LOVE

"you have NEVER been unloved." - Max Lucado

Just finished reading Christa Black's blog, and I'm resting in this one sentence. May we all get this truth in our hearts...even in the worst moments...in your darkest places...you have never been unloved.

Where I Am - July 2009

Where I Am: So here I sit on my couch - just woke up from a late nap & I'm listening as Josh jogs on the treadmill - he is so dedicated! I'll be happy if I get out later when it cools off for a walk (that is the plan anyways)...

What I'm Saying: Well, I've been saying a lot lately - even got to preach at Church on the Rock this past weekend (I love getting to preach)...but what has been on my lips most recently is my new news - that I'm pregnant. The news has been somewhat out for a couple of weeks now, but for some reason I feel as though it is "officially public" because...wait for it...I put it on facebook. Yep, so crazy that this has become the best way to disseminate information, but there it is...I actually made mention of it on my status update and I have almost 40 responses - wow! People are excited for me...perhaps relieved or shocked as well??? Regardless of the reasons for the outpouring of comments - I'm feeling really loved!

What I'm Listening To: At this very moment, I'm listening to Christa Black's myspace page - she just uploaded two new songs & I'm LOVING "Drift Away"...I've also been reading her blog for the last couple of weeks - she is sharing her story of battling an eating disorder & breaking into the music world. I don't know this girl, but she is inspiring and you get the sense that she genuinely cares about all the young girls out there who are following her since she on tour with the Jonas Brothers...so, you should check her out.

What I'm Watching: So, I love summer reality shows, and since we aren't traveling this summer (Josh and I usually are out of the country at least twice every summer)...I've been watching WAY too much TV! But I've just got to make a couple of comments: The Next Food Network Star - I'm just not sure who I want to win...maybe Melissa although occasionally she gets on my nerves. I also just started watching Desing Star it is a favorite in my family & I'm super excited about it! I think my mom should go on that show - she would rock it - the woman is brilliant!

What I'm Reading: I recently finished the book "Angry Conversations with God" by Susan Isaacs - it was a memoir & I enjoyed it although it might be offensive to some of my readers (not going to lie)...I'm searching for something good to read right now. I'm reading a couple of fiction books...but I need something with more substance - would welcome any suggestions!

Favorite Funny Moment: So, this morning I had my first sonogram & I was instructed to drink 32 oz. of water an hour before the appointment. In case you don't know, I'm typically an overachiever - and today was not different...I think I actually consumed about 40 oz. of water. All was fine until there were some problems with my paperwork & the ultrasound kept getting postponed. By the time I actually got back to radiology I was literally dancing & almost crying because I just wanted to pee!!! I was really looking forward to this ultrasound (hoping it would make this a little more real) but if I'm completely honest all I could think about was hoping I didn't wet my pants during the ultrasound! As soon as the guy turned on the machine he said, "Woa, you have a really full bladder!" I laughed & said, yeah...I really need to use the bathroom, but I smiled & tried to act like a jubilant mother to be, but I just kept watching the guy & thinking are you done? I was also making exit strategies in my mind & wondering how far the nearest bathroom was. Even when he was showing me my baby (which was a nice black amoeba)...I just smiled - said, "okay, great!" And then I begged to go to the little ladies room! So much for any poignant moment. Once I came out, I thought to ask a few questions about the health of the baby, etc...but the moment was lost! All I know, is that I will be an underachiever the next time I am requested to consume large amounts of water.

So that's it for now...I'm going to try and be a better blogger, but I say that so often...we'll see!

San Diego

Wow, it has been way too long since I've updated the blog. So, I will keep it short & mostly share some pictures. My parents, Heath & Kelsey, & Josh & I all went to San Diego a couple of weeks ago for vacation. We had a great time & amazingly enough it was actually a relaxing vacation! Here is a look at some of the fun we had!

To begin the vacation, Heath & Kelsey felt that it was imperative that they find the right gear to keep their heads warm while also looking stylish. This is the option they liked best. As a good sister, I vetoed this idea...


San Diego is famous for it's zoo, so we of course made a trip! I took tons of animal pictures, but I decided you wouldn't really want to see them, so I'll just share some highlights

We were all AMAZED by the gorillas. They were absolutely beautiful and interesting.

Josh & I - I was trying to get the zebras in the picture behind us...but I wasn't successful

My lovely parents

Josh making his monkey face...he was inspired


We also spent quite a bit of time around the water! We went to beaches at La Jolla, Coronao Island, and Missions Beach. All three were fantastic and they each had their own personality...while we were at La Jolla, the boys decided to learn how to surf

Doesn't my husband look like a surfer here?

And it turns out that he's actually a pretty decent surfer so long as he sticks to the small waves! I should note that Josh learned to surf a few years ago when we were in Hawaii...

And Heath got up too!

I think this is one of my favorite pictures from the trip...it makes me laugh...

While we were at Mission Beach, Josh decided to show us some of his other skills & he climbed a tree to win me a blow-up monkey...yes, he did make it all the way to the top! Is my man talented or what?

On Coronado Island evening. I decided that I could live here.

This is my only picture of all of us together - at the Padres game!

It was nice to get away! Until next time, San Diego!

Going on Vacation

Good-bye blog world. I'm going on vacation for a week to San Diego & then traveling to Tulsa for a girls weekend with Wendy & Angel. I'll be back in about 10 days!

Chambers Quote

Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you. - Oswald Chambers

I read this quote this morning and it continues to convict my heart. How often do I limit God and others to the "principles" that I've conjured up based upon my life & what I have seen to be true of God rather than giving them & more importantly HIM the permission to bring truth and creativity into their lives?

Zack Morris

In case you haven't already seen this...wanted to share!

Zack Morris was on Jimmy Fallon last night - this made me laugh!

I learned how to head bang!

I don't quite know how to start this blog other than by stating the truth: I NEVER thought I would spend 22 hours in a Coliseum (in Snyder, TX no less) with Rock Music playing non-stop (actually only 17 hours of music)...but that is what I did this past weeekend...and although my ears still ache and there were moments when I became delerious with exhaustion...I must admit that I had fun...I had a lot of fun!

So how does a girl who prefers the likes of Corrine Bailey Rae, Brooke Fraser, and Phil Wickham start to describe head banging and screaming? I honestly am unsure, so I'll just share my pictures & hope that they do justice for our trip.

First, a little background info: Myself along with 7 others traveled to the Red Letter Rock Fest in Snyder, TX to promote Pursue Missions & LIFT. It was amazing that other than the bands it was us, AirOne & Compassion International. Our booth was actually on the ground where the concerts were taking place, so we got to talk to a LOT of people...

Here is Missy & Greg talking to a few kids about LIFT


The concert started on Friday night & here is my amazing team ready to ROCK


I wasn't too sure about some of the bands Friday night.
Norma Jean...Spoken...Disciple...
But when Audio Adrenaline came on I realized two things: 1. I'm old & 2. I still like them!
Here is Kyla & I doing the moves to Big House

The headliner on Friday was Family Force 5...although I didn't know their music I have to admit that I am now a BIG fan! These guys were AMAZING performers. I mean, who sings while wearing Hulk Gloves? And of course I love a band who says things like, "Shake your BA-DONK-A-DONK for Jesus!


Oh, also Kyla & I got all-access passes & we even went on stage twice to scream about Pursue & Lift. We were hoping that we would get good slots to go on stage & sure enough...we went on before Audio Adrenaline & Superchick...very cool!

Saturday morning started out with the band: Stars Go Dim & they were my FAVORITE! Seriously, I think you should check them out...I got their CD & have been listening to it since I got home. Plus, it was nice to look at the lead singer's arms (I'm not gonna lie...)

Randall joined us on Saturday!


They had a resident artist that would paint something during each band on the main stage. Here are two of the works that he did. It was really amazing to watch him paint & I loved his artwork.


Superchick

Hawk Nelson

Missy & I - we were pretty much done at this point...oh yeah, I get delirious when I'm super tired...