Houston home

We have now been living in Houston for 6 months...crazy! Its been a great adventure so far and we are excited to see what more our King has in store for us in this crazy bustling city we now call home.

During these last 6 months I have been unemployed. I complained a lot at first, but then this whole staying at home cooking, cleaning, decorating, painting and being uber craftsy really grew on me and now I'm beyond words grateful for this time I've had to process and explore new things. With all this creative time and energy our house became my canvas. I found myself changing something everyday or coming up with new ideas to avoid having to go out and buy something that is not what I really wanted. So here are some pics of our casa.

Kitchen window looking out into the backyard

Dinning room

Dinning room from the living room

I made this rug from 2 coffee bean sacks :)

ART ROOM!!!

Simeon's office/ guest room

Tree I painted for Simeon

I refurbished the night stand...it took forever,

but I think it is pretty darn cute now

not a great photo...

Simeon's awesome desk. We found this super cool door on one

of our curbside scavenges :)

These mason jars were my grandparent's that we re-purposed for our bathroom

Simeon's Aunt and uncle gave us this beautiful cargo

hutch along with 2 sofas and a bed! We are so thankful!

Kitchen!

Our bedroom

"Hinds' Feet on High Places"

" Love is beautiful, but it is also terrible-- terrible in its determination to allow nothing blemished or unworthy to remain in the beloved." The Shepherd

I have had loads of time to read this summer.  One of the books that I read early in the summer was very impacting to my life.  The quote above comes from the book, "Hinds' Feet on High Places."  The book is allegorically written.  The main character is "Much-Afraid" and her journey to "The High Places."  Words cannot express how much I felt myself identify with Much-Afraid.  I use to find myself fearless and invincible.  I did not think twice about going to overseas, I knew it was what I was suppose to do.  I felt so confident and assured that I was walking in the right path  and that I had no reason to fear.  I knew my God would protect me and if anything did happen I knew whole-heartedly that he is Sovereign and that I would be with him in life or death.  However, I have struggle this last year, year and half with fear.  At times I feel that it could overtake me at any moment.  I don't understand why this feeling of fear has grown so strong.  Is it because I've finally reached that age of knowing I'm not invincible any longer?  Reading the story of "Much-Afraid" helped  me to understand that I don't have  to be afraid and even when I am afraid the Great Shepherd still loves me and does not think any less of me.  He longs for me to reach and live in the High Places.  He longs for me to trust him and understand, accept and share his love.  He wants to give me Hinds Feet so that I can not only endure difficult situations or times, but grow and have an overwhelming confidence that He is with me always and has equipped me to be His daughter and therefore do what I am called to do.  God loves me so much that he is NEVER going to stop sifting the things that are not from Him out of me.  His love does not give up.  

While reading this book I sat in front of my easel.  I felt so inspired and full of joy, love, peace and just plain freedom that I had to create something while God is continuing to create in me a new heart.  This is probably one of my favorite paintings I have ever done.  Its nothing special in appearance perhaps, but so many tears and epiphanies are painted in each stroke of my brush.  I haven't painted anything for myself in very long time...I have felt limited in creativity because I always have commissions that I need to work on and therefore I'm dependent on other peoples creativity to get my hand moving.  So this painting represents freedom to me.  Freedom from fear and disappointment.  It also reminds me of God's love for me and how he is continually washing me over with new colors of brilliance and beauty.  As much as I don't want to part with this painting, I think its necessary to continue to live in freedom.  At times I feel that I won't be able to recreate or even create something new or old.  The more I give or sell my paintings the more I have to depend on God to give me ideas or bring me people with ideas.  So this painting is for sell for $200.  

Paintings...

The first ten paintings I did for a friend to give to all of her bridesmaids and house party.  It was such a fun experience.  The bride told me about each of her friends and how special and unique they are.  I was able to draw ideas from what she was telling me and create something personal for each girl.  

The last painting I painted for a friend in College Station.  Trees are very meaningful to her and she had such a beautiful image painted in her mind that she shared with me and then I attempted to create a physical piece of remembrance for her.  

Sometimes just painting commissions can be stressful and difficult...for a number of reasons.  At the same time I think everyone is creative in different ways.  Many people come up with images in their head that they would love to see painted.  I'm glad I get to be apart of other peoples creativeness...actually I've kind of become a little dependent on it!  

Papa's Provision

It has been some time since I have sat down to blog. I first started blogging because I was in Barcelona and wanted to keep people informed of the adventures going there. After my time in Spain, there was not a whole lot that I felt the need to share with the rest of the blog world. Really I just do not like sitting down to write about things that are not worth sharing. I think too, I'm wee bit lazy. I'm tired of excuses for not sharing things that I feel people need to hear. There are great things to share. Not for my glory but for my Fathers Glory. Despite my desire to please those around me and not put myself out there for criticism, I'm taking a step in faith to share of the love of Jesus Christ and his adoration for His children. So, here goes.

August 7, 2009 I married my best friend. We were not, and still aren't, finished with school. We both work part-time jobs and have been part time students for the most part. We knew that in deciding to get married while we were still in school we could possibly have some difficultly financially, but we didn't care. We both lived very frugal lives and still do. In deciding to go ahead and get married, we have seen Jesus provide in some beautiful ways. So I'm going to share with you some of those ways. I think it is important for believers to know, so that we can celebrate and rejoice in the love of our Father and how good He is to His children. To clarify, I'm not saying this just because he gave Simeon and I some material things. The Creator of the Heavens and Earth loves and delights in his children and he gives reasons every moment of everyday to rejoice and celebrate. So,I don't want to just share when God gives us material goods, but I want to learn to share more of the grace He has shown me, what He is teaching me, how is showing His love to me by refining me, not just the material provision. Today though, I am going to share the material provision God has lavished on us.

Back in December we asked for Best Buy gift cards for Christmas. We were in dire need of a new computer. We were blessed to receive just what we asked for. The gift cards were not going to quite cover the cost of a new computer, but they were sure going to help. So we were still trying to figure out how to come up with money to make the purchase.

We went to Alabama for part of our Christmas break and visited with some dear friends. On the way back the wife of the couple decided to ride with us back to Texas. So we went to pick her up and while we were at there apartment, the need for a computer came up some how. These dear friends then offered us an extra computer they had that they weren't using. We were in shock and overcome with thankfulness.

So we still have the Best Buy gift cards at this point.

Also in December Simeon was offered a job in Houston. He accepted the job and now we are making the steps to move to Houston. We are stoked. We also acknowledged that I am directionally challenge and Houston is MASSIVE! So we thought that using the Best Buy gift cards should be put towards a GPS device. The gift cards were still not going to cover the full cost of the GPS, so we have just been waiting until we could afford to make up what the gift cards would not cover.

Simeon had coffee with friend last week. His friend and finacee are moving to Houston after they get married. So the boys were talking about Houston and the need of a GPS. His friend already had one. Moments later a girl came and tapped on Simeon's shoulder with a GPS in her hand. She explained to Simeon that she felt embarrassed for having been listening to their conversation, but she couldn't help herself. She then explained that her family is very blessed and that they have at least 5 GPS devices and that she no longer needs the one in her hand. She told Simeon that she wants us to have it. AMAZING!

So to this day we still have our Best Buy gift cards.

Another event that took place between the two previous stories was during Spring Break. My grandfather on my mom's side passed away from numerous health issues. It was really hard on my mom. He was her best friend and I think his life made her feel like her life had purpose ( which her life still has a lot of purpose). I knew that we (Simeon, my sister and I), needed to make the trip to Alabama for his memorial service. At this point we are struggling financially and spring break was going to be our catch up week. We believed though that Lord would provide ( i was still anxious despite my words though). I shared all of this with a dear friend. The Sunday following the Friday of my grandfathers death my dear friend approached me with $100 bill in hand. She explained that God left it in the grass for her mom to find and for them to give it to us to help us go to Alabama. Again, we were shocked, humbled and extremely grateful.

I hope you are encouraged by these 3 stories. They have encouraged us deeply. I want to never forget the amazing things God has done for me. The small and the big things. I want to take from experiences like these a stronger unmovable faith that God is going to do far more than I ever expected and provide in amazing ways for His GLORY alone. Praise be to God!

Lastly, today is Good Friday. Many years ago Jesus died for us on this day. Why? Because of love. He knew that if He gave himself to death the people He loved so much would get to spend eternity with Him if they chose/choose to believe. What a reason to celebrate!

good intentions

Tomorrow finals start. I have my History of the New Testament final along with a paper due. Tuesday I have my Art History test and Wednesday my Anthropology test and then I'm done...well for the semester. I can't believe how fast time has flown by. Just yesterday it feels like I just stepped off the plane from Barcelona. Now I'm about to embark on another adventure with my 3rd summer at Camp Tejas and then another semester in Barcelona then back to A&M until I graduate...I hope.

Reflecting on how this semester has gone, I have to say its bitter sweet. My intentions of not becoming a super busy American turned out to just be intentions and not reality. Sadly my friends and other people in my life were not a top priority apart from God. School seemed to consume me and I'm sad that I let it. People are so much more important than school ever will be, yet I did not live that way this semester. In other ways it was a great semester, I learned so much. I came to the conclusion that it is not bad to be an American, but it is bad to act like its the only way life can truly be life. I was born in the US for a purpose and I have learned to be thankful for that. Adjusting from life in Spain was difficult at times, but all in all God has been so gracious. He has allowed my friends to be understanding and be gracious towards me. He has allowed so many sweet moments to just spend time with him. I have forsaken him so many times. I let my fear and worries about school consume me, rather than trusting in the one who holds all things together and knows what is going to happen and what needs to happen. The Lord truly blessed me with some wonderful roommates, which I am beyond words to express my thankfulness for their lives. Two of them are getting married and though I'm so excited for their new lives that they are about to begin, I must say I'm sad i won't get to live with them any longer. The Lord has also brought a wonderful man into my life that makes me want to fall more in love with my savior each time i talk to him. There is so much that I have not yet learned, but its not a race its takes years and experience to gain wisdom. Its been a funny semester, not at all like what I was expecting. I expecting to stay angry at the American culture, spend more time with friends than school, paint more often, stay single and lots of other things that just didn't happen.
Well, those are my thoughts. I should probably start studying for my final and finish my paper. Happy Thursday.

Silent Buses

I go to a University of 47,000 students. As soon as we get accepted to Texas A&M we have an instant connection, we are all Aggies now. So why is it when riding the bus, we ride in silence? I mean we all have at least one thing in common, so why do shut down as soon as we get in the presence of the thing that takes us to campus or home? Everytime I walk to the bus stop I tell myself, "okay, today i'm going to talk to the person I'm sitting next too, b/c this is just ridiculous!" So I get on the bus full of good intentions and see that the person I'm sitting next too has already cut me off with technology singing in their ears...the i-pod. So I have continued to ride in silence with the rest of the aggies on my bus. Its really sad. Today there was an awesome song from 90 's on (I can't remeber what is was right now). It took everything within me (kind of) to not get up and start dancing and telling people how silly it is that we don't enjoy our rides to campus and home by talking to eacher other. Maybe I should initiate a game...hmm.

I have been reading a bunch of books and different cultures. One of them was talking about how American's are so friendly and willign to offer opportunities to hang out with people, yet we never follow through it seems. I feel like in general (which I hate generalizations, but well here goes) that we tend to be consumed with how feel about something that we forget about the people around us. I'm selfish, i know that full well. Meeting and taking the opportunity to know other people are so important to how to gain different perspectives on the world. People are worth our time and our discomfort. I know how it feels when someone takes time to ask me about my life and just pay some attention to me...yet I'm so shy in returning it. I pray that I won't ride a silent bus for all my time at A&M. Its just sad.

Overwhelmed

Classes started on Monday. They are all really interesting and I have awesome professors. HOwever, they are all reading intensive and important to my major. I love to read, so I don't think it will be so bad once I get a routine down. Along with classes, the carrer center came and talked to my Intro. into International Studies class today about all the things we need to do to get prepared to find a job before we graduate. I have never worried about what I'm going to do after I graduate, until today. I don't know why, i just all of sudden was so unsure of everything my heart has been saying to me for so long. I started to make a list in my head of people to talk to about future carrers and paths that would be good for me to follow. As I'm typing this and rereading what I just put down, i'm seeing that thats not me and I don't believe that I am suppose to go into some kind of international buisness, or teaching or whatever else those people may say. I know my heart and I what I want to do. Way above that, I belive and trust that God knows my heart as well and He is going to take care of me...and all my student loans. My career path may not be clearly defined, heck I probably wont have a career, but I have to hope that God knows what He is doing. It so easy to be in place where people have such high expectations of you and you start wanting to reach them, when they just don't fit how are created to be. I'm definitly in that place. I want my professors to like me and know that I am passionate about what I'm studying, but I can't spend time worrying about it and trying to reach human standards, b/c then I forgot about God and what He wants of me and He is the one I find peace from. Its crazy how wacked out I can get from other people. I don't know if anyone else can relate, but seriously don't fret over people liking you or not liking you or having ridiculous expectations of you. Living for Jesus is the most freeing thing there is, b/c he has it all taken care of. Galations 1:10 says " For am I seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please me, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." I need to tatto this thing to my head, my hand...everywhere, b/c its hard and easy to forget.