thoughts on life/death

so, i've been thinking a little bit about death lately...depressing, i know. after my grandmother passed away last week, i began to think about what people would say about me when i died.

you see, i realized that whatever it is that we value most throughout our lifetime is what our death also becomes about. for example, if we give our lives to family (which is not a bad thing), then all that people talk about when we die is how great a mother, father, sister, etc we were. if we give ourselves to our work, the only thing people can say about us when we leave is how much we accomplished in our particular field. if we live our lives around how much money we have or all the things we can acquire, then that's all that people will be concerned with when we die.

if we live our lives for the LORD and give ourselves to Him only, then that's all that can be said about us after our life is over here on earth. even those who may be unbelievers will be forced to talk about JESUS, because that will be the very essence of what our lives have been about.

that's i want for people to talk about when they talk about my life.

it's finally official!

matt and his official badge :)

okay...so matt may not be happy with me for putting this picture of him up, but i'm just too excited!!! earlier this week, he and two of the student "officers" attended a meeting at the university that allowed Chi Alpha to become an official student organization on campus. they gave him a cool new badge and everything. the LORD really showed HIS favor on us and has some really cool things in store for UHXA.

there are only a few more weeks left of summer and it seems as though the excitement just builds and builds the closer we get to the beginning of the fall 09 semester. however, as the excitement mounts, so does the nervousness. we kinda feel like we're about to walk into a realm of something completely unknown. PRAISE GOD that He's on our side, right? even though we're a little freaked out, we can walk in confidence knowing that we're not alone and that the Most Sovereign GOD is our guide.

please keep us in your prayers during this time. we need supernatural wisdom and continued favor from the LORD.

we are so rich...

The past couple of months have been such a busy, yet beautiful time for us. Matt and I have truly seen just how rich we are in terms of relationships, and how blessed we are to be always surrounded with such an amazing host of loving friends and family.

Here we are with my mom and my sister, Allison, setting up for my grandmother's 80th surprise birthday party. Gran is such an example of strength, beauty, and the love of GOD. It was so much fun celebrating her life and what's yet to come with many, many other precious family members.The month of June was started by our time at Camp Barnabas. We thought in going to this camp to serve that we would be a blessing to those there, but it turned out that we were the ones who left indescribably blessed.

Matt's cousin, Walker, got married a couple weekends ago in Corpus Christi and we were able to spend some relaxing time with his family. Of course, we did steal away by ourselves for just one day for fun at the beach and a nice dinner overlooking the water as the sun set. (Ahhh...) We were also able to spend some extra time with his brothers, Josh and James, for the Fourth of July.
Then, just as Matt's brothers were leaving, we welcomed our dear friends, Kyle and Tabitha Crouch into our home. We went to school with them at Sam Houston, but the LORD has directed them to minister to college students in Washington State. They're here for the month visiting friends and family. We really had such a refreshing time with them, catching up and talking about what the LORD is doing on college campuses at opposite ends of the country. We're honored to be have them as friends and co-laborors for the Kingdom of GOD.


Like I said, we've been super busy, but there's nothing else we'd rather be doing than spending time with those we love. We really are so grateful for the wealth we have in relationships...including our relationship with you!

CBTX

serving the LORD at Camp Barnabas TX was such an amazing experience...for EVERYBODY involved!!! we've all pretty much decided that it would take way too long to really explain all that the LORD did in our hearts that week. to sum it up in a simple phrase? forever changed. another phrase? our work here (with this ministry) is not finished. we're excited to see how the LORD will continue to use the students at UH at CBTX.
here are a few pics of us with our campers:

matt with his camper, noah
(that's a chocolate mustache that noah painted on him)

me with my camper, rebecca

kevin (one of our UH students) with his camper, jeff

and nicole (another UH student) with her camper, jessica

UHXA at CBTX

We are so excited to be taking a couple of UH students with us to Camp Barnabas TX for the next several days on a missions trip, but it's not exactly the kind of missions trip you're thinking about.

CBTX is a camp out in Tomball, TX specifically for kids with special needs and their siblings. This is such a wonderful ministry because most kids who have special needs are unable to go to a normal summer camp, but the amazing directors at CBTX make it possible for these kids to come to camp, stay overnight (which is really a big deal!), and have the time of their lives!

We leave tomorrow afternoon and plan to get back on Wednesday. Please pray for us as we're out there serving the LORD in this way. And of course, pictures and stories of the trip to follow.

i don't deserve this man...

can i just brag on my sweet husband for just a minute? this man is truly just so amazing and so thoughtful. i walked into the living room this morning to sit and eat breakfast and spend time with the LORD, and i saw that the coffee table was all cleared off (highly unusual). there was a big envelope with my name written all the way across it.

this darling man bought me a mother's day card just to tell me how much he loves me and that he enjoys this time we have as just the two of us, but that he looks forward to future when he can pick out little gifts and pretend that the kids actually bought them. *sigh*

and it's funny, because i feel much the same way. i really, really, really enjoy our life being just the two of us right now. just yesterday, we slept in until almost 10:00!!! a friend of mine (who has 2 very little boys) joked that she couldn't even remember what sleeping in was like.

as much as neither of us can wait until we're mommy and daddy, we sure are glad to have this amazing time together...just the two of us.

wow! what a year it's been...

this is a picture of my dear friends from the girls' small group. i wanna tell you a little bit about each one.
caitlin (in the yellow): she came around before the spring semester of 08 began. she emailed us saying that she was transferring from a Christian university to come to UH because she had a heart to see people get saved and it seemed that there might more of a need on a secular campus. (how cool is that???) she and i are dear friends and i have watched her work through some tough stuff in her life the last year and half. it's not easy to always be a witness when your roommate is muslim. but i'm proud of her.
nicole (in the middle): she started hanging out with us during our summer meetings last year. she had just gone through some major life changes and realized how far away she'd gotten from the LORD. she was (and still is) very, very hungry to know the LORD and to be in right standing with HIM. the LORD has bonded us together in friendship and in love. she will be going through our leadership training course during the summer and will hopefully begin to pour her life into other young girls.
mary beth (in the red): this girl is one amazing lady! she really knows how to surprise us. she's super quite and softspoken, but when she says something...she really says something. and either it's hilarious or insanely profound. she seems to be packed with much wisdom. i've also had the privilege of watching the LORD do some really cool things in her life, as well and i know HE's not done with her yet!
caitlyn (on the end): this is one of my dearest friends and i've actually known her for many years. we lived together while i was still in school. this woman has truly been my listening ear, my right hand, my voice of reason, my source of laughter, you name it. hers is quite a long story, but the gist is that she's helped me so much this year. she's led worship for us, led discussions, and has even spent a lot of time pouring into the other girls. i love her and am so grateful for her.

there are a couple other girls that aren't in this picture because of finals or illnesses. but i love, love, love each and every one them. i LOVE the LORD for allowing me to be a part of their lives and i know we'll always be connected because we were together for a time.

I LOVE THIS MINISTRY!!!!!