warm weather in February...

For some reason Lubbock skipped the 70 degree weather this year and moved straight to the 80s! I have been thinking about this a lot this week and wondering how I should take the warm weather (i love the cold and wish it would snow!) we have been having and the lack of a winter that we had... Some of my thoughts come from Jord's blog a couple of weeks ago ("I am grateful, I am grateful, I am grateful"- not sure how to reference it so you will just have to check out her blog) Anyway, she talked about enjoying cold weather and not so much enjoying this abnormally warm weather we have been having, but trying to be grateful for it... 

I am trying to do the same thing.. here are my thoughts on how God is using this for His glory and my joy... 

• Since Chase and I are seriously considering moving to the middle east (where they have 130 degree summers)- he is slowly preparing us, so we can be more effective for the kingdom
• I can go for walks/runs after work again, which Chase and I did last night and ended up seeing a muslim woman walking her baby (which means she probably lives in our neighborhood & hopefully I will see her again and get to talk with her). 
• We also met some of our neighbors who were grilling outside. I have been wanting to meet our neighbors and find opportunities to love on those around us, but everyone has been inside since it is cold. It was such an encouragement to my heart that we meet these people- we have been wanting to pour into non-believers that are completely different than us & God gave us the chance last b/c of the warm weather. I hope that we can get to know them and be the gospel & a light to them & their kids
• We don't need the heat or the air conditioning on- so the electric bill is going to be low this month! 
• It causes me to stop and evaluate my heart- is it really that should b/c it hasn't snowed all winter I am unsatisfied & desire something more/different or is the fact that my heart is selfish and in need of the cross & to find Joy in Christ in all circumstances?

I am not sure if this blog made much sense, but I do know that I am going to choose joy and be grateful for the weather and for God's grace and beauty in it! And embrace the 100 + degree weather we are about to encounter in less than 3 weeks! 

Post, TX- who would have thought?

A couple of weekends ago Chase and I  stayed at Hotel Garza, a bed and breakfast in post! We had such a great time just getting away from cell phones, internet, laundry, cleaning, etc.. We got to read, rest, I got to take two baths in less than 24 hours (if you know me at all- you know that I LOVE bubble baths and currently Chase and I do not have a bathtub in our house, so this was a real treat!) and we ate a really yummy breakfast.

 We also got to talk to the sweet couple that owns the B&B - the husband is from Ireland! Meeting and talking with new people is one of Chase and I's favorite things to do, so this topped off the great evening!

We would recommend this B&B to anyone and will definitely be returning to Post soon!

Chase reading in our 2nd room (the first room we were in had no 

hot water, so we moved down the hall!)

the claw-foot bathtub- I want to own

one of these one day!

the first tub (with no hot water)

our first "living room"

the hall way

four weeks from now...

Chase and I are headed to to the Arabian Peninsula in four weeks! We are super excited about the opportunity to go see, taste, feel, hear, and smell the culture and people that we have been talking about and praying for. About 80% of our conversations have been dedicated to the subject of going overseas together since we started dating over 2 years ago.

We leave on March 13th and return on the 21st. We will be traveling with Mark Daniel and Stacey Ball (a couple from our church) and meeting up with Drew, Jordan and Sayla Remke. This will be a very short trip that will hopefully give us some direction on what is next for us. We will be visiting the language school that Drew and Jord attended, visiting/meeting with some locals, hanging out with other workers that are currently out there, and perhaps some touristy things. 

We would like to ask you all for your prayers as we prepare to go and for our time there. We are seeking Christ for direction and timing of his will for our lives. We will keep you all updated and blog about our trip when we return! 

happy birthday aubs!

Happy Birthday "Little One"! I am so thankful to be your big sister... thanks for your sweet heart! I love you... 

bit-b and chace...

Sayla all ready for bed! she is such a sweetheart...

chase reading to kead before bed- one of her favorite things to do :0)

...he is going to be such a great dad...

chase and la-la cillin on the couch

kead trying on my slippers

I just wanted to post some really cute pictures of Kead and Sayla from when we watched them for Drew and Jordan the other week. Kead is starting to talk a lot now and calls me "bit-b" and Chase "chace". I absolutely love it! (she has been doing this for a while, but it is still melt my heart!)