Caught in between the now and the not yet

(Another catch-up post)  October 15-17, 2011

    In a last minute change, I chose to go to a women’s conference instead of ACU’s Homecoming, and it was a great choice!  The speaker was a woman who has served with Campus Crusades for Christ for over 20 years in an Asian country where I have also visited on a short term mission trip.   As a special bonus, the conference was videotaped so that the DVDs could be produced and delivered to Christian women in her country and potentially other countries, so as I soaked in the message it was a blessing to know Christian sisters around the world would also be given the same opportunity even if they lived in a country opposed to Christianity. 

                The speaker has been presenting this message for a few years now and has a powerful testimony that she has coined “Beauty for Ashes” based on the passage in Isaiah 63.  Much of the message was from the second half of Isaiah, but also focused on how Satan uses painful experiences from our past to start telling us lies.  While I’ve studied that before, this speaker brought out new concepts I hadn’t thought of and also some practical ways to identify the lies and purposely counteract them. 

                While I feel blessed to have lived a fairly “charmed” life without much trauma or drama, I was shown that sometimes even “small” events in our life set the stage for future struggles with truth & lies.  But learning the power of God’s Word and His Truths are the most powerful weapons against  darkness and I’ve been encouraged to go back over the conference notes and principles in the last few weeks. 

                While the weekend would have been great by itself, that Saturday night my friend Katie and I went to see Amy Grant sing with the Dallas Symphony!  Amy has long been a favorite singer of mine as one of the “big” Christian stars when I was growing up and then again in recent years as she released  two albums of hymns.   I hadn’t seen her live since college, but it was a fun night.  The first half was 30 minutes of four short symphony  pieces and then Amy sang about an hour and a half – including 2 of my favorites “El Shaddai” and “Sing your praises to the Lord” (with a wonderful orchestral intro!) Bonus – they were selling two of her old albums for $10 so I’ve been enjoying the treasures of “Angels”, “Thy Word”, “Jehovah” and “Now and the Not Yet” – the title of this post. 

We are caught between the “now” and the “not yet”.  Lord, come quickly.

p.s. Post title is an Amy Grant song from her album “Straight Ahead” – see the last paragraph.

Purple White Purple White Fight Fight Fight

Hoping to do some catch-up blogs from the last couple months...here's the first one.

September 17, 2011 

I must confess to not really being a big football fan, but I do love to take advantage of new experiences and I also enjoy supporting my alma mater ACU.  So when they played a game in the new Cowboys stadium this September, I decided to go.  Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but a good time was had by many alumni.  It was like a mini-reunion at the reception beforehand and the stadium is truly massive and impressive.  I’m just happy to have seen it without having to buy a professional ticket J

A few pics to remember: 

So cool to see ACU on the BBBIIIIGGG screen. 

Funny pictures of what the women in front of us were doing during the game. (I did at least pay attention during the game - and my friend Katie told me I did know all the basics :) 

Katie & I after the game (yeah, it was a bit warm & humid – hence the shiny face!)

The Keyes family!

p.s. Post title is part of the ACU fight song

is this the little boy at play?

I'm woefully behind on posts...but wanted to get these out there because they're just so darn cute!  The subject is at least.  Holt has begun having some weekends with his grandparents and this weekend I crashed the party for some of it!  He's at a fun age to play with (spoken by a girl who usually prefers her kids to be readers :)  But let's face it - this kid will always be different in my heart, right?

So here's some happy moments of the weekend  (not that there were any others :)

Grandma Gina blew bubbles and he wasn't sure about them at first...

Notice the green Matchbox car in his hand that once belonged to his father.

He liked when she caught one and let him pop it!

And finally warmed up to chasing them....
never letting go of the car!  :)

Then we moved to the back yard and discovered...acorns!!

He was very particular about the ones he picked up. He preferred the smal ones without the "hats".

And then he turned and launched them at the fountain.  Down and throw...down and throw...
for a long time!  The Rangers might need him in the future :)

While inside, the big windows allow for watching out for the birds and squirrels!

Small pause for pic with Aunt Sarah.

The boy loves the ipad...or phone...or remote...or anything with buttons!

He was happier moments before this while eating lunch with ketchup :) 
But a happy weekend with Pops and Gina!

p.s. Post title is the second line lyric from "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof.  I've used the song before but it was the first thing that popped into my head.

Ten on Ten (aka - On the Road Again)

Since I was on Fall Break from school on Monday, 10-10-11, I decided to try the Ten on Ten idea again.  The last time I did it was...on 10-10-10!  Some of my pictures are not the greatest because I took them while...driving.   Please excuse the dirty windshield :)  And enjoy my pics!  (By the way, I wasn't exactly literal about the 10 consecutive hours - but the general gist is there!)

the idea - Ten on Ten

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. Then share your beauty with us!

you can see more ten on ten participants here

Started the day as a house guest of Jenni!  I've signed her guest book many times :)

Started my driving in foggy weather - leftover from wonderful rain! - always depresses me a bit, but I just sang myself down the road.

The farther east I drove, the sun started peeking out....



My parent's house was a halfway pit stop for free! 
Good thing I have a garage door opener to their house since they were at work :)




And the sun finally shone bright! Unfortunately, because this part of Texas saw no rain :(



A log truck is a common sight if you drive roads of "deep" East Texas!
(I promise this picture is not as dangerous as it appears.)

Almost to my destination...anyone ever driven through? 
Hwy 21 is part of the "El Camino Real" - the Royal Road or King's Highway - read more here

The home I've driven to for much of my life to visit my grandparents.

We ate dinner in Nacogdoches - where the downtown historical district has these great brick streets.

But most of our visit was just chatting in these chairs :)  Thanks to my Me-Ma and Pa-Pa for a lovely visit.

A great day and even though some of it was in the car, it was made more enjoyable by looking for moments to capture.  If you blog, try it some month!

p.s. Post title song come from the Willie Nelson classic :)

Where were you when the world stopped turning...

...10 years ago today?

I just finished reading a series of books that started with December 7, 1941 - the attack on Pearl Harbor.  This summer I saw again the site where an American president was shot in broad daylight on November 22, 1963.  Earlier this year, I watched on TV the final liftoff of a NASA space shuttle and reminisced other liftoffs - of course remembering the fatal Challenger explosion on January 28, 1986.  And last weekend I stopped again to see the memorial to flight attendants, pilots and crew who died in the 4 airplanes that crashed on September 11, 2001 in New York City.

Days that shape the history, culture, beliefs, and attitudes of Americans - whether we were there or not.

New York City was a dream of mine...as soon as I knew about Broadway.  My dream trip was to go see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, but then I got to see it in Dallas while in high school.  So when my parents asked where I wanted to go after graduation, I said - New York City!  But what to see?  Opening year of "Beauty & the Beast" and 8th row seats for "Les Miserables".  It was magical :)

And then there were the other sights!!  I've been back twice since and have favorite memories from each trip, but as a family, one of our favorites from that first trip was the World Trade Centers.  We're suckers for museums and the top floor had a great one.  I remember the flags of all(?) the countries of the world winding their way around the lobby as you stood in line to buy tickets and go up.  And while the Empire State Building is iconic ("Sleepless in Seattle" - "An Affair to Remember")  the observation deck feels a little "cagey" with all the bars and such.  The observation deck on the WTC was open air and an unfettered view all around.  Surreal to a young woman with her future ahead of her.  My mom put a little picture in a Christmas ornament that year and each year when I unpack it, I reminisce on the good memories of that trip. 

Mom, Jason and I in the plaza surrounded by the two towers and other buildings of the WTC.  That sculpture behind us survived (albeit damaged) and was in Battery Park when I saw it in 2006.

Me on top of the WTC with the Brooklyn Bridge behind me.

Of course, now they're gone.  And the vivid images of their collapse are burned into the mind of all of us who witnessed it.  The last 10 years owe many things to decisions made because of the backlash of that day - from wars to taking off shoes in the airport. 

But today I pray our country can stop and remember - those who died, those who helped, those who lost loved ones.  To remember.

Where was I on that September day?  With a classroom of 8th graders.  We heard a plane hit the tower and I remember assuring them it must have been a horrible accident of a small private plane and not to worry.  Then we turned on the TV and saw the pillars of smoke.  They asked "What kind of plane was it?" as so many of their Grapevine-Colleyville families had ties to American Airlines.  Then we discovered 2 of the planes were AA.  The first wave of news said it was extremist Muslims and this was no accident - and where else would be targeted?  And the Muslim students of my class & school began a new existence of painful words, looks and attitudes towards them, even though they were just as American as their neighbor.  I was 25 and had no idea how to answer these 13-yr-olds questions.  But I comforted as I could, distracted as needed, and tried to keep myself composed, too.  That night (or the next?) I went to an impromptu prayer service at church and we prayed, we hugged, we cried and we "called on Jesus" (as the Nicole C. Mullen song "When you call on Jesus" played to a moving tribute my friend Kyle had put together.)  She says

"When you call on Jesus,
All things are possible
You can mount on wings like eagles' and soar
When you call on Jesus,
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue you when you--


Call Him in the morning', in the afternoon time
Late in the evening' He'll be there
When your heart is broken,
And you feel discouraged,
You can just remember that He said
He'll be there"


10 years later I really don't know what else to do besides continue to "call on Jesus".  I don't know what His plan is.  But I am sure He has one.  I know all things are possible with Him.  I know He can do more than I ask or imagine.  And I know there will not be peace until He returns.

Come quickly.

Until then - we remember.
And if you need a place to go - (and you're in DFW) try the corner of Texan Trails and NW Hwy (Just past the Gaylord & Great Wolf Lodge) in Grapevine.  (Photos by my friend Mollie)

p.s. The post title is the moving song written & sung by Alan Jackson "Where were you when the world stopped turning?"

O dear Christian college we love you...

...our dear alma mater today.

I escaped after my summer school final for a few days last week for one last get-away before I report back to work tomorrow for the fall semester.  Had a lovely time hanging out and eating sushi with my favorite brother, sister-in-law and nephew!

He actually prefers the potstickers and plain rice and a unique technique with the chopsticks!



The grown-up's beautiful food!



Future drummer??

Then I headed out to Abilene where I got to have lunch with my Aunt Sheila on her birthday at the delightful Hickory Street Cafe and hang out with my Me-Ma for a couple days.

On Saturday before I left, I drove around my college campus to witness the annual freshmen-moving-into-the dorm day and live in a bit of nostalgia, reminiscing how 17 years ago that was me (17 years!?!?!)  I got to chat with my friend Mollie on my way out of town and we agreed that day was the beginning of a wonderful time of our lives.  I am so thankful for my 4 years at ACU - starting friendships, building my faith, growing in  confidence, leadership, humility and knowledge.  Here are a few pictures I snapped on my way out of town.

Yea for Gardner Hall!

My room was the 3rd floor - all the way on the end (right!) 

The campus now boasts buildings with old memories for me and new places for new memories!
Whenever I drive in to town and see the tower of light, I sing the school song :)  Jacob's ladder is such a great new addition to campus. 

Signage pointing to other new & old sites on campus

Including the new Royce & Pam Money Fitness & Recreation Center - Excited to go back when it's open (in a couple weeks)  It's huge!  In this picture, this side of the new building faces the Student Center.

And last, but not least - one of my favorite all time pictures - the day I moved into Gardner Hall as a freshman - right across the hallway from my life-long friends Kristen & Mollie.  Such a sweet moment to capture with our families!



 Blessings to the new crop of ACU Wildcats!  May the memories they're making today last a lifetime.

And now - on to a new school year for me, too.

p.s. Post title is the first line of the ACU School Song. 







I Will

"I Will" - the title to a Beatles song that was one of "their" songs when my parents were dating.

And - appropriate words to say at a wedding.  Which is what they did 40 years ago today.

Thanks, Mom & Dad, for the great example you are in love, in patience, in compromise, and in growth.

"Here's to the next 40!"

And as bonus examples - my mom's parents celebrated 63 years of marriage yesterday on the 14th, and my dad's parents would have been married 62 years the day before on the 13th (and were happily married for 55 years when my Pa-Pa died).  What a blessing to be surrounded with such love and faithfulness!

P.S. Post title, as mentioned, is from the Beatles.

Wonder of Wonders...

...miracle of miracles!  

My blog has been up for a year and I posted (semi) regularly!  At least the average was about 3 per month and that's really more than I thought I would :)

Thanks to those of you who stop by periodically.  No big news today.  Just wanted to celebrate one year in.

Here's to next year!

p.s. Post title from "Fiddler on the Roof" - truly one of my favorite Broadway songs!

I will always love you

Happy Birthday to my Me-Ma Booker! 

She will forever be our "crusty bottoms" biscuit maker and Queen of the chocolate and/or pecan pie! 

Thank you for passing down your attention to detail, your devotion to remembering other's birthdays, and your blue eyes!! :)

Love you!

p.s. Post title IS from musical theater (not Whitney Houston).   The song was sung in the movie version of "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" by Dolly Parton.  So pardon the unfortunate situational reference and revel in the sentiment of this situation!  :)