Be Careful, These Are Addictive

One of my favorite things about being a youth minister's wife is providing snacks. 

I love finding new, tasty ideas and sharing them with all the teenagers.

And I REALLY love it when they love eating it!

Monday nights are Bible Study nights, which means I make a snack and tonight it was Oreo Balls.

I had planned to take pictures while I was making them to help with the recipe...

but I forgot.

Sorry!

Good thing you can all read!

First, you have to smash up an entire box of Oreos.

This is a great opportunity to get out any frustrations you might have.

I put the Oreos into a ziplock and hit them with a glass cup. 

Then, you take an 8oz block of original cream cheese and mix it all up in a big bowl.

I use my (clean) hands for this part.

Next, melt some bakers chocolate (I use milk chocolate and white chocolate) 

Roll a small spoonful of the Oreo mix into a ball

And then dip it in the chocolate.

Set the chocolate covered ball on a wax paper covered baking sheet.

Once you have covered all the balls, drizzle the opposite color of chocolate on them.

And you will end up with these!

Yum!

I keep mine in the refrigerator until I am ready to serve them.

I don't know why...I just like them cold. 

You have to be careful when eating them though because before you know it you look down and you've eaten half the batch. 

They are that good...and that addicting!

Special thanks to Claire Sawyer for passing this simple and delicious recipe on to me!

Marriage Counseling

Don't get bored yet...this post is not about school!

(Are you bored with my school posts?)

And no, Michael and I did not go to marriage counseling this weekend but I am very pro counseling at any and every stage of your relationship, so don't be nervous/embarrassed...go to counseling!

Okay, MFT plug is done.

Seriously though, this weekend seemed to be pretty full of marriage counseling for us even though we never stepped foot in a therapist's office.

Why???

1) Because this weekend was the Family Enrichment Seminar at Jersey Village Church of Christ. Dr. Donnie Hilliard from Faulkner came and spent the weekend teaching us about our marriages and how to lead our families to Heaven. 

He was such a great speaker and I would definitely recommend him to others. 

And 2) The seminar was only in the morning on Saturday, and that afternoon Michael and I created our own opportunity for marriage counseling through a DIY project.

We built a desk.

Actually, we put a desk together. 

Doesn't seem like it would bring about the opportunity for marital therapy, but oh how deceiving it is!

First of all, it was around 107 degrees outside.

So if working together to built something isn't stressful enough, lets add a little heat.

Here we are at step one of the project.

Putting on the legs.

Doesn't he look thrilled??

This little man was such a great help...

Not.

This desk was given to me for free from one of the members at Memorial.

It belonged to her daughter and I told her that I was in the market for a corner desk and she happened to have one that they weren't using anymore!

I'll take it!

The only problem is that it was in pieces and didn't come with instructions.

Fortunately, the girl had painted it and so I could kind of tell what went where by the sides of the boards that weren't painted.

That's critical thinking right there.

About halfway through Michael said he wished I would have just bought a new one.

I can't do that though.

The 'Kevin Baird' in me would not allow me to spend money on something that was perfectly fine for free. 

So we pressed on...and we sweated...and we got mad...and just started hammering the screws in...

and we finished it!

Then we realized, "Wow. That's a pretty big desk. Will it fit through our door?"

Then I thought, "Why did I think it was a good idea to build outside anyway?"

Fail.

The reason I thought it was a good idea is because I didn't think about it.

At all.

Of course putting it together in the room, with air conditioning is a much better idea!

It is only by the grace of God that I can say we got that desk not only through one door...

not only through two doors...

and not only through 3 doors...

We got that bad boy through 3 doors and one door frame!

Bam!

Take that house hallway that was not well thought out when being built!

So here it is, in the room - Hallelujah! 

It still needs to be painted, but we have gone through enough trouble for one weekend. 

That will just have to wait.

Now is where I need your help.

What color should I paint the desk?

The walls are a light khaki color (can you tell?) and the rest of the room is white, red, and navy (not in a patriotic sort of way though. There are no flags)

At first I thought I would paint it white.

Now I am thinking red.

What do you think??

Recent Real Life Happenings

I feel like my past few posts have all been Pinterst related and didn't really document any thing that has been going on in my life. 

What does that say about my life?

That I'm a little too addicted to Pinterest?

Probably.

Moving on.

For the 3 of you that are interested...Mom, Sister, Grandma...here is what we've been up to!

1) This past Sunday Michael had his School Year Youth Luncheon.

This is where he introduces the school year calendar, tells about each of the events he has planned, asks for volunteers, and shows the summer video.

Unfortunately, the summer video didn't work, but everything else went great!

Plus, Matt was here since Oklahoma Christian sponsored the lunch, and all the parents thought the whole luncheon was a great success.

Photo Matt took at the lunch

2) Also this past weekend was the Family Therapy Student Associations Kick-Off Party. 

Since I am the Vice President of FTSA this year, I was one of five people in charge of putting this together. 

Here are the other board members.

2011-2012 Board

Paige even had shirts made for all of us! 

And she gave us nicknames!

The party was a huge success and we had around 60-70 students, faculty and families come to the event!

3) I'm officially a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy!

Well, a student member.

And, I'm going to the national conference in a month...in Dallas...and I'm so excited!

4) I was twins with a girl in the youth group tonight.

Not sure how I feel about it, but I don't hate it.

At least it wasn't the exact same shirt this time (Courtney Hutchins...that was embarrassing!)

5) Tomorrow I start my practicum!!

Which means that I will start seeing real clients tomorrow.

I'm so nervous - but mostly just excited!

I probably won't have a client tomorrow, since its the first day of class, but next week is a definite possibility.

Prayers are appreciated!

Prayers are also needed because starting tomorrow I will be in class from 10am to 9pm every Thursday.

I think it might kill me. 

If I Only Knew...

Have you ever wished that you had knowledge or talent in an area where you have absolutely no knowledge or talent?

I have.

I do.

I am.

There are so many things that I wish I knew about or wish I knew how to do.

For instance, sewing.

I really wish I knew how to sew.

By hand or by machine - I'll take either one.

I have gone so far as to look up where I could take classes, and I've even looked at machines on Craigslist.

Just think of all the things I could make!

Curtains!

via thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com

Pillows!

via raegunwear.blogspot.com

Cute vintage-style dresses.

via whatiwore.tumblr.com

The possibilities are endless.

Another thing I really wish I knew how to do was carpentry. 

Or "build stuff" as I would most likely call it. 

I would make wall decor.

via shanty-2-chic.com

A gorgeous dining table.

littlebitsofbliss.blogspot.com

What? I could make it...

Or maybe this little beauty that I have been drooling over.

via decorchick.com

That little corner bench would be per-fect in our breakfast nook.

Unfortunately, I not only lack the know-how, I lack the tools.

If you are skilled in either of these areas, please come over.

I will love you forever and pay you in cookies.

But really, I know my sister's boyfriend is in carpentry school and I hope he knows I have plans for him...

PS - I survived my first day of school! I can already feel the stress mounting after only 2 classes, but I think its going to be a pretty great semester!

So Long Sweet Summer

Summer is officially over. 

All the schools here in Houston started classes again today, but lucky me I only have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I got to savor the summer for one more day.

And what did I do with this freedom??

I took Buster to the vet to get a shot...

Picked up clothes from the dry cleaner...

Cooked dinner...

So pretty much nothing!

Tomorrow it all begins though.

This will (hopefully) be my last year taking classes for my masters.

I'm trying to be excited, but I'm just not. 

I know that once I'm handed that first syllabus...its all over.

It will be all papers, presentations, and LOTS of readings.

However, I do get to start seeing clients this year, so that is something to look forward to. 

Those of you that started school this week - I hope that it was a great start to the year.

Those of you that no longer go to school - I'm so jealous!

Pray for me that I will survive (and lets be real, get good grades...we all know I care) this school year!

Ready for Fall Already

Want to know where I have been lately?

Well, I've been on Pinterest...

dreaming of fall...

and wishing for rain and cooler temperatures.

Will I get either of those things??

Rain - maybe. Its hurricane season.

Cooler temperatures - see you in November cute boots and scarves.

As proof that my mind has been on fall, here are some of my most recent pins:

via polyvore.com

via jcrew.com

via tandsdaybook.blogspot.com

via loft.com

via livingwithlindsay.com

via polyvore.com

via tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com

Are you all dreaming of fall too?

What are your favorite parts about the upcoming season?

Anniversary #3

The day we left for Mexico was our third wedding anniversary.

I can't believe we have already been married for 3 years!

It seems like it has gone so fast.

We like to play a little game each year on our anniversary.

We ask each other questions about the year such as, best moment, worst moment, funniest thing that happened...blah blah blah.

On here though, I thought I would share some of the big events that have happened in our lives over the past 3 years.

- We bought our first car together, and I will drive it till it dies because I love it!

- We have lived in 4 different houses/apartments

- We have each been employed by 3 different places

- We both have graduated once

- We have been members of 3 different churches

- We adopted a dog

-I have chopped my hair off once...and never will again.
- Tony Romo has been injured during 2 football seasons.

- We became Texas citizens...still not sure how I feel about that.

- We have gone at least 1.5 years without cable (collectively)
- We've had no idea where God was going to lead us, and we've trusted Him through it all. (Sometimes not as well as others)
- We said good-bye too many times to count...probably the worst moments of the 3 years
- But we have made so many new friendships through all the goodbyes/hellos

Wedding Day

Anniversary 1

Anniversary 2

Anniversary 3

There have been both good and bad moments over these 3 years...but I wouldn't change any of it.
I'm so happy to be married to my best friend, and the best husband/Christian I could ever ask for.

Happy Anniversary Michael!

I love you!

Awkward and Awesome Vacation

We are back!

Actually, we have been back since Saturday night, but we have been going and going non-stop since then.

For some reason I always feel like I need a few vacation days after my vacation.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

We had such a great week at the Secrets Silversands resort in the Riviera Maya!

Our days pretty much looked like this:

Sleep in.

Eat Breakfast.

Go to the beach.

Eat lunch.

Go to the pool.

Take a nap.

Go to dinner.

Evening entertainment.

Watch movies.

Repeat.

It was just what we needed. 

Though we didn't seem to do very much all week, a lot of interesting things happened. 

I am going to copy one of the blogs I follow and list all the happenings into "Awkward" and "Awesome".

Awkward:

- Missing our flight to Cancun. Okay, no, that was awful and I almost cried. We were 2 minutes late checking in. Luckily, there was another flight 1.5 hours later. However, since we got the tickets last minute we were at the back of the plane. Which leads to...

- Using the barf bag on the airplane. To make it worse, we landed about 10 seconds after I threw up. I hate flying.

This is at the beginning of the flight

- How fast conversation stops once people find out that Michael is a minister. 

- The lack of clothing on the girls in the evening entertainment. Particularly that they wore thongs. Weird. And probably uncomfortable for them.

Yeah, and that's from the front.

- Swimming in the pool and as we are getting out the resort workers are putting caution tape around it. 

Also awkward is the fact that the guys were cleaning the pool with scrub brushes, not pool vacuums. 

Closed 3 days.

- Being called on stage to assist the magician during the evening entertainment. Don't worry, it gets worse. At the end of my part the guy points to his cheek for a kiss. I say no, and that I'm with my husband, pointing at Michael. What does he do? He says, "Go for it." Are you kidding me? So, I go to give the guy a little peck on the cheek...

- Getting kissed by a sick nasty magician who turned his head when I went for his cheek. 

I. was. mortified.

Also awkward - this picture. The after

 - Tips being included in our travel package, but not really because all the people there still expected them. Awkward because we never gave one. 

Awesome:

- Having my husband all to myself for an entire week!! 

- Having this view for an entire week. I love the beach. Its one of my favorite places on earth. So relaxing.

- Arriving in Cancun and having everything already paid for. The shuttle to the resort and back, all our meals, 24 hour room service, all the Coca Lights and Frescas we could drink. Everything. 

- Having wonderful friends that let me borrow their clothes. You're the best Claire!!

- The American Way/USA entertainment show. Best part - Bootylicious.

I don't think you can handle this!

- The book The Help. I read it during our trip and loved it! Highly recommend it!

- Hibachi dinner at the Asian restaurant! The fried rice was delicious. And its Michael's favorite food ever so that was a bonus!

- Spending the week without phones or internet and being secluded (besides the 200 other guests who were usually drunk/loud/annoying) on this beautiful beach resort.

It was an incredible week! 

I'm so glad that we decided to do this and that we were able to take such a great vacation.

We are so blessed!

Bye Bye Beard-y

Right about now I am relaxing by the beach reading a book in the Riviera Maya.

But I didn't want to leave without letting you guys see these pictures.

Michael decided to shave before going on vacation, so we had a little bit of fun with his beard before it was completely gone.

Unfortunately we forgot to take a before, so this will have to suffice.

Thanks Mom and Dad for the Cracker Barrel!

The beard was getting a little long and grizzly...and he was touching it alot...so it was time to say goodbye.

Phase 1: Chops

Phase 2: Ringo Soul Patch  (his name, not mine)

Phase 3: Steve Johns

And now he's back to the Michael we all know and love:

I think we are both regretting the shave a little bit though.

I grew attached to the scruff, so it may be back pretty soon. 

Plus, he just looks so much younger with that pretty, baby face!

Where Did Summer Go?

It seems like it was just last week when I was telling you guys how excited I was for the youth group kids to get out of school and for all the summer activities to start, and now, those activities are almost all over. 

It went by so fast this year!

I guess it does every year, but it seems to have really blown by this time.

This is the week of summer where we would usually have an Intern Party and a closing to the summer. 

Since Michael doesn't have interns, we're just leaving on vacation and calling it the end of summer!

Haha!

Not really...but pretty much.

Last week Michael had a Service Scavenger Hunt on Tuesday, bowling on Thursday, a baptism on Friday (CONGRATS SAMANTHA!)
a youth rally all day on Saturday - outside, I might add...it was hot! - and then a Graduate Send-off today after evening services.
All of that is just the past 6 days!
Its been a busy week, and an even busier summer.
We wouldn't want it any other way though.

Michael and I have had so much fun spending time with the JV Youth group and getting to know all of them.
We feel so blessed to be a part of a congregation that takes such an interest in the lives of their young people.
We also feel blessed that the young people have such big hearts, and a desire to serve the Lord and be a light in this world.
And lastly, we praise God for all the teens who gave their life to Christ and were baptized this summer!

Thank you to all the parents, youth kids, adult sponsors, teachers, and others who have made this summer the best it could be through their dedication of time, service, encouragement, and prayer.
We could not have done it without you!
Here are some highlights from our summer with the JV Youth:

VBS at JV

We loved getting to serve at Impact

Twins...embarrassing or not?

Galveston Beach Day

The JV Group at Camp Bandina

White Water Rafting in Colorado

Trek Group on Summit Day

Capture the Flag at the Girl's Retreat