Patience

My big prayer request lately has been for patience: patience in my professional life, patience in my personal life, patience in my spiritual life. I have found several scriptures that have helped me with this so I thought I would share  few in case anybody else is having the same struggle.

"And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap a harvest if we do not grow weary."
Galatians 6:9

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

The Jeremiah verse was the one verse that got me through a rough time in high school. Every time I read it I think of that time and feel comfort.

"In their hearts men plan their course but the Lord establishes their steps."
Proverbs 16:9

A Cousin Day for Me

This past Saturday was a family day for me. I got to hang out with 2 sets of cousins from 2 different sides of my family.

First Shelby, Sheradon and I went to lunch and then to get pedis. Sheradon is a Freshman at UAFS and Shelby is a Junior at U of A. We are really close. Shelby's mom, my mom and Sheradon's dad were all siblings. They also had 2 more sisters - Julie (Leah, Jerry and Matt's mom) and Laura (Trent's mom).

This is a picture of my mom and Sheradon's dad, Don, in college. From what I am told, they were probably the closest out of their 5 siblings.

The three of us at the salon: Shelby, me, Sheradon. Pardon my red eyebrows, they were just perfectly waxed.

And my pretty toes - I had to get Razorback Red in preparation for this weekend.

On Saturday night, Ryan and I got to baby sit Hudson and Caroline. They are my cousin Nathan's children. Nathan is the son of my Dad's sister Janie. When we got there Caroline was in the process of going to sleep so we mostly played with Hudson. That little man wore us out! We played football, baseball, rode his tricycle, played Spiderman, read books and played with his train - all in a 2.5 hour time span. 

Here is Ryan reading to Hudson. He is going to be such a good Daddy.

Thanks for learning about my family tree today. Family is the most important thing to me so this was nearly a perfect day!

A Godly Wife

I was taking a brain break today and found this while "pinning." It really inspired me. I love the bible verses that go along with each. This simple list of 20 gave me perspective and reminded me of all the ways I could be a Godly wife for Ryan. It is the simple reminders that are so helpful. I hope you enjoy!


1. Marriage is made up of two good forgivers. Because every marriage is made up of two sinners. (Romans 3:23)

2. At some point, you will have to learn that life isn’t all about you. (Philippians 2:3)

3. Don’t listen to women that tell you that passion fades…it doesn’t have to! (um…all of Song of Solomon)

4. Don’t give up. Love never fails. (1 Cor. 13)

5. He wants a kind wife, not a maid or another mother. Be nice. (Galatians 5:22-23)

6. Give your husband the gift of your respect.  He needs it more than you know. (Ephesians 5:33)

7. Be mindful of your expectations.

8. Honor the Lord above all things. Colossians 3: 17

9. Find your worth and security in the Lord, and don’t look to your husband to meet all of your needs.

10. Be very careful about reading romance novels, they set you up for an unrealistic view of romance.

11. Real romance is finding that one spot in the crook of his arm to snuggle into, that shared look over the dinner table when the kids are acting crazy, and the way he fixes the leaky sink when he is dog-tired after work.

12. Love is about relationship.  The more I love my husband, and seek a relationship with him, the less critical and duty-bound I become.  It is similar to my relationship with God.

13. Be thankful for the husband you have. Accept him as he is, not for what you want him to be.

14. Don’t compare!! Don’t buy into the game of comparing him with anyone else’s husband.

15.The Biblically “normal” marriage is filled with joy, connection, laughter, and peace.  It’s not free of hurt feelings and conflict, but they know how to process their pain with one another so that they live more often in a meadow than at the scene of a train wreck.  This is not the average marriage, but it normal – -because it is a visible display of Jesus’ relationship with His bride (Ephesians 5:22-33).

16. Your marriage is a testimony! “The #1 evangelistic tool in America (the world) today is a successful marriage, because it’s a living miracle!” – Dr. Joe Aldrich, former president of Multnomah Bible College.

17. Pray for your marriage. Pray hard.

18.I’ve heard that is gets better with age.  I have to say in my short {13 year} experience, that is so true.

19. Where there is God, there is always hope. Even for the most broken marriages. “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

20.Marriage is commitment and sacrifice. But it’s also the best, most wild ride you will ever have with your best friend.

Miranda Lambert

During the craziness of rush, I got to take a break and celebrate my anniversary, again. Ryan and I, and a bunch of our friends, went to the Miranda Lambert concert. The concert was at the Washington County Fair Grounds and I was shocked how many people were there. It was a full blown concert with an amazing light show and several opening acts. It was not a typical AMP show if you have ever been to one of those.

Miranda is just as good live as she is recorded. We LOVED the show. It had cooled down that week so the weather was absolutley perfect to be outside. Miranda is from Texas so she started talking about how much she loved her home state at one point. Being the good Arkansans we are, the entire crowd started calling the Hogs. She then said, "Oh Yeah, I forgot, Yall go ahead and do that Hog call thing." She was a good sport.

Thanks for a GREAT anniversary present babe. I had so much fun with you!

Delta Love

It's over! Rush is over! Hooray Hooray! This year the Delta Iota chapter had an amazing rush! We got 158 new Delta sisters from all over the country.

I bet my pledge sisters would be surprised to know that more than half of the pledge class is from outside Arkansas! When we were in the house, there was hardly anybody from anywhere but Arkansas.

Below are a couple of pictures from Bid Day. You can see more on the NWA DDD Alumane Facebook page.

Here is the chapter president, rush chair and reference chair hard at work one night during the week making those invite lists. We were up at all hours during the night making sure we got the BEST of the best. These ladies did an amazing job. Everybody is so proud of the 2012 Pledge Class!

Perspective

A view from Mars.

This picture made me realize how insignificant Earth is compared to the entire Universe.

In the 60s it was the Moon, now I will be able to tell my kids about Mars.

Leah

This year I unwillingly decided to be a co Rush Advisory for my DDD chapter. Which basically means I am at the house every night during work week and rush to make sure rules are followed and lists are turned in on time.

As I was sitting there last night, at 11:30 p.m. mind you, I noticed what day it was- Aug. 12, the night before we lost our beautiful Leah seven years ago. I remember going through work week that year and driving back and forth from Springfield to see her in the hospital. I was torn between my obligation and my family.

When I did get that dreaded call, I was upstairs in my room while everybody else was downstairs practicing for Rush. I think I texted Stacia and said Leah had passed and I would be gone for a few days. I started packing, willing myself not to cry until I got out of the hosue. Next thing I knew, my 5 best friends were in my room hugging me and I was sobbing uncontrollably.

That day I lost a very close cousin but also, I felt even closer to my friends that are now my family. They were there for me during one of the worse times of my life. That meant more to me than they know.

I have thought a lot about Leah lately. I am not sure if its because I am in the same environment I was in when she passed, or because we are planning another family wedding that I know she will not be at.

Today I am comforted by the fact that she is watching over us and laughing at our stupid mistakes. I think I feel her most at tailgates - one of her favorite things ever. So, in anticipation for the first game of the season, I will have a BudLight tonight and call those HOGS for you my amazing cousin. I love you forever and can't wait to see you again!