The Woodlands and the Rodeo

This weekend I went to Houston to see my cousin and her bambinos and to see Gary Allan at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  The kids are getting so big.  They are so fun too.

Jacob beating my score on level 1 of Angry Birds

Since I moved to Houston six years ago, I have not missed a single rodeo.  Some artists have been better than others, but I always have a blast.  We managed to get tickets to the rodeo on a weekend when my brother was home from Canada, so he joined Mel, David, and me for the festivities. Mel got us amazing seats on StubHub. We were on the 4th row.  I have never been that close before.  We also got a parking pass.  And our tickets were cheaper than normal tickets on Ticketmaster.  I am converted. 

Cooking 2011/2 of 12/Chicken Parmesan

Tonight I made Chicken Parmesan for the first time.  I was more than a little nervous as I have never breaded or pan fried chicken before.  I know… I know.  Shameful.  But chicken scares me.  I have nightmares about getting deathly ill from undercooked meat.  But today was the day to face my salmonella fears.   And I am glad I did because this chicken parm is freaking awesome.  You should seriously try it.  Like today.

DTown

Last weekend I had D-Town (Watermark’s version of disciple now) with my girls.  We had a lot of time to hang out and play around, but most importantly, spent time digging into God’s Word.  It is such an honor and privilege to watch these precious girls turn into women seeking to know God more.  I am so blessed to lead them. 

Natalie, Izzy, Wesleigh, Izzy, Lauren

With my amazing co-leader Melissa

One of these sets of legs are mine.  The question is: Do I dress like 8th graders or do 8th graders dress like me?

Hanging out at the park

Photo both shots

Group Shots

Happy Anniversary Parents!

~ Today is my parents 29th Wedding Anniversary.  Happy Anniversary Parents!  I am so thankful for both of you and the way you love me so selflessly and unconditionally.  I find it hard to adequately articulate my gratitude for being your child.  You are both amazing parents.  Have a great Anniversary.

~ I spent the better part of my lunch break reading Today's Letters.  So cute.  Todd talked about the blog during his Sermon yesterday.  I was particularly interested in their story post.  I want to listen to their ReEngage Talk too. 

~Speaking of Today's Letters, I am jonesing to do the MR340.  It looks AWESOME!  I am trying to convince my roommate to do it with me in 2012. We will see.  She seems interested, but I don't think I have her completely convinced yet.

~ My dear friend Sarah sent me a recipe for hummus today.  Out of the blue.  Because she knows how much I love it.  Best Valentine ever.  Well, short of actual hummus.  Boys, if you are reading this, you now know the path to my heart.  Use this information carefully.

~ This weekend is DTown (my churches disciple now).  I am looking forward to a weekend to dig deeper with my girls.  They are getting so big!  I cannot believe I have been leading them for two and a half years already. Time flies when you are having fun.

~ I finished reading Water for Elephants last night.  Great book.  I love books that I can't put down.  They make my heart happy.

~ Happy Valentines Day everyone! "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1John 4:9-11

RUN:4JUSTICE

This morning I walked a 5k with my dear friend Vicky.  Sarah and Shawn ran the race.  It was a little chilly this morning but warmed up nicely before the race. It was a beautiful day for a race.  And I am a little in love with Lake Grapevine.  Who know there was a pretty lake so close?!  I see camping in my near future.

Afterwards we went to Mimi’s Cafe for breakfast.  It was a perfect morning.  It kinda makes me want to start running again…  but not really.

It's Not My Fault

Did you know that In the United States over 100,000 children are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation every year? They are coerced; drugged, beaten and sold for sex in hotels, strip clubs, brothels, truck stops, homes and more. Tragically, the average age of entrance into prostitution in the US is 13. Thirteen!  That is younger than the girls I lead for small group.  Heartbreaking.  

Sadly, I did not know much about sex trafficking before  Watermark's external focus blog posted this.  I was horrified to learn that human trafficking is a 32 billion dollar business annually. I was outraged to learn that Texas is a human trafficking hub with an estimated 25% of all victims located here.  Sadly, the number is likely increasing as I type this due to the Super Bowl being hosted here next week.

I decided its time to get educated and hopefully make a difference.  I am going to the "It's Not My Fault" Awareness event this Friday (January 28th) at Irving Bible Church at 7pm.  I would love it if you wanted to join me.  

If you cannot make it but want more information, please check out these websites:
http://itsnotmyfault.org/downloads/FINAL_Campaign_Doc_r5.pdf 
http://love146.org/resources/trafficking

Fun, fun, fun

I may be having a little too much fun playing with my phone this morning instead of working. But my new phone can take cool pictures and write blog posts... I had to check it out. Right? I will work soon. I promise.

Cooking 2011/1 of 12/Legendary

Tonight Sarah and I made Eat, Live, Run’s baked four cheese macaroni and watched part of the first season of How I Met Your Mother.  It was legen… wait for it… dary.  The macaroni and cheese is my new favorite.  If I ever make homemade macaroni again, I think this is going to be my go to recipe.  Yeah.  It is that good.  And How I Met Your Mother cracks me up. I have watched reruns sporadically, but it is even funnier sequentially.  Who knew?   

I also got a new phone today and spent a few hours tonight setting it up.  I think I can almost use it.  If I randomly hang up on you guys in the next few weeks, please have some grace.  I am learning.  On the bright side, you should all be able to hear me again!  Woohoo!

RUN:4JUSTICE

Anyone want to join Vicky and me on a leisurely 3 mile stroll in Grapevine on February 12th at 9:05am?  It is for a good cause and you will undoubtedly have great company!  No pressure.  Well maybe a little pressure.  We are walking the RUN4JUSTICE 5k on February 12, 2011 to raise awareness about International Justice Mission.  IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression locally and around the world.  I hope to one day go on a mission trip with them.  But until then, I am walking for the cause.

Let me know if you want to walk with me!  I would love it.

New Years Resolutions

A year in review…
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before? Sat second-chair in my first trial.  Hit a pole with my car (sad but true). Moved into a house with Sarah.  Walked a half-marathon.  Visited San Francisco.  Toured Washington D.C. Relaxed on the beach in the Dominican Republic. Ate pecan-pie. Went to an A&M v. Baylor football game in Waco. Kolaches in West.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year’s resolutions:
1. Complete the Journey.

I failed.  I was relatively consistent for about half of the year but then I fell off the journey train. 

2. Slow down.

Pretty sure I failed on this one too.  I did manage to spend at least one night at home most weeks, which I consider a partial success, but only partial.

3. Complete a half-marathon.

Success!  Alex and I walked a half-marathon in March.  Here is a picture to prove it. 

4. Better prioritize.

I would say I better prioritized this year!  I completed Equipped Disciple 1 and 2 at my church.  I did not do so well with working out… Maybe it will make my list this year.

 5. Start an IRA.

Done! Yea.

6. Get SCUBA certified.

Fail.  This year.

7. Travel. Visit someplace new.

Done. I visited: Washington D.C., Dominican Republic, and San Francisco

 8. Get more involved with Watermark Singles.

Done.  I went to the Porch at least a handful of times and I went on the Launch Retreat.  I consider this a success. 

3. What places did you visit? Redundant… but Washington D.C., Baltimore, Houston, Lake Bob Sandlin, Possum Kingdom, Gilmer, Dominican Republic, San Francisco, Napa Valley and Waco.  
4. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? I am going with the same answer as last year.  Drum roll please…  A boyfriend. Last year I waivered.  This year I am just going with it.
5. What days from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory? Looking at Sarah’s new house with her and telling her I wanted to move in with her…  Then spending fifteen minutes telling her how I was going to arrange my room and mapping it out for her with my imaginary furniture; Rock band birthday party; trip to Baltimore with my college roommates; Visiting Erin & Jason in the hospital as they welcomed William Darwin into the world; and winning my first trial.
6. Where did most of your money go? Towards my college and law school loans.  I paid off my first year of law school!
7. What do you wish you’d done more of? Work out.
8. What do you wish you’d done less of? Work.
9. What was your favorite TV program?
Lost, Bones, Chuck, and How I Met Your Mother.
10. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Party at my house and Rock Band.  I turned 27.
11. What kept you sane? Good friends and a manageable billable hours requirement.
12. What are your goals for 2011?

1. Get SCUBA certified.
2. Travel. 
3. Kayak.
4. Take more pictures.
5. Work out.
6. Cook/bake something new at least once a month (or 12 in the year).
7. Read a book a month (or 12 in the year).
8. Go to a drive-in movie.
9. Finish reading my chronological Bible.