September 2011

Author: Emily

Clearly, I am slacking on this whole month-by-month blog posting.  Following October’s update, from this point on we are just thinking of posting fun/interesting/challenging things that happen here and there instead of doing a long monthly update. 

Some fun things that happened in September:

1.  Colts vs. Texans game at Reliant Stadium.  This wasn’t necessarily the smartest idea because if you didn’t know this already, Texans fans do NOT like Colts fans at all.  I must have missed the memo because we showed up to this game in our Colts attire and were hassled most of the game.  :-P  It was all in good fun, and though we lost we still enjoyed hanging out with our friends, Austin and Caitlin.  Though I will have to say, I don’t think I’ll ever attend another away game.  :-P  

9/11/11

Michael with Austin and Caitlin

2.  Date nights.  These are seriously my favorite.  I love getting to know Michael more and spending quality time with him.  It’s amazing how much you continue to learn about your spouse long after you’ve been married (not that we’ve been married for a long time, but you know what I mean).  I never tire of hearing about what God’s teaching him, his hopes, his dreams, his ideas, etc.  He truly is such a blessing to me.

3.  Nursing.  Work for both of us has been going really well, but I wanted to share some highlights from nursing.  In September I found out that I was getting published in a nursing journal!  I’ve been working on this research project since my senior (well, super senior) year of college and recently was accepted for publication and I’m sooooo thankful.  The article will be published within the next five months! :)  Also, I had the opportunity to travel for business!  Haha, that sounds so weird.  But seriously, my hospital paid to send me to Cincinnati to become an “OR Champ” (the name of the conference).  I learned so much about certain products, instruments, equipment, and several other OR-related things.  Despite my fear of traveling alone for business, it really was a blessing to attend.  Also, the food was delicious and it was amazing having a huge room to myself. :)

4.  Spiritual walk.  Since I don’t have to work on Thursdays, I recently started attending a Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class with a friend from church.  This has been such a blessing for me!  We meet once a week to dig deeper in the Scriptures, discuss what we’ve learned, and then listen to a teaching.  This year, BSF is diving into the book of Acts.  This has been super challenging for me and has helped me discover the lost God of my faith – the Holy Spirit, which I believe based on the Bible is indwelt within us at the time of conversion (Ephesians 1:13-14).  There are several questions that I’ve been praying over, but here are a few – do I truly believe the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives within me/do I believe He is that powerful?  Do I yield to the Spirit in my everyday life?  In what ways is the Holy Spirit being quenched in my life?  In what ways am I being disobedient to the Holy Spirit?  Also, I was recently invited to attend a monthly event called “Food for Thought.”  Led by two older Christian women, “Food for Thought” has been such an encouragement to me.  These women invite younger women over to learn how to make a meal together, eat together, and then talk about what God’s doing in our lives and teaching us.  I’m about to attend my second dinner tomorrow and look forward to more encouraging conversations with these women.

5.  Excitement for Thanksgiving.  Michael and I are super excited to go back to Indiana for Thanksgiving.  Thankfully, I was able to take a couple of days off of work so that we could fly back for a handful of days and boy, are we ready!  We’re looking forward to spending quality time with family, preparing and eating Thanksgiving dinner, playing games, experiencing Fall and seeing the changing leaves, and I’m excited to (attempt to) make this.

Because our community group was getting so large, at the end of September we went through a "split."  We love you all!

Thanks for reading!  We miss you all!!

<3

Emily (and Michael)

August Update

Author: Emily

So, I must apologize for getting August’s update out on the LAST DAY of September; however, I have a good excuse this time.  I accidently stepped on my computer, broke the screen, and needed to ship it out for two weeks to be fixed.  And I just couldn’t do a blog update without pictures (absolutely unacceptable, right ;)), and I can only upload photos on my computer (versus Michael’s work or personal computer), so I just had to wait to get it back.  And finally, it’s here and I can upload and therefore update.

The month of August flew by and we were privileged to visit with both of our families.  During the first week of August, Michael headed to Cape May, NJ to spend some time with his family.  He had a blast and here are some pictures to share.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it due to work, but we’re hoping we’ll get to take another trip out there sometime next year.  Michael had so much fun catching up with his family, spending time at the beach, and eating great food.  He also had the opportunity to read “The Kite Runner” which I now believe is one of his favorite books.  

Also, I had the opportunity to fly back to Indiana last-minute on my Momma’s birthday weekend.  She had no idea and was so surprised she cried.  J  She never asks for anything for her birthday (except of course, “world peace”), but this year she requested that we all be together, so we made it happen (well, actually Diddy made it happen lol).  I have a video of surprising her but unfortunately can’t post it because the surprise took place at her school and some students popped into the video.  :-P  While back in Indiana, I had the opportunity to help out with the start of my mom’s school’s greenhouse.  I love the idea and it’s so cool to see the community rally around the students and staff to make it happen.  My Diddy is even in charge of construction for the project.  How cool is that??  My parents are amazing.  In addition to working on the greenhouse and courtyard as a family, it was such a fun and blessed weekend of family time - catching up, laughing, eating, and of course, boating.  The weather was beautiful and I was so sad to hop back on the plane to Houston (although excited to reunite with the hubs ;)). 

This month also marked the beginning of Michael’s second year of school and my end of orientation and start of circulating on my own in the OR.  Man was I nervous ab0ut both of us starting back at the same time.  But, as always, God has been so faithful.  I prayed for Him to prepare us for this transition, and it really has been so smooth.  Michael has been so supportive and encouraging when I have my rough days (which are few!), and he is loving his job – his students are really interested in learning so that makes it really fun for him.  I’m learning so much each day that I go into work – every single day is different and I have the privilege of working with so many people.  And I love the work that I do – OR nursing is a different kind of nursing (you don’t study OR nursing in school; in fact, you only get about 4 days of observation total in the OR while in school), but it really is fulfilling.  It’s difficult to explain, but my favorite part about it is working with one patient at a time, working as a team, getting to use my critical thinking skills to put the pieces together, and getting to use my technical skills to troubleshoot equipment.  It’s definitely true that God knows me better than I know myself because I had no clue what the OR really entailed, and I think it is a great fit.

Well, I guess that about wraps up the month of August.  Stay tuned for a September update!  Oh, and p.s., here’s a fun article about our church.  A man and his wife came to visit (their goal is to visit 50 churches in 50 weeks) and they came to visit our church and wrote a little blog post about it.  We were super encouraged and think it reflects our church very well.  Plus, you kind of get a taste of what a typical Sunday looks like!  Enjoy!

Love,

Emily (and Michael)

Summer is Wrapping Up

Author: Emily

Since Michael is out of town on vacation with his family now (more on that next month) and since he so sweetly updated the blog for June, it’s my turn to write again.  :) 

We spent the 4^th of July swimming, grilling out, and playing football in the pool with friends.  The food was delicious and the weather was perfect.  Unfortunately, we didn’t go see fireworks this year since I had to work a 12 shift the next day (I know, I’m a party pooper), but we’ll see about next year.  :)

<3

Me and Beth poolside

Me and Caitlin - she came to visit for the 4th!

Michael and Austin

I love my silly husband :)

I had an opportunity to travel back to Indiana to celebrate my sweet friend, Courtney, and her marriage to her now husband, Cody.  These two bring me so much joy and I was honored to give Courtney a “charge” during the wedding.  I had never done a charge before, but it was a blessing and joy to challenge Courtney to marriage and to reflect on the magnitude of the covenant she was making with Cody.  It was a beautiful wedding (yes, I cried), and I am so excited for what God has in store for them as they step into full-time ministry this coming fall. 

Me with the BEAUTIFUL bride

I was so thankful to be able to spend time with my Momma and little sister, Allison, while I was back in Indiana for the weekend.  They picked me up at the airport in Indy and drove me to Fort Wayne for the wedding where we shopped and shopped and shopped.  We had so much fun, and laughed the weekend away.  I also had the opportunity to see Karla in Indianapolis before my flight left town.  She came to meet us for lunch at P.F. Chang’s (sooo good), and it was a bitter sweet time.  Sweet because I was with my Momma and sisters; bitter because I knew I would be saying goodbye to them within the hour as I had to return to Houston.  That’s really starting to get old.

Lunch with my favorites at P.F. Chang's :)

Another highlight of the month was getting to spend a Friday date day together since I have Fridays off for the time being.  Michael was such a sweetheart and took me to see the final Harry Potter.  If anyone knows my husband, you would know that he does not care for Harry Potter… at all.  He’s only read half of the first book and never seen any of the movies.  He loves to read, but fiction is just not his thing.  However, he did enjoy the movie, and afterwards I clandestinely mentioned that it might be cool for me to read all the books again and come up with a character/plot web connecting all the books together.  If anyone knows my husband, you would know that he looooves strategic planning and making webs is his thing.  Maybe, just maybe, this will lead him to read the Harry Potter series.  ;)  Following the movie, we took our first trip to the Museum of Fine Arts.  I think I was expecting to see a lot of paintings, but the museum is full of historical artifacts which was exciting for me because I love learning about where things come from and imagining who once held or used those artifacts.

http://www.urbanebloc.com/review-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-ii/

Finally, at the end of the month we had an exciting weekend where we entertained three important guests (some of our close friends from college)!  Brennon came to visit us this past Friday, and Bethany and Anna were in Texas on a road trip and came to visit this past Saturday.  It was so fun for Michael to have guy time with Brennon and for me to have girl time with Bethany and Anna.  Along with eating a lot of good (but bad for you) food and showing them around the city, we were also able to fit in some disc golf, too.  By the way, I wore flip flops while disc golfing (ALWAYS a bad idea), stepped on an ant hill, and was bit by tiny little black ants.  My feet still itch. 

Michael and Brennon at Hermann Park

Me, Bethany, and Anna at Freebirds

Kind of weird to end on that note (I know you really care about what’s going on with my feet), but I think that’s about it for this month.  We would really appreciate prayer for the Lord to prepare us for a busy season coming up within the next couple of weeks.  I will be completing orientation while Michael starts school back up at the same time.  Please pray that our walks with God will remain our number one priority, that we would honor Him in everything (especially in our marriage and while at work), and that He would give us endurance when things are hard and grace for one another.  Please let us know how we can be praying for you.    

With much love,

Emily (and Michael)


P.S.  Forgot to mention that July 23 marked one year of us living in Houston!  It's crazy how the time flies and we feel so blessed by all we've learned and experienced since being here.  

Summer is Here

Author: Michael

We know it’s a few weeks late, but we wanted to get y’all a blog update for June before we reach the end of July (we’ll post an update on July in the next couple weeks too).

June was an eventful month to say the least.  It was my birthday… and we had a blast!  We celebrated a day early on June 15 because Emily had to work the day of my actual birthday (silly nursing schedule).  She had the idea to get me an electronic drum kit, because I’ve spent far too much time with my hands off the steering wheel while drumming in the car.  The electronic drum kit is much safer, and it sounds great!  Thanks to the family members who pitched in to make it happen as well!  I was pumped (as you can see by the picture)!

Surprise!

My new favorite toy

One of the highlights of the month was a one-day visit from Brett and Jenny, who we knew from IU but now live in New Orleans teaching in the inner city.  Along with their friends Tim and Carrie, we went to Galveston Beach and enjoyed margaritas at one of our favorite restaurants.  It was a blast to see them again and catch up.  A few days after they left town, I traveled up to Indiana alone to be a groomsman in my friend Josh’s wedding.  Josh and Ashley are so clearly perfect for each other and their wedding was beautiful.  It was sad that Emily couldn’t come (silly nursing schedule, pt. II).  I also got to spend some quality time with my family on the trip.  It’s always great to see my folks, hang out with my grandma Marilyn and give my dog Ross some cheese (his favorite food, which my Draconian parents routinely deprive him of).

Emily and Jenny at the beach in Galveston

Galveston

Near the end of June, we went up to Indiana for our dear friend Sarah’s wedding.  It was a blessing to witness Sarah getting married and we were privileged to be a part of their day (I was an usher, Emily read scripture).  It was surreal, as Sarah has been like a little sister to me since high school and a close friend of Emily’s throughout college.  It was cool to be at a wedding so focused on Christ.  The entire wedding had a sense of anticipation for what God will do in and through the marriage.  We are so happy for her and Greg and are excited to see what God does through their marriage.

Emily and I at Sarah's wedding

Emily and Courtney

Me and Toasty Osty

Emily with Amanda and Kristi

Us with Sarah at her reception

At the canal in Indy with Emily's family

One of our new favorite games

On the same trip up to Indy, we got to spend a lot of quality time with Emily’s family (who we haven’t seen for far too long).  It was so much fun to just hang out, laugh and enjoy each other’s company playing board games (The Game of Things) and just talking.  We went down to the canal in downtown Indy and ate at one of Mass Ave.’s best restaurants, Bazbeaux Pizza.  It was pretty tough to say goodbye to them after such an incredible and fun time together.

On a more somber, but vitally important note, we continue to be involved with Redeemed Ministries, which aims to end sex trafficking in Houston.  If you’re interested in learning more about this injustice of modern day slavery in Houston (and which is growing throughout the country, even in Indiana) please visit www.redeemeministries.com.

Some other things we got to do in June were: visit the legendary Bernie’s Burger Bus (Bernie’s business operates out of a converted short school bus and they were the best burgers we’ve ever had) and wash the burgers down with delicious Sugarbabies cupcakes; also, while Emily has been working, I’ve been keeping busy lesson planning for the coming school year, reading Scripture and other books (The Great Gatsby [Fitzgerald]; A Little History of the World [Gombrich]) and using Rosetta Stone to learn Spanish (Yo hablo muey bien español).  Also, Emily passed her two big nursing tests to complete her internship (praise God!) so she’s all done with tests and onto orientation.  I’m so proud of her J

Bernie's Burger Bus

Bernie's Menu

Me practicing Spanish at Starbucks

We’ll write ya again in a couple weeks with an update on July.  We love and miss you all!  


Michael (& Emily)

Year One

Author: Emily

The month of May was wrapped up with the celebration of our one year anniversary!  Get ready for a long post with a lot of pictures.  :)  So, what did we do to celebrate?  We went to San Antonio, of course!  We had to stop at the famous Buc-ee’s on the way for some beef jerky per the husband’s request (I tried some, too – it was de-lish).  When we arrived in San Antonio, we went straight to Sea World and while waiting in line to buy tickets, we ran into Michael’s close friend from high school, James.  He’s stationed in Texas for the Air Force and was able to get us in for free since it was Memorial Day weekend and Sea World had a special for soldiers and their friends and families!  Thank you, James, for bravely serving our country (and for getting us into Sea World for free!).  :)  I enjoyed seeing Shamu in all his glory – but only from a distance.  Many already know this but my biggest fear is being in a pool with “Free Willy.”  Other experiences from the weekend included: lunch and dinner on the River Walk, learning all about Texas history at the Alamo (and not just that we need to remember it), going to Market Square and watching a live concert, continuing our tradition of eating at the Melting Pot, and my favorite experience of the trip… exchanging gifts and reflecting over this past year. 

Buc-ee's rest stop - a big deal in Texas :)

Michael, me, and James at Sea World San Antonio

Outside our hotel by the River Walk

Lunch on the River Walk

The Alamo

The Melting Pot

Michael on the River Walk

Gifts

Michael blessed me by writing/recording a song and putting it to a slideshow of pictures from our relationship and wedding day.  I cried, of course.  :)  In fact, he’s playing the song for me right now as I type.  ;)  My gifts for Michael had a traditional paper theme (since that's what you're supposed to give for the one year anniversary :-P).  The first gift he opened was a journal with a letter from me.  In the anniversaries to come, we can write each other letters in this journal so that we can have a compilation of our years together.  Next, he opened a book entitled, The History of Redemption.  This book was compiled by a pastor from Austin Stone Church in Austin, TX.  It has incredible illustrations and discusses the redemption of God’s people from Genesis to Revelation.  It’s awesome, and I suggest it to anyone.  We read this together and then he opened his final gift.  I made him a book about our story of how God brought us together, and at the back of the book are pictures from our wedding day.  I think Michael liked it ;) and I think it’s really cool that we sort of had the same idea for each other for our one year anniversary gift.  After gift giving, we read through our vows and also read the speeches from our wedding written by my dad, sisters, and Michael’s best friend.  It was really special to reflect on our wedding day, and also to reflect on this past year and all that we’ve gotten to experience together by God’s grace.  We also recorded these things in the journal I gave Michael.  Some of our favorite memories (and pictures) are listed below:

·         Wedding day :)

·         Honeymoon

·         Driving into Houston for the first time, seeing downtown, and knowing it was right

·         Setting up Michael’s classroom

·         Finding a home church at Kaleo

·         Emily getting to nanny

·         Thanksgiving and Christmas in Indiana

·         Colts games and IU football games at local restaurants (since we don’t have cable) :-P

·         Emily getting a nursing job

·         Creative dates – especially the 007 date night extravaganza

·         Astros games

·         The Houston Rodeo

·         Trying out new recipes

·         Hosting community group at our home

·         Starbucks and Dunn Brother coffee dates with Scrabble games

·         Walks around Rice University and Hermann Park

·         Yogurtland/Swirll and Half Price Books

·         Visiting so many new places together: Charleston, Chattanooga, Nashville, the Mississippi Delta, Austin, Las Vegas, Dallas, Tulsa, Galveston, San Antonio

·         Parents’ visits to Houston

·         Early morning breakfasts and devotional times

·         Planting our first garden together

·         Dreaming about being parents and pet owners one day ;)

May 29, 2010 <3

Wizard of Oz at Discovery Green in Houston

Visiting Nick and Alicia in Austin

With friends from community group

With the Lees during our fall visit to Indiana

Nanny Emily celebrating Paxton's first birthday :)

Wicked with the Thompsons in Indianapolis

Ninfa's in Houston during my parents' visit

Houston Arboretum during Michael's parents' visit

Michael with friends on an Indiana visit

Thanksgiving with my sissies in Indiana

River Walk in San Antonio

It’s probably hard to believe, but there are even more memories listed in the journal; these are just some of the highlights.  In our first year of marriage, I have learned many things about myself.  The biggest being that I am an incredibly selfish person.  There was often a battle in my heart to first take care of myself before taking care of Michael.  Before moving to Houston, we heard a sermon about marriage being a covenant relationship that is not 50-50, but rather, marriage is meant to be 100-100 (each spouse is continually serving the other).  Unfortunately, no one ever meets this standard, but praise God that this is where Christ comes in.  Because of His unconditional love, grace, and mercy for us, we are free to love each other in the same way.  Marriage has been an incredible reflection of the Gospel.  No matter how ugly my heart is at times, my God will never leave me, and the same is true of my husband.  Despite my failures, he continues to point me to Christ by loving and forgiving me in my many times of weakness.

Our first year of marriage has been such a blessing.  As mentioned in previous posts, finding my worth in things other than God has been a struggle for me since becoming a Christian, but God continues to shower His grace upon me and reveal to me truth - that I am promised eternal life and a living encounter with Him through Christ.  This is the true prize!  Everything else is just a bonus.  :)  I am not promised a steady job.  I am not promised the American dream.  I am not promised motherhood.  I am not promised a husband.  Realizing this has made me appreciate my and Michael’s first year of marriage that much more.  Our time together is truly precious and a gift from God, and through it we have had so much fun.  I have had the joy and honor of living with my husband, learning him, and sharing his last name – I love you, Michael!  

  

P.S.  This month was our first experience eating from our own garden!  We’ve had fresh basil, oregano, and cherry tomatoes.  So delicious!  Now, we’re just waiting on those peppers to finish up.  Update:  I went outside today and our green pepper finally turned orange!  However, half of it was missing. :(  Stupid birds.