Not Only is It BIG in Texas...

...but it's deep.

Audience Discretion is Advised (18 and under...no not use link)

We actually passed this ranch today on our road trip: http://www.funnyheck.com/cattle.html

Arts, Rodeo, Containers, Church, Cars, Baseball, Home

Okay, so I'm a little behind on my postings...haven't really been in the mood to post...I'm not ill or anything and actually I have been quite bored because I still am NOT working...but I have to hold on to the promise that God has a plan for me...despite the fact that I haven't been working, I have been doing quite a bit of others things which is nice to a point, but I would still like to be working.

I'll start out with our trip to the Arts Festival in Fort Worth. I had never been to FW and was quite excited just to be going to another city as if Dallas weren't enough. I will attach some pictures of these various events following my post (well, actually they will be above my post...but you get the point). We saw many different types of art from metal and leather sculptures to wonderful pictures of the Amish. Jeff was really interested in these considering he was born in Lancaster, PA. I was as usual interested in the handmade jewelry...some quite remarkable pieces I did see. However, my favorite pictures were the ones of Ireland. They were incredible!!! I want to go there so badly! It has always been my dream...part of my heritage is there...Dutch-Irish am I!

Okay, on to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo...considering all the time I spent growing up in the little, quaint town of Green Cove Springs, Florida, home of the Clay County Fairgrounds, I have never been to a rodeo. I've watched many on TV including the one we went to. And myself, being of little mind sometimes, didn't realize that there is more to the rodeo than just bulls bucking around...there's calf roping, chuckwagon races, little kids riding sheep, bareback riding, saddleback riding, steer wrestling, Tiawana poker, and women's barrell racing! Wow! Plus there was a petting zoo (see the pics), BBQ restaurant, Dodge Truck giveaway, and the gift shop....yep, I was in for more than I had anticipated and it was really FUN!

For anyone who has never been to The Container Store, I urge you to go...at least once. My friend, Colleen, had been telling me for a couple of years now...you gotta go, you gotta go! Take a weekend and drive to Atlanta just to go to this store...I was thinking "I cannot believe you drive all the way to Atlanta from Jacksonville to go to this one store"...well, now I understand why! There are two of them here in our area and Jeff took me to one...okay...I was in love! Tons of boxes, gadgets, everything you could ever want to organize with and I just wanted to buy the pretty boxes to sit around! They have the most awesome selection of wrapping paper! We are talking cool and modern....ooooooo, and I only managed to spend a little over $11 dollars...I did well...I do have to say I am glad the shop is not closer to where I live because I would probably be in debt!!!

For those of you that have been asking...I finally made it to church. We attended Jeff and Lisa's church, Grace Community Church, here in Plano. I wasn't really too sure what to expect, but I was definitely given some insight. This church, as Jeff and I discussed after leaving, is for those who've just accept Christ. The service was okay, but I didn't know any of the music (which is a BIG deal to me...being music-minded) and Jeff informed me that they never sing the same song twice which got me to thinking; how can you worship if you don't know the music? To me, worship is when you don't have to concerntrate on the words because you know them and you can concerntrate on Jesus. I'm not saying the music was bad, because it wasn't...I just didn't feel like I could worship...and after Jeff's comment...I knew I could never worship through music at this church. Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way and I've seen this in other churches, is the fact that the pastor never said "turn in your Bibles" or "Get out your Bibles" or anything to that affect...everything was taken for granted. I didn't even see anyone carrying a Bible besides myself; everyone was relying on the screen and the pastor to lead them through God's word. I followed every bit of scripture in my Bible and found an additional sentence in one of the scriptures that was not in my Bible. Now, I know it was a different translation, but it still bothered me because it was "suggested" that this was what the Bible was saying when, in fact, it could have meant something entirely different. How are people going to be influenced to study God's word and look to the Bible for guidance when they don't even have to open one at church? And this church is geared at reaching the lost and helping them begin a life with Christ? How? Through relying on man? I am attending a women's event there next Friday with Jeff's mom, Lisa, and I will report back as to how it goes.

Here are a few other events we have been to....The Dallas Auto Show...always a favorite of mine. I love auto shows! I like to see what's coming on our roadways...of course, I always have a favorite and this year's was the convertible VW Beetle...they had one in dark gray with two-tone gray and red seats and red trim on the rims of the tires. It was an awesome ride! Then there was the chance to spend an evening with my favorite student pastor ever, Mr. David Allen! He got my boyfriend and I free tickets to the Ranger's Baseball Game! We had a blast even though we couldn't see the game...we got to spend time with David and that was worth it all!

Well...that's about all for now...I'll attach the pics soon!

Home Sweet Home

Yes, once again, I am still alive. Last weekend, Friday-Sunday, I flew home to Florida. Some of you are probably wondering how that is possible since I have a new job...well, I had a new job. I was rather upset and depressed about losing that particular position, but I don't blame the people in that department...and it wasn't my fault...and God has a plan for everything...so, I have moved on. I must have put my resume in at a zillion places this week and although I still work for ProStaff at Mary Kay, they don't currently have a position for me. I was supposed to begin on Monday in another department proofing and editing and I was really estatic about it, but then I was informed that I was 'over qualified'; now if that doesn't just burst your bubble...I know it sure did mine! At least they could have put me there until the found someone else...but that's okay...

Anyway, Florida was a nice break which I think I really needed after the news of losing my other position...I just needed to get away and visit my dear friends back home. I surprised my Mom and Dod by calling them on Thursday and asking if they would like a visit from their favorite daughter...and of course, they were more than happy to have me home. Plus, I got to see my Tatum...I miss him so! We had a really nice weekend! Friday night I went and spent some much needed time with Michelle and Mikayla! Wow-Mikayla was just so cute and she's always smiling...it's such an encouragement to see her happy as can be...and then Saturday morning my parents and I ventured out for a delicious breakfast at the Atlanta Bread Company. I got a raisin bran muffin...it was sooooooooo yummy! After that, we headed to Pace Island for their yard sale...we had so much fun!!! Of course, I couldn't buy too much because I couldn't carry it all home...seems to me I always end up with an extra bag going home...

Saturday night I met up with Daniel, Amber, and Tara and we went to Karaoke night at El Apache. It was fun, not that we sang, but we got to hear others sing and it took forever to get our food, but it was just as good as I remember it. Afterwards, we went to Daniel's house to watch "Cellular" which is incredibily fast-paced and exciting. Sunday, I went to Ridgewood, and then ate lunch with David, Carol, Gracie, and Zachariah. Gracie and I had several sweet discussions...she is so grown up for her age! I miss David and Carol dearly, so it was nice to spend time with them. Then before I knew it, it was time to head home....of course, had I known I was not going to be working this past week, I would have stayed longer...oh well.

My week was pretty much uneventful except for the first official "hail storm" of the year. You know it doesn't matter where you live, some type of weather is out to get you. Here it happens to be wind and hail. You see, I was returning some clothes in McKinney which is not too far from Plano, but I was a little ways away and it was all sunny and beautiful before I left (calm before the storm, I suppose) and I had no idea it was going to rain much less hail. So, my cell phone rings while I am in Belk and it's Jeff asking me where I am. Then he proceeds to tell me a nasty thunderstorm with hail in it is headed my way...side note: Jeff and I have spent some much needed attention on my Honda CR-V and, well, we didn't want it to get hail damaged, but it was going to take me too long to get back home...so, I decided to ride the storm out in Belk...which if I had had to stay there any longer, my pocketbook would have surely suffered. Turns out the storm in McKinney didn't have any hail, but the one in Plano did..nickel sized. So, I faired rather well, except I got bored in Belk after buying four items totaling a whopping $11.43 and ended up getting soaked to the skin on my way to the car.

Oh, oh, and yes, Jeff bought a smoker a few weeks ago and has been the "iron chef" most nights if it's not too windy or raining; so, he made ham on the grill...it was to die for! I love ham! Plus, we had mac-n-cheese and corn...I was in heaven....Jeff is a grrrrrrrrrreat cook!

Well, I'll post more later...going to the mall to search for some new jeans...