Discipline

Discipline. That's what this week's Bible study was about. Interesting study. We can really do anything we put our minds to. So why don't? We're undisciplined.

Fruits and Veggies. That is the goal of the next 3 days. I know I need some type of protein included in that; it will probably be a turkey burger. It will NOT be Chick-fil-a! I am really going to try to stick to fruits and veggies. Just for three days. I know it is not much, but it's a start.

Let's put this discipline I have learned about this week to the test.

Lord help me!

Dallas in 24 Hours

Chris and I traveled to Dallas, Texas this weekend for a quick getaway! We had plans with friends on Saturday night, so I took off Friday so we could make it back in time.

So we left Saturday morning, made a quick stop at the original Southernmaid, and then headed straight for the Allen outlet mall! We did some damage there but we got some greats deals. We were there in the middle of a day on a weekday, so it wasn't crowded and the weather was perfect. It was so nice to just stroll around to all the stores.

Then we ate lunch at P. F. Changs. YUM! We had crab wontons for an appetizer and then I got the famous lettuce wraps! So delicious.

Then we went to the Cabelas outlet. Woo. Less than thrilling for me, but Chris enjoyed looking at the guns and he even found a Colombia shirt on sale.

Then we made the trek into downtown to the hotel. Traffic was crazy. But there was no wrecks or anything, just a zillion cars!! Driving like idiots!

We made it to the hotel- Hotel Zaza. It was very pretty. I booked it mainly because I liked the name of it. Haha. And it was a steal bc I booked the night before we left and it was within walking distance of the American Airline Center.

Well Hotel Zaza was quite an experience. Apparently, Zaza is quite a fancy place. We were told upon arrival there was a DJ in the restaurant until 2 am. Well I'm thinking some cheesy restaurant and a DJ that no one will go see. Well, I was wrong. After the game in turned into a full on club. It was hysterical. Chris and I walked in and stuck out like sore thumbs. Let's just say, we were not dressed like Dallas' finest like everyone else. We just laughed though. We are SO glad we do not have to dress to impress ANYone!!

But before Club Zaza (I actually thing it was called Dragonfly), we went to the Mavs game! It was so fun! We walked through Uptown to get to the game, and it was PERFECT weather for our walk. We got to the game a little early, found our seats got some nachos. And Then the Mavs won! Yeah! It was a really fun game! I do believe I spotted Khloe Kardashian at the game and apparently Leann Rhimes was there, but I didn't see her. After the game we walked home. It was a great evening!

And this morning I found out the Mavs put 2 of the pictures I tweeted on there fan photo page on their website! One of the pregame court and another of Chris and I after the game! Pretty cool!

Here is a photo dump of the 24 hours:

We have a road!

Hallelujah! You read correctly! We have a road!! Chris and I took my parents and Grammy out to the house today and BAM- there was a road!

I wasn't even looking for it because I just figured it wouldn't be there. We got out and Chris said, "Oh look, a road." My head whipped around so fast and I freaked out! I'm so excited!! One more step in the right direction!!

Russell our contact with the builder said we should start building in 2 weeks!! Of course barring any crazy complications!

Yay!!!

Brutiful

I was listening to KLove during lunch today and Amanda Caroll was talking about a new blog she found by Glennon - Momastery.

In her "About Me" section Glennon talks about her struggles in life and how life is Brutiful...Brutal and Beautiful. She wraps it up with the following:

When it comes to God and faith and religion, I have some hunches…but I only know two things to be true-

1. I am God’s beloved child.

2. So is everyone else.

That really got me thinking....

I, me, Jennifer, am God's, the Creator's, the Almighty's, beloved child. I am confident I knew this fact already. So the kicker of all this is - And so is everyone else. Now THAT had me thinking.

So that means:

• that person who cut you off this morning in traffic;
• that personwho cheats on you;
• that person who got the promotion at work;
• that person who made a better grade;
• that homeless person;
• that drug addict;
• that down-right-rude person next to you in line...

are ALL God's beloved children. ALL of them!! And you/I/we are commanded to love them!

Well that hit me square between the eyes!

We are all God's children. No one is any better or any worse than me. I am a child of God and I will love my neighbor (no matter what!)

I'm excited!

Normally, on Fridays I write a Friday Five. (Well, actually, I know I haven't done one of those in a reallllly long time, but it is what I used to do!)

But I things are just so great, I don't think I can narrow it down to just five things this Friday.

I am so excited about things going on right now!! That's not to say, there are things I am not so excited about, but it is so much better/easier/pleasant to focus on the exciting things!

I am so excited about our girls (I don't like to call us "women," we're all still kids right??) small group that is meeting! It is so fun to be able to share and grow and learn from other gals my age and in the same 'season' of life. It is actually quite neat, because none of us really knew each other before our BGroup, which leads me to thing number 2 I am excited about...

I am excited about our B Group! God has mashed together a wonderful group to meet on Sunday mornings! Our group just keeps growing and growing! We have new faces every week! It is so exciting to be a part of something that God had planned from the very beginning. I love getting together for socials and service projects with the group.

I am excited Chris may be able to come home tonight! Rig move=a few extra days at home! Woot!

I am excited to get my car washed today! It's filthy. It's the little things, people.

I am excited it is the weekend!

I am excited it is not freezing cold outside!

I am excited for the Junior League Provisional Scavenger Hunt tomorrow! Because really, who doesn't LOVE a scavenger hunt?! I am probably going to act like it is the Amazing Race. Maybe there is a million dollar prize at the end??

T.G.I.F.

We have water, sorta

So, this is the progress of our house... We have a fire hydrant.

No, no slab or streets, but we have a fire hydrant across the street. Woo!

When I went by today, it did look like progress was made in the right directions and we are just moments from pouring the streets!

Can't happen soon enough!!

Geaux Tigers

That's all. :) GEAUX TIGERS!

Commute

So before Chris and I moved in with my parents, while the house is being built, I was literally 2 minutes from work. I believe the exact milage was 1.7 miles. I was so spoiled. Just minutes away to run home at lunch or sleep late in the mornings.

Those days are over.

Now that we are out here with the parentals, I am about 10 minutes away from work. Which is really nothing to whine about, but it is still further.

Then I got to thinkin, when the new house is built my commute is going to be like 30 minutes. So then I got to thinkin, what could I do with those 30 minutes? (I am a HUGE fan of multi-tasking.)  I began to come up with a list of "Things to do during my commute."

• Whiten my teeth. Don't most strip require 30 minutes? Perfect! 
• Pray. Thought I like to concentrate when I pray and that may be hard to do in 5 o'clock traffic. But I could try it out. 
• Of course, listen to music. And more specifically, KLove. Because if I can't pray, I can at least worship with song. 
• Catch up with friends. I'm thinking I can start calling friends who have moved and get back in touch with them. A solid 30 minute conversation can go a long way. (I've got my eye on you Brooke and Lindsay! And Lauren, though I already keeps tabs on you.) 
• I really wish I had a third hand. Then I could like paint my nails or something?! (BIG fan of multi-tasking)
• I could blog? With my new iPhone, I can use the talk to text feature and just speak my blogs and they write themselves! I should probably give this a test run while the car is in park. 

That's all the ideas I came up with for now.
What do you on your drive home?

DDD

Daddy - Daughter Day!

What a great day!

Slept in, well 8:30. That's sleeping in for me. Woke up lazed around a little. Went and ran errands with Dad. Somehow going to Lowe's with Dad is always better than going there by myself. 

Tried out the new Genghis Grill. Dad had been once, but I have not. It was pretty good. I really want to take Chris there because I think he will really like it. 

Then came home. Watched a little tv, but then decided to treat myself to a mani/pedi. (When I don't have anything to do, I spend money.) Then picked up some Fruiti Yogo for the ride home. It was so pretty on the drive home- sun shining a perfect temperature. I even rolled the window down! Until the wind messed up my hair. 

Now I'm home. Just me and Dad for now. I baked cookies. Got some ribs marinating. Baking some potatoes in the oven. YUM. 

What a great day. 

Oh, and the Saints play tonight! WHO DAT?!

Recap

So since I have been a wee bit behind on everything, I need to do a quick update on everything.

Recap:

The House: We are still waiting on our pre-construction meeting. We have made all our changes and we are just waiting. Of course this is the beginning of the rainy season, so that is not good for pouring streets and foundation. Boo. We are praaaaaying for some dry days so the area can 1) dry out and 2) they can pour cement.

The Job: Well, the job is still a job. And right now, I am thankful to have a job at all. 

The Hubs: Hubby is doing well. He worked like a mad man in November, so when December rolled around he got to do a lot of filling in for field techs. I know, field tech means nothing to me either. Actually, what it does mean is he gets to come home every night. WAHOO! But that was just temporary and now it is back to the rig every 7 days.

Running: Just not happening right now, but I WILL be starting back soon! Soon soon!

Miscellaneous:
I am half way through my provisional year of Junior League. Not sure if I have mentioned that. I am really enjoying it so far. Love getting to meet some many other ladies in the community and volunteering at various events. Our big spring provisional project is in February. We are going to a local elementary school to teach them about healthy lifestyles!

A new organization I am a part of, Public Relations Association Louisiana Northwest (PRAL), is coming along quite nicely. There was no professional PR organization in the area and now there is! Woot! I am a board member and it has been a really fun experience watching the organization grow.

Our Sunday School class, B Group, no, AGroup is coming together quite nicely. The church started new groups in August and I am really liking our group. We had a Christmas party that was tons of fun! We have had a couple of other social get togethers. It is just really nice to be able out hang out with new friends. Christian friends. I am loving where this is headed.

And teaching. Well right now, we are on semester break. And I am loving my break. Unfortunately school starts in 2 weeks. And I haven't done much for the class. It is really difficult to put together a from the ground up- especially on a new topic like "New Media." Sheesh, I am still trying to learn the topic.

Anywho, I think that pretty much brings things up to speed. 

Just a wee bit...

Well, I am just a wee bit behind in blogging. I am pretty sure the month of December came and went in the blink of an eye! Whew! I had a great Christmas and New Years! And I was SO thankful because Chris was actually home for most of it! Woo!

We were just a wee bit busy during the holidays with Christmas parties and family dinners. But I wouldn't change any of it! I love to be busy and I love that i was busy with FUN stuff!

I got just a wee bit sick on Christmas, and therefore; got everyone in Chris's family a wee bit sick too! Oops. Somehow Chris, his mom and his dad all got the illness BUT my Mom and Dad (who we are now living with, did I mention that?) did not get sick. Irony. Any who, I was down for the count for two days with fever and everything. Chris only had one day of fever, but he can no longer say, "Well, I haven' been sick in years!" Sorry boo.

I really was a wee bit sick all of December and there for did less than a wee bit of running. :( I was doing so well and then it got cold. And it gets dark so early. And I was sick. (These are all of my excuses.) I hope to start doing a wee bit MORE running SOON!

I also hope to do a wee bit more blogging... but we'll see how that goes.

December without words

B Group Charades. "The Virgin Birth"

Chris's got a Sonicare! 

Fireworks!

Homemade Muffys!

Chris and I at Christmas with the Walkers.

Fireworks at my aunt's house on Christmas Eve Eve

Christmas with Chris's family from Texas!

"Tacky" Christmas with Kendra Denice and our men.

Brother with my Aunt's new dog.