Thankful for TODAY 6.30.11

1) My new Keurig! I went today to get a Keurig and ended up finding an amazing deal a $199 Keurig for $80 plus I had a 20% off coupon! I am excited about all of the fun coffee and tea drinks I will be able to make! Anyone wanna come over for coffee?!? Or Tea?!? Or Hot Coco?!?

2) A phone call and an email both helping to clear up the unknown a little bit. Sadly the position I applied for that I REALLY wanted was filled, but two more positions opened up! I have realized over the past few years that I don't do well with the unknown! My mind starts to go to all kinds of crazy places thinking about the what-if's and what could be's when I sit in the unknown. I am so thankful for clarification and to know what to expect!

3) Amazing friends who think so much like me! My friend Kati and I think very much a like, it is nice to be able to call her up and explain something and she just gets it! It was great today to be able to call her and processed life with her and for her to totally understand my thought process! I am so very blessed and thankful for amazing friends such as Kati who are in my life!

4) New friends! I love making new friends and tonight was a reminder of that. I have been going to Women in the Word at my church on Thursday night and have loved the other women I sit with weekly. One of them has quickly become a fun friend of mine. We are getting together for lunch this weekend and I am very excited for that!

5) I got to see Bob & Natalie Schaller today! I just wrote about Natalie earlier this week but seriously her and Bob are two of my favorite people in the whole wide world! They were flying out today to spend a month in Nepal doing medical missions. They flew out of DFW so I took a long lunch so I could go hug them and send them off. It was such a sweet time! Those two literally are like a breath of fresh air in my life. We talked about how next summer if I'm not working during the months of June, July and August I could go with them. This thought brought tears to my eyes and excitement to my heart! I LOVED seeing these two, even if it was just while they stood in line to check their baggage!

Thankful for TODAY 6.27.11

1) Sun-dried Tomato Cream Cheese from Yogi's! This is just about the best cream cheese I have ever had. I bought me some bagels to work today and stopped at Yogi's to get some cream cheese and I think I hit the JACKPOT! I left it at work so I have something to look forward to as I stroll into the office... I will be enjoying my morning bagel each day this week!

2) Getting my very own office at work! I have been promoted twice now in the past 6 months, the first time I got a computer upgrade and therefore a permanent docking station. Today I got my own office. I feel like I'm pretty big news now, I've got my own office and my own key to that said office that has my name engraved on it (I think they did that so I felt like I had to stay forever... I wonder if they will make new keys when I leave or just leave the keys as my legacy at MCOT?!?!) Tomorrow I make the move, it will be nice to have a place to put all my stuff and feel "official"!

3) Those funny-looking silver things you put in your windshield to keep the sun out! I have recently found mine and used them today for the first time. It is crazy how much they help to keep my car cool. Yesterday as I got into my car I burnt myself on my seat belt and could barely touch the steering wheel because it was so hot. I know that these are natural hazards living in Texas, but seriously the person who invented those silver things was a GENIUS!

4) Ceiling fans! Once upon a time I was very afraid of ceiling fans, so much so that I would sleep in the closet when I spent the night at a friend's house if they had a ceiling fan! I had a fear they

were going to fall down and cut me into a million pieces. Now I know that was silly and I will not tell you how old I was when I had those fears (I was old enough that I should not have had that fear!). But now-a-days I find it hard to sleep if there is not a fan on, I am so thankful for a fan in my bedroom and fear the day I have to move to a place where there is no fan in my bedroom! And I long to be back in my room in Thailand where the only cooling factor was the fan.... SIGH....

5) NATALIE SCHALLER and the sweet time I was able to talk with her on the phone. Natalie is one of my very dearest and best friends. We went to undergrad together and eventually were roommates before she got married. Her and her husband are like family to me!

With both of us living such crazy lives right now it is rare that we catch each other on the phone. It was so sweet to catch up with her and just to hear her voice. It always brings such joy to my heart to talk to her. I love how God continues to allow us to walk through life together even though we do not live in the same place! It was so sweet to catch up with her! I love and miss that girl and am

SO THANKFUL for her friendship and sisterhood!

Thankful for TODAY 6.26.11

1) Yet another amazing annual trip to Sugarland, TX! Kati, Erin, Batey and I loaded

in the car and headed south on Thursday afternoon!

We stopped in Waco to say Hi

to the Bears, got caught in the rain and stuck behind TWO accidents. It took us over 7 hour to get there, but it was a fun car ride!

We had a great supper and worked on pillowcases for the campers at a camp that

Batey works at every year and then we went to bed.

We got up the next morning ready for the beach! We spent the day laying out at Galveston beach. When we left I got a little taste of home when we stopped at Rita's. If you have never been to Rita's, you really should try to find one near you! It's amazing!

They have fresh Italian ice in multiple flavors and also frozen custard. My favorite is the Gelati that has both custard and ice! I got strawberry lemonade and mango ice with vanilla custard!It was such a great ending to our time at the beach. When we got back to Kati's parents house they had ourte meal all ready for us. We ate and then watched a movie (The Proposal, I love me some Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds!) It was truly an amazing weekend! I can't wait to do it all again next year!

2) The beach. I spent many of my growing up years on the beach. In high school once that final bell rang (and to honest... a lot of times before it did) I would jump in my car and head to the beach. I kept a swimsuit and a beach towel in my car and I was ready to go. I have so many good memories from that beach, it was my get-away. I would often go and just listen to the waves crash and think about how big and powerful God is. I was able to do that again this weekend. I laid there on my beach towel and just listened. The waves were crashing, the birds were squawking and people were playing andI just was still. It was such a sweet time!

3) Sweet Tea! Nothing says summer like a good ol' sweet tea!

4) Time spent with friends!

5) A good book! I spent much of my time this weekend reading. I love to read, I always have! I love how the words on a page can take you to a different land and you can dive into the world. I love how a book can allow you to see and experience new things. I just love to read, I am thankful for all the good books that are out there for me to read, and I am thankful to now have time to read for fun again!

Be Still...

When my good intentions turn into my striving

And Your image is made weak for I am strong

I'm amazed that Your heart keeps on trying

To bring my mind to that of Christ's

Where I belong

As I seek Your face and fall upon Your grace

You say...

Be still my child, and know that I am Holy

Be still my child, and know your heart is in my hands

Be still my child, and gaze into my eyes

Can you tarry awhile for all the tears I have cried

Can you stay awhile and let go of your pride

And will you trust me with your life

Because I died

Be still

Be still

Well I've poured my life out upon the alter

And I've said "Not my will but Thine be done"

It's when I try to understand I often falter

And when I take control the battles never won

Defeated I cry

Even still You rush to my side

And say...

Be still my child, and know that I am Holy

Be still my child, and know your heart is in my hands

Be still my child, and gaze into my eyes

Can you tarry awhile for all the tears I have cried

Can you stay awhile and let go of your pride

And will you trust me with your life

Because I died

Be still

Be still

And if only you trust in me my child

I will give you PEACE

While I was in Brasil in 2003 I was struggling one day with really wanting to know what God wanted to do in and through me. A teammate brought me a cd and told me to listen to the last track, it was this song entitled Be Still. I remember sitting in a hammock on a beach and this was my view...a tropical paradise. I sat there and enjoyed God's beauty and realized how BIG He truly was... so I just sat there being still with God and knowing that He had great plans for me.

I love this song because it speaks so sweetly to my heart and reminds me of that time. I listen to this song often and it reminds me to be still and just trust. I still have my questions about where God wants me as I don't know what the future holds... and yet He rushes to my side and tells me to just be still!

BE STILL: To be quiet, calm, to leave behind worries and cares of this world, to dwell in the presence of the Most High God while longing to remain there, and to be undisturbed in our souls....

Thankful for TODAY 6.22.11

1) Having small feet! I realized today that I think I would go broke if I could fit into normal size shoes! It is so rare that I find cute shoes that fit my size 2 feet that when I find them, I buy them. Over the years I have learned to walk in shoes that are slightly too big on me (maybe I haven't totally learned cause I trip a lot!) But I love when I get to wear a special find of mine! Today I wore my red Anne Kline heels to work and got so many compliments on them. I think God knew what he was doing when He gave me small feet.... otherwise I would be broke and would need a whole other show closet!

2) The clearance rack at Target! Today my outfit consisted of a cute white sundress and red cardigan (which matched the Anne Kline shoes perfectly!), both of which were found last night on the 50% clearance rack at Target! You never know what kind of treasure you are going to find on those racks!

3) In less then 24 hours I will be Sugarland, Texas with three amazing girls (and one said girls parents... who are also amazing!). Around noon tomorrow Kati, Erin, Batey and I will load into Erin's car and hit the road for our annual trip to go visit Kati's parents! I am so thankful for these amazing friends and this trip I know is going to be great. We will be hitting up the beach, eating great food and just relaxing for a couple of days before heading back to Fort Worth on Saturday.

4) Hanging with Friends (the Iphone app!) This app along with an amazing component (Theresa) allows me much needed breaks while at work! If you don't know what Hanging with Friends is think old school Hangman only much cooler! If you have it you should invite me to play with you (name is oogajen)

5) Today I am overly thankful that I serve a God who is sovereign! A God who has a bigger and better plan for me then I could ever imagine. I love that I know He knows exactly what is going on in my life when I am clueless! I love that He has everything under control when I don't know how things are going to work out! I love that He knows what my heart needs and when I need it! I love that even in the midst of unknown I can still sit and rest in His sovereignty and know He is good. So as I wait for phone calls about my future, and dream about the perfect job, and as I pray about the desires of my heart I feel the stirring within my soul and hear the sweet voice of the Lord, and I know... He's got this....

Thankful for TODAY 6.19.11

I'm cheating a little and these are the things I'm thankful from the whole weekend...

1) Being able to celebrate with sweet friends as they get engaged. One of my dearest friends Sarah got engaged on Friday and I was able to join with our other friends to celebrate with her and her fiancee Aaron as they begin this journey to 11-11-11 when they will become one! Pictures will come soon (as I may have forgot my camera in OK at Sarah's house!)

2) The combination of Roots Coffeehouse, Iced Raspberry Chai tea, my journal and Bethany Dillion streaming through my headphones! It was a sweet Saturday night as I spent curled up in a comfy chair and just spent time with the Lord.

3) Days spent at the lake with dear friends. Today was spent at Grapevine Lake with Kati and Erin and it was a great day!

4) Sunscreen! So that I am able to spend days like today at the Lake and not get sunburned and be in pain for the days to come.

5) This blog and my journal... I've spent the evening reading my old posts on here and reading old journal entries. I love being able to see where I was at, where God has brought me and how I have grown over the years. I love being able to look back and see God's hand in my life guiding and directing my steps. It gives me hope for the future because I know that He will be at work and that things will be good even in the midst of hard times!

Thankful for TODAY 6.16.11

1) Clinque Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion.... it is pretty dramatic the difference it makes in moisturizing my face! That combined with Clinque Turnaround lotion is like a miracle sent from heaven! Remember the great day at the lake on Sunday? Well my face does and it wanted to remind me this morning with dry flaky, skin. It's like my face wants to peel but not quite. So I lathered on the Clinque products and went on with my day with smooth, glowing skin :-)

2) Being able to take a long lunch to go get my nails done! It seems that every time I enter into a Nail Salon I cannot help but think of the Anjelah Johnson skit about nails (If you have not seen it, watch it! But beware you may never be able to go to a nail salon without laughing again!). I felt like I was in that skit today but I couldn't say "no". I got a mani, pedi AND a design on my toes! All in Elephantastic Pink! The final product (and my teal strapped Ssekos!)

3) Panera! I have not been in so long, but every time I go I remember how much I love it. Today I got it to go and ate it in front of my computer at work (since I spent my lunch hour getting my nails done), my staff kept coming into my office to ask me questions... did I stop eating? No! I could not put down my Italian Combo on an Asiago bagel! Was it rude... maybe? But it was SO good!

4) The frozen yogurt fade. I don't know if they have these everywhere but in Fort Worth this trend has spread like Hot Cross Buns! If you don't know what I am talking about picture this... You walk in to a little store and they have multiple frozen yogurt machines (you know like the ones they had at Sizzler or a similar buffet restaurant when you were a kid) and these machines are filled with delicious flavors such as Cinnamon Graham Cracker, Coconut Cream, Peanut Butter, Cheesecake, Chocolate Devil's food cake and so much more....it's hard to pick just one! But the great part is... you don't have to. You can try each one if you would like then you grab a bowl and fill it with as much or as little of the flavors you would like then you proceed to the toppings! They have all the topping you could imagine! Fresh fruit, candy bars, gummy bears (my favorite!), sprinkles, yogurt chips etc etc and then they have syrups to top it off. Once you have it all made you put it on a scale and you pay per ounce. It is amazing! Last night my creation was... Coconut Cream and Chocolate mint topped with gummy bears, yogurt chips and crushed oreos! It was GREAT!

5) My bed! Today has been a LONG day! I got to the office at about 7:30am and didn't leave till 6:30, then I went to Women in the Word from 7:00 - 8:30 and then headed home. The first thing I did was brush my teeth, change out of my work clothes and jump into bed. That is where I currently am posting this from. I love my bed, it is so comfortable! I get comfortable under my down comforter (yes it is summer and 100 outside and I still sleep with a down comforter... it provides...comfort!). Daisy burrows her way under the covers and snuggles up to my leg and I continue to do what I need to do (post my blog, read a book or watch a movie). My bed has become my favorite place in my apt. I am thankful that after a long day I can come home to something so comfortable and begin to relax!

What's next?

I was reminded tonight that this Friday will mark the 6 month anniversary of my graduating with my masters degree. That time has flown by, it seems like just last week I was walking across that stage trying to hold back the tears from flowing down my cheeks. I had lunch with an old classmate today and we talked about how it is almost a grieving process graduating from school and saying good-bye to that stage of life. So now here I am 6 months later, in a job I love and with all this extra time on my hands.... so what's next?

That's the question that has been resounding in my heart this week... What's next? Where do I go from here? I spent so many years trying to get to this point, now I'm here... so what's next? If you know me at all I would hope that you would know that it is my desire to love people well and my passion to work with younger women and show them love. This is what has been on my heart lately... walking alongside younger women and mentoring them and just living life with them. That is what my heart longs for... but what does that look like? I have been thinking about this and praying through it for the last few weeks and I honestly don't know what that looks like right now! But I'm trusting that I will know when I see it. I was browsing the Internet the other day and came across a blog on this very topic and was very challenged by it. The author asked a couple questions that really have challenged me, she wrote...
Let me ask you a few questions:

*Are you pursuing the relationships God brings across your path?
*Are you asking the Lord for courage to share your life with other women?

*When the Lord presents you with an opportunity, are you willing to say yes?

*Are you praying about how Titus 2 relationships can occur in this season of life? (James 4:2)
*Are you realizing that others’ questions are your Titus 2 moments, wrapped in their confusion and need?

*All of us are to be connected to women ahead of us and to encourage women behind us. It’s God’s plan, and it works.*
So my prayer is that I would continue to ask myself these questions and really open my eyes to see the women that God wants me to pour my life into and walk through life with. I am super excited about this stage in life and am excited to see what's next....

Thankful for TODAY 6.13.11

1) Ibuprofen! I woke up this morning and my lower back was killing me! Every little movement I made sent a sharp pain throughout my back. My range of motion was not very good. But I took 4 amazing little gel capsules and started to feel much better!

2) A flex schedule at work, now that I am the supervisor I am working a lot more but I am able to make my own schedule. I rarely get there on-time because I know I'll be leaving hours past my end time. Today I didn't roll in until about 10, it gave me two extra hours to lay in bed!

3) Today I wore a skirt that has not fit since I've lived in Texas! I'm thankful that in losing weight, my old clothes are starting to fit again! And thankful I've held onto them!

4) My CHI straightener! I went to bed with wet hair last night and woke up this morning with a monster on my head! It looked as though Daisy had made a nest in my hair! Thankfully with the power of the CHI no one will ever see that!

5) An e-mail with the confirmation that my application was accepted and I should hear from someone within the next couple of weeks! Hint: This would allow me to not work during the months of June, July and August! (Again more to come in a later post!)

Thankful for TODAY 6.12.11

1) Church at the lake... my dear friend Kati and I decided to do church at the lake this morning. We went and each shared a passage that has been speaking to us and talked about why, and then we prayed. It was such a sweet time! We were able to really talk about what God is doing in our lives and what we believe He is calling us to in this moment. It was a precious time! We then spent the next few hours on our rafts in the water... I have the sunburn to prove it!

2) Raspberry Race nail polish and being able to "tramp it up" with painted finger nails! It's been awhile since I've had painted finger nails, but I think I'm liking the trend!

3) The combo of Roots Coffee Shop, my journal, the work of Kelly Minter: The fitting room and Jesus. Actually I was thankful for this yesterday as I spent about 4 hours at said location with said things. It was a sweet sweet time as I just sat and had a date with Jesus. I was able to really process all that has been going on and get refocused. And I was able to read Kelly Minter 's chapter for my weekly study with Kati and Erin (I am very proud of myself for not waiting till the last minute to read this week!)

4) A good cheeseburger! Nothing says summer like a burger and fries by the lake! Thank you Big Daddy's Cafe for such an amazing lunch

5) Theresa (Butler) Mellard! I love how she and I can walk though life together! I am so thankful for how God has weaved our lives together and allowed us to live life with one another. I am thankful that she loves me for who I am and trusts me to see who she is! I was reminded today of how thankful I am to be KNOWN by her!

Thankful for TODAY 6.11.11

I have loved going back and reading some of my Thankful for TODAY blogs. I thought I would reintroduce the idea. I have been reminded so much lately of how precious TODAY is and how I need to live in that, so welcome back Thankful for TODAY!

1) Live music... last night I went with a coworker to Music Under the Stars and listened to Carrie Rodriguez play. It was a beautiful night and fun to just sit and listen to live music.

2) Redbox! I love movies and I love that Redbox lets me swing by and pick up a movie for $1.08 (as long as I don't forget to return it...). Today's movie of choice Just go with it

3) Saturdays, and not having to work on said day!

4) Sseko sandals! If you have not heard of these sandals, you must go to their website and find out all about them. The are amazingly comfortable sandals

in which you kinda design. You buy the base and can buy multiple straps in all kinds of colors. Each time you wear them, they can be a new sandal! And best of all they are made in Uganda by women who are trying to earn money to go to college. Please go to the website and read the story. I love these things! I have ordered straps in black, marigold, teal and red!

5) Daisy! She has been so sweet lately as she cuddles up with me and I love that she is always at the door to welcome me home. As much as she can drive me crazy at times I love that little girl!

7 1/2 months later...

I was reading a friends blog the other day and I realized how much I miss writing on my blog. So I've decided to try this again! So here goes the reader's digest condesnsed version of the last 7 1/2 months....

I graduated in December with my Master's of Social Work degree, in February I passed my licensure test and offically am a Licensed Master of Social Worker. Somewhere in there I got promoted to Team Lead at work and have been enjoying the new responsibility of work.

The last 7 1/2 months have been filled with weddings, trips, laughter, tears, amazing moments and some of the hardest days I've endured in a long time. I've been stretched and challeneged and have learned so much. The last two weeks have been very sweet for me! I've been able to look back over the past few months and truly see God working in some pretty amazing ways. I have seen how God has protected me and how He truly is soverign! Last week I started Women in the Word at my church. For 6 weeks we will be diving into the book of James! What a sweet book to go through coming out of a time in life that was possibly one of the hardest trials I've experienced in a long time. I'm so excited about all that God is teaching me right now!

I really thought that once I was done with school I would have so much more time.... but it has not worked out that way! I still feel as I am as busy as ever! But I do love summer in Texas! I'm excited about the days by the pool, the annual trip to Sugarland with Kati, Erin and Batey, watching the fireworks in Grapevine sitting by the lake, Rangers games, and just time with friends! I do pray that this is the last summer that I will have to work during the months of June, July and August (more on that in a future post!). But I will enjoy all that I can during this summer!

It's good to be back in the blogging world and I'm sure you will hear more from me soon!