lord more and how to love David better.

war eagle.

david and i have always said that the special thing about auburn is not the sports. (although, we're pretty awesome these days) the special thing about the plains is the family that lives there. it is a pride that cannot be explained. a tie that runs deep.

this is what auburn is:

The Auburn Creed

I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.

I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.

I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.

I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.

I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.

I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.

I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God."

And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it.

-George Petrie (1945)

bangs.

get ready world, i'm getting trendier by the second.

i would like to note that getting i heard so many affirming things from my children at school, such as:

what happened to you?

did you cut your own hair?

are you mrs. brannen?

...just to name a few. awesome kids. good thing i don't take your fashion advice since you wear pokemon shirts and have velcro shoes.