2013

Our 2013 was full of events that God used to change and grow me in my spiritual life.  Its funny what looked insignificant at the time turned out to be what God used to show me His character or something new about myself.

Some of those events were:

• KP went to Kansas City for a week on business
• Grandma Lavalle passed away
• We put our house on the market because we found a house we thought we loved in town and put a contract on it
• Through MANY ups and downs, excitement and let-down, we lost the house we wanted and God closed doors on us selling our house
• Started renovating our house
• Lost Duke
• I got a new, amazing job!!!
• Our church hired a new pastor
• We took a much needed trip to Frisco/Ft. Worth
• Ruger had surgery (which was traumatic for me in and of itself) and found out he has lymphoma
• I turned 35
• I led a small group for college students
• I attended one of Beth Moore's conferences
• KP and I celebrated our 4th anniversary
• We were able to celebrated with friends who welcomed babies
• Took a weekend trip to Hattiesburg, MS to visit friends and stopped in West Monroe to see Duck Commander and visited family in  Arkansas
• We continued our tradition of cutting down our Christmas tree
• Loved celebrating the holidays with my annual brunch, business lunches and dinners and our annual night at the ballet seeing the Nutcracker
• We spent Christmas in Minnesota
• We were home for New Years Eve and enjoyed a night with new friends at a comedy club and wine bar

As I read through this list, the constant theme is my lack of control and His incredible grace.  Every one of those have a story I could tell.  There were lots of tears and just as much laughter and celebrating.  I guess those are the best years. I can't ever say that I wish the "bad" didn't happen because those are the moments and circumstances that I see my God the most.  And, there are even times that I thought were "bad" and I felt I was having to give up part of myself only to find out that God was just revealing my selfishness and even some self-righteousness in my heart.  I'm grateful for where we have been the last year and for the people that walked it with us.  Most of all, I am so thankful for the reminders that God's way is so much better than what I could even imagine.  He shows off His faithfulness in ways that take my breath away.  Humbling me in the best of ways.  I love seeing Him move and work in my life.  Some of the best lessons are those I don't even see coming.

We welcome 2014!  We have no expectations or plans for the year and its kind of exciting.  To have a fresh year open to whatever God calls us to do for His purpose and glory.

New Blogger-Not to Miss

My husband has had a blog in mind for a few years. He's always had a desire to write and has thought about publishing a book one day.

Over the last year, he reserved a blogger domain and toyed around with content. As of last night, he is ready to go public! 

It's definitely going to be a journey for him as he opens his life up for people to see. One that we hope and pray will encourage others. 

Won't you join us?

www.badgetobriefcase.blogspot.com

Evi

Happy 1st Birthday, Sweet Evi!!!!

I honestly cannot believe its been one year since my phone rang early in the morning to hear best sister's voice saying, "its time!". I got up and showered knowing I had time before your arrival b/c your mom had just gotten into her room.

I was JUST leaving my house when the 2nd call came....its almost time!!! WHAT?!?!??

I was FLYING!!!

Once I got to Guthrie, I started to worry. Not only was I praying I wouldn't miss your arrival, but I was praying for safety. It started raining HARD. And, we were under tornado watches. It was a scary view of the sky and I was just hoping to get past the storm.

I pulled into the hospital and got up to your momma's room as fast as I could. Thankfully, I made it in time.

It was a crazy time waiting for you. Your mom's epidural didn't take and the doctor almost missed getting there. I remember the nurses going to the window looking for Dr. W's car. (And, I have to say she was taking her time showering and getting ready as well b/c she didn't think you'd come as quickly as you did).

You had your own agenda and were ready no matter who was there.

Despite the intensity in the room, you finally came and brought a smile to everyone's face. You looked like your daddy and were just beautiful and perfect!

You are one of the happiest babies I've known. You have a smile that is contagious and lights up the room.

I can already see your strong independence, which will bring tears to your momma's eyes and drive her crazy at the same time. However, that will can be a beautiful trait as long as you give to the Lord.

I'm so thankful for your precious life. Your momma hoped and prayed for you...and I was right along side of her in those prayers.

I know you will not remember this day, but for me, May 1st is more beautiful now than ever!!!

Love you, Evi!
~Aunt Beth

Push Past the Exit

As I’m doing a one-legged side-plank in yoga today, I noticed the bright red “exit” sign just glaring at me. In the moment, I wanted to stand up and walk out b/c I was tired and in pain. Walking out the door would have been much easier than finishing the class. Especially since I was only 15 minutes into it.

All too often in life, we want to take the easy “exit” that is glaring at us in bright neon. Something that will give us instant, gratifying rest from this life. Something that will ease the pain. 

In yoga, I concentrate on the results. They may not always be instantaneous, but there are results. But, sometimes I don’t care about the results and I just want to quit. On those days, I repeat, “from strength to strength”. I do this b/c it helps me remember that God is carrying me from a strength I built yesterday, to a new one I am building today.

Life is the same. When I face trials, I concentrate on the result: to be more like Christ. But some days that’s just not enough for my fleshful mind to wrap itself around. That’s when I have to remind myself that God is taking me from strength to strength. Something I couldn’t do a year ago (saying “no” to a cupcake), I have overcome today. What I am struggling with today, in His strength, I will overcome tomorrow. 

There will always be an “exit” sign. But if we quit and take the easy way out, we miss out on becoming stronger in our faith and allowing God to use us for His glory!

2012 Ladies' Brunch

This past holiday season flew by! It snuck up on me and I just never could seem to get my grounding. One thing I knew for sure was that I would have my brunch no matter what! This is my third year to keep this little tradition. I love it every single year.

KP and I took a long vacation at the end of November into December, so I thought I was really prepared because I started planning much earlier! I had the invites made months in advance and my menu set. However, once we got back and December was upon us, I simplified the menu and got invitations out "late".

 Even though the planning didn't go my way, the meaning behind this is the same. These women have moved me this past year. They have come along side me and encouraged me and spoke life into me. They grow spiritually with me and love me. They are precious gifts God has given to me because no matter how hard life may get, this is when it all comes together and I see truly how blessed I am!

Of course, there was the food! I love prepping and working the week before because it gives me time for pray for each of these women and reflect on the last year. My menu this year included my favorite quiche (ham and veggie) which is a recipe from my mom's best friend, Millie; hashbrown casserole; two different types of dip; cinnamon rolls; and pumpkin cheesecake trifles.

So thankful for these girls!!!! Love that so many could make it and celebrate the holiday!!!

And, then my sweet hubs! Every year, he has to get praised because I honestly could not pull this off without him! He's right there with me all week helping me get the house ready. But, he also takes care of the dogs while all of us girls hang out and he's our photographer. :) The first year, he went out with my dad, but after that he realized there are way too many beautiful women at the house, so he usually sticks around. ;) I'm so thankful that he loves my friends so much that he likes to come hang out and visit too. We may have to make this a couples brunch one year!

The fellowship this year was so great. I had already planned in my head a few questions to get conversation started ("favorite holiday tradition" or "what are your Christmas plans") if it got too quiet. However, this room did not stop! Not everyone got to visit with everyone, but there was never a gap in conversation. Just another blessing that I am so thankful for...that I can bring all of my friends from every part of my life together and they all have a good time. I've learned over the years to not limit what God can do. He's taught me not to manipulate who comes because He is big enough to handle it.

The babies definitely had to make an appearance. :) They think its their party anyway. Ruger is pretty chill and can just enjoy being in the room, but Rossi is a handful (despite what you think by her posed picture).

As people were leaving, I had their gifts ready. For some reason this is always my favorite part. I love the goodies and getting the bags all ready for people to take home. I made some of our favorites - peanut butter truffles and molasses cookies. YUM! The mulling spices were an idea I got from one of my favorite bloggers. She used it as a favor as well and at the last minute I changed my gifts because this was perfect! It made our house smell AMAZING! (You can find out what's in it here)

I love how every year is just a little bit different. As I look through the pictures this year, there are faces missing that I wish could be here. New friends and old friends. My mom and Michelle who graciously make the drive every single year. Friends that God has brought back to me. And, friends that are moving away. I can't help but be a little emotional out of gratitude for each of them, sentimental of the season and already knowing that I will miss having a few in my life because of geography. However, what I do know is that we all serve a faithful God! He orchestrated our lives to intertwine and I will be forever thankful!

To Blog

As you can see, I've continued to blog. At the beginning of the year, I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do. This blog wasn't really what I was thinking it would turn out to be, but God has been showing me that what I want and expect ministry to look like, isn't usually what He has for me. So, I took a little break, but in the end, I realized that I really like this place. A few of you encouraged me through and I realized that its my outlet for writing. I love it. I can journal issues that are too personal for the world and here is a place for me to share my thoughts. I also realized as I was searching on here for a recipe, that I love being able to look back at life. I think just letting myself "off the hook" that this has to look a certain way has really brought perspective and freedom. I may not blog every week or even every month, but its here when I want it to be. :)

Love Well

Single Awareness Day.

For so many years, this holiday we celebrate was dreaded. I saw it creep up on the calendar and it mocked me. It was a day that I just wanted to get through. I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me. I told my dad not to send me flowers to work because it would make a scene. I wanted to skip the embarrassment of being single. The first time I heard this holiday called “Single Awareness Day”, I was sitting at church, alone. And, it made me laugh. It’s so true. If you have never been single on Valentine’s Day, then you have no idea what I’m talking about. But, if you have, then you know exactly what I mean. It’s like you have a huge sign on your forehead that reads, “please feel sorry for me b/c everyone knows that no one “loves” me today”. You have no date. You aren’t invited to parties. And, even churches host dinners that you must be a couple in order to attend. It’s very apparent that you are, in fact, single.

But the truth is, the longer I’m married the more couples I meet who do not celebrate Valentine’s Day. Some husbands think it’s a waste of money and that it’s a gimmick for companies to make money. Some aren’t happily married and just want the day to go away so they don’t have to feel like all the hearts are rubbing it their face that their relationship is a failure. Some are like me and just don’t want to stand in line for dinner or drop hundreds of dollars to know my husband loves me. And, some are like my husband who thinks that he should love me well everyday and not just specifically on a day that society tells him he should. 

What we all have in common is that we each want to be noticed and loved.

No matter the situation, feeling left out is unbearable. It makes you feel like no one wants you. We all want to be wanted, sought after, longed for. We all want someone to think we are a big deal. 

For us, Valentine’s has evolved. Our first Valentine’s Day we were dating, I made the mistake of telling KP that I don’t care about celebrating the holiay. What I really meant was that I don’t want to celebrate it the way society tells we should: reservations, long lines at restaurants for over-priced food, flowers that the florist has raised the price on just b/c its Valentine’s Day, or expensive gifts (because we seriously just had Christmas). My poor husband took that to mean, “Awesome! My wife doesn’t want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, so it’s just going to be like a regular, normal day.” What I didn’t realize is that he would just ignore the day completely. So, after a few years of trial and communication (I don’t see any part of it as “error”), I think we have figured it out. 

Well, he has figured me out. 

I love holidays. Any holiday (except Halloween). So I want to celebrate every holiday in some fashion. For me Valentine’s is making Cream Cajun Chicken Pasta and KP’s favorite cheesecake and having a quiet night at home. It means cards and boxes of candy. It means recognizing our love and making a big deal out of each other.

This day looks differently for everyone. Whatever it’s been in the past, we can each start this year by making the most of it because ultimately, shouldn’t we be loving all people well?

I wish I had looked for ways to love well. The world is full of people hurting and who just want to be noticed and loved. You may not realize, but there are people walking around avoiding eye-contact because they don’t want anyone to recognize that they feel unloved. There are those that will put on a smile and act like today is no different than any other, but deep down they truly want someone to make a big deal out of them. This year, I incorporated small gestures for those I love. Today isn’t just about celebrating KP and me; it’s about celebrating all the people I love. Taking an extra step to show them and maybe even make them feel like they are a “big deal” to me. 

Married women, I want you to know that there are singles out there longing to be noticed. Taking them to lunch or buying them a coffee will make their day. A card could possibly relieve some tension of the “single awareness”. Love them well. 

Singles, there are married women who have husbands that think today is Hallmark’s way of making money. They long to be noticed as much as you do. An animated Valentine with a sucker can change their day and give them hope. Love them well. 

Whether you are a hopeless romantic and absolutely LOVE today, or you are someone just trying to make it through the day, I encourage you to look around. Love the people God puts in your path today. Even if it’s the smallest gesture, like a smile, it can make someone’s day. 

I love that KP celebrates this holiday just because I want to celebrate it. But, what I love more is that he wants to love me well every single day. It’s more important for him to love me daily and not just make me a big deal on a holiday. It’s something that I can learn from. It’s more important to celebrate love every day. Loving others sets us apart from the world so that Jesus is seen in our lives and is glorified.

No matter what today holds for you, you can be thankful for a God who pursues you. The God who loved you so much, He sent His own Son to take your place. He gave each of us life! He loves so perfectly we can’t even comprehend the depth of it. 

You are lovable. You are treasured. You are precious. You are loved. 

Because you know this, go out and love well.