Humility

This morning at church, I learned a powerful lesson, one that's always a bit hard to swallow as a human I think. Patrick spoke from 1 Peter about being humble and thinking of others. He talked about living a good life, and not just to be a 'good Christian', but because we feel compelled by following Christ as our leader. He stressed that we have to take our eyes off ourselves and it will change our perspective and our source of hope. By following and being like Christ, we are changed inside out, and we can be living examples of Christ's love.

In a time when so much of the world is me-focused, it's so refreshing to be reminded about the very heart of Christ. It's nice to remember the source of hope in a broken world! I hope to always carry this with me!

Sunshine

Here is a picture of my happy place! Tyler and I enjoyed a much needed vacation away from all the hustle and bustle of the city, on the beaches of Florida. It was so relaxing to spend the long weekend with family and the white sandy beaches. Ah, if only we could go back!

Thriller

Wow, may I highly recommend The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo! I wasn't quite sure how I would like a 'thriller', but this book takes you on a wild ride. It's definitely a page turner..check it out!

Fresh Peaches

So last weekend my mom and I went to charming Fredericksburg to enjoy shopping, quality time, eating and some yummy wine! I made Paula Deen's fabulous peach cobbler with the fresh peaches and highly recommend it! Enjoy :)

Ingredients

• 4 cups peeled, sliced peaches
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup water
• 8 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• Ground cinnamon, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the peaches, 1 cup sugar, and water in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Put the butter in a 3-quart baking dish and place in oven to melt.

Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, flour, and milk slowly to prevent clumping. Pour mixture over melted butter. Do not stir. Spoon fruit on top, gently pouring in syrup. Sprinkle top with ground cinnamon, if using. Batter will rise to top during baking. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes.

To serve, scoop onto a plate and serve with your choice of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Blue!

Well, have I mentioned that I love home improvement projects? Because I sure do! It is so incredibly satisfying to see the fruits of your own labor, in your own home. This weekend Tyler and I set out with the task of creating a bold new look in our dining room. We hoped for a more sophisticated look to compliment our cherry wood table. We are so impressed with the results! Take a look at the before/after photos below:

The Search

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 4-7

My job search was definitely a humbling process. I think I was starting to have a glimpse of my life with no passion, a very scary thought for me. I finally came to a place where I clung to this verse and just offered up my career and future, and patiently waited for God's direction. Like a ton of bricks, it hit me that it was time to search for a new spot to grow and be challenged. The process was a trying one, and there were many moments I wondered if God did have a plan for my life. Of course, this was just my stubborn human perspective, when all along I should have trusted my Creator. It was so refreshing to lean solely on God foremost, followed closely by my sweet husband, family and close friends. I've never considered myself a patient person, a weakness for sure. This time, patience and faith really paid off like never before. Just when I was starting to give in and lose hope, God delivered as He always does. He absolutely saved me, in His perfect timing! I will always look back on this time and remember being taken care of all along :) I'm so excited for what's to come!

Livin' the Dream

So, I've been absolutely bursting at the seams to share my big news!! After many nights praying and wondering where my career was headed, something really fabulous dropped in my lap. I am the newest Studio Manager/Marketing Coordinator for the amazingly talented Adam Nyholt! I will be meeting with some of the top venues and event planners in the Houston area, promoting Adam's work. I can't wait to take on this new position, as I know it will lead to tons of variety and challenging experiences! Below is my new job description. Even just thinking about it excites me!

Maintain the studio's online client management system.
Maintain the studio's calendar.
Handle all client communication.
Conduct client proofing sessions and other meetings.
Handle invoicing, manage production workflow, and fulfill product orders.

And onto the marketing portion...
Network with event planners and other industry people to raise awareness of brand and service offerings.
Create and implement new marketing strategies for finding new clients and retaining current clients.
Create and implement new marketing strategies for new or expanding areas of the studio's business.
Submit images and stories to trade magazines, blogs and other outlets on a regular basis.

I'm so excited to finally share the news--can't believe I'm going to have the job of my dreams in a few short weeks!

Bachin' It!

Ok so who is joining me in following this season of the Bachelorette religiously? Chris is definitely one of my favorites. He totally charms with that deep voice, hoodies and his love of seafood. Dying to see who Ali picks!!

Mr. Snoop

Well hello blog world! It's been too long since I've written. It has been an eventful few weeks! To start, Hurricane Alex formed out in the Gulf. Along with the development of the hurricane came some serious storms. Mr. Snoop likes nothing to do with storms.

This weekend, we were celebrating my sweet nephew's 3rd birthday and planned to be away only for a night. We found our that our precious dog was missing from our backyard. Needless to say, we were absolutely heart broken upon hearing the news.

Let's just say God is still in the business of miracle working :) Our sweet neighbors made calls, walked door to door, posted signs and filed reports with local pet rescue organizations. After we were starting to lose hope, we received a call that a dog similar to our description was picked up on Westheimer (one of the busiest streets in Houston) and brought to the center. We are so incredibly happy and blessed to have our family reunited. It's so refreshing to know there are still good people out there, working for the good of our furry friends!