Meet Joe

Last weekend, the Aggies For Christ (group from A&M Church of Christ) came to spend the weekend serving and having fun with our youth group.

It was such a wonderful weekend. 

We did service projects, played laser tag, the Aggies did skits, and there were several incredible devos.

The highlight of the weekend was when we went to the Brookwood Community.

Here is the description from their website:

Through the Grace of God, The Brookwood Community provides an educational environment that creates meaningful jobs, builds a sense of belonging, and demands dignity and respect for adults with disabilities.

 We went to Brookwood Saturday morning to play basketball with the residents.

I think our kids were a little nervous at first, but once they met some of the residents, they really began to open up and show them so much love.

Its always amazing to me that when we go somewhere to serve and bless someone else, they end up blessing us so much more.

My biggest blessing of the day was Joe.

I met him when he came over to give me one of his business cards.

He was passing these out because he likes to receive and write letters, so they had his address on them.

He wanted me to take pictures of him and mail them to him.

So I did, of course.

Such a sweet man.

Our group played so much basketball.

Sang to the residents.

And did an A&M song

Our kids could not stop talking about it.

After the games, our group went over to the Brookwood store.

Each of the residents has a job, and some of them make these beautiful crafts and creations.

There is pottery, metal work, plants from the greenhouse, woodwork, cards, and so many other beautiful things.

If you live in the Houston area, you have to go to Brookshire and check it out.

You won't regret it.

I already can't wait to go back!

My Life Lately

There really hasn't been a whole lot going on this week other than starting classes,

so I think its time for a mostly superficial/shallow post about what I'm currently loving and pinning.

1. Gossip Girl

via google.com

Specifically, 

via weheartit.com

2. Anything with chambray and/or a button up under a sweater.

via seejaneworkplaylive.blogspot.com

via simplyme091909.blogspot.com

 3. Olivia Palermo.

Honestly, I have loved her since The City - Season 1

She has great style!

via stylelistsays.tumblr.com

via allthingselegant.tumblr.com

via theglitterguide.tumblr.com

4. Tell me this isn't hilarious!

via i.imgur.com

And true!

5. Gingham

via gabbagabbagorg.tumblr.com

via gabbagabbagorg.tumblr.com

 6. Our newest Netflix show, How I Met Your Mother

via google.com

Suit Up!

 Its going to be legen...wait for it...dary!

So, that's pretty much my life right now.

Superficial/Meaningless.

Yes. 

But you can't say I didn't warn you!

This weekend the AFC group is coming though, so I promise to spend at least 72 hours without being completely caught up in meaningless things.

I'm not promising anything for Monday though!

Back to School

My 5 weeks of bliss are over.

Today it is back to the grind, and back to classes.

Back to living life by a planner, reading countless articles, and writing an obscene amount of papers.

I am excited for one reason:

The sooner I go back, the sooner I finish.

 This is my last full semester of classes.

No, I won't graduate until next May...that is May 2013, 

but I will only have to take 2 more classes after this semester. 

One in the summer, and one next Spring.

I can see the finish...but it will become much more clear after this semester.

In other news, I'm going back to school, Sister.

So don't get mad if there are a few periods of no posts.

Also, I start school tomorrow and I just remembered that I don't have any of my school supplies.

Oops!

Good thing the first day is always syllabus day.

I just wish I had one of these beauties to take to school with me!

**I put this picture only because I could not handle having two posts in a row without pictures.

What's happening to me?

Singing Praises

Every month we have an all-youth devotional in the home of one of our families.

These rank in my top 5 youth activities of the year.

It is such a blessing to have parents that are willing to open their homes up to 30+ kids, prepare food for all of us, and give a devotional lesson to all of us.

Last night was the first devotional of 2012, and it was probably the best one that I have ever been to.

We had over 40 people there (HUGE)

We had an incredible lesson taught by one of our elders.

And delicious food made by this elder's wife. 

To top it all off though, they took all of us over to their neighbors' house to sing praises, and to encourage this sweet family.

It is a family of 7 (I think)

The grandfather lives in the house.

Then there are the parents, and their 4 kids.

The oldest two kids, twins, about 12 years old, were born WAY early, and due to this, they have some pretty severe disabilities.

Our elder's family has been reach out to this family for quite some time now.

So, all 40-something of us went into their home, and sang songs to them.

The boy twin led us as any good song leader would - hand motions and all, while the others listened and clapped for us.

One of the songs we sang was The Greatest Commands.

I couldn't help tearing up while singing this song, and looking at this family, who had such joy on their faces, even through the struggles that they have to endure daily.

It was the perfect way to end the evening, by showing God's love to this family.

What a blessing it was to see all of our youth kids pouring out their love to these strangers.

It really shows that God is Love.

I hope that each of you will be blessed in some way this week, and that you will find a way to bless someone else. 

1 John 4:16 - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in him.

Gift Cards

I heard a statistic once about the amount of gift cards that go unused each year. 

I couldn't remember it though so I googled it,

and found that between 2005 and 2011, there has been $41 billion of unused gift cards.

WHAT?

$41 billion!

Insane!

 I love gift cards.

In fact, gift cards are the most common gift I am given at Christmas and on my birthday.

I don't think that they are impersonal.

In fact, if you took the time to figure out where I would even want a gift card, that is pretty personal.

I also have absolutely no trouble spending my gift cards...quickly.

Mostly because I am married to Michael.

He kind of has this problem habit that we have to spend gift cards immediately.

If it were up to him, we would go out to eat every meal after Christmas until the cards are gone.

How do you feel about gift cards? 

Do you sped them fast, save them for a special day, or just save them up?

If you need us, we'll be at PF Changs, Olive Garden, and Cracker Barrel.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Since Daytona is just about an hour drive from Orlando, 

we decided to stay an extra day and go to Universal Studios/ mainly just Harry Potter World.

I had been sick all week (found out later it was bronchitis) so I was not as excited as Michael and Kelsey.

Once we got there though, it was incredible!

We pretty much ran to HP World.

This was my first view of Hogwarts.

Kelsey and I were beyond excited!

Michael was excited too, just more towards all the Marvel stuff that would come later.

We went straight to the Harry Potter experience line, which is where we stood for about 2 hours.

But it was COMPLETELY worth it!

The ride was amazing! 

(I won't give anything away in case anyone plans to go)

While we waited we took pictures...

 And talked. 

Standing in line with best friends makes the time fly!

After the ride, we went all around the rest of the Islands of Adventure park.

Jurassic Park

Comic Strip Street.

Michael's favorite, Marvel Road

We even met Popeye and Olive Oil

Seuss Land

And back to Harry Potter in the evening.

This time, we got some Butterbeer!!

Michael had never been to one of the big amusement parks, so he was in Heaven.

And I was just excited to be spending the day with friends, and not coughing too much!

It was the perfect day!

Perks of Youth Ministry

Michael and I spent all last week in Daytona Beach, Florida.
And it was considered work!
Awesome!
We were at the National Conference for Youth Ministers.
We have gone to this conference together the past 3 years, and Michael has gone the past 5.
It is always such a great conference.
Wonderful keynote speakers.
Informative/educational classes.
And the best part, catching up with some of our very best friends who are in youth ministry.
This year, we spent all week with this girl.

And this is the dessert that Michael bought her.
The first dessert that Michael bought her.
He was on a roll with it.
Another huge perk of this year's conference was the location.

This was the view from our hotel room.
It might have been 35 degrees the first two days we were there, but it got much better.

 We had such a great time at the conference, and feel so blessed that we were able to go again this year.
It provided us time to rest, rejuvenate, and renew our energy for the coming year.
Also, one of the things I learned in my classes, is that 'travel' is one of the many perks of being a youth minister's wife.
Oh, how true that is! 

Happy New Year

I've decided I'm not a big supporter of the New Years.

Michael and I never really celebrate it.

(Unless you count dinner with a Christmas gift card and some sparkling apple cider)

And I have never made any resolutions, or put much stock in "making this year better than the last".

I'm a New Year's hater.

*Especially this year because I'm spent the past 3 days in bed with a cold. Gross

I am a fan of looking back on the past year and thanking God for all the blessings and happy memories He has given me.

(See, I still like cliches)

So here you have it.

My best moments of 2011.

(In no particular order, other than maybe chronologically) 

1. Visiting Carrie and Jeremy in Colorado - sadly, we took no pictures together, but it was such a great trip!

2. Our first Houston Rodeo experience

3. Trip #2 to Colorado - Skiing at Keystone for Spring Break

Well, I was learning to ski.

And spending the week with these wonderful people!

4. Michael's New Job! Working with these kids!

5. Celebrating 1000 days of marriage to the most wonderful man!

6. Moving to our new house

With the HUGE kitchen!

7. Visits from family and to family

8. Celebrating 3 years of marriage with a trip to Mexico!

9. Spending time with good friends

10. Michael climbed a mountain.

11. Going to the AAMFT Annual Conference with these girls

12. My birthday surprise! Best ever!

13. Holidays with the ones we love.

Hope your 2012 is full of blessings and happiness!