Journibles

I read about these the other day and I think it is a really interesting idea.
Journibles: The 17:18 series comes from a passage in Deuteronomy.

17:18-19 reads:
"And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them..."

First off, I think it is interesting to think about how easily available we have the Word of God. I've come across this before on my trips to China - when I realize that believers over there often have to hid their Bibles - if they get their hands on one copy of the Scriptures, they absolutely treasure it.. all the while, I have probably 10 or 15 copies on my bookshelf! And then to think about when this Scripture was written. How they only had one copy of the instruction that YHWH had given them, and if they wanted to know it, they would have to copy it down for themselves and take it with them. How easily we have access to the Scriptures now! And how often is this something we take for granted. Not always have believers had this opportunity and even now, in some parts of the world, they still don't!

I ordered myself the Psalm 119 version to try this out. I'm really looking forward to it too - I know that one of the ways I study the best is to write things out. So I greatly look forward to doing this.

Here's an example page:



So you write out the Scriptures in the allotted space, but they also have questions to encourage thinking and understanding and then room for journaling.
Looking forward to studying God's Word in this way.

5 Ways Wives Can Encourage their Husbands

http://gospeldrivenchurch.blogspot.com/2011/12/5-ways-wives-can-encourage-their.html

I really enjoyed this entry on ways wives can encourage their husbands. So much so that I had my man rate these tips. It was interesting - what would have been my number 1 way to be encouraged was not his - in fact, it was his last. So I really found this to be beneficial - I think we are all more likely to 'love' in the way that we want to be loved, but it is always helpful for the reminder that others might not 'receive' love like we do!

a few of my favorites things :)

just a few of my favorite things, that i'm really digging lately :)

cherry m&ms - goodness, these things are yummy! ive had them at christmas before but D brought them home to me for vday this year too :) so good!



also, my line-a-day journal. I love my line a day journal, love it. I found this awhile from camille (she's one of my favorites) and decided to get them for all my bridesmaids. i have a horrible memory so i love this way to track memories, days and years. while it was great last year (my first year to write in it) i love it this year because i get to look back and remember what i was doing last year. what a great idea! published by chronicle books.























and lastly, this goodness:



vintage modern is bonnie and camille's latest line. i adore it. im loving the houndstooth. just in case anybody out there is wondering... my birthday is coming before too long, and i wouldn't mind getting this.

Our first year :)

Earlier I posted about our first six months together, so now I'm hoping to round out that first year with some new memories. I have a horrible memory, so I love writing these down and being able to come back and remember these sweet times together.

We celebrated the summer in full fashion: we went on an amazing trip to San Antonio (including Sea World), we went to the Houston Aquarium where David convinced me to touch a sting ray. I had been to the Aquarium before with Laura, but just couldn't bring myself to touch them. But this time, with his encouragement, and some major psyching up, I did it! I know it is a silly, small little feat, but I felt proud for conquering a fear.

I actually conquered another fear that summer as well. Many times we went swimming with Aus. They were jumping off the diving board, but as few may know, I have a major fear of jumping off the diving board. When I was a little girl, I fell off once, and cut the inside of my leg - I was hurt *and very embarrassed* and that was the end of it for me. That night there were plenty of 5 year old kids jumping off just fine, but I was too scared!!! Finally, with the encouragement of my two favorite guys, I did it. And even while it was thrilling (silly yes, I know) I still wasn't completely comfortable. I did it several more times, but everytime I was pretty petrified. All in all our swim dates were a great part of the summer.

Mom and Dad packed up and went to the "south" to visit amy for a couple weeks, so David and I moved in and played 'mom and dad' to Austin. It was a fun week - Austin was getting ready for a mission trip, we hung out, watched movies, grilled hamburgers, built a fort, watched Harry and the Hendersons, went to the chocolate bar, and David and I oohed and aahed over mom's washer and dryer (we were used to a half size one!)

David and I watched fourth of july fireworks tucked away in a quiet neighborhood- we found a great spot, with a great view, but with no crowds!We'll have to remember for next year (see??? its good that I write these things down!)

After we house sat for mom and dad, we house sat for one of our favorites profs. It was fun, playing house :) We took care of cats (which we dont really like...) jumped on the trampoline, watched movies, hosted a failed book club, and swam at their local pool. So much fun!

At the end of the summer, David and I flew (free - thanks Natalie!) to Baltimore, and then traveled to DC, met up with Meryl and J and drove to Charlottesville, VA for Ashley's wedding. What a blast we had. The guys stayed with some friends of Ashley's (and went kayaking, I believe) and Meryl and I shared a room at the Clifton Inn. Girl's night out, fun games, dedicated psalms, bouquet tutorials, catching up with Liza and Andrew, rehearsal & lunch, last minute decorations and plans, early morning, bees stinging, and then... the wedding. What great fun to celebrate with my dear friend.

We moved! Um, we love our new digs, and we feel like God was in all the details. We had planned out exactly what we needed, and our very first spot was the spot. They had everything we wanted and more, and in our price range, and in the location we wanted, and they would paint our walls, and they would waive our application fee. Um, yes please!

David started working as interim youth and children's minister. Immediately we felt loved by these sweet sweet people at this church. I love Sunday night church - singing old hymns. Feels just like when I was a little girl. What a blessing it is - you just don't find that a lot in churches anymore. I feel like I'm back at Baker, and I love it.

We celebrated in Waco with the newly engaged sis & her man at their engagement party. How much fun was this. So happy for the soon-to-be-Reynolds. And hey, we got a day with the WHOLE (there are eight of us now!) family at Salado. That's impressive.

We read (and watched) all the Harry Potters, we went shopping at our brand new HEB (right next door to us!!!), we karaoked (sp??) with the Hatchett clan in China town (ha!), we royally screwed up (i.e. I royally screwed up) our Halloween extravaganza by accidentally doubling the chili powder instead of halfing it (what a gracious husband I have), we threw a Christmas party for our college buds and played nertz for hours, we looked at Christmas lights and put up our very own Christmas tree (it was our first time to do this - so much fun!), we proctored the SATS, we bought got jobs at HBU, and I cut my head on my third day of work and had to get stitches (great...).

What a year. I can't believe it went by SO FAST. On our one year anniversary, D & I were supposed to be at a big Christmas event at church. We were sad we couldn't get away, but at least we would be together right? Wrong! I got miserably sick and was stuck in bed while my sweet man went to church. He came home to me with white roses. I burst into tears - what a blessing I've been given. I looked horrible - puffy and swollen eyes, red nose, couldn't breathe, I mean, let's face it, it wasn't pretty. And the man brings me roses. He's a keeper :)It may not have been some glamorous one year anniversary, but I saw a tangible expression of those vows (especially the 'in sickness' part) we had made one year previous, and really, I couldn't ask for anything more.