Slowly but Surely.

Joe and I have been very slowly furnishing our home. It all started with the couch we bought last Christmas. Throughout the year we got a dresser, a dining table, & some bookshelves. All of that is great, but our place doesn't have much of a homey feel. We have finally started getting all of our artwork framed and just recently took advantage of a West Elm sale.

If you come visit us you'll see our new furnishings:

Jesus Loves Me

This has been one crazy week. I haven't gotten home before 5:30 one time, and I don't think I've ever been so ready for the weekend. Our head Librarian is Chinese, and she decided to share a little bit of her culture with the kids by celebrating and explaining Chinese New Year. I haven't been in there much, but it has been very interesting to hear and see how different our cultures are. At the end of her presentation she plays a recording of Jesus Loves Me in Chinese. Gosh- it gets me every time. I have always had a soft spot for missions and more specifically children. It puts things in perspective.

I have found myself if a place of evaluation and change. I've been evaluating relationships. It is so difficult to let go of the frustrations I have with individuals and just take a step back. Unfortunately (even family members and best friends) are humans and are unable to say the right thing and act the right way 24/7 365. I am as guilty of this as anyone, and I still put my faith and hope in those relationships more so than with my relationship with Christ too often. Have you ever had to let go of a relationship? You can't cut it out of your life completely, but you know you just can't trust it anymore? Gosh it's difficult.  Whenever Joe and I move I know there will be many challenges, but I know the challenges will be worth the change God has for us.   Not that we are running away, but there are just some things that need to stay in Texas when we leave. I know it is going to be such a great fresh start. I feel as if we are finally cleaving the last few strings we have to our families and lives previous to marriage, and are in a marvelous state of unification.  Don't misunderstand me we love our families, but it has been difficult (probably more for me) to think of our family first.

I feel as if I just threw up every thought (prayer) I have had over the course of the past six days. Sorry about that.

Get it while the Gettin's... Easy.

We have a proposed start/move date(s) people! After a very up and down, uncertain week as far as our move to D.C. goes, we finally got some info. Joe's proposed start date for the Virginia office is July 2nd, and our moving date(s) are June 234d and 24th. WOW! Five months from today exactly we will be getting into bed in Houston, TX only to awake at 3:30 AM and hit the road to Chattanooga, TN. After a quick visit to my grandmother's house growing up and a good nights rest we will be a short 10 hours away from our final destination: Alexandria, VA.

For about 48 hours this week we thought our move might be postponed to October. I/we were both pretty disappointed and stressed by the news. Well the emotional roller coaster went back up on Friday and Saturday when we found out that Joe was "critical" to the VA office, and needed to be there by July 2nd ish.

Through this whole experience we have been praying that the Lord would shut the door if this wasn't his will, it seems that not only is the door wide open, but we are being pushed through it.

So - if you need an SA fix, or want to visit us before a  jet is required, you better get here while you can.

Cousins Weekend

This past weekend my cousin Phillip came down for the weekend. We had a ton of fun visiting some of the San Antonio missions, singing at Howl at the Moon, and eating way too much! I do not have any siblings and my cousins have always been more like siblings. Phil is one of my best friends in the world, and one of the few people I know whom I could call and they would drop everything to rescue me. 

San Antonio: One Year Later

As hard as it is to believe, Joe and I have been in San Antonio for exactly one year (yesterday). You can read about our move,here. Although it seems in the long run our time in SA will be short lived, it will still hold some wonderful memories. For me personally my time spent working at my dear school has been invaluable. The people and their mission are so dear to my heart. Not to 'dis' SA, but it has made me also really appreciate Houston, and all it has to offer. 

Anywho, today is Martin Luther King's birthday, and we have the day off. As an adult I appreciate what this day represents and means much more than as a student. I wish we were in DC to visit the memorial today. What and incredible Christian and American he was. 

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that"  Martin Luther King Jr. 

Favorite Things: Christmas Gift Edition.

I am loving this classic lip balm Joe put in my stocking. 

I LOVE these pants fro J Crew. 

My M-I-L got me this gorgeous sweater. It's simple, but has the cutest three buttons in the back that add charming detail. 

Also from my M-I-L, this adorable shirt from Anthropologie is to die for on! I'm saving it for spring, and can hardly wait to wear it.

From my mom, this collection is simply wonderful. Like any red blooded American woman I have a healthy obsession with Mrs. Kennedy.

Last but most certainly not least:

I could go on and on. Everything I got for Christmas is awesome, but these are my most favorite. 

Living on Purpose

"You are the salt of the earth...the light of the world. A city on a hill."


Matthew 5:13,14


Like most people I have been thinking about how 2012 will be different, or "New Year Resolutions", and the sermon at church this morning made me positive of my decision.

As a whole I want to improve my habits pertaining to my Mind, Body, & Soul.

M: I aspire to gain more knowledge of the person of God. I feel I often ignore who He really is, and instead think of Him how I want Him to be.

B: I aspire to eat more healthfully and exercise 6 days a week. After all- the body I have is a gift and a temple for the Holy Spirit


S: I aspire to actively pursue living out my purpose: being the salt of the earth. In order to do this I have got to study His word better and more deeply. I also want to take no day and no interaction lightly. In 2012 I want to...

Live on Purpose.

The Ball Dropped and We celebrated our Anniversary

For New Years Eve we celebrated the end of 2011 by having a wonderful dinner at the new hot spot in our neighborhood Feast, smoking some cigars J got for Christmas, and watching the downtown fireworks at midnight. For the most part it was a very simple evening, but it was so enjoyable. There is nothing I love more than the company of my guy. 

For our Anniversary we both had the day/night off, which was awesome. We slept in and went to the first movie of the day, and ate popcorn and sour-patch watermelons for lunch. This is most likely one of our most favorite activities ever! We went to the movie a lot when we lived in College Station because it was a very cheap date night. Since then we both have full time jobs, and don't have as much time to go to early movies (obviously).  Since our NYE dinner was quite extravagant we kept our anniversary dinner more simple and went to our favorite local restaurant, Luke. They have a wonderful happy hour,  so we went early and made a dinning experience of it. We ended the night with another one of our favorite pastimes, watching college football. For us, it just doesn't get much better. 

  



















































I hope 2012 has treated you well so far.

Two Years.

Two years ago this evening Joe and I began our married life together. It is hard to believe that it has been two years since that cold day in January. It was an incredibly special time, and we think of it fondly. Today we will just enjoy being together, and plan to do all of our favorite things. We couldn't be here without the support and love of our family and friends, so thank you!