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!