Good to Be Crazy

"If nothing else, what Dan and I have learned over the last year is this: if you're clinging too tightly to your things, to your plans, to your comfort and convenience, to your idea of what your family should look like -- God cannot move in your life."

God is reveling in this family's story of doing the brave, crazy things we were made to do for our neighbors. What can this be in my life?

http://www.goodtobecrazy.com/2011/01/once-upon-time.html

House Tour

My cousin Davis is going to make some pretty pottery for my house (can't wait!), and wants to see pictures since he hasn't been here. So, I thought I might as well stick them up here so he can refer back.

These are some of my

favorite flowers on the porch, but they're not holding up too well in this dry heat.

My little living room

Dining Room

Kitchen (with my cute rug that I bought with Aunt Jana's Pier 1 gift card)

Messy bedroom

And the details...

Fabric of bedroom drapes

Living room art

Dining room art

And last, but not least, my mermaid bag!

Summer Goals

I'm copying my friend Clara and coming up with some goals for the summer! Five are ones I came up with, and five are taken from Clara's friend's options.

1. Learn how to shuffle cards. (DONE! My card-playing grandparents and aunt taught me the right way when I was home last weekend.)

2. Take an Austin trip!

3. Make this cake http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/carrot-cake-recipe.html

4. Go to at least three concerts

5. Take the Inprint writing class (I had my first one last Wednesday, and I love it so far)

and from Clara's friend...

6. Make popsicles (I saw a recipe for plain greek yogurt with jam.. it's gonna happen!)

7. Give a surprise bouquet of flowers to a friend

8. Host a summer dinner party

9. Have a picnic (hello, Miller Outdoor Theatre!)

10. Make my own art

Things I Like

I like how older Texans say, "I'm proud for you" instead of "I'm proud of you."

Baron Batch played football with my brother Collin in high school. He has a brother my age, and I knew for some reason that their siblings lived with other families. Baron is now trying out for professional football teams and writes a blog for the Lubbock paper. Read his story... he is brave and sensitive in sharing his story (and a great writer)
http://lubbockonline.com/sports/2011-04-15/batch-my-story-batch-looks-back-tough-youth-shaped-his-hopeful-future?v=1302912499

My gorgeous flowers from the sweet new boyfriend!

The line-up for Free Press Summer Frest--I'm proud for Houston :)

http://www.freepresssummerfest.com/

All these new babies in my friends' lives!

Movin' On

Things were going so smoothly until an hour ago! I had the exact amount of boxes needed for packing, the movers were scheduled, the power and gas are on at the new place. Then, when I texted the movers to ask if they're having trouble finding my place, I found out that their "first move of the day was taking longer than expected." I doubt they really had a move scheduled before 9:00am, and they really forgot about me. Not a huge deal. I could take some time to get coffee and do a little work while I wait a couple more hours for them.

I got in my car (that I had just moved 20 minutes before), and it wouldn't start! Luckily, the shop around the corner said they can get to it today.

Bigger things in the world. Hoping the rest of it doesn't get snagged up!

My Favorite Memories of 2010

In the swimming pool, Collin and Tyler waltzed together in preparation for the wedding reception. Sweet and so funny.

Spending two blissfully fun weeks in Argentina with Tiffany.

Becca is my sister-in-law! So glad she's part of our family now!

Becoming friends with Jean when I needed her help for a work project. Finding friends in the ordinary (but often unpursued) places.

Tyler getting sober and moving to Austin. Seeing him happy, growing, and doing things his own way.

Practicing dating! Not always fun, but I feel like I'm inching closer to balancing wholeheartedness and healthy boundaries. Also, realizing that break-ups after short term relationships are much less painful than after a four year (sad, miserable, frustrating, unnecessarily long) relationship.

Sitting on a Mexican blanket with Tricia watching Carrie Rodriguez stomp and sing her heart out in a little yoga studio.

My grandparents, who after more than 70 years of living, confront their own discomfort by starting to routinely tell us they love us. I've always known it, felt it, seen it, but every time I hear it coming out of their mouths now I am reminded that we can always keep growing.

Cleaning the yoga studio in return for unlimited free classes. Love this part of my days!

Getting to know our Wednesday night kids better--gratitude for their willingness to share painful struggles (and to share what I learned from my own painful childhood experiences). Love that they keep coming back, and that we get to spend time together getting closer to God, sharing questions, and becoming friends. Also, so appreciative of Sara and James!

My Uncle Randy who went to Haiti over and over again to provide medical care and social help to people who are without houses, mothers without places to give birth to babies, children without moms or dads living alone in the streets. He lost his job as a result. He was brave enough to open his heart to the overwhelming pain that left the rest of us turning off our televisions because we couldn't handle witnessing the suffering people are experiencing.

Blah

I don't want to go to work tomorrow. Today, I slept til 9:30. This two week break could not come any sooner! For the most part, I like the kind of work I do. I feel lucky that I've been able to identify what I'm passionate about and to end up in a much better place than I would have expected at 25 without a graduate degree. Sometimes, though, I let the bad, frustrating things take over. One of my goals for 2011 is to find a mentor(s). Seriously lacking area in my life.

My family is going to San Antonio for Christmas, staying in a fancy old hotel and doing grown up things like eating nice meals and going to the Tuna Christmas play on Christmas evening. This is a good (after so much sad and worrisome) time for our family. Thank God for doing bigger things than I could ever "fix"!

After our vacation, I'm coming back to Houston and will have (for the first time) a whole week off in town. I am so, so looking forward to this. To sleep, to take care of my body, to spend time with friends, to do all of the little things I've been putting off for months, to spend time in quiet reflection for the coming year, to do fun things. This will be my time to hit re-set and start fresh.