For Our Troops

Happy Memorial Day!

xoxo

His Will Be Done

As I was driving home from yoga on Saturday morning, I came across a horrible car accident on a street that has a speed limit of 40mph. It was tragic, and of course I'll spare you the details, but it really got me thinking. Yes, of course, there were the instant reminders to drive slowly and carefully, but more than anything, it was a reminder to enjoy every moment of the day ahead with my family. My heart was aching for the people in that car, for family members who received a call about the accident and for anyone else who actually witnessed the incident. My eyes unexpectedly welled up with tears in church the next day and I knew it was the weight of that accident finally lifting from my heart.

I don't mean to be such a downer, especially on a Monday, so let me turn this into a positive. The entire rest of my weekend was spent just living in the moment with my family. We enjoyed a local festival, talked about life, took pictures together and basked in the summer heat. I had a heightened sense of all the blessings in my life that day because of that accident. Of course, I wished at the moment that I had never seen it or that it hadn't happened all together, for that matter, but it's just another case in point that God uses even the terrible things in this world for good.

Lesson of the day - live enthusiastically, pray loudly, speak wisely and drive carefully... please!

xoxo

Sense and Sensibility

To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion;

to be worthy, not rich; to study hard, think

quietly, talk gently, act frankly...to

listen to stars and buds, to babes and

sages, with open heart; await occasions,

hurry never...this is my symphony.

-William Henry Channing

xoxo

Where Am I?

Hello from Dallas, TX! :)

John and I are in the Big D for a two month stint while he's clerking at a law firm this summer. My sister-in-law and her husband have graciously allowed us to move in for the time being... we are blessed, what can I say!

I may have shed a little tear as we loaded up and left our cozy home behind in West Texas, but all those "I hope our things stay safe" and "We won't sleep in our bed for two months" comments quickly turned into "I get to shop at Northpark Mall next week!" and "John, I signed up for classes at a yoga studio in Dallas!" and "Have you heard of Javier's?? We have to go there!"

Now listen, guys, I grew up in a small town where we had two acceptable clothing stores, four sit down restaurants and a huge Wal-Mart that dominated the town. I'm a small town girl at heart, so you better believe I still get excited about big shopping malls, fancy restaurants and gyms galore. Yes, I've lived in Dallas before, but being back sparks all that excitement that I had when we moved here the first time around.

The summer that I studied abroad in Paris was magical in so many ways, but I also spent a lot of time missing home and wishing I was back in Texas where the sun was hot and Tex-Mex food was readily accessible. I know it sounds ludicrous, but no matter how much wiser we grow, we always miss the comforts of home when we aren't there... even if we are in a place as wonderful as Paris.

My goal this summer is to soak up every ounce of this time spent with our friends and family here in Dallas and get re-aquainted with the city, hopefully discovering it in ways I never have before.

No matter where you are today, take some time to just appreciate your surroundings. You are blessed!

xoxo

One Love

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last."

xoxo

Words From The Wise

Oh my goodness guys, I have turned into an old woman overnight...

Maybe it's the turning 26 thing, maybe it's the marriage thing, maybe it's the living in West Texas thing... whatever it is, I have suddenly started relating to the grandmothers of this world better than I'm relating to recent college grads...

Take a peek into my life and let me know if you agree...

- I joined a cooking group - don't get me wrong, these girls are fabulous, I adore cooking and the concept is genius, but we all know the average 26 year-old in this country isn't strapping on pearls and an apron at the end of a workday...

- I do a little dance when my Southern Living magazine shows up each month

- I'm playing bunko tonight....yes, bunko. Again, these girls are just as beautiful and fun as the ones in my cooking group and I know I'll have a fabulous time, but in my mind, bunko = grandmothers. Anyone?

- "Getting crazy" consists of several glasses of wine with my best friend and passing out before the clock strikes 11

- I'm waking up earlier than usual. I know the highly successful people of this world aren't sleeping until 10am every morning, but rising before the sun does means I'm taking advantage of all the hours in my day, which is something that old people do, no?

- One of my best friends is teaching me to sew.... this might be the ultimate reason I'm feeling more at home with the Baby Boomers

Let me preface the below images by telling you that I am seriously one happy lady. Maybe I play bunko, cook with other people and covet my friend's sewing machine, but let me be honest, I am still immature, terrified of parenting someday, enjoy Jay-Z and watch ABC Family from time to time. I'm still young at heart and haven't quite (*QUITE) lost my zest.

But sometimes, you just feel like this...

I know you won't judge me... :)

xoxo

By Our Love

Woke up with this song in my head and had to share...

Brothers, let us come together

Walking in the Spirit, there's much to be done...

We will come reaching, out from our comforts

And they will know us by our love...

Sisters, we were made for kindness

We can pierce the darkness as He shines through us...

We will come reaching, with a song of healing...

And they will know us by our love!

The time is now

Come church arise...

Love with His hands

See with His eyes...

Bind it around you,

Never let it leave you,

And they will know us by our love...

Children, you are hope for justice,

Stand firm in the Truth now, set your hearts above

You will be reaching, long after we're gone,

And they will know you by your love!

Christy Nockels

xoxo

Sunday Nights

I wish I could say that Sunday nights are relaxing around here, but they just aren't. Regardless of how much I try to soak up the last few weekend hours, Sunday nights are typically filled with many a sighs as I check (and dwell over) my work email and calendar. When you have ten meetings on your calendar and a 4am wakeup call to catch another flight (and likely be searched by airport security, yet again, at that ungodly hour), it's hard to stay postive...
But, let me be honest, I have SO MANY fun things to look forward to this week, and I'm sure you do, too! If I can plan something that I enjoy for each day of the week, it makes those meetings and early mornings much more bearable. Let me break it down for you:

MONDAY: 6am yoga (this might not sound like fun, but it's truly amazing and kicks my rear into shape:))
TUESDAY: 6am yoga, pizza and movie night with my Bible study girls!!
WEDNESDAY: Fingers crossed that I'll get to walk with my friend Amanda and her precious baby boy!
THURSDAY: Work trip to Austin - if the weather is nice, I WILL be found lunching on a local patio :)
FRIDAY: Wedding rehearsal din din for my friend Katherine in Houston, AND on top of that, I get to see my dear friend Hillary -- we've been best buds since we were 3 - see, I told you...

(That's me...screaming at the photographer...probably demanding more blush...)

SATURDAY: Wedding (interpreted - love, champagne and wedding cake.. enough said), QT with my other best friend, Sarah
SUNDAY: Back home to John (!!) and then Sunday night, of course, I'll make this list all over again for the week ahead :)

I almost fogot to tell you - my goal (if you can call it that) for the next year is to get out of bed by 6am every weekday for an entire year! I started it on Friday and it was such a productive morning! I made banana bread, had a cup of coffee, started laundry, spent some time in prayer, ran three miles and showered all before work started at 8:30. Suprisingly enough, I felt better all day than I do when I sleep in. Plus, the gratification I feel in being productive while the rest of the world  is sleeping (ok, I know there are plenty of people movin' and shakin' at 6am, but I like to believe I'm the only one up ;)) is a beautiful thing!

Have an amazing Monday... I'm praying for you!

xoxo