Thankful 9, 10, 11

So thankful for so much this weekend!

Friday night Mr. G and I enjoyed some Friday night football complete with Frito chili pie and chili cheese fries!!

So thankful for these fun Friday nights in Texas and remembering how cheering on the Wildcats growing up was such a wonderful community-wide bonding experience!

Saturday, I was thankful for a sweet time with some very special ladies choosing the bridesmaids dresses for our wedding. The ones we chose are so beautiful and I think will be just right for the occasion! I also picked out some adorable frocks for our flower girls and am so thankful for their precious lives! After shopping, we lunched at the Dream Cafe nearby and it was delish!! Mom and I braved the crowds and shopped for some boots and accessories for the engagement photos and found just the right things. :) Then I hopped in the car and made it back in time for a date night with Mr. G. We saw "Skyfall" and it is fantastic!! Such a great cast, too!

Today I am thankful for a true Sabbath that included a wonderful time of worship with my church family and an afternoon nap. :) I can't express my thanks enough to the Almighty God who holds onto us no matter what happens on our life journey.

Thankful 9, 10, 11

So thankful for so much this weekend!

Friday night Mr. G and I enjoyed some Friday night football complete with Frito chili pie and chili cheese fries!!

So thankful for these fun Friday nights in Texas and remembering how cheering on the Wildcats growing up was such a wonderful community-wide bonding experience!

Saturday, I was thankful for a sweet time with some very special ladies choosing the bridesmaids dresses for our wedding. The ones we chose are so beautiful and I think will be just right for the occasion! I also picked out some adorable frocks for our flower girls and am so thankful for their precious lives! After shopping, we lunched at the Dream Cafe nearby and it was delish!! Mom and I braved the crowds and shopped for some boots and accessories for the engagement photos and found just the right things. :) Then I hopped in the car and made it back in time for a date night with Mr. G. We saw "Skyfall" and it is fantastic!! Such a great cast, too!

Today I am thankful for a true Sabbath that included a wonderful time of worship with my church family and an afternoon nap. :) I can't express my thanks enough to the Almighty God who holds onto us no matter what happens on our life journey.

Day 8: Thankful for Job

This semester my class is over the second half of the Old Testament.  We discussed Job this morning and my mind continues to marinate over the questions the reader walks away with upon studying this text.  It seemed to resonate in my soul how much I and so many fellow humans on the planet yearn for complete answers.  I worry, I stress, I struggle.  I'm impatient and want to move forward with decisions and next steps.  We yearn for resolution.  We yearn for equilibrium.  And yet, so much of the time, it is not there.  So much that surrounds us is the not known, the unknown.  Can we rest there?  Can we hold in tension the not knowing with the knowing of Whose we are?  Can we wrestle and rest at the same time?  I'm beginning to believe there is great beauty in the struggle and in the trust.  As I have pursued this seminary journey, one thing I have learned along the way is that the more I know, the more I realize I do not know and I have to admit that thought fills my heart with quite a bit of giddiness.  For the awe of serving One who is beyond my comprehension and yet encourages me to seek after and grow in knowledge of Who he is is an amazing thing.  What a great God we serve, One who is with us in each and every struggle and One whom we can trust completely in every situation.

Day 8: Thankful for Job

This semester my class is over the second half of the Old Testament.  We discussed Job this morning and my mind continues to marinate over the questions the reader walks away with upon studying this text.  It seemed to resonate in my soul how much I and so many fellow humans on the planet yearn for complete answers.  I worry, I stress, I struggle.  I'm impatient and want to move forward with decisions and next steps.  We yearn for resolution.  We yearn for equilibrium.  And yet, so much of the time, it is not there.  So much that surrounds us is the not known, the unknown.  Can we rest there?  Can we hold in tension the not knowing with the knowing of Whose we are?  Can we wrestle and rest at the same time?  I'm beginning to believe there is great beauty in the struggle and in the trust.  As I have pursued this seminary journey, one thing I have learned along the way is that the more I know, the more I realize I do not know and I have to admit that thought fills my heart with quite a bit of giddiness.  For the awe of serving One who is beyond my comprehension and yet encourages me to seek after and grow in knowledge of Who he is is an amazing thing.  What a great God we serve, One who is with us in each and every struggle and One whom we can trust completely in every situation.

Day 7

Today, I added a new little friend to my office. :) With an orange spice aroma, I feel the holidays are in full swing! Plus, I hear the smell of orange keeps you alert. :)

I'm thankful for tastes and smells that allow us to remember special times. I love pumpkin ice cream because it reminds me of a sweet evening  I spent as a child with my Grandmommie reading a Christmas book to me as we enjoyed our cups of Braum's ice cream.  I savored the seasonal pumpkin flavor and I still see the images of elves in Santa's workshop each time I taste it.  Of course when I saw this delight at my local HEB, I had to add it to my cart and each 1/2 cup is only 3 points plus!!  What a deal for a stroll down memory lane. :)

What are special flavors that transport you to special times?

Day 7

Today, I added a new little friend to my office. :) With an orange spice aroma, I feel the holidays are in full swing! Plus, I hear the smell of orange keeps you alert. :)

I'm thankful for tastes and smells that allow us to remember special times. I love pumpkin ice cream because it reminds me of a sweet evening  I spent as a child with my Grandmommie reading a Christmas book to me as we enjoyed our cups of Braum's ice cream.  I savored the seasonal pumpkin flavor and I still see the images of elves in Santa's workshop each time I taste it.  Of course when I saw this delight at my local HEB, I had to add it to my cart and each 1/2 cup is only 3 points plus!!  What a deal for a stroll down memory lane. :)

What are special flavors that transport you to special times?

Thankful 6

So thankful for the right to vote and that we live in a country where elections are a peaceful process. I'm also pretty thankful to watch the election results with this guy :) love him!

Thankful 6

So thankful for the right to vote and that we live in a country where elections are a peaceful process. I'm also pretty thankful to watch the election results with this guy :) love him!

Thankful, Day 5

Today, I am so thankful for a job where I feel like I am making a difference, a mani/pedi to make this Monday extra fab, and maybe ending the day with a honey crisp apple and Nutella. :)  I know what your thinking, "don't get too crazy, Carroll!!"

Thankful, Day 5

Today, I am so thankful for a job where I feel like I am making a difference, a mani/pedi to make this Monday extra fab, and maybe ending the day with a honey crisp apple and Nutella. :)  I know what your thinking, "don't get too crazy, Carroll!!"

Day 4 of Thankfulness

So thankful for a day to worship God, to be convicted of the importance of prayer and renewed in my pursuit of it.

Day 4 of Thankfulness

So thankful for a day to worship God, to be convicted of the importance of prayer and renewed in my pursuit of it.

San Jacinto Day

Last Spring I had the fun opportunity to serve on a committee that plans a celebration of San Jacinto Day!  We couldn't have asked for better weather and it was a great way to spend a Spring evening.

Here were our festive centerpieces.

Each plastic holder contained scanned historical images from the time.

Of course we had glass bottle Dr. Peppers!

We also held a salsa contest to raise scholarship funds.

I loved sampling the delicious recipes!

I was so glad Mr. G was my date :)

It was such a fun evening!

And look who made a guest appearance when we were cleaning up!

I'm looking forward to watching the Lady Bears again this season!!  :)

San Jacinto Day

Last Spring I had the fun opportunity to serve on a committee that plans a celebration of San Jacinto Day!  We couldn't have asked for better weather and it was a great way to spend a Spring evening.

Here were our festive centerpieces.

Each plastic holder contained scanned historical images from the time.

Of course we had glass bottle Dr. Peppers!

We also held a salsa contest to raise scholarship funds.

I loved sampling the delicious recipes!

I was so glad Mr. G was my date :)

It was such a fun evening!

And look who made a guest appearance when we were cleaning up!

I'm looking forward to watching the Lady Bears again this season!!  :)

Thankful, Day 3

A Baylor football win!!

Plus quality time with precious college friends and the love of my life!!

Thankful, Day 3

A Baylor football win!!

Plus quality time with precious college friends and the love of my life!!

Thankful, Day 2

Baylor Homecoming!!

Thankful, Day 2

Baylor Homecoming!!

Give Thanks

I thought I might start a "30 Days of Thanks" series on my blog.  We'll see if I can post for 30 days in a row!

I bought these sunflowers at the grocery the other day and they sure have brightened up my office!  I love how different flowers remind us of changing seasons.  Sunflowers and mums always make me think of fall and offer a bright burst of color. :)

Another thing I am thankful for is Deck the Halls Holiday Market, our annual Junior League fundraiser!

I always love perusing the different vendors and working my shift.  I had a great time tonight seeing old friends and meeting new ones!  The thing I am most thankful for is how it raises funds to support community resources for women and children.  If you are in the area this weekend, please stop by!  It is a great way to get some good Christmas shopping done and know you are supporting a good cause.

Give Thanks

I thought I might start a "30 Days of Thanks" series on my blog.  We'll see if I can post for 30 days in a row!

I bought these sunflowers at the grocery the other day and they sure have brightened up my office!  I love how different flowers remind us of changing seasons.  Sunflowers and mums always make me think of fall and offer a bright burst of color. :)

Another thing I am thankful for is Deck the Halls Holiday Market, our annual Junior League fundraiser!

I always love perusing the different vendors and working my shift.  I had a great time tonight seeing old friends and meeting new ones!  The thing I am most thankful for is how it raises funds to support community resources for women and children.  If you are in the area this weekend, please stop by!  It is a great way to get some good Christmas shopping done and know you are supporting a good cause.

Hope Gala 2012

Tuesday night, Mr. G and I were given the fun opportunity to attend the Hope Gala.  This event is a fundraiser for Generations of Hope adoption agency in our town.  I love going every year and hearing the amazing stories of families whose lives have been changed through adoption.

It was such a treat to bid on fun prizes in the silent auction and to put in raffle tickets for amazing gifts like vacations to Hawaii and a Macbook Pro!  I think one of my favorite parts of the evening was when the lady realized she had won the Hawaii trip!  She started jumping up and down -- it was a great moment. I almost felt like I was in the studio audience of The Price is Right.  :)

Thanks, Erin, for such a fun night out!  We had the best time. :)

Hope Gala 2012

Tuesday night, Mr. G and I were given the fun opportunity to attend the Hope Gala.  This event is a fundraiser for Generations of Hope adoption agency in our town.  I love going every year and hearing the amazing stories of families whose lives have been changed through adoption.

It was such a treat to bid on fun prizes in the silent auction and to put in raffle tickets for amazing gifts like vacations to Hawaii and a Macbook Pro!  I think one of my favorite parts of the evening was when the lady realized she had won the Hawaii trip!  She started jumping up and down -- it was a great moment. I almost felt like I was in the studio audience of The Price is Right.  :)

Thanks, Erin, for such a fun night out!  We had the best time. :)