Boots!

I have wanted cowboy boots for years. When we decided to move to Kerrville, I told Josh I would need cowboy boots to live in Kerrville. He agreed. Today he made good on his promise and bought me my first pair of real cowboy boots.
We are settling in like good Texans.
We have our boots and our dog. Now we are waiting for our little cowgirl.

Back Online

Tonight we finally have internet at our new place. So now I can take a break from the boxes and try to get some updates and pictures posted. So much has happened! Scroll down and get up to date. =)

oh baby!

Baby Kate is growing! She's wiggling all over the place, causing strange protrusions in my abdomen! Sometimes I can feel something hard sticking into my side - is it an elbow, a foot, a heel, a little fist? Can't tell yet. She did great on the plane ride. She was quiet and wiggled all around. It's crazy how active she is.

We are at about 28 weeks now, which means Kate has eyelashes and can open and close her eyes. She can probably see light and may even turn toward it. The baby newsletters say she should be a little over 2lbs now and about 14 inches long. Amazing!

Father God, thank you for this baby, this miracle. May her eyes be opened to the Light Everlasting and may she turn eagerly toward Him. Thank you.

Merry Christmas

(I wrote this post with the intention to post it while in Colorado, but didn't ever get a chance to do so. )

Merry Christmas! We are having a wonderful time in Colorado with my family - parents, grandmother, brother, aunt, uncle, and cousins. There is still snow on the ground, but no snow from the sky yet. Maybe today. We've spent time playing with my cousins, Josh went sleding with them, and we've played Wii bowling and tennis (one of the Christmas presents). Apparently my sport is Wii bowling - I bowled a 158 on my first time to play. =)

Well, I know I have a lot to catch up on. In the past 3 weeks I've graduated, had a baby shower, we've said goodbye to our friends in Arlington, packed up our house, moved part-way across Texas, started setting up our new house, and come to Colorado to celebrate Christmas.

Enjoy your weekend and take time to reflect on the Greastest Gift ever given.

Hark the Herald Angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled.

Joyful all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies.

With angelic hosts proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem."

Hark the Herald Angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.

Moving out, but not moving on

Leaving Arlington was hard. Not physically, of course. We got the biggest Penske truck, loaded it up with the help of some friends, and drove right out. But the effect on our hearts was much stronger.

We have really great friends in Arlington. We spent a lot of time getting together with people before we left. I still can't get over the fact that people cried saying goodbye to us. Crying over us? I would not ever have thought that would happen.

When I got in my car to begin the journey, even though I was eager to start my audiobook, I had to just sit and reflect on everything that was happening. I can remember telling my dad when we first moved to Arlington that we probably wouldn't be there much longer than 2-3 years because we didn't have much reason to stay once school was finished. And I wouldn't say we were necessarily attached to Arlington. But we had put roots down and invested in where we were and were blessed with incredible relationships. That's not something you just "move on" from.

In order to get the complete picture of the move-out, however, here are a couple pictures. Here is Josh tearing holes again in the overhang at the stairs in order to be able to get our boxspring and mattress down. This staircase was not built for queen beds or people over 6 feet.
The tug-of-war begins! Our friend Felipe had helped with the move-in at this house and remembers well the struggle with the bed last time.Saying goodbye to our townhouse in Arlington.
We've moved out, but we have not moved on from our time there.

You are good

When the sun starts to rise and I open my eyes, You are good, so good
In the heat of the day with each stone that I lay, You are so good
With every breath I take in, I'll tell you I'm grateful again
When the moon climbs high before each kiss goodnight, You are good When the road starts to turn around each bend I've learned You are good, so good
And when somebody's hand holds me up helps me stand, You are so good
With every breathe I take in, I'll tell you I'm grateful again
'Cus it's more than enough just to know I am loved and You are good
So how can I thank you, What can I bring?
What can these poor hands lay at the feet of a King?
I'll sing you a love song. It's all that I have
To tell you I'm grateful for holding my life in your hands
When it's dark and it's cold and I can't feel my soul, You are good, so good
When the world has gone gray and the rain's here to stay, You are still good
So with every breath I take in I'll tell you I'm grateful again
And the storm may swell even then it is well and You are good

So how can I thank you, What can I bring?
What can these poor hands lay at the feet of a King?
I'll sing you a love song. It's all that I have
To tell you I'm grateful for holding my life in your hands


"You are good" Nicole Nordeman & Erin O'Donnell
Album: Sing Over Me

Graduation

I am no longer a student of higher education! Yesterday morning I received my Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling. It's official!

Here I am receiving the diploma and shaking the Seminary President's hand.


With Josh and his parents

with my parents


The ceremony was a solid Southern Baptist event, complete with a sermon, and invitation, and singing several hymns with all their verses. Yes, we sang hymns.

Now it's all said and done. I have my diploma on the mantle, though it too will have to be packed this week.

Oh, and here's my cool Master's hood:

I've gotten some wonderful Congratulations and best wishes from friends and family for my graduation with my Master degree (this one was from a graphic designer friend). It has all been very encouraging - especially since this week has also been full of thinking about and organizing packing and getting all my paperwork done for completing my internships.

Only Human

This morning I found a laugh in an unlikely place. I was reading Numbers 11 and got a kick out of the humorous interaction between Moses and God. I'll paraphrase.

The Israelites are in the desert being led around by God by means of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. God has provided manna for them to eat - which they get simply by picking it up off the ground - not much work involved. Well, some of the people get this idea that they are tired of manna and want meat. I can understand wanting something else...I get tired of the same old after a while too. But of course, these folks complain to Moses saying things like, "Why did you take us from Egypt? We had meat there!" A bit over the line? They conveniently forgot they were also slaves in Egypt.

Here's where it gets entertaining. Moses turns to God and says, "Why did you stick me with these people? What did I do to deserve this? I can't take them anymore! They are killing me with their stupid complaining. Please give someone else to help me...or if not, just kill me. Really, if I have ever found favor with you, kill me now." God doesn't relieve Moses of his duties, but does appoint elders from the tribes to help deal with the complaining people.

Then God says "Okay, guys, you want meat. I'll give you meat. More meat than you can stand." (Reminiscent of the age-old parental comment "You're bored? Oh, I'll give you something to do.") Then Moses - the same Moses who God used to bring plagues into Egypt and part the Red Sea - says "Meat? How are you possibly going to get enough meat to feed all these people? I don't think it can be done." Moses, how quickly you forget.

I found this funny because Moses has seen God at work. He has witnessed more than his share of wonders and miracles. He has already sat with God on the mountain and asked God to show His face. But Moses was only human and I guess the stress of the job got to him. Ministry leaders need vacations, too. At this point he doesn't even want to intercede for the people. Throw them to the dogs, Lord, they're driving me crazy. Moses is focused on himself as he gets frustrated about his own comfort and frustration. And he forgets the fact that God has done much greater wonders than flying in some quail.

I got tickled. And then quickly looked in the mirror to remind myself I can be the same way. I'm glad this story is in the Bible to remind me that Moses wasn't divine or perfect. He was a man, a fallen, broken man. Yet still used by God. Jesus showed us what we can be when we live fully abiding in God. We can become fully human, fully who He created us to be. As I make my way from only human to fully human, it is good to be reminded that even after seeing that burning bush or spending 40 days on the mountain with God, I'll still be dependent on Him.