Changes

in my WILD journey over the past year and a half i've experienced A LOT of changes. WAY too many to write down. the only thing that hasn't changed is where i live and what i drive. seriously. a change in my church home. a change in jobs. a change in friends. a change in the ways i think and believe. and a BIG change in my faith. most of my "change" has been internal.

TODAY....i'm changing in the physical. my hair will experience CHANGE! i know this seems like a little thing compared to what i've said above BUT it's not. i've wanted to do a WILD and CRAZY "do" to my hair since i was in high school but NEVER had the guts. it's ALWAYS been on my "bucket list" so after i told my hair dresser last week we started rummaging through pictures on the internet and it will be CHECKED off! my hair will have a new "do" by the end of the night. should i post a pic? we'll see -- got to see if i like it first!

Wet + Cold = Escaping to my Hideaway

Today's been one of those days that the need to leave the house goes FAR, FAR away even if I did need something. Wet, rainy, cold, nastiness...it's literally been raining ALL day long. On days like this I don't even want to get out of my PJ's. I was reading a new book I got this past week this morning all snuggled on my couch I had the grand thought of running away and escaping in my hideaway. My craft room is my hideaway and many times serves as my therapy room! I decided today I wasn't going to finish something I had started or waiting in the wings. I decided that I was going to start AND finish something NEW. My sweet friend, found here http://jenniferstewarts.blogspot.com/ inspires me ALL the time. We used to swap craft stories all the time but I don't see her or talk to her as much anymore as our paths in life have gone elsewhere, however, I follow her blog and keep up with all of her projects on Facebook. She travels teaching workshops at scrapping conventions and has written for magazines, etc...and a few years ago she led some classes for Donna Downey's Inspired. I had bought one of her projects and there it sat at the top of my closet so TODAY WAS THE DAY! I have to say that I didn't really follow Jen's instructions or do it the way she taught the class but she was my inspiration because I'm not sure I would have EVER come up with something like this on my own. What she had used to display pictures I decided to display several of my favorite scripture verses. I LOVED the Christmas lights being used to highlight it as a "soften" feature and I have to say I enjoyed every minute of my crafting today. It was very needed and timely.

Friends...

One of my most favorite things about serving at Gateway are the people that God has brought into my life. I have, in such a short time, created heart-friends for life. It's been so neat to watch how God has allowed each of us to share our stories, pray for each other, challenge each other, but above all enjoy each other. Last Saturday we were able to celebrate Ericka's birthday. She is, by far, one of the SWEETEST new girlfriends and is such a blessing to my heart. I wanted to MAKE something for her birthday and so I came up with a simple canvas project. I was so glad that she liked it and I have to say it brought a smile to my face when I saw that she hung it on her wall next to her desk at work! We had fun spoiling her at Cheesecake Factory that night...

Gateway's Imagine Christmas

God's AMAZING blessings have been pouring over me since October after I accepted a new position on staff at Gateway Church in Austin. I absolutely LOVE serving alongside the staff and leadership and joined the staff at such an awesome time with the largest Christmas Production they've ever done being planned. My position is Guest Services Manager and so I immediately began my first assignment of overseeing the ticketing for Imagine Christmas. It was quite the challenge but such a rewarding one. I had shot this short video to send to my lil' sis to give her a "preview" of what was to come when she came to see the performance. We "sold" (it was free) 15,000 tickets and had 12,000 in attendance. We also collected 11,000 pounds of food for our Feed the Community Ministry that we have every Wednesday at our McNeil Campus. I'm SO thankful for God leading me to Gateway to call my "church home" earlier last year. It makes life sweeter for it to come full circle and him opening the door for me to become part of the staff. Totally a God-thing!

Apple Family

It's been a L.O.N.G. road but officially at the end of this month everyone in my immediate family will own at least ONE thing with the Apple brand- my Dad is caving in for an iPhone! Several weeks ago I took this picture in Starbuck's. 2 1/2 years ago I decided to go back to school to finish my degree in Christian Counseling. The fall was my LAST semester before I graduated and I had a HUGE paper due for my proctorship of logged hours and describing psychological characteristics of those observations based on counseling theories. The Friday my paper was due I reigned in the help of my lil' sis and mid-way through the day Mom showed up to help edit my paper so I could get it turned in by midnight. It was hilarious because my Mom and I were both on Macs and my lil' sis was on an iPad. I think people thought it was hilarious! One thing's for sure....paper got done, edited, and turned in and I'M DONE!

WAHOO! These have been 2 1/2 very long years but I've graduated and was smiling from ear to ear when I hit the submit button one last time!

2011--ROCK my Socks OFF!

I honestly can't say how many times blogging has come to my mind the past year and even more the desire to sit down and actually blog-- but as you can see it simply didn't happen. My journey this past year has not been easy and while I wouldn't wish it on anyone else I've learned so much about myself and my relationship with my Heavenly "Daddy" is so much deeper because of it. I am humbled and awed at such a loving and caring Savior and he continues to amaze me with his goodness, grace, and mercy every morning when my feet hit our earthly ground for another day of living.

One of my goals for 2011 is to begin blogging again. Should be a simple thing to accomplish. Whether it's a craft I've done, places I've been, people I've enjoyed spending time with or something God is showing and teaching me. So, my first post is sharing some scripture that God has placed on my heart in my journey the past year. These served as daily and sometimes moment by moment reminders for me. I'm continuing to claim them and pray them over me for the new year and am excited to see what 2011 will hold for me and my journey with the Lord. In the first verse I emphasized in parenthesis and used "me, my, and I" to personalize the scriptures as well.

Ephesians 3:14-20 (NLT)
"When I think of all this, I fall to MY knees (with my face to the ground) and pray (plead, ask, make my requests known) to MY Father (Daddy), the Creator (the originator, maker, designer) of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his GLORIOUS (splendid, brilliantly beautiful), UNLIMITED (infinite, endless, countless and vast) resources he WILL empower (encourage, equip) ME with inner strength (courage, might, momentum) through his spirit. Then Christ will make his home (dwelling, take residence) in MY heart as I TRUST (rely, believe, lean) in him. MY roots will grow (increase, enlarge) down (DEEP) into God's love and keep ME strong. And may I have the power (know-how) to understand (grasp, comprehend, realize), as all God's people should, how WIDE, how LONG, how HIGH, and how DEEP his love is (for ME). May I experience (encounter, enjoy) the love of Christ, though it is TOO great (immense, extraordinary) for ME to understand fully. Then I will be made complete (whole, absolute, thorough) with ALL the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now ALL glory to God, who is able, through his mighty (strong, grand, massive) power at work within ME, to accomplish (fulfill, carry out) infinitely MORE than I might ask or think (or imagine)."

Lamentations 3:20-26; 31-32 (NLT)
"I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over MY loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: THE FAITHFUL LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER ENDS! His mercies never cease. Great is HIS faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each (and EVERY) morning. I say to myself, "THE LORD IS MY INHERITANCE; therefore, I WILL HOPE IN HIM!" The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him....For NO ONE is abandoned by the Lord forever (not even ME). Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love (for ME)."

God's love letter to us is so personal. His Word speaks straight to our heart and our circumstances. God ALWAYS has a plan and his plan is AMAZING! My personal prayer for 2011 every day when my feet hit the ground is, "OK...God, I'm YOUR girl TODAY (and everyday). Use me, mold me, teach me, and send me to accomplish YOUR great things!"

What's yours? And what has God shown you in your life personally to challenge you through his Word? I encourage you to spend some time writing out a prayer and promise for 2011. It's a great reminder for us to grab when we need it most.
Here's to a GREAT, AWESOME, and AMAZING year!

First Round Top Project- DONE!

Well, we made our Spring Trip to Round Top and I have a few "projects" on the horizon but the first was conquering something for my Lil' Sis. Back in January when I spent several weeks with the Wells, Brooke started me on sewing. I kind of never really had the drive before and really was intimidated by this "machine." BUT....I've come to LOVE it! My Mom's sewing machine my Granny bought her years ago has made up permanent residence at my house and I have had fun with several different projects in the past few months.

My Lil' Sis really likes the crop knit shorts and in Round Top they were selling them with appliqued letters and when I saw the price I leaned over to Hillary and said, "I CAN MAKE THOSE!" Now...don't get me wrong. Sometimes things are worth spending the $$ because either I don't feel confident enough to make it OR it's just something I would NEVER try to conquer but for this I was UP for this challenge. After a trip to Hobby Lobby with my Mom and a few calls to Brooke with some questions I was ready to CONQUER the "machine" for this new project!

Off to Target to find Hill's crop shorts and then out with my Cricut! This is the first time I had ever tried cutting fabric and it worked WONDERFULLY! It didn't like cutting the Minky so I cut a pattern and used it instead. It's always fun when beginning a new project. I don't know about you but I always sit back and do the "What if I do this?" Or "What about that?" If you're not careful you'll "what if" yourself to DEATH! Or at least I do!

In my personal (and humble) opinion I think I did a REALLY good job! HA! I did learn a few things but for the most part I had figured out enough before I got started and it went really fast and simple! Here's the final product...I text a picture to my sister and she replied back with an "OHHH, those are SOOO cute!" So, we'll see when she puts them on and to the test if they really ARE!

A Very Special Easter...

ALL Easter's are special simply because of what it reminds us as Christians of Jesus' sacrifice but this year was EXTRA special for a very small reason. It was the first year that we were able to get a COMPLETE "family" picture! Many people know that the Day Family is very much a part of our own. It all started when this "girl" who looked and acted a lot like me showed up at Great Hills many, many years ago. I still remember ALL the stories like they were yesterday and smile at the bond that God created through that. Some of the kids to this day still get "Mom" and "Aunt Ha-ha" confused in pictures. Of course, that was pre-brunette and colored-blonde!

This FRIENDSHIP that grew into a very close knit FAMILY began a little over 15 years ago, however, it seems as if Angie and Tracey have been in our lives long before that. I couldn't have ASKED for a better Big Brother and Big Sister than they are. And I couldn't have PRAYED for 7 "nieces and nephews" such as the ones in this picture. I was at the birth at every single one of them and have always been the first to KISS them (Mom's tummy) before they entered God's amazing world. They give me more love than I need or want and my heart leaps with JOY every time I hear the words

"Aunt Ha-ha!"

My Reveal....

Several months ago I posted a picture of "something" I got from my last trip to Canton! It was such a great find for me and I was so excited to bring it home and try it out! It has now become a showcase of something that is definitely my trademark...NECKLACES! If you know me, you've seen my flashy, trashy, and sometimes CUEGLY (cute/ugly) things that adorn my neck! I'm

OBSESSED to say the least! Most of them have come from Canton, Round Top, Junior League Christmas Affair, and other places that I run across unique and different necklaces. I even have necklaces from Ecuador, Nicaragua and Africa! Most of them have stories...some don't. Some are bought just simply because! But...ONE thing is for sure...I love EVERY single one of them. Several years ago my parents bought me the neatest jewelry mirror that hangs on my wall. It is a full length mirror that "opens" into my plethera of necklaces hanging on hooks.

Sad to say I began to run out of room.

When I ran across this treasure in Canton it was one of those MUST HAVES!

I absolutely LOVE it!

Yesterday, it was time for Round Top! We went and had such a great day shopping. OF course, I helped grow my tree with 3 new necklaces. One would say, "How many necklaces does one need?" Well, for me...the number is ENDLESS! One may say, "Do you really wear ALL those necklaces?" And I would reply, "EVERY ONE!"

LOTS of Time in Ft. Worth with My Fam!

In January & February I spent a lot of time in Ft. Worth with my Wells family and it was totally and completely a God-ordained time for me! When I'm with Kent, Brooke, and the girls I can be "me!" I can stay in my PJ's all day, hang out on the couch, talk to Brooke, sew with Brooke and just get back in bed at night the same way I crawled out of it that morning! In between, I cook and play with the girls, talk and laugh with Kent, and feel loved and at home from all of them. I ALWAYS leave Ft. Worth feeling refreshed, relaxed and typically NOT ready to leave!

Brooke and I typically always go on our fabric hunt to

Downtown Dallasand this last time we found a great new place with

TONS of Minky Fabric in ALL different patterns. Our sewing project

was pillowcases and we had a BLAST! Once made we monogrammed away! Kent even begged for one...it was great! The girls LOVED theirs and Brooke is a sewing machine now making pillowcases for everyone!

The Sunday after the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony the Children's Ministry at First Euless challenged the kids to give a Gold Medal to someone who has taught them, loved them and is there for them to "honor" them. Abby came out of Sunday School and said, "Aunt Holly, I want to put this Gold Medal around your neck." Brooke and I weren't sure what she was doing besides just giving me this cheap, plastic medal on a ribbon until she explained what they learned that morning. It was such a sweet moment!

My heart was BLESSED!

I sure do love my Abby Girl!

SNOW in Texas and A LOT of it!

My goodness....there was 12 inches of snow in February and

it stayed around for 3-4 days! I had SO much fun with the girls

playing in it and just had to get a picture of me in my flip flops!

It was UNREAL driving to Ft. Worth with snow on the ground on both sides of IH-35!

While in Ft. Worth, Kent had his Rev Weekend (Disciple Now) and there were 475 kids and adults involved!

It was amazing and as his "lil sis'"

I absolutely LOVE watching my big bro in his element!

He is, by far, one of the MOST amazing Student Pastors EVER and

knows how to reach students in today's generation.

I'm so proud to sit back and watch him minister!

He's FUN! He's REAL! And he LOVES students enough to

tell them the truth in LOVE and kids lives are changed because of it!

Joshy being his co-hort is a blessing!

To watch Joshy "behind the scenes" always teaches me!

His techie-ness adds so much to ETHING they do and it's simply AMAZING! Kent's on the stage but Joshy is making everything "cool" happen with media!