College Visit at OC

Another weekend, another trip.

This time it was a college visit with some teens to Oklahoma Christian.

This is the 4th time we have taken kids from the youth group to visit our alma mater.

We skipped last year and watched Spring Sing online,

and it just about killed us, so we knew we had to take the kids this year.

We left on Thursday and got to OC late that night.

We spent all of Friday on campus going to chapel, taking a tour, hanging out in the student center, and going to the academic fair to learn about the degrees there.

Well, the kids did all those things.

Michael and I took time with some of our best friends to go to lunch and catch up.

^^Just handing out in the rented church van.

It was so great to have time with them while we were in Oklahoma.

We always just wish it was more.

That night, we took the kids to the Spring Sing show. 

I'm not sure what happens to me when the lights go out and that first blurb comes on,

but something just takes over and I can't be held responsible for how excited I get,

and how much I scream (for Gamma)

Adding to my excitement was watching some of our old Memorial youth kids on stage.

 ^^These were some of the first kids we ever brought to OC,

and now they are students and have mastered the art of the Spring Sing face!

I couldn't be more proud!

Saturday was a day to be off campus, seeing what OKC has to offer.

Of course, we were in Oklahoma, so the weather had changed drastically from the day before.

It was freezing!

Our first stop was the Animal Sanctuary to play with cats.

For a group who really doesn't love cats (we were hoping to play with the pups)

we spent a good amount of time with them.

Next stop was CVS for a lint roll, and then Ted's for lunch!

The kids were shocked that each person got their own salsa, queso, and tortillas.

Plus, the food is just delicious.

Next we went to Bricktown, and made a super quick stop at the OKC Bombing Memorial.

It was so cold.

No matter how cold you are, you can't walk through this place and not be touched.

We spent some more time in Bricktown,

mostly because my family was there and I wanted to see them,

and then we ended the day with dinner at Hideaway Pizza.

The low point of the weekend came on Sunday, when only 1 of the 5 teens made it to church with us.

None of the others were up or ready or answering their phones when we came to pick them up,

so they got left.

It was sad. And I was disappointed.

I think that through it all, the kids were able to gain a better understanding of the importance of not only attending church, but partaking in communion each week.

I think it also helped them to see how much we care about them, and their spirituality,

while also teaching them that Michael and I are adults and to be respected.

We love these kids, and all the kids in the youth group so much, 

and we really do want them to succeed in all aspects of life, especially spiritually.

*Sidenote: The kids told us that we will be great parents because we are really good at making people feel bad. 

I'll call that a compliment, and a success.

All considered it was a great weekend at OC.

I'm so thankful to have called that place home for 4 years, and to be able to go back and connect with old friends so easily!

Sweetheart Banquet

You know you've had a blog a long time when you've written about the same event over, and over.

This event is one of those posts.

We started it our first Valentine's Day at JV.

It was an event just like this year - a sweetheart banquet for the VIPs (over 60s).

You can see the decorations and post about that one here.

Last year we changed it up a bit and did an Appreciation Lunch.

Since I am crazy addicted to conversation hearts, I used that as our theme.

Just click here to see that post.

This year, it was back to the Sweatheart Banquet.

I didn't want to do it the same as two years ago,

1) because I'm an over-achiever

and 2) because that would just be too easy.

I changed up a few of the decorations, and thanks to the youth girls,

it looked great!

I also had the idea to add a photo booth.

We made one for our youth Christmas party last year, and it was a huge hit.

And the VIPs loved it just as much!

It was so fun to see them dressing up, and taking pictures.

They even took some with the youth group.

It was so sweet!

 ^^ All the photo booth props

^^ My great friend and partner in parties!!

So thankful for this lady and her enthusiasm for all my ideas!

^^ Of course, Michael and I had some fun in the photo booth too.

The VIPs had a wonderful time, and we had tons of food leftover,

which I was happy to take home. 

It was an exhausting weekend, but so rewarding to see the elderly people in our church having fun with our youth group.

AFC Weekend

Michael and I are a little biased, but we have always advised the youth kids to attend a Christian university over a public one,

that is, until we started getting to know the AFC group.

AFC (Aggies for Christ) are students from Texas A&M who go to the A&M church of Christ.

Their group does mission work, week long trips at children's homes, inner city work with kids, and weekly devotionals on campus.
A big part of their group is the weekend trips that they take over the semester.
They travel to different churches, doing service projects, devotionals, and just having fun with the youth group.
Apparently last year I was too busy studying to write about our Aggie weekend, but you can read about our first weekend with the Aggies here.

The weekend always starts Friday night with a mixer, dessert, and a devotional.
You wouldn't believe the excitement of our youth kids while they wait for the AFC group to arrive.
They are absolutely giddy!
Our kids have so much fun playing games, and hanging out with the college kids.
My favorite part was the devotional.
It is not often that I get to experience that kind of singing anymore.
It was an every day kind of thing back in college, and one of the things that I miss most about those days.

^^Mixer game

^^Favorite thing about the weekend!!
I look forward to the AFC weekend every year mainly because it means I get 3 whole days with this girl!
I can't believe this is her last year to come on this trip, and that she is graduating and getting married soon  - where has the time gone??
I am so proud (but not surprised) of the woman she has grown in to.
I couldn't be more blessed by Claire and her friendship!

Saturday is usually spent playing basketball and doing service at the Brookwood Community,
but scheduling changed a little this year and most of Saturday was spent at our church.
The big project was painting a mural in our children's wing.
One of our youth girls has been working on this for Girl Scouts Gold Award.
Our youth and the Aggies spent all day working on it and I am so impressed with the results!

^^The before.

^^Youth and Aggies painting.

^^This girl free-handed these hands of Jesus.
Amazing!

^^My favorite part of the mural. So good!

^^The baptism of Jesus painted by some of our youth girls.
I am blown away by their talent!

After dinner on Saturday we went out to the Brookwood Community for a talent night.
I was surprised by how many residents remembered us, and were so happy to see our group again.
The Aggies did skits, the youth group sang songs, and we all did kareoke.
It was so much fun!

^^The residents love Michael, but especially Michelle.
I'll try to post some videos later this week.

We ended the weekend with an Aggie-led worship service Sunday morning, lunch together, and then a goodbye meeting.
We were so blessed by the Aggies this weekend!
It is an exhausting couple of days, but it comes with too many blessings to count!
I hope that the Aggies can continue to come to our church for many years to come.

Looking Back at 2013

I posted a collage on Instagram already, but I wanted to take some time to share some of my favorite memories from 2013.

It was an incredibly blessed year!

And I am already looking forward to 2014 being even better.

I can't wait to see what God will do in our lives, and how he will change us this year.

^^ Sister got married and it was perfect!

See the full story here.

^^ Michael and I shared our first dance EVER!

It was also perfect...perfectly awkward.

But the picture came out great!

^^ I spent an entire month studying, shed lots of tears, and finally 6 weeks and 5 day later,

I got the letter that said PASS.

^^ We found our first bluebonnets!

If we claimed it, we would officially be Texans on this day.

But we don't.

Oklahomans forever!

 ^^ I got to spend an entire week with my Mom in May!

We shopped, we relaxed, and we threw parties.

It was awesome!

^^ I graduated in May and my whole family came to see me walk across the stage!

It was so special to have them all here!

Probably my favorite memory!

 ^^ I joined this wonderful group as an official Marriage and Family Therapist!

Couldn't have asked for a better place to work,

or better people to do it with!

^^ The day we took more pictures with people we don't know than ever before!

And later found ourselves on some rando's facebook page!

Perfect!

^^ I painted the hallway, and almost died.

But now it looks great!

^^ I went on the trip of a lifetime with some of my most favorite people!!

It was the most Diva weekend I've ever lived, and I loved every minute!

^^ We also saw Celine Dion in concert while in Vegas.

You can't top that!

^^ My bestie got engaged!!!
And we threw her a surprise party.
No one has a better surprised face than Claire!

^^ Michael's favorite memory of the year.

Century Link stadium in Seattle.

 ^^ We checked another state off of our list when we went to Oregon to see Multnomah Falls.

It was breathtaking!

^^ And we drank coffee from the first Starbucks.

^^ Michael got asked to officiate his 2nd wedding!

We love this couple and can't wait to watch them say 'I do!'

^^ We spent a weekend at the river with this crew!

It was a blast!!

^^ This post wouldn't be complete without mentioning the JV Youth!

We have had a wonderful year working and growing with them!

^^ We ended the year with some beautiful pictures of our family.

I am so happy that we have these pictures to remember this stage in our lives.

The stage where the most important thing to us is our puppy.

And where we just get to spend lots of time together.

It is a blessed life that we have!

Youth Group Christmas

Last weekend we had the Christmas party for the youth group. 

We did it a little different than last year, and went with the idea of simplicity.

We started the night by caroling at the nursing home.

It was so sweet to see the faces of the residents, and watch them sing along with us.

Some of them even did a few "dance moves".

I took a video of the group singing, but unfortunately, my microphone was turned off.

Awesome.

After caroling, we went to see the Houston Zoo Lights.

We might have underestimated the amount of people that would be there with us.

We finally got in though, and the kids loved it!

There weren't too many animals still out, but I did see the cougar, some giraffes, and a zebra.

This zebra was my favorite of the night, but the peacock was pretty too.

We finished the night back at the church with a Dirty Santa gift exchange.

One thing I learned is vast differences in people's idea of "white elephant"

All the kids had a great time though, and everyone was happy in the end.

I walked away with 3 pairs of socks (that I loved) and Michael ended the game with a DVD of 

The Land Before Time (which he bought himself)

He was so excited!

It was a great night, and I was SO happy to not have to set up or take down decorations!

Fall Crafts

I don't know what it is about fall that always brings out the crafter in me.

The past two years I have made wreaths.

 ^^ 2011 Wreath

^^ 2012 wreath

This year, I decided to do something different.

Mostly because I don't have anymore fall months that need a wreath for the door.

I had seen this idea on Pinterest, but can't find it to connect the original link,

so just know that some other blogger thought of this - not me.

As usual.

I'm an excellent copy cat!

First, I glittered up a bunch of clothes pins.

I used the same method as earlier this summer on my heels found here.

Its very simple. 

Just mix mod podge with fine glitter (I used Martha Stewart's) and paint it on one side of the pin.

I used 2 coats, because after 1 the wood still came through and I wanted it to be all glitter

Next, I hung some twine on the mantle. 

A good friend of mine used her Cricut to cut a bunch of fall leaves for me.

^^ A better picture of the clothes pin

What's the point of all these paper leaves??

During Bible Study each Tuesday in November, the kids are going to write something they are thankful for on a leaf. 

By the end of the month our garland will be covered in leaves.

I was really excited about the idea, and fully anticipated the kids thinking it was lame,

but they were super sweet and acted excited about going along with it.

They really are the best!

 ^^ The finished Fall mantle, but the leaves hadn't been written on when I took the picture.

My other little project is something I have been wanting to do for a long time.

We got our lamps for very cheap when me moved in an apartment with no overhead lights.

I have hated them the entire time.

They are plain, and white, and just not attractive, so I gave them a little makeover.

Much better!

The only problem is that the burlap really limits the amount of light they produce.

They look great in the daytime though!

There you have them, my Fall Crafts for this year.

I love them, and they have helped me to not skip right over to Christmas - like I really want to.

Happy Fall!