a year has passed...

Last year around August we sat down with heavy hearts and spoke the words that were stirring in our hearts. We both felt God speak to us saying that this would be our last school year here in Abilene. The leading was to pursue the dreams that he had planted in our hearts long ago. The dreams of speaking, writing, and serving teenagers and college students in a different way. We often battled these dreams and thought we might be creating them ourselves. It was a great fear. From the depth of our heart we do not want to be anywhere that God has not ordained for us.

We remembered the words from a great man..."if God desires something from you he will bring it into action." Meaning we would not have to manipulate anything into being. Great stress off. God has determined our steps. We must be faithful to follow.

So in the quietness of our hearts we prayed. We kept our word silent from those around us. This was a time just for us to search out the way of our Father. I started this blog to keep record of this particular journey.

Our pastor (& boss) had been aware of our dream from the beginning of our meeting. He knew that it was out there somewhere. He and Ernest would even speak about it sometimes. We were questioning God whether or not to share this new found word with our Pastor. God kept our mouths silent so that he could do the work. Our prayer was that he would speak to pastor and that we would find favor with him. We were praying this from around August until Springtime.

As God was churning our heart he was also speaking with Pastor. Around Springtime Pastor came to us and said he felt God saying to him that it was time for us to pursue our dream. Wow. God showed up! The transition began very soon. Our life was thrown into public motion.

Here we find ourselves in August. It is a year since God spoke his word to us. The transition here is complete. Complete. We stand in wait. At attention even. This is where he desires us to be in his will. I have no clue what tomorrow holds. I am waiting for the and God showed up moment. I feel somewhat like Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego because my heart says "God will show up...but if not, i will trust the quietness is from him."

Look what was in my quiet time this morning Psalm 27:13-14. God's word is good.

If you want to read this story as it played out click on the links in life in transition to the side. It is listed in order from present to past. I thought I would let you in on some of the background knowledge.

Boredom turns to Pictures

Boredom struck today. Here are some shots of the humble abode. Enjoy!

My Barbie Dream House

We will be moving soon. Somewhere. That is certain. We have turned down a lot of opportunities in search of the God one. We are confident in the waiting.

We have been looking at houses in areas that we are familiar with. Just thinking... totally not saying that we are moving there. In that process I found it. My barbie dream house. It is perfect just like it was in my childhood dreams. It is completely out of my price range but it is in my heart range. I love everything about it. At least through screen images. The kitchen is all I could ask for. I am anything but a master chef but oh how I could see myself cooking away in that place. I haven't even mentioned the windows. The windows. amazing.

Take a look at the dream house that is completely clouds away. Click here.

Some Shopping Therapy

Shopping is a good form of therapy. There is just something about going out and searching for cuteness. I am the one walking along with my 9 year old personal shopper. You can pick the two of us out easily due to our overzealous joy about sales. We are savvy shoppers. Oh yes. She is super because she loves to carry the loot.

That is just what it was like on Friday afternoon as we loved on the Mall of Abilene. I was in search of a new dress. Something simple and very me. The kind that when you see it you know it is the one. It is matchable to love at first sight. Do you ever have those shopping feelings?

It happened. The first store that we came to had the dress. When I saw it the roof of heaven opened up and light beams shown down upon it. Well, okay, it was not that dramatic...but still. It was even better in the dressing room when I tried it on and it fit. The best part of this dress is the price...under $20.(When you are trying to save every penny for an unknown upcoming move this is cool.) I have a few tanks that I am going to add to complete the look.

The trip went on to include shoes for $13 and accessories for under $10. Good times if I do say so. We even found a new shirt for the most amazing man in my life. A button down American Eagle L/S for only $15. He makes the shirt look great.

Back to the reason for my post. Am I the only one out here in blogville that shops for clothes like them. Is this some added weird factor to me? Really...what makes clothes like you anyway? We say it all the time...that is so you...this is so me. I do love the dress but now I am left to wonder what makes it feel like me.

We are talking FLATSCREEN!

I am so in.

I entered...you should too.

Click here to enter for this giveaway at 5 minutes for mom.

Also...thanks to best buy for this amazing deal.

Let's have a P.A.R.T.Y.

It is Friday.

I had a great time last night with a friend. We walked and talked. Our passion over the Lord is consuming and we both love that. It was so refreshing talking with her. I rarely get the chance to talk with other women who share my passion. I think that is why I love this blogland so much. You women rock! You have an amazing desire to love and share love.

So I decided today is praise day. That's right...let's give him some praise.

He is doing a good work in me. He loves me when I am unaware. You, sweet father, are more than deserving of my praise. It may look bleak. There are no answers but at this moment all is well. Why? Because I have you on my side. I delight in you. I praise you because you know the future. That puts my soul in rest. You do that to me...you bring me rest. How amazing you are. If I follow you then you will lead me. You amaze me. AMAZE me.

What do you praise him for today? please join in the praise party.

Searching {Him} ...

The stirring is deep in my soul. I have been watching, along with the rest of the world, the news about Lindsey and Britney. I have no idea how you guys feel about their situation. I have noticed some troubling truths about us. (us being the people who know truth) We tend to point out where the ladies are wrong instead of seeing them through the beauty of God. My deep feeling comes from the truth that God loves them.

He absolutely head over heels loves them. His heart desire is to draw them to him.

I do believe they are searching. As girls we all tend to search out significance. They have reached the top of stardom where they thought happiness and fulfillment would be. Life seems so good there. Yet they are lacking that very thing. It is almost a starving of the soul. Their soul is deep in search for it's mate. God's desire is that nothing short of him would please that feeling.

They need God in the flesh. They need someone to love them despite where they are. Who will do it? I have read some disturbing things in the last couple of days. Sometimes our eyes get so twisted that we see the sin before we see the sinner.

If I had a chance to talk with either of them I have no idea what I would say. I hope that God's amazing love would flow from a sinner like me and lavish upon a sinner like them.

Instead of dropping our jaw in disrespect to what they are doing may we be broken for their lack of knowledge. They are walking in this life without our heart healer Jesus. Life without him is brokenness.

Make us willing to be love to them. I know you are love in the purest form. It can only come from you. Teach us, Father, to be more like you.

{Sparkly} White

Here's the inside scoop...

The last 9 days I have been looking downright amazing every night for at least 2 hours. This is how I know. I am in the "night white" mode. What does that mean? This: I have been wearing silicone trays on my teeth filled with bleach.

It hurts. Tonight I was sitting on the couch and the pain was so intense that I decided to take the trays out early. I don't think it is suppose to hurt that bad. I really want whiter teeth so I willing to endure the pain.

Here is the problem now, I have whiter teeth, but as of tonight, I also have some white "hurt" spots on my gums. They are very irritated. Each time I eat my gums burn. Not good. I think it is a combination of extra flossing and bleach. I don't think my dentist is going to be very happy with me continuing this treatment.

A couple of months ago I went to the dentist because I had major tooth pain. I had to have a root canal. crazy. Now I am getting my teeth whitened due to a cavity I need filled on one of my front teeth. Too much dental work lately. Braces coming soon. I think I am too old for this but hey I want straight white teeth.

We go through some crazy stuff for beauty.

What about you? Any painful beauty treatments lately?

Is there an R.V. in our future?

The front porch is a place to dream and talk the night away. All the talking in our house revolves around the motion in which God is moving us. We still have yet to receive a clear answer. He has told us to go we are just waiting to know where to go. The view from our porch is of this sweet R.V. We have spent much time rehearsing a "buyers pitch" to our neighbors. You see if all else fails we think we could buy that R.V. and tour the country in it. It is old, I know. Don't worry...we have a plan. We can call Pimp my Ride from MTV. What do you think? If we need to live in California, no problem, we could have our residence there in 3 days. That would be the beauty of living in your vehicle. If our neighbor's knew how much conversation we have over their R.V...they would laugh their heads off.

Truthfully, at this point, we do not feel a calling to travel in this R.V. But I am telling you if God said do it, we would. Our hearts are tender to his will. I want to remember this moment because I am unsure if we have ever been so eager. I promise I am not trying to brag. If you knew from where I have come you would know. We are just ready and willing. WHEREVER you lead.

Waiting for the blazing arrow (or tender word).

The {thirsty} Princess

There is a sweet princess sleeping in the next room. These days she falls asleep rather well. There were days, mind you, that it was pure torture. I am serious. I remember them without fondness. Training her to sleep in a toddler bed was crazy. She is nothing short of strong willed. When we would tuck her in she would just get up. I remember the nightly battle.

After a period of time she would stay in her bed she would just scream until she would finally sleep. Some nights we could add some wall banging to the sound of blood curling screams. Those nights I would sit on the opposite side of her bedroom door and pray. "Lord please put this child to sleep"...The Lord always provided because he knew my lack of patience.

Time moved on and the baby girl continued to grow. We stretched to the stage of requests before sleep. Oh yes, the requests. "Please read me one more story" "I am hungry" "I'm thirsty"...the list goes on and on.

One night during this fun stage she requested a drink. "I'm thirsty" "Mommy, I am thirsty". Can you hear her calling? "No, Carly, you are not thirsty..." After doing the back and forth for a while her cuteness peeked.

She looked up with her big beautiful brown eyes and said to her daddy "Daddy, Jesus lives in my heart, right?" Ernest replies tiredly "Yes, Carly" "Well Daddy...Jesus is thirsty and he wants a drink..."

Out of the mouth of babes.

Needless to say, she got a drink that night. By all means...Jesus was thirsty.

It is true, I do not miss the nights full of screaming torture. My baby girl is growing up. Some days I miss the little one that could get away with such cuteness. There are still nights when I walk out of her room and praise my sweet Jesus for a peaceful night. God made her feisty and I love him all the more for it.

Signature How-To

I have already got some e-mails requesting a signature how-to. I went here to create it. Comment and let me know if you decide to make one.

**updated**after you get your code copy it in the post template box. You get to this box by going to settings then click on formating scroll down until you reach the post template box. I don't know if this is the best way to do it but it works.

Happy Blogging.

Laughter and Hot Dates

Explanation from bottom left and then around.

Serious picture? yeah right. I had the cheesy smile going on so this is me trying to shake it. Wouldn't you know that Ernest snapped the camera at that moment...

Ernest loves these big glasses. (He will enjoy me telling you this) When we were first married he wanted me to buy him some glasses exactly like this. He said they were manly glasses. And after all now he was a man. We laughed because we no longer have the man glasses. What does that mean exactly?

After dinner and a quick trip to the mall we stopped off at the park. We carried our cooler with bubbly juice and strawberries out to the water. It was fun. We sat and listened to the lions roaring at the zoo. It was a very surreal sweet moment.

Last but not least...

On our way back to the car we decided to stop at the park and play. We took turns in the swing and then decided we needed to go down the slide. This is the highlight of the evening. I have not laughed so hard in years. Ernest went first and it was a good thing because he got stuck. Yes, you heard me right, he got stuck. I happened to be right behind him with my handy dandy camera. I will treasure this photo always.

What a great night.

The Inspiration

I have had a lot of fun playing around this blog. Maggie inspired me to do something about the blah look of my blog. (She did not use those words, I did.) Thank you Maggie. After talking with some friends and getting some great ideas this is what I did. I talked to Amy about texture paper and she gave me the greatest tip about photographing paper. I have a set of note cards that I love so I took a picture of them and it turned into the header. I jumped on publisher and added some pictures that will hopefully give the look and feel that we want. It is a bit girly for my man but he can handle it.

I read lots of tutorials here. It is pretty easy to get around. It will tell you how to do almost anything.

Thanks for all the inspiration and help guys.

Romance on the Porch

Look what I got today. The man loves me. These were on my front porch with an invitation for a hot date tonight. Of course I said yes! Now I have to figure out what to wear...fun.

A Clap Offering

Peace.

Overwhelming Love.

Fun in the waiting.

Anticipation.

All-knowing God.

Laughter and Tears.


I praise you Father. I praise you. You are in complete know of what our tomorrow holds. I sit in awe of you and the joy in which you work. I am almost giddy over the way that you are choosing to write this story. We are free falling with the peace that you are the cushion to which we will land. We are crazy over you. I would have it no other way. So many are worried on our behalf but today Lord we choose to believe. We believe you to be HUGE. We trust in you against all the our own "safe" knowledge.

You deserve more than my words. You have captured my heart.

And they get it...

written by Ernest

For some time now I have been urging our students to press in to God and truly experience Him for who He really is. I wanted them to go beyond mere "Christians" and be true Christ followers who are passionately in love with their Savior. Some thought they were already there, some thought I was talking of some mystical place only a select few make it to, while others didn't really care. I was tired of seeing them just fall in line with the same ol' same ol' church life with little or no fulfillment, joy, or excitement. There is more to following Christ than the example that is shown on most Sunday mornings and definitely throughout the week. I have to admit that it was a frustrating venture at times.

As you probably know having read some of my beautiful bride's posts that we are now in transition. God has spoken and by faith we are stepping out. To where, we don't know yet but that is a different story all together.

Anyways, we turned our students over to our replacements with only one more chance to see them truly connect with God; church camp.

Our students would be going to one of the camps that we were helping run. Let me just say that God showed up and we saw Him really work on the hearts and lives of the students there, not just with those from our group but students from all of the youth groups who attended. It was an amazing sight.

Here's where they got it. They come home from camp and I begin receiving phone calls. They are now calling all of their friends, going through the list of players from their sports teams, & talking to co-workers about God. They can't shut up about Him. There is a fire in their eyes; a passion in their soul to share their Jesus with others.

One of the students came up to me and apologized and said, "I thought I had the vision you talked about. I thought I knew what it meant to truly experience God, but I didn't. I now know what the big deal was about. Thank you." WOW, what that will do to your heart.

At church on Sunday we witnessed as some of these students shared their testimonies. Others followed up salvation decisions with baptism. It was amazing. Following the services one of the ladies in the church came up to us and said, "What an awesome testimony of your service to God here!" I say, "What an awesome testimony to God's grace!"

Thank you God for this going away gift! Thank you for allowing us to witness and be a part of them "getting it".

Who do they say that I am?

Who do they say that I am.

I have always worried about that question. It is true. I wonder what image I portray. Do they see the real me? Do they see the God in me?

At this moment God is challenging this issue. We are on the brink of what lies ahead and in the same minute we are looking back on the legacy we left.

I am sure people have their opinions both good and bad. To be totally transparent, it hurts to know that someone may have a blurred vision of us or our ministry. It hurts deep to the very core of my emotions. I wish I were not like that. I wish I could just merely see God in the story and be good.

These last couple of weeks, while amazing, were so hard. We traveled with an amazing group of students doing camps. I fell head over heels in love with those kids. The last camp that we hosted our "former" students attended. Hard. We worked hard to keep our distance and love them from afar. They do not understand. The last night the camp leader requested that we go out to candlelight time with them and their new leaders. He said that we all needed closure but to be full of truth...I did not want to go. I hate to cry and I knew that I would not be able to hold it in. We stood there in the middle of this circle and let these kids lavish their love upon us. I cannot count the tears that were shed. We love them and they love us.

God is in the business of motion. He is stirring the motion of my heart, life, security, dreams, and so much more.

In the end, it does not matter what they say about me. I am here to please him. No matter how this motion makes me feel, I will hold tight to truth.

Marriage :: Eleven

11 years of loving each other. It is good.

Year 1 :: fresh. Late night grocery trips. eating dinner on the floor in front of the fireplace. working. school. 1014 C. Cocoa the baby dog. love. candlelight dinners. airplanes landing outside our window. finding out we were pregnant. (how did that happen?) lots of laughing.

Year 2 :: purchased our first home. surrendered to ministry. moved to BBC. Carly was born. sweet pink moments. dinner around the table. big bellies and massages. first snow. growth. sunflowers. finding out that we were pregnant. (how did that happen..again?)

Year 3 :: moving out of married housing. Prospect. Baby blue. no sleep. drama and friendships. vacation bible school. internship. paper routes. lemonade.

Year 4 :: first ministry job. back yard sunflowers. garden. grilling out nightly. lightning bugs. picnics in the grass. laundry. date nights. smiles.

Year 5 :: school. work. kids. ministry. diapers. bottles. the time out chair. jesus being thirsty. friends.

Year 6 :: hard. hurt. growth. big love. learning what love means. larry boy and barbie hair. houston. mosquitoes. astros. galveston. dates. rebuilding. honest.

Year 7 :: finally graduation time. second ministry job. abilene. kids in school. lunch dates. writing. worship. paper in trees. love. security.

Year 8 :: baseball. valentines day dinner. family time. canterbury trails. new friends. biblestudy by candlelight. growing every day.

Year 9 :: mission trips. students. family. love. birthing dreams. more new friends. possum kingdom. laughter.

Year 10 :: new house. pto. church. movement. intercession. cruise. europe. black dress. celebration. kids. life.

Year 11 :: change. faith. time. dream. late night talks. new car. christmas lights. photography. camp. loving. coffee. blockbuster online. books.

July 13th we celebrated 11 years of marriage. craziness!

Still Camping

We are still at camp. This week we are at Letourneou University in Longview, Texas. It is a small intimate camp this week (only 250 campers).

God is good. I love the fact that I have been in deep worship for 2 weeks. I love it. I would not trade it for the world.

I just thought I would let you know where we were. Once again no real computer access in our rooms so I will check on you guys soon.

Tune in @ 7 cst and worship with us. Click here to visit the site then click on live stream during service times. Let me know if you check it out.

Go.Sell.Give.Follow.

Mark 10:21

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," He said. "Go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

That was Jesus' plea to this rich young man who wanted to inherit the kingdom of heaven. But for the man the price was too great. In the next moment he hung his head full of sadness and walked away because he was not willing to loose what he had for what he could not see.

My question to myself tonight...(as this was being preached) am I really willing? really? Can I really die to myself so that I can follow him wherever he leads? What if he leads me away from the dream that hovers in my thoughts? Can the pride be set aside and ruined for what is better?

One thing I don't want to happen is this: I don't want to be at the end of my life and regret not taking a chance. People, I am scared. It is getting to be more scary as the days move on. I just know that he is out there past all the fear.

He is asking will you go.sell.give.follow. Will you, for me? Do you love and trust me that much?

He is good and I am just wild over Him. He is doing a new work in my heart, to be honest, I am thankful.

How is he stretching you these days?

Blisters and Worship

Camping with the family has been nothing short of tremendous. We are having a complete blast together. Ernest and I are crazy busy working. The kids are thinking this is the coolest place in America. I think part of it is because there is ice cream at the end of every meal.

I got blisters yesterday due to wearing cute shoes on busy Monday. What was I thinking? Cute is a very important factor...right?

One of the highlights has been worshiping side by side with the 3 people that I love most in the world. We don't get to do church together too often. (They go with us they just attend children's church.) We are just passing that stage of carrying back packs full of coloring books and games...I love it. They are in awe of the worship time. Carly carries this look of amazement as she watches her new friends love on their God. They have both been taken in by our college student rec. team. I am thankful for that.

God is drawing us close...the four of us closer to HIM...what better...

He never ceases to amaze me.

A Camping we will go!

This week and next we will be traveling with Lift Student Ministries doing camp. Ernest flew out on Thursday and the kids and I met up with him yesterday. I drove by myself to Arkansas...that is a big feat for me.

You can check camp out Monday through Friday @ 7pm CST by going to my sidebar and clicking on Lift Sm and then click on live stream. (I would have inserted the link but that tool is enabled due to some strict filter.) We will be busy, busy so the blog may be kind of quiet and then again maybe not. Who knows? I do not have internet in our room so I am kind of sad about that.

Talk to you soon.