Speaking in Faith

My dear friend Faith has a blog - http://speakinginfaith.wordpress.com - that you must go read. She is an incredible writer and speaker. She gave me the privilege of being a guest blogger today. Please don't just read my post though. She has some great insights into the Word, and oh, how she loves Jesus!

Thru the Eyes of Texas

Please go check out my new blog - Thru the Eyes of Texas

The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You

If you know me at all, you know that I am a passionate fan of the Texas Longhorns. Have been pretty much my entire life. Not really sure why I love them so much. My parents didn’t go there, so it hasn’t been engrained in me since birth like some people I know. I just love the ‘Horns. Now that I have moved to Tennessee, I feel like I need to show that passion just a little more than when I lived in Texas. I’ve got the Longhorn logo on my back windshield. My computer wallpaper is the logo. I’ve got a note cube on my desk from Texas. Most Saturdays I’m wearing burnt orange.
As I am now living life with many non-Texans, I’m learning just how much Texas pride, be it for the state or the university, truly exists. Sure, it’s a force to be reckoned with in Texas. But take us out of our homeland, and we become even more vocal about our beloved state. You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the girl.
I’ve recently had some Texas encounters that just amaze those I’m with, but seem very normal to me. J Back in March, my wonderful roommates surprised me with a night at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. They packed my bags & knew I would be perfectly content wearing a Longhorn t-shirt the next day. We were walking through the hotel to breakfast the next morning, and a man across the way yells “Hook ‘em Horns!” and throws up the hand-sign. Of course, I respond in kind. My roommates laugh, amazed at the response.
A few weeks ago, we went to cheer on friends & runners at the annual Country Music Marathon. Throwing on a t-shirt & capris, I, of course, reach for burnt orange, not really even thinking about the fact that 31,000 people will be running past me, potentially noticing. I was just putting on some clothes to go watch a race in the heat. Shortly into the race, the comments started – “Hook ‘em Horns,” hand signs, the occasional Aggie hissing at me. (There was one Texas Tech girl who ran past too, but we won’t talk about that.) Of course, I was cheering my little heart out for those running in burnt orange or the token Texas flag running shorts. (I even cheered for the Aggies.) That’s Texas. They’re my people.
The best encounter of all happened tonight. Amy & I were driving to our book club meeting. It’s a little before 6:30p, and we’re just driving & chatting away. A Jeep full of guys pulls up next to us. (And everyone knows only good-looking guys drive Jeeps.) Amy sees them coming and is thinking maybe they are catching up to us to see the cute girls in our car. She’s got the flirty car smile going on. (You know the one…you know you do it too.) And as she looks over, she realizes that they are not checking out the cute girls in the car. No, they are freaking out, throwing up the Longhorns hand-sign at us! They continued past, with big grins on their faces, still giving the “Hook ‘em” sign on their way.
I love Texas!

I know...

I know, I know. I'm really bad at updating this. I'm great at Twitter & Facebook. Just sitting down to write more than 140 characters is designated more for my journal these days - you know, the handwritten kind that not everyone gets to read, the one that my grandchildren (hopefully!) will read someday and think their grandma was so wise & cultured...or crazy :) There are lots of thoughts rolling around in this head of mine that will hopefully make it onto here soon. In the meantime, please go read a little bit about Project Smiles, the non-profit dental agency I coordinate.

Also, if you haven't read or heard about MckMama & Stellan , please check out their site! Keep their family in your prayers! God is being made known around the world through this precious little boy.

Major Man

Addi's birthday was last weekend, so I sent her a birthday present & Major an "un-birthday" present, as is tradition with Auntie (that's me!).

Last Friday night, I got a voicemail from Major Man that made my heart smile and is just too cute not to share.

"Auntie, I LOVE the surpise you gave me. I love it, I love it! There's a gum thing. You pretend like you're having gum. Then you say 'Do you want some gum?' You pull it out and something snaps their finger. I'm gonna do it to Daddy! Hook 'em Horns! Uh...I mean, I love you!"

Is that not the most precious thing ever?! My favorite part is the end - "Hook 'em Horns! Uh...I mean, I love you!" Made me laugh & cry all at the same time.

WAIT

Don't we all love to hear Jesus answer us with "wait?" That little word with so much impact -- makes me want to scream sometimes! There are times I wish Jesus would tell me "yes" or "no." It would be so much easier to deal with -- and move on, if necessary. Yet, He still tells me to wait (sometimes using the gentler version - "Just hold on.). And so I wait...not always with the patience I should.
My roommate Emily & I were discussing this a few weeks ago. She shared a poem with me that had recently been shared with her. I hope it blesses & encourages you as much as it has me...and helps you to see the value of "wait."

WAIT
by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...
the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine...
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.

You'd never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT."

Celebrity Sighting

Nashville is a really cool town to live in. The vibe of the city is very trendy -- reminds me a bit of Austin, with all the music influence. It's a city, but still has a bit of small town feel. Maybe a Fort Worth without Dallas? But by far, one of the greatest things about Nashville is the celebrity sightings. I've had a few since I've been here, but they have mostly been at work, not just out & about in the city. (I'm not counting College GameDay in this either...that was an intentional sighting.)
But tonight, I hit the jackpot. I went to see "Bride Wars" with some girlfriends. (Sidenote: It's hilarious! Go see it with your girlfriends!) We were standing in line to get our tickets, and who walks past? KEITH URBAN & NICOLE KIDMAN! Even here in Nashville, where celebrity sightings are the norm, there's something different about seeing them than any other celebrity. Probably because Nicole is a movie star, not just another country singer. She is strikingly beautiful, even with her hair thrown up in a messy bun. And once you get past looking at her, you see just how hot Keith really is.
So tonight definitely is up there on my best Nashville moments list. And I'll always remember the date too because it's my mom's birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!