Playing a Serious Game of Catch-Up

Oh hey, March. Didn't see you sneaking up so fast.

Y'all... it's March. I've been a serious slacker when it comes to blogging. In fact, just the other day, my grandma called to make sure I was doing okay, or make sure that she was still signed up to receive blogs by email, because she hadn't seen any recent posts.

When even Grandma is concerned about your blog well-being, you know it's time to jump back in.

I'll be honest. I've have a mild case of the winter blues over the past two months.

Can anyone relate?

The fall was filled with Baylor/Waco weekends every other week, the excitement of Homecoming, Thanksgiving, a family vacation and Christmas. But after ringing in 2012, I found myself feeling a little down-in-the-dumps.

One of my goals this year is to "enjoy running." Living in Austin, one of the healthiest cities in the U.S., I WANT to like running. Thomas and I signed up for a 5K this month, and we've both been running to get in shape. But as I've learned in running, sometimes the hardest part of your run is the last quarter mile, or the last five minute stretch. As many people say, at some point running becomes totally mental, as you push yourself to finish strong.

That metaphor is what I'm using to explain my recent sad mood. With only a few months before Thomas moves to Austin, things suddenly got a lot harder emotionally. We've been engaged since April and my heart is just so ready for us to be in the same place, living life together.

But looking back over all these photos and remembering the memories made since the holidays, I can't help but smile. God is SO GOOD to us and I just know that 2012 is going to be amazing.

The beautiful beach in Cozumel, where we cruised to as a family right before Christmas.

Thomas and I traveled with my mom and dad down to San Antonio to watch our Bears win the Alamo Bowl. It was the highest-scoring bowl game in history (until days later when West Virginia took that title) and our first bowl game win since 1992!

Our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at The Melting Pot.

New Year's Eve! We dined with Meredith and Sterling at Kona Grill and then went downtown to watch the fireworks over Auditorium Shores.

In January, we went to see the Watoto Children's Choir perform at Celebration Church in Georgetown. Even though it was two summers ago that I was in Uganda, it feels like just yesterday. The people of Uganda will always have a piece of my heart, and I loved hearing about Watoto's ministry.

At the beginning of February, Mom and I attended the first-ever Immerse Austin, with Mandisa, Lysa TerKeurst and Anita Renfroe. It was an amazing night to worship alongside other Austin women and remember who God calls us to be.

At the beginning of February, Thomas came to Austin so we could go see Wicked. It was my third time to see it, and it was so fun to see Thomas and my parents so excited about my all-time favorite musical. I think it's each of their favorites now, too!

The day before Valentine's Day, Thomas surprised me by having these beautiful flowers delivered to my office!

I love the marketing team I work with, and a few weeks ago we took our lunch break to do some quality team building by taking a cooking class at Whole Foods. It was amazing, and I can't wait to try these recipes out at home.

Just last weekend, we celebrated our friends Allison & Blake's engagement. Allison is one of my roommates from this summer, and she's currently in the grad program with Thomas. Blake is in med school in Houston, and we can't wait for their wedding in September!

Also last weekend, Thomas and I attended Baylor's All-University Sing for the first time as alums. All the acts were incredible, but it was so weird being in the audience and not dancing and singing up on that stage.

Spring is finally here, Thomas moves to Austin in less than three months, and this girl is totally over singing the winter blues. I'm choosing joy, thanking the Lord for His faithfulness to us and looking forward to all that is to come.

OH! One more thing I'm thrilled about - only four days until I get to attend my first SXSW Interactive Conference. I'm so excited, I could squeal.

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Unspeakable Joy

"Joy, unspeakable joy, rises in my soul, never lets me go." -Chris Tomlin's "Joy to the World"

When Thomas and I got engaged in April, a 16-month engagement felt like an eternity. He was transitioning to graduate school and I was starting my career. We would be living in two different cities, learning to grow closer as a couple even in a long-distance relationship.

But as I sit here on the couch in my pajamas, sipping tea and munching on Christmas cookies, I'm reflecting on God's goodness, His peace that sustains, and the many blessings He has given us since that April evening.

Last Sunday, December 18, marked the halfway point in our engagement. Eight months have flown by and we now have less than eight to go until our wedding day. I'm filled with such JOY.

That day will be here before we know it, and so much has happened in the past few weeks:

Baylor beat Texas Tech (my little sister's school) on November 26 for the first time since 1995, ending the Red Raider's season. We got to sit on the Baylor side this year and it was an amazing victory!

On December 2nd, our Bears went on to defeat the University of Texas 48-24, making us undefeated at home with our first nine-win season since 1986. It was also the second time we beat the Longhorns in two years, so it was extra sweet.

Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy! It was truly our proudest moment as members of Baylor Nation. And in less than a week, our team takes on Washington in the Alamo Bowl. It may be our last time to see the Heisman winner wearing green and gold, but none of us will ever forget where we were when we heard the award announced!

On December 11th, Thomas and I took our engagement photos with the incredibly talented Rebecca Cash of Captivating Photography. With the busyness of the holidays, we probably won't see the images until after the new year, but we had an absolute blast and can't wait to see them!

Once Sarah finished her final exams, the four of us took off on a four-night cruise to Cozumel. It was most likely our last family vacation before I'm married, and it was so fun to relax and soak up some sun with my parents and little sister.

With that little update, I'm now signing off for three days of Christmas bliss. Three days without work. Three days of family, food and gifts. Three days of sleeping in, cozying up with a good book and watching movies. But once Tuesday comes and I have to return to the office, I'll still be reflecting on God's graciousness to us. And the greatest joy of this season is celebrating the birth of our Savior and the freedom we have in Christ.

Wishing you the merriest of Christmases!!

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15

Thankful

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Psalm 107:1

This Thanksgiving, I'm so humbled by God's faithfulness to provide and His love that sustains me.

Last year, Thomas and I spent Thanksgiving with the Reeds in Memphis, and this year he's joining me in Austin to celebrate with my family. I'm thankful that this Thanksgiving is just a preview of the holidays to come once we're married. Cinnamon rolls for breakfast, curling up on the couch to watch the Macy's parade, cooking and eating with family... in 268 days, Thomas and I will be husband and wife and we'll be together for every holiday. So very thankful for him!

I'm thankful for my wonderful family. Sarah came home from school on Tuesday and we've already had so many laughs. She's so darn smart and was just elected to executive board of Alpha Delta Pi at Tech. So proud of her! I have the greatest parents too, and I'm so thankful for the blessings of living at home with them until I'm married!

I have so much more to be thankful for this year... graduating from Baylor in May, having incredible friends that love me and challenge me, even from afar, and being blessed by a wonderful job that I enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Hope you all enjoy time to relax and reflect on God's goodness with family and friends this week!