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.