busy busy.

David and I have been so busy lately. It's insane. But we can't complain too much at all because the things that we have been "busy" are things like: going to the beach, getting a new apartment, planning our hawaii trip, etc.
We went to the beach for spring break (the joys of teaching and having a hubby that works in schools). One of the many reasons that we love Booster is because we went on spring break with two couples that we know through Booster. Now how many people can say that about a job! It was so much fun despite the cold and wind. "Thumper" was the game of choice. It's a fun card game that will make you sweat.
We are also getting a new apartment! We are super excited and ready to get things going. I have the big surgery for my ACL on April 15 and we move in beginning of May. It's going to be an eventful time, no doubt.

I have realized that I have really been slacking off on the blog. Since I know so many people read this, (ha, just kidding...hi mom) I'm going to try to be better about updating.  Here are some pictures of our recent trips.

We have been studying money and it's role in our relationship with Christ in our small group Bible study. Allow me to share some scripture that is powerful.

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours." 1 Chronicles 29:11-12

"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today." 
Deuteronomy 8:17-18

the winds are changing.

We have experienced a lot in the last couple of weeks. The weather in the air is changing which just makes my heart sing. I love the spring and all of the promises it seems to hold.
So I had a little fall on our ski trip in December and hurt my knee. I tried to ignore the pain and "tough it out" for a while then finally went to the doc in February. Well we found out that I tore my ACL. No good. I thought "no big deal...I'll just have the surgery in July after we go on our trip to Hawaii. The sweet doctor had other plans. I am having surgery on my knee in April. As much of a whirlwind as this has been, I have been very content in the Lord. That's not to say that I haven't freaked out and broken down...I have. But that only happens when I let satan tempt me with fear and worry, both of which are not from the Lord. The Lord is my Healer and Comfort. He will see me through this just like everything else.
We have been having some really great times out here in Dallas recently. David and I are growing in our individual relationships with our Savior so then in turn, we grow together.
In one week we will be on the beach in Florida. Man, the perks of teaching and Booster. Love it and so thankful for it!
"Praise the Lord, O my soul, with all that is in me, Praise His Holy Name!"

love from texas.

Today has been a great day here in Texas. I have the day off from school which is just the best ever! We also had a snow day on Friday so i got a FOUR day weekend...I mean, I am just so happy. I must mention, we got 13 inches of snow here in Texas! Unbelievable. We definitely played in the snow with the Baker boys (7 and 10). Talk about a serious snow ball fight and some snow angels. Glorious.
We have really been falling in love with Texas recently. We swear we won't have kids here because we don't want them to be Texans (sorry guys). But we did experience the most amazing thing I'm pretty sure Texas has to offer.....drumroll.....
Red River Dance Hall. You walk in and seriously ever person has on a cowboy hat and are hardcore Texans. There is a dance circle in the middle that looks like a skate rink. You can only enter the dance floor at certain points and you have to keep moving. There is a bull that you can ride. I love these kind of things. We had a great time with friends.
http://cowboysdancehall.com/Dallas/

Booster group! Great friends at Waffle House.

so blessed.

i am blessed in so many ways that i cannot begin to explain why accept through Jesus.
i am married to an amazing man that loves the Lord and loves me so much. he is constantly showing me his love the way Christ loves the Church. Jesus brought us together.
i am able to live in an awesome house with a family that serves the Lord. they have taught us and helped us grow. Jesus brought us together through Kanakuk ministries.
we have great friends through Booster (which glorifies the Lord) and through our small group from church. once again, thank You Lord.
there are so many other things that have just come together when david and i have gone to the Lord and said "what do you want us to do?" the Lord has constantly shown us that His plans for us are WAY bigger and greater than we could ever plan. we also know that the Lord gives and takes away. we may not always have blessing after blessing thrown at us. we have seen those times. still we know that the Lord is sovereign. He is now and will forever be. praise be to Him!

life is fun.

Last night we got to go to our first Mavericks game in Dallas. It was so much fun. It was great to have a date that was just a ton of fun and different. I am so blessed that I have such a thoughtful husband. He is out of town this week again..I hate it.

Update: Our grandmother is doing much better and is at home! Praise Jesus! He is always just and always faithful. We are so thankful that the Lord's will was to let us have her for a while longer. If He would have taken her it would have been in His wisdom that is infinitely more than mine.

Thank you Lord.

afflictions.

Jesus made it clear to us that as children of God we will suffer. We are not exempt from the suffering that this world can throw at us. The depravity of the world has reared its ugly head at us recently.

• Before Christmas break, a sweet little girl in my class at school was put into the hospital. After several suguries and many complications, she has lost a lot of brain function and will never be back to the point where she was. I had to watch her helplessly battle for her life. The outcome is still uncertain for that precious child.
• About a week ago, our grandmother (well, she was David's first) suffered from a severe heart-attack. She is a beautiful woman of God. The family was told that she had some leakage in her heart so she would be inoperable. God healed her leak and she had a successful surgury. She is still battling for her life.
• One of the men on David's Booster team has a brother who was in a terrible car accident two days ago. He is brain dead. The family is faced with a tough decision.

All of this happens and people ask: "where is God?" Well...He told us life would not be a cake walk. This earth is NOT our home. We have not gotten home yet. Why do we fight so hard to stay somewhere that isn't ours? Today I heard some scripture that was very encouraging:

" Rejoice in hope (the hope we have to Christ), be patient in tribulation (every terrible thing that comes our way), be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12
I have realized that prayer is what we have when I feel so helpless. When I feel like everything is being torn down around me. Pray.

This is a song that is the truth. When we are called home to our heavenly reward...that's when we're finally home.

You Hold Me Now, Hillsong:

On that day when I see
All that You have for me
When I see You face to face
There surrounded by Your grace
All my fears swept awayI
n the light of Your embrace
Where Your love is all I need
And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold
In Your presence healed and whole
Let the songs of heaven
Rise to You alone

No weeping no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me nowYou hold me now

In this life I will stand
Through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day
There's a hope that never fails
Where Your Name is lifted high
And forever praises rise
For the glory of Your Name
I'm believing for the day

Where the wars and violence cease
All creation lives in peace
Let the songs of heaven
Rise to You alone

For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your Name

caught in a whirlwind.

After two weeks of being away..we are finally...home.

We went on a ski trip to Copper Mountain, CO with the Brannen family, some family friends, John Beatty and Walt Farrell. It was a ton of fun, minus the injury. I have never skiied and went to ski school the first day of skiing with my cousin in law(if that's possible) Sally. We had a great time except the ski instructor definitely gave me a "that a boy" tap on the butt. He made me feel very uncomfortable but it was entertaining to Sally. The second day David and I went on a run just the two of us and due to a weird accident I ended up finishing the run on a stretcher pulled by the ski patrol. It was possibly one of the most humiliating moments of my life. I was strapped down and I'm pretty sure every one we passed thought I was dead based on the looks on their faces. The trip was really fun though. It was full of reading (Harry Potter), playing group games (nothing better), and quality family bonding. Thanks Brannens.

We got to go home to Dothan for about a week too. It was good being home. There's nothing like it. We had a total of 4 Christmas exchanges. Fun. So a lot of pictures, pies, hugging, eating 'til you feel like your about to explode, Christmas music, great old friends, and a couple of movies later..we made it back to the place we now call home.