iPhone Photos

I'm really bad about taking pictures with my iPhone, and then not doing anything with them. So here are a bunch of photos taken over the past month or two -- just a snapshot of our lives as of late. I'm also getting ready to post all our photos from the holidays and such. Finally.

Photo of the Year

No description necessary.

This photo of Aaron and Abby on the Great White at Sea World makes me laugh out loud.

2013: Trust

As the new year begins, I am both resisting and embracing the return of routine and life as usual. I've thoroughly enjoyed the last 2-3 weeks of being "off" work, hanging out with the family, and being lazy and such. But I always love a fresh start -- a new year, new possibilities, and new challenges -- and I'm ready to dive in.

The past few years, I've been inspired by friends to pray and find one word -- one goal -- that God has for them for the year. I've been privileged to walk alongside these friends and watch God work amazing things in their lives as they regularly seek him out and follow his leading in these areas of their lives. I've thought about doing the same in the past couple of years, but never really took the time to do it. This year, I prayed and for several days I didn't really hear much. But a few nights ago, I was laying in bed praying, thinking, and I very distinctly heard God say, "TRUST."

TRUST (noun): The assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

TRUST (verb): To place confidence in. 

This is something I did not do well in 2012. In my personal life, I was anything but trusting. [I hate to admit it, but] I doubted God at nearly every turn. There were times where my doubt caused me to press in to God more, but also times where my doubt was not healthy. There were times I even became angry. I did not trust that He had my best interests at heart. I wanted something different, and, as I look back on 2012, in many ways it was not very fruitful (spiritually, personally, business-wise). God is showing me how much time I spent depending on myself, doing it my way, internally pitching a fit because things may not have gone the way I wanted to. It was pretty ugly.

So in 2013, I'm trusting in Him -- the God who sees the big picture, the Father who loves me dearly, the Spirit who is more than able to lead me moment by moment down the path laid out for me -- and so far, I have already been amazed at His faithfulness and the peace He gives.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

Do you have a word or a resolution for 2013?

Caedmon's Call

Anyone who knows me well at all knows that I love love LOVE Caedmon's Call. I love their musical style (particularly in the old days) and how their lyrics are deep, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual. All of their albums contain wonderful gems of truth and delight, but these two albums have always been my favorite...

• Caedmon's Call - This CD was the soundtrack to my high school years. I loved it. This album was the sound of me driving to youth group in my car, driving through the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Yellowstone National Parks, and summers spent babysitting the Engle boys.
• 40 Acres - This CD was the other soundtrack to my years in high school and starting college. It is also a fabulous road trip soundtrack (particularly on stretches of long Texas highways). I've played this album more than any music I've ever owned.

Here are a few (of many) songs that have been significant to me over the years...

• Where I Began, 40 Acres - I get something new and challenging nearly every time I listen to this song (and I've been listening to it  close to 15 years!). I always find it a poignant portrait of our relationship with God. I don't suppose I'll type the whole song, but every part gets to me. "But the one thing I can't get over now is the force of your will, Here I am again back where I began, and try as I may, I can't get away from you."
• Coming Home, Caedmon's Call - this is another song that has just spoken to me time and time again throughout the years. God's call for us to present ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) is tough. The lyrics (not to mention the powerful vocals) paint such a vivid picture of what this struggle is like. "You say you want a living sacrifice, well I am a burnt offering, crawling off the altar and back into the fire; and with my smoke filled lungs I cry out for freedom, but I keep chaining myself to my rotting desires; and I hate the stench, but I've swallowed the key, and with it stuck in my throat, can you hear me? I'm coming home, I'm coming home!"
• Faith My Eyes, 40 Acres - This was sort of my theme song during the six months I spent in New Zealand. After dreaming of traveling the world, and finally realizing that dream, I realized how hard it can be to be away from family and good friends. I faced doubts I'd never faced before and feelings that I'd never anticipated. This song encouraged me so much during those six months and pushed  me to pursue God in a way I never had before. "Keep on coming, these lines on the road, and keep me responsible, be it a light or heavy load, and keep me guessing, are these blessings in disguise? And I'll walk with grace my feet, and faith my eyes..."
• Mistake of my Life, Long  Line of Leavers - In high school and the first semester of college, I dated a guy from school/church and we were serious. After a year and a half though, I began to sense that God had something different for me. It happened to be my 19th birthday when I knew I had to break up with him. He brought me a gift when I went to see him -- Caedmon's Call's new album Long Line of Leavers -- and it played in the background of my car throughout the evening as we talked. It was tough, but the moment I pulled out of the parking lot and drove away, Mistake of my Life began to play... "I'm in love, never been so sure of anything, but then again, it could be a tumor in my brain, to beckon me into thinking that we were meant to be, either way, I'm about to shock my family and my hometown again, cause this time I'm leaving. Once I'm gone, I will not look back. I've got to trust this is right..." There have been few moments in my life where I've had such clarity. I knew I had done the right thing.
• Sacred, Overdressed - Fast forward a number of years, and I'm a wife and a mom to two little kids. This song resonated with me in a deep way. It encapsulated perfectly all of the emotions that come with being a mom. Being a mom is so much more significant that I've given it credit for, and it also reminded me to appreciate these dear years with my children. "The children are sleeping but they're running through my mind; the sun makes them happy and the music makes them unwind; my cup runneth over, I worry about the stain... teach me to run to You like they run to me for every little thing... every thing is sacred..."

What songs have played a significant role in your life? Do certain "eras" of your life have a soundtrack?

Christmas Tree 2012

Now that our kids are bigger, it seems like Christmas is starting to be even more fun. They're quick to remind us of all the "traditions" we have to keep up (like having egg nog while we decorate the Christmas tree). My mom decided to stay in town an extra night, so we decided we'd move our tree decorating up to tonight. We turned on the Christmas music and had a great time (except for when I pulled out my camera, of course)!

Date Day

On Mondays, while the kids are at school, Aaron and I always have a "date day". We sit around and drink coffee, have lunch, drive around... whatever sounds good. Well yesterday, Ammie came and picked up the kids from school so we could have an extended date day (someone had given us a movie tickets and we could only use them in the evening), and we had so much fun! The day started out with sleeping in a bit, coffee, and The Amazing Race. Then we did a bit of shopping (a new jack for car repairs)... Then lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, P.F. Chang's. We then decided to go home and change clothes and go for a hike at the State Park by our house. We'd never hiked back to the canyon at Government Canyon, and I told Aaron it was probably only a mile or two back... so (tired and sore as he was from Men's Retreat) he agreed it'd be fun. And it was. But we ended up hiking over seven miles, all told. Oops. So I'm not a good judge of distance. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful, refreshing hike.

Dinosaur tracks in the creek bed!

After the seven mile hike, we fought the urge to sit on the couch and not move for the rest of the night, all the while complaining about how sore we were. But we got dressed and went to see Argo at the movie theater. It was a great movie, and we enjoyed the rare treat of going out to the movies and eating excessively buttery popcorn. I'm so thankful for my husband and for the fact that after nearly ten years together, we're still having a blast. I want to always remember days like yesterday -- the laughter and fun, and even the comfortable silence between us sometimes. I couldn't ask for a better partner and friend for this life.

Ordained

Sunday was a very special occasion. Aaron (and Jason) received their ordination from the Missionary church (and now carries the title of "Reverend"). River City honored them and said their goodbyes in a special service Sunday night, and it was really cool. Several hundred people showed up to show their love and support, and it was a great night! It was also very cool for Aaron and Jason to be able to go through this together. Many of the people at River City have known these brothers for a long time, and have had front row seats to the journey these two have walked over the years. (I think there was even a parallel drawn between the two of them and James and John -- brothers referred to as the"sons of thunder"!) God has done a lot in and through these guys over the years, and I can't wait to see what more God will do.