Puppy Love!

Meet our new addition, Beau! Formal introduction to follow. =)

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Whoopie pies for Easter!
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saturday

hello friends!

I just have a few minutes for a short post.  this week was an integral part of Operation Manolo.  My hubby and I have been enjoying a week full of the benefits of owning a fine pair of shoes.  I think my husband may be hooked, which means I can really start talking to him about get our own pair.  You never really know what you want until you have it and have to return it.  

I'm so sneaky.

I better get back to enjoying my last few hours of fun!

Happy Saturday!

slacker...

Happy Friday to everyone!  I have been away and I am sorry.  I keep having these random "I should blog about that" moments and then I never actually get enough time to sit down at my computer.


Small recap on recent events-

1. My dear friends, the Hendersons, welcomed baby Elijah into their precious family last month.  I went down on a Wednesday evening and had a nice long visit.  My heart is so full for my friends and the joy that little Elijah has already brought them.  (And HAPPY BIRTHDAY today, friend!)
2. Bible study is amazing.  This study on David has been so informative.  David loved God through so many ups and downs.  I love, love, love this idea of seeking Him and not obsessing over your failures.
3. I hosted my first ever Supper Club.  I don't think I took any pictures, but I had an incredible menu.  It took days of preparation, but it was worth it.  I served baked brie with almonds and apricot preserves, artichoke cups, spinach salad with strawberries and feta cheese, lobster ravioli with creamy tomato vodka sauce, and flourless almond cake with frangelico whipped cream.  YUMM.  I promise to get better about posting food pictures.  Does anyone have tips for getting great pictures out of an average camera?
4. Chris and I had a blast at a friend's Super Bowl party.  We ended up being the only Saints fans and had oh-so-much-fun taunting our friends.  And I made some pretty awesome cupcakes.  Pictures to come...
5. My parents are mid-way through their mission trip in the Philippines!  I have been praying for them daily and can't wait to hear the about the work that God has done through them on this trip!  They won't be getting back until the 15th, so pray for safe travels home!!!

That's all for now.  No updates on Operation Manolo... other than I found a pair that I fell in love with, but the timing still isn't right.  Dropped a hint to my husband that V-day would be a great time for the surprise, but alas I am sure that he's not ready yet.  (I love that the word "alas" is in my blog)


More posts soon!  I am cooking dinner at home for Valentine's day with my hubby.  It's our first real Valentine's day. =)


Oh, I wanted to leave you with something.  It has been resonating in me since I heard it in bible study on Tuesday night...

Psalm 62

For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

How long will all of you attack a man

to batter him,

like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

They take pleasure in falsehood.

They bless with their mouths,

but inwardly they curse.

Selah

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

for my hope is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation and my glory;

my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah

 Those of low estate are but a breath;

those of high estate are a delusion;

in the balances they go up;

they are together lighter than a breath.

Put no trust in extortion;

set no vain hopes on robbery;

if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

Once God has spoken;

twice have I heard this:

that power belongs to God,

and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

For you will render to a man

according to his work.

wednesday bible study hangover.

For 2 years now, I have attended spring and fall semesters of Bible Study at the First Baptist Church of Houston.  I think it is part of "exactly where I am supposed to be" that I ended up in the same city as our wonderful teacher, Beth Moore and get to attend her live studies.  Tuesday nights are something that I look forward to every week.  I am so well fed during this time and it gives me energy for the rest of the week.  Most nights I am so excited about the lesson that I have to share it with my mom and usually my husband.  For that reason, I plan on sharing some of what I learn here. 

Last night was the first night of a 10 week semester in which we are redoing Beth's "A Heart Like His" study.  It is based on the life of David, a man through a rollercoaster of a life was a man after God's heart. 

So in our first week of the study, Beth laid some of the groundwork for the weeks to come.  We read out of 1 Samuel and learned about Samuel, the last of the judges, and how he was intertwined with Saul, the first of the kings.  Samuel spent his life trying to please God.  Saul for the most part was only concerned with appeasing him. 

Let me just tell you that I am fascinated with the narrative style of 1 Samuel.  I read the first 3 chapters this morning and had to make myself stop so I could get to work on time.  So many of us are so much more familiar with the New Testament and we don't spend much time in the Old Testament.  Most churches spend a vast majority of the time preaching out of the New Testament.  I understand that it is so important to teach the gospel so that all will hear.  But knowing the history of the Old Testament is going to put a fresh spin on what the gospel means and I couldn't be more excited about it.

This morning I read a passage out of 1 Samuel 3.  The boldness and authority in which God interacts with his people is astounding. 

Then the LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle - 1 Samuel 3:11

Can you even imagine?!?

Okay, back to the study. So we got a ton of background information on the time period.  Because Saul, who's name literally means "asked for" in Hebrew, was what the people asked for, God basically let the people have what they asked for.  He was a large man by stature but that was about the only leadership skill he possessed.  It was at this time that the stage was set for David.  In 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel told Saul

The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.

Beth has such a way with words.  She told us that Saul's fatal flaw was that his "position outweighed his passion".  When your "crown is heavier that your conviction" you will end up trying to appease God rather than pleasing him.  There are so many people in my life that I can see are truly after God's heart.  They fail like the rest of us, but they are chasing after Him. 

I'm going to spend these next 10 weeks striving to put aside my failures and focus on seeking God's heart.  He already loves me, not some future version of me.  I am not worthy of this kind of love, but God lavishes his love on me anyways.

He is so good. 

Operation Manolo

There is something on my wish list that I've been wanting for quite some time.  It's a little expensive, but a great investment.  There is just so much work to be done before I make this purchase.  I'll need to choose a style and color and maybe even a name!  But most importantly, before I do any of that, I have to get my husband on board.  

Let's call this Operation Manolo.

You might think it's weird that I'm thinking of naming a $700 pair of shoes.  It is. 

If you haven't caught on yet, let's just say I can't decide if I want this investment to come in a golden or chocolate color. 

Now, I have this plan for Operation Manolo.  You see, my husband doesn't appreciate expensive shoes because he's never owned a pair.  In February, we will be trying on a pair for around a week.  My hope is that after we have to give the shoes back, he will realize how much he really wants a pair.

That is when I'll attack suggest that maybe we should consider purchasing our own pair of Manolos.  I mean, come on, what girl doesn't deserve a fabulous pair of shoes?

I'm so sneaky...

the view from here.

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This is the view out my window... How on earth am I supposed to get any work done?

Did I mention that I LOVE Houston winters?  The high is going to be in the upper 60's today.

saturdays.

So I looooooooooove Saturdays.  This one was particularly good because it involved sleeping in, the most delicious cinnamon rolls known to man and a shopping adventure with a friend that just got home from being gone for too long.

My dear friend and fellow foodie, Kazia, arrived at my house on Saturday morning with these:

They are her grandmother's recipe and they were delicious.

We hit the outlets in Cypress and made out like bandits.

Ate lunch at Chic Fil A and headed home.

Yummmmmmmmmm.......

happy birthday, sister!

Happy Birthday, Kristy Bell!  I'm sure she's going to be ecstatic (and by ecstatic, I mean a little peeved) that I posted these here.  But I love her and hope she has the best birthday ever!  I'm pretty sure tonight we are celebrating her 4th annual 21st birthday.  It should be lots of fun with her crazy friends.

To my sister, who has been through everything with me...  I hope and pray that your 24th year will be a great one, filled with God's love and abundance of blessings.  You are an amazing woman with a heart like His.  I love you!!!

So many tears...

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Yesterday I heard about the earthquake in Haiti.  I'm almost embarrassed to say that the only reason I knew about it was because of twitter.  I had no idea that it was in the capital.  I had no idea that hundreds of thousands of people have died and the toll continues to rise. 

My heart has broken for these brothers and sisters of mine.  So many people are now asking "Why God?  Why me?  Why this?  Why now?"  It is my most sincere prayer that they see the mighty and loving God we serve and know that He is so much bigger than this.  Every tear that falls serves a purpose, each and every one.

So I will wait and watch with the rest of the world.  Praying that these people feel the radical and powerful love of God.

Man oh man is it a good night to catch up (over some delicious soup no doubt) with a dear friend that has been gone for too long.

post one.

So I've had this blog put together (sort of) for a week now, wondering what I should post first.  This morning it has come to my attention that (as I don't have any readers), the first post is not nearly as important as posting something.  So here we are...

It is my intention to blog often and not just about me.  Life can be too much (in a good way or a bad way) and often I find myself bursting at the seams to share.  A brief list of things you will probably see here:

• I am a total foodie.  I absolutely love to cook anything and everything. 
• I have no formal training in my above mentioned hobby.  While most of the things I prepare are edible, I am subject to spending inordinate amounts of time cooking and/or complete and total disasters. 
• I like to laugh at myself.  I can be a huge nerd/idiot.  Atleast I own it.
• God has done some amazing things in my life.  Looking back over the past few years, it is nothing short of a miracle that I am here and that He chose me to live this crazy life.
• A puppy is the thing I want most in this world.  I am constantly coming up with new ways to persuade trick my husband into agreeing with me.  I will inevitably include stories here.
• I am a new wife.  My husband is a good man and my best friend.  We are 8 months into our first year of marriage.  There have already been ups and downs, but there's not another person on this planet that I'd rather share those ups and downs with than him.
• Football and basketball.  Unless you know me, I bet you didn't see those coming as a topic of my blog based on the above list.  Yes, I am a sports fanatic.  I am an Aggie (can I get a Whoop?) but I find myself watching most any good game.
• I moved to Houston 2 years ago and have been placed amidst an insanely wonderful, ever entertaining group of friends.  A vast majority of these friends go to my church.  www.fcccdoc.org.  That will not be the last time you see this link on my blog.  Being connected with my church is a daily blessing for me. 

That's all for now!  As I am completely new to this blogging thing, please please please let me know what you think!  I take constructive criticism very well (especially if you include how wonderful you think I am)  :-)

Love, Love, Love,

Jen