Snowpocalypse, Snomageddon, Snoverkill, Sno Mas?

If you've caught any bit of news within the past WEEK, I'm certain you've heard that we're being pounded with all sorts of snow.

Our first storm hit on Saturday, January 30... (I actually think we had a little on the ground before that).

Our second storm came on...Tuesday night (February 2nd) into Wednesday morning early.

Our third storm made it's way here on Friday, February 5th right around noon.

And yet our 4th snow is still visiting and making his name known.  We're in "Blizzard Conditions."

Constantly, however...throughout this entire series of storm..all I seem to be reminded of is the Lord and how He washes my our sins - white as snow.  To look outside and see everything with two feet of snow covering EVERYTHING...

smooth. pure. beautiful. as if there is nothing under there that is full of bumps and problems.  Our sheets are as white as snow. All of the stain from those past sins have now been completely washed away by the blood of Jesus.  I'm so thankful He's been reminding me of His grace in this storm.

Isaiah 1:18 -  

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

There is a lot of me that would really like to be bitter at all of the snow, to be frustrated.

I mean, I'm quite positive I'm caught up on all the snow I missed out on, growing up in Texas.

We've taken a few walks outside and it's pretty incredible.  I read on the news that the amount of snow that has fallen in the DC Metro Area could fill The Empire State Bldg 30,000 times.  That's a lot of snow!

So this is day 6 in the house.  We've been out a couple of times to eat lunch and to see how the other places near us look.  Thankfully we live on a semi-important road and we get plowed pretty often (although they always dump the plowed snow in our driveway!)  This time with Rob & Sharla has been good, and it will be treasured.  We've played games, watched movies and laughed and sighed.  It's been good.  3 months from now, I won't have that.

So regardless of how many times we shovel the driveway, or the roof for that matter (it is flat), and how many times the road crews plow all the snow in our driveway - He's reminding me of His love, and His grace... something that has been greatly appreciated here recently.

But... I do have Cabin Fever.

Here are some pictures are two videos.. go to my photo blog for pictures!









I certainly miss the "Texas" form of snow that melts overnight, or even the next day!

What's in a Year?

I think everyone's answer is different....naturally.

For me - 2009 had a lot of change - a lot of change that I had no idea was coming my way.

Some of it scary, some of it hard, some of it frustrating and some of it was just plain amazing.

I was driving in my car yesterday, thinking of how different my life looked in 2009 than it did in 2008...and trust me, it does - Praise the Lord!
As I reflected (which I will share some of) the one constant thing I saw throughout it all was the Lord's provision - His sovereignty - His faithfulness.  How He is completely in control and even the smallest things that don't make sense to me - in His plan, they do - in His plan.... not mine.  
        the good things, the bad things and the in-between things.


If I could give one word, to describe 2009...it would to be "faithful."

2009 began with me moving out of Texas - something really scary for me, but I trusted the Lord in Him bringing me up here.  And believe me, I had to trust a lot.  I was excited, but scared.  He of course showed me He knew exactly what He was doing. faithful.

Pretty much the first 3 months of living here was a black hole.  I lived in the home and I worked in the home - and I didn't know anyone.  Easily, very easily, it could've become a slippery slope into something no one wants to be in.  Thankully the family I work for are amazing people and they feel like family, so having to be at the home because I didn't know anyone wasn't a bad thing.  faithful.

 Then comes April 21, 2009, at Aggie Muster - the Lord answered a huge prayer and gave me a friend or "soul sista (if you will)" for life... I didn't know just how much she would change my life, how much she would teach me and how much we would teach each other.  It was amazing how much alike we were and how much we enjoyed doing the same things.  Everyday I'm thankful for her.  faithful.

In March I began traveling with Sharla...and the trips pretty much all rolled into one.  We were gone quite frequently.  At times it was stressful and at times it was not.  The Lord showed me a lot of stuff that existed in my heart that was not pretty and that was not pleasing to Him...and thankfully He was willing to help me get rid of it.  faithful.
      Our last trip was in December, to Orlando.  It's nice to be done, but I wouldn't trade the traveling and hanging out with her and her team for anything.  They became like a 2nd family - along with all my other 2nd families of course!

I made many more trips home (back to Texas) this past year than I thought I would when I moved up here.  I thought my first trip home would be in September...but no, it was in April - and again in May then in July - August, September, October, November and December.  Yes, I went home that many times - quite possibly more than I did during one year of college.
....But - each time was like the first.  And each time some part of me had changed, for the better.  Prayers I had been praying for a long time (or so it felt that way) were being or had been answered and it was wonderful.  faithful. 

In July, I bought a house in Bryan!! Whoop!

...and I have two amazing girls living there right now!
I'm super excited about moving back to Bryan/College Station - still a little bit in shock that the Lord is taking me back there...it's one of my favorite places and has some of my most favorite people.  I can't wait to see what He's got in store and I just know it will be wonderful.

And fast forward to now: 2010. Wow. I'm going to be 24 this year, and that sounds old.  It's hard to believe that I was originally supposed to be living in Texas permanently at this point.  However, I'm so thankful that I'm still in VA.  There are so many things to do in the DC Metro Area and I have so many left to do. My goal is to make the most of my remaining time here and try to do something as often (if not everyday) as I can.   I want to use this time wisely as He has allowed me to remain here and enjoy this place and my friends here and the family I live with. - who, by the way, are AMAZING.

So I'm here until May - which part I don't know... but it's approximately 15 weeks away, which when you look at it like that it seems like it's tomorrow.

I'm so thankful for 2009: His sovereignty, His love, His grace and His truth.

He showed me a lot of nasty things that existed inside of me, things that no one is proud of.  Thankfully - He's spent most of the year cleaning me up and not just saying, "You're too much work, I'm done with you."  - Actually, thankfully He never says that - because everyday I become a new mess with new problems and new issues...and I can't do it alone. faithful.

...and a recap to my blog title and how true it has been this year! The song is: Time In Between, by Francesca Battistelli.  She's pretty incredible, you should check her out. 
But it’s the time in between
That brings me to my knees
Knowing you came for me
And all that I can't be
I'm amazed, so amazed
And I thank You for the time in between

Don't take much for this crazy world
To rob me of my peace
And the enemy of my soul
Says You’re holding out on me
So I stand here lifting empty hands
For you to fill me up again

But it’s the time in between
That I fall down to my knees
Waiting on what You'll bring
And the things that I can't see
I know my song’s incomplete
Still I'll sing in the time in between

So many ways
Your love has saved the day
And I'm grateful for them all
(not complete lyrics, only part of the song)

It's been awhile...

YES... yes... I know.  I've been a little busy.

I'll be doing two posts, hopefully that's all.

I got to take a 2 week holiday to Texas that was just wonderful.

Instead of telling you all the details, I'll just say that:

It was great to spend time with ALL of my family.  There were a lot of laughs, memories made and good times had.

It was GREAT to see friends, to see my house! To see College Station!  I love that even over the 1500 miles that I am from some of the dearest people in my life - the ties have only strengthened upon me moving up here.  Relationships I thought that would suffer have not and relationships that I thought would remain the same have indeed grown stronger.  Family & Friends.  I'm so thankful for that.

I made it back to DC on January 5th and have been going strong since - not wasting one day...including a visit to The Kennedy Center, which was just incredible - and I plan to go back, many more times before I move!

I wanted to keep it short and sweet - I'll be re-capping the year here next.

Walt Disney World & NYC!

So I returned home from my 10 days of being away on Monday! It was a whirlwind of fun rolled up into a short period of time.

I started off in Orlando at Walt Disney World for work with Sharla & Charlie.  Charlie and I ventured in to WDW and needless to say, it was a bit of a stressful experience.  Having another person there would have been so helpful.  In fact, thanks to Facebook! my friend from high school saw that I was @ WDW and she was there interning so she actually met up with us a few times - that was so fun and I was thankful she was there! 

Growing up, Mom & Dad never sold the WDW theme to us...so it was never a big deal to want to go to WDW.  My favorite part was watching Charlie and how excited he got when he saw the characters - yes, excited.  He was so animated and not a bit scared.  

We made it to Magic Kingdom (where they happened to be filming the ABC Christmas Day Parade with Regis & Kelly... make no mistake, it's not filmed on Christmas Day - and watch for me & Charlie -we could be making our debut!); Universal Studios (we saw the Spectacle of Light Show, pretty neat); and to Animal Kingdom.

Overall - WDW was fun, a different experience but fun. 

I left Thursday morning and flew back to BWI where I quickly ran out to the car to switch out some clothes and then hopped on another plane to NYC for the weekend.

My mom, sister, sister-in-law, niece and I all met up in NYC for my Mom's 60th Birthday surprise trip.  We had a blast, though we managed to be there on one of the coldest days this year (8 degrees).  We saw The Lion King and Wicked - - both are amazing shows! 

I got back home on Monday and it's been nice to be back although it's only for 8 days!  It's hard to believe that at one point I was planning to be moving back to Texas during this time!! My how things have changed!

Check back later for a post of the SNOW that we're receiving!  The state of VA has been declared a "State of Emergency!" We've got a 100% chance of snow tonight, all day tomorrow and into tomorrow night!! SOOO EXCITED!

We're expected to get somewhere between 18 and 24 inches! Enough for a snowman and some good sledding!

Clipboard of Travel Fun!

Oh...it's time to go again!

There has only been one month this year in which I haven't, at some point, been on an airplane - and that was February.  So it's really no surprise that I'm writing to say that I'm leaving on a trip once again..

This Friday I'm off to Disney World!!! Yes, it's for work - however, Charlie and I have a 4-day pass to all of the Disney Land parks and I'm pretty excited!  I've never been before so it should be a pretty fun time although it'd be a little better if I had someone my age with me! ha!
Anyone that could have come, however - will be at Will's 2nd birthday party in Texas...so that's fun for them!

I have one surprise trip after that (wait for the post) and then it's off to Texas for 2 weeks for Christmas.  I'm so thankful the family I work for loves family as much as I do and appreciates the holidays!

I'm only in Virginia for 11 days in December - absolutely crazy!

Unfolding a Story

....that has been in the making (for awhile!)

This past June, for a number of reasons - the number one being the Lord - I felt called back to Texas, in December.  I was excited and scared.

The first 4 months of my experience here were not the best to say the least.  They were filled with lots of valleys and mountains.  I was suffering - and I wasn't doing it well.  I wasn't praising the Lord through all my circumstances... I was merely complaining because life wasn't as great as I had imagined it being up here. (Granted I never imagined life up here before the Lord put moving to VA on my heart).

In May I began to pray that the Lord would change my circumstance.  For awhile I had been asking for friends; true, honest, great people.  Well, in April he delivered Lauren (a huge blessing!)  Life got instantly better...mainly because I had a social life.  From that point, a friendship bubble appeared to be growing out of nowhere.

In June, some cards unfolded and I was shown that I was in fact going back to Texas..in December.  I became ecstatic. Overjoyed. Thankful that the Lord was bringing me back....however, now I had friendships I would be leaving - roots I had began planting I would soon me ripping up.

Skip forward to my trip home in August/September for Labor Day.

I was sitting on the front porch of my parents house, just thinking, enjoying the countryside that is not readily available in VA...and it was almost like He spoke audibly, saying "Hey, I'm not quite done with you in Virginia...how does May sound?"  I was dumbfounded.

Here I was, so excited to be moving back in December (I bought a house in July, an absolutely adorable house mind you, ptl!) absolutely positive it was the Lord calling me back, but now - here He is saying, "Can you wait, can you trust me, I need a few more months."

I questioned Him, saying things like "Well can't you finish those things in Texas.., I mean, seriously?" It was obvious His answer was "No" in the way things seemed to take shape.

I began to pray when I got back to VA and eventually informed Rob & Sharla of my decision - and of course they were incredibly excited that I was staying until May...and so was I.  I wasn't ready to leave in December, and leaving in May would provide an extra 5 months.

An extra 5 months for...

- trusting the Lord in keeping me here

- being challenged by Him

- traveling more places

- hanging out with my friends here

- one more Cherry Blossom season

- time for more visitors

- and more time with Charlie.

Everyday I see the plan He had in bringing me up here unfold a little more.

You see, as it turns out - He needed to bring me out of Texas to teach me more about Himself AND myself than I ever could have imagined.  I've learned a lot about some ugly parts of me that existed, and thanks to Him have been improved or removed.  Prayers I had prayed since being in college - He's answered them, in the strangest ways.   I've been up here for 11 months and I'm not the same person I was when He brought me up here, and for that I'm thankful.  Being up here has been me thankful for a lot.

I thought you all deserved a little filling in.  I know that He's keeping me here until May - and that it's not me... mainly because I had it in my mind to be leaving and I was excited - and He has totally reversed those emotions.

The end remains the same.  I'm moving back to Bryan/College Station and I cannot wait to start my life there - to become a part of New Life - a church that is just amazing and so Christ centered

- to see what all the Lord has in store for me there...

- to become a part of the families lives again that I once (and still do) love so much

- to be closer to my family (something I realized I took for granted in moving up here)

I'm so thankful His ways and plans are always way better than mine.  I certainly thought I'd be in Virginia for a lot longer than 15 months and I didn't see myself moving back to B/CS at all.. but I'm overjoyed that I am.

A Fredericksburg Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving I was in Fredericksburg!

That meant...

 - time with Will!!
 - Bejas Queso (one of my favorite things!)
 - getting to see Jennifer, Eric, Susan & Carroll
 - Bejas Queso

The weekend after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest weekends for Bejas so I got to hang out with Will all day Friday and Saturday.  The sad part was he wasn't feeling so well which meant I got to hang out with him pretty much all Thursday night and Friday night as well (well during the night that is!)

I woke up to his cries - going in his room and him crying 'wok, wok' (rock) in the most pitiful voice he could render up.  (Trust me, it's heart breaking!)

I also taught him a few new phrases:
"giddy-up!"
"holey moley!"
....I'm drawing a blank.
But if you ask him what a turkey says, he goes: "Gobble, gobble, gobble!"

Thursday night I volunteered (knowing how busy that Jennifer and Eric would be at work on Friday I knew they needed the sleep!) .  Friday proved to be a tired day for me, though I did nap when he did.

Friday night they asked -and I was reluctant to say yes, but I'm so glad I did because it was so fun snuggling with him in bed and cuddling with him in my arms - something that being 1500 miles away doesn't allow for!

Anna came over to Fredericksburg on Saturday afternoon for quick visit - and that was a super surprise! I was so glad to get to see her.  She is currently living in my house - the one I bought back in July (that I haven't mentioned) and we'll be roomies when I move back to Texas... so excited!

Sunday morning we were up bright and early heading to College Station to meet Mom & Dad for lunch so that I could get in their car and they took me to Tyler to get on the plane.  Of course we had just enough time to stop over in Frankston so that I could see my doggies! They were pretty ecstatic to see me!

I was thankful to be headed back up to DC but sad to leave Texas!

Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!