And the Two Become One...

Beautiful day for a beautiful couple!!!

Goin' to the chapel...

Dinner!!! and the after partay!!!!

The getaway...

CONGRATULATIONS

Mr. and Mrs. Martinez!!!

My precious cousin Crystal has become a second sister to me over the past few years.

On this beautiful day, February 27, 2008

Crystal got married!!!

Welcome to our family Phillup!!!

I was honored to be one of the witnesses

and the last minute amateur photographer.

Crystal was an absolutely gorgeous bride!!!!

....and Phillup was quite studly-looking as well ;)
I pray the Lord blesses their marriage abundantly!

In his message Sunday morning, Steve kay advised,

"If you want your spouse to love you better,

help them love the Lord better."

How beautiful and appropriate for such a

beautiful and memorable day!

Finding Peace in Pieces of Glass

I've had a lot on my mind lately as I try to cope with the disabling disease of busy-ness. This morning I was blessed to catch up with Kat and I realized how "out of it" I've been the past few weeks. How am I doing? Hmmm, the initial answer (or lack there of) that popped into my overflowing brain was, "to be honest I haven't really thought about it so I'm not really sure..." But I honestly answered, "I have my ups and downs." Don't we all, of course. I appreciate tremendously the friends that sit down and discuss life and faith in depth. I guess it had been a while since I did that and fellowshipping with Kat helped me tackle the process of sorting through my thoughts. What a precious, beautiful, and encouraging Godly young woman you are Kat!

God has been so faithful. He is teaching me so much lately and I get so excited when I realize how much my love for Him is increasing with my passion for Him.

I praise Him daily... and nightly.

Nights see a lot of action in our part of town. Last night I pulled up into our driveway after a long day at work and a refreshing Bible study with our small group thinking I would finish up some homework and turn in for a good night's sleep. Harley had just curled up into her spot in the corner when we heard screaming, hysterical laughter, and glass shattering outside. The security lights lit up the backyard and Harley stuck her giant nose through the window blinds in the kitchen to check things out. When I mustered up the energy to see what was going on, I caught a glimpse of people throwing glass objects into our backyard and at my front door. All the neighborhood dogs were barking, my car alarm was going off, the neighbor's car alarm was going off, and Harley was attacking the kitchen window in an attempt to scare off the intruders. The neighbors must have beat me to calling the police (which is pretty impressive since they're on my speed dial) because I noticed flashing red and blue lights in the alley behind our yard. This morning I contemplated the situation as I swept up the broken glass (which turned out to be Christmas tree bulbs and other glass decorations) on the front porch and sifted my fingers through the grass in the backyard making sure I didn't miss any slivers that Harley might step on.

Sometimes I wonder if I exaggerate the conditions of our neighborhood. I think, deal with it and clean up the messes as they come. It's not like I'm living in some third world country or being persecuted for my faith or anything. I have had fantasies about living in your typical suburban American dream home with a white picket fence. Or, to the opposite extreme of what it might be like to live as a missionary in Africa or South America in no more than a hut. But these fantasies are interrupted by convictions of blessedness in the here and now. I wrestle with adjusting my mind to think like Christ here at home, not just as I dream of life in far off places in the future. How blessed am I to have a home, my family, my job, my education, my ministry opportunities with our neighbors, coworkers, fellow students, and so on. Extremely blessed! And when the Spirit stretches my heart to see my life as Christ does, I praise Him! What peace and contentment I find here in the midst of broken glass, irritating car alarms, and barking dogs...because Christ gives understanding for not only how to live, but why we live, and it really doesn't matter where.