9.30.2009

Excited about November!



I've got to say that today has been a great day! November might be my favorite month of this year because......
Sarah is going to come and visit the Big D for her Bday November 19-22, and then mom and I are going to go to Austin and stay at a sweet hotel downtown! It really couldn't get any better than that. I cannot wait to plan the itineraries for these two trips!

I have no idea where to even begin with what to do with Sarah while she is here. There are like a million things I want to do, but, I'm going to have to narrow it down. Be sure that we will Brunch, Walk, talk and read and coffee shops, and eat again =) I can't wait!!




Mom and I will definitely be relaxing, kayaking, eating, and hiking while we are in Austin! It's going to be amazing.

So.. if you've ever been to Austin, what do you recommend that we do?!?!

9.28.2009

2 yrd old Challenge


I spent this weekend with one of the cutest 2 yr olds you have ever seen... my niece Ana. It was so much fun! I think my brother was a little nervous with how it would go, but fear not, it was as smooth as it could've gone.

I love kids, especially my nieces, so it is a privilege when I get to spend time with them. Not to mention, there is something really sweet about spending time with little kids. It's so good to see their perspective on life. I was constantly reminded this weekend that God is so much bigger than I sometimes make him to be.

My favorite part of this weekend:
I have this "secret room" in my house that Ana loved to play in. On Saturday, we went in there and we closed the door and sat on the floor. The first thing Ana says is: "Aunt Ninny I think we should pray." So what do we do? Pray. Ana prayed for about 5 minutes and I'm not kidding it was like the most powerful prayer. She is an annointed baby =) But it's so for real. Child like faith... I need more of that!

9.25.2009

A Few Things


1. The Rebels played terrible last night. I was so mad when the game was over. However, I'm going to believe that the best is yet to come for our team. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that we lost. We've got a lot of catching up to do.

2. The redemptive part of my night was that I made some amazing banana bread. My first experience of making bread actually. I was impressed with myself =)




3. I went on a run this morning and it was COLD. Yes, cold. It was amazing! I'm going to love Texas in the Fall!

4. I get to watch my niece this weekend while Brian and Luci have a little get away weekend. It's going to be so fun with me and my little two year old.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

9.20.2009

Weekend Wrap Up.


We had such an amazing weekend.. really. It was so great! Miss Beth, Miss Kay, and Priscilla did an amazing job teaching 10,000 of us the things has God has laid on each of their hearts. There were so many highlights from the weekend:


1. I got to meet my new friend Sara Swenson who is Vonnette Bright's assistant. She and I will be spending some quality time together soon in Jackson Hole. I also got to hang out with my dear friend Michelle, who is Beth's assistant. We have formed a little assistant group and it is so fun. Actually they already had one and they just let me join in. I can't wait until we have our trip to Jackson Hole in November. Here is a pic of the group, minus Sally:



2. Pam Case made me laugh on several occasions this weekend, but at one point she was stuck in between two doors helping me carry Jude's pack-n-play to a different room. Hilarious!

3. Last night Michelle, Sara, and Paige Greene and I went and got the most AMAZING dessert and coffee at this cute little restaurant. It was homemade chocolate chip cookies with a scoop of ice cream. It was to DIE for! We had so much fun hanging out and catching up on all of our lives and our different adventures.

4. And of course, the conference in itself was so neat. It really is a time of refreshment and encouragement. I also got to see some dear friends, The Schmidts, and went to church and lunch with them this morning.

Such a fun weekend! I love my job!

9.17.2009

Orlando



I get to go to this place tomorrow. Ok, so I'm not really going to Disney World. BUT, we are going to Orlando for our second Deeper Still Conference of the year. The Lifeway team has decided that we are all going to have Disney code names for this weekend. Guess what mine is?.....

TIGER LILY. I can't not be Tiger Lily. I was, after all, Tiger Lily in Peter Pan my junior year of high school and it was by far one of my favorite memories of high school. Once the weekend begins I'll let you know who Jerry and Priscilla are.. hilarious!

It's going to be a good time. Will keep you posted. Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

9.16.2009

Rochester,MN

Man, I really miss blogging. It seems there just isn't much time for it these days with all of my traveling and work. But, I couldn't pass up telling you about this weekend.

I went to be with a friend on Saturday who is having some health problems and really needs some answers. Let me just say that Mayo Clinic is the place to be if you are having health problems. This place is like Medical Magical World. It's in a small little town in Rochester, MN and it is actually a really neat little area. These doctors are committed to you and getting you better, and it's a wonderful place to be.

Ellen and I could not have had more perfect weather and better time together. I went running in the mornings and it was about 60 degrees - amazing! We ate out for every single meal.. seriously. We had amazing omelette's in the mornings and sushi and salmon at all these little quaint restaurants for dinner. She is by far one of the biggest blessings in my life and I soak up every chance I get to spend with her. Ever since I was 11 years old she has discipled and encouraged me, given me wisdom when I need it most, and just believes in me. We all need an "Ellen" in our lives. It was the least I could do to go and spend a few days with her while she got all of her testing done. I wish I could've stayed longer. But we are praying for answers and healing!

I don't even know how many random cities I've been to at this point in the year, but Rochester is definitely another adventure added to the list. Next stop: Orlando, FL!

9.08.2009

23 in Mississippi

What is that you say? That is my watch set to run 24 miles. My brother and I set out Sunday morning to run our last long run before the actual marathon on October 11 in Chicago. We were in Memphis/Olive Branch this weekend visiting family so it was a little harder to choose a running route. We decided to run down Goodman Road which basically goes from Olive Branch to Southaven. What is crazy is that we ran from Olive Branch to Southaven and back AND THEN SOME. I forget how far 24 miles really is.

All that to say, we set out at 5:00am, encountered a drunk woman getting pulled over at about 5:30am, saw several dead animals, saw the first planes for the day landing at the airport around 7:00am, made a few rest stops, and ended up back at our house at mile 21 with three more miles to run. By that time it was already 9:20 and we had to leave soon for church. So, we ended up running two more miles and called it a day. I think we pretty much get the idea of what it's going to be like to run 26 miles =) I feel like I have been preparing for this race for a LONG time and I am so anxious and ready for it to be here.

I'm amazed by the fact that I can actually say I have run that far. I never thought I would be able to say it and make it through not getting injured. I really think it's because of our training program, thanks to Jeff Galloway. I highly recommend his running techniques to people who run a lot or want to train for a marathon.

My brother will be running with the American Cancer Society. You can check out his story here.

Only 5 more weeks and it will all be over. I can't wait til race day!!

9.04.2009

Rebels


I am SO excited for football to kick off this weekend! I love Fall for so many reasons... But football games are by fay my favorite! I can only go to one or two Ole Miss games this year, but you better believe I'm going to find all the Rebels in Dallas and watch the games with them! I can't wait for us to win the SEC Championship this year ;)

GO REBELS!

9.02.2009

Wait on the Lord

My little devotional I read this morning was so good I thought I would share:

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart.

Have you not known? Have you not heart? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

The testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

Ps 27:14; Isa. 40:28-29; Isa. 41:10; Isa. 25:4; James 1:3-4; Heb. 10:35-36