abundant life

expectation: the thief of joy?

2012-01-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

So I have been reading a new book the past couple of weeks and at the risk of sounding insincere or melodramatic, I must confess that I feel it is changing me. With each word I read, I feel like the writer has glimpsed into my very soul and knows how to captivate me with the turning of every page. This past Saturday, I was reading a chapter on joy and how our feelings of expecation and/or entitlement are the very thiefs of joy in this earthly life. This brings me to my lunch break today.

The scene: I was mindlessly walking out to my car, prepared to do my normal study that I do on most of my lunches. I had no expectations, no sense of what might be awaiting me, when lo and behold, I gazed upon this:

No, that's not touched up one bit and yes, it's 100% an i-phone pic. There were no fancy cameras at work. I immediately smiled and then proceeded to become almost giddy. It was as if God knew I wasn't expecting this glorious display of cloud-like beauty, so He purposed that I might see it because He knew how very much I would appreciate it.

And that's very much how I feel about 2012. While I'm expecting it to be great, I'm not basing my expecation on anything in particular. Simply put, I know if I'm alive, it will be great. But what does great mean? How does one define great? Is great void of pain, suffering, disappointment, grief, guilt, broken promises, failures, etc.? Of course not, but I believe if I purpose to focus on the everyday graces of an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God, then 2012 will be my best year yet. I believe that if I'm intentional in relishing every cloud-flocked sky, savoring every delicious giggle that springs forth from my niece's mouth, marveling at every common day-to-day miracle that occurs, praising God for every example of His all-sufficient grace...I have everything to look forward to and nothing to be afraid of. It is a beautiful thing, this new-found freedom.

In other (perhaps less reflective news), my dear friend Christy celebrated another year in her life and of course, we had to do it up right. To keeps things interesting, I requested that party attendees wear their favorite hat, fedora or other headpiece. While we didn't exactly get 100% participation, we did have some and I think any excuse to break out of the ordinary is good enough for me. We started the night with cocktails at a "speakeasy" and had dinner at a new restaurant.

After that, it was back to the house for champagne, rum cake (a la Rachie), presents and maybe a game or two. I created a special game for the birthday girl and it was very interesting to see her responses.

This past week, we had the ole company "holiday" party. In a major departure from last year, this year's theme was "Two Step into 2012" and was held at a local western-themed restaurant. The best part of the whole night was the band (none other than Emerald City) and the photo booth (always a fan favorite). In true Rachel fashion, I cut a major rug and danced until my legs could dance no more. Please note from the pics that I was on stage with the band at one point. That's right, yours truly, in front of God and everyone (everyone being the hundreds of people I work with), got up on stage and shook her tail feather. For all those who don't dance, let me just say, it's high time to let your hair down and get out there on the dance floor. There is nothing more fun than throwing caution to the wind, bouncing around and acting like a complete fool.

And well friends, that's pretty much the full recap of the past three weeks. I can't say that 2012 has been ground-breaking, but it has certainly been filled with so much grace. Until we meet again...

year in pictures.

2012-01-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

let every heart prepare Him room.

2011-12-27T10:20:00.001-08:00

Joy to the world, the Lord has come.
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room.
And heaven and nature sing.
And heaven and nature sing.
And heaven and heaven and nature sing!

I can hardly believe I am back at work, sitting at my desk, closing out the billable revenue for my accounts in 2011 and making plans for 2012. (Yes, I am typing this at work and no, I have absolutely nothing else to do. So I figured if I didn't have any pending work items, I could at least be productive with non-work affairs.) Our Christmas celebrations have commenced and are now mere memories on our digital cameras. The presents we wrapped with such care are now in shopping bags awaiting a return to the store from whence they came. The remnants of the feasts we planned with such care and labored to prepare are chilling in the refrigerator, tucked away in mismatched tupperware containers.

Since it all came and went in the flashiest of flashes, I didn't even have time to do separate posts regaling you with the riveting details and delightful pics of all the events leading up to the day we celebrated the incarnation. Be that as it may, I'm going to tie it all up neatly into one little Christmas package of a post and hope you don't mind unwrapping it all at once.

No December would be complete without our 5th Annual Jingle Mingle/Wine Tasting Extravaganza. We had Cryssie back this year and I think this was our biggest year yet. (It certainly was in terms of sheer number of wine bottles.) Suffice it to say, our sommelier for the evening had a heavy hand indeed and felt it necessary that our group of tasters finish each bottle of wine within the round of which it was tasted. Thank goodness there was much to pair with our wines, including various types of cheeses, dips, spreads, crackers, and other festive nibbles that kept us going throughout the night. Our wine tasting was so intense that we had several intermissions to give us breaks as we were apparently running a marathon, not a sprint. During one such intermission, we participated in a rousing game of White Elephant (or Yankee Swap for you Office fans out there). My first two choices were stolen and then locked before I could get them back, but I ended up making out like a bandit as I took home an i-Tunes gift card, a Texas 12 days of Christmas kitchen towel (a true treasure if you ask me), a box of chocolates and a Reeses-filled candy cane.

The following evening, after some rest and recovery, I headed out in my best "who"-gear to attend the 6th (or maybe 7th) annual Gingerbread Throwdown. The house was packed with tacky Christmas sweaters and more candy than Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. I was so looking forward to constructing my own house this year, but sadly, attendance was such that we ran out of graham crackers and royal icing before I (along with several others) had a chance to fashion my masterpiece. Nevertheless, I still had a great time watching everyone create their edible displays and I take comfort in knowing there's always next year!

Moving right along, we had our annual family Christmas light outing just several days before Christmas. We met for dinner and procured warm beverages before setting out for our first stop: the Christmas tree at the Shops. We always have to take family pictures here and this year was no different. Somehow, we keep managing to pick the chilliest night to stand outside and endeavor to get the perfect shot. I'm happy to report our valiant efforts paid off this year and we got ourselves a real winner. Sadly, the Kodak moment was not captured on my camera, so you'll just have to use your imagination. After proper photographic documentation was complete, it was off to Deerfield to enjoy the sights and sounds of the neighborhood residences all competing to be the proverbial Clark Griswald. As always, this collection was a real feast for the eyes and Haylee and Meredith absolutely loved it.

Christmas Eve was particularly special for me as I had the honor of not only serving as a greeter at the 3PM service, but also had my parents attend the 5PM service as my guests. The service was truly beautiful and filled with the presence of God. I lifted my voice high as we sang Christmas carols and was enraptured by the candlelights twinkling all across the room as we closed with "O Holy Night." It was a divine night indeed and so meaningful to share with my parents. After church, we headed home to enjoy my pumpkin soup, homemade popovers, spread of cheeses, good wine and a great movie: "It's a Wonderful Life." The story never gets old to me (now my dad's incessant comments are another story). It was a perfect way to let my heart prepare Him room.

Christmas Day was everything it should be, filled with family, food and most importantly, faith. We had our traditional brunch of monkey bread, quiche, fresh fruit and mimosas.

As we dug into our food, the girls dug into their presents. After all, who needs to bother themselves with food and eating when there are presents to unwrap and toys to play with? I was particularly excited for Haylee to open her easy bake oven and for Michelle and my mom to open their calendars I made them. An unexpected surprise was how much Meredith liked her wooden tiered wedding cake (by Melissa and Doug) I gave her.

My sister and parents were much too generous as I received several giftcards and a super special Starbucks travel mug that includes coffee for every day of January. I'm tres excited for the gift that will keep giving (at least until January is over).

Upon the completion of "Operation: unwrap way too many gifts," I may or may not have taken a little Christmas snooze. All that gift-giving and receiving really took it out of me (or maybe it was the girls fighting over the My Little Pony car - ha). After some rest (and the requisite fireplace photos we always seem to take), it was back to the kitchen, lickety split, to do some quick prep on our Christmas dinner. We kept things easy peasy this year and I think we were very grateful to just throw some things in the oven that weren't labor intensive. It still resulted in a delightful spread which we all enjoyed.

While we feasted, I took the time to read out of my favorite gospel (Luke) the events leading up to Christ's birth, particularly focusing on Mary's reaction to the news she received. It truly is the prayer of my heart that I might demonstrate 1% of the submission (and faith, of course) she did to the Lord's will. The reading was a great pre-cursor to our next item on the agenda which was the happy birthday Jesus cake. I've tried to continue this tradition throughout the past several years and Haylee and Meredith loved singing and blowing out the candles (not surprisingly).

After the birthday cake, we gathered around the living room to lift our voices and declare the joy we received when Christ came into this world. It was the perfect end to our day of holy celebration.

With all the superfluous hoopla, trimming and commercialism, it is quite easy to find today a rather sad one...disappointed the holiday season is coming to a close and less than thrilled that we have several months of cold to look forward to and no Christmas lights to enchant even the most chilly countenance. But if we truly believed the Christmas story, if we truly believed the words we sing every December the 25th, if we believed that the Christ child was born to die that we might have life, our joy would not cease on December 26th or even on January 26th. We would live each day radiating unspeakable joy, overwhelmed with wonder at the reality that God loved us so much that He sent His son to be born among us. Can you believe that? Have you really taken the time to ponder what this means? What great love this must indicate and how we daily fail to walk in the light of this miraculous gift and life-changing truth! I pray the joy and excitement you felt in the days leading up to December 25th would only multiply in the coming months as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the life, death and resurrection of our Savior.

thanks-living

2011-12-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving this year felt very different. There was an undeniable, underlying sadness as we had just attended my Mimi's funeral at the beginning of the week. Growing up with her in such close proximity, I actually got to spend many a Thanksgiving with her throughout the past 29 years. I won't soon forget her pickle/olive trays (typically put the black olives on the ends of my fingers and would eat them off my hand) and how I would always eat the marshmallows off the top of her sweet potato casserole. But she was not at our table this year (nor was her pickle tray, I might add).

Since we weren't planning on eating our family meal until dinner, at the dawn of Thanksgiving morn (or maybe like 11 AM), I took advantage of some free time and headed to a nearby spot to spend some time outside and to reflect and ponder the current state of my heart.

You see, I had spent a good bit of time over the past few days wallowing in self pity, disappointed my original plans for Thanksgiving didn't pan out and that I wasn't doing exactly (to the 'T') what I wanted to do. If you don't see a theme here, I shall help by spelling it out for you: it was M-E, me, me. I was so focused on my happiness and making everything perfect for myself that I was failing to acknowledge Christ, His hand on my life, the gift of His son and the fact that I am not in control (which is, time and time again, a huge shock to me). Instead of abiding in Him and He in me, I was preferring the company of me, myself and I: pity party, table for 3. Problem is, this party isn't really all that fun. In fact, it's downright lame and lonely. As I meditated on these thoughts, I slowly began to appreciate exactly where I was and the unexpected surprise of discovering a beautiful bell tower, chapel and scripture-etched stone. I was able to see the beauty of Christ because I took my eyes (and all my focus) of of myself. He was there, waiting for me and He is faithful. (Psalm 16:11)

After my soul was fed, it was time to focus on feeding my physical body so I had to get to work on prepping the turkey and all the trimmings for our Thanksgiving feast. This was the first occasion I had actual fennel for my infamous stuffing, so as you might imagine, a photo opp with this curious specimen was a must.

While the turkeys were a-roastin', we found some time to sip on a nice bottle or red, capture some prime Kodak moments and play with the two loves of my life.

After the brief diversion, it was full steam ahead and I was a girl on a mission, focused with my eye on the prize. I had 2 pans going on the stove, dishes in the oven, turkeys going in shifts. It was pure mayhem and our timeline might have been pushed ~3 hours back from the original goal. However, I think these couple of snapshots show that nothing came from a can or a box. It was blood, sweat and tears (with maybe some rosemary and thyme thrown in as well).

When we finally sat down to eat (I believe at that point it was close to 8:00 PM), it was well worth every frustrating minute. There were two turkeys, two types of homemade cranberry sauce, herbed carrots, sourdough stuffing (w/pear, fennel and pancetta), roasted green beans w/goat cheese, corn pudding and sweet potato casserole.

Despite the mishaps, the botched timeline and the lingering sadness, when it was all said and done, we enjoyed a bountiful feast and were in the company of family. Not only was I so aware that we have been given earthly blessings that point to God's goodness, but each of us has been given the gift of salvation in Christ which is the eternal hope of our lives. No disappointment, temporal circumstance, failed plan or pity party can outweigh the overwhelming joy that is Christ's redemption. It is His promise that we are grateful for.

"For He rescued us out of the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, where there is redemption and the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14

the wedding bells ring

2011-11-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

"This wasn't supposed to be hard"...gosh, how I could totally echo those sentiments that my cousin Sean expressed at my Mimi's service this past Sunday night. This wasn't supposed to be hard. This was supposed to be relief -- relief from the horrible anguish of watching cancer take over the frail body of my mom's mother. This was supposed to be what we all wanted, an end to suffering and a joyous celebration. My sweet Mimi was finally free, finally healed, whole and completely satisfied -- rejoicing in the glorious presence of her Beloved, her true love...love Himself.

But there I was, at Mimi's wake/rosary service, overcome with grief and an overwhelming sadness that was totally and completely unexpected. Rewind to the three days previous, when I received the news of Mimi's passing late Thursday night, I was in a total daze. I went completely numb and didn't feel anything at all. I don't think I uttered a single word or had any sort of "normal" reaction. And then I fell into bed and slept a dreamless sleep. There was no crying, no embrace, no one trying to comfort me...nothing. I was racked with guilt, searching for a reason as to why I couldn't find the tears, but chalking it up to the fact that I was so happy.

I had spent a few weekends with her after her diagnosis and had witnessed firsthand the helpless reality of the painful suffering she had been living. I can hardly describe how difficult it was for me to be with her, but how undeniably grateful I was that I lived within such close proximity and was able to be by her side as she prepared for her heavenly wedding. Words fail to describe (as can be observed from my previous post) all of the emotions I felt as I held the hand of the patriarch of our family. She had become so childlike and the entire experience was surreal. From feeding her ice chips to turning her over to her other side, I (for a few brief spans of time) had become her caregiver and the previous roles we once knew had reversed.

I am beyond compelled to speak of my mother's love for her mother. I have never seen anything like it here on this earth. Her deepest desire was to care for her mother, but unfortunately, she has had a very demanding job that has not permitted her to do the very thing she wanted to do most. My heart breaks for her as she grieves the loss of her mother because not only is she grieving the loss of her best friend, but she is also grieving the time that she didn't get to spend with her. The few times she was able to take care of Mimi were an absolute privilege and her greatest delight.

I had wanted to speak at her service on Sunday night, but I was too slow and things concluded before I got a chance. Perhaps it is for the best as I would have probably talked in circles and quite possibly could have failed to get even two words out before I became an inconsolable blubbering ball of emotions. But had I been given the composure to articulate myself, I would have talked about the sweet memories I had with my dear Mimi -- the times she picked me up from the bus stop and drove me straight over to Dairy Queen to get a blizzard. It didn't matter what time of day it was or that dinner might be just an hour or two away, she always obliged my sweet tooth. I would have talked about her purple velcro walking shoes that she kept in her car for when she would "walk the mall" and the plastic rain bonnet she would don every time the skies opened up and showered us with rain. I would have mentioned how she called Michelle and I her "little monsters" and "trilby" and how she referred to pants and shorts as "britches." I would have talked about her joyful spirit and how she never ceased to sing praises to the Lord (and always had her tambourine in the car should the mood strike her). I probably would have cried when I reflected on how she called me "her little Rachie" over the past 5-6 years and how she would always wait up for me when I made the drive to Austin. I would have laughed about how she always wanted to see what I was wearing and never failed to declare how adorable or cute my outfit was, but the joke of all jokes is that my sweet grandmother was mostly blind in the last years of her life. I definitely would have talked about how I got to spend last Christmas with her and how she asked me numerous times to do the "reindeer dance" for her of which I have no idea what moves constituted said dance, but I did my darnedest to make something up on the fly that was reindeer-like.

But above all the memories, I would have talked about her spiritual legacy -- the fact that she prayed five of her children into the kingdom and that because of her prayers, her grandchildren (myself included) have a deep faith based on a personal relationship with Christ. Her prayer life blows mine straight out of the water (in case there was any question) and I'm fairly certain her dialogue with Christ was constant, not a matter or starting and stopping, but a continuous stream of back and forth. I always remember the folded card propped up next to her TV that asked "would Jesus watch this with you?" Oh, how I made fun of that little card when I was a teenager and oh, how I respect it now and how it has influenced that which I put into my mind at this point in my life...be it TV, movies or otherwise. There is no doubt in my mind that she prayed for me every single day and now that she is gone, I wonder if she'll still pray in heaven for my husband.

I can't help but laugh when I think back on one of our last conversations. She was feeling my hair and asked me if it was curled. I let her know that it was and then she firmly stated that I must do this everyday and that I also needed to wear makeup...everyday. Much to my chagrin, I will attempt to honor her wishes, but if you know me at all, there will have to be an element of grace in following such an arduous regiment.

As I cried the "ugly cry" at her gravesite on Monday, I don't think I really knew or was entirely conscious of all that I was crying for. I am sad she won't physically be here to see me get married or have babies. I am sad I didn't spend more time with her when she was still alive and vibrant. I am sad I didn't just sit with her more when she was watching her beloved Fox News on television. I am sad that my memories grew fuzzy and I have trouble remembering her in her prime, before she started going blind and deaf, before she struggled to walk and before Parkinson's had affected her body. I am sad that I can't dance with her again or watch her delight in something I have baked just for her.

But I'm not sad for her. As St. Augustine once said "Thou has made us for thyself and our heart has no rest till it comes to thee." Her heart is at rest and her joy is overflowing. It is too beautiful for words and so I can only leave it to scripture:

1 Corinthians 15:54-55
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”

1 Corinthians 2:9
9 but just as it is written,
“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

My heart is overwhelmed with happiness for you, Mimi. Thank you for preparing the way and for laying the spiritual framework that established our family's hope in Christ. I will miss you here on this earth, but I am so happy you have made it home. I am so happy you have made it to your heavenly wedding and if I listen close, I can almost hear those wedding bells ring. You have "arrived at eternity's shore and death is just a memory and tears are no more."

giving thanks: part 1

2011-11-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

thank·ful adj \ˈthaŋk-fəl\
Definition of THANKFUL
1: conscious of benefit received
2: expressive of thanks

I meant to start a month-long series of daily posts where I would give thanks for something in my life, but alas, life happened and my "best laid plans" were foiled once again. Nevertheless, all is not lost, so I will just pick up and post as I am able to.

It was a no brainer to dedicate my first post to expressing thanks for two of the most precious gifts in my life: Haylee Grace and Meredith Hope.

They are the apple of my eye, the icing to my cupcake, the light of my life and I feel so blessed to be a part of their lives.

I've loved being a part of every birthday celebration. I've cherished making cookies and other treats in the kitchen with them (well, mostly Haylee, but Meredith is always hanging around). Despite the insanity, I've treasured our trips to Chick-fil-a and our carousel rides at the mall. Christmas is more magical, but in reality, with them, everyday is more magical.

I'm beyond thankful for these two precious lives and have been taught so much about God's love in being with them. And for that, I can never properly express my gratitude...

made for another world.

2011-11-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

As I briefly mentioned in a post several weeks back, my family was recently informed that my dear grandma, "Mimi," had a large cancer tumor in her stomach. Treatment was presented as an option, but she politely declined as she was done being poked, prodded, stuck and ultimately restricted to a sterile hospital room. It is a strange thing indeed to be given a sort of "heads-up" (pardon the slang) on when a loved one will be departing this world, beckoned by the Creator to leave their human, decaying body to join Him, in His glorious presence.

"It was when I was happiest that I longed most...The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing...to find the place where all the beauty came from."
-Till We Have Faces

"Nothing is yet in its true form."
-Till We Have Faces

As I sit and reflect on the reality, the weight of glory if you will, I find it rather difficult to wrap my brain around it all. When I am with my grandmother, observing her frail body, it seems she is quite literally on the cusp of heaven...teetering between the edge of heaven and earth. The curtain between heaven and earth is so thin, it's almost sheer. I feel that in being around her, I'm almost closer...it is very surreal. I have found myself reflecting on this mystery, as we are unable to peek behind that curtain. "Eyes have not seen, nor ears have heard." I tend to be very uncomfortable with the unknown. I like knowledge. I like facts. However, it is not very me to know, at least not yet. I know I have this longing (as C.S. Lewis puts it so beautifully below) deep within me that yearns to be consumed by the fullness of joy found in the presence of Christ. In Him, everything good flows. He is the creator of all, and we have yet to experience being totally complete and satisfied in the sight of His glory.

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
-Mere Christianity

Paul's words to the Philippians seem to be resonating with me as of late, "to live is Christ, to die is gain." While at times, I feel an overwhelming desire to be at the throne of Jesus, basking in His majesty, praising His holy name. However, I know that He has desired and purposed me to continue to live on this earth...with every single moment that I take a breath. But what a glorious day it will be when I see my Savior's face and unite with my first love.

"God will look to every soul like its first love because He is its first love."
-The Problem of Pain

And so we wait. We wait for the Lord to call Mimi home, but in all actuality, we wait for Him to call us home as well. But until that day, let us never cease to catch glimpses of His beauty here on earth. It is in the sunsets that He whispers to our soul. It is in the embrace of a friend that He shows us His love. It is in the crash of a wave that He shouts of His majesty. It is in the birth of a new life that He tells of His miraculous creativity.

"'You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you,'" said the Lion."
-The Silver Chair

celebrate good times, come on.

2011-10-25T16:39:00.000-07:00

Fall is a busy season for birthdays in my family. Within the span of about a month and a half, we have my birthday, Haylee's birthday, Michelle's birthday and Mama bear's birthday. As such, there is much to celebrate - cakes to be made, presents to wrap, streamers to hang and the list goes on. Since I feel three posts is a bit superfluous, I'm going to bring it all together into one nice little recap post for your reading pleasure.

Haylee's 5th birthday

Miss Haylee Grace celebrated her 5th birthday towards the beginning of the month. On her actual birthday, I had the pleasure of taking a little break from my work day to spend some time with the birthday girl and to give her a sweet little bouquet of bright pink flowers.

The day after her birthday was when the real celebration took place. She chose pizza for her birthday dinner (a girl after my own heart) and she specially requested a strawberry cake with white frosting and pink hearts. Well...she got a strawberry cake with white frosting and one pink heart (I didn't want to push my luck). As for her gift, I had spotted some sparkly pink Toms on a website about 3 months prior to her birthday and I knew right then and there that I absolutely had to get them for her and it killed me to wait until her birthday. Nevertheless, I held out and saved them for her actual birthday. I think I was way more excited than she was (who can compete with the Little Mermaid paraphernalia?), but I hope she will grow to love them.

As if that weren't enough, she followed up our family celebration with a very special day reserved for her and two of her best friends. They donned their best Disney princess costumes and had their hair done, their nails painted and their lips strawberry-glossed. She even experienced her very first rite of passage as a girl: the all-important ear piercing. Haylee selected a pair of sparkly crystal flowers and took the piercing like a champ. The excitement was capped off with festively frosted cupcakes from the Cupcake Lady. (As an aside, do you just die at the pic of the girls in their costumes pointing to the cupcakes in the case? The cute factor is through the roof.)

Paolo, Pizza and Pinot

As if I hadn't already celebrated enough, I was blessed with another opportunity to toast another year in my life with a pizza party and brown bag wine tasting. I had been dreaming and scheming of a make-your-own pizza party for years and my idea finally came to fruition a few weeks ago and let me assure you, it was everything I wanted and more. I made two types of dough earlier in the day (whole wheat and regular) and had each party goer bring their topping(s) of choice. We had a veritable smorgasbord of accoutrements to choose from, including mushrooms, feta, peppers, goat cheese, prosciutto, pineapple, spinach, pear, arugula, sundried tomatoes, pepperoni, mozzarella, canadian bacon and the list goes on. We had such a fantastic time creating our perfect pies and most of us went back for another round to create a second culinary masterpiece. Amidst all the pizza pie-making, we also conducted a brown bag tasting of Pinot Noirs. Notes were taken, price points were guessed and identities were revealed. It was so much fun and I highly recommend it for your next dinner party.

Despite being totally stuffed with pizza, we couldn't have a birthday celebration without something sweet. It just wouldn't be right. Be that as it may, we didn't have just any old dessert on the agenda...no, no. We caravanned over to Tillman's Roadhouse for homemade tableside s'mores. That's right, HOMEMADE -- meaning they make their own graham crackers, their own chocolate and their OWN marshmallows (in orange, coffee and maple flavors!!!). It was every bit as ridiculously awesome as it sounds and I give them not one, but two very enthusiastic thumbs up for taking on such a formidabble task. It was a sweet way to put an exclamation point on my final birthday celebration.

My "Seester's" Birthday Weekend

For the past several months, Michelle has been wishing for a birthday weekend in Austin where she could kick back, hit up her favorite restaurants and taste the grapes of Texas Hill Country. I was able to take her on this trip for her birthday, but sadly, our trip was not all fun and games as we had another very important reason for making the drive southbound, 35. Our dearest Mimi has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has declined treatment. Upon receipt of this news, we knew this trip was a must so that we might be able to spend some time with her as well. Our time with her was heavy, but sweet. She is our beloved grandmother and it is very tough to see her suffering. Nevertheless, I know it was a gift to Michelle to be able to see her on her birthday.

Apart from our time with Mimi, we did manage to celebrate Michelle's life and honor the blessing that she is in our lives. Per her request, we spent a lazy afternoon sipping on the grapes at Stonehouse Vineyard and enjoying the 85+ degree weather that is customary of fall in Texas.

Later that evening, we feasted on tapas at Malaga (authentic or not, it's still delicioso in my book). There was a duck flatbread, spinach/artichoke spread, fried goat cheese drizzled in honey, mahi-mahi skewers, piquillo peppers stuffed with goat cheese and spiced chicken with pita. We concluded our celebration with champagne-infused cocktails at the Eastside Showroom. We sipped our 20s-inspired beverages whilst listening to the prohibition era-style live music. This five-piece band was a feast for the senses. Not only did they look the part, but their sound made me feel like I was right back in the 1920s, sipping on a cool cocktail in a dimly lit speakeasy. Despite arriving home at an hour that would suggest we were still in college, Michelle and I still indulged in the double-chocolate chip brownies that I had made, but as soon as our heads hit the pillow, we were out like a light.

And there you have it. A month's worth of festivities rolled into one little blog burrito. Here's to beautiful years full of Christ's love and light.

cheers, chin-chin, salud: Cali day four

2011-10-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

I began the last day of my whirlwind tour the only proper way a day of vacation should begin: with a dainty mug artfully filled to the brim with piping hot shots of the most delicious espresso ever to grace my thankful tastebuds. Being that we were staying in one of the most charming little town squares (Sonoma square to be precise), there was obviously the most charming little cafe at which we procurred said espresso. If only every day could begin in the same sublime fashion...I might actually pop out of bed after only 3 snoozes (instead of the standard 6-7).

After my caffeine jolt was properly savored, I took a little jaunt across the square to the boulangerie which was packed with every type of indulgent pastry, cookie, cake and bread that you could fathom. I was overwhelmed by my selections, as could be observed by the dozens of questions I asked the counter clerk. It took my upwards of five minutes to finally settle on a chocolate croissant and cinnamon shortbread cookie. Sadly, I have no pics of these sugary, buttery delights, but I did take a couple shots of the street as viewed from our hotel.

With pastries in hand, we said a reluctant goodbye to Sonoma and hello to Napa. Our drive through Napa could not possibly have been more dreamy (with the exception of poor navigation on my part and the close call we had with the gas gauge). I felt as though I had been transported to the sweeping, lush landscapes of the Tuscan countryside. It was tough for me to contain my excitement or keep my exclamations of enthusiasm to a minimum. With each vineyard we passed, I became more and more transixed on my surroundings and increasingly more convinced that I must take up residence in this glorious region. It was hard to believe this was part of the continental United States and I began to understand my mom's ardent adoration for all things California. If only the cost of living wasn't a 500% increase over and above my current expenses...

I literally could have driven back and forth across this stretch of greenery for hours, but time was of the essence, so we headed straight to Sterling Vineyards and I'm so glad we included this spot on our agenda because it was definitely an experience from start to finish. The winery grounds were perched on top of a "mountain" and we purchased our tickets at the base and rode the enclosed gondola (otherwise known as a ski lift) up to the actual building. The views were nothing short of spectacular. Even the cloudy skies coupled with the light mist couldn't dampen my spirits. At Sterling, we took the self-guided tour which walked us around the different buildings and had tasting stations set up at each point. The wine wasn't necessarily my ultimate in terms of taste, but the experience was like no other and I definitely recommend it based on that alone.

Sadly, it was after Sterling Vineyards that the harsh realization began to sink in - my trip was coming to a close and I only had time for one more stop. Knowing it was my last winery and wanting to end on a bang, we put the pedal to the metal and reached our destination with plenty of time to spare. My last hurrah was none other than Chandon Winery. How could I go to wine country and not sample champagne (sparkling wine technically), my signature drink? We wouldn't hear of it, so my traveling companions indulged my taste for the bubbly and we raised our glasses five times over and tasted all the fruits they had to offer. Our "pourer" was so incredibly friendly and chatted with us extensively. She even let us sample a sparkling red (not rose, red) which was surprisingly delightful. If my trip had to come to a close, I can't think of a more perfect way than by sipping on golden glasses of bubbly champagne and toasting to a wonderful trip, overflowing with God's beauty and love.

After Chandon, the girls dropped me off at the Napa bus station and I hopped on a bus headed to the airport. I slept most of the way and dreamt of lush vineyards, ripe grapes and flavorful wine. Here's to a wonderful inaugural tour of wine country: Cheers, chin-chin and salud!

birthday love.

2011-10-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

While it's not standard practice for me to do birthday posts for each and every one of my family and friends, I did want to show some love for a couple very special back-to-back birthdays.

Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Meagan, who is celebrating her birthday today. Meagan and I have been friends since 9th-10th grade and I don't think there was a Wednesday night from the years 1999-2001 that she didn't spend the night with me. She is without a doubt one of the most gracious, generous, hospitable and loyal people I know. Everyone is always welcome in her home and she loves her friends and family unconditionally. Praying for a beautiful new year in your life, friend.

And while it may be a bit preemptive, I know I won't be blogging tomorrow, so I want to send out a huge Happy Birthday wish to my sissy. You're the cheese to my macaroni, the peanut butter to my jelly, and my partner in crime (and in life). You are the most merciful person I know and have taught me so much about grace and forgiveness. You are fiercely loyal and hold your family in the highest regard as your greatest gift and most treasured possession this side of heaven. As you begin a new year in your life, I wish so much for you, but I think I could sum it all up into one prayer: that you would experience the fullness of joy found in the presence of Christ alone and that you would grow in the overwhelming knowledge of His perfect love. I love you, dear sister, and hope you have the happiest of birthdays.

california dreamin': day 3

2011-10-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the third installment of my west coast tour. I'm sure (judging by the number of pictures) it probably seems we spent 4 weeks in California, but alas, it was only 4 days. With our San Francisco stay coming to an end, we got an early start Sunday morning because we had big plans for our day.

With Crystal in the driver's seat (brave girl to navigate the curves and hills of the city), we drove our rental car through one of the swankiest neighborhoods in San Francisco. This area is known as Lyon Street and the homes were breathtaking, especially when coupled with that million-dollar view of the bay. I shudder to think of the dollar value on these properties, but it sure was a feast for the eyes to behold...even if it was just to dream. Can you imagine living in the last house covered in pink bougainvillea?

As we crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge, we bid adieu to a great time in a great city and said hello to the glorious mountains of Northern California and an enchanted forest filled with towering redwoods. This majestic patch of nature is dubbed Muir Woods and I had heard so much about it from Kori (and others) who had previously visited that I knew I didn't want to miss it. It's greatness was highly touted, but rightly so as our brief tour quickly proved. Upon entering the copious canopy of trees, we were transformed to a wonderland reminiscent of a page out of the Chronicles of Narnia. I was mesmerized as I took in my surroundings and while our time was succinct, I am glad we made time to be one with God's nature as we don't see the likes of these trees in our parts.

I think we probably only hiked through .01% of the woods, but alas, we had wineries to tour and vino to taste. It came down to a matter of priorities and the fermented grapes that beckoned our name won. As we drove back down the winding mountain, my excitement began to swell as visions of lush vineyards, ripe grapes and rolling hills danced in my head. I couldn't believe I was headed to wine country and I couldn't believe I was going to experience what had just been a pipe dream for so long. I feel so fortunate that I had two friends who were ready and willing (more like jumping at the chance) to join the adventure.

We did our research prior to the trip, so we had our list of wineries mapped out and headed to Simi straight away. Providence was at work and we made it there in the nick of time to catch their tour. This was a full-fledged, hour and a half tour from start to finish. It was very extensive and included a visit to the barrel room and a private sit-down tasting. We loved our tour guide and he was kind enough to offer us additional tastes in the main tasting room once our schooling had commenced. Aside from the first white we tasted, I really enjoyed all of their wines and would highly recommend a visit should you find yourself in the Healdsburg area.

Once we wrapped up things at Simi, it was back on the road and off to our next destination. Seghesio Vineyards was our next stop and this particular winery is known for their zinfandels (Cryssie's favorite). I sat this one out to as to not overdo it, but Crystal was kind enough to share her special taste of Syrah with me since I have a pension for all things of the syrah/shiraz varietal. I still really enjoyed my experience and loved learning about all the different wines from our expert pourer. The day was winding down, but we still had time to squeeze in one more quick tasting, so we set off for La Crema and tasted some buttery chardonnays (Michelle, you would have been in white wine heaven), along with a couple nice reds. Again, I must mention how generous and friendly everyone was that we met on our trip. The kind folks at La Crema didn't charge us for our tasting and just sent us on our merry way with a smile.

Since La Crema was smack dab in the middle of the cutest little town square you ever saw (Sonoma Square not included), we did a little bit of exploring and found a quaint neighborhood book shop and espresso bar (two of my very favorite things in life). I did some perusing, while Crystal and Christy sampled the gelato. I actually tried a fromage (cheese) flavor and it was very interesting. The jury's still out as to whether or not I would consume a full serving, but it was intriguing all the same.

All that wine tasting really took it out of us, so we checked into our cozy hotel on the Sonoma square, and flopped into our comfy beds for a little pre-dinner siesta. I had built up this dinner in my mind for months, really years, as I heard about this place through the grapevine (pun somewhat intended) and I had my mind set on dining there as soon as I was in the wine country.

The place: The Girl and the Fig
The savory cuisine: specialty goat cheese plate featuring 3 varietals of goat cheese, a smorgasborg of various nuts (pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, almonds...), fig cakes, fig compote; a rustic open-faced roasted chicken sandwich, steamed mussels
The sweet ending: butter cake, homemade whipped cream, fresh (local) berries
The drink: flight of syrahs in the most awesome glasses ever
The experience: priceless

I wish I could relive each savory bite all over again, but I'm grateful I was able to check this one off the box. I still have one more (more like 1/2) day to document, but we're in the home stretch. In the meantime, I hope these pics have you California dreamin'.

i left my heart in san francisco: day 2

2011-10-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

After our jam-packed, whirlwind of a day on Friday, we took every opportunity to rest up the next morning so that we had ample energy to take on day two of our san fran tour. We were blessed with another beautiful sunny day and I was again, pleasantly surprised by how warm the air felt. I will chalk that up to "indian summer" and advise all potential west coast travelers to take their trips somewhere in the September-October range for optimal weather.

Anyway, moving on to the first task on our agenda, a major bucket list item of mine: ride the cable car. Just like the rice-a-roni slogan touts, this was a San Francisco treat for certain. I was downright giddy with anticipation as we stood in line awaiting the cable car to barrel down the tracks. I was more than ready for my "Meet Me in St. Louis" moment and Christy and I kept belting out Judy Garland's infamous tune - "ding ding ding went the trolley, ding ding ding went the bell..." Our ride down the sloping streets of San Francisco was just as memorable as I had hoped and I even coaxed our conductor into letting me ring the trolley bell. I was grinning from ear to ear with each pull of the bell. As I'm sure you can imagine, we had to capture every single angle of our ride so please note the multiple shots below.

How does one properly celebrate taking their 1st ride on a real cable car, pray tell? Well, with irish coffee, of course. And not just any 'ole irish coffee would do, no sir. We went to the establishment where this tasty drink originated: the Buena Vista Cafe. This cafe is known for creating this delightful coffee concoction and we didn't even need to look at a menu upon our arrival. We ordered up 3 of the house specialties and took in the view of the bay as we waited for our bevvies. Our drinks were a thing of beauty, a beautiful mocha color topped with a layer of frothy cream. They were every bit as pretty as they were tasty. Inevitably, some places can become tourist traps, but I must say, if you're ever in town, you must sip on an irish coffee at the Buena Vista...it will warm you from the inside out.

Once we had sufficiently savored every perfectly delicious sip of our coffee, it was time to locate some serious fuel as we were headed to walk the Golden Gate Bridge. Carbohydrates were a must, so we walked back down to Fisherman's Wharf, popped into Boudin and ate our sourdough sandwiches and salads outside on the patio, where we were free to bask in the sunshine and observe the sights and sounds of this bustling seaside street.

With our appetites satisfied with sourdough goodness, we hopped on the BART and took the bus to the starting point of one of the most famous landmarks in the great U-S-of A: The Golden Gate Bridge. I still recall a "show and tell," maybe back in 2nd grade, no lie, I brought in a clutch that my dad bought my mom when he was on a business trip in California. These were my exact words "he had to go across the Golden Gate Bridge to buy this for her." Are you as impressed as I apparently was? Anyway, fast forward some 21 years and here I was, about to walk across the bridge that was once just a show and tell story. For starters, this bridge is large. I mean, not to state the blatantly obvious, but it was even bigger and subsequently more grandiose than I imagined. The views of and from the bridge were outstanding. We could easily observe the coastal line, where the waves rushed up and crashed onto the shore, the unique city skyline, the mind-blowing cloud formations, the distance from the bridge to the powerful surf below - it was truly incredible. Again, I was moved by the reality of God's awesome power that was so undeniable as I looked in every direction.

Sadly, our walk across the bridge and subsequent bus ride back into the city took up a bit more time than anticipated. It was at the point that I had to make a decision between drinks at Cliffhouse and seeing the infamous "Painted Ladies" that you might recognize from the opening credits of a little Emmy-award winning (j/k) sitcom, Full House. Obviously, my affinity for the Tanner fam won out and I chose the latter. I definitely feel I made the right decision as this turned out to be one of my favorite moments of the trip. Just across the street from our destination was the most lovely park, outfit with the most perfect climbing trees you ever laid eyes on. Not only that, but the streets were lined with row after row of quite possibly the most eccentric homes (at least in concentrated form) this side of the Atlantic.

Trees were climbed, photos were captured, my inner child was released and then, we made it over the hill to the main event: the Painted Ladies. It was at this point that I serenaded (somewhat loudly) my innocent friends with the following: Whatever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paperboy and late night TV? You miss your old familiar friends, waiting just around the bend... How could you not be provoked to sing the theme song upon a real life visit to the row of homes you saw so many times as a child? It truly took me back to my living room on Vinemont. I'm about 9 years old and I'm sitting on the floor in front of a box TV (not flat screen!), watching regular network TV and I actually have to be patient and not fast forward through the commercials...such a different time in our social landscape...but alas, I digress. Since this was our final stop for the day before dinner, we actually got to sit in the grass and just be...just be present, be there amongst the people who called this place home. We got to just be friends, sitting the lush green grass, talking about our memories of the show and of our childhood. While it might not sound like much, I really treasure those few moments. It was a sweet time.

As the sun began to set on our most productive day, we made the trek back to the bus to rest and reconvene before dinner. Dinner on Saturday night was an event in and of itself as I had my heart set on a place called Nopa. Unfortunately, we were unable to make reservations for that evening, so we had to wing it and hope for the best. I must make it a point to note that the staff were incredibly gracious and hospitable at this hipster eatery. They were jockeying for us to get a spot at a communal table and then managed to snag us a private table after one of their reservations was cancelled. I pity the fool who cancelled because this place was a treat and a half. Our server was superior and went above and beyond the call of duty. After making inquiries as to the type of drink I liked, he crafted a specialty cocktail that was tailored to my liking (with a champagne base, he couldn't go wrong). From start to finish, it was a wonderful dining experience and I even got to continue my birthday celebration with a little something sweet. Many thanks for Emmanuel for a stellar time at Nopa.

On our walk back home that evening, I couldn't believe the sun was setting on our time in the city. I felt that I would be leaving my heart in San Francisco when we left the following day to begin our wine country adventures; however, I would soon be whistlin' a different tune...

Up next, Sonoma/Napa!

won't you save me san francisco: take one

2011-10-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

I think there are two types of travelers out there in the world: those who like to see and experience new places but are more than ready to return to "home sweet home" at the completion (or sometimes before) of their trip and those who, with each new experience, find a new place they think they would like to call "home sweet home." Lately, I've been finding that I fall into the latter group. After my recent trip to D.C., I was ready to pack up the wagon and head to the east coast...but I'm afraid I am a fickle female and this was not a one-time occurrence. It seems as though my flights of fancy can change with the direction of the wind, as the 1st two days of my west coast trip had me hankering for a San Francisco address, whereas the remaining two days had me convinced that a Napa/Sonoma zip code was the way to go. If that's any indication of my time in cali, you could quite easily surmise that it was an absolute dream from start to finish.

(Judging by my face in the pic below, I was more than ready to take on the sunshine state and even my 5:45 AM wake up call couldn't put a damper on my spirits. I suppose the 3 shots of espresso might have had something to do with it...)

Upon landing at the SFO airport, we wasted no time in grabbing our bags from the overhead bins and finding transportation that would get us to our hotel and out on the streets exploring just as soon as possible. I cannot help but interject at this point that the staff at our hotel was certainly an eclectic mix of individuals. Suffice it to say, this was no Four Seasons Resort, but I bet the Four Seasons doesn't boast an unlimited wine happy hour from 5:30-6:00 which is set to the soundtrack of a most enthusiastic keyboard player (whose day job is working at the front desk), but alas, I'm getting ahead of myself. We got our bags temporarily stored and headed out into the great unknown, determined to complete our to-do list for the day, and we hit up all the items and more.

After we hiked through Chinatown (literally exactly like the Chinatown in New York), we made it to our first destination which was espresso at Cafe Trieste. The aroma of the espresso grounds was intoxicating as it filled my nostrils. The rich, sweet, caramel shots were poured into an icy glass and I got a "true" macchiato which included a little milk on top. Can I just say what a difference it makes to enjoy one's coffee in a real glass with a dainty silver spoon to serve as your stirring device. It was a thing of beauty and I was mesmerized from the first sip to the last drop.

Once we were properly caffeinated, we continued our journey along the streets of San Fran, making our way up to Lombard Street, the "crookedest street in America" (perhaps the world?). Along the way, we stopped into a beautiful church, hugged a tree and caught our 1st glimpse of the glorious sea.

The path to Lombard Street was marked by hills... steep, sloping, painful hills. It was around this time that my legs began to burn with a passionate fury that screamed, how could you not use us for 2 years and then expect us to function in a capacity that even physically fit individuals would have trouble. I ignored my thighs' desperate cries for a respite and pressed on towards the goal, the goal being a picture-perfect Kodak moment, smack in front of the street I had seen in so many photographs. Upon reaching the top of the hill, it became abundantly clear that all my tears (and pulled hamstrings) were well worth it, as the view far exceeded my already lofty expectations. (Come to think of it: I believe that is an accurate summary statement of my trip - I expected much and yet, was consistently blown away by how much more I received.) It was surreal watching the cars squeak their way down each curve and thinking this used to just be something I looked at on a one-dimensional page. Not only was the street itself something to marvel at, but the basketball-sized hydrangeas that lined the street were the whipped topping on the proverbial sundae.

Just as steep as the slope was going up, it was all the steeper going down the other side (and coincidentally worked a whole new set of previously unworked muscles...in case you were curious). Next on the agenda was to tour Hyde Pier, Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square. It was at this point that I fell in love. I became so overwhelmed with the combined beauty of the sky, the sea, the mountains, the bridge, the clouds, the architecture, the shore...it was almost too much for me to take in. The verse kept echoing in my mind: "the heavens declare your glory" and I couldn't help but see God in all that surrounded me. Everywhere I looked, there was a new view to behold and a new beauty to be revealed.

After snapping some photos on the beach, we took the party to the pier where we toured an "arc" (the name for a houseboat in the 1920s), viewed Alcatraz from afar and surveyed the ships anchored alongside the pier. I couldn't resist including the last picture in this set. It absolutely cracks me up and is a great example of a good photo idea gone bad. I saw those huge knots made of rope and immediately declared that we should climb in the middle and take a picture. Lo and behold, the wind had other ideas. I was too busy holding my wind-whipped hair, meanwhile Crystal's took on a life of its own and completely blocked her face.

As I'm sure you can imagine, all this walking and photo-taking worked up a ravenous appetite in our stomachs, so our next mission was to walk down to Fisherman's Wharf and peruse our options for a fresh seafood lunch. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the air was clean and we knew al fresco dining was a must. I drug my traveling companions down the entire pier, forced us to make a detour to Boudin (the original sourdough bread locale - check out the lobster and alligator-shaped loaves) and then made them traipse back to one of our original options. Nevertheless, it was a fruitful endeavor as we had a delicious meal of crab legs, crab bruschetta, crab cakes, clam chowder and fresh sourdough bread. Since I was the birthday girl du jour, they even surprised me with a tall glass of my favorite celebratory beverage. We savored our meal and enjoyed a nice, long leisurely lunch along the sidewalk of Fisherman's Wharf.

After we had sufficiently refueled, we put those walking shoes back on (or boots in this case) and set out to explore Ghirardelli Square, which included a tour of the Ghirardelli chocolate factory. It was like a scene of out Willy Wonka's chocolate factory as I watched the espresso-hued vats of perfectly melted chocolate churn in unison. The heavenly smell was enough to sway even this self-professed non-lover of chocolate over to the dark side...well, almost. After our self-guided tour, I was set on chocolate, but actually found my fix in another form: cupcakes. We discovered Kara's Cupcakes on the square and decided to get a couple of the pint-sized treats for my birthday. Crystal and I chose the fleur de sel cupcake which boasted a oozy caramel filling and had fleur de sel granules sprinkled on top of a chocolate ganache frosting.

With our cupcakes in hand, we took our inaugural ride on the BART system and made it back to the hotel just in time for the heavily touted unlimited wine happy hour. Suffice it to say, the dazzling keyboard melodies played by our front desk concierge made it one of the most memorable happy hours I have ever been a party to. Sadly, I have no photographic documentation to share, but if you can picture it in your head, I have no doubt it will bring a smile to your face.

We enjoyed a few brief moments of relaxation where we kicked our feet up and listened to the bustling sounds of the city from outside our window. However, we had dinner reservations to make, so our time was cut short as we hurried to catch the next bus. My birthday dinner (really, the first of four) was at Oola which was a hip little place serving seasonal items with a rotating menu that changed daily. One glance at the menu and I knew exactly what I was ordering: the watermelon and beet salad and the fig tart. These dishes had me at hello and the descriptions had my mouth watering in anticipation of these savory delights. When my dishes arrived, I knew I made the right choice. The colors were so vibrant and I enjoyed each bite more than the last. The flavors were so fresh and the textures were spot on and so complementary. I also enjoyed the quote at the top of their menu: Never eat more than you can lift. -Miss Piggy Rest assured, I followed the sound advice and was able to lift every last bit into my gullet.

Upon commencement of our delightful dinner, we made our way to the final destination of the day which was a 1920s speakeasy nestled in the heart of San Francisco. Christy's due diligence (in doing extensive research for our trip) can be credited for finding this hidden gem. It was one of San Francisco's original speakeasys during the Prohibition era. The place was in an unmarked building and we needed reservations + a password to make the cut. We rang the buzzer next to the door, hoping we were in the right place. From behind the cracked door, a girl asked us for the password in hushed tones and I knew this was the spot. Once it was determined we were "in the know," the 20s clad staff ushered us into the door and we were transported into another time and place. The lighting was low, the bartenders were skilled and the music harkened back to the days of flapper dresses, pearls, red lips and zoot suits. With a thick book of classic cocktails to choose from, we painstakingly made our selections and sipped on the unique concoctions while enjoying the authentic ambience. Sadly, one of the rules (yes, these were posted), was NO PICTURES. Therefore, I have no proof of my trip back in time.

The final item on the agenda was enjoying my birthday cupcake, which I most certainly did. It was the perfect finale to my first day in California.

Next up: San Francisco, Day 2!!

happy birthday.

2011-10-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
happy birthday to you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR HAYLEE.
happy birthday to you!

I cannot believe my little pearl has lived 5 years on this earth already. I can hardly find the words with which to properly express how much you mean to me, my precious Haylee. From the moment you were born, I fell in love with you. I was so thrilled to be an aunt and couldn't wait for everything we would get to do together...bake cookies, paint our nails, laugh out loud, play Candyland, read books, go to movies, make crazy faces, and most importantly, dance and sing like crazy.

I will never forget the week we spent together when your parents were in Mexico. You probably won't remember our time, but I will forever treasure it in my heart. I loved waking up with you and snuggling while we watched cartoons. I loved taking you to the park and watching you marvel at the flowers, the ducks and pretty much everything else.

As you grow up, I know you will start to become more independent and you probably won't run to me, screaming my name and practically knocking me down with your embrace. So I try to cherish every single hug, every single kiss, every single time you climb in my lap, every time you want to help me in the kitchen, every single time you ask me to dance with you...I will cherish it all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRINCESS!!! You are a gift from God, a daughter of Christ and you are loved infinitely more than you can imagine.

make it count.

2011-09-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are a peculiar thing for me. I find myself hanging in the balance of 2 very different extremes. On the one side of the scale, I want people to make a great deal of fuss over the day of my birth (and really, everyone elses for that matter), not so much in the form of presents, but more in the form of little things like a special breakfast, silly decorations, a beautiful cake, an enthusiastic serenade left on my voicemail, etc. On the other side of the scale, I don't want to tell said people to make a great deal of fuss and am flummoxed when asked what I want to do for my birthday or even worse, what I want for my birthday. Clearly, I expect a lot but don't want to reveal expectations. Rather, I want others to perform magic by reading my mind and knowing precisely what would produce the most amount of joy and revelry. That's a tall order for my friends and family, so if you are either, my sincerest apologies...

If you know me, you might be wondering why I'm writing a birthday post when my birthday is still a good 3 days away. This would be a fair question to which I shall respond with gusto that I will be celebrating my actual birthday in northern California, taking on San Francisco and the Napa/Sonoma wine country. Therefore, we were forced to carry out my family celebration 5 days prior on Sunday, of which you should know, I'm totally oppposed. I always hold a very firm stance that the birthday celebration with the family be on the actual day, but in this case, my trip trumped my rules. Despite all of my protests and overall disinterest, my family rallied together and we had a most joyous time togther.

We started the afternoon with a rare trip (as in I can't remember the last time we went to see a movie together) to the movie theater to see Seasons of Gray which is a Watermark (as in the church I attend) film. It was by no means a blockbuster or Academy award winning film, but it had a solid message and I wanted to support something that some really great people worked on and invested resources in.

After the movie, we headed back to the casa to keep the merriment going with dinner, cake and presents. At this point, the gang was all here which included my 2 favorite party princesses: Haylee and Meredith. I should point out that I'm still working on getting Meredith used to taking pictures with me. If there's 2 points of qualifying criteria for this family, one is most certainly a willingness to take and be in superflous amounts of photos. She's got a lot to learn. (The other, in the event you are at all interested, would be that you must be willing to dance any time, anywhere and to any music...even if it's in your head.)

I had grand ideas of making stuffed mushrooms for an appeteaser (the Office anyone?), but I just kind of freestyled the recipe which didn't exactly produce the culinary delight I was hoping for. They weren't bad, but I think I will be consulting a recipe for the next go-round, at least as a guide. My dad was a willing participant and scarfed the majority of those puppies down. I can always count on him to never let a crumb go to waste (waste not, want not), and for that I am very appreciative.

Since it is now customary for me to have a pizza dinner for my birthday (as in, that's been my cuisine de choice for the past 3 birthdays now), I decided I should keep with the tradition and I had just the spot in mind. Several months ago, my fousin (and true pizza afficianado) introduced us to the one and only Cavalli's and I've never been the same. (Elisa, the pics below are for you.) In an ideal world, we would have set outside on their quaint patio, sipped glasses of their homemade sangria and reveled in the beauty that was a most pleasant evening (below 90 degrees). However, Meredith is not exactly at an age where she willingly submits to sitting in one place for more than 8 seconds, so our feast was shared in the comfort of our home where Mere was free to romp and roam as she pleased. The pizza was extra delicious on Sunday and we devoured every last savory bite.

Hailey patiently waited throughout the entire meal for the highlight of the evening: birthday cake. She must have declared 10 times that it was time for birthday cake and we finally submitted to her demands after the 10th declaration. I should make note that this was no store bought, standard birthday cake. No way, jose. I ain't no holler back girl and if there's one thing I take very seriously, it's cake. Accept no substitutes! I requested my Dad's specialty (since I've forced him to make it 3 times now) which is a homemade strawberry cake with strawberry frosting. It was every bit as delicious as I remembered. The dense cake, lathered with a thick coating of creamy frosting, topped with fresh, ripe strawberries...perfection. I may have enjoyed it a little too much and sent myself into a sugar coma (including a case of the sugar sweats), but it was worth it.

My much too generous family surprised me with a new Vera Bradley duffel bag which was a total surprise. I am humbled by their desire to bless me, even though it is far from a necessity and they themselves could probably use a new bag much more so than myself. Nevertheless, I will honor them by breaking it in on my trip this weekend and using it every single chance I get...even if it means booking more fun trips. I will make that sacrifice!

All in all, it was a night overflowing with love, good food and even better company. I fully intend to make this last year in the decade of my 20s count.

keepin' it real / born in the USA

2011-09-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

I'm honestly not entirely certain where I came up with the title of this particular blog post, but it's the first thing that came to me so I'm just going with it. I am tragically behind in keeping things updated here on Abundant Life, so instead of going back to recap the past month and a half (I might end up doing so, but don't hold me to it), I shall instead skip ahead to a couple weeks ago when I made my inaugural trip to our nation's capital which also happens to be the new home of two of my best girls (Abundant Life regulars), China and Elisa.

These two firecrackers bid farewell to the sunny Texas skies back in August and of course, I jumped at the chance to take a little weekend trip during the Labor Day holiday to visit them and their new abode. Not only was it a positively lovely four days in that I was in the company of my dearest fousins, but I was also pleasantly surprised by just how much I loved DC and the surrounding area. So without further ado, I shall regale you with the who, what, where, when and why of my trip...

As soon as my plane touched down in Baltimore, the girls fetched me from the airport and we headed straight away to take on the sights and sounds of Washington, DC. I was immediately impressed by both the cleanliness and the serene quality of the capital city. I suppose, in my head, I was expecting something along the lines of the sensory overload that is New York City: the packed sidewalks, wailing sirens, blaring car horns, etc. Not so, my friends, not so. There was a plethora of sidewalk to share with our fellow pedestrians and plenty 'o unobstructed sky to look upon, as opposed to walking in the gloomy shadows of towering skyscrapers.

Our first stop in our DC jaunt was the National Gallery where we rendezvoused with Sean and spent a good bit of time looking at the collections of artwork. Major bonus points to all of the attractions not costing a dime...great for a bargain Betty like myself. I also could not believe we were free to take pictures of all the artwork throughout said museum. I wish we had more time to explore, but what we couldn't cover in time, we certainly made up in ample photo opportunities (strange because we never have our cameras...).

Since we were parked at a meter and had already made the trek back to the car once to fill the meter's insatiable hunger for coins (correction: Sean and China traipsed back to the car while Elisa and I gave our barking dogs a break courtesy of a nearby bench), we weren't able to spend time in the Smithsonian or other local points of interest. Instead, we strolled down "the mall," reflected upon the Washington Monument and soaked our feet in the epic fountain (if you recall from Forrest Gump). The water felt amazing on my tired feet that I'm afraid have grown less than accustomed to living in a pedestrian city (side note: my outer hips were actually sore the next day which I think is just a pathetic testament to the lack of activity I get whilst being chained to a desk for 9 hours every day, but I digress). After our frollick in the fountains, we commenced the 20-block hike back to the car to make way to our next destination.

Our next item on the agenda turned out to be one of my most favorite parts of the trip. Just outside of the city lies an area called Georgetown which is quite possibly the most charming neighborhood you've ever laid eyes on. I loved everything about it, from the lampposts lining the streets adorned with precious pink flowers to the to the multi-colored row houses to the robin egg blue Anthropologie store front. If this town were espresso, I'd want a triple. It's the kind of place where I imagine everyone always has a smile on their face and resorts to skipping instead of walking. We even took a peek inside the famous Georgetown Cupcake storefront, but alas, our plans for cupcake domination were quickly dashed upon viewing the line of customers that was roughly 50-deep.

We capped off the night with a meal of mediocre pizza (and that's being generous) at a local establishment of who's name I will politely refrain from posting on my blog, but redeemed the less than adequate meal with glasses of red wine, homemade chocolate chip biscotti and a viewing of The King's Speech. All of which were marvelous.

Ressurection Sunday began with church, a trip to Trader Joe's and a little time in the kitchen to prepare a brunch feast. As an aside, Trader Joe's is in fact all it's cracked up to be. Their wine section features rock-bottom prices and they even have samples at 8:30 in the evening which is clearly one of the most important qualifying criteria when choosing a grocery store. Brunch was a joyous time as we were graced with the presence of Mama Li (Lianna) and Sophia. We feasted until we could feast no more and then settled on to the couch for some Sabbath rest and maybe a little napping. Our time was sprinkled with laughter, a brief dance party, great conversation, love and of course, mimosas.

After our energizing naps, we were seeking redemption (from the aforementioned pizza debaucle) and that redemption was in the form of sugary sweet goodness a la our providential discovery the previous day: Serendipity. Yes, you read that right, Georgetown boasts the 2nd location of the eccentric eatery made famous by such films as One Fine Day (thank you fousins for pointing that out) and Serendipity. I had been dreaming about this since we stumbled upon it the previous night and was practically giddy during the car ride to Georgetown. It was such a perfect full circle moment as Elisa came to visit me in NY during my stint there where we shared a monstrous sundae and scraped that dish clean. I'm happy to report not much has changed on that front. Upon being seated at our bistro table surrounded by Tiffany lamps on every side, we carefully perused the oversized menu before selecting the Red Velvet Sundae. Our crystal goblet was stuffed with a sizable hunk of red velvet cake, smothered with cream cheese icing, topped with chocolate ice cream, whip cream and sprinkles. The last picture in this group is an exact reenactment of the previous picture we took some 8 years ago at the NYC location. I wish I had the picture for comparison sake, but alas, I didn't have a digital camera at the time and I have no idea where that might be in the stack of photo albums store away. Nevertheless, it was a delightful and nostalgic experience and did not disappoint.

We began our celebration of Labor Day with a drive to the Virginia countryside and a leisurely and altogether lovely visit to one of the local vineyards. We sipped through their tasting menu as we chatted with the owners...or actually, I don't think they were the owners, but they were friendly and knowledgable all the same. Once we determined our favorite from the tasting, we selected a bottle, grabbed some glasses and a cheese plate and planted ourselves on the patio for an afternoon of deep conversation, delicious wine and beautiful views of the vineyard. It was one of those moments that you just want to soak in and stay with you for the days to come. I'm so grateful for those couple of hours. It was refreshing and nourishing to my soul. We couldn't stay there all day, though, as we we had places to go and people to see. We managed to capture a few necessary photos (naturally, cartwheels across the lush green grass were essential) before we bid farewell to a beautiful afternoon.

We spent my last night in Virginia soaking up as much quality time as possible. We hit up Reston Town Center for dinner. After a stroll through the rain and capturing our 539th photo opp of the weekend, we selected a dining spot suitable to please our palates. There was seafood, bread and pizza to be had and it was all delicious and made us forgot all about the travesty that was Saturday night...well...almost.

We wrapped up dinner, grabbed our umbrellas and made the soggy trek to Lianna and Ed's apartment for dessert and vino. They welcomed the trio of drowned rats (us) with open arms, warm pumpkin bars, and peanut butter cup ice cream. Pair that with great company and it was the cherry on top of my visit to the east coast.

It was very appropriate that my day of departure was marked with gloomy skies and rain drops 'o plenty. Elisa served as a most generous chauffeur and after a quick seafood lunch, she had me to the aiport in ample time to get in some serious people watching. And just like that I was homebound, singing song of the south and wishing on a star that I could relive every moment (even the epic failure of the pizza). It flew by in the flashiest of flashes, but I know it was only the first of many more...

his promise.

2011-09-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

I think all too often, I'm fixated on the "difficulties" of this life...the disappointments, the hurts, the pain, the rejection. I find myself desperately grasping for some control, some way to ease the suffering, not just for myself, but those around me. My heart cries out, God, you said you have a plan. You said you wouldn't forsake your people. Have you not heard my prayer? Do you not see me on my knees asking you for grace, for healing, for redemption...how long must I wait on you, Oh Lord? Are your promises not true?

And then He bids me to know Him, to know His character as it is described and referenced in scripture. A look at Isaiah reminds me that His promise is not that we might be free from the pain, worry, trouble, discouragement, sickness and destruction of this world, nor the fact that any of these taking place in our lives indicate He is not near or that He is not good. Rather, His promise is that His unfailing love for us will not be shaken. His steadfast love will never cease. It is hard for us to grasp because there is nothing on this earth that is like it.

It is in these moments that He begs us to throw up our hands and surrender and trust that, no matter what, He is our portion. He promises that those who seek Him with all their heart will find Him.

I was reminded of this last night as I drove home. I found my gaze fixated on the most beautiful sky. It wasn't anything terribly special, but I sought to see His hand in that and I found Him. I was amazed as I reflected on the creator of such a glorious creation. One of the psalmists writes that the heavens declare His mighty works. I would say it a little bit differently: creation SCREAMS of God's existence and His infinite and incomprehensible glory. It was upon looking at that sky that I was reminded of His love. To make a comparison, in the same way that I delight in seeing others enjoy something I have made, be it a gift, a delicious treat, a meal, etc. I imagine it the very same way for God. He delights in seeing His children take pleasure in the things He has created.

So I took the time to delight in the sky that He gave me last night and was reminded that He is there and that He cares for me infinitely more than I could every comprehend.

a look into my heart.

2011-08-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25-26

Oh, the Psalms...how I find so much of what I need for any given situation or circumstance in my life. There are praises to lift to God in times of joy and abundance. There are lamentations to cry out during times of trial and valleys of darkness. There are truths to rest upon and hope to cling to when doubt surfaces in my all too human heart.

Lately, I've been finding myself stuck in this glorious book, written mostly by David (the adulterer and murderer who was "after God's own heart," in case anyone is keeping tabs). Despite the richness of the entire Bible, my heart gets pulled into the Psalms and I want to meditate on the same verses that have provided water for my thirsty soul.

It is the verse above that has been my spiritual song, the cry of my heart over the past few weeks. I keep dissecting every word, soaking in each line. The first is a refocus of my perspective, reminding me that there is none (and nothing) I should desire here on earth apart from Christ. How often (as in daily, hourly, and so on) I desire things on earth outside of Christ. How often it can be disguised as something good, but at the root, my heart has shifted away from the Beloved. It has sought my glory, my comfort, justification, vindication, attention, affirmation...it has turned away from the giver in search of the gifts.

However, it is in the next line that a beautiful promise is uncovered: "though my heart and flesh may fail, the Lord is my strength and my portion forever." Though my heart and flesh may fail...it's a given. He already knows. I am human. I will fail. My flesh will take over. The desires of my heart will shift outside of God's will and purpose. I'm not strong enough, but the Lord is my strength. He is my portion. He is waiting with open arms for the prodigal to return. Despite all the ways I fail Him: in my failure to extend grace, in my failure to love well, in my failure to hold my tongue, in my failure to submit myself to sanctification and, well...just in my depraved humanity, He is still there.

He is not weak and He is not lacking. He is my portion. If this is so, why should I desire anything else on earth? Why do I need to be "right?" Why do I need to complicate things? Why do I need to seek that which does not satisfy (Psalm 16:11)? Simple answer: because my heart and flesh fail. Nevertheless, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. As my dear Elisa put it, He is both the light and the way. May I desire no one besides Him.

blessings?

2011-08-29T16:20:00.001-07:00

a forever friend.

2011-08-26T10:18:00.001-07:00

"Cousins are childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends."
-Anonymous

I saw this quote on Lyric's blog (http://muirfam.blogspot.com) and knew I needed to immediately post it to mine. (I hope she doesn't mind.) I've been so unbelievably blessed to grow up to be forever friends with a few of my childhood playmates, namely Christina, Elisa and Lianna. They've seen it all: the bad fashion, bad hair, poor color choices (see below) and know me probably better than I know myself.

We've been together on countless holidays, shared hundreds of meals, made dozens of videos (even as adults), watched (and quoted) the same movies over...and over...and over...

We've toasted many a good time and supported one another through the bad times. Some of my best, most beautiful memories are with all of us together...whether it was celebrating a birthday, looking at the stars, drinking mimosas, cooking a meal together, spending time at the lake or just processing life.

They've showed me tough love when I needed it and cared enough to call me out and have the hard conversations. They've consistently challenged me and have spurred me on towards sanctification. They are constant examples of Christ's incarnate love in my life.

These are truly my forever friends. A life. A love. A fousin. I have been truly blessed with kindred spirits who know every part of me and love me still.

just because.

2011-08-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

Ten points (along with my utmost admiration) for whoever can name the author and context of that quote.

kingsland: the farewell tour.

2011-08-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

The old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Well, the words never rang more true (slightly dramatic) when we (unofficially) said farewell to the lakehouse. (unofficial since it hasn't sold yet)

It was really a picture-perfect weekend at the lake. We enjoyed a quick boat ride shortly upon our arrival. This was followed by a delicious dinner of salmon, salad and beer bread. We toasted yet another glorious sunset with a bottle of prosecco. This was followed by star gazing and homemade strawberry shortcake...a perfect night.

The next day, we woke up early, went to church, grabbed coffee at the local Kingsland Coffee and jumped on the lake for some skiing. I'm not gonna lie. It had been a while since I took the skis out for a spin and I was worried I might be a bit rusty. I was pleasantly surprised to get up on the first go round and enjoy a nice leisurely ski...until my back started hurting and I let go. (knowing full well, at that point, how sore I was going to be the next day) Nevertheless, it was a great way to send the lake out in style and I was smiling from ear to ear the entire ride.

There may or may not have have been a music video (or 2) thrown in there along with multiple rounds of bananagrams, but I'll leave out the evidence for now. We took a few more pics out by the lake before we said goodbye and then headed straight to the Salt Lick. I had heard of this epic barbecue destination for years now, but never made it to the place to try it for myself. It was high time to sample the delights and suffice it to say, I was not disappointed. Not only did we get to eat awesome barbecue, but we also got to take advantage of Salt Lick Cellars: the winery on the property. It was by far the best experience I have had at a winery, thus far. Every single sip I tasted was delicious and unique. I give the winery 2 very enthusiastic thumbs up.

When they called our name, we were more than ready to dig in. We finished the last of our wine and headed into the main dining room to feast on smoked turkey, sausage, ribs, pulled pork, cole slaw, potato salad and bread. We devoured every last bit and I was full to the brim the entire drive home (yes, all the way to Dallas).

As I was driving through the familiar hills of Austin on my way back home, I shed a tear or two. The memories that have been made over the past few years are some of the dearest, most joyful times in my life. When I recall the impromptu dance parties, delicious meals cooked together in the kitchen, countless toasts, new experiences (wineries, concerts, restaurants, etc.), nights spent gazing at the stars, meaningful and intimate conversations where I am reminded of Christ and His love...they are priceless and worth far more than any possession. And so, I leave you with a little banangrams tribute (how very appropriate):

what's the happs?

2011-07-22T10:46:00.001-07:00

Well I've been a terribly inconsistent blogger over the past few weeks/month. It's not that I don't have posts I want to put up. I just simply have not made the time. And truth be told, I'm in the market for a new computer as mine has been on the fritz for about a month. Excuses aside, here's a quick rundown on the happs lately.

Last month, we celebrated Nick's 2nd Annual 29th birthday (AKA his 30th birthday). The weekend was full of festivities which included dinner at Babe's, presents, cake (made specially with a pic of one of his skydiving adventures - Michelle came up with that idea), champagne, swimming, dinner at Mattitos, bowling and more. He definitely took some heat for crossing the bridge from 20's to mid-life (ha ha), but all in all, I think everyone had a great time celebrating.

Father's Day was also that weekend, so we took time out on Sunday to honor the fathers in our lives. Rudy's was on the menu, and let me just forewarn everyone for next year: if you're considering takeout from Rudy's next Father's Day, DON'T. Just don't do it. Get it any other day, but do not go there on Father's day. Anyway, we had a very relaxing day which just involved eating lots of barbecue and watching golf.

Also in June was a girls weekend with Crystal and Meagan. We visited Delaney Vineyards (took the tour and enjoyed the tasting), hung out at Meagan's house, hit up Fort Worth, ate dinner at Reata and had a slumber party. It was such a fun day and so great to be able to spend time with my old high school besties.

Up next was July 4th weekend which included a whole lotta lake time, reading, dancing, eating, swimming, star gazing and firework watching. It was a glorious time with each sunset being more magnificent than the rest. There was homemade apple pie, a rooftop dance party, glow sticks and countless games of banangrams. I savored every minute as it's one of the last weekends I'll have at the lakehouse with my dear fousins. They are about to head 'em up and move 'em out -- right on out to D.C. They will be dearly missed by yours truly, so we had to make the most of every moment.

And finally, I leave you with a couple shots of my loves. I've had the privilege of spending quite a bit of time with these two little stinkers as of late and I've enjoyed every single minute of it. Our dinners to Chick-fil-a have been nothing short of adventurous and I've cherished our couch time where I'm sandwiched between the two of them watching "How to Train Your Dragon" for the 852nd time. Take particular note of the 2nd shot where it appears Meredith is throwing up the deuces...classic.

And there you have it, a warp speed tour of the past couple months. Until we meet again, keep it classy.

feelin' hot hot hot

2011-06-30T14:30:00.001-07:00

I absolutely cannot believe I am typing up a post about my niece's first dance recital. I can think back to my first dance recital. I believe I was 5 or 6 years old. It was patriotic-themed and I wore a sailor hat to boot. That would actually be very appropriate for this weekend, but unfortunately, I haven't a clue where that might be.

But that's not what this is about. This post is about Haylee Grace and her very first full-on performance. She has been in dance classes since last fall and has really enjoyed them (no surprise there). When I heard several months ago that her song was "Ole Ole Ole Ole...feelin' hot hot hot" and then subsequently saw the neon awesomeness that was her costume, I couldn't wait to attend the spring show.

She was as cool as a cucumber prior to her big debut. Thankfully, I managed to get a great pic with her before her "Toddlers and Tiaras-esque" makeover (you will see what I mean). Check out that costume.

Her performance lasted maybe 60-70 seconds at most, but you would not believe how emotional I got. I think I was just overwhelmed with the incomprehensible reality that it was my sister's child up there on stage...it wasn't us...my sister was the parent and I was the aunt. I was certainly not expecting the onslaught of tears that I choked back as I grinned from ear to ear.

After her big debut, we made sure to take about 850 pictures to properly document the momentous occasion. As you can observe in the photos below, a woman with a very heavy hand caked about 8 layers too many of blush, eye shadow and lipstick on our sweet little 4-year-old. I was very taken aback when I first saw her, but luckily, she hasn't requested the look since.

The proud parents also gave their little star a bouquet of beautiful flowers which she absolutely loved. She wanted to carry them around everywhere and proudly displayed them in the pic below.

All in all, it was such a wonderful day and I was thrilled to be able to be a part of Haylee's first recital. I look forward to attending many more performances.

Meredith's 2nd Birthday Fiesta

2011-06-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since we celebrated our little Mere-bear's 2nd birthday, but I wanted to make sure it received proper documentation. Since she not only loves, but closely resembles the back-pack wearing, Spanish-speaking Dora, it was highly appropriate for her to have a Dora-themed birthday party. It was quite the fiesta with all the standards: guacamole, seven-layer dip, chips, black bean & corn dip, salsa and our favorite punch.

Despite the balmy (i.e. crazy hot) temperatures, we spent a lot of time outside with the highlight being the pinata. Some of the "big kids" got in on the action and I can honestly say that a weekly pinata whack might be very therapeutic.

The cake was pretty much a carbon-copy of Haylee's 3rd birthday cake and Meredith loved it so much, she had to get a sneak peak and dove in a little early (notice the icing around her name).

The rest of the day was spent opening presents, grazing on all the yummy snacks and watching Veggie Tales. I can't believe it's already been two years since our little Senorita was born. I still marvel at the fact that I have a dark-hair, dark-eyed niece, but she's perfect in every way and I absolutely love the stark difference. She is a wild one, loves to dance and can be tough to wrangle, but it makes the times she wants to get in your lap and snuggle that much sweeter.

I look forward to this next year in your life, Meredith Hope, and pray for Jesus to be near to you every day.

a proper perspective

2011-06-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

“'You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve,' said Aslan. 'And that is both honor enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content.'”
C.S. Lewis

The quote above is from The Chronicles of Narnia (if you haven't read them, do it) and I can think of no better way to state the perspective we should hold regarding our status as humans created by an all-powerful God. It should destroy false humility and self-condemnation while at the same time put in place the haughty, boastful and self-sufficient.

We were created in His image, descendants of the very first created man and woman. For those with their head down low, rise up and walk in the knowledge that you are a divine creation with infinite worth. For those on the other end of the coin, feeling like we are products of our hard work, somehow above those around us, take heed. We are descendants of sinners who were deceived by the father of lies and thought they could obtain the knowledge of God. Walk in humility knowing that every single breath is a gift from the Father and it is "not by might, nor by power, but by His spirit" that we move, breath and have life.

Be content.

you make me happy when skies are Gray.

2011-06-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago (or has it already been over a month now), I had the joyous pleasure of helping host a baby shower for my dear friend, Kori and her sweet baby boy, Gray Smith. Since Gray was born premature, he had to spend his first month in the NICU and we were helping her get stocked up in the meantime.

I must preface these pictures by being 100% honest in that I did not help at all with the decoration. As you can see, the other hosts did a bang-up job carrying the zoo animal theme throughout and I loved it all.

Since Kori has a serious sweet tooth (it's no wonder we bonded quickly back in high school), the food was all things sugar. There were hello dollies, mini brownies, red velvet cupcakes, gooey bars, thumbprint cookies, mini root beer floats, candies of all kinds, not to mention the adorable tiered cake, delightful blackberry wine cake and chocolate fountain.

Once we had fallen into a diabetic coma, it was time for presents and there was enough loot to keep the new mommy busy for a solid two hours (or quite possibly, more than that). Not only did she get a ton of essentials from her registry (including some hot new items on the market that I had never seen before), she also received some of the cutest little boy clothes I've ever laid eyes on. Kori's friends and family truly outdid themselves and my heart was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love showered (no pun intended) on her and Gray.

It was such a joyful occasion as we celebrated the miracle of Gray's life and the blessing he has already been for Kori, Jon and all who know them. I was so honored to be able to contribute to such a beautiful day.

oh glorious day.

2011-05-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

So this is a touch late, but I still wanted to recap our glorious celebration of Easter Sunday last month.

I was so excited for Ressurrection Sunday, probably more so than ever before. I got to experience a really beautiful Good Friday service which included stations of the cross. It was such an incredible experience and really prepared my heart for the Easter weekend.

Our day started with an Easter hymn and dance party (true story) in the kitchen before we headed to church. After that, we celebrated with grapefruit mimosas and a lovely display of cheeses and appetizers.

Elisa and I dyed about 2 dozen eggs the day before, so we had to get a few pics with our creations. Our basket 'o eggs served as a great centerpiece for our dinner table.

We enjoyed a lovely Easter dinner of beef tenderloin, roasted asparagus, potatoes, salad, bread and wine. After our feast, we took advantage of the beautiful night and sat outside on the back patio for hours.

It was a glorious day, a time for reflection on the hope we have in Christ. There is true freedom in Him when we throw our hands up in surrender and accept His free gift of mercy and grace.

"God has landed on this enemy-occupied world in human form...The perfect surrender and humiliation was undergone by Christ: perfect because He was God, surrender and humiliation because He was man."
-C.S. Lewis: The Case for Christianity

to have and to hold.

2011-05-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

(**Disclaimer: this post is picture-heavy, narrative lacking.)

Several weekends back, we attended the wedding of one of Michelle's oldest friends, Wendy. We actually lived about five houses down from her back in the day and Michelle and her have been friends for probably almost 27-28 years. She happened to be marrying the stepson of John Paul Dejoria (of the Paul Mitchell empire) and the wedding was held at his home in the ATX.

The wedding took place outside with cocktails on the lawn and reception inside a beautiful white tent. I wish I had better photography skills, because the pictures below really do not do it justice.

I made sure to get a good paparazzi shot of the "celeb" host as they made their way down the aisle. Michelle was on bridesmaid duty, so I tried to get some ceremony photos, although it was fairly tricky from my angle.

Cocktails took place on the lawn. They had a variety of cheeses, crackers, local honeycomb(!) and various other passed items to pair with the wine and champagne.

After cocktail hour, it was time to head into the tent for dinner and dancing. The tent was truly spectacular and definitely reminded me of something from "Platinum Weddings." The florals, chandeliers, centerpieces...it was all so lovely. Dinner was equally delicious, but really only served as fuel for the serious dancing that was going to take place.

The band was hot, but we were hotter (as in seriously sweating). I did not want to leave the dance floor, but forced myself to rehydrate when necessary.

Congratulations to the newlyweds and thanks for such a fun party!

eggstravaganza 2011

2011-05-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Since Easter was so late this year, there was plenty of time leading up to Resurrection Sunday in which to dye eggs, make Easter cutout sugar cookies and reflect on the passion of Christ.

First up, there was the 2nd Annual Easter Egg Throwdown: Battle of the Sexes. It was guys vs. girls and the competition was intense. We worked fast and furiously on decorating some 30+ eggs. The guys definitely won points for creativity, but in the end, the girls took home the prize and after looking at the pics, I think you'll see why.

And just in case I didn't get my fill of egg decorating, the very next day was spent with my favorite four-year-old. Miss Haylee Grace and I decorated our own Easter eggs (complete with tons of princess stickers because nothing says Christ's death and resurrection like a Cinderella sticker). They weren't exactly on par with the previous night's creations, but we had fun together. After our adventures in coloring eggs, we made a few Easter cookie cutouts. As usual, Haylee's cookies were more of a vehicle through which she could consume about 1/2 cup of sprinkles per cookie, but can you blame her?

Up next, I'll recap a wedding fit for hair care royalty (literally) and our celebration of Resurrection Sunday!

good friday reflections

2011-04-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

“The highest act of love is the giving of the best gift, and, if necessary, at the greatest cost, to the least deserving. That’s what God did. At the loss of His Son’s life to the totally undeserving, God gave the best gift – the display of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.”
John Piper

"The Cross was the manifestation of Divine love without reserve or limit."
Sir Robert Anderson

"No one [Jesus] ever deserved suffering less, yet received so much...no one has ever had a greater right to retaliate, but used it less...no one has ever borne so much injustice with so little vengeance."
John Piper

"The devil has convinced so many people that they are worthless. Each of us needs to stop and remember the cross—at the cross we will discover our true value— for it is here that we discover the price God was willing to pay for us, the depth of His love, and how much we are worth to Him."
Roy Lessin

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Jesus Christ - John 11:25&26

"We cannot worship the suffering God today and ignore him tomorrow. We cannot eat and drink the body and blood of the passionate and compassionate God today, and then refuse to live passionately and compassionately tomorrow. If we say or sing, as we so often do, 'Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit', we thereby commit ourselves, in love, to the work of making his love known to the world that still stands so sorely in need of it. This is not the god the world wants. This is the God the world needs."
N.T. Wright

"He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less."
C.S. Lewis

"In the bonds of Death He lay Who for our offence was slain; But the Lord is risen to-day, Christ hath brought us life again, Wherefore let us all rejoice, Singing loud, with cheerful voice, Hallelujah!"
Martin Luther

"When we learn to read the story of Jesus and see it as the story of the love of God, doing for us what we could not do for ourselves--that insight produces, again and again, a sense of astonished gratitude which is very near the heart of authentic Christian experience."
N.T. Wright

"The point is not that the resurrection is the price paid for our sins. The point point is that the resurrection proves the death of Jesus is an all-sufficient price. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then his death was a failure, God did not vindicate his sin-bearing achievement, and we are still in our sins."
John Piper commenting on 1 Corinthians 15:17

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

"The resurrection completes the inauguration of God's kingdom. . . . It is the decisive event demonstrating thet God's kingdom really has been launched on earth as it is in heaven. The message of Easter is that God's new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you're now invited to belong to it."
N.T. Wright

better late than never?

2011-04-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

So last month, I celebrated the birthdays of two very important people in my life: my dear old Dad and my dear friend (for ~20 years now) Cryssie. I could just let it be and move forward with the blog, but it wouldn't be right so here's the brief recap.

Crystal's birthday was an all day (and all night for that matter) extravaganza that started and ended with wine. We met at Meagan's house and our driver (AKA Bryan) drove us to three different wineries. Moderation was the order of the day and I had the strategy down for the most part.

After our grand tour of Grapevine, we headed back to Meagan and Bryan's for more...wine...and food, of course. The spread was extensive and I think we grazed for about a solid four hours. We also spent some time outside by the fire pit and by the end of the night, most of us received back adjustments, free of charge, from Dr. Freeland. It was such a fun day (and night) to have the fab-4 all together. It felt like high school all over again and I loved every minute of our time.

The very next weekend, we celebrated the life of Mr. Charles Michael, AKA the pops. He requested a very specific cake, and since I don't disappoint, I delivered on a coconut cake with a lemon curd filling and 7-minute icing. It was definitely touch and go there for a while, but it turned out pretty good (if I do say so myself).

But we didn't just eat cake. We also had some delicious barbeque and opened presents.

Cheers to blessed years for both of the birthday peeps!

in memoriam of smith randle.

2011-04-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, a group of Kori and Jon's friends and family participated in a 5K walk to support March of Dimes and to honor the life of sweet Smith Randle.

The walk was held at White Rock Lake and it couldn't have been a more perfect day. The sun was shining. The temperature was perfect and the wind had actually died down to something less than the tornadic levels we've been experiencing on almost a daily basis.

Three of the girls in my community group joined me in supporting the cause. I am overwhelmed at their love and support for friends of mine they had never met. It was such an example of what it means to be a Christ-follower who show compassion even to strangers. If any of you are reading, thank you for showing me Christ through your actions.

Once we made it to the actual race location, there were so many people there, but we found our group right when we walked up. The event was huge and even had Kelly Clarkson as a celebrity sponsor (Go Kelly).

I'll be the first to say this was my kind of "race." We were dancing, taking pictures, chatting with others on the team, all the while raising money that will be put towards preventing pre-term deaths. All along the way were banners and signs detailing the progress March of Dimes has made and all that their funds/research have accomplished. Amidst all the heartbreaking "in memory of" signs, that was so encouraging because it means that there might be one less sign next year.

Oh, and who's that I spy in the white cap? Well that's none other than Kelly Clarkson. We became fast friends and are having dinner next week.

Before we knew it, we were crossing the finish line and cracking up because we (of maybe it was just me) were already sore. All the walking worked up a huge appetite and we devoured a late brunch promptly after our intense race.

I was so happy I got to be a part of Team Smith Randle to honor his brief but purposeful life. Selfishly, I wish we could have enjoyed his life here on this earth, but I know He is safe, free of suffering, in the presence of Jesus Christ who conquered death so that we might live.

by reader request.

2011-04-06T15:09:00.000-07:00

To my one reader out there, Emily, this one's for you! I promised you a recipe for sugar cookies and I'm a girl of my word. I've used this a couple times (modified from www.myrecipes.com) and seem to have success in terms of the cookies keeping their shape upon baking and the dough not being too sticky. Obviously, you can 1/2 the recipe of your not baking for a family of 15 as this will produce a fair amount of cookies.

Simple Sugar Cookies

Ingredients
1 C (1/2 lb.) butter, at room temperature
2 C sugar
2 eggs
1 T milk
1 t vanilla
5 C all-purpose flour
4 t baking powder
1/2 t salt

Directions:
1. In a bowl, with an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and sugar until smooth and light. Beat in eggs, milk, and vanilla until well blended, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.

2. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir or beat into butter mixture until blended. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 2 hours, or up to 3 days.

3. Unwrap dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough out, a portion at a time, to about 3/8 inch thick. Cut with a 3- or 4-inch round cutter and place cookies slightly apart on buttered or cooking parchment-lined 12- by 15-inch baking sheets.

4. Bake cookies in a 350° oven until edges are golden, 10 to 14 minutes; cool completely before icing.

I just make my icing with powdered sugar, dash of milk and a touch of vanilla. In terms of colors, the sky's the limit. Give it a try and make some Easter cookies. Who doesn't want to eat delicious eggs, baby chicks and bunnies...in cookie form, of course.

my daily prayer.

2011-04-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

-Saint Francis

my so-called life.

2011-03-24T18:06:00.000-07:00

So what's the happs these days, you might ask. Well, my so-called life has been pretty busy, work included, leaving me with not a whole heap of a lot of time to blog. I could just throw my hands up in the air and forget about retroactive updates, but I'll try to give you a brief synopsis...so here goes nothin'.

The south experienced not one, not two, but like forty-five snow/ice storms this past winter leaving me to work from home multiple days and I'll be the first to say, stir crazy doesn't even begin to cover my feelings during snowmageddon/lockdown. Apparently, we now have a real winter and the following is documentation.

Just as soon as the streets were cleared, I headed out of town on a little business trip to the Big Apple. Would you believe the weather was actually warmer up there than down in tejas? I felt like a real adult, traveling for work, and my trip was absolutely perfect from start to finish. There were dinners with friends, glasses of bubbly, coffees from Dean & Deluca, cupcakes from Crumbs, salads from Cosi (oh how I miss thee), walks in the park, rides on the subway, several trips to H&M...oh, and I did work at our NY offices, but that was a minor detail. I had a marvelous time and I really did not want to leave...

The very next weekend I headed down to the ATX for the 3rd (or was it 4th) annual fousin Valentine's weekend. We hit up the flagship Whole Foods for a wine tasting extravaganza, had tapas and wine at Malaga, dined on a fabulous brunch at South Congress Cafe and enjoyed great conversation throughout.

The following weekend was the baptism of my dear friend Hailey's son, Mr. Bryce Camden. It was only the second time I had seen this precious little love and I was so glad I got to be there. All her friends and family attended the service and then gathered together for a fun brunch at The Pub just down the street from the picturesque church. It was such a beautiful day of celebration and my heart is overjoyed for the blessing this baby has already been.

So that's it for now, dear reader. I still have some addendums on this, but I'll wrap this up for now as I grow weary of waiting for these blasted pictures to upload. Until we meet again...

it is well with my soul.

2011-03-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

I almost hesitate posting at all, but I will not let my pride get the best of me. My pride would say that I don't have the proper words to articulate my sentiments in the most eloquent or deserving manner, but I will go ahead and issue the disclamimer that my words are a mere trifle compared to the life and love I wish to reflect on.

This morning, March 22, 2011, Mazie Lawrence (Grandma) passed away or rather, her living soul left her earthly body.

I shall keep this brief and simply say her life was one marked by selfless, unconditional love. In her actions, words and faith, it seemed the things of this world were not merely superfluous but almost not even thought of. Her character was utterly devoid of vanity and materialism. Though she never had much, she always had more than enough for everyone else, be it neighbors, friends, family, friends of friends, priests and the list goes on. She made a mean brisket and her roast was legendary, but I think I will remember her kisses to everyone that came through her door even more than her unmatched skills in the kitchen.

I could go on but I will close with saying she was an excellent example of dying to self to allow Christ to live through her. She loved her neighbor like herself and I know her reward will be great in God's kingdom.

Romans 8:17-1917 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

in Christ alone

2011-03-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

"So come, my soul, come and let us go to God by self-abandonment. Let us acknowledge that we are incapable of becoming holy by our own efforts, and put our trust in God, who would not have taken away our ability to walk unless he was to carry us in his arms."
-Abandonment to Divine Providence

I am stealing this quote from my dear cousin, Elisa. It resonated so strongly with me when she passed it along to me last week. I've been meaning to post it on my blog, but alas, life has happened and time simply got away from me.

Nevertheless, I thought this quote was a marvelous thought to meditate on as we have entered the holy season of Lent. No matter what we are giving up, fasting from or sacrificing, we are absolutely incapable of becoming holy on our own efforts. As Paul reminds us, we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, so that NO man may boast.

Please do not misunderstand or misconstrue my thoughts into one who does not participate in Lent or believe in the spiritual disciplines that bring us closer to God. Nothing could be further from the truth. However, as someone who has struggled with the idea that His grace is sufficient, that I am forgiven and that I am fully loved exactly where I am at this very moment, I find it necessary to reflect on the gospel and fundamental certainty that it is no longer I, but Christ who lives in me that allows me to receive salvation. For "I know there is nothing good that lives in me, that is in my sinful nature, for I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out" (Romans 8). Praise God for His saving grace.

"No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

where would I be without my Savior?

2011-02-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

The following was a little write-up from yesterday's "Join the Journey" which is basically just a daily devotional from Watermark designed to corporately "journey" through specific books of the Bible. It really spoke to my heart, so I thought I would share:

A song by Patrick Ryan Clark called "Where Would I Be Without My Savior?" keeps running through my head. Part of the chorus declares, "Where would I be without His unending mercy? I have life because His life was laid down."

God is absolutely perfect; so all my imperfections (sins) separate me from Him.

God is absolutely just; so my sins must be dealt with and not simply ignored.

But God is also absolutely loving; so He was willing to suffer and die in my place (and yours)!

What we must do is to admit we need a Savior and accept His free gift of grace. No matter what your life looked like in the past, God's love and forgiveness can and will save you if you choose to believe.

I am immediately directed to 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God." A love so amazing, so incomprehensible...it is no wonder many find it difficult, if not impossible to accept this free gift, but it is the only thing worth living for.

I do not know where I would be without His redemptive love and the knowledge that His grace is sufficient and His mercies are new every morning.

music and passion were always in fashion...

2011-02-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

At the Copa, Copa Cabana. Last month (yes, I'm behind), we had our big company holiday bash which was dubbed the "Copa Cabana." It was to celebrate a very successful 2010 and served as a great excuse to get dressed up, have a little bubbly and get down on the dance floor.

The classy affair was held across the street from the Winspear Opera House and the venue was designed to be super swanky and very chic. There were little lounges set up throughout the room with all white couches and decor. The night started with cocktails and casino tables, but I wasn't so interested in "rolling the dice." I enjoyed some champagne, nibbled on the food spread and got to chat with my cousin, Molly!

Once the poker tables were put to rest, the band cranked up and the real party got started. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that the dance floor was on fire. It was a really fun group and the band could very well be the best I've heard. They really sounded like every artist they played and interacted with the crowd. I tore it up and may or may not have done a dramatic interpretation of "Bad Romance."

Before leaving the fiesta, we took advantage of the photo booth they had set up for all the party goers. I wish I had our pictures scanned, but maybe I'll update this post once I do. They are a sight for sore eyes as the photo booth was stocked with various props, hats, sunglasses, etc.

All in all, it was a really fun night and the "music and passion were (definitely) in fashion...at the Copa, Copa Cabana!!"

unspeakable joy.

2011-01-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

I interrupt this blog to post a picture that fills my heart with joy that's overflowing.

To some of you, it may just seem like any other picture, but to me, it's so much more. On the one hand, it brings me unspeakable joy to see Haylee embracing her role as an older sister. For those of you who don't know, she wasn't exactly ecstatic to have to share the family's affections when Meredith came along. Slowly but surely, she has begun to come around and I know she will cherish their relationship as the years go by.

But...on the other hand, when I look at this picture, I see my older sister, Michelle (played by Haylee), pushing me (played by a much darker haired Meredith). It almost brings me to tears because in a strange way, I am getting to view myself as a child (hang with me here). When I look at them, I can't help but compare them to my sister and me. I go back to those innocent days as a carefree child...it is such a sweet moment.

for auld lang syne.

2011-01-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

Well well well, it's nearing the end of January and I've finally decided to put up my new year's post. Gosh, what can I say? 2011 has been busy and/or I've been rather slothful in regards to my blog. Nevertheless, better late than never, so here is a brief recap of bidding adieu to 2010 and ringing in 2011.

My New Year's Eve consisted of a "Decades Party," i.e. come dressed as your favorite decade. I went with the old standby of my 20s flapper-esque motif...if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Approximately 70-75% of the guests may or may not have been party crashers who happened to have no clue it was a costume party, so I was definitely in the minority, but I always love an excuse to dress up so I wasn't too concerned. It was a fairly standard shindig, not too much to note, but let's be honest with ourselves, who can actually count one of their new year's eves among one of the most memorable nights of their life? Feel free to comment.

Moving on, my new year's day was actually quite delightful and more than made up for my rather mediocre new year's eve. It started off with a mimosa brunch that lasted well into the afternoon. There was quiche, monkey bread, scones, muffins, yogurt parfaits with fruit and granola...we sipped and nibbled for the better part of five hours. There might also have been a few rousing rounds of Catchphrase and our other favorite party game which involves a combination of charades, taboo and catch phrase. We have yet to give it a name, but we definitely need to do that at some point. Either way, it was a perfect way to spend the first morning/afternoon of 2011.

But the day didn't stop there. We (Crystal and myself) kept the good times rolling and headed to Meagan and Bryan's for a little wine tasting and game night. Always the party animal, Meagan's Grandma from Wisconsin joined in on the fun and proved to be quite the feisty competitor in Scene It...really strange since the Cavanaugh aren't at all competitive - ha ha. We finally called it a night somewhere around 3 AM that morning and I was beyond wiped for the better part of the next day. I just can't hang like I used to...

All in all, it was a top-notch way to start off the new year. I have every faith in the world it is going to be a great year and I look forward to everything God has in store for 2011. Cheers!!!

a new creation.

2011-01-12T11:36:00.000-08:00

I felt prompted to share the lyrics to a song that has really touched me over the past couple weeks. I encourage you to read the truths below and ask Christ to allow them to penetrate your heart.

You Are More - Tenth Avenue North

There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide

She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"

But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try

But don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to
(editor's note: I REALLY like this bridge - gosh, it's so not about our past indiscretions and stained history. It's about what Christ did for us...)

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You've been remade.

a slice of humble pie.

2011-01-06T08:19:00.000-08:00

"Don't imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call 'humble' nowadays: he won't be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who's always telling you that, of course, he's nobody. Probably all you'll think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him, it will be because you feel a bit envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He won't be thinking about himself at all. There I must stop. If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you're not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed."
-C.S. Lewis

"The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life: In himself, nothing; In God, everything. He knows well that the world will never see him as God sees him and he has stopped caring."
-A.W. Tozer

"We'd like to be humble...but what if no one notices?"
-John Ortberg

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less."
-C.S. Lewis

"Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but it screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition."
-Richard Foster

"Whatever makes us feel superior to other people, whatever tempts us to convey a sense of superiority, that is the gravity of our sinful nature, not grace."
-Phillip Yancey

Actually, forget the slice, just go ahead and give me the whole pie. Pride has been on my mind a LOT over the past 6 months or so and it is actually a topic we're discussing in my community group. The more we discuss, the more I'm painfully aware of my affliction of pride.

The quotes above really hit the nail on the head and serve as a great reminder of what humility looks like. I especially like the specific line: it's not "thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less." Those who are humble don't walk around with their head down, telling others how they are so inferior to everyone else. They simply don't speak of themselves at all.

Have you ever met a truly humble person? They listen to your every word, ask insightful questions, desire to know you, don't interrupt (that's coming from the queen of interruptions - yikes). It is positively refreshing and downright irresistible...probably one of the most attractive qualities.

So what's the prescription to treat a prideful heart? Hmmm...great question. Our book suggests serving others and I concur (in my ever so humble opinion - ha ha) that it's a great start. Why not look to the perfect example, Jesus Christ, as our instructor on living a humble life? Yes, as depraved humans, we will never be "like Christ," but if we are "followers of Christ," then we should follow His example. He came not to be served, but to serve and He humbled Himself (being the supreme and divine Creator of the universe) in a way we cannot even comprehend.

blog shoutout

2011-01-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know I have already sang its praises in the past, but I can't help sharing this particular article I just read on the Art of Manliness.

http://artofmanliness.com/2011/01/02/becoming-superhuman-in-2011/

The gist of the article is summed up in the conclusion (written by Brett and Kate McKay):
"People always want to know-what is manliness? As I’ve said before, my definition is really quite simple: striving for excellence and virtue in all areas of your life and fulfilling your full potential as a man. It mean stretching yourself, testing yourself, and ever seeking to become everything you can be. That’s what embracing the Art of Manliness is all about: improving every area of your life-big and small-learning the know-how to be confident and competent in every situation and the knowledge to live life more fully. Living the Art of Manliness is about wanting to be more than the average guy, and striving to be a superhuman man."

I know I am not a male, nor striving for "manliness," but this is such a solid place for direction in a world so void of male instruction. For the most part, there is little to no guidance for men who are looking to be real men. While not being overtly or outright spiritual, it is pretty clear where the author is seeking his wisdom and ultimate moral structure. I so appreciate his writings and his mission behind the website and encourage you to read the full article.