Jack's Mannequin & why I love Andrew

I haven't posted in a few days. The hectic new schedule I am adjusting to can be blamed for that. I will try to be better this week.

On Wednesday, Colton and I went to see Jack's Mannequin (I will go ahead and put it out there, that they are my favorite band. Yes, I am aware of the fact that the CD has explicit lyrics, I own it. It is due to one song that has the "f" word in it. I don't want anyone to get upset.) It is, by far, my favorite band to see live. :) The pictures kinda stink because of all the fog in the venue.

Andrew (the lead singer) found out at 22 that he had Lukemia. I am 22 now and can't imagine how I would take the news. He battled cancer, chemo and the sickness that came with it all. I don't know if it was his attitude through the battle. His amazing piano playing skills, his lyrics, or the fact that he puts on an incredible concert, but I love him. We found out that he is going back to his old band, so there may not be anymore.

I wanted to upload a video, but it was taking entirely too long. Maybe I will edit and upload a clip or two.

We have an engagement shoot tonight and hopefully we'll be able to get things cleaned up around the apartment. It looks terrible. :/

God is SO COOL

I left Colton's work today (where we signed and faxed all of our paperwork for the counter-offer counter-offer) feeling extremely anxious. I closed my eyes (at a red light of course) and prayed quickly "God, please put my mind at ease. I want peace." I immediately felt a warm calming sensation and decided to sing along to KLTY (Christian radio station) to keep my thoughts on Him. I happened to turn it on right as a new version of "It is well" came on. The very first thing I heard was

"When peace like a river attendeth my way..."

(Although I couldn't figure out what the new version was called...it didn't say "attendeth my way" in it. However, it had the same meaning so I posted the original hymn).

I'll be the first to tell you that music isn't a huge part of my life. I could live in a life without it just fine (well, except musicals. I love them). So the fact that God chose to speak to me through music is awesome to me. He took something so unimportant in my life and made it into something extremely meaningful.

Seriously. God is amazing all the time, but it's in these small times I really feel his presence.

I just thought that was a cool story to share.

Portrait of Christ

This weekend (and past few weeks) I have been avoiding a lot of responsibilities (and blogging). I don't really know why. Call it a midlife crisis. Haha. Anyways, I am back, and hopefully more frequent. I hung out with Hailey and Taylor Saturday. We went to Purple Cow. (yumm!!) and then to church. See, I was having pics done Saturday, so I hadnt eaten much Friday or Saturday... so I pigged out. I ate a BBQ bacon cheeseburger, onion rings, side salad and this...


all by myself.

Hailey and Taylor shared a milkshake(aren't they adorable?!)
Anyways...church. It has been a LONG time since I have felt so good at church. Don't get me wrong, I loved CLife. It has been a battle trying to find somewhere that is relatively close to as amazing as that church. It has been interesting visiting different churches, hearing different styles of music, and different pastors. Well, I am seriously saying this. I think we found the one (or I did at least). Saturday was my third time visiting (Colton was playing at a Dnow). I seriously cried. I cried the first day I was there because I felt that God had FINALLY gave me peace about where i needed to be, but I was hoping Colton felt the same. I would love to be called to the same church Colton is, but I know sometimes that doesn't happen. Anyways, Saturday was the end of the series Jesus for Sale. The message was very powerful, and yet simple. It was back to the basics about how to explain our faith to people when they ask. I know I have heard it 100 times, but I was still fascinated and captivated by the sermon. The thing that got me this weekend though was one of the songs they sang. I had NEVER heard it before, but I think it is my new favorite worship song of all time. It is called "Portrait" by a band called Freely (www.myspace.com/freelymusic)

The faith to wash, the feet of another
Is a faith that's not, undercover
What can I do, in a world that's hurting
But live like you, always serving

I wanna be like you, I wanna be like you

Chorus
This is a loud faith
A sacred devotion
Reaching out to know who you are
It's not, a fake life
A religious commotion
But a living breathing portrait of Christ

I give my life, for the sake of others
Lay down my pride, to help my brother
There is no end, to what can happen
When all our words turn to action

Whoa we're livin for you God

Wow. It is so moving and so amazing. I love that "It's not a fake life, a religious commotion, but a living breathing portrait of Christ." And when it comes down to it, that is what I desire to be...a living breathing portrait of Christ. :)
I hope that song will inspire someone like it did me. I swear. I can't get it out of my head. I love where I am in life right now. I love the man I married, I love my new friends, I love the city I live in, I love the school I go to, and I love the church I'm visiting. I am so blessed and thankful to be where I am today

Oh, and I am now SUPER excited because Sam moves into our apartment complex Sunday, and Jen moves in once they are married in May. It's official. :)!! Yay!!

Let's Play Catch Up

New things:

My car (2004 Mazda 3) bye bye Tiburon. You will be missed. =(
I got a new car so I would have lower monthly payments, lower insurance and 4 doors!! =


My job (Rec center) bye bye Library. You will not be missed. =)
I got a new part time job so I would no longer be at the library & be able to go to school full time.
Speaking of...
I am taking five classes this semester. 1 Spanish class. 4 Psyc courses. I am really excited (lets see how excited I am in a few months. ha!)


My hair
I know it sounds silly since i didn't cut my hair or anything, but I am parting it on the other side. Just a trial (Colton really likes it. I am still not sure.
















Saturday August 2


Colton played guitar at a church in Naveda, TX with the Matt Cote band. Here's some pics of the concert. They did such an amazing job. It was so neat to see all these kids who, to be honest, didn't care how they were dressed or whether they were wearing makeup. They just came together to worship and be with friends, and that is all that mattered to them. Very cool

Here's some pics:

This weekend

So my cousin (Becca) is getting married in October. She met with my photographer ( the magnificent Kandice Ray) this weekend for a session, so her sister and friend came with her. Her sister flew in from Cali. We spent the whole weekend together. Kinda her pre-bachelorette party. The first few hours were Kimberly (her sis/my cousin) and I running around Plano trying to get food and decorations fixed and set up. Then, around 8:30ish they showed up. We had an "Old Hollywood" themed party with candles and wine glasses (filled with DP and water). We ate cheese pizza, chicken nuggets, veggies and dip and cocktail weenies (pigs in a blanket). Then we opened her lingerie. Well, she opened it, I just watched. She tried everything on and the night was over.

Saturday we met up for her shoot. It was amazing. Her pictures are going to be AWESOME. No lie. Kandice is the best. After that, we played a game (I won. woohoo) and left for the mall for our amazing scavenger hunt.

Here's some pics/video from my camera:

What she looked like walking around the mall...you can barely see her tiara with veil attatched and lovely garter from a "Pinkalicious" bandana.

Kiss a bald guy's head (Bonus if you leave a lipstick mark...which she did. ha!)

(The only video that wasn't upside down....Oh Kimberly!) Find a couple who has been married over 25 years

Do a ballerina dance in any store that starts with a "B"

Total points: 69. How appropriate for a bachelorette party. ha!