Friday Night

Last night we went to the Lyles for dinner- and no, I don't know why this is underlined, can't figure out how to turn it off. Anyway, Samantha made homemade pizzas and we had so much fun hanging out at their new house.

Here's Haley swinging on Sam's tree swing!
Katelyn is trying to explain the ways of the world to Jenn, but she just isn't quite getting it -as you can tell by the look on their faces.

Shad and Steven were playing horseshoes. Not sure if those hands mean it was going well or not so good.
Me & Abby
Steven and Abby switched hats. Definitely more appropriate.
Haley workin out some Wii bowling.
Samantha kickin some Wii butt...somebody's been practicing!
Cliff and Randal went head to head in Wii bowling.

We had such a good time. Thanks Lyles!

Bucket List

I haven't seen this movie yet, but I think it's finally at RedBox so I'm sure we'll see it soon. For some reason I was thinking about it, about the whole "bucket list" idea. What things do I want to do before I "kick it"? I don't really know. I started thinking- it's going to be hard to do amazing things in my life if I don't have an idea of what amazing things I want to do. Not sure if that makes sense, but I usually live my life in a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of way. I don't make life plans. I take it as it comes. Which I believe is good to a point- but I've decided I want a plan. A list. A set of goals to accomplish. There is no way for me to think of all the things I want to do in one day, so I've decided I will update this list from time to time as I think of new things. Please share your lists, goals, and ideas. I'm interested to see what others want to do.

The List ( in no particular order)
1. Have a family (truly the only one I've known my whole life I wanted to do)
2. Mission in Africa
3. See the Great Wall of China
4. Hold a monkey (I'm a kid apparently)
5. swim with dolphins
6. See the Northern Lights
7. Stay in an Ice Hotel in Sweden
8.Learn to play an instrument
9. See Israel
10. Adopt a child
11. Visit the Louvre
12. Visit all 7 continents
13. Learn to like exercise
14. Learn photography
15. Paint a mural- that I like
16. Deep sea fishing
17. Learn Spanish fluently plus one other language
18. Learn how to sew
19. Stomp grapes at a vineyard (like in A Walk in the Clouds..)
20. Become completely selfless (hey, this is a wish list!)

One thing to do AFTER I die: Be an organ donor & save someone's life! Incredible!

Good Stuff

This panda video is the best! I just crack up every time. The mother is so surprised when the baby sneezes. You can't help but smile!

My second favorite video is this maybe not so appropriate one that I've loved since college. This is an all time classic. Most people have seen this before, but it never gets old.

Delkus Delivers.

Okay, so Kristie and I got rid of the DISH going on about a year ago now. Before getting rid of satellite, I never really watched the local news. By the way, local news is incredible! Especially channel 8. I've tried all of the others: Fox 4, NBC 5, CBS 11, TXA 21, my27... Trust me, ABC is the best, for one of one reasons, Peter "freaking" Delkus. For like my entire life, the pinnacle of the news broadcast was always the sports segment...or so I thought. One night a couple of months back, when all of the monsoons hit Fort Worth, I was watching channel 8. Delkus gets on and starts wearing it out. He was telling everyone what to do, taking charge, getting external feeds from his remote weather people, telling them what to do...it blew my mind. I said to myself "this guy knows what the heck he's talking about." Since that day, I have really grown to appreciate all that Pete offers:

1.) Charisma.
2.) Style. (Pete is always the best dressed and has the best hair. He's also very tan)
3.) Sheer talent. (Most of the other people don't know what they are talking about and/or doing, Pete totally does)
4.) Baseball fan. (Everyone else hates baseball, except me and Pete. He actually was a stud pitcher in college and did well as a minor league reliever before getting injured).
5.) Master's Degree from Mississippi State. (Clay, you know that's right)
6.) "The Stand" - (When most weather guys take off after their part is done, Pete hangs around and stands up by the desk, putting one leg up and just shoots the bull with the anchors and takes shots at Dale Hansen. He usually makes Dale look like a total phony.

I seriously could go on for days. The other day I was driving down 35 and saw a billboard that was from CBS 11. The billboard had a huge mugshot of Larry Mowry on it and read, "Count on Larry".

What? Who in the world is Larry and why should I count on him?

In closing, Delkus has also graced a billboard. If you see his, it simply states, "Delkus Delivers." My point exactly. Why do we need to count on Larry when Delkus delivers?

-Steven

Abuelos

Abuelos is my number one favorite mexican restuarant in the world. It has been since I was in high school. The chips, the salsa, the Island Margarita (not in high school), and of course the incredible Chicken Medallions. I get it every time. If I got to go more, I would probably choose something else, but I can't waste my occasional visit on experimenting with the menu. There are only a few locations in the area, so if you pass one -stop. It's not close for us, but well worth the drive! It's important to note, the medallions are never ordered with rice, beans, or papas, but always with double spinach! Abuelos' creamed spinach is worthy of it's own post, but I'll spare you. Try it, you will become a believer.

Gratitude

Lately I'm realizing how gratefulness is something I struggle with. It's a hard thing to admit. I thank God daily for my home, my husband, my health, the life He's given me- that I do not deserve. I thought I was a very grateful person. I am being shown otherwise. For me, my ungratefulness isn't an outright "I want more" or "God, this isn't good enough". I doubt it is for anyone. Mine shows up in comparison. Like other sins, you don't notice it right away. It doesn't seem "that bad". I don't take it seriously enough. I definitely wasn't calling it what it was- coveting. (not my neighbor's wife obviously...) I then realized how it threatens God's number one commandment to us- Love. Comparison threatens my ability to love others. I compare my life to theirs- telling God what I have isn't enough and producing a spiteful, bitter heart toward others. I recently read that comparison makes "it easier to admire a stranger than our best friend". Ouch. My prayer now is that I would be truly thankful for everything in all situations. Whether I have a big house or a small house that keeps me safe, no college debt or student loans- that let me go to school!, a brand new SUV or a dependable vehicle that's almost paid off- I will be grateful. My worth is not determined by those things, but by Christ's sacrifice for me.

Nichole Nordeman has a song that echoes this feeling of wanting a grateful heart in any and all circumstances. Whether God answers a prayer or doesn't- I will be thankful for however he provides.

"Gratitude"
Send some rain, would You send some rain?'
Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view
If no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessd beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace ...
But, Jesus, would You please ...