Fall!!

The beautiful Mountains of Tennessee!

Temperature this morning when I left for work at 6:10am - 58 degrees!! The air felt the most crisp and clear that it can for Texas, specifically the Houston-area. I have been missing fall in East Tennessee this year due to the fact that I haven't been back in a while and that my allergies have been acting up quite a bit. I miss the mountain air, cooler weather. Today, though, I felt like I got a glimpse of that. I hate being shocked into this weather, and you would think I would be used to it since I've been in Texas since June 1999. I'm not though! I'm definitely not a native Texan, but that's ok with me.

So, enjoy this cooler weather fellow Texans as I'm sure it will only last a day or two at the most!

Voting

Early voting has begun! This means that none of us have a reason not to find a time to go vote for not only the next president of our wonderful country the United States of America but for anything else that may be on the ballot.

I want to encourage you to get informed. Do not allow one media source (i.e. just ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.) to be your decision maker. I, personally, love FoxNews. They show all sides and for a media outlet seem to be the best one out there, in my opinion. Everyone who knows me, doesn't have to ask who for and where my vote falls this election year. In case you don't know, it will be for the McCain/Palin ticket without a doubt. Now, to be honest, I don't agree with everything the McCain/Palin ticket stands for; however, I do believe they are the best choice for our country. There are a few things that I do not waver on, and Obama has those. I cannot in good conscience vote for him. No, it has nothing to do with the fact that he is a democrat.

With all that said, please go out and vote. Please become educated from multiple sources. One of my favorite sites that is non-media related that I read is mccainblogette.com. It is a blog that Meghan McCain posts. It gives such a fresh perspective of the campaign trail and if you go back in the archives you will see pictures and postings of John and Cindy McCain that give light to the kind of people they truly are and their love for their family and others.

We live in such a wonderful country where can can have a voice and say in who runs our country. Do not think that your vote doesn't count just because you live in Texas or whatever state you live in. It does! If everyone thought that, imagine what could happen. Use your voice and make a choice.

Have a wonderful day and remember that God loves YOU and has blessed you with freedom...something that millions of people only wish they could have a taste of.

Pray About It

Pray about it. That's exactly what a special someone told me last night on the phone. Be patient. That was another thing I was reminded of.

I've been a bit down about work lately and yesterday some things at church bothered me, and I was reminded last night to pray about it and be patient as God will show me what to do. I have to say that over the past 10 months, basically all of 2008, God has really been pushing me with being patient and giving it all to Him. He has always done those things in my life before this year but I've really been feeling the call to fully make sure I'm relying on Him and to be patient as everything will unfold in God's timing not mine. I'll never forget a Sunday night a month ago, I was told that God knows us better than ourselves. This is so true! No matter what we may want to happen in our lives or what road we want our lives to take, God's way and God's road is so much better. I think about a pivotal time in my life...it was the Fall of 2000. I made a decision to come back to Texas and apply to Texas A&M University. I remember my roommate up in E.TN at King College, Jay (a wonderful woman and now mother!) said that I had such a peace about me when I finally made the decision to come back to TX. I did not want to leave TN again, but I packed up my mustang (totally full trunk and backseat), headed to Nashville after my last final, picked Mom up, and made the trip back to Houston/Katy. What if I hadn't done this? Where would I be? I can say that I don't know where I would be or what I would be doing. I can say that by making the decision to come back to Houston, I am able to see where God has taken me and that He has been leading me all along to be here. I have no clue how long I will be in Katy and working in Houston, but I can say that he has been reveiling small things to me that would not have happened had I not listened to the prodding in my heart when he was telling me to return.

So, what I'm trying to say is give it ALL to God. Pray about it. Be patient. Know he will not give you more than you can handle and LOVES YOU so very much.

My life verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

A thank you for...

...my wonderful dear friend Jessica! She so wonderfully updated my layout and appearance of my blog for me! I absolutely love what she has done!

I met Jessica when I was in College Station. She needed a roommate and I filled the spot. We lived together for almost 2 years before she moved to Houston and then I finished my last semester of grad school. We had many wonderful and fun times while living together and I am so thankful that God allowed us to be roommates during our time at A&M.

Jessica now is married and has two wonderful boys who happen to be twins! Check out her blog http://sjyoungblood.blogspot.com/. She is a wonderful wife, mom, and friend.

Thanks Jess!!

Summer and Beginnings of Fall...

...so here I am joining the blog world as requested by many. I have no clue how this will go, what I will say, post, etc. but here goes.

I'm just a Christian trying to live my life following God's will. He is who I look to for strength, direction, and much more. I have a wonderful family who is always there for me and amazing friends that I thank the Lord for every day!

Below is a little recap of my fun-filled summer and beginnings of fall. I know it is October, but I honestly feel like fall isn't here yet. I'm longing to see the beautiful, colorful leaves in the Appalachian mountains, to breathe the fresh, crisp air of autumn; however, Texas is where God has me and I'm thankful for the cooler evenings and mornings we have been experiencing occaisionally of late.

Enjoy...

Lauren, Mom, Daniel, Dad, and I at Daniel's high school graduation! sniff, sniff. He's now a fightin Texas Aggie!! Whoop!

Mom, Lauren, and I at resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico! Before we started our cruise of the Southern Caribbean

Siblings...me, daniel, and lauren after one of the formal dinners!

Me and my beautiful sis

The whole gange...Kalyn (lauren's friend), Michael (daniel's friend), me, Lauren, Mom, Dad, and Daniel on one of the formal nights

Me jumping on Pigeon Island in St. Lucia in front of the Atlantic

One of the many towel animals we got during the week. Notice my bad sunburn! No clue I was getting it. I went for a walk up and down the beach in St. Maarten, which was wonderful and well...that's what happened.

Dad and I infront of our dining room the Vivaldi!

Mom and I at dinner on the ship

In Central Park in New York City!!!!

Near Times Square

Times Square at Dusk!

Ground Zero. No words can truly express the emotion I felt as I walked this area and took a tour with a retired firefighter who worked on 9/11 and a lady whose son died on that fateful day. I have always been very patriotic as I feel God has blessed me to live in such a wonderful nation where I can openly express my feelings, my beliefs, etc. Many of you know and many may not, but my dad is a Marine. He is not active and has not been since his 20's but still a Marine. I grew up knowing this, hearing stories, and always having a sense of high respect for fellow Marines and any other branch of our military. The fact that people want to attack our country as was done on September 11, 2001, is beyond my comprehension. The fact that we have many brave men and women who have given their lives and are fighting for our continued freedome to this day is amazing. We do not hear about their wanting to serve, their wanting to be in parts of the world they are deployed to, but they do. Yes, they do not like being away for months and a year at a time, but they serve to the best of their ability for you and me. How can we not be thankful for these men and women and for our President, who has given so much of himself to us over the past 8 years. God Bless America!!

We (l to r: Mel, Cassie, Steph, and I) took a tour of Lady Liberty and what a sight she beholds as you travel to the Island via ferry. I can only imagine how wonderful it was to wake up that morning and see her erected. She represents so much, hard work, freedom, liberty, home.

Our first day in NYC! We had just finished our yummy hot dogs. Central Park is amazing.

One of my favorite places in Central Park...Bethesday Fountain! If it weren't for the rain that day, I could have spent a long time in this part of the park.

Julie, Me, and Cassie at Matt's house for his birthday celebration!

My sis and I in College Station doing some stuff at her townhouse!

Mel, Steph, Kenna, and Cassie. We all hung out at Alan and Dave's house for a Labor Day cook out.

Me, Matt, Kenna, and Cassie at the Labor Day cook out.

Me, Steph, and Mel supporting Matt and his Mustangs play football at Rhodes Stadium! It took only 4.3865 million times to finally get this pic!

Matt coaching the youth of America at Taylor HS during the game.

Should we call this the coach's stance?! Look at #28's name...K. Taylor...kinda neat since he lives in Katy and goes to Taylor HS.

Rhodes Stadium!

The game! Well, one of many Taylor football games that I have attended.

Taylor marching band in the back and drill team in the front.

Well, Cassie had been wanting a cookie for some time. So she prayed for God to provide her a cookie. Well, two days later she got some oatmeal rasin cookies from her work mentor. She hates those kind and loves chocolate chip. So she was more specific after that. We were playing mini-golf with our church group and she sat on this table and noticed a big wrapped chocolate chip cookie just sitting there. Everyone was like, God has provided you a cookie! So, we quickly at it after a few minutes and are still living to tell the story!

This is a good synopsis of my summer and fall so far. I have to say that I am missing East Tennessee, Appalachian Mountain weather right now. I'm missing the crisp air, the beautiful fall colors, etc. More will come, but God has truly blessed me with wonderful family, friends, and much more. God is revealing more and more why he brought me and has kept me in Texas. I'm not sure I'll ever know the full extent. I am enjoying the cooler mornings we are having right now!

More to come...