Go Hawks!

The Iowa Hawkeyes won against their rival, the Iowa State Cyclones, on Saturday. Here is a pic from my sisters blog of miss Lily being a cheerleader...the CUTEST cheerleader in the world.She calls the cyclones...cyclowns. I WILL be using this with my friend Wendy who you all know and love from Maid-Rite Friday. We are both from Iowa...but yet our friendship is torn apart by our loyalty to our teams, the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones. She calls me a Squakeye. I will now call her a cyclown.
We went to a sports bar on Saturday to watch the game...which ended up being an IOWA STATE ALUMNI gathering.
The room was full of red and gold.She got a little "Cy" squeeze thing...She thought it was all pretty funny...At first I told her that she owed me big time. I was representing though...But then I decided that I would be a loving friend and that she didn't owe me anything. GRACE. I was just showing her GRACE.We ended up winning!! GO HAWKS!! Which was excellent. There were 4 of us Hawkeyes amidst all of the Cyclowns...I mean Cyclones. It was great!
I had called my bro-in-law at the beginning of the game, who is a HUGE hawkeye fan, to let him know the situation that I was in...being surround by IA State fans. His response...
"You are calling during the Iowa game what do you want?"
"Joe...I'm surrounded...I'm surrounded by Red and Gold and Cyclones"
"What? What are you doing? Abort...get out of there now...as fast as you can."
My sister posted some pics of what he is like during the game. check it out here.
He usually gets up several times either jumping up and down, running around in circles or beating his head. He has been known to do some fast claps too. We like making fun of him quite a bit.

A Maid-Rite Invite

So we decided to open it up to whoever can handle it...

(ps...Wendy and I had just gotten done watching Iowa beat Iowa State in football. Wendy being a Cyclone and I being a Hawkeye...we have to give each other a lot of grace.)

Uni-Brow

Here is classic Noah quote from my sister:

""You know what I heard? I heard if you have a uni-brow, it means you're REALLY smart."

Flashback Friday

Here are a couple of pictures that I absolutely LOVE! One of my dad and I and then one of my mom and I, when I was a little one. So sweet!

New Shoes

Some Love

I got some love in the mail today...It pretty much made my day.
The Handsome Brown Boys:
McCarraghers...get on it...I need some love from your house too!

Blessed, So Blessed

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to lead worship at a women's event that we had through the Austin Stone. It was an amazing night. Jen Hatmaker came to speak and it was awesome.
My friend Kate played keys, I am so blessed by her!
Here are a few pictures of the night...

Jen, Kate and I with Jen Hatmaker

ps...
When I was loading up the stuff in my car I completely biffed it. I was completely on the ground...it was hilarious. I did wait...on the ground...for a few seconds, afraid that I had broken my ankle, but I talked myself into just walkin' it out...I gave myself a little pep talk..."Get up...you'll be fine...walk it out...keep going..."
I got up, looked...and saw a balcony full of construction workers who quickly looked away when we made eye contact.
Great. I had an audience.
Here is a reenactment photo...Nice.

Beyond Belief

Synopsis from Beyond Belief website:

Susan Retik and Patti Quigley are two ordinary soccer moms living in the affluent suburbs of Boston until tragedy strikes. Rather than turning inwards, grief compels these women to focus on the country where the terrorists who took their husbands' lives were trained: Afghanistan.

Over the course of two years, as they cope with loss and struggle to raise their families as single mothers, these extraordinary women dedicate themselves to empowering Afghan widows whose lives have been ravaged by decades of war, poverty and oppression - factors they consider to be the root causes of terrorism. As Susan and Patti make the courageous journey from their comfortable neighborhoods to the most desperate Afghan villages, they discover a powerful bond with each other, an unlikely kinship with widows halfway around the world, and a profound way to move beyond tragedy.

From the ruins of the World Trade Center to those of Kabul and back, theirs is a journey of personal strength and international reconciliation, and a testament to the vision that peace can be forged... one woman at a time.

(HT: Anna)

Remember 9/11

(HT Zach)

VOTE NOW!

Vote for my friend David Ramirez. If he gets in the top 10 after this round he gets to move on to compete to play at the ACL festival.
Vote here and make sure to confirm when you get the email.
DO IT!
you can also use multiple email addresses.
DOOOOO IT!!!

Galatians, Sewing and Tutus

So I'm really looking forward to some things coming up.

1. I'm taking a class at church on Galatians that is taught by the beautiful Kimberly Stewart. We already had one class and the homework has been AMAZING. I'm excited to grow! I also love that I am surrounded by amazing beauty in these women who are taking the class with me.

2. I'm hopefully going to be taking a sewing class. The beautiful Robie Dodson, who I met at Kimberly's baby shower, teaches sewing classes! Charlotte and I are going to look into getting a group together! I'm really excited! Watch out...I WILL learn how to make cute stuff.

3. This one is a little silly and crazy...I think I am going to be taking a ballet class. I know you are picturing me in a tutu and you are laughing. I am too. But thankfully tutus and tights are NOT required. My beautiful friend Melissa is a ballerina and will be teaching a class for her friends who have always wanted to be dancers! How fun is that?! I think I will laugh a lot. I'm planning on bringing my camera because I'm counting on there being some good pictures...mostly of me not being able to touch my toes and me not being able to get back up after a one of those little squat positions...whatever they're called. Or maybe for fun I will actually show up in a tutu! THAT would be worth taking a picture of!

Chick-fil-A

I'm a fan of Chick-fil-A.
This is what I saw the other day when I stopped for lunch...This is what he ended up doing when no one was around. I don't blame him since it was 100 degrees out.So random. so funny.

I've Been Workin' On the Railroad

You'll have to check this out. My nephews Will and Sam singing I've Been Workin' On the Railroad.
so funny!

Keepin' Austin Weird in Iowa

Isn't my mom adorable?! I got her this shirt because she is wild and funky. She's artsy and fartsy. She knows how to brigthen up her stairs and is not afraid to add polka dots. She knows how to put on a great performance...if you haven't experienced that, let me tell you that she received a "10" and a "best performer" rating for her performance in this video. I really think she would fit in in Austin! Don't you think?!!? (except for the hot weather.)

I LOVE HER!

What?!

What in the world is going on!? is this for real?! For some reason I could see my bro-in-law (Joe) doing this song!

Jesus is Still Alright

I seriously can't get enough of these guys. I had a good laugh today with this one.

Free People

I'm lovin' these styles from Free People. I visited this store at the Domain and said out loud, "I could seriously buy everything in this store." BUT...there is absolutely NO WAY I could afford anything. Even the little tank tops were $50.
They have super cute stuff.
It is really making me want to make my own stuff. I'm thinking about taking a sewing class. My mom got me a sewing machine a couple of years ago and I'm VERY sad to say that I have not used it. :( I know, sad. (don't be mad at me mom!) I absolutely LOVE it and LOVE the fact that I own a sewing machine, I just don't have any clue what to do or how to use it! Hilary has used it several times to make baby towels.
I have vowed that before the end of the year I will learn and create cute things. (maybe I will actually be able to contribue to our mom & daughters journal, "Things With Wings"!)

Creative and Orderly

I was so blessed by this reading this morning during my quiet time. It's from Beth Moore's book "Whispers of Hope" the reading was from Genesis 1:1-27; 2:1-3

God recorded His word through the pens of inspired men chiefly for one reason-to tell us about Himself. In the first few sweeps of ink, He demonstrated something vastly important among His attributes: He is CREATIVE. Scarcely before the ink could dry in the first sentence, God revealed something else-He is ORDERLY.
Only God could combine wholly creative and completely orderly. Some of us are refreshingly creative and others, thankfully, are orderly; but often we can hardly abide one another. If wisdom prevails, however, we eventually discover we need one another or our different contributions are unbalanced and lacking.
God, on the other hand, needed no one to complete Him. He created the heavens and the earth simply because He wanted to. Afterward, He looked on His perfect blend of creativity and orderliness and said, "This is good-very good in fact." God still considers a blend of creativity and order an effective way of working with us. If you are His child, God is working in your life in both creative and orderly ways. He desires to be entirely creative with you. Do you allow Him the freedom?
What God is doing in your life right now may not make sense to you, but it's not because He's nonsensical. It's because He's creative. God wants us to surrender to His will, but we tend to want a blueprint of His plans so we can decide whether or not to surrender. In John 21:21, after Christ gave Peter a glimpse of his future, Peter asked a question splitting at the seams with human nature: "Lord, what about him?" Like us, Peter derived a strange sense of security from sameness. As you search for your calling, do you attempt to find someone He is using in exactly the same way? Stop! Of the six billion people on this planet, that person may not exist-because God is creative.
Some can easily relate to the variety in God's plan. We thrive on creativity. Sameness bores us, but we still need the dependable security God offers. Creativity by itself creates only chaos. Our perfectly balanced God is also orderly. He has a day-by-day plan for your life. That's why it's so important to meet with Him-you guessed it-day by day.
Had you been a spectator during only the first three days of creation, you might not have judged it as good. What good are seed-bearing plants with no sun for photosynthesis? In His wisdom, God knew the work was good because He knew what was coming next. He knows what's coming next for you. That's why He can judge His work in you as good. Give God room to be completely creative. Meet with Him daily as He unfolds the plan in perfect order. He's really good at what He does.

Hotel Cafe Tour

Hotel Cafe Tour in Austin.
October 17. The Parish.

The lineup for Austin:

Ingrid Michaelson
Meiko
Priscilla Ahn
Erin McCarley
BROOKE FRASER!

My heart is racing.
I heart Austin and I heart Brooke Fraser.
It's on my calendar.

Love Me

"Love Me" by JJ Heller
I can't stop listening to this song. It is on my heart and my heart breaks thinking about those who are wanting and yearning to be loved. I've been in that place of just wanting to be loved for who I am. My heart then rejoices that Jesus loves deeply, loves in a way that satisfies my yearning for love. It's a love that true and a love that is just what I need. Here is a video of this song and the lyrics.
Logan Show Performance - Love Me

He cries in the corner where nobody sees
He's the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, "Dear God won't you please
Could you send someone here who will love me?"

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
'Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means

Her office is shrinking a little each day
She's the woman whose husband has run away
She'll go to the gym after working today
Maybe if she was thinner
Then he would've stayed
And she says...

Who will love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me?
'Cause nobody has shown me what love, what love really means

He's waiting to die as he sits all alone
He's a man in a cell who regrets what he's done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
"Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home"

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said
"I know you've murdered and I know you've lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you'll listen, I'll tell you that I..."

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew

Found

I wanted to share some sweet lyrics. Our new worship leader Aaron Ivey wrote this song and we've been singing it in church. It has blessed me over and over again.

Jesus, Healer of brokenness
Savior, Fixer of troubled souls
Redeemer, turning my eyes to thee
Mighty God, just and merciful

Oh God of beauty and grace
You are my resting place
All of my life is found in You
You've taken my brokenness
Made me whole once again
All of my life is found in You
I'm found in You

All my security, my destiny
What lies ahead is found in You
All my hopes and dreams
And my thoughts unseen
All my wants are found in You
What I dread and fear
All that weighs me down
All my trust is found in You
My sustaining breath
All that gives me strength
All life-giving is found in You

Today

I enjoyed this that a friend passed on to me. I believe it's from "Purpose Driven Life"

Today I am stepping across the line. I'm tired of waffling and I'm finished with wavering, I've made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I'm going God's way. There's no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet for God's glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, "we" over "me", character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most and I'll give it all I've got. I'll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won't be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I'll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won't back up, back off, back down, back out or backslide. I'll just keep moving forward by God's grace. I'm Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I'm a trophy of God's amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for everyday, and generous with everything God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I'm ready. Anytime, anywhere, anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; Whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I'll hear you say, "Well done, thou good and faithful one!"

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."--Hebrews.

Weather Forecast

I'm happy that right now it is 78 degrees and the high is only going to be 92!! YES!

Movies in the Park

Last weekend some friends got together to go to the movies in the park. Every summer, Alamo Drafthouse sets up a huge screen in Republic Square park downtown and they show a movie the last Saturday of the month! and it's free! FUN!
Here are some pics.

Jen and I...

Wendy and I doing...a dance...or something...

Wendy, Leona and I...

Wendy and I...don't ask...

Do I have anything in my teeth?...um...no, not at all.

Anyone guess that movie? (that wasn't there or didn't know about it)

Jumping in the Pool...Fully Clothed

So this happened the other night. Travis, Hilary and I were sitting out by the pool one evening. Hilary and I decided that we wanted to jump in the pool....fully clothed.
I then decided that if we were going to do that, it needed to be documented.
So I ran and grabbed my camera and grabbed a couple of towels.
It then turned into a not so spontaneous thing...since I grabbed my camera and some towels.
Travis was the commentator and we jumped.
Then when we got to the apartment and weren't quite sure what to do since we were completely soaked.
Travis came up with the tricky towel technique. We went along with it and we laughed a lot.
See for yourselves...

Noah

Just so Noah doesn't feel left out. Here he is takin' it easy. Here is a classic Noah story to make you laugh.

Brown Boys

OK. so maybe I'm missing my nephews and niece. Can you tell?!
I had to post this picture too...of some of the most handsome boys in Iowa. Will, Sam and Max.

Lily Margaret

My lovely started preschool today! She's been waiting so long for this day! Isn't she lovely!? You can read more about her day on my sister's blog.
I love her. Sweet Lily Margaret!

Jackson

My nephew Jack turned 12 this last weekend. Can you believe it?! Isn't he handsome!? He is such a blessing to this family! He's so cool. Love you Jack!

VOTE!

You all need to go here and vote for my friend David Ramirez. It literally takes 15 seconds.
If he wins he gets to play on the Dell stage at Austin City Limits. HUGE deal.
All you have to do is enter your email address, it will send you a confirmation email and make sure to check your email and click on the link. That's it.
Check out his music here.
He's awesome! I got to "open" for him at a party last year. He's a great guy and you should all go and vote NOW! GO! and tell your friends to vote. blog about it and VOTE!

Cover Tune Grab Bag

Dorks. I LOVE it.

Free Music

There are a couple of amazing albums I wanted to tell you about, and they are FREE!
The first one is "Painted Red" by JJ Heller. Click here to download. The second one is Phil Wickham's "Singalong". Download here.

Maid-Rite Friday Parts 2 & 3

Maid-Rite Friday part 2 happened with not much excitement, although it ended up being a Maid-Rite "Friday"/Saturday.
*for those of you who are new to Maid-Rite Friday, check out this previous post.*
These were the few pictures that I took...Lame I know. Except for the first one if Wendy looking adorable cooking the most amazing meal EVER. The next one was her amazingly old microwave and then the last one is her cat. For all who know my not so love of cats you will think this is funny. I swear I caught her drinking out of my glass. NAST.
Oh and we watched the movie Twister filmed near Ames, Iowa.
Maid-Rite Friday part 3 was a little more eventful as we went to get our usual menu of foods we decided to try yet another new Maid-Rite recipe involving Chicken Gumbo soup. Anything with the word Gumbo in it has to be good right?

We went to get our "Zesties" and we couldn't find them. My heart started racing and we started to panic a bit.I looked everywhere behind bags in front of bags, on different shelves. Nothing. Just as we were about to give up...I decided that I couldn't leave without giving it one more try. I reached in started pulling out bags and lo and behold..."HALLELUJAH!"Zesties!!

Shhh...momma's here.

There was even a little victory dance. It's a little frightening. sorry.

I macro-ed the zesties...

and I macro-ed the maid-rite. (NAST!) it really is tasty...I promise.

Wendy was really livin' on the edge and decided to go for two Zesties at the same time. She's crazy like that.We watched the movie Final Season that was filmed in Norway, IA and also Cedar Rapids, IA.
It was truly amazing. We are confident that Sean Astin was indeed eating a Maid-Rite in this scene!!

And one of the baseball players did indeed do the Maid-Rite Friday dance:

Amazing.