Lookin' good... for who?

Korey and I recently had a conversation about why we wanted to be fit or eat right. Through the discussion we agreed that if your goal for working out or eating healthy is to look "hott" or "more attractive" or "feel better - then those goals are selfish and misguided.

Yes it is okay to want to be healthy, but you should want that for the sake of taking care of the temple that God has given you. A temple that is still rightfully His and His alone. God does not care what your physical body looks like, for he looks at the heart. (1Samuel 16:7) It's okay to be healthy and it's okay to want that, but the chief end should be to glorify Christ by up-keeping the temple He created. Then beauty and attractiveness to God come from what he sees in your heart.

Korey and I also covered how looking better and being in better shape could be to impress your spouse. After finishing Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney today, I realize she had a lot to say about outward and inward beauty and so does the Bible.  Mahaney mentions that it is okay to be beautiful to our husbands, and to our husbands alone. This supports the point that Korey and I had made in discussion. You shouldn't workout to look better than that girl down the street, or to look nice for that job interview with Mr. BossMan. If not solely to glorify the God of your body, looking better should only be for the pleasure and eyes of your spouse. And if you are to be looking better you need to be available to your spouse. (Don't be a tease!) The Song of Solomon is filled with the expression and admiration of each spouse's beauty.  Our husbands, were attracted to us for a reason when we first met, and it's good to try and keep up with that. Later, Mahaney mentions scripture from Peter which reminds us that outward appearances aren't the only way to show beauty, but also our attitude and character.

1 Peter 3:3-5 "Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands.."

The more I want to mention things - the more I think you should read this book!

 It was loaded with scripture and really opened my heart to better serve and love the Lord through serving and loving my husband, Korey. 

Chief end of eating healthier may be to feel better, but I am keeping my eye on Christ. I want to glorify Him. To glorify Him, I need a healthy temple to live in and loving heart to serve with. 

Adios Bladder of Gall

The past two weeks have been filled with pain, cramping and weakness along with way to much quality time in my bathroom. To spare you further details that I'm sure you would like to bypass - I'll just explain the past few days. I had tests Monday morning to see my gall bladder and it's ability to function. The ultrasound didn't show any abnormalities so I was then sent to radiology.  There, I had hydroxy iminodiacetic acid pumped into my veins. I then laid on a table under a huge radioactive camera for an hour. After an hour, they hooked up a drip to my IV of something to trigger my gall bladder into functioning. Over the next 30 minutes, we were suppose to see my gall bladder shrink and/or completely disappear on the screen. It didn't really change at all - but still had to wait for the results to be analyzed. Got the call today saying - "Your gall bladder is no good and we're going to have to take it out."

 It's a tiny booger, but causing a lot of issues!!

So now I am waiting for the call to schedule the surgery. I'm ready to feel better again - but haven't had surgery like this before. It's a simple procedure and should be a short recovery - but surgery is surgery and Grey's Anatomy probably doesn't help soothe my mind (Little Grey's Mom dies from the hiccups).

God is so powerful and so perfect in his timing. Summer school ended on July 23. I had my first "gall bladder attack" on July 25 (I didn't know that's what it was at the time). I've been feeling nasty since then, but haven't really had anything big going on. I've been working for my Mom every two weeks doing payroll and still cleaning the offices, but haven't had anything else till school starts the 23rd. I've recently listened to a sermon where the pastor mentioned that it's okay to pray for the little things, too. This is a little thing, but I thank God for the timing in this medical issue. On top of school starting the 23rd, Korey is going part time at ATT on Sept 1. This means that I am switching insurance from ATT's to OU's and well OU's doesn't quite cover as much as ATT's. There are many things that God works out perfectly... actually - all things he works out perfectly. I just recognized this one and truly appreciate it and thank Him for it.

I'm ready for school to start and I am ready for some regular routine in my life. While I wait for surgery, I get to try to have a no-fat or low-fat diet. Fatty foods are what cause the gall bladder to work and therefore cause me pain and yuckness. Finding no-fat is kind of hard... low fat is easier, but still difficult. It's all been an interesting whirlwind and while being sick and on my route of getting better - I will aim for the chief end of glorifying Christ above all.

Homemaker

So summer school is over and the fall semester will begin August 23 - a few weeks of nothing. Obviously my life won't be just nothing the next few weeks, but it is slightly empty feeling. I am getting a lot done around the house and actually staying up with dishes, laundry and cleaning. I am fulfilling my wifely duties better than ever this week!

Today I got to help my best friend Emily Wilkins paint in her new house and move some stuff in. Doing things like that really confirms the adultness of Korey and I's life and how much we have all grown up over the past year and half. I am happy for Emily and Levi as they have become homeowners!

As this week has dragged by slowly and seemingly empty, I realize how much next week will pick up. Korey's car was hit by a FedEx truck in the AT&T parking lot a week before we went on vacation and we are just getting able to take it to the body shop on Tuesday this week. That will make us a one car family - giving me something to do - drive Korey to work! :)  Some quality car time is in our future! It's payroll time - so I'll be working at Mom's. The boy's mom I was tutoring for had a baby last week and she is ready for Tyler to start tutoring back up Wednesday. So a week of nothing to a week of many somethings.

When we went on our cruise, we accidently left a bag on the shuttle back to the parking lot our car was in. It has all the bathroom stuff in it - blow dryer, medicine, razors, etc. After a lot of confusion between UPS and FedEx (and our address getting communicated as 404 Feril 73701 when it's actually 424 Ferrill 73071 - at least they had my phone # right to call me) we should finally be getting it tomorrow!!!

I've recently been eyeing some sandals that I've wanted to purchase - they have a great cause similar to TOMS. They are called Ssekos. They are made by women in Uganda and the money goes towards furthering their education. I truly love organizations like this and feel that is a healthy way to fulfill my shoe desires.

Waldo has been driving Korey and I NUTS! He thinks biting is playing and he will get in these run modes were he just runs as fast as he can back and forth from the front door to the end of the kitchen and back. In this, he does drive by's. He will try to bite anything as he passes it, including: feet, hands, purses, SHOES.. anything. It's got to stop. A moment ago he ran across my computer in a scenic couch route. He's now punished to his cage early for the night with NO blanket!

May I bring glory to God through my dog. He truly brings anger out of Korey and me that I did not know we possessed. May we learn how to better handle that anger and realize - it's just a dog. Eek. Aren't dogs practice for children? haha..

Anyways, that's all for now and may the chief ends of helping friends move and disciplining our dog be to glorify Christ.

port holes and water slides

Korey and I just got back from our Carnival Cruise to Progresso and Cozumel, Mexico. We didn't take a vacation honeymoon last year because we didn't have enough time/money after the wedding. We thought we'd take a cruise over Christmas break and well that just didn't work out. In February, we planned a cruise for July and man are we glad we did!! We loved all of it and would recommend it and we would do it again!

We headed to Houston to stay at Uncle Bill's place before heading to Galveston. We went to an Astros v. Cardinals game (Cardinals won) and we enjoyed the great indoor ball field.

Uncle Bill and the Hollrahs at the Astros v. Cardinals game

Our Cruise was so fantastic! We loved the constant availability of food and really enjoyed our shore excursions - The Mayan Ruins in Progresso, Mexico and Sail, Snorkel & Beach Party in Cozumel, Mexico. 

Our bedroom, king size bed, and our port hole cubby!

Just laying out on the deck!

The fun slide!!! 

Korey racing Peyton - our 10 yr old little friend that we ran into many times while enjoying the slides!

Cruise Elegant Night - We wanted to be vacation elegant not prom elegant! 

Some Mayan Ruins at our shore excursion in Progresso - no sacrifices were made at this location. We didn't climb this one, but got to climb on some other ones.

After snorkeling, sailing, and then playing on the beach and water slides in the ocean. What a great day! On the sail out to the snorkel spot, I was sitting next to a wonderful lady that I got to talk to about teaching and future life as a minister's wife. It was truly a great conversation and a wonderful moment on a cruise full of people that were pretty much drinking their worries away. 

Our last night --- great sunset after a week of foggy/cloudy sunsets!

No rain the entire cruise - so thankful that we were able to enjoy the great weather and relaxation. And the chief end of our vacation was to glorify Christ and bring glory to His name while relaxing from work. 

good times and good music

Don't you just hate when a song plays on the radio that you haven't heard before and you're just so pumped to know who it's by... and then the DJ never says it?  Well Korey's iPhone has this app called Shazam! It's been on other phones before and is quite the magical little application. It listens to just about 15 seconds of the song and tells you the name of the song AND who it's by! So fantastic! So lately those great songs have repeatedly been by Train. Oh how I did not realize that this Drops of Jupiter singer was still around making great music that I thoroughly enjoy belting at the top of my lungs while driving. So if you are searching for some new tunes... check out Train: Marry Me; If It's Love; Hey, Soul Sister; I'm About to Come Alive, When I Look to the Sky, Meet Virginia, Calling All Angels, or any others. I'm sure they are all fantastic.

My everyday from 1-4pm summer class is OVER! Man it felt good to take that last test on June 30! I'm still doing observation and practicum hours at Educare, but that's so much more fun!!! I'm also still in an online class that has been pushed aside and now needs much attention! 

This past weekend was the 4th of July! It rained again. Last year it rained on the 4th as well. Korey and I haven't celebrated a lovely weather 4th as a married couple, but got to celebrate a fantastic 4th in Lake City, Colorado the summer we got engaged.  Korey and my dad drove the 14 hour drive from OKC to Lake City to see me for the weekend! It was a wonderful way to celebrate our nation's independence. Fireworks with mountains... is unbelievable! I am sad to see that I do not have any pictures of fireworks from that 4th. This year has been a time of change and growth as Korey and I have been growing closer as a married couple and my parents have reunited with my sober brother! We are so proud of him and love him so very much! Because of the rainy 4th weather, we went to dinner and bowling as family!

Kinda blurry/grainy from mom's phone - but here is Bubba and I at Pablano Grill.

As for our other family - Waldo - he's been doing pretty good. Loves to chew! Trying to keep him loaded with bones and toys, hoping that keeps him away from cell phones and remote controls (blankets, and baseball caps, too - Sorry Jeff!). A couple nights ago, Korey went to let Waldo back inside (from his chain tie out in the front yard) and came to realize that Waldo's collar was laying on the patio with no Waldo attached! YIKES! Black dog at 11:30pm --- WHERE'S WALDO?!?! Thankfully he came a running up to the door when Korey hollered for him! His collar's plastic buckle had broken! No bueno! Now he has a new big doggy collar and hopefully won't be turning into Houdini again anytime soon. He's gotten a lot bigger than we thought he would, but I think he's finally done growing! He still loves his sleep!

Korey and I have been preparing for our VACATION! We are just excited to be mandated to spend time with each other in a place where TV, cell phones, and internet connection will not be used by us and serious relaxation is a must! We will be going on a cruise (if a hurricane doesn't cancel it) next week! We are leaving Thursday after Korey gets off work and heading to Houston. There we will stay with my Uncle  Bill. Then we'll head to Galveston to the port of our FUN SHIP! 

Life surely has not seemed to slow down, even though it is summer time. We are very excited about our vacation and know that even while we are taking a break from work and our Norman lives, we will not be breaking from our work for the Lord. We will serve Him at all times in all places. If we did not serve him while on vacation, we would not be fearing our God. On vacation, our chief end will be to glorify Christ who died for us. 

one down & forever to go

Korey and I celebrated our ONE YEAR of marriage two weekends ago. It was such a fantastic day. We slept in - extremely late. Then had lunch at Ozzie's Diner - fantastic little place in the Norman Airport.

Then we let that yummy food settle for a bit by laying on the couch with the puppa before we went swimming! 

Then off to a great night starting with dinner at PF Chang's - only halted for a moment on 235-N by a cop pulling me over - but no worries - he only gave me a verbal warning! 

Had some tasty tuxedo cheesecake at my parents' house. It was the same kind we had at our wedding reception in OK.

Then over to Bricktown for a canal ride and a movie at Harkins. Lovely evening to celebrate one year down and forever to go of marriage!

The ABSOLUTE chief end of our marriage... is to glorify Christ -- for marriage is the greatest display of the gospel - Christ's love for his Church. 

Summer Sickness??

Last week was my first visit to Educare in Oklahoma City.  
"Oklahoma City Educare opened its doors in July 2009, to serve 200 disadvantaged children, ages birth to five years old, with year-round early childhood education programs. Educare Centers, throughout the nation, help young children grow up safe, healthy and eager to learn, providing the highest quality outcome-based learning environments for families and their children who are at-risk for school failure." 
The facility is just a breath of fresh air and a very encouraging, happy environment. The classroom that I was placed in is full of adorable loving faces that I'm excited to grow relationships with and observe their development over the rest of the summer. 

 After the wonderful visit to the childcare center, I got some sort of yucky sick. I was in line at the all wonderful Cafe Plaid with the Miss Amanda and just got so sweaty dizzy that I could not stand. This feeling continued uncomfortably in math class and the teacher let me leave early. I was sick the rest of that day (Wednesday) and Thursday, then woke up Friday feeling 200% better. Really don't know what it was - but it's gone.


Father's day was wonderful. We had a fishing cook out at Mom and Dad's in Yukon! Here's me and my Poppa on Father's Day! :) 

The Master's Degree is still up in the air. The experience that I had at Educare on Wednesday and the joy I get when babysitting has really pulled on my heart and directed me towards infants and toddlers over early elementary. I've always enjoyed babies and toddlers more than the "big kids" and so I'm thinking a Master's in Literacy is only going to help me get jobs with those "big kids". So I'm trying to figure out what Master's would help me with the babies. Any ideas please let me know!

June Summer school is almost OVER! Then I'll be down to two classes instead of 3! Looking forward to that! 

That's about all for now... nothing huge happening! 

Even when nothing big is going on, chief end of nothing huge, will be to glorify Christ.