Easter thoughts

As you drive west on Austin Bluffs Avenue there comes a point where bluffs and buildings and bridges cease; there you are over taken with a clear view of the rocky mountains. It's in that moment I attempt to take it all in that those mountains are HUGE! Key word attempt.

This morning was unexpectedly cloudy. I couldn't even see the mountains from my house, which is the norm. Kind of wanted a morning out on my own, time to be with just me and my coffee and think or not think.

I was thinking about today, Friday. Good Friday. Somewhere around 1,977 years ago Jesus was dying on the cross. I was just thinking about that. Not knowing how to think best, I just decided to read a little bit about Jesus' last days. He told lots of stories about heaven, about the costs of being a disciple, about faith and prayer.

It was like a got caught up in His life and was in this story with Him, watching Him heal and speak, and tell the Pharisee's and Sadducee's what's up. He's amazing. I felt there. His words convicted my heart as He spoke to those around Him, His compassion and love, His justice and truth. He brings hope.

Even though i'm not sure the point to all those words, I held onto that time as I left the coffee shop. I felt warm and moved and started driving home under a cloudy sky headed west on Austin Bluffs Avenue to some tunes . Know where this is going?

So I get to "that spot" and look out to where the mountains had been covered this morning and even though I cannot see the mountain peaks the sun is shining is the west and onto the Garden of the gods. What your supposed to think in that moment, i don't know. But the thought that came to mind is "the sun is rising soon." Thank you Jesus! Oh Easter.

What a wonderful time to think about Jesus. Who He is. Though I am not going to be home in NC for Easter, my friends and family have been near my heart.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend.

Spring '09

Nights alone here at 314 are few and far between. They're always odd in the beginning as I find myself at home making the only noise of the house minus the occasional gust of the wind. I tend to scurry around cleaning things i've never cleaned, listen to random cd's, kick around a ball outside (which is mildly entertaining compared to all those years of having a "pitch back" when I played by myself), and the like.

It's not so bad though after being settled in. I remember one night last Spring being alone, drinking hot chocolate, and just thinkin' and readin'. Wonderful night.

Tonight as I eat dinner, blog and reminisce it's hard to avoid the season of Spring and of "birth" that is easing it's way in. When two friends have babies on the same night i'd say Spring has sprung.

The Birgy's are a family that I have babysat for a few times and know through church. They have a little boy, Abram Daniel, to add to the family of 3 girls.

I love how one of the first questions that came out of Celia's mouth was, "Mommy you think that you will have another baby," less than 24 hours after giving birth. We all laughed.

Also, I noticed some green around the yard. And maybe some blooming on the crab apple.

Mom said it was getting green in NC. That's exciting!

I look forward to seeing Dad, Mom, Devin and Angela when they come out for graduation at the end of May. Really, really look forward to seeing them.

Tonight I was microwaving nachos and my tomatoes caught on fire. Can you believe that?

Mom emailed me a couple weeks ago and told me that I should wear more makeup. I discovered today that she keeps having dreams that I am getting married.

We are possibly getting a foot of snow over the next couple days. Any ideas for snowmen? I'm thinking a surfer snowman would be fun.

Easter Sunday is coming soon. Wow. 2.25 weeks.

Shout..sing...dance

when i think about the Lord

how He saved, how He raised me

how He filled me with the Holy Ghost

how He healed me to the uttermost

when i think about the Lord

how he picked me up

turned me around

how He set my feeton solid ground

it makes me want to shout

hallelujah!

thank you, Jesus!

Lord, you're worthy

of all the glory,

and all the honor

and all the praise!

Hallelujah!

thank you, Jesus!

Lord, you're worthy

of all the glory,

and all the honor

and all the praise!

(ephesians 2:4-7, 2 corinthians 5:17)

-shane and shane

Ummm...hi

There is hardly an easy way to begin after a month+ separation from the world of blogging and faithful readers. In attempts to ignore all awkwardness i opt to plunge right in. Bare with.

Time in NC was amazing. Hardly anything was like I thought it would be; but perfect. This time, more than any time back, I was able to spend time with Dad and Mom...and Devin for that matter. Then the day before Christmas Gramma Edith ended up staying with us for a few days. Some of my favorite sayings from her:

Mom: Tomorrow morning we are going to get up and play dress up. But Gramma, you don't need to. You are already pretty.

Gramma: I know. What is wrong with me?

She couldn't see me putting salt on her food. I asked her if that is enough.

Gramma: You didn't even put anything on there. I wouldn't do nobody that'a way.

Gramma: I love you. You are so pretty. Oh, thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus.

Along with great family, was time spent with great friends. A highlight was one day in Asheville, NC, where my friend Amanda met up with me and my friend Kristina for a day going down the Blue Ridge Parkway, going to the Grove Inn (to see gingerbread house contest results), and lunch. I can't tell you how much that time was both refreshing and laughter filled. Oh boy...how funny.

After home, was CO for a day to get packed again before heading to Galveston, TX. Here we...

...spent about 9 days cooking food and doing home repairs for those who needed due to the destruction that Hurricane Ike did this past September. It's hard to know where to start, but here are a few pictures in attempts to share.

These are from the first house we were at. The Garcia's had been doing prison ministry in this home for 30 years. Living and raising a family in it for more. Mr. Garcia is in early-middle stages of alsheimer disease now. Inside their house, they received over 2 foot of water in the second floor. Even though the outside of the house looks somewhat okay, there was mold damage in most of it. If you piled debris within 6 ft. of the side of the street the city would pick it up for free. Even that was certainly a blessing for these families.

Even Home Depot hasn't repaired their damage.

Will and Matt moving sheet rock.

And then, a couple weeks ago Leslie came to visit us CO folks. I always count it as an absolute treat to have her here. She excused my many appointments and made the most of our time together. Like doing normal things: eating lots of grits, staking "lord of catan" rights, trekking to calhan for Rocky Mountain Oysters, and willingly walking Chandler with me. Which made me think her and how blessed I am to see her so often as I walked him again the other day.

It saddens me to think that this could even begin to do justice of the past month. It doesn't. God is doing amazing things. I am so thankful to be apart of them in the slightest ways.

to grandmother's house we go...

have you ever had sore arm pits? yowzers. i never knew i flexed my pit muscles so much until they got sore.

right before exams were over, i deeply desired some sort of retreat from the hustle and bustle that often comes with being a student, working, and life really. however, how do you go on a retreat and not spend a lot of money... go to grandmothers house!!

raleigh and i went to gramma shellenburgers for a couple nights. she fed us, did puzzles with us, cranked up the christmas tunes, made christmas treats, and we allstill found many ways to rest up next to her fireplace.

however, to explain the "not so happy" arm pits, there are two explanations:

1. making a "little bo peep" snowlady with a sheep



2. playing frisbee (an ice cream lid) with two amazing rules...you have to dive everytime the frisbee is thrown to you and you have to throw the frisbee within 3 seconds of catching it

i had no choice but to be a kid in the snow; having to shed wet clothes at the door and jet to the fireplace to warm. what a blast.

we did 5 puzzles. to celebrate, a senior picture pose beside the finished peices.

the price of stay was time spent making peppermint bark, chocolate covered pretzels, and cookies to share. that is the best deal for a free stay i can think of.

Above: the suger cookies we made (bikini momma snow woman in honor of tropical weather in NC) And Below: the fireplace, where you could find Raleigh and i beside most of the time. We often try to save money by not raising the thermostat to much. Having a fireplace to sit beside = wonderful.

Yum....i hope

Some things in life just make me happy:

dancing, melting snow, morning cups of coffee, listening to people tell stories (not lies, stories), laughing, sleeping in a warm bed, holding babies, jogging, singing...in the shower, watching little kids love Jesus, and cooking...

...cooking has been this new form of therapy in my life and way to express my inner creative self. at least that is what i learned in my creativity class. recent cooking has been sweet potato casserole, cranberry salad (gramma mable version), espresso crinkles, and this morning, Cinnamon rolls:

A couple hours of preparation, some just letting the dough rise, made for a wonderful looking treats at least. Any imperfection i'm hoping cinnamon butter will fix. Haha. Hoping to make some treats at home.

Thanks Mrs. Tillman for the recipe.

Jassee really blossoms in the snow:

i think that he is dreaming of a white Christmas...and i am too!