may highlights.

Y'all it's still raining. There are currently 37 counties in Texas that have areas of flooding! It's been a crazy amount of rain this month. At least we now have plenty of water!

Here are a few highlights from May:

• Skye and Derek came through town earlier this month! We played Top Golf together. It was my first experience and I didn't miss the ball as often as I thought I would. So glad Skye is back on US soil!
• Watermark had their baptismal Sunday service. There were like 500 people getting baptized! It was a really awesome to hear the baptizies (I don't know if that's a word!) testimonies. After the service, everyone headed outside to get baptized and enjoy a free lunch!
• One of the service companies that Stephen works with had a crawfish boil! It was nice to not drive 6 hours to eat a mud bug.
• Allie O. got married! The O'Neals have been our family friends forever. It's so weird to think little Al is married, but I'm so happy for her and Cory! Congrats! I was so blessed to have all of my family together for Memorial Day weekend. It was long overdue!

Not pictured:

• Hannah and her family were in town for a baseball tournament. We were able to hangout and have a cookout at her Uncle George's! I could definitely get used to her being in town more often. :) Actually...I think I could get used to any of my Louisiana family/friends being in town all the time!!

Only ONE MORE WEEK of school left!!! For some reason this year has really drug on and on. I was asked to write curriculum for my school district so I'll actually be working all of June BUT I will be working with adults. Praise the Lord! I don't have to see a teenager until August. Woo woo.

Lots of fun trips coming up this summer -- be on the lookout for those posts in a few weeks!

september highlights.

September was full of a lot of work and not enough play. Although, I did get to squeeze in a couple of fun things. Here are the highlights.

• Some quality time with Lauren Rutland consisted of yoga, church, lunch dates, & dinner dates at grocery stores (P.S. The grocery stores around here are suitable for dinner dates).
• I bought a "love" ring to help remind me that my Savior loves me unconditionally & I am called to love others the same. 
• Prestonwood hosted "Harvest America" with Greg Laurie and Third Day lead worship! Somehow Caitlin & I ended up on the front row because apparently Luke has connections?! We weren't complaining!
• I started a book called "Calm My Anxious Heart." But this isn't just any book. Earlier this summer I went to Boston & on my flight home ended up sitting by one of the most Christlike women I've ever met. We talked about our walk with Christ the entire 3 hour flight to Dallas. I received this book in the mail from her last week. Jesus is literally the coolest. This book is about finding contentment & that's exactly what I've been working on! Monica lives in Massachusetts and I don't know if I'll ever see her again on earth, but we'll be in Heaven forever together one day. :) 
• Courtney had baby Ella!!! Isn't she beautiful?! I cannot wait to meet her. Congrats, Courtney & Nehemiah! 

Not pictured:

• I joined a gym just for the a-mazing yoga instructor.
• Linnette and I had a fun day hiking Arbor Hills Nature Reserve!
• I became a member to my new home church, Prestonwood Baptist (beyond thankful, blessed & excited about this!) and found a Sunday school class that "fits."
• A few fun, dinner nights with Stephen before he left to work in the field until February. 

I have a lot more activities planned for October. I'm determine to not let work get the best of me!

pool, party, puzzles, & bracezz.

Have I only lived here one week? I can't believe it - it feels like I've been here at least a month. I think it's because I've done SO much in one week with packing, church and work stuff.

This past weekend was my first official weekend here by myself and I didn't even cry! Haha. Saturday afternoon my friend, Linnette (whom I met through my friend Ilianna at BU), came over and we had some really nice pool/sunshine time. Linnette is from El Salvador and came to the U.S. for college! In 2011 I went to El Salvador on a mission trip so Linnette actually knows someone that has been to her native country. Most people don't go on their family vacays to El Salvy. It was fun to get to talk to her about it! She recently moved to this area about six months ago -- it's comforting to know I'm not the only new kid on the block.

Saturday night my friend, Lauren, from back home threw her husband, Logan, a surprise birthday party! They rented out a little karaoke room at a restaurant/bar in Uptown. It was quite comical to listen to Lauren sing "I've Got Friends in Low Places." :) I haven't had a chance to hangout with Lauren, Logan or her sister, Kaiti, in a long time so it was great to catch up with them! Lauren will soon be starting her first year teaching second grade -- good luck, Lauren!

Then Sunday morning I visited a bible study at a new church called Cottonwood Creek Baptist and met two really sweet girls, Tiffany and Kasie. Even though I hadn't ever visited CWC before, everyone was so warm and friendly it felt like I'd been going for years. I just thanked Jesus for pouring out His mercy on me! On Sunday evenings the young adults class gets together for hangout/game-night time and they invited me to go! I was super pumped about spending more time with the people I met on Sunday morning. The young adults director, Kurtis, usually hosts it at his and his roomies house. We just hung out and attempted to put together a 500 piece puzzle, but ended up peacing out on it. It takes a lot more patience than I expected to put a puzzle together! I met three other girls that I think are going to be my new best friends!! Lauren, Julie and Brittany. Brittany is actually from Louisiana too! They were all so stinkin' sweet! I am so excited about the people Christ has already put in my life after only being here one week. He knew I was anticipating having to make new friends and He has totally been providing for me. He cares about me so much. It's humbling.

And you know what else is humbling? Getting. Braces. MmHm I got them on this morning. Honestly though they aren't that bad. I really needed them (even though I had them on for three years previously) so I might as well get it over with now! I'm embracing them. Hopefully my freshman babies will look younger than me.

Today is officially my last day of summer. Tomorrow I start new teacher in-service and next week I have professional development. It has been a whirlwind of a summer, but absolutely perfect at the same time. I read a quote on Friday that said, "God gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him." Over the past year I have sought Him daily about moving and getting a job in Dallas --- asking Him everyday if He would grant me the opportunity to move to a new city and letting Him direct my footsteps. I left the choice up to Him and I believe He gave me His best. Leave your life choices to Him. He knows us far better than we know ourselves.

"When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:4 (ESV)

Sunshine & pool.

Birthday celebration & karaoke. 

Mouth of metal. 

a new week. a new church.

A song of praise of David.

"One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness." Psalm 145:4-7 (ESV)

This is what I was lead to this morning in my quiet time before church. The part of the above verses that struck my heart the most was the first sentence, "One generation shall commend your works to another." Why did this strike my heart? Because in my job I am surrounded with people (students and co-workers) from another generation than myself and most of the time, I am not declaring anything in my actions nor my words about our Lord's "mighty acts."  If I was completely honest, there are many days, outside of my job, that I make choices---through my actions, behavior, and words, that do not commend my Savior's "awesome deeds." Why is it so difficult to give praise and honor to Jesus Christ? To a Savior that is "slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love," and to a Savior that "...is good to ALL." [emphasis mine]  I like what Paul says in 1 Timothy chapter one starting with verse 12.

"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." 1 Timothy 1:12-15 (ESV)

It is difficult to give praise, honor and glory to our Savior because we are born filthy sinners, but thanks be to God that He gave His only Son to save us. It is through His mercy and unending grace that we have the opportunity to become holy and righteous and pure and loving and kind and good. I thank Jesus for not giving up on me. For having unending patience with me! Whew. Thank goodness that He is patient, otherwise He would've said "Peace out, MK," a LONG time ago. 

Today is the first day of a new week. Another fresh start. I got to visit a new church and meet new people. The Lord is gracious and good. My prayer this week is that I remember what His Word says in Psalm 145 and 1 Timothy---at my job, at my house, in every area of my life. I pray that I would go to war with the sin in my life and that I would strive to proclaim my Savior's "wondrous works...abundant goodness...mighty deeds...everlasting kingdom..."

"Your kindgom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations." Psalm 145:13 (ESV)