Our Christmas

Where do I even begin? Christmas 2008 was the best so far--no lie. I experienced the blessing of family more than ever this year! On the 19th, Tina, Brad, Kristen, and Kullen arrived in Texas for several days of festivities. From the shopping to the dining to Pictuereka, we had so much fun! It was interesting being the "host" instead of the guest--but I loved it so much--sharing my home with my sis who's always taken such good care of me.

On the 24th, Bryan and I began the drive to Oklahoma for the Christmas weekend. On the way, we stopped in Sherman to see the grandparents and Andrea's crew. Colton was cute as a button and Alli  keeps looking more grown up! That night, we arrived in Heavener to enjoy dinner with the Yourees, the Thompsons, Papa Snellgroves, Uncle Sonny, and a special guest. Yes, Santa himself stopped by to pass out special gifts. Unfortunately, Graycn was scared out of her mind! All those songs and stories she was going to tell Santa suddenly forgotten through tears and screams! (Teehee.) That evening we were also delighted by a nativity play starring Mary (Gracyn), Joseph (Gunnar), and the Wise Man King of Heavener (Garison). 

Throughout the weekend we made many fun memories with everyone, including visits to see my mom, brother, and Baylee, as well as spending time with Jennifer, Colby, and Amelia (so cute and funny! She kept saying, "I need one more cookie.") As for other memorable quotes, I learned from Gracyn that Jesus was born a baby because God wanted Him to be, then He got married, but then God wanted Him to be a baby again. So He is. She also told me she played Clue at preschool, but when pressed on the game rules, she said she couldn't remember because she hadn't played it in a long time--46 hours.

Now back at home with more stuff than we know what to do with(!), we are trying to unpack and get back into the swing of things. I'm super excited because I'm typing this blog on my new iMac in the office that now has Internet! Woo-hoo. Stayed tuned I'm sure Christmas pics are coming soon!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Decorations 2008

Enjoy pictures displaying our holiday decor!

Art Has Landed

After two long months and a frustrating framing experience, we finally have "placed" the painting! When on our anniversary trip in Fredericksburg, TX, we happened upon this lovely painting by a local artist. It was the perfect fit for our formal dining area. So, here it is--finally framed!

Also, we found this sculpture to complement our front living room. It's a conversation starter for sure! We love it!

Brrrr . . .

Last night our temps dropped into the 20s--the first time this year. It's officially cold in Texas. At least for a few days! Saturday the high is 60. (Smile.)
We have spent the last week preparing Christmas cards, organizing the office (baby steps, baby steps), and stressing over a custom framing job gone bad. Hopefully, in a few days, all of these chores will be behind us.
I had wanted to post pictures of our art acquisitions from the Fredericksburg trip (back in October). However, the fiasco with the frame for the painting has taken two months. So, hopefully, in a couple of weeks, I can show off my birthday present! Stay tuned.

Thankful for Red and Orange . . . and Black Friday

As you can see, our trees are now turning really beautiful colors. In October, we had a few trees change and shed their leaves, but most held on. Thanks to cooler temps during the last two weeks, we now have startling shades of red, orange, and yellow canopied over our house (and falling in our yard!) The smaller tree is a Chinese Pistachio. We had them planted this year! And I was surprised to discover some of our plants also turn colors in the fall.

Bryan and I celebrated Thanksgiving with frozen Chicken Florentine and asparagus! Bryan is on-call Thursday-Sunday, so it is a busy time for him. I have also been editing a book manuscript due Tuesday. We are thankful for jobs and the sustenance those jobs provide. We are thankful God has given us each other--to help and encourage each other through difficult days.

Although we have worked quite a bit this weekend (Bryan more than me, obviously), we did find time to decorate our house for Christmas! And it looks great. Sometime this week, Bryan will put up the outside lights. Yay!

I also hit the highway on Friday to finish our Christmas shopping. I started at 9:30 a.m. and finished up at 6:00 p.m. I'll be spending the next few days wrapping gifts!

We hope you had (and are having!) a wonderful, blessed, thankful Thanksgiving weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

What a Great Weekend!

If the title doesn't give it away . . . . we had a great weekend. Bryan's parents came to town for a visit. On Friday we did some shopping at local spots. That night we had Stevan, Alexis, and Lucianne over for dinner too. Such a fun time with the cutest little baby on the planet! Saturday was filled with a yummy breakfast at Esperanza's and then to Dallas to see the King Tut exhibit. Although it was very interesting, it was a bit crowded. At the end of the evening, we met Leslie and Scott at Grand Luxe for dinner at the Galleria Mall. Of course, Leslie was glad to see her Mimi and Daddypaw. The Galleria was all decked out for Christmas with the huge tree at the ice rink--got me in the holiday mood, including the shopping mood! Elaine and I found some great deals at Pottery Barn. I was sad the Yourees couldn't stay longer, but a Thanksgiving meal at Papa and Granny Yourees rushed them away. Only a few more weeks to Christmas and can be together again!

Adios, UNT

It's official; I have withdrawn from UNT. Sigh. It was a difficult decision, but (hopefully!) a wise and practical one for my graduate future. I am now trying to shift from school work mentality to freelance focused....all in one weekend. Yeah--that's why I'm getting a pedicure on Thursday.

Comfort Food and Friends

Bryan and I had the great honor of hosting a small party at our home this last Saturday evening. Several new acquaintances from our church came over for comfort food and games. Bryan made a yummy butternut squash soup and I made the infamous taco soup. We also had heaps of appetizers--salsa, cheese, olives, spinach dip, apples, chex mix . . . . and tasty pumpkin loaf and monkey bread. Thanks to Brittany for bringing the scrumptious oatmeal/chocolate cookies. Mmmmm.

We did enjoy the food, but even more so the company. It was great getting to know friends from church. The game of Catch Phrase was, in a word, hilarious. Although the guys won more games than I care to mention, everyone had a good time.

When the night ended, I was so thankful for God's faithfulness to bring friends into our lives as we settle into our new city and such. So, thanks Rebekah, Andy, Cindy, Patrick, Zack, and Brittany for coming over. We had the BEST time!

Disappointed

It's easier to break the news this way--en masse and without the emotion of the phone call. I did not get accepted to the Masters of Fine Arts, Creative Writing program at UNT. The form letter arrived yesterday.

Of course, I am disappointed. This is one of those moments in life where my "plan" isn't working out like I concocted. Bryan and I are not exactly sure what next step to take . . . we need to gain more information about other MA possibilities. Yet, I am fixed to trusting God, knowing His path is the best path--although this "detour" wasn't on my radar.

If you are so inclined, I'd appreciate prayers for the ability to turn my present grad courses into audits. That would be a much needed relief.

We Had a Happy Halloween!

Although little Lucianne is a sad, little kitty in this picture, we had a GREAT Halloween in Fort Worth! The weather was perfect--high 70s. Bryan and I sat on our front porch for two hours passing out candy to various fairies, pirates, ninjas, monsters, and Hannah Montannas. We gave out 98 pieces of candy and five special Halloween cookies (for our next door neighbors).

Our favorite costumes were as follows: a toddler dressed like Elvis who became VERY excited when you gave her candy. We also thought the troop of Pink Ladies was clever. Jack, one of our neighbor kids, dressed in all white, gauze included, and said he was a "Nobody" for Halloween. And of course, the CUTEST kid we saw all night was Lucianne. Although she was tired by the end of the evening, she still was too precious! (See her little kitty tail coming off her diaper?)

Death to the Desk

No, I'm not working in the new office yet. And this is the reason--the cursed desk. After searching high and low for a desk with all the necessary drawers, etc, I settled on a particle board jewel from Office Depot. The only thing "off" was the color; Bryan reassured me he could paint it black. Several sandings and 15 coats of paint later, the black Rustolem was still peeling off like paper. And when he put it together, the drawers didn't exactly work well.....and more and more scratches meant more and more paint coming off. This picture is a memorial for the desk taken just before it was carried to its final resting place--the city dump.

Remember the Alamo

While on our anniversary trip, we made a visit to San Antonio. I had never been, so it was fun and interesting to see new territory. Of course, we checked out the Alamo. It was a lot smaller than you'd think (common reaction, right?), but provided plenty of history and information. The museum boasted impressive artifacts, especially Davey Crockett's gun and personal items.

We also strolled down the river walk. It is soooooo great; maybe my favorite part of the city. It is amazing to realize the river is a natural river and not a man-made attraction because it is so neatly kept. We took the boat ride too, which helped me understand the development of the city around the river, etc. It was also a very beautiful ride with waterfalls, duckies, and great views of detailed architecture.

Our San Antonio day came to an end in the Market Square--an hispanic flea market of sorts. We did find a Christmas gift or two! And we enjoyed buying pastries from an authentic Mexican bakery. Mmmmmm, smelled so good!

Like I said, I had never been to San Antonio before, so I was a bit entranced by the double-decker highways. The land area was not wide enough for them to create four lanes (on one side) for traffic, so they make two lanes below and two lanes above, but it is all the same highway!!!! Ah, the Texas roadways....always tricky. :-)

Palo Alto Creek Farms

Palo Alto Creek Farm, we miss you! Bryan and I just returned this evening from our anniversary trip to Fredericksburg, Texas, where we stayed at the Palo Alto Creek Farm Bed & Breakfast.

It was such a treat! The farm was settled by Germans in the 1800s. It has four separate "houses" on the farm for guests. We stayed in the barn! As you can see from the pics, it wasn't exactly hay and horses. However, the walls were original limestone and the wood beams made it feel rustic--in a good way. In the barn was a living area, kitchen, dining area, fireplace, king-sized bed, and a super bathroom (take a look at that tub!). Also, notice the gorgeous two dozen roses my wonderful hubby had waiting on me. Every morning we sampled (er, consumed!) the tasty breakfast. We had tasty pastries which Bryan liked. Personally, I think the sausage burritos were out of this world.

The outside was just as lovely as the inside. Being five miles from town, the country quiet and fresh air was thoroughly enjoyed! I particularly fancied the herb garden with its abundant butterflies.

Butterflies were not the only wildlife around. The farm housed plenty of cute, cuddly cats. (In fact, one cat demanded to be petted...constantly!) In addition to the felines were goats and longhorn cattle. More along the lines of "wild" animals were a large flock (is that what a group of turkeys is called?) of wild turkey, who got out of dodge before we could take a picture. But my favorite....(drum roll, please) were the deer who came out each evening to eat corn. So b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. And there was even a little baby..... At the farm next door, we were excited to see they raised elk. Every evening you could drive by and see these elegant creatures chowing down on hay; not to mention we heard their "cries" in the evening.

While at the barn, we had such a fun, relaxing time. We read. We ate year old wedding cake. (And yes, it actually tasted yummy!) We splurged on a massage and facial from the professional hands at the European Day Spa. (They came to the farm for the pampering session. I had my spa treatment in the old smokehouse!) We enjoyed watching the deer from the tree swing. We sat by the fire. We watched Breakfast at Tiffany's. We soaked in the heavenly tub (Calgon....). We HAD A GREAT TIME!

Happy Anniversary

Today is the day we celebrate our wedding anniversary--our first. I keep thinking, what was I doing one year ago at this time? Of course, it's an excuse to relive the day I married Bryan--truly the most wonderful man I've ever known. The last year has been a blessing to me.

We have both said this first year together was relatively smooth, unlike some horror stories of first years I've heard. At the same time, we jokingly are waiting for the bottom to fall out. :-) We have enjoyed learning more about each other as we learned to live together. We enjoy just hanging out at home, acting silly together. We enjoy working on our house and yard together, making it our own. We enjoy shopping together, groceries and all. In other words, we just enjoy being together no matter what we're doing.

Although our first anniversary isn't ideal--I've got classes from 3-9:30 p.m.--we are looking forward to a week away in Fredericksburg, Texas. We are visiting the Palo Alto Creek Farm Bed & Breakfast. I'm super excited because I've never been to a B&B. It looks fabulous, and I'm praying that's what I find when we arrive! I'll post pictures when we get back. But until then....

Happy Anniversary to us.

More Babies

Not only does the Fort Worth zoo have three new tiger cubs; they also just put four new lion babies on exhibit. Aren't they cute? Come visit and we'll go see them!

Fort Worth Presbyterian Church

Each Sunday Bryan and I are blessed to attend Fort Worth PCA. During my year of attendance, I have come to appreciate more and more elements of the church. For starters, I love their commitment to strong families and raising children to know of Christ and His salvation. Also, the emphasis on accountability (from the pastor to each member) is a biblical practice I have rarely seen in other churches. And they have a deep desire to reach out to the community, which they make good by participating in several outreach ministries targeting the local neighborhoods and schools.

Of course, being in a new church takes time to get know everyone and get plugged in. Bryan sings in the choir and helps visit the sick in the hospitals. I attend the women's Bible study group each Wednesday. We both are members of the Denton's small group. Currently, we are in the Inquirers Sunday school class--for those interested in church membership. Hopefully, (as soon as we get those forms completed!), we'll be volunteers for the nursery!

Finally, we do admire and appreciate our pastor, Darwin Jordan (great name for a creationist, eh?). His compassion for people is remarkable; his love of the Scriptures is exemplary; and his commitment to spiritual growth is encouraging. Each week, his sermons challenge me and bring to light new aspects of God and His Word I'd not considered--that says a LOT because I have grown up in the church and made a living in Christian curriculum!!!

During the last few weeks, Darwin has preached on 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 primarily. I realized through his teaching that I have mostly heard this passage in regards to persecution rather than temptation. Understanding this verse in light of the Corinthians' situation--they felt so spiritual that they were above temptation--brought new insights. Paul is saying that they (and we) have no excuse to give in to temptation. Any temptation you face is common to all people; your case is not an exception. I immediately related:

"Well, I couldn't tell her the truth! She's not ready for the truth. I didn't have any other options but to tell a little white one."

"It's not really gossip. I just like to connect, have relationships with people. To do that, I need to know what's going on."

"I had to get angry; he made me angry. What did you expect?"

"I need to make this compromise because I'm trying to build a relationship with her. She'll think I'm weird if I don't . . . or maybe be mad at me; then, poof, my witness is gone."

"No one will know that I've done this. It's not hurting anyone. It's no big deal."

Those excuses don't fly. Whatever situation we find ourselves in not a "special" ordeal. All temptation is common to everyone. But the great part of the verse doesn't end with this--it's realizing that God is always faithful to provide a way of escape. We don't have to give in! God is right there with the alternative, wise choice. Now, if we could just learn to have that careful, hearing heart! What's the solution? Jesus said, Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

Sorry for the sermon; I got carried away. I've just loved Darwin's lessons so much these few weeks . . . .

Worth Quoting

"He is not any less the Lord of history in times of trouble, no do good times suggest a mere temporary spasm of control over events. He is steady and sure, and the Israelites are to see their prolonged enslavement in light of God's character rather than to make conclusions about God's presence or absence on the basis of their circumstances." -Peter Enns, The NIV Application Commentary, "Exodus," pg 43

The First Day of Autumn

As you can see from the pics, Bryan and I are full swing into Autumn. Now, if the weather would just cooperate . . . we're still in the nineties here.

This weekend Bryan dug out our cookie press from the cabinet. We received this very handy, very nifty gift for our wedding. Of course, like so many other gadgets, we hadn't used it yet. Bryan stirred up the vanilla batter and we made all sorts of designs, including a pumpkin that's semi-recognizable. My decorating skills (if I dare to term them "skills") left quite a bit to be desired. Nonetheless, the cookies turned out to be very tasty, which is the important part, right?

Ike Update

Thankfully, Ike spared us. The strongest parts of the storm went to our east. We did receive some moderate wind and light rain most all day Saturday. Total rainfall was somewhere around an inch I'd guess.

Those to our south and east were not so lucky. Ike has left a wake of destruction--a mess to clean up. In the DFW area, there are a few thousand evacuees, who will be here for awhile. Houston and Galveston have WEEKS of clean up ahead. So terrible . . . .

Yikes Ike!

Since I have fielded a few phone calls today, I thought I'd update everyone on our status concerning Ike. If it hits towards Houston, we get 1-3 inches of rain . . . supposedly. If Ike hits Galveston, we're looking at 3-6 with the possibility of strong storms. We have plenty of peanut butter and Dr. Pepper. Hopefully and prayerfully, we'll be fine.

Bah--the Black Sheep

Back in my undergrad days, I often felt the brunt of being the "black sheep" of the English department. The lover of grammar hanging out with the literary critics--a match made in heaven? Admittedly, the "black sheep" label was more in jest than truth, but nonetheless I was often the lone person thoroughly enjoying the ecstasies of such courses as "Advanced English Grammar" and "History of the English Language."

And what? You're going into publishing? Don't you want to teach high school literature instead?

Fast forward several years later (I'll not confess how many), and I am once again well on my way to being the black sheep; this time of the UNT English graduate department. I am surrounded by lovers of grammar (hallelujah), literature, and philosophy. However, my association with publishing garnered a few glances.

Oh, you're in publishing . . . you're the "they" who've made writing and books a commodity--a world of editors, marketing committees, and money. Thanks for ruining everything we stand for.

Sure, I'm exaggerating, but not much. Perhaps, they can sway me; I can sway them. Agents will have to be our middle ground.

Nashville

Last weekend we enjoyed a few fun, relaxing days in Nashville. Actually, those days were more like a whirlwind than relaxing, but fun nonetheless. From a Thursday to a Sunday we stayed with the sis and family. Brad is busy being the "badge." Tina has her hands full with the kids' schedules and little Tyler. Kristen celebrated her 14th birthday (can you even believe it!). Kullen is as cute as ever; however, he suffered a loss while we were there. Minnie, his lizard of several years, went on to be with the Lord, so to speak. Bryan and I both agreed the graveside service was touching. Poor Minnie; poor Kullen.

Vanderbilt and Randall House were also on our "to-see" lists. It was great to visit with old work friends, catching up on improvements, new additions, and office gossip.

Of course, we ate many meals with many friends. Leaving the BNA airport, we again thanked God for His blessings of family and good friends--the good memories we've acquired over the years in middle Tennessee. The only regret? I didn't bring my camera. Rats.

Here Kitty, Kitty

Please meet one of the three new tiger cubs at the Fort Worth zoo. The pic isn't great because the little kitty was shy. This was only their second day on exhibit and this little gal was the only one to venture out while we were there. I'm sure I'll be taking more shots of these "cuddly" cats.

The Weight of Terrorism

It's 11:03 p.m. In case you're not familiar with my sleep schedule, this is now extremely late for me to be up. Living with the doc has gotten me to bed earlier, which sets well with me given my aptitude for sleep. What could be keeping me awake, you ask?

A job. Apparently, my old employer was in dire need of a last minute proofing. However, this last minute proofing has now turned into, "We'll get it to you in the morning." Isn't that how it goes?

Tonight, I successfully completed my first round of grad school classes at UNT. The first is an American Renaissance class. The old, heavy hitters--Emerson, Hawthorne, Melville, Thoreau, Jackson--nothing I haven't read before. However, my second class has me a bit . . . rattled. Besides the professor's apparent lack of sympathy (two novels and 6-8 critical essays due in two weeks), the topic is startling and uncomfortable. It's the American novel, mainly 21st century, on the topic of terrorism. In this class, I'm not discussing the themes and cultural movements of an era gone by, but dissecting the present. What is terrorism? How does America respond? What are the consequences of those responses? What is safety? How does politics play into the discussion? And all of this disguised by plot, character, and fiction. Where's the line to withdraw?

On the bright side, this should at least make for some interesting blogs, right?

Saturday and Such

Bryan just walked through the door. (Imagine him walking along the stone pathway to the door. Teehee.) He's on call this weekend . . . and it shows. He's tired from an extremely long day. Not to mention we are both recovering from some sort of stomach bug. Yuck.

Today was filled (for my part, that is) with freelance work, homework (Emerson's essays), and cleaning this or that. Bryan's day was filled with patients. This evening I watered the flowers as usual, but this time I had a new treat. Our newly guttered garage and new rain barrel provided me with "free" water. Here's a pic of the new addition:

Also, we have a vermin, a varmint, whatever you want to call it. Some wild animal has discovered our compost pile, digging and conniving any way possible to get at the goods. We've already gone ghetto with rocks around the entrances. Today revealed the nighttime culprit used its paws to dig dirt from the side slots. Thus, slinging compost all around the bin. Thanks, furry creature. Any ideas for deterring a sly fox or creative raccoon? See what I'm working with?

I feel quite certain it isn't our neighbor's cats. They are great hunters, but aren't the digging type. For the most part, they're both snobs--cute, but snobs. Poncho and Lefty think the Youree's backyard is also their domain, which is fine by me. Lefty makes you beg to pet him. Poncho runs anytime you get close. Here's a pic of Poncho I caught lounging under our deck. Silly thing.

Newly Oriented

Last night was my new graduate student orientation at the University of North Texas. Nothing too surprising; a lot of mumbo jumbo about library collections, parking guidelines, and school policies. However, the student council's presentation of the alma mater and fight song (complete with hand motions) was . . . er, interesting. Nothing like doctoral students singing the Mean Green.

One long ID line later, I was happily on my way home. Too bad there was heaps of traffic.

Another exciting thing happened yesterday. I learned that my friends at Randall House are hosting a D6 Conference in Dallas next September. This is a conference focused on connecting parents with kids' spiritual lives--based on Deuteronomy 6. The ticket has some pretty big speakers--Jim Daly, George Barna, John Trent, among others. I'm really hoping I can work with them on this project. We'll see. Until then, I'll be a frequent visitor of d6family.com/d6conference. That's all for now.

Thank you, David

This morning's devotional reading hit me where it hurts. The verses from Psalm 101 spoke loud and clear: "I will walk with integrity of heart within my house" (verse 2). I'd say the place where I falter the most--gossip, lose my temper, let down my guard--is at home. Yet, David promises to have integrity within his house. More than likely he's meaning his kingdom, but still convicting, nonetheless. And what does David consider to be qualities of integrity?

• A blameless way
• Not setting his eyes before anything that is worthless
• Hate the work of those who fall away from truth
• Avoid a perverse heart
• Know nothing of evil
• Does not slander
• Hates a haughty look and arrogant heart
• Embrace faithfulness
• Shun deceit
• Not utter lies

Yeah . . . I didn't score too well on that one. My prayer is for God to help me improve areas where my integrity falters--as David said, not just in my actions, but in my heart. How much I need God's grace . . . .

On My Knees

Today the house is very quite. We are missing the tiny tot who's been playing and laughing at our house for the last few days. Amelia, now two-and-a-half, as she can proudly tell you, is a bundle of energy and joy--so cute and so fun! We had a great visit with Jennifer, Colby, and Amelia. We rode the train, visited the cowgirl museum (Amelia loves horses), shopped at Grapevine Mills, and played ALL day at the water park. Did I mention that I'm exhausted? Ha!

During the Morgan's visit, another "incident" occurred. Um, in the church parking lot on Sunday, I was attempting to exit their HUGE Tahoe. Unfortunately, my sandal heel caught on the car, and I plummeted knee-first to the pavement. I quickly remembered why skinned knees are such a pain--figuratively and literally. Everyone had a good laugh; I hobbled to church. However, by Tuesday my knee was a little on the Rudolph-red side and very . . . well, let's say infected. One look from my doctor and I was on my way to pick up antibiotics at Walgreens. After leg propped, pills popped, and a good night's rest, I successfully avoided IV antibiotics, which was going to be my fate if the knee did not improve by morning. (You can imagine my reaction to the possibility of IV antibiotics!) Bryan joked: "Colby and Jennifer cannot come back to visit because you either faint or throw yourself out of cars." He's referring to their visit last year, when I overheated and fainted at the zoo. :-) What will their next visit bring?

Mostly Finished

After a month of construction, I'm pleased to announce our office is "mostly finished." Save connecting the phone lines and placing the gutters, we're good to go. My little yellow office makes me smile. I'm excited to "move in" and get to work! With grad school classes starting in a few weeks and new projects here and there, I'll have plenty of opportunities to "break in" the space.

I'm using quote marks waaaaaay too much.

Since January, I have been blessed to be able to work full-time freelance from home. True, it was a bit of an adjustment going from office life to computer in the guest room, but all in all, it has been a treat. God has these great ways of weaving what we need and enjoy with service for Him--a multi-level blessing! I have been humbled by His faithfulness to bring new jobs, new challenges my direction. Why He continues to love on me despite my doubt, bad attitude, and neglect . . . .

In just a few, short hours Jennifer, Colby, and Amelia will arrive to spend a few days with the Yourees! We are so excited to visit with them. Although Jennifer doesn't know it yet, she's helping me pick out curtains this weekend for the new office!