padre vacay 2010...

this is only like 2 months overdue, but i went on vacation at the end of may and it was just what i needed! the beach + good friends + nothing to be leading or be in charge of = rest. vacation becca came out, though it took me about 3 days to unwind, i finally did and it was just what i needed. i read, slept, prayed, played games, napped, ate, played, talked with good friends and got to do most of this in the sun! there are not very many pictures because, well i was just too busy enjoying my vacay to take pictures of it.

i have been blessed to find some great vacation buddies in some of my closest friends here. those cute kiddos you see in the pictures belong to my friends chris and adrianne. this is our second year to vacation together and each year only gets more fun! my friends lindsay, meghan, and laura also were there. needless to say it was the dream team.

some highlights for me include: (in no particular order)
1. threatening to push the boys in the water for the entire trip! it still continues...
2. watching reece renact me pushing him in the water.
3. reading a little bonhoeffer. i can't wait to meet this man in heaven.
4. building a legit sandcastle
5. flying the liz.
6. playing (and winning) monoply.
7. a girls trip to DQ.
8. a walk on the beach with meghan.
9. playing in the waves.
10. having no schedule and my phone off.

my great-grandmother turned 90, so we decided to party...

over the 4th of july weekend, my dad's side of the family all got together for the first time in years to celebrate my great-grandmother's 90th birthday. portage, indiana did not know what hit it when the harris clan arrived. we set off over $800 of fireworks, laughed, retold old stories, and celebrated mama edna. most of is are getting together again down here in austin in august. could be trouble...

take my life, its all for thee...

this song has been on my heart all week.  words much easier said and sung than actually done.  the lord has been using a series of circumstances [which i hope to blog about at some point] to show me that i can sing these words without batting an eye, but there are a few things in my life that i am not so comfortable giving up.  take my life minus these few things...  i have had to remind myself this week that the lord is god and there is no other and he reigns and provides. no sacrifice to him is actually a sacrifice because by giving up things here, i am gaining something infinitely greater.

(i embeded the video just do you could give it a quick listen to. i did not know how to have the song play here otherwise.)




take my life and let it be consecrated lord, to thee.
take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.

take my voice and let me sing always, only for my king.
take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee.
take my silver and my gold not a might would i withhold.
take my intellect and use every power as you choose.

::chorus::
here am I, all of me.
take my life, it's all for thee.

take my will and make it thine it shall be no longer mine.
take my heart it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.
take my love, my lord i pour at your feet its treasure store
take myself and i will be ever, only all for thee,
take myself and i will be ever, only all for thee.

here am i, all of me.
take my life, it's all for thee.

(take my life, tord take my life. take all of me)

here am I, all of me.
take my life, it's all for thee.

a tasty summer treat...

so i am not a recipe blogger, mainly because cooking for one does not really produce many great recipes, but i have one i wanted to share with you guys that was from my childhood.  i just made them tonight and i should have taken pictures, but i am too lazy. :)

1 8oz tub of cool whip
1 6-8oz container of flavored yogurt
1 box of graham crackers

if the cool whip is frozen, let it thaw.  mix the yogurt and cool whip together.  break the graham crackers in half to make squares. place a spoonful of cool whip/yogurt mix on to a square.  then place another graham square on top creating a sandwich.  repeat until you have used up all of the mixture. then place in a sealable container and put in the freezer.  once they are frozen (about 2-3 hours) you have a healthy frozen treat! 

i always use low fat yogurt, lite cool whip and low fat graham crackers to make this a little healthier too. you can use any flavor yogurt. i tend to use strawberry or raspberry the most. 

happy snacking! watch out they can be addicting!

finally alive...

i just finished this book last weekend. it was one of piper's easier reads. i am not sure if i am just getting smarter or if someone told piper he needed to take it down a notch so that us non-theologians could get through a book of his and understand it.  either way, i recommend this!

piper does a great job explaining what it means to be born again, a term we often ignore, because if we were honest, our understanding of it is not better than nicodemas'. 

here are a few things that i really enjoyed from the book.  i really liked (and needed) the reminder that being born again is something that god does.  he initiates it.  i cannot.  i know that, but my little heart keeps trying to prove that i can. i loved his explanation of 1 john.  so many reassurances of salvation!  i was challenged by his explanations of the implications of being born again.  what does that mean for me?  it was a great read. 

blue star cafeteria...

the blue star cafeteria is one of my favorite spots to eat in austin! when i first heard about this place, i was envisioning an austin version of luby's.  when a friend suggested it, i was thinking, "a cafetreia, really?" but i was so wrong!  i almost wish they would change their name to the blue star cafe or something.  contrary to what the name may lead you to believe, this is a great place!  they have really good food and it is a really trendy setup.

my personal favorite is their grilled cheese sandwich.  i know, a grilled cheese?  you can make that at home.  you think i like it because i work with kids.  false. i am telling you, this is the best grilled cheese i have ever had.  and it comes with this delicious chutney!  hmmm.  oh and the grilled cheese is on the happy hour menu for half off. 

if you are looking for a healthier option, they also have some great salads.  try it out!  you won't regret it!  i stole these pics from their website, but i thought you needed to see this place.

help...

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
        From where does my help come?
     My help comes from the LORD,
        who made heaven and earth.

    He will not let your foot be moved;
        he who keeps you will not slumber.
     Behold, he who keeps Israel
        will neither slumber nor sleep.

    The LORD is your keeper;
        the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
     The sun shall not strike you by day,
        nor the moon by night.

    The LORD will keep you from all evil;
        he will keep your life.
     The LORD will keep
        your going out and your coming in
        from this time forth and forevermore.
 (Psalm 121)

i read this psalm today and as i did, i was both comforted and convicted.  i was comforted to be reminded that the lord is my help!!  this powerful god is in control and always on watch and working out his plan, never sleeping. never caught of guard. never vulnerable to attack. he is always in charge and knows what will happen, though i may be clueless.  the one who created the heavens and the earth is the one who helps me.

i was also convicted because i was reminded that the lord is my help.  i was convicted because all to often i think other things are my help, or that i just am not that in need of help.  the lord is always my help, whether i am in crisis or just answering some emails.  he is always working out his plan for me, whether i acknowledge and trust it or not.  

i am slowly learning that i am always poor and needy. i am helpless and my plan and resources only get me so far.  i know all of this in my head of course, but i am slow to actually let go of control and believe it. i like trusting in me, after all i am the most reliable person i know. but faith in jesus calls for me to let go of being independent, in control, always planning and back up planning.  it calls for me to need help and to trust my helper.  you know, the one that is all powerful and never sleeps.  i am praying that i will believe in my heart that i am helpless, it just sounds so nice to not worry or be in control, but to trust him.