Homecomings....

So Rachel's blog post made me think about this video. It's a little long but SOOO worth watching. Thank you Jesus for all our soldiers!

Soldier's Surprise Homecomings

Real people

Friday night I enjoyed a night of friends, cotton candy, cowboys, fast horses, wrecks, tacos and Aaron Watson! I didn't have my camera with me so I didn't get any pictures but I did steal some from Rachel. :)As we were walking around the fair grounds before the rodeo we got into a discussion about how many different types of people you see at the rodeo/carnival. We could spot all different types of people. A lot of this is kinda stereo typing but just so you get the idea we could spot people who were real deal western/cowboy, the wanna bes, the white trash type, the ghetto, the "normal," the gang thugish type, and on and on. We were discussing how it was kinda fun to see how many different type of people the carnival/rodeo/stock show attracts.
Later I was thinking about enjoying the friends I was with and realized that part of the reason I enjoyed them so much was that they are all not afraid to live who they are. As we watched all the different people around us, I begin to think that I was hanging out with 5 people who were all very different with differing backgrounds, interests, dressing styles, jobs and hobbies, and each one was comfortable with who they are. They were all just being real. There is quite an attractiveness in a person who is secure in who they are in the Lord. It made me desire to develop in the character and person that God made me. To live and walk in the plan He destined for me and not spend so much time looking at other people's plans. He has a destiny that is designed especially for me and one that's designed especially for you. Let's walk in our destinies!

My current office!

So we have a love seat that we keep put in storage. Well today was a beautiful day but I had already decided that I wanted to work on my new budget/spreadsheet since I'm a real adult now and have to pay health insurance and all that fun stuff. So since I didn't want to be stuck inside all afternoon I came up with a brilliant idea!!

I introduce to you......

my current, and movable, office!!


I was productive and still got to soak up some sunshine and is it just me or was I taking pictures of snow and ice just a week and a half ago?!?! Yup I'm pretty sure I was!

Oh how I love Texas!!

So I forgot....

Yeah I forgot about Valentine's Day. Ok I didn't really forget I just didn't think about it. I mean it was never special in anyway growing up and I just didn't think about it. Gunnar told me Friday I think that he had mailed me something and I thought "Oh snap! Oops!" So yeah I know its usually the guy who forgets but well I guess we sorta switched around on this one. I do have a gift for Gunnar but I'm making it, and he wont get it til later.

Ok so I don't know if anyone cares about this or not but I'm writing it because I want to remember. So I was never one for Valentine's Day and never really thought about it. Part of that was that I was always tough and strong and didn't see myself as very feminine or girly. I always kinda regretted that. Well in the last couple years God's has gently and lovingly helped me see myself as the woman He created. So now I find myself thinking about things out of old and long developed ways of thinking that I want to change. What's so wrong with Valentine's Day being special anyway? If I love someone who wants to make it special why would that be bad? And yet I used to think I didn't care about such things.

Well today I received a dozen red roses, delivered by Gunnar's mom which was really sweet. These are the first red roses I've ever gotten and I'm glad Gunnar was the first. That might be silly but I think I've just decided that I'm ok with that.
I also received a letter and these leather crosses. Gunnar is making a pair of chaps and he used some of the left over leather and made me a couple crosses to use as bookmarks or whatever. I love that! One it was just a little something that wasn't expensive or extravagant and yet was a special gift.

I also got a very fun and real phone call, which is very meaningful to me! I'm one of those quality time kinda people :)

So I guess I'm up for Valentine's Day after all. And it helps to have one great guy to make it special!!

Snow....well more like ice but ya know, close enough!

So Tuesday we closed the gym, HALLELUJAH!!, and I spent a nice cozy morning by my fire watching cars slip and slide outside my huge window! Later, though I got a little bored and decided that the roads were ok enough to drive to Mertzon. Dad said it should be alright. Well after a few rough spots and a little sliding I made it out to Mertzon and enjoyed a fun filled family day as ASU and Wyatt's job were both closed as well.

I'm a big fan of contrast so snow in a cactus makes for a pretty sweet picture in my book!

So this my my ideas and not Sara's but she sure did seem happy with it! haha

The newly engaged, and COLD, couple

It was so weird that you could play in the snow and it didnt melt and make you wet and colder! I mean I thought this was Texas?!?!

Penny made me come outside and take a few pictures of the huge icicles they found but I only lasted about 30 seconds because my hands got so cold I couldn't feel the camera buttons!

Road trip!!! and an ENGAGEMENT!!

So Eva and I both love basketball and Gunnar lives in College Station which happens to be the home of a pretty decent school with pretty decent basketball teams ;) so we decided to plan a road trip and go to a basketball game. Before we went Gunnar told me to bring my shotgun because we might get to shoot skeet. Well I was super excited because I haven't done that in a long time but I thought Eva wouldn't even want to try and we would have to make her try. Turns out I was dead wrong, I think she was more excited about it than I was!!! haha

Gunnar taught her how to hold the gun, how to load it, where and what the safety was and all that. He was a really good teacher and it was fun watching them try it out.

They put a clay pigeon in the brush first and she shot it. After that she wanted to try shooting a flying one and actually hit one her second round! YAY!! She did so good!
After shooting the 20 gauge she wanted to try her hand at a 12 gauge so Gunnar let her try that. She hit a flying clay pigeon with that one too. She said she was sore later and we think it was because she had such a death grip on the gun haha

Gunnar and I both had our fun shooting too! I'm so glad we got the chance to do that! Dad had given me a huge box of shells for Christmas so I was really happy that I got to use some of them!

The sharp shooter herself!

Yeah we're that cool!

After shooting we were planning on going to the A&M vs UT hockey game but apparently no one had anything to do Saturday night and they sold out right as we got there. We went home and hung out instead. Gunnar helped me make monkey bread and it was SOOO good! I always cook for Gunnar and his roommates when I visit so this time I made chili. It turned out really yummy and I secretly think that's the only reason his roommates like me! Not really! They're all great guys and are really fun to hang out with.

We ended the night with a feisty game of Settlers. I still don't think Gunnar has forgiven Eva for blocking his building scheme!

Sunday we went to a great church service and then headed to the game. Gunnar's cousin Emily also goes to A&M and some of her family was in town and had extra tickets so we sat with them. They are a lot of fun and the game was so good. Well except that we lost. The Baylor girls are No 1 and A&M is no. 6 and we lost by 3 points. ahhh so close. It was a record crowd for a girls game and really was enjoyable and exciting! Gunnar isn't really that into basketball so I'm trying to convert him and teach him to love it! haha

The "kids" after the game.

Eva, Me, Gunnar, Shea, Emily and Joe Todd

And I know some of you might not be interested in this but man it is so hard to leave. I just want to stay forever and it's so hard to leave not knowing when I'm going to see him again. I'm so glad that I am so blessed in so many ways and that there is so many good things to focus on!! But it's still hard. I just keep wanting just one more hug, one more goodbye , a few more minutes, and on and on...

But my sadness soon got pushed aside as right as I'm leaving Gunnar's house I get a text from my mom telling me that WYATT WAS PROPOSING!!! Yeah I called her right away to find out more! She told me she needed to call me back on the house phone as her cell phone doesn't get very good service at their house so in the minute it took her to do that I called Gunnar and just said, "Wyatt's proposing!! ok mom's calling me back I'll call you when I know more" and hung up! haha So I'm driving and trying to navigate traffic and talking on the phone and getting really excited and talking to my mom then calling Gunnar back and then finally I get a phone call from Sara. She was gushing and I'm not going to write her story here as I'm sure she'll want that pleasure but she didn't know I already knew and said "well I was going to send you something but my phone won't let me, so I'm just going to tell you..... I"M ENGAGED!!!" I was the first person she told because she knew I was out of town and wouldn't be at the house when they got there. That really meant a lot to me! As she told me the story I started tearing up which really surprised me. I'm so happy for them and am so honored to be part of it. I got to see the ring today and I must say that it is perfect. She was absolutely glowing today! I'm so excited and ready to help plan a wedding! Time to crack that maid of honor whip! haha

So overall it was an absolutely wonderful weekend! Yay for life!

For all you coffee lovers out there!

So this girl I work with kept telling me about this coffee that I should try but I never remembered to go get me some, so for my birthday a couple weeks ago she bought me a bag!

HEB makes it and it's called Taste of Texas. There are several different blends; Austin blend, San Antonio blend, Hill Country Blend and the kind I got is the Houston blend. From what they tell me it's the best one!


Pure bliss...