What's been on my mind lately.....

I got a new cell phone this week and it's funny because it is one where the screen flips up and there is a keyboard that makes texting easier. It's funny to me because I am not a big texter (is that a word?). My old phone made it really hard to text, so it would take me seriously like 5 minutes to respond to a text. Most of the time I would just call the person back. My new phone makes it so easy and I have been texting a lot more. It got me thinking about the fact that it is so convenient to text someone instead of calling them and how this is not necessarily always a good thing.

Don't get me wrong, I love technology and I think texting is great. It is definitely convenient when you are somewhere where you are not able to talk on your phone and you need to call someone. It is great when you need to quickly get a message to someone, ask a quick question, etc.. On the other hand, I think it can become too convenient.

It makes me ask myself, "What happened to "real" conversations?" The kind where you need to call a friend and ask a question and you ask how they have been doing, and end up catching up for hours on the phone. The kind where you hear the other persons voice. I am as guilty of this as anyone, and I don't want to be anymore. Relationships take time and effort and I want to make sure I am taking the time to call my friends and family and talk to them.

Our world is so fast passed and texting, My Space, Facebook, and blogs like this one make it easier to stay connected, but I still think there is nothing better than a good ole' fashion conversation. Maybe it's the fact I'm a girl and communication is so important to us. I don't know, but sometimes I wish things were still like the old days. When people would sit on their front porches and visit with their neighbors face to face.

I know that the world won't change just for me, so I will still keep texting, but I am committed to making time to call my family and friends more. Be expecting a call soon!!

R.I.P

March 2009-July 2009

I am very sad to announce the death of my beautiful garden today. After talking to some experienced gardeners, I had to make the tough decision to quit watering it and let it die because it was not thriving anymore. This summer has been so hot and despite my best efforts to keep it alive by watering and fertilizing it, it just couldn't survive. My two cucumber plants shrivelled up and died a few days ago and my tomato plants have not grown like they should have. They were still producing a few tomatoes, but the squirrels suddenly took an interest in them and I would find my beautiful, red tomatoes lying in the grass half eaten. I had to give up the fight and let it go. I did get a good harvest in the beginning and I will definitely try again next year!

On a brighter note...when I planted my garden I had no idea all the ways God would use it to speak to me and teach me about spiritual things. I wrote down some of the lessons I have learned from my garden.

1. If you plant a pepper plant too close to a tomato plant you will have hot tomatoes.....We become what we are around.

2. Plants need at least 6 hours of full sun exposure a day to grow....We need to spend time with the son (Jesus) every day if we are going to grow.

3. You have to till the soil and remove all the rocks, old plants and roots before you can plant new ones....We need to allow God to come in our hearts and dig up and remove all the junk in our lives from the past and get rid of it , so He can plant new seeds that will take root and produce a good harvest in our lives.

4. If you plant a tomato plant you get tomatoes...You reap what you sow! ( An obvious but good one)

5. Plants need water to live...We need to water the seeds that have been planted in our hearts with the Word of God daily.

6. The fruit must stay on the vine until it is ripened...We must hang on the vine (God) and He will provide us with everything we need to grow and mature into what He created us to be.

7. My first cucumber plants died because their roots were not deep enough and developed enough to handle a heavy rain fall we had...We need to develop and deepen our relationship with God so that when the storms in life come we can stand and not be blown away.

8. You have to pull off the dead leaves on the plants so the plants energy won't be drained.....We need to tear off, put aside, all the "dead" things in our lives that are draining us and stopping us from doing what God wants us to do.

9. Some plants need to be caged or staked to help support the plant as it grows...We need a good circle of friends and family around us too for support and encouragement!

10. It is a good idea to net and cover your plants to keep birds and certain insects away....We need to pray daily for God's protection in our lives.

Fourth of July trip

I have been looking forward to this trip since March. On March 5th, one of my best friends, Britni, had her baby on my birthday. Until now I have only been able so see him through pictures and I couldn't wait to meet him in person.

I drove to Waco last Thursday and stayed with my sister Stephanie and Ross. Stephanie was off work on Friday so we layed out at the pool and just relaxed. On Saturday, I left Waco and drove to Britni's house in Weatherford to celebrate the Fourth of July and see everyone.

Britni invited Heather, Carrie, and their families over for a cookout. I called Britni on the way over and she told me that Jan was coming too. Jan and I were roommates when I was in college and I haven't seen her in years. She ended up moving to the same town where Britni's brother, Brandon, lives and so Britni and her got reconnected. I was really excited to see everyone!

Heather brought her two girls and her husband Wallace with her. Heather and Wallace were the college and career ministry leaders at my church in college. Carrie and her husband Jon, Britni, Jan, and I all met at the college and career group. So, we had so much fun reminiscing about old times.

Jan, Pierson, Me, Heather, Carrie, and Britni

Here I am holding Pierson for the first time. He is the sweetest, most adorable baby ever!! I called him my "birthday buddy" all weekend and I know it was the beginning of a great bond between us :)



We took full advantage of the guys photography skills and took tons of pictures that day.

This one is my favorite!

Wade, Britni's husband, cooked burgers on the grill for lunch and for supper we went to Granbury to eat and watch the fireworks over the lake.

I have been to Granbury once before during girl's weekend last year, and I feel in love with this town! It is what you picture when you think small, country town. I love that it actually has a town square with a big, beautiful, court house in the center with all these cute little shops all around it.

Granbury went all out for the Fourth of July. Every where you looked there were flags and banners.

This is the courthouse at the center of the town square. They were also having a Fourth of July festival. Carrie and I were able to walk around the booths for a few minutes while everyone was waiting for a table at the restaurant nearby.

We ate at Babe's. It's different because they don't have any menus and you choose a meat, either chicken fried steak, smoked chicken, fried catfish, or fried chicken and they serve you "family style". With your order you get green beans, corn casserole, and mashed potatoes. I ordered the smoked chicken and I can honestly say that I have never had chicken that good.

After we ate we walked to the lake and found a spot to watch the fireworks show. It was pretty hot, but we made it until the fireworks started. Pierson did great. We layed him on a blanket and took turns fanning him with a piece of paper.

Heather and her girls...Hannah and Sara.

On Sunday morning we opened the front door to leave for church and saw this. I ran and got my camera and got a quick picture before it ran away.

On Monday, the weather was actually not that hot. I guess a cold front came in an cooled it down to 95 or something, so we decided to take Pierson for a walk. He slept almost the whole time and I got this picture of how cute he looked with his little hat and swim outfit on.


Before I left on Monday, Britni changed him and put him in this outfit. It says, "When God created me He was just showing off." I couldn't have said it better :) I had such a great time getting to see family and friends and I can't wait to do it again!