true love

I have a wonderful family. I have two wonderful parents, many aunts and uncles, and LOTS of cousins. Even though I do not have siblings, nieces or nephews, I am blessed beyond measure with my "sister-cousins." Christy and Desi's children have also blessed me each time they call me "Aunt Tressie" or show their excitement when I show up. 

This weekend, family love was shown to me once again. My mom came into town on Friday evening and my sister-cousins and their families came in Saturday morning for Run for Change 5k. This was a fundraiser for my upcoming mission trip and they were all excited, even the kids couldn't wait to run a "race". I posted about the 5k on my facebook and they were all willing to give up their time to sign up and drive to College Station all on a Saturday morning. 

It means more to me then they will ever know!!!! Here are some pictures from the 5k:

(There was a 1 mile fun run, Jacob got 2nd place for boys and Ella and Emily got 1st and 2nd place for girls-- told you they were excited!!!)

(photo's taken from rachel driskell)

Kids Cheering on my momma, Desi, and Christy

 Part of Team Jinja

 Ella coming in 1st!!!!

a heart in preparation...

Lots of things...

So, I've been praying almost continuously for my heart to be prepared for Uganda and the people there. I recently read a book titled Kisses from Katie, talk about an amazing way to see what I might come in contact with in just a few short months. It puts life in a third world country into prospective and how much I for one have and take for granted. I'm praying that I will continue to be prepared and that I am willing to do whatever I am asked. 

On another note, I just saw The Hunger Games- it was amazing! I LOVED it, almost as much as I liked the book. Is it strange that I liked something so... sad? You should read the book and see the movie if you haven't. 

This weekend was also Miriam's wedding shower. We've been friends for 15 years! Oh my goodness! Her shower was beautiful and wonderful. 

my goal

I had my first Uganda Mission training last Tuesday!! 

It was exciting to meet everyone. I had been eerily calm about not knowing anyone going on this mission trip. Like I've said earlier- this is completely NOT like me. I need to be surrounded by people I know to feel comfortable. So, obviously, this is a total God thing. Well 2 new spots opened up and now... my friend Abby is going with! I've known Abby since my freshman year at A&M. I am so thankful she is going on this journey. 

We talked about a few more details... one being that we will be staying in Jinja, Uganda and working at a near by village. We will mostly be playing with kids and working in the clinic to serve the Lord. Our travel company is letting us take three 50 pound bags with us. One is for us and the other 2 will be for supplies for kids and the clinic. Super exciting!!!!

My goal: I am at about $3,420... WOAH! This is so crazy! I sent out about 59 letters to friends and family. This is hearing back from about 22 people. God is so good! 

Megan's Shower

Today, a few girls threw a shower for my student teacher Megan. We had a great time. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day. 

The Bride to Be

 A pretty gift. 

 A silly kitty.

 Fun with the game, "he said/she said."

 Me and Meggie

 The bride with the hostesses. 

I think she had a great time. We had a luncheon/craft shower. Wendy made an amazing lunch of salads and sandwiches. After we ate, we opened presents, played a few games, and then everyone created a page for a scrapbook. Even the "not so crafty" girls got into it and made some great sheets that Meg can later decorate with pictures. 

typical night at 4302

I took some pictures the other day of some typical things that happen at our house in the evening. 

So, my roommate Summer HATES to grade. HATES it. So, she just lets her papers stack up and then works really hard grading papers real quick. She's funny. 

Julee is our newby. I like her and so does Lola. While Summer grades, Julee and I watch TV/play on our phones. 

Faith like a child

I wrote my mission letter recently and sent it out to close friends and family. One thing I added to my letter  was an idea I got from attending my cousin's church. I sent each person 2 bandaids. These aren't just any band-aids... these band-aids are special because they have been prayed over by many different people. I prayed over them before I sent them out and then asked for everyone to pray over them as well and send just one back to me. I will take the prayed over band-aids with me to Uganda to use at the clinic. I thought this was so special when I went to church with Desi, Shane and the girls a few weekends back. (Their children's minister had each child take two band-aids, they said a prayer together and then the kiddos gave one back to send with some missionaries that belong to their church.) A few days after my letter went out, Desi told me that her oldest daughter E had decided to be a missionary when she grew up. E and Desi continued to have a conversation about how she wanted to be a missionary to deliver band-aids to people. Desi informed her that being a missionary isn't just about delivering band-aids to people, but about delivering the Good News of Jesus to people. If you know E, even just a bit, you know that she was even more hooked. This child has the biggest faith of almost anyone I know... I know that might sound crazy, but she truly gets Jesus' sacrifice and truly gets His Love. She is FOUR and she has more faith than some grown people I know... at times, she has more faith than I even do. I pray that one day she can go out into the world and share Jesus' name with people all over the world. I also pray that I will have faith like this child and will continue to trust in Him. I can't wait to deliver band-aids for her and most importantly, for Him!

a little room update

I needed some color in my life. So I added a few touches a few days ago. 

I also got this little guy because he smells like lavender and you can heat him up in the microwave. 

my momma's birthday.

Saturday was my mom's birthday. She turned 29. Someone she works with gave her these awesome glasses. My mom is, in my world, the best woman alive. She is compassionate, empathetic, and always willing to listen. She let's me make mistakes and is always there to listen and give advice when I'm ready to talk. She is the most amazing MOM... EvEr. 

 

My mom and I went shopping after her birthday dinner... When we got home, my dad had cut up strawberries and STAYED awake for a birthday dessert. (He really is a great dad too!)

Friday, before leaving for Beaumont, my bestie Jacque and I went to dinner and then ran around town- just basically enjoying each others company. We started a bootcamp on Tuesday and Thursday's work out was ROUGH! Our legs were SOOOOOOOO sore. I mean to the point that a small step made us hurt. Jacque was telling me about this contraption that runners use to work their muscles out when they are sore... we found one at Target, she showed me how it worked. There are some people that God puts in your life for a reason. God has blessed me with this girl and her family. She explained to some of her kids today that we were "sistas," very true because she is the kind of friend that I can be with and we don't even need to talk for us to have fun. I think I'll keep her around for a while. She's one of my all time favorites. 

(See the pain on her face?)

 We had so much fun at Target. We didn't even get kicked out. 

 Sunday was my sweet friend Penny's baby shower. Summer and I were part of the group to throw the shower. Here are a couple of pictures. 

 Preggo Penny

 The ladies: Summer, me, Chelsea, Penny, Jayne, and Kat.

a variety of things to talk about

There have been lots of BIG things going on in my life lately. You've heard a lot of the BIG things so I'm going to talk to you about some of the smaller, yet as important, things. 

Here is my little friend, Nash, she is adorable. 

This is the most adorable picture I've taken so far. I'm sure my subject made it adorable. 

 Jacque and I went to lunch one day at Newks. We sat outside to appease Nash as much as possible and obviously it was windy! She looks like Kramer from Seinfeld.

I took one of my old students Cameron and her brother Gage who is my current student to Spoons a local yogurt shop. We had a good time. 

 I am LAME and I LOVE to craft! These are some pictures from one of my recent crafting nights. 

 My last post I talked about going to visit my family. For some reason, I didn't take many pictures but here is one of A and E. E is an AMAZING big cousin!

family and some uganda talk

This weekend I drove to Montgomery to see my big sisters (technically cousins), their families, and my mom. On Friday, we went to eat at a Mexican food restaurant on the lake... the music was loud, but it entertained the kids who spent the evening dancing around the table. After we finished our food, the "dj" starting playing things like the chicken dance, the ymca, the hokie pokie, so what did we do? We danced with the kids and laughed the whole time about how people probably thought we had too many margaritas... but no. 

On Saturday, Desi and Shane had to go to a meeting at church so I watched all 3 girls! Luckily, my mom made it there quickly :). We went to eat lunch at Chick-fil-a so the girls could play and Christy and Blaine met us there with their 2 kiddos.

 That night Desi and I sat down to talk about my letter that I will be writing everyone to tell them more about my upcoming journey to Uganda. For the first few days after I said I was going, I was utterly speechless when it came to the thought of it all. I felt blessed, unworthy, and strangely calm, peaceful, and hopeful. 

I love the Lord, but I have always taken the approach of being a witness through the way I live my life, rather than discussing it with openly with people who I thought it would make uncomfortable. (I hope that my life has been an example to others and hope that He shines through me by being openminded, excepting, and non-judging.) Also, not to mention the fact that I HATE going places alone where I know little or no one (I feel uncomfortable and so vulnerable) and I know NO one (well) that I am about to travel around the world with. So, the feeling peaceful part about going completely out of my comfort zone in these 2 HUGE areas is strange. I feel like I should be so uncomfortable, nervous, and anxious which I usually am in situations similar.. but not this one. 

Desi, you have to understand is very "over seas minded," she lived there (Qatar, to be exact) and she has a heart for mission work overseas. We discussed about how we were each called to something different. Some people have a heart for mission work here in the states and some people want to help situations here. Some people have a heart for overseas missions and others just feel that they want to help through prayer and donations there. We worship the same God, but if he used us all in the same way, not much would be done...

Needless to say, I didn't get much done on my letter (we talked too much), but I have an idea!

On Sunday, my mom and I went to church with Desi, Shane and the girls. What was the sermon about you ask? Oh, you know, our callings and how God speaks to us. Wow, what a powerful God we worship. Desi and I both got teary eyed at church because of the magnitude of what was being discussed. The preacher was talking about how God talks to everyone in a different way. Some times it just seems like a coincidence and other times it might be more "audible." He was saying that when he felt called to be a minister, he felt that he heard God's voice tell him. But, not everyone will have the same experience and that we need to keep our hearts opened to whatever way it is God chooses to speak to us.  There was also a really cool little something that they did with the children at the children's sermon to send with the missionaries from their church, but you'll have to wait for the letter (via snail mail) to find out more. 

When it comes to this trip to Uganda, let me tell you that when the trip was being discussed last Sunday morning, I heard the Mercy Me song, "Hear Me" play in my head. The chorus goes like this:

Whom shall I send
Who will go for me
To the ends of the earth
Who will rise up for the King
Here am I send me
Here am I send me

Point being, don't pass up the God-incidence thinking that it's just a coincidence. 

At lunch today my mom (who really is the best mom I'll ever know) was talking about her feelings on my trip. She is really being as encouraging as she can when it comes to something that might seem scary to her. She is praying for me, she is happy for me, and she is proud that I am doing the Lords work. Thanks mom. This post is about reason 2039480279873049827 why I love my family. I only wish my dad could have joined us! 

Life Changing Things

There have been some life changing things going on in my life recently. So, here's all about it! One of my biggest desires is to live a life for the Lord; to be the person he created me to be and also follow Him in all situations.

Missions

For a few years now, I have felt a tugging at my heart to do some sort of mission work to spread the joy of Jesus. At First Wednesday in December (at my church) we met the Segner family, a sweet couple who was moving their lives to a 3rd world country to serve God, instantly, I knew that through prayer I could be right along with them. On Sunday at church, we were informed about a mission trip to Uganda to assist the Segners in any need they might have. I felt a huge urge to stand up and say, "take me." I called my mom after church and told her how strong my interest was in going.. I asked her to be open minded and to pray for me that the will of God be done. Surprisingly, she was extremely open-minded. I spent the next few days in prayer about what choice I should make. On Wednesday, I went to the informational and knew that it was where I was being called to go and help. I went to write my deposit check and realized that I had written my last check for 2 Mary Kay products... UGH. Please don't let this be a sign! So, I told them that I knew for sure God was telling me I was meant to be part of the team and they added me to the list. On Thursday, I left school right after duty and went straight to the church to drop off my check. I spent the next 30 minutes talking with some people I knew in my church (but had never met) who were also going on the trip. I can't even explain how I feel.. it is both surreal and I'm completely speechless. (I can't put into words the magnitude of blessings I feel for being given this opportunity. I already feel changes happening in my heart and I already feel the Holy Spirit guiding me through this process.) After leaning the church, I went home where I regularly check the mail first thing. I sat in my car opening mail and opened one card that was a thank you card... inside the card was a check for the exact amount of money I had to put down as my deposit. WOAH! He really is guiding me already... and I don't feel worthy... Here is a picture of some kiddos from the village that I will be serving.

The website is www.healingfaithuganda.org if you want some more information.

If you're the praying kind- please pray for my heart, the heart of those I will come into contact with, and that I will be able to raise the $4,000 I need to fly to Uganda on July 9th!

Christmas Break

This Christmas break was amazing. It was the best amount of time off I could have asked for. We got out the Tuesday before Christmas and didn't go back until January 9th. It was fantastic. I spent time with my family, best friends, and lots of babies. For Christmas, I got an amazing camera- a Canon EOS Rebel 2Ti... it takes great pictures. I want this to be my new hobby. I'm off to a good start, but it takes FOREVER to update pictures so I have to upload them a little at a time. 

We'll start with a goody. 

This handsome man in the suspenders is my Poppi. He is one of the biggest loves of my life. He is one of the best men I know (the other being my dad); he's handsome, loving, kind, giving, an amazing role model and is the reason my mom mothers the way she does, loves the way she does, and one of the reasons my parents know how to have a strong, healthy relationship. 

 This little guy here was a gift. One of my favorites.

 I'm just reading blogs with my pup Lola in my lap. I love her. (She needs a haircut- BAD!)

 Lola... in her Christmas outfit. She is pouting in my aunt's lap.

 GAME NIGHT! I think the games are from 1989. 

 2 of my best guy friends with Lo, David also took a picture where he and Lola were twins, but I figured he wouldn't appreciate that post. 

 The only people I see when I go home.. and my FAVORITES!

 Game/WINE night!

We finally got David a gift he LOVED. 

And he was surprised!

 

I took a small road trip where I got to see my LOVE Sam. Our first stop.. Sonic. We had both already eaten our grilled cheese with extra cheese... my tummy hurt. 

 Soooooo typical in our relationship.

He's a JCrew Model..

He's sexy and he knows it.  

 Finally, a good one. 

 Baby #1, Gemma, I finally met her and she is perfect, just like her mom Katrina. It was so good to see her, I've missed her too much. 

 My momma tried out my camera.

 NEW YEARS EVE! 

Sweet Shelby!

 Watching the fireworks: Emily and Jacob.

 My momma and I... I LOVE her. Best woman I know. 

 Some of the family enjoying the fire and fireworks. 

 i love sitting by the fire. 

 Being the kindergarten teacher that I am, I bought a box of sand art and we went to town! Here is one of the finished products.. by the end of the night, most were just brown sand in a container due to mixing up. 

 fireworks

 After coming back to College Station, I met baby Jack, my friend Christy's baby. He's a sweet little boy who adorably resembles an old man. He's going to be a heartbreaker!

 I watched my boo Jacque's baby while she and her husband went on a cruise. We had an amazing time!

 She crawled into the other room and it got really quiet. I went looking for her and this is what I found...

 A little fuzzy, but still cute.

 When I would try to take pictures of her she would try to lean around and look at me. It was adorable. 

Cammy Rose at Spoons, she likes to wear my lanyard and pretend to be Miss Farnie.

 Nash Marie in the bathtub reaching for the camera. 

 One of the sweetest/cutest smiles I've ever seen. 

 Sunday afternoon crafts with my girl Caitlin. I LOVE this craft.