Maybe I'll start using this thing again... just maybe...

I agree with what some people have written recently - Facebook is shallow and not the way to communicate what's going on in your life. I will still be a Face-booker... even if just to maintain contact with people I haven't seen in years. But I miss updating this ... writing freely... and letting some (whoever might still be on here) read it.

There is a lot going on right now. I cannot write freely about it quite yet - but hopefully soon. Ryan and I are excited for all that lies ahead... and I can't be thankful enough to have such an amazing husband to live this adventure of life with.  I continue to see more and more how perfectly Ryan and I were created for one another. God is SO good to us.

It was FOUR years ago today that Ryan and I began our adventure together. I cannot believe it's already been that long... and I will forever remember the start of our relationship like it was yesterday.

On a shallower note -  :)

I'm growing my natural hair color back out. I'm determined this time - even though I've said it many times before dyeing it dark again. People keep thinking I'm lightening my hair or that I got highlights. Oh just wait...

Ryan and I are trying to finally use our timeshare this Memorial Day - hoping to head up to Gatlinburg and hike a bit. It will be nice to have a week off and just get away.

That's it for now. I will attempt to post more often. We'll see. :)

Has it really been over 2 months since I last posted? And my last post was just pics. Wow. Time flies. I still check other people's xanga updates... I just seem to lack the time (and/or effort) to update my own.

Here's a quick update....

-          Got my wisdom teeth out mid-November. My recovery time was 1 ½ to 2 weeks. I think it took longer bc I’m older…? Was on a liquid diet for a week … but got off it just in time for a hardy and yummy Thanksgiving meal. J

-          Spent Thanksgiving with my family – even spent the night there for 3 nights. It was honestly nice to be home for a few days and feel like we were on vacation visiting the fam (even though they live 15 miles away).

-          Have TONS to do at work these next three weeks and trying to find the time to get it all done.

-          Going to NC to visit Ryan’s family for Christmas. We will be on vacation for 2 weeks (yay!). We are spending about 5 of the days at a ski place (Snowshoe) in W. Virginia. We’re staying in a townhouse that’s ski-in, ski-out. Yeah… Ryan is really excited bc he snowboards. I’m a little scared bc my last attempts at skiing were back in the youth group days (10+ years ago now… yikes!). Just praying I don’t hurt myself and I like it even a little so we can go on future ski vacations and I won’t have to sit in the lodge the whole time.

-          Ryan’s brother has lived with us since mid-September. He is now applying to the Honor Academy and possibly heading over there this January. Excited for him… and just thinking about the HA makes me miss it and want to be back there.

-          Getting to see Tashie and her hubby this weekend – yay! I pick them up from Orlando tomorrow and then we’ll get the weekend with them. Very excited to have quality time with her.

-          Lastly – loving my husband more and more every day. So thankful for this man. J

The best website EVER:

And the one below...  I seriously did my bangs like that back in 5th grade.

I think I have real pictures that look like this somewhere...

Life

I am horrible at updating this thing. It's not that I don't want to... it's just that I seem to somehow lack the time to really update. And I don't want to just write a line on here. I want to actually SHARE what's going on in my life. But by the time I get around to it... I don't even know where to begin. Hmm....

First off -  Ryan and I flew to Texas mid-August for Tasha's wedding. I am so glad I got to share in the day with her... and be there to celebrate this new season of life. That weekend flew by... maybe bc two days of it were full travel days...  maybe bc we were so incredibly busy... but no matter, it was worth going. :)

We came back to Tampa with a potential hurricane and lost luggage.. but all worked out. Our luggage was delivered the next night... and the hurricane never came. And the good that came out of it - I got time off work for it! :)

My schools started back up the 3rd week of August, and since then, I've been busy. (For those of you who don't know, I travel around to 15 local high schools and manage the Best Buddies programs at their schools.) I have to admit - I've LOVED having the students back at school. My days go by quickly, and I often come home saying, "I can't believe I get paid to do this."

And in the midst of all that was going on, I was challenged in my walk with the Lord. You see, my "quiet times" have looked pretty much the same since I was in college. For those who know me... you know I enjoy journaling and getting into the Word (often while sipping a good cup of coffee). Not that that's bad in itself.. but I lost the "freshness" of it all. I put God in a box and have found myself having a hard time getting intimate with Him and knowing His voice because I'd become so structured. A few years ago, I dealt with the same thing... and I was challenged then too. But I didn't learn from it... the comfort of my "routine" was hard to let go of. And it's like the Lord is trying to teach me once again - He is trying to bring me into a new season where He can speak to me... but that requires me laying aside my structure and allowing Him to draw me into new things.

I have a hard time NOT journaling ... but I feel like the Lord is asking me to be sensitive to what He wants do to each and every day... to be okay with just sitting and "being". I feel like I lost that discipline somewhere along the way. And because of that, I lost the sensitivity to His voice. And since I've begun breaking my quiet time routine... I have begun feeling and knowing the Lord again. It's been wonderful.. and my soul has needed it. I am learning to be okay with sitting on the back porch and praying.. rather than just pulling my journal out. God is breaking me out of my comfort and asking me to just listen and BE with Him... and now I am more aware of the Lord in the midst of my daily moments. He is bringing refreshment and renewal.... thank You, Jesus!

And somewhere in the last couple of months, Tampa has (once again) become home for me. It took awhile.. and I admit, I "longed" for my life in Texas for a good amount of the past 16 months... but now, THIS is HOME. I love the memories I have from Texas... but God has established us here, and we are blessed. Truly - BLESSED.

Now on to this next season - Ryan's brother, Bruce, will be coming to live with us as of next weekend. He just graduated from Teen Challenge and will be spending several months with us as he pursues the Lord and His plan for his life. We are hoping this time really builds in him an unshakeable foundation... and it will be good to get to know my brother-in-law even better. :)

I will stop now, as this is probably already longer than most people will read. Thanks to those of you who actually read through the whole thing. Until next time...

Much love.