The Hammock

The Cutest Baby Ever. . .

2008-11-17T16:50:00.002-06:00

Hi. . .I'm not dead!

2008-10-06T19:26:00.003-05:00

I'm not dead, I'm just not a dedicated blogger. I've been so busy lately, you'd think I was running for President. I mean, how do the truly important people get everything done in the course of a day? I guess they just hire help.

Anyway, all is well in our household, and Emily reminded me that I'm almost under the 100-day mark. I wanted to do a poll on whether we're having a boy or girl. . .but that's a little after-the-fact. I'm still curious, though. I'll tell you what I'm having, but if you feel like blogging, tell me what you initially thought it was. That's fun. :)

We are having a. . . .

Can you tell by my toes and shoes that I was thinking b-l-u-e?! We're having a baby boy. And he's bound to be one well dressed little one. The above picture is his stash of clothes after we'd known "it" was a "he" for a couple of hours. We had a "blues" dinner the night we made our announcement. I just happened to have some blue toenail polish on-hand. I wonder why I keep things - but then I'm sure glad I have them when I need them!!! :)

Definitely exciting. All of the fun tests and quizzes I took said girl, but from day one - my mom said it was a boy. She's just about never wrong, so I was pretty sure it would be a little prince. I wonder what kind of "boy mom" I'll make. What if I accidentally put a bow in his hair. . .if it's camo, I'm assuming that won't scar him for life. This is just so much fun, and God has been so good to me. . .what a great pregnancy this has been.

So, I'm thinking about doing Facebook instead of blogging, I think I would be better at that. If you're on Facebook, do you like it?

Baby Words . .

2008-07-22T18:41:00.004-05:00

Now that the initial shock has worn off. . .I think I can post a few words. :) I always hear people say God has a sense of humor, and I truly believe that now. We've always wanted to be parents, but we had our perfect "plan" laid out. That plan was intended to kick in at the beginning of 2009, but I've been reminded once again that God's plan is not only best - it's perfect.

Pregnancy has been a wonderful experience so far. Of course there are the typical inconveniences, like aversions to food, odors, waking up in the morning. . .wait, I've always had an aversion to that. :) But, I have no cause to complain. No major morning sickness and I'm so excited to be over the hump of the first trimester.

We covet any and all prayers for us as we begin this new chapter in our lives. Honestly, I am 100 percent freaked out about motherhood, but God gently reminds me each morning to slow down, and take one day at a time. Although I have to admit, I still find myself having nightmares about how to raise a 16 year-old. Thank goodness they come out as infants! I'm also blessed to have several dear friends who have paved the path of how to be a wonderful mom for me - and I'm following their examples ever so closely.

More posts to come about my thoughts, fears and joys. . .and maybe some tummy pics when it starts to not look like an over-sized pooch of fat.

Earlier this month, I had a conference for work in Washington D.C. It happened to fall over the weekend of the 4th of July this year, so we were able to watch the fireworks over the Washington Monument - that was something spectacular.

There Are No Words. . .

2008-06-20T17:01:00.000-05:00

Computer is B-A-N-A-N-A-S

2008-05-14T17:06:00.003-05:00

My home computer has finally gone to the dark side. I'm not sure if it's in computer heaven, computer hell or just in between. . .but it's definitely dead. That explains my lack of posting recently.

This also means I have very limited access to my pictures. I have a few saved on my work computer, and thankfully I backed up the majority of my photos on CDs - but they're at home. So, I have a few random shots, because this is a "nothing" post.

Peace.

All four college roommates. Two with babies. Two who still are babies. :)

A picture of my sister and one of her lifelong friends at ACU's graduation last Saturday.

A few months ago, I had my 1970s peach velvet dining room chairs recovered. They are so much nicer to look at now. Maybe they'll make it for another 30 years?! Hopefully not.

Food For Thought On A Monday. . .

2008-04-14T10:12:00.001-05:00

Controlling The Direction Of Your Thoughts
by Steve Arterburn

And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT

Here’s a proven way to build character: learn to control the direction of your thoughts. Your thoughts, of course, are intensely powerful things. Your thoughts have the power to lift you up or drag you down; they have the power to energize you or deplete you, to inspire you to greater accomplishments or to make those accomplishments impossible.

How will you and your family members direct your thoughts today? Will you follow the instructions of Philippians 4:8 by dwelling upon those things that are honorable, true, and worthy of praise? Or will you allow your thoughts to be hijacked by the negativity that seems to dominate our troubled world?

Are you fearful, angry, bored, or worried? Are you so preoccupied with the concerns of this day that you fail to thank God for the promise of eternity? Are you confused, bitter, or pessimistic? If so, God wants to have a little talk with you.

It’s up to you and your loved ones to celebrate the life that God has given you by focusing your minds upon “whatever is commendable.” So form the habit of spending more time thinking about your blessings and less time fretting about your hardships. Then, take time to thank the Giver of all things good for gifts that are, in truth, far too numerous to count.

The mind is like a clock that is constantly running down. It has to be wound up daily with good thoughts. Fulton J. Sheen

God’s cure for evil thinking is to fill our minds with that which is good. George Sweeting

If our minds are stayed upon God, His peace will rule the affairs entertained by our minds. If, on the other hand, we allow our minds to dwell on the cares of this world, God’s peace will be far from our thoughts. Woodroll Kroll

Baby Business

2008-04-07T19:10:00.006-05:00

I think there's something in the water with all of these babies being born! What an exciting time in life. I'm so thankful for the world of blogging that keeps us all connected and up to date with each other's families.

Although I'm personally not quite ready to be a mom, I do find myself pondering the topic a lot. . .I mean a lot - like almost every day. I first wonder when I'll have my first baby, if I'll be able to easily - or if it will be a struggle. Then I wonder how many I will have; will I have multiples, or just one or two. And, the funniest part of all - is absolutely none of this is within my control. It's 100 percent up to God. What a relief to know He is greater than any worry, and already has my family's future carefully and thoughtfully planned out. Although I must admit, I still sometimes worry. I guess that's part of being human.

I hear some people talk about their children with such joy like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread - and I know they're genuine, because it shows through in their eyes, they can't hide it. Then other people act like kids are the biggest inconvenience. Like their life was suddenly interrupted by these little, innocent beings (Disclaimer: I can only imagine how children test their parents' patience in ways I can't even begin to comprehend, but at the end of the day - exhausted to the bone - shouldn't it be the best job you've ever had or hoped to have?!). I pray to God that I never take for granted the lives He blesses me with someday. I hope I will always remember what a privilege and responsibility He's granted me and remember that He set me out to do this when I was born nearly three decades ago.

I often ask my friends about being parents, and I overwhelmingly hear that there's nothing that can prepare you for the amount of sleep your body can go without and also how having a baby completely rearranges your schedule in ways you never thought possible. So my questions to my blog readers who are parents are: What's your advice or your opinion on being a parent? What's that one thing you wish someone would have told you about before you became a parent? What do you suggest people without kids do before they take the plunge?

P.S. A black lab is the only thing we've ever parented - and we failed MISERABLY. Poor Brinkley had to go live with a new famiy. He's probably much happier, if they haven't killed him yet! :)

Namely Fun

2008-04-03T13:32:00.003-05:00

Stole this one from Maddie! :)
Please enjoy the portrait of me at the aquarium!
This is what happens when you don't have kids.
You end up putting pictures of yourself on your blog - pathetic!

What's in a Name. . .
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Cocoa Eos
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Cookie Dough Heels
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Yellow Puppy
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Cambron Fort Worth
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name): Becla
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Black Diet Dr. Pepper
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Jack Howard
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,favorite candy): Heavenly Twix
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Sewell Seattle
10. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Winter Daisy
11. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing rightnow): Pear Jacket
12. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Cheetos Crepe Myrtle

Two New Things Tried

2008-03-30T19:47:00.005-05:00

I love trying news things, and this weekend I got to do not one, but two!

#1: One new thing was not so fun, and definitely not documented with photos. It was a yoga class. I'm still not quite sure my hips have completely locked back into place. That lady had us so twisted and turned, I'm just grateful I was on the back row. I really wanted to crack up laughing for the first 30 minutes, but by the end of the class I had really opened my mind up to the whole idea. I hate it when others are close-minded and judgmental, and I was guilty of that at first - but I really do believe that if I weighed 95 pounds. . .yoga would be a great fit for me! However, until I weigh 95 pounds, I believe I'll stick with the treadmill. :) There is just too much of me to hold up standing on one foot with my back arched - stretching to the ceiling. It was really cool at the end of the class (not only because it was over and I was still alive), but also because she had us get into our "gratitude" position and we took a few moments to reflect on all of the blessings in our lives. Yoga can be a very mind-clearing and spiritual exercise - and for me, was a wonderful chance to thank God (while burning calories) for all that he's given me.

#2: Hot air balloon riding!
The husband and I got to go up in a hot air balloon! Yes, it was a quick ride - but it was exhilirating! We happened to be driving by a local shopping center and there was this ginormous balloon - and they were giving people FREE rides! We were totally in. We signed our lives away - basically saying we wouldn't sue if I fell out of the balloon from thousands of feet in the air - and then were set.

Bunny Boys

2008-03-24T11:58:00.004-05:00

This is how you celebrate Easter "boy style". . .get three wild brothers, add in ear-piercing loud screaming and a fiercely competitive game of croquet. Now that's what I call fun! :)

Don't worry, I did force the boys to do an Easter egg hunt and tried my best to get them to obey my rules for the game. They didn't listen so well, but it was entertaining to say the least.

Don't you just want to pinch their cheeks?! I personally think the one in the pink shirt is the most PRECIOUS of all. . .and I promise he picked that out on his own! I'm not lying!

All Work ~ No Play

2008-03-06T20:08:00.004-06:00

So sorry for the long absence! It's literally been all work - no play for me lately.

And in regard to the weight loss - I've pretty much been in a holding pattern: not going down or up. Which I'm glad about the not going up part. I'm easing back into working out which I think will jump start my metabolism. I have these friends who think getting up at 5:30 a.m. to go to the gym is fun. I think it's insane - but I've done it a couple of times. I just don't think I could ever get used to that though. I think I am the definition of a non-morning person.

I have some major exciting news from the husband...he's in a line of work that requires him to do some majorly rough shift work, but he just got a promotion to a different division - that will have better hours - and we are both ecstatic. I am so proud of my sweet boy. Just another reminder that God is faithful on His promises, we just sometimes have to wait longer than we'd like.

So, what is up with this Texas weather? I took some photos of the beautiful snow blanket while driving home from work today. I felt like I had been transported to another state! I don't recommend trying this, but I was pretty impressed with my photo skills on my iPhone - if I do say so myself, while driving - and I managed to only swerve out of my lane a couple of times. :)

Wednesday Weigh-In #4

2008-01-30T20:57:00.000-06:00

Weight Loss Report
This Week: +1
Total: -3.5

Well, I said one or two bad words when I stepped on the scale this morning. BUT, in honor of our recent holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr. - "I have a dream." And I do - I have a dream that I will run on that treadmill and not grow weary, and that someday my pants will fall off of me in public because I'm so dang skinny. No, I'm not giving up - I can't! I've got a dream.

Okay - all inspiration aside - I'm hacked. I think it was a couple too many chips and my taco salad last night - thanks, Rachel W. - it's all your fault. Whose idea was it to eat Mexican food the night before my weigh-in?!

Maybe you'll see less of me next - maybe you'll see more. Who knows!

Book & Beverage Review

2008-01-26T14:12:00.000-06:00

I just finished a book by Stephen Arterburn called "The Secrets Men Keep." I highly recommend this to anyone - single, married, divorce, male, female, teen.

Stephen speaks the truth about men - their feelings, thought processes, weird habits and he also confirms some of those mysteries that we won't have the answer to until Jesus fills us in when we get to Heaven.

The book is broken down into five "secret" sections:
1. Secrets about finances, fame and family
2. Secrets about feelings
3. Secrets about spirituality
4. Secrets about relationships with women
5. secrets about sexuality

It's a must read.

Secondly, I just finished a drink to top all drinks. . .Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper. This is the newest flavor in the DP family and I give it 10 bubbly stars! I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority of people who love flavored drinks.

In fact, I've had several conversations with people who think I'm disgusting for craving Diet Cherry Pepsi and Vanilla Coke Zero (people can be so overtly opinionated). But, I will drink on - because I love these beverages - especially because they can often substitute for a sweet treat when a craving attacks.

Wednesday Weigh-In #3

2008-01-23T18:42:00.000-06:00

Weight Loss Report
This Week: -2
Total: -4.5

Guess what?! I stepped on the scale this morning to discover I had lost two more pounds! I was really rather shocked because we went to the Stockshow & Rodeo Monday night and I allowed myself what was supposed to be a "little" splurge. Well, I ended up consuming the following: jumbo corn dog, 1/2 order of french fries, 1/2 cotton candy, several peanuts, a few handfuls of buttery popcorn - oh, and I almost forgot, the most to DIE for caramel apple.

So, you can see my surprise when the scale was actually down and not up this morning. I'm back on track. Below is a picture of us kickin' up our boots at the rodeo. I actually look fatter than a male bull in the picture - I'm hoping the scale is not lying to me!

You'll see less of me next week!

My Celebrity Encounters. . .

2008-01-19T22:53:00.000-06:00

You know how there are some people who have met a ton of celebrities? Usually these people are loaded, or they're in the right place at the right time, or they have a particular job that positions them to meet people in the spotlight.

Well, I fit none of these categories of people. However, I have met a few VIPs in my 28 years. My list is short, and it actually makes me laugh out loud - because I need to get to work if I'm going to beef up my celebrity encounters before I die.

Just to make myself feel better, one photo is missing from the list - I met Miss Texas 2006 last year and I look GINORMOUS standing next to her. I'll have to dig that one up - assuming I didn't rip it to shreds; very bad for the self-esteem.

Country Musician Vince Gill - I think I was 16 - one word: YIKES!

Kidd Kraddick, 106.1 Kiss FM DJs - I met everyone except for Kidd Kraddick himself. I loved this day, because Kellie, Big Al and Rich all acted just as I thought they would. Kellie was sort of cold-shouldered and acted pretty much like a "B." Big Al called me "baby" and tried to flirt and Rich was absolutely genuine and precious.

Former Dallas Cowboy Daryl Johnston - Josh pulled this one off. He also got to meet Governor Rick Perry, but no picture. That same night, he laid his eyes on President Bush & First Lady Laura exiting Air Force One. That trumps all of my celebrity encounters put together!

Wednesday Weigh-In #2

2008-01-17T18:17:00.000-06:00

Weight Loss Report
This Week: -1.5
Total: -2.5

Sorry for the delay, Wednesdays are kind of crazy - but it's the catchiest day of the week. "Thursday Weigh-Ins" wouldn't be nearly as fun.

So I'm down 1.5 pounds. Again, not overly impressive - but if I keep this up I will have met my goal at least by summer. I got in five whole days of exercise this last week, which makes me feel really proud of myself. I've actually been getting up in the MORNINGS, which is only by the grace of God. I do feel so alert and accomplished when I work out in the mornings, so I'm literally praying God will help me get my big ole' bootie out of bed each morning.

On a food note, my intake has still been significantly reduced. However, I attended several functions over the last week, and was able to partake in the food (which one occasion had the most to-die-for chocolate cake). I was able to control my portions, and still be able to just slightly indulge. That's so much better for me than total denial - because total denial just means I'll be really good for two weeks and then go buck wild for an entire day. Not a good pattern.

That's all I have to say right now. You'll see LESS of me next week!

Peace.

2007: A Year Review In Pictures

2008-01-12T16:09:00.000-06:00

January 2007: The sight of snow from our front door.

February 2007: No pictures. How sad to not have documented the month of Cupid's love! I'll definitely make up for this terrible oversight in '08.

March 2007: I went to Abilene to speak to AkO members at a spring retreat, and had a fabulous time. Also bought my first new car - a sassy hard-top convertible, which was kind of bratty, but I promised I would never ask for another new car again as long as I live! It was time to retire the '98 Honda I had been driving since I graduated high school. Other events included my second cousin's wedding; we had a memorable experience hanging out with our relatives at the reception - some normal, some not so much normal.

April 2007: Hosted a small group from Church at our house. Very interesting dymamic of people, but many laughs were shared.

May 2007: Our family hosted a celebration at Mexican Inn marking the one-year anniversary of my grandmother Lyn going to be with Jesus. Friends and family came and we shared our favorite memories of such a remarkable human being who blessed us with her life. I still can't believe she's gone.

June 2007: I surprised Josh with tickets to see The Police in concert. We were in the nose-bleed section, but had such a good time. They were awesome to see live. (This is his "surprised" face)

July 2007: We spent the fourth of July during the day in Southlake Town Square and watched a couple of different fireworks shows that night.

August 2007: Josh and I did a "Tour de Tejas" in August and had a blast. We drove to New Braunfels and went to Schlitterbahn and then drove to Galveston for a couple of days and met Jacquie, Spruce & Lynlee for a little visit.

September 2007: Football, football, football. The season was kicked off big time watching one of the most hyped up high school football games of all times take place at SMU's stadium. Here's "the girls" pictured below.

October 2007: The fall & winter are my favorite seasons. The celebrations begin with Josh's birthday, then Halloween, my birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, etc. Thus the reason for needing to lose 20 pounds pronto. :) October was a great month. I visited my sister in Lubbock and went to ACU's Homecoming.

November 2007: Tis the season to be thankful. Below is a picture of my sister and me getting the Christmas season started off right in Dallas. We went to Sprinkles Cupcakes for the first time. VERY good and a dangerous place to visit (calorie wise).

December 2007: What a fun month - and so many pictures to choose from, but I went with one of my favorites from the cruise celebrating our fourth anniversary.

Thank you God for another year in this world you created. May we make you proud in 2008 with our words, our actions and our lives.

Wednesday Weigh-In #1

2008-01-09T17:32:00.000-06:00

Weight Lost Report: 1 pound

Whoop-dee-doo! One pound. I'm not overly thrilled, but at least the scale went down and not up. I really think I can partially blame not losing more weight on my excessive need for salt lately. Can I blame it on water retention because of too much sodium?

I've definitely been eating less, but in turn, wanting to pour a ton of salt all over my food. Also, I only got to work out twice last week, which I'm hoping to increase this week. So stay tuned.

You'll see less of me next week! Peace out.

Weighing Wednesdays

2008-01-03T17:01:00.000-06:00

I've decided to enter myself in my own version of The Biggest Loser. I need to lose the 20 pounds that I've put on during 2007, and I've discovered that I don't do well unless I have some sort of accountability, or at least some competition.

I have decided to declare each Wednesday "Weighing Wednesdays." Don't get too excited, because I'm not going to post my actual weight, that would cause you to fall out of your computer chair from utter shock, but I am going to post the amount of weight that I've lost each week.

Since college, I've had great success with the Weight Watchers program, and I know it well, so I don't want to have to rejoin and pay them money each week, just so I can make myself have some self control when it comes to food. So, I'm asking the blogger world to hold me accountable. Basically I will keep my exercise consistent and cutdown on the amount of food I intake. I'm not big on total deprival, so there might be a week or two where I only lose a tenth of a pound or just maintain, but it's better than gaining! I really want to stick with the postings, so make sure you comment if you don't see a posting each week.

As they say at Weight Watcher meetings. . ."You'll See Less Of Me Next Week!"

Oh, and if anyone wants to join me on this fat wagon, please feel free! Below is a picture of me today, sitting at my desk with my chubby cheeks. I can't wait to see the progress (you'll notice I will lose weight first in my face and then my boobs - isn't that a cryin' shame?!).

Coffee & Candy: The Sweetest Combo

2007-12-27T11:48:00.001-06:00

We threw our not-so-annual Christmas party on the 21st. There was a "coffee & candy" theme. It was simple and easy to host. We had a great time seeing friends who live nearby and far away (Jennifer: you get the award for traveling the most miles!). :)

I've had so much fun over the past week spending some major relaxation time with the fam. I'm spoiled having my sister in town to entertain me every moment of the day. Below are pictures from the party. Christmas day pics TBP (to be posted).

P.S. - All of these pictures were taken by a four-year-old. That will explain the unusually low camera angles, but overall - not too shabby.

Ocean-Size Love

2007-12-23T14:25:00.000-06:00

We had such a wonderful time on our cruise. We were spoiled and very overfed.

Below is a slideshow of some of the pictures we took. Please excuse the randomness (and some of the not-so-pretty shots). We decided to do "before" and "after" pictures on formal night. Very frightening. So, that's my Christmas present to all of you. Enjoy! :)

**I removed this slideshow, because the file was too large and taking a very long time to load my page

A Precious Reminder Of The Meaning Of Christmas

2007-12-19T11:31:00.000-06:00

Celebrating 1,460 Days Of Matrimony

2007-12-09T18:20:00.000-06:00

As of this Thursday, Josh and I will have been married 1,460 days. That's just a very precise way of saying "four years." Because we chose to get married just 12 days before Christmas, we promised to try not to just glaze over celebrating such an important day in our lives. Although with his birthday in October, mine in November and then Christmas - a lot of gift giving takes place. So, we decided if at all possible, we'd go on a trip each year. So far, we've been fortunate enough to do so. I know that once kids come along, it might be more of a challenge. . .but for now we're living it up.

This year we're exploring the seas on a cruise to Mexico. I've been on one cruise and Josh has never been, so we're VERY excited. I'm going to cherish every moment of the next six days with my sweet groom. Because of our opposite work schedules right now, time with each other is something that's very valuable. We leave early tomorrow morning to carefully drive to Galveston. I'm praying the roads aren't icy. I'll be sure to post pictures when we get back! Thank you God for giving me a husband like Josh!

Below is a recap of our past anniversary celebrations.

December 13, 2003: Honeymooned in St. Lucia

December 13, 2004: Cancun, Mexico

December 13, 2005: Two-night stay at the Galleria Westin

December 13, 2006: Riviera Maya, Mexico (combined celebrating Katie & James' destination wedding)

December 13, 2007: Cruise baby Cruise!: Pictures to come!

Changing With The Wind

2007-12-07T10:44:00.000-06:00

I type with such a heavy heart.

I had every intention of blogging each night this week. And if I had, there would have been a completely different tone of emotion each time. Last night I was praising God for answered prayers. Small triumphs in my own life. Selfish desires coming to fruition. I wanted to shout from the mountaintops, "How great is this God we serve?!!!"

But a mere 24 hours later, I've learned that the wife and mother of a dear person I work with has been told her life is likely to end far sooner than anyone imagined. She has a very agressive form of breast cancer. She is the mother of four young children. I hear of people with cancer all the time. I'm touched by the work of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I love observing, and sometimes even supporting, all of the "pink" campaigns throughout the world. But when it comes to your front doorsteps, cancer is far too real.

Even when I have my moments of tenderness, they are fleeting. I haphazardously continue with my little, unimportant life. What if this cancer was happening to me, or to my mom or sister? What would I do? Would I fall apart? I most certainly would. And for that, I'm ashamed. It's so easy to brush another person's sorrow off. Telling them they'll be in my "prayers" and offering to bring a meal over. But I don't really know what kind of valley they're traveling through. My life hasn't yet been touched by cancer, or any true tragedy for that matter. I feel blessed, but I also feel an enormous amount of guilt. It's frightening to think how many people I will know and love who have yet to even be diagnosed. I'm scared. And I wonder how real my faith will look then.

So far this morning, I've prayed without ceasing for this family. I want God so badly to work a miracle in this woman's life. I want for the doctors to be dumbfounded the next time they see her. And, I want her children to have their mother for many, many more years. But, how often does God's will not line up with mine? I've prayed for miracles before, and the answer has not been what I'd hoped for. I find myself at a loss for words and advice and I'm surely not equipped to comfort someone who's in this situation.

I thank God for the Spirit - and for His intercession, because there's no other being with wisdom enough to know what to do or say.

My Celebrity Look-Alike

2007-11-16T16:56:00.000-06:00

I guess there are worse people I could look like. . .

%1

Little, Useless Facts About Me

2007-11-15T12:08:00.000-06:00

I actually completed one of those forwarded E-mails that asks you questions about yourself. It's kind of fun to do, but I usually act like I'm too important and busy to do them. That changed today. So here's some facts about me...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? The movie star Lauren Bacall
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I teared up during last Sunday's Extreme Home Makeover
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING Yes, but it could be perfected.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Not yet.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Probably best friends. :)
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT ? Quite a bit.
8. Is Jesus your Savior and do you believed God raised him from the dead? Romans 10:9 Without a doubt.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yes, and I've already reverse bungee jumped in Las Vegas when I was 16.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cookie Crisp and Oh's.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Usually not. It drives Josh crazy.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Not at all.
13. What is your favorite ice cream? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookies & Cream, Peppermint, etc. etc. etc.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their teeth.
15. Red or Pink Pink.
16. WHAT IS YOUR MOST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? That I can completely entertain myself for hours at a time.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST Lyn.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Sure, but I understand if they don't. Who has time for these thing? I don't, but it's better than doing all the things at work I should be.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I'm wearing an olive green skirt with chocolate heels.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Rice Krispie Treat.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Regular office noise.
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT
COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Yellow.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Fire burning, my new Degree deodorant, tanning oil and cinnamon candles.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My sister...wishing her a happy #24 today.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? College Football.
27. HAIR COLOR? Dark Brown.
28. EYE COLOR? Dark Brown.
29. DO YOU Wear CONTACTS No, but I can't see very well anymore.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? I don't have enough time to list...Mexican, would be on the short list.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Highway Man, which was scary.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Bronze/olive
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter.
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Both at the same time.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Again, not enough time to list...brownies, sopapilla cheesecake, anything with toffee, chocolate or peanut butter.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Jac
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND Everyone else.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Secrets Men Keep by Steve Arterburn
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have a mouse pad because I have an optical mouse. I'm special.
41. DID YOU WATCH T.V. LAST NIGHT? No.
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Our Sunday School class of four-year olds singing songs to Jesus.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Italy.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Remembering the birthdays of people I don't even know anymore and other useless facts.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Fort Worth.
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Josh's. But he'll probably opt to just tell me in person.

B-day Bashes, DWTS & Song of the Week

2007-11-11T14:13:00.000-06:00

Great week.

We celebrated my birthday this week and my sister's over the weekend. I'm another year older and loving it, because the alternative would be to not be alive - so I choose to be 28! That age sounds sophisticated but still young and vibrant (or that's what I'll keep telling myself.) Mucho Mexican food was consumed this week and that's fine by me. I went to Cristina's for lunch on Tuesday with co-workers, Posado's Tuesday night with family and Pappasito's Thursday night with Josh and his side of the family. Josh got me an iphone which I had been begging for - I highly recommend it. I don't know how I lived without it before. Simply amazing.

The sister turns 24 this Thursday so she and her new "special friend Reid" came in town Friday night. We had a lot of fun spending time together and I released the domestic side of myself and spontaneously cooked brunch Saturday morning. It was surprisingly good, I only screwed up the eggs, which is kind of important - but we still had pumpkin bread, sausage kolaches, waffles, cinnamon rolls and bacon to choose from (I'd like to note that none were from scratch - but I did a great job heating them up). Anyway, as I begin another year of life, I look forward to what God has in store for me. My goal is to make Him proud no matter what.

Random side note: I am a self-proclaimed "non-TV addict," but I l-o-v-e DWTS (Dancing With The Stars). I was baffled by Sabrina's elimination, but at least she has time now to date her partner, Mark. They are precious and I want them to get married and have babies. (I prefaced this by saying it was a random side note - and it is) - anyway, I'm going to miss the show tomorrow night because I have a Board meeting, and it's going to be a real nail-biter because just about anybody could be eliminated at this point. I like Jennie Garth a lot because she seems so down to earth. She's totally opposite from the character (Kelly) she played on "90210." If I could find my sterling silver 90210 necklace that I so proudly wore in the early 90s I would sport it, but I'm afraid it's lost somewhere with my Vanilla Ice and New Kids on the Block cassette tapes. As far as the other contestants, Jane Seymour has been a total shocker. I originally thought she'd be hittin' the road in the first few weeks, but she's been surprisingly fabulous. I think I'm most ready for Helio or Marie to go, I'm so over both of them. Although when it comes to TV shows, my heart belongs to The Office. In my humble opinion, it's the most entertaining show of all times - second only to 90210, of course! :)

Below are a few pictures from this weekend.

Friday night football game with siblings

Brunch Party '07

Lastly, Josh has gotten me hooked on this song: Overkill by Kosheen. He loves techno and I usually would rather eat glass than listen to techno, but this is an awesome song to get you pumped up to workout. Enjoy.

Peace out.

The Truth Shall Set You Free

2007-11-04T19:05:00.000-06:00

Thank you God for your truth that sets me free. This makes my heart tingle.

I am so grateful for His truth and for the fact that nothing can save me but God's grace - and in His grace lies sweet freedom. It makes me feel as though I can do anything imaginable with Him. . .Hallelujah!

Everytime I go back to visit ACU, I think of the old Administration Building which displays this statement of faith that I've adapted as words to live by for my life. I used to walk by these words day after day when I was in school, and suddenly the meaning struck me. It was my senior year and I think it was a divine culmination of everything ACU had taught me during those four years. What power.

And this power is alive and well. There's been a series of tough things I've been dealing with lately. Some are my own personal issues, and some affect those close to me - but despite the pain and darkness of this world - Jesus' truth remains unwavering and this makes everything else bearable when put in perspective. The truth continues to set me free. This is what's on my heart right now - and I wanted to share. . .

Transitioning to a lighter subject. We've entered into celebration season, which was kicked off by Josh's birthday, followed by Halloween and then my birthday is just around the corner as well as my sister's, father-in-law's, Thanksgiving, etc. etc. etc. Below are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure - and also a couple from Homecoming. Check out Katie's best effort to look completely disturbed. :) Have a great week!

I'll See You In The Fall. . .If Not At All

2007-10-29T19:30:00.000-05:00

This is a saying my grandmother Lyn always said - never understood it, but my family and I continue to use the phrase. At any rate, I love this time of year.

I'm trying to absorb every bit of this beautiful fall weather. I'm so glad God invented seasons, wouldn't life be so boring without them? His creativity is so cool.

Below are a few pictures so far from this season. . .

September 2007 - pre-game party with the Beceras & Coronados before the nationally televised Dragon football game

September 2007 - taking a breather from salsa dancing at Gloria's
October 2007 - checking out where my sister spends her life in grad school

Welcome to. . .The Hammock

2007-10-28T22:14:00.000-05:00

I'm rejoining the blogger world. Watch out! I took down my first blog over a year ago. Josh didn't like it because he said it had too much specific detail about our lives, our occupations, where we live, etc. And, with so many crazy people roaming the Internet world, I heeded his advice - and decided to take it down.

However, I really believe blogs are a useful tool to keep in touch with people you do and do not know. I feel like I have "blogger buddies", whom I've never even met. I just find it so interesting to read the mundane details of other peoples' lives, and I guess in some weird way, I feel the need to share my own mundane details, too. So I'm back in a more discrete way. . .we'll see how long that lasts. I'll definitely be posting pictures, because blogs are just uninteresting without them. In fact, I think I'll be posting my favorite pictures from the last several months. There are many to choose from, but I'll just have to pick the one that best depicts the "story of the month." Below is my sister and me at the pumpkin patch when I visited her earlier this month. We also just celebrated Josh's birthday. I'll post those pictures later.

Writing is such a form of release and therapy. I think I'm going to like my newly, reinvigorated and somewhat anonymous blog. I'm excited. . .and I'd like to officially welcome you to The Hammock. While on a jog this afternoon I was thinking about blogging again, and while I was pondering the notion, I saw a hammock in a backyard. It looked so relaxing and inviting, I wanted to just hop in it and read a book. I don't often take much time to simply be still and reflect. I'm hoping this journal will help me do just that, and I hope in some way, you'll do the same in your own life. Here's to The Hammock. . .prop up your feet and stay a while. :)

October 2007 - Sisters at the Pumpkin Patch