THANKFUL

I know this post is late, but I wanted to still be able to document it:

My gracious Heavenly Father.  You know, at different time in our life I think we appreciate different characteristics of God.  Of course I am thankful for His unending love, His saving grace and His hand of protection in my life, but this year, at this point in my life, I am learning to appreciate His faithfulness to me, personally, each day.  My God has been with me each step of my life, guiding me, preparing a way for me, and He will continue to be faithful as He shows me each day what He has for me and how He wants to use me to bring honor and praise to His name!

Ofcourse I am thankful for an amazing family.  Don't get me wrong, we're not perfect, but I wouldn't trade them for the world.  My parents are always supportive, my sisters are always available and the kiddos are always good for a laugh.  I love love love spending time with them all and am so grateful that we all live within just a few hours drive of eachother.

I am thankful for an amazing church family, a wonderful place to serve.  It's amazing that I've been there almost 5 years now.  It's a place I feel at home, a place I feel invested.  I am ever grateful for how much I have learned in these first 5 years of ministry. 

Of course I am thankful for dear friends in my life.  I am thankful for those friends that I share life with day in and day out.  Those friends that walk through stuff with me.  Friends that I call when I'm stressed or excited or sad or confused.  Friends that I laugh with and yes, sometimes even cry with.  I am thankful for friends I share ministry with, a great group of Jr. Staffers.  I am thankful for old friends that know me.  Friends that make an effort to keep in touch. 

I know this all sounds generic, but it's very true in my life! I'm also thankful to God for all of the provisions in my life.  He has given me a job that I love, a safe place to live, a new car to drive and food each day. 

My gracious heavenly Father is so abundantly generous to me. 

Random thought/fact of the day: I'm so excited, I've already gotten 2 birthday presents!!! A fun new blingged out belt for the rodeo, and seasons 9 & 10 of Friends (a collection I've always wanted, but never started)! Fun times!

...lately...

Yup, I got to spend Labor Day with 3 loverly ladies!!! Em, Lainey, Kate & I talked and ate and chatted and ate and sipped and ate and shopped and ate and chilled, just like old times. It was glorious!

this week i've gotten to play with the cricut at work!!! sooooo much fun!

I went to the first week of Beth Moore Bible Study on Tuesday night. The crowd was unbelievable!!! I think there were 4,000 people in there!!!

Jeff & Erin are back stateside and I got to see them briefly on Tuesday! I think we're hanging out tomorrow!!!

Scott & Abby are also back in town for a few months. We are having a party for/with them tomorrow night, just like old times :)

I miss Macie like crazie, actually, I miss all 6 of my nieces & nephews and can't wait to see them next weekend. In fact, there's part of me that's tempted to take an extra day off so as to get even more time with them...hmmm...we shall see.

I've been trying to figure out how to get to a Baylor football game this season. The trouble is that I only have one Sunday left to take off and I need to save it for Christmas, so a Saturday afternoon/night football game is kinda hard to swing...we'll see what I can work out. Of course everyone is talking about the Baylor vs. Tech game that is the Saturday after Thanksgiving at Cowboy stadium...very tempting, but hard to get to and get back for church on time.

I got a new green cover for my iphone and I'm really happy with it!

Oh, I also got a $15 purse that now that I've been carrying it for about a week, I'm not in love with, which isn't a big deal because it was only $15, but now I've found a new purse that I'm fond of, and it's only $36, which isn't horrible, but is it justifiable? Hmmm...here's the purse, ok, wait, when I saw it in the store they only had brown & cream. I liked the cream. Now that I went to find it on the website I learned that they have it in purple. I was kind of already thinking I wanted a purple purse this fall...dang it, now I really want the purple purse!

Welp, that's about all I got for now! Hope all is well with you. Sorry I'm a slacker blogger these days, I guess I just don't have that much to say...I guarantee another post and new pics after I spend next weekend with the loves of my life! Til then, much love!

...a photo chronicle of the holidays...

Christmas day, yes, my dad is dressed up in a Santa suit. Brady & Blake had just driven in, they were all waiting on the steps for Ash & fam to arrive, so we'd all be together on Christmas day!

Brady helping Cole discover one of his new Christmas presents. Such fun having all the cousins play together on Christmas!


Oh yes, my mom had material for the kids to dress up like Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus...you know its presh!

Me and my boys at Jeff's wedding...no one would have bet that he'd be the first of our group to get married!!! Congrats Erin & Jeff!!!

Lainey & I at the wedding!

Fun friends having brunch the morning after Elaine's Bachelorette celebration!

Super Duper: I've unpacked, done laundry, undecorated my tree!!!

Super Pooper: LOTS to do in the next month!

...the joy of giving...

sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed with the number of presents still to buy, what to buy, stay in your budget, don't forget someone, hope they'll like it, etc, etc, etc.

I was beginning to get frustrated, not knowing what to get a lot of people in my family. That is by far the hardest part for me!!! I am so intent on wanting the person to like it. Well, yesterday I went shopping, and knocked some major people out!!! I'm soooooo excited!!!! And the best part is, I'm excited about what I got them, not just the fact that I bought them something. I refuse to buy someone something just to have something to put under the tree for them. Everything I bought yesterday, I feel really good about. Which makes giving the gifts sooooo fun! I just can't wait for them to open it, and to see the look on their face.

I was thinking about this, that Christmas to most Americans is about giving and receiving gifts, and at best some might say enjoying giving a gift. But why is this the heart of Christmas? Christmas is in celebration of the birth of Christ! I've always wondered, do we give gifts because:

1. Jesus is God's gift to us, so we are remembering this gift by giving gifts to others.
2. It's Jesus' birthday, so we give gifts as if celebrating someone's birthday.
3. Just like the wise men brought gifts when they came to see the King, we too give gifts?
4. All of the above?

Honestly, I don't know! But what I do know, is that His birth was miraculous in every way! And I love celebrating that by giving gifts to show my friends and family that I love them, and even more that I love Jesus, and God for giving us Jesus.

Sorry, this was going somewhere. What I was going to point out, is that to me, it is the most fun to watch people open a gift that I'm really excited about giving, even if it was more than I planned on spending. As I thought about this, I think this is like God. Of course on that night in Bethlehem, God gave us His Son, but equally as amazing, Jesus gave His life some 33 years later. Both the birth and death of Christ are a gift. A gift that God must have been sooo excited to give us! Of course, it was hard, and the price was high for the Father and the Son, but the benefit of us accepting the gift of Christ as our Savior, must be amazing! The joy that God receives when we receive His Son as the best gift of all!!! I bet he can't wait to see our faces when we open this gift He has for each of us!!!

Our God is amazing! So often I take Him for granted and argue with Him, or ask Him why or how or when! But in this Christmas season, I'm going to try and just sit and enjoy His gift, His Son, a beautiful babe that ultimately brought me salvation...He paid the highest price, and I gained the highest reward, eternal life with the Father in Heaven!

Super Duper: another day off tomorrow since the offices are still being set up!

Super Pooper: eating waaaay tooo much with all the Christmas parties & dinners

...they just keep coming...

well, i'll spice it up a little and use this festive post that I found on a friend's blog, but then you'll have to put up with more pictures...I promise, I only have a few more Christmas parties

Christmas Questions:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for sho! We only resort to bags for last minute wrapping! It's a rule at our house!

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial, so much easier to keep up with, and you don't have to buy a new one every year

3. When do you put up the tree? I've only had a tree for 3 years, but I try to get it up as soon after Thanksgiving as possible

4. When do you take the tree down? when i get back in town from my parents house

5. Do you like eggnog? nopers!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember waking up and there being a trampoline in the backyard from Santa!!!

7. Do you have a nativity scene? 2 in fact! one from the holy land, and the Willow Tree angel nativity!

8. Hardest person to buy for? The brother's in law! I never know what to get boys!

9. Easiest person to buy for? varies every year, but the kids (niece & nephew) are usually pretty easy!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? um....i think i've blocked out any bad gifts!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? neither....yet

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone!!! Can't beat that childhood favorite!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I've been getting better at this! This year I started some time in early November!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? You bet! My sister and I give each other stockings, so sometimes I throw random things I've picked up throughout the year...don't worry, i usually end up spending about $100 on her stocking, so a few regifted things are justified!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? wassail (does a drink count?)

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? clear, no contest!

17. Favorite Christmas song? it's by andrew peterson, called "Labor of Love" so sweet, about how it wasn't easy for Mary!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Always home to Corpus for the holidays!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph - I cheated, the person before me had already done it, lame, i know!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? honestly, right now, a cowboy hat, but usually a star, to symbolize the star the wise men followed!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? one on Christmas Eve, and its always pajamas that we wear that night!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? TRAFFIC!!!!

23. What I love most about Christmas? celebrating the gift of Jesus with family & friends! sorry, cheesy, I know!

speaking of...here's a few pics from Staff & spouses Christmas Party the other night...

love these ladies! yes, there were men at the party, just didn't get any pics of them!

Super Duper: free day off today because the church offices are moving!

Super Pooper: Will & Kristi are leaving on Saturday :(

...2nd annual Jr Staff Christmas Party...

it's the picture taking time of year, so more photo posts...enjoy!

staff girls & wives sitting outside by the fire with our hot cocoa & wassail! It was the perfect night to be outside around the fire!

silly boys...yes, that's Will in the Santa beard

group shot...as Scott instructed us to look "sore afraid"

FAVORITE PIC OF THE NIGHT!!!! Love these friends and will miss Will & Kristi dearly!

Super Duper: IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!! (I'll post pics and events of the day later)

Super Pooper: Final on Monday that I won't even start studying for until Sunday :(

...Emily's Wedding & Rebecca's Party...

Mr. & Mrs. Mike Cowan

My Girls!

My HOT date! Love you Lainey Di!

Off to the Honeymoon!

Rebecca's Birthday Christmas Tea!

I LOVE THESE GIRLS!!!

You can expect more pictures as the Holiday season progresses!

Super Duper: my crafty Christmas presents are turning out way presh!

Super Pooper: Mall traffic!

...the drama that is my family...

don't worry about actually following the details I am about to share, but rather, I tell you all this to give you idea of the drama that surrounds this holiday season:

Thanksgiving Drama:

My parents left Corpus today and headed to my oldest sister's, Katy, in the Temple area. They will stay til Monday to have lunch with Brady at his school, then they will head to Waco to pick Ashlyn up from school. They were supposed to stay in Waco on Monday night with Kristy, Trent, Ashlyn & Cole. But Ashlyn told my mom she wanted them to spend the night for 2 nights. So my parents changed their plan to stay Monday & Tuesday night, and then head back on Wednesday morning to Temple to help get ready for Thanksgiving day. Well, this upset my oldest sister (whose house we are having Thanksgiving at) because she had wanted my parents to get back on Tuesday to help with some errands, cooking, etc.

Kelly, my sister closest to me in age, was going to go down to Temple on Sunday and stay through Tuesday to hang out with the fam, cook, run errands, help with the kiddos, etc. But she changed her mind because she is trying to get her house ready to sale. So she stayed in Arlington to clean out closets, get new carpet, etc. So we won't see her till Thanksgiving day. Oh, and she's bringing her boyfriend, Brandon, who will join us for his first time for a big Berry family gathering. Oh, and he doesn't know that we have a mandatory Thanksgiving tradition of going around the table and saying what we're thankful for. And now Kelly is also slightly frustrated because Brandon's work schedule just got changed and he has Friday off, which she would like to spend with him since he's in his residency for med school so they don't often both have the same day off, but instead, will be spending with the day with my parents & I because we'll be staying at her house on Friday & Saturday for some good shopping!

I on the other hand am sad because I had hoped to spend time with all the kiddos for several days, but Ashlyn has school til Wednesday, so they won't come to Temple til Wednesday afternoon. But I guess that will have to do.

Birthday Drama:

My niece Ashlyn will turn 6 on Dec 5th, and I will turn 25 on Dec 7th. We had originally thought to have dinner on my birthday to celebrate, and then Ashlyn's party on the 8th. Well, my mom can't make it to Waco in time for dinner on Friday night, so my birthday dinner got switched to Saturday night, which is fine, except for the fact that I have a Christmas party that night that I am going to have to miss :(

My sister, Katy, is upset about the time of Ashlyn's party because she has a dress rehearsal for the kids Christmas program that she is in charge of that Saturday morning, so she and they boys will be late for Ashlyn's surprise party.

My sister, Kelly, is upset because she wanted Ashlyn's party to be the weekend before, which it originally was going to be, but my mom couldn't be there, so Kristy had to switch it to the weekend of the 7th/8th, so now Kelly can't be there.

My mom is upset because Kelly is going on a girls spa retreat with her church, so she will miss the whole birthday weekend. Note the irony, it was my mom's fault that the party got moved to the weekend that Kelly couldn't go, but my mom is still upset with her.

Christmas Drama:

As my family has grown, sisters married, children born, our traditions and routines have had to change. It took Kelly and I a while to get used to Christmas morning without all of us there, but we adjusted, and began creating new traditions. So the new tradition is for my sisters to drive down on Christmas day with their families, and then we have a big Christmas dinner and open presents late in to the night.

Well, Katy mentioned that Brent feels bad about having they boys open presents, and then telling them they have to leave their presents and go to Grams & Gramps'. So Katy told me a few days ago that they may wait and come on the 26th. Well, I did not like this AT ALL!!!

So I mentioned it to my mom, so that she would make sure and convince Katy to make the trip on Christmas day. Well, my mom got REALLY upset. Saying it hurt her feelings, and the least they could do was come down for Christmas night...

We'll see what actually ends up happening...

While things are never simple with my family and we are all heading in 5 different directions all the time, I'm sure the holidays will be fun as usual and we will all be glad just to be together, creating memories.

Super Duper: NO CLASS ON MONDAY!!!

Super Pooper: book review due the Monday after Thanksgiving, and I've only skimmed half the book...

...Hallo"wii"n Par-tay...

We went all out with our costumes! I'm a pirate with a peg leg! Charis is an ultra conservative Pentacostal! And Rebs is my fave - a Freebirds Burritto!!!

Ok, I don't know what it's really called, but you know that famous picture that looks like this, LOVED THIS IDEA!

Also precious, Will was Mario & Kristi was the princess he is rescuing!!!

Gettin' their "wii" on!!!

My silly friend Rebs...you never know what she'll come up with next!

As you can tell, we all got really into our costumes and had a great time! It's always fun to have an excuse to get dressed up! Man, I love our Jr Staff and their wives!!! Fun times!

Super Duper: wrote scripture on the floors in the new building tonight! here's a pic for your viewing pleasure:

Super Pooper: HUGE test next Monday...no time to study!

...you can stop feeling sorry for me now...

Not only did I have a de-lish Easter lunch with friends, but my parents surprised me and stopped in Houston this afternoon on their way back to Corpus! Totally unexpected, just to make me feel special and loved (and because they felt guilty, haha!) No, really, it was so cute to see them excited to surprise me, and have them make that extra effort. We just hung out and then went to Guadalajara for dinner, I didn't eat since I had just eaten my yummy lamb, but we sat and talked. It was really nice! Yeah, my parents are awesome, I am loved!

Super Duper: life is good, all around, for the time being
Super Pooper: busy busy busy for the next 2 months (not necessarily in a bad way, just a stressful way)

...Easter Weekend...

Here's the deal. I have a limited # of Sundays I can take off per year (3 to be exact), that means that I need to be here on Easter weekend. Which is fine, this will be my 3rd Easter spent without my fam. The hard part this time has been that my parents left Corpus on Wednesday and spent time in Temple (with Katy & boys) and Waco (with Kristy & Ash) and then ended up in Arlington (with Kelly) on Thursday night. Yes, that's right. My parents saw EVERYONE else in my family BESIDES me!!! Feelin' the love!

No, no, seriously, I do understand, but that doesn't mean it's easy! But it was me decision not to go meet them for the day today. I just didn't want to be on the road again (I've been gone 3 out of 5 weekends in March). Plus, I really enjoy a calm weekend, and all the services that we have at Tallowood in conjunction with Easter weekend.

Also, before you start feeling too sorry for me, for spending Easter ALL alone, I do have lunch plans with a loverly family and other friends that are all having Easter lunch/dinner together! It will be a fun, relaxing time with friends! Nice to not be alone on Easter.

So, this weekend, I pray that you realize the sacrifice that was made for you and the magnificence of His Resurrection!!

Super Duper: I do have a new dress to wear on Sunday!!!
Super Pooper: Apartment needs cleaning and I have minimal motivation to clean it!

...Home for the Holidays, 2006...

I'm too lazy to go into detail about all the events of my going home. Let's just say I was home for 11 days. It was great, for the most part. Of course there were some tense moments, but all in all it was good to be home and spend Christmas with the fam. All 11 of us where home for 5 days straight!!! In the midst of that 3 got the stomache bug, and we had a bridesmaids luncheon, rehersal dinner and wedding to attend!!! Here are some pics to recount the highlights.

Precious Ash & Bray on the slide in my parent's backyard!!!

Kelly & I before the wedding

The whole fam at the reception...too bad I look ridiculous!

Ash & Brady being adorable!!!

Super Duper: No school for 3 more weeks

Super Pooper: All my friends are out of town and I have nothing to do!!!

...Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas...

So, my computer at home has been on the blitz (don't worry the tech guy at work is fixing it), so I only have internet access at work right now, this is only part of the reason you haven't gotten a post in such a long time. Just to recap, last week I turned 24!!! Here are some pics from My birthday and other Christmas celebrations that have kept me busy the last few weeks!

This was my flirty French waiter at my fah-bulous birthday lunch!

The loverly Mandy Raye at my birthday dinner!

And my fun friend Kell Beth Dav Sev, also at birthday dinner!!!

My new fun friend, J Ray, and I at a Christmas partay!!!!

The intense, hockey playing blonde bombshells!

Fun reuniting with INTERN!

So, there's a quick recap! Finals are done, I'm 24 now, and Christmas parties are in full swing! You probably won't be hearing from til after the holidays, so Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Super Duper: I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping!

Super Pooper: Honestly, nothing's coming to mind, I guess that 'Christmas Spirit' has gotten me all cheery!

...Thanksgiving vacay...

here's the highlights:

Sunday (before Thanksgiving) - my parent had come in town to Houston, picked me up and we headed to Fredericksburg where we met Kelly. Kelly & I walked the town a lil, then had dinner with the parental units. The kind of nice thing about Fredericksburg is that all the shops close by 5 or 5:30, so there's not much to do. So we just sat around and relaxed, talked, watched TV, my dad did Sudoku, my mom & sister & I looked through some magazines...very chill!!

Monday - woke up, had breakfast at the B&B, shopped, shopped, had lunch, shopped shopped, had dinner, chilled some more...the perfect day. It was a B-E-A-Utiful day...perfect weather. Funny side note: my dad's favorite store is a jam/salsa/dressing store that has tasters set out of everything they sale. You just walk around tasting jams and salsas and all sorts of dips.

Tuesday - woke up, had breakfast at the B&B, the 4 of us headed to Temple for lunch with Katy, Brent, Brady & Blake at McAlisters. Spent the afternoon with them. Then we all headed to Waco for dinner with Kristy & Ashlyn. We were all together, except for the 2 bro's-in-law. That's 2 parents, 3 sisters, 2 nephews and a niece!!! Then the 9 of us headed to the Baylor girls basketball game!!! Super fun!! We're never all together! The kids loved it and the bears won...a great night! After the game mom, dad, Kelly, Ashlyn & I headed to Arlington.

Wednesday - shopped, hung out at Kell's, got ready for Turkey day.

Thursday - cooked, cleaned, set the table (I'm always in charge of this because I'm the baby and they never taught me how to cook...haha), Kristy & Trent drove up from Waco and joined us for Thanksgiving dinner...we had steak!!! It was all very yummy...especially the desserts (yes, plural). Played a family game of cards after dinner.

Friday - shopped, shopped, didn't buy anything, shopped, had lunch, shopped. Played with Ashlyn...my niece is wonderful!!! Sometimes she's bratty (is that a word?), but mostly she's sweet and hilarious and the more time I spend with it makes me miss her even more when I have to say goodbye!

Saturday - we celebrated Ashlyn's 5th birthday by her dad driving 3 of her little friends up to Dallas from Waco. We went to RainForest Cafe & Build-A-Bear. The kids LOVED it, it was super fun! Then we packed up and headed back to Houston.

My parents stayed with me Saturday night, came to church Sunday morn, went to lunch, then home for good.

IT was a WONDERFUL thanksgiving break. Great time with the family. I was only slightly annoyed a few times throughout the very hectic week, which is huge!

Super Duper: Craziness of Christmas parties and festivities just around the corner.
Super Pooper: Finals less than 2 weeks away :(

...Celebrate Life...

Happy

Resurrection

Day!!!

May you and yours celebrate the sacrifice that our Risen Lord made for us nearly 2000 years ago. And may we all live in light of the resurrection.

Super Duper: No work tomorrow!

Super Pooper: Have to write 2 papers tomorrow!