Newlywed Retreat

This weekend, James and I went with our Sunday School class to Round Top for a newlywed retreat. The property, Round Top Retreat Center, was every southern girl's dream. Our speakers, Steve and Debbie Wilson of Marriage Matters Now ministry were so anointed and AMAZING!!! I don't think I've ever seen a sweeter or more in love couple. Their passion for God and building marriages God's way amazed me.

It was just so nice to get away for the weekend. To not be on the internet all day. To not have the TV on all day. To just be away from city life and sounds for a still time in the country. Much needed for the both of us!

We learned so much during the retreat. If you want to know more about what God did in me personally, ask me, and I'd love to share!

One thing I did love hearing this weekend was to remember why we fell in love with each other. We've only been married 6 and a half months, but I already needed a reminding to be reminded. I know I love my husband, but I don't often think to remember the many reasons why.

When I got home and woke up from my nap, I honestly was pretty bummed to realize that it's back to reality for us. Not in Round Top anymore. Not at a beautiful retreat center. Not about to go to the conference room to be poured into by Jesus loving people that know "Marriage Matters Now."

I know I shouldn't be bummed that I'm back to the real world. I know the big picture of the weekend was to teach us to remain connected and cling to each other in real life. Sometimes, it takes a little getaway to get back to what's really important in life. I'm excited to live out what we learned.

If you ever get a chance to be ministered to by Steve and Debbie Wilson, take it! And pray for James and I to always be crazy in love. With our God and with each other.:)

Join the Bone Marrow Registry

This is so close to the heart of my family and me:) Join!!!

Grab a Shaq Video Widget

Hook 'Em Horns!

We recently got a new vacuum cleaner. Here it is!:)

8 years ago today....

8 years ago today, I remember being woken up from a nap by my dad. I remember his words clearly, "They think Laura has cancer." I didn't understand. I never would've imagined someone so close to me being diagnosed with cancer, especially not my 22 year old sister. She was in San Marcos at the time finishing her senior year at Southwest Texas State University.

I got out of bed and went to the living room where my dad was. I remember looking out the window as I soaked it all in. I wondered why her and not me? She was the one with all the big dreams. It wasn't long until a peace came over me. At the exact same time, my dad said a peace came over him. Her friend Jhonathan called at that time as well saying he felt a peace. Obviously this peace was a gift from God, and He was allowing us all to experience it.:)

I remember my mom coming home early that day and calling her sister. My grandma and my mom drove 2 and a half hours to San Marcos. An ambulance was bringing my sister to Houston straight to MD Anderson. My mom would do anything for her family, and she was going to do whatever it took to get to her first born.

It wasn't until the next afternoon that I saw my sister. As she was wheeled into a room at MD Anderson, I turned my head so I could stop the tears from streaming down my face. Then the doctor came in with those horrifying words that none of us will ever forget, "You have acute mylogenous leukemia." We cried. Laura wanted to be left alone.

The rest of that year was challenging. She went on to have chemotherapy while she was in isolation for about 40 days. My mom was at the window outside her room everyday, watching her daughter. She was only allowed to go in the isolation room once during that time to cry with my sister. As we all know, there is nothing like the bond of a mother and a daughter:)

I watched my sister try to take that IV pole and walk straight out of that isolation room. I watched my sister get a bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor. I watched my sister lose her hair. I watched my sister experience the effects of chemotherapy, vomiting through the night.

Through it all, I saw many prayers get answered and all our faith grow.

I don't talk about this often, and I went through a lot of emotions blogging about it. Today, I have a heart full of praise to our Saving King, Jesus Christ who chose to heal my sister. I also remain forever proud of my sister, the biggest fighter I know. Still with her big dreams. And now a cancer survivor.

Challenged!

James and I have had such an enjoyable weekend. We got to spend more time together than we normally do because he decided to take some much deserved time off of work. Our weekend highlights were going shopping on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. We are still using all our gift cards we received as gifts at our wedding. I'm going to miss those when they are gone!!:)

This morning, we went to church, and the message was sooo powerful. Pastor Greg told us to picture ourselves at the zoo, kneeling next to a lion that licks our face. Then he told us to picture the same thing, but with a lamb. Then he asked the question- which gave you more grace? Pastor Greg challenged us to know Jesus as Lion so we can better understand Him as Lamb. He challenged us to walk into our workplaces and have the vibe changed for the better. We are really enjoying our new church, and I love that the pastor is so bold.

I've also been challenged this weekend by two blogs that I recently found (http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog and http://www.womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/).

I was particularly challenged by the homemaking posts. Courtney from Women Living Well reminded us that creation is a reflection of God, as is true with our homes-they are a reflection of us. She asked of us- What does your home express about you? Ours is sooo unorganized and has been that way since the day we both moved in. It has remained that way for 4 months! I'm finally tired of the messiness and disorganization, and I want my home to be a pleasant place to be.

Courtney also did a blog series on the Proverbs 31 woman. One entry was focused on working with eager hands. This challenged me and gave me the desire to be excited about my priviledge of maintaining our home. I am so the complainer about household chores, and I am so ready for that to change! Of course, I plan to apply this challenge to my work life as well. Maybe I will try to apply it to all areas that I tend to complain in. I'm pumped and ready for the challenge!

Lord of all creation...of water, earth and sky

James and I were blessed by his family with a trip to California with them last week. We saw so many things, but I still hope to go back someday because there is so much more that I want to see! My highlights were probably going to Laguna Beach and seeing the Hollywood letters.


The sunset at Laguna Beach was hands down the most beautiful I've ever seen.




As close of a spot that we could find to the Hollywood letters

My God will supply ALL your needs

It can be so easy to look at someone else's life and think that they have so much more than you. It can be a struggle to keep from wondering why you don't have more. It's not that I'm not happy and excited for other people when they are blessed. But I have wondered- Where's my job? Where's my bigger house? Where's my extra money to put in savings? It's even more difficult when OTHER people are asking these questions ABOUT you!

God has been teaching me lately that He will and He does meet all my needs. God alone. Anything I don't have is not a need. Anything I do need, God will supply. That truth frees me:)

I like what God sees as my needs:)

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19