What a Weekend

So - this weekend was anything but boring - actually - it was such visual display of God's beauty and hand in everything.

I was honored to be a part of Chavon and Casey's wedding on Friday and it was such a beautiful display of God's hand in orchestrating a true love story. I have been in awe of how He has worked in Chavon and Casey's life in bringing them together when either of them least expected it, and how they have loved and sharpened each other - and now they are married. Its been so neat to see it from the beginning. And Chavon made the most beautiful bride. Check on Lindsey's blog for pics - she is gorgeous!

Saturday continued the wedding weekend with Jessica and Michael Fordinal's wedding. Once again, this was a true display of how Christ's love is displayed in our relationships. I was at Six Flags with Jessica the night that Michael asked her out for the first time, and its been such an encouragement to see how he pursued her and how they have grown together. Jessica as well made a beautiful bride. Her pics are up on Lindsey's website -

The rest of Saturday evening was spent with some friends welcoming home Jeff from teh land down under. So crazy that he's back - and what's so crazy is how it just takes Jeff coming home for all the crazies to come out! ;-)

My weekend was also a great reminder for me of the amazing friends I have been blessed with. B-Ho spent the weekend with me and it was such a sweet time of laughter and encouragement - I miss her and and so blessed to have her as my friend. I also got to spent some QT with Summer and Lindsey which always brings a smile to my face. These girls are so wise and so flippin hilarious - I just love being around them.

Ok - that's it for now - I'm preparing to venture off to camp on Wednesday with the middle schoolers - pray for me - we're hitting Padre - yessss......once piece here I come!

My amazing B-Ho and me at Trinity Hall -


Love these girls


And my precious F - so glad she returned from China -



Until next time....

The Blow Out

So - Saturday night was sooooooo much fun! I have the most amazing friends - seriously! I feel so blessed to have them in my life. Here are some random pics from the night... Enjoy! Oh fyi - there are some key people who are missing - they were there - but didn't make the pics - :-( But still so glad they were there!

Me & P Bleecker - oh - the IHOP memories

Love these girls heaps and heaps -

Ladies beware of Adam and Troy - 2 great guys!

Love my Rachael! :-)
And go Blalack Bears!
Random shot - literally
Such fun girls -
Me hating Adam for many reasons...

Maile & me -
Lori and me - such an amazing party planner -
mmmm...cake....
The sass -
Yes, this is my age - such talent these boys have -

Amazing girls -
Sarah gave me the best birthday goblet - :-)
Hills & me -
Andrea & me -

I truly feel so blessed to have these amazing friends. This is just a minor sampling of the group that was at the shin dig - Thank you to everyone who made my birthday so much fun. I truly love you all. :-)

30 - Flirty - And Thriving!

Hey everyone! Yes, I know, once again, bad blogger - but I'm here now, and really, that's all that matters. Yesssss!!!!!! And guess what....I'm about to turn 30! I know, I think its crazy too!

What's even more crazy is to think about what all has happend in a year. When I read back on my post from turning 29, its amazing to think about how I'm at such a different place. I'm truly excited about turning 30. There is no shame in it. I thought that this was going to be a depressing time for me, but you know, God has been so good and given me an excitement and peace about turning 30 and being single (yes, that means that Jonny is back on the market ladies...he's a great guy and any girl would be so lucky to be with him.) I am really so excited for this summer and this year....I feel like there are some big things that can happen - and I can't wait.

I have been blessed with some amazing friends, who bring joy and laughter into my every day and I love them for it. I've got some amazing middle schoolers - at church and at school who keep me young and remind me how fun it is to be a big dork (ok, they're not big dorks, but I am), and I've got an amazing God who is really holding me close right now and teaching me so much.

So tonight is the big blow out for #30 - and I'm thrilled to celebrate with my friends who have been such an integral part of my jouney so far. I'll post some pics hopefully this week so if you aren't able to make it - you can feel like you partook in some of the festivities.

I'll blog with y'all soon!

I'm back!

So yes, I have been a bad blogger - but I have an excuse. I don't have internet in my apartment, and school blocks blogspot - so I've been on internet withdrawal...BUTTTT...I just discovered that there is free wireless internet at my pool, so guess where I'm sitting....yep - the pool - life is good. :-)

So, a lot has been going on in the past few weeks - school has been really good. I love my kids...and am so proud of them. We had our TAKS test in April, and my kids busted their little butts and most of them passed in the first round - so proud of them. I have really enjoyed some of the relationships that I've gotten to develop over these 2 years with them and its going to be really hard for me to watch them go to high school. But I'm hoping that they'll stay in touch. I really do feel so blessed to be doing what I'm doing - God is so good in guiding me here.

On a personal note, the social side of my life has been busy too - which is definitely fun - and I'm loving the friendships that are growing. Below is a pic of my sweet friend Lyn who is getting married to another dear friend Scott in June. I love this girl and am so excited for what married life is going to be for her -


Now here is an exciting part of my life - this is Jonny - or Joh as he likes to be introduced. I know him as Jonny though - so that's how I'll be referring to him. Jonny is my sweet boyfriend and I like him lots. He's so different than prior guys that I've dated...ahem...not a DB - ;-) I like him. And I think he's great. Hopefully you all will get to meet him soon - :-) He may not realize it, but he's been so good at showing me God's grace. I do feel so lucky. :-) And I think he's pretty cute.....

Hope

First off - I want to apologize for the raw post below...I didn't mean to scare anyone, which apparently I did. It just felt really good to write that all out - not necessarily talk it out, but just get it out somehow. I realized after reading it later, how depressing it sounded. But, I'm not going to try and pretend to be someone or something I'm not. I was really sad...and did feel really alone. And I needed to. I need to be at that point where all I have is Him to depend on. And goodness...I fight it. But thank you to everyone for the encouraging words and texts and phone calls, and prayers... I know they helped. :-)

Easter was great - got some good times with the fam...especially my precious niece and nephew! Love them! I finally moved yesterday and LOVE my new apartment. I'll try and take some pics and put them up. I will have some pics from my trip to Nashville once I can find my camera cord in one of the boxes... I'm posting Easter pics, but those are thanks to my mom...

Anyways - I'll have more fun posts soon...sorry again for the super sad one below! I'll try and not let it happen again! :-)

Here is my beautiful sister, Heather & me


And I just LOVE little Sam!


And how precious is Emily????


And here is my sister and me with my mom... (no, Heather is not pregnant, its just the way the jacket is hitting)

Broken

****disclaimer - this is me raw - uncensored - *******

For me - right now - I'm struggling. I'm broken and hurting and confused and straining to hang on to truth and Him. Actually, I'm just barely clinging on. This is a place I don't like to be. But I know I'm being brought here because I need to be here. To quote Lifehouse, 'I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home'.

So here I am - damaged at best - broken, hurting, confused, knowing that His hands are there to hold me, if I will just let Him. But so many parts of me are trying to walk away, swatting away His hand, saying, I don't need you - I don't need this. I'm sick of it all. I'm just tired. I'm alone. I'm confused. I'm just so tired.

What's funny is that at middle school church this morning, I was sweetly reminded that He is my hope. Everything that I think I want, I don't need. Regardless of my 'idealities' - they're nothing compared to what I have with Him and because of His ressurection. So why does my heart still hurt? Why do I feel so alone? And no, this isn't all about boys, its just about life and where I'm at. I walked in to my apartment yesterday and realized, once again, I'm alone...empty.

And...back to Lifehouse -
The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded, I'm an open book instead
I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for a purpose, they're still looking for life

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
with a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain is there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm hangin' on another day
Just to see what you will throw my way
And I'm handing on to the words you say
You said that I will be ok


So - I'm reminding myself, my hope is not about me, its about Him and what will bring Him glory. So, now I'm having to teach myself what I've been trying to teach my middle schoolers for so long - peace in Him and Him alone.

Weekend - oh the Weekend

Well - I am just coming off a great weekend - a little exhausting, but hey - Spring Break is coming up...YEESSSSS!!!!!

So Friday night we celebrated one of my dearest friends, Hillary's birthday. A large group of us headed up to Pete's Piano Bar and celebrated the night away. Good times were had by all, with me especially having a great time. A little crazy, but so worth it! ;-)

Saturday I was able to celebrate the wedding of another very dear friend, Chavon. So you know how showers are oh so fun - well, this one really was! I mean, we made toilet paper brides, gave words of wisdom to Chavon and my favorite part was getting to spend some time with Summer. Now Summer and I have never been super close, however, I really am looking forward to having a better friendship with her. I think we have a lot in common and can have a lot of fun times in the future. I have become really close with her sister Kendall (who I also adore) but I really am excited to hopefully get to know Summer better!

Sunday was a fun day as well - should have been a day of rest, but hey - when you wake up and realize that you missed daylight savings and are now an hour short on sleep, its a quick revelation that your Sunday is not going to turn out how you expected. Butttt....it was great! Middle School church, brunch with Maddie, Hanna, and Julie, and then lunch in West Village with Jonny...really - just a great - and busy - day!

So - if I can make it through this week then I'll be freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Spring Break '08 here I come!!!