Poppy Cox

2010-04-23T12:15:00.002-05:00

2010-01-22T12:43:00.000-06:00

CHI's in HAITI

Think they even know what a CHI is in Haiti? I doubt it. Last night I was complaining about STILL not having a CHI (hair straightener - mine broke last week and I'm eagerly awaiting my new one to arrive in the mail) when I realized just how bratty it was for me to complain about something so insignificant when there are people ALL over the world with much MUCH bigger problems. When put in perspective, it was hard for me to feel even a tiny little bit sorry for myself. I have frizzy hair, big WHOOP. Many of the people in Haiti have nothing, literally. The more I hear on the news, the more I understand just how devastating the situation really is. I really worry that there is no way for the people of Haiti to recover from this. How will they rebuild?

The entire situation has been weighing heavily on my heart. I've felt a nagging to step up and contribute in some way. So instead of just feeling sorry for all the people in pain and suffering right now I decided I needed to take action. A famous person once said, "One man's trash is another man's treasure" and I believe it! These wise words inspired me to host a garage sale this weekend to benefit World Vision's Haiti Relief Fund. That's right folks, we are going to give our garage sale earnings (however little or much that should be) to support the efforts of World Vision to help those in Haiti. Hopefully we will have a good turnout and make some money! Not only that, I hope that bringing it to people's attention will help encourage them to do something whether it's give time, money or resources to the cause. It's all about raising awareness!

So if you're reading this and will be in the area on Saturday, please stop by! You might leave with a new treasure and you will definitely leave knowing you've done your good deed for the day!

2010-01-17T18:12:00.002-06:00

Christmas Gifts and Goodies -

I am far too spoiled. I got everything (and more) that I wanted for Christmas. I got things that I didn't even know I needed until I saw them. It was a great holiday and just another reminder of how lucky we are to have such wonderful friends and family. Lots of my gifts were cooking/baking related so I am going to have to do a much better job of making homemade goodies. Here are a few of my latest creations:

Some of our other favorite Christmas Gifts:

-Roomba: it really does work and we LOVE it...bye, bye dust bunnies
-Beatles Rock Band: who knew Brett and I were so musically gifted?
-Bobbin Winder: I was winding by hand. If you know anything about sewing you know how INSANE that is! It's a lifesaver!
-Coats: I got two cute new coats...just what I needed!!

-stainless steel mandolin: it will slice anything with ease...including fingers. I must careful. But now I feel like a real pro chef with it.

Resolutions:

So 2010 is off to a great start…however my New Year's Resolutions are not. So far, I'm doing a pretty lousy job keeping most of them:

My 2010 Goals:

- Blog More (welp…clearly that one isn't going so well….it only took me 17 days to post my first entry of 2010.)

- Work out 3 times a week ( I worked out Jan. 1st and 2nd…but then it got super cold and I went back into hibernation. Brett says next week is supposed to be pretty. I hope so. I just HATE running in the cold!!)

- Get up earlier each morning and take time for a morning devotional (I always ALWAYS have a better day when I start it off right...but so far it's just not happening...I think I've only gotten up early 2 times.)

- Always leave the house dressed to impress (this one's going so-so…I've at least been trying harder to look cute-r no matter where I go. You never know who you will run into, but inevitably, you will see someone you wish you hadn't if you are looking scrubby!)

- Get organized (still a work in progress….I have much organizing still left to do. Luckily Brett is really good at helping me with this one)

Brett's Goals:

-Brush teeth 2 times a day (I'm proud of his new interest in dental health!)

-Run 40 miles a week (this is nothing new for him, but I still think it's an admirable goal...phew that's alot of running)

-Go to church 3 times a month (this gets hard when we are out of town but when we are here, we have no good reason NOT to attend)

-Get up earlier (clearly, this is a struggle for both of us)

The good thing is that we have the rest of the year to continue to work towards these resolutions. I really do want to do better. I'll pretend that we just waited so long to get started because we didn't want to burn-out too early and then not follow-through all year, yeah, that's it.

Below is a best/worst list that Brett and I both filled out. I meant to post it before the end of 2009…opps, didn't happen. Oh well, here it is now:

Brett's 2009 Best/Worst List -
Favorite Band of the year: Dredg
Favorite Song of the year: Jamais Vu - Dredg
Favorite sports team of the year: Texas Rangers
Best memory of the year: Christmas Eve at our new house
Worst experience of the year: mile 15-26 of Rock and Roll Marathon
One thing you learned this year: owning a house is hard work
Favorite movie of the year: Step Brothers
Favorite TV show of the year: Modern Family
Favorite recipe of the year: Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
Biggest success: Cowtown Half Marathon
Biggest mistake: paying to go to the Texas A&M vs. Tech game
Coolest place you went this year: Town Lake in Austin

Molly's 2009 Best/Worst List -
Favorite Band of the year: Artist - Priscilla Ahn
Favorite Song of the year: can't pick one song but I've enjoyed listening to the Ingrid Michaelson station on Pandora
Favorite sports team of the year: Texas Tech football team
Best memory of the year: Our first night in our new home
Worst experience of the year: realizing that our Wii was missing and that we'd been robbed
One thing you learned this year: Despite hardships, we are so blessed!
Favorite movie of the year: The Proposal ( I didn't see many new ones this year)
Favorite TV show of the year: Modern Family
Favorite recipe of the year: Anything that Brett grilled...yum!
Biggest success: Saving enough to purchase our first home
Biggest mistake: ignoring the warning signs of a kidney infection
Coolest place you went this year: Opening Day for the Rangers….(not really but I can earn some points with this answer!) : )

UP - Not for the weak at heart:

Two weekends ago, while Brett was out of town I decided to pay our local Red Box a visit and rent some "chick flicks." Instead, I left with the cartoon, UP. I'd heard it was kinda sad but really good. I wanted to see for myself. Note to readers: Bring out the Kleenex before you even start the movie. It is a tear jerker…but worth the tears! For being a kid's movie it seemed to have a pretty grown-up story-line. I'm glad I watched it. I definitely came away with an important life lesson.

-Life is an adventure: It's all in how you look at it: it may not be full of money, glamour or exotic vacations and "adventures" but that doesn't make it any less special. Sometimes the fun is in all of the little events and excitements that happen every day. If you are waiting for a MONUMENTAL adventure, you may miss all the mini adventures that come your way. I've been sad this past year that Brett and I haven't been able to go on a cool vacation. I wanted that to be our big adventure this year. However instead, we had so many other memorable moments and I wouldn't trade them for anything.

The Woes of Parenthood:

Maddie is in her "teenage years" and becoming a bit of a handful lately. Since it's been so cold, combined with the fact that she is our little Houdini, we've been letting her stay inside the house while we are at work. Well, she's been getting worse and worse about getting into things while we are away. It started off innocent enough but Sunday she took things way too far and made a HUGE mess on the couch. It was then that I decided we were going to have to do something to keep her out of our pantry and all our food. See her last (hopefully) mess!

New Furniture on the horizon?!?!

Brett and I have been patiently waiting till the day we could afford a new couch. Well, we are getting closer to that day and in preparation we have been testing "scenarios" on our drawn-to-scale floor plan Brett made for us. Now I'm not typically one that likes to plan big purchases…I'm more of an impulse buyer (ahem, my big plasma TV), but Brett likes to really think things over first. I guess it's really pretty smart of him…just kidding, it's extremely wise of him.

Here's what we did to plan out our future living room:

We did take the plunge and buy the furniture this weekend. Very exciting!! Sadly, it does not arrive until January 30th but it will be just in time for Super Bowl Sunday. I can't wait. We bought a couch and matching love seat as well as a rug. I think it will make our living room look even better than before. Here are a few pictures....but they of course don't do the furniture justice. So everyone will need to come see it in person once it arrives.

This is a swatch of the rug we bought:

Brett testing out our future couch..he looks comfy.

We're RICH!!

2009-12-08T00:11:00.000-06:00

Brett and I were checking out at Walmart Sunday when we were reminded of the fact that we're RICH. Here's how the conversation went:

(Staring at a Snuggie made especially for dogs, we were contemplating getting one for Buster)

Me: I wish we'd thought of the Snuggie. If we had, we'd be rich right now.
Brett: Yeah, it's so ridiculous people just buy them as a joke. These people created Snuggies as a BIT and now they're making money off of it.

At this point the cashier interrupted and said that she realized long ago that she might never be rich in worldly things so she needed to be rich in the things that mattered. WOW! Pretty profound words to hear in the Wal-mart checkout line! Life lessons pop up in very unexpected places if you are paying attention. In this case, I'm sure glad I wasn't too pre-occupied with Snuggies to get the message.

I continued the conversation with the lady and told her that it sounded like her priorities were in check. She was definitely on to something. As we walked out to the car, Brett and I discussed how RICH we really are. I began to think about this woman behind the cash register. If she can be content with her life and circumstances and consider herself rich, why can't the rest of us? Most of us have higher paying jobs, and would consider it perhaps an embarrassment to work at America's favorite superstore. But the riches she spoke of had nothing to do with her employer but more importantly with her Savior, our Savior. We could all learn a thing or two from her.

What if instead of counting our money (or lack there of) we counted all of our blessings? We would be millionaires many times over!! What if instead of tallying our hardships we tallied all of the important life lessons we've learned? We are blessed beyond imagination and we forget daily of everything that we have.

Society has taught us to focus on what we are lacking. The media wants us to feel like we un-whole if we don't:
-have the product they are promoting
-watch the shows they are advertising
-share the beliefs they are broadcasting

I am ashamed to admit that I often find myself throwing pity parties when things in life are less than perfect. It can be defeating to focus on all the negatives. Instead we should really think of all the ways we are RICH.

I am happy to say Brett and I are:
(just to name a few)
RICH IN LOVE - we are loved and in love
RICH IN MEMORIES - already we've shared new experiences that we will never forget
RICH IN LAUGHTER - we find ways to laugh in the midst of stressful, difficult times
RICH IN FRIENDSHIPS - we have lifelong friends that bless our lives each day
RICH IN FAITH - we recognize where our blessings come from and we are thankful

None of us know what the future holds. We can not count on being wealthy by earthly standards. Possessions do not hold their value. Look closely at your life and you will see so many new ways to count your life fortune.

Our Halls are Decked!
Christmas is only 17 days away and we have donned our gay apparel and really gotten into the Christmas Spirit!! Here are a few pictures...we only have 3 trees this year but I'm hopeful for more next year. Can one have too many trees?!?!

2009-11-21T12:53:00.000-06:00

A Wii-ly Wii-ly Bad Emergenc-wii

I suppose in an attempt to make our lives into more interesting stories, God let hardship come our way last week. Last Thursday night while Brett and I were watching TV, we both realized, almost at the same moment, that our Wii console was not in its usual spot in the entertainment stand. Brett automatically thought I was up to something and had moved it. I quickly assured him that I had not. My heart stopped. Had someone really broken into our home and stolen things that belonged to us? Slowly we put the pieces of the puzzle together and realized that they had. Along with our missing Wii and Wii games, we discovered the following missing items:

-Brett’s Texas Tech Ring

-Some of Brett’s luggage/backpacks

-Brett’s watch

-Our piggy bank with our life savings in change ($35 dollars in change!!!)

-2 ipods

-My Dad’s High School ring (given to me as a wedding gift)

Now, everything above, except my dad’s ring, can be replaced. So you could definitely say that it “could be worse” but it’s still pretty crappy and disturbing when someone comes into your property and violates you by taking things that do not belong to them. I am really having trouble having any compassion for this low-life LOSER. I should be praying for them, or something but I don’t want to. I am so angry!!

So we filed a police report shortly after our discovery and were basically told that there was nothing they could do and that we most likely wouldn’t see our things again. Gee, thanks!

We have filed a claim with our insurance company and hopefully they will decide to reimburse us for some of what we’ve lost. It’s just a shame that people think it’s ok to take things that don’t belong to them. It is important to remember that stealing is stealing no matter how big or small the thing is that you are taking. If it’s not yours, DON’T TAKE IT!!

Brett's Big Race

Brett ran the Rock N' Roll marathon last weekend in San Antonio. I was proud of him before but seeing him turn the corner and run the last 100 yards to the finish line was one of my proudest moments as his wife. What an accomplishment! I think marathons are quite emotional. You literally see thousands of people pushing their bodies to the limit. It's incredibly inspiring! Brett has more determination, perseverance, and motivation than anyone else I know....including me. I have a lot to learn from him. Although I don't have any desire to run a marathon, it does help me realize the importance of setting goals and working hard to achieve them. If Brett can do it, so can I. GREAT JOB BRETT. I COULDN'T BE PROUDER!!!!!!!

While in San Antonio, we stayed with our good friends Kelly and Ryan Moody. They are expecting a little girl soon but were so accommodating to us! They showed us a great time and we are so grateful to have them! Ryan was our navigator on race day so he drove us all over San Antonio to watch Brett at different mile markers. I am NOT familiar with San Antonio and couldn't have gotten around without him. He was great!! And Kelly was such a trooper. She's 9 almost 10 months pregnant and walked all over the place with us and never once complained. She was a great cheerleader and I was glad to have her. Thank you thank you Moodys! I CAN'T wait to meet little Moody!!

Give Thanks!

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Brett and I are having our first Thanksgiving feast in our new home and we are so excited. My family is coming in town for the holiday and we hope to impress them with a great meal. Here's our menu:

-Butternut Squash Soup (served in little pumpkins)

-Turkey (this will be my first turkey to cook)

-Brisket (Brett makes a mean brisket)

-Green Bean Casserole (it's a classic)

-Broccoli Casserole

-Mashed Potatoes

-Brown Gravy

-Pink salad (the kind with the marshmallows)

-Dressing

-Pumpkin Pie

-Pecan Pie

-Baklava (my dad is famous for his baklava)

I'm excited already. It should be a yummy meal! We will feast and be thankful for all of our many blessings. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

Life Story

2009-11-11T07:30:00.000-06:00

Fifteen Things God Won’t Ask
by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.

God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.

God won’t ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class you displayed.

God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life.

God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary.

God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.

God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others.

God won’t ask what your job title was, but will ask if you reformed your job to the best of your ability.

God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others.

God won’t ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.

God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character.

God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will ask how many times they didn’t.

I found this online the other day and it really got in my head and made me think long and hard about the priorities in my life. It's good to remember what really matters and what doesn't. Sometimes it's easy to get the two confused. I can't tell you how much time I've wasted thinking about such trivial things: my job, money, and popularity. Worrying about what everyone else thinks really doesn't matter!!

This Sunday, Donald Miller, a popular Christian author (best known for writing Blue Like Jazz) spoke at our church. He is on a big tour for his new book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. He was great and his words were thought-provoking. I had never had things presented to me in the way he did but it was very enlightening. Again I started to question my priorities and the "story" I am living.

Miller's new book is all about living a life that matters...even if that means re-writing your life "story" to make it incredible. What a concept! According to him, life shouldn't be easy or conflict free.(It's the commercials and society that teach us that life is supposed to be simple.) If it is, then we are merely coasting along through life.

I know I am guilty of avoiding conflict like the plague or not doing things I know I should because I don't want to feel "uncomfortable." I stay in my little comfort zone so as to not have to experience anything scary. Yes, I'll admit it, I'm a WIMP and currently my life story is pretty wimpy. What do I really do to challenge myself? What remarkable things do I do for others?

I am currently reading Miller's book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh outlook on life. Miller's definition of a story is this:

A character that wants something and overcomes conflict to get it.

So simple, yet so profound. Think about all the good movies out there, they are all about a character wanting something and facing challenges to get it. If there isn't a challenge, we won't watch the movie....however we still think initially that conflict is bad. Maybe it's not so bad afterall. Miller says conflict "serves us well." I think maybe he's right!

So how will I make my life a good story? How will I make sure that when I leave this earth, I lived a life that really mattered? Well, for starters I can stop being selfish and give more of myself.

While at Miller's event, I had the opportunity to sponsor a child in need, no, make that two children in need. One is a boy in the U.S. that is growing up in a father-less home. I joined a program (actually Miller's non-profit called that is going to provide him with a mentor/father-figure. Did you know that 85% of the prison community in the U.S. grew up in father-less homes? Just think if every child in this country had a father or mentor to guide them through life, we could greatly reduce the number of prisons in our country. Pretty cool initiative he's started. If you are looking for a good cause to support, this is definitely one. The video shows more:

Mentoring Spotlight - Ben and Dennis from The Mentoring Project on Vimeo.

The other child I'm sponsoring through World Vision is Jose. He lives in Honduras. Although I know very little about him now, I should be receiving more information in the near future. I do know that he has a birthday coming up, December 24th. I hope to send him a birthday card!

Knowing that I am making a difference in two lives is a great feeling. I hope to be able to do more in the future, but for now I am excited to know that I am helping others instead of just worrying about myself. I've tithed my money in the past but this is the first time it feels real to me that I am directly helping someone else. I know exactly where my money is going and who it is helping. It's pretty cool!

I'm still going to think about my "Story" and what I can do to really kick it up a notch but for now, I am pleased with my new outlook on life.

I'll leave you with this final thought from Miller:

If you think life is meaningless, you should consider instead that maybe your life is meaningless. And only YOU can do something about that.

So get out there and Do Something That Matters!!

Kidney Infections = Nothing to KID about!

2009-11-04T20:26:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, the last few days have been rough for Brett & I. However, I have been so overwhelmed by the love and support of my friends and family. I really didn't want the extra attention but I can't deny that it has been nice. Sometimes I feel invisible and wonder (hopefully this is normal) if people would notice if I was gone. Now, I can happily say that I think they would!! Brett & I want to thank everyone for their phone calls, messages, visits, gifts, food, and flowers. It really did feel nice to know so many people care about us and would go out of their way for us! THANK YOU!!

Here's a not-so-quick run down of what happened:

On Thursday of last week, I left work after lunch because I wasn't feeling well. I was feeling nauseous and having sharp pains in my lower right abdomen area. I really didn't think much of it but since I was uncomfortable at work, I planned to go home and sleep it off. Around 4 I was ready to call the doctor. My doctor wasn't taking any more appointments for the day so I called Brett crying and told him we needed to go to a clinic. He was a dear and came straight home to take me to a Care Now Clinic (also referred to me by friends as a "Doc in the Box"). After about an hour wait, I was taken to see the "doc" and about another hour later I left with a diagnosed UTI and some prescriptions that were supposed to make me feel better by the end of the night.

We immediately filled the prescriptions and I took them according to my instructions but by midnight that night, I was feeling just as bad if not worse. I was in so much pain and I couldn't eat or drink anything without getting sick. I woke Brett up and was finally ready to throw in the towel. I told him we needed to go to the emergency room.

We didn't have to wait long in the emergency room (less than 5 minutes) before they took me back and started assessing me. Within a couple of hours they were admitting me into the hospital with a kidney infection and an infected kidney stone.

Friday around noon, I was taken into surgery for a quick procedure to help eliminate the infection in my kidney. They put me under and I am happy to report that I don't remember a thing about it. I spent the rest of Friday in the hospital and then was released Saturday morning.

I slept most of the weekend away and let Brett take care of me...which he completely did! He went above and beyond the call of duty and I am so grateful to have him! He really is an incredible man and I don't tell him enough how much I appreciate what he does for me. But I've already nominated him for HUSBAND OF THE YEAR. Here's just a few reasons why:

While in the hospital -

- He held my hand and did his best to be brave while they put in my IV (he's the one afraid of needles)

- He talked to me while we waited and tried to keep me entertained so I wasn't focused on the pain

- He tied my hospital gown closed (knowing I'm modest and didn't want to show the world my tushie)

- He wheeled my IV for me and made sure it didn't get tangled when I wobbled to the bathroom (countless times)

- He combed my hair for me when I had visitors so that I looked a little more presentable

- He cut up my hospital food into small bites so that it was easier to eat

- He spent the night on a crappy fold out chair and never once complained

- He answered multiple phone calls and kept friends and family informed of my condition

- He stayed on me to do my breathing exercises as instructed so that my lungs would return to normal

- He came home after filling all of my prescriptions with beautiful tulips for me

- He cooked a wonderful dinner for me and my friends on Sunday night

- He cleaned the house while I slept

The list could go on and on. He is WONDERFUL!! As we share new life experiences, like hospital visits, it just brings us closer and makes me realize how lucky I am to have him to journey though life with. We are a team and he is a solid teammate. I'm so blessed he chose me!

The good news is that I am back at work and feeling much better. I return to the doctor on Friday afternoon so that we can re-evaluate my condition. I'm hoping that the kidney stone is gone...but we shall see. I'll keep you all posted!

I tried to find the humor in the situation. Here's a clip from a Friends episode where Joey gets a kidney stone:

A few pictures to document the event:

Beautiful Flowers from friends

Lovely orange tulips from Brett

Proof that I was actually in the hospital

Flowers below from a thoughtful co-worker

So, needless to say, this week has been pretty much all about me at home. But next week is going to be ALL ABOUT BRETT week. Next weekend we are traveling to San Antonio and Brett is running a FULL MARATHON on Sunday, November 15th. I am already so proud of him and the hard work he has put in training. And I know I will be so excited to see him cross the finish line!! Anyway, next week I want to make sure that he is mentally, emotionally and physically ready for the big run....so next week will be all about my little runner boy!

Oil Spills and other unfortunate accidents -

2009-10-26T22:47:00.002-05:00

So I've been thinking that Brett was perhaps a little accident prone and I was starting to worry. However, due to events as of late, I am thinking that in fact it might be both of us who are accident prone. Last week we had two rather significant "accidents" take place. Both of them, if we had to place blame (which we shouldn't!!), would be technically my fault.

Water, water, EVERYWHERE-

Last Tuesday I decided to do laundry so I started a load and left the laundry room. About an hour later I went back to check on the load...it was still running. I left again thinking it was almost done. Brett and I went to run some errands and when we returned (almost 2 hours later) the water sounded like it was STILL running in the washer. Finally, being the Sherlock Holmes that I am, I decided to see why the water was still going. Well, lo and behold, the hose that was supposed to be attached to the back of the washer had come loose. Water was just shooting out of the back of the washer and into the back yard. Can't wait to see how our water bill looks next month! Opps!

Oil Spill-

The next day, Wednesday of last week, we were attempting to make Chile Rellanos for dinner. Brett had already prepped the peppers and stuffed them with cheese, corn and chicken. They were ready for frying and since I'm the "Fry Queen" it was time for me to do my thing. As I was getting out the fryer, the saddest thing happened. I slipped on a banana peel and spilled the entire vat of oil all over the kitchen floor. Ok, ok so the banana peel part is a lie but the rest is true. It was a major oil spill. 2 or 3 paper towel rolls later (thanks Bounty - the quicker, thicker, picker-upper) we had the mess under control and were ready to tackle the Chile Rellanos....now that was a whole other issue.

A new found respect for the Chile Rellano -

Tensions were already running high by the time we were actually ready to fry the chile rellanos. Brett had to go to the store to get more oil, I was mopping the floor with Dawn, and it was getting late. Well, the batter I had bought slid right off the chiles when we dropped them into the oil...so that was a failed attempt. Next, we tried to dip them into milk and then flour...that also didn't work. We obviously didn't do enough research and we clearly didn't have enough respect for the chile rellano makers out there. In the end we gave up and just baked the chiles in the oven. They were good but we are determined to try again and successfully fry them!

Tips for Marriage -

These tips were passed along to me by a friend and I think they are great tips! I thought I would share them with others. They are helpful whether you are married already or just wanting to prepare yourself for a fulfilling marriage. Each one is so important!

1. God has you here to serve one another. Love acted out is serving.

2. Women need respect and nurturing. Love your wife so she knows you'd
   lay your life down for her. Continue to date her and admire her. Share
   a hobby, find something you can do to have fun together.
3. Laugh often.
4. Be patient. Love crumbles quickly under the weight of unmet expectations.
5. Spend more time trying to fix yourself than your spouse.
6. Keep short accounts. The Bible syas, "Do not let the sun go down
   while you are angry." Make a habit to fogrive.
7. Determine up front that divorce is not an option.
8. Learn about love languages. Not all people show love or receive it
   in the same way. You want a back rub and your spouse wants a clean
   kitchen. The love languages are fairly simple: acts of service, time,
   physical touch, gifts, and words of affirmation. Learn them. Love is
   better received when it's in the language that person speaks.

9. Words of affirmation are a love language for all men.

10.Men are born leaders. He cannot lead unless she gives him
confidence to do so. If you love your husband, build him up. Confident
men do not seek love outside the home.

Hair today, Gone Tomorrow -

Times are tough...so in an effort to cut back, Brett and I have decided to cut our hair. In theory, the less hair we have to wash, the more money we can save on shampoo. That's not actually why we did it but you'll see that after our last hair cuts, we have much less hair! Our necks will be cold for winter...but oh well, sometimes you need a new look!

Nobel Peace Prize? How bout a noble piece of my mind...

2009-10-18T19:54:00.000-05:00

I'm sure it comes by no surprise that I am less than pleased with Obama's recent Nobel Peace Prize award. There are many people out there that do so much good in the world. They are the ones that deserve special recognition....not the President of The United States! Hasn't he gotten enough praise? Everyone knows his name, his causes, his purpose. Have you heard of any of the people listed below? Maybe if they had been awarded the "prize" you would get to hear more about them and their hard work to create a better world. Politics aside, I feel like this year the nomination committee got a little lazy and I am disappointed with their decision. Below is a quick list of people who were passed over so that Obama could win.

(from http://www.weeklystandard.com/)

Sima Samar, women's rights activist in Afghanistan: "With dogged persistence and at great personal risk, she kept her schools and clinics open in Afghanistan even during the most repressive days of the Taliban regime, whose laws prohibited the education of girls past the age of eight. When the Taliban fell, Samar returned to Kabul and accepted the post of Minister for Women's Affairs."

Ingrid Betancourt: French-Colombian ex-hostage held for six years.

"Dr. Denis Mukwege: Doctor, founder and head of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. He has dedicated his life to helping Congolese women and girls who are victims of gang rape and brutal sexual violence."

Handicap International and Cluster Munition Coalition: "These organizations are recognized for their consistently serious efforts to clean up cluster bombs, also known as land mines. Innocent civilians are regularly killed worldwide because the unseen bombs explode when stepped upon."

"Hu Jia, a human rights activist and an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, who was sentenced last year to a three-and-a-half-year prison term for 'inciting subversion of state power.'"

"Wei Jingsheng, who spent 17 years in Chinese prisons for urging reforms of China's communist system. He now lives in the United States."

Maybe they'll do better next time...

On a lighter note:

Brett really is quite the handy man. I am lucky to have him. However every handy man has their "off" day. Sadly, last Saturday was Brett's. After successfully installing this lovely new porch light, he had a bit of an "accident."

Take a look at the new skylight Brett installed in our living room....with his foot. You see he was up in the attic, installing the porch light and on his way back through the ceiling to the stairs down from the attic, he slipped and his foot came crashing through the ceiling. Luckily, I was sitting almost directly below him when it all happened. I'm truly lucky he didn't fall in my lap and hurt himself or me.

And here is the aftermath from the hole...Brett is so thoughtful that he wanted Christmas to come early for me so he made it snow in our living room! : )

As bad as things seemed last weekend, I am happy to report that we (meaning Brett and Uncle Paul) have successfully patched the hole in the ceiling. We simply weren't ready for a skylight and all that extra sunshine in our living room.

At times like these, all you can do is laugh. And now, we can look back on this as a funny little memory!

Sunday, a time for reflections and conspiracy theories

Brett and I were sucked in by the History channel today. We woke up and there was a JFK Special on. Well, little did we know that it was an all day event. I could barely get away from the TV. I mean, maybe the mob did kill JFK, maybe it was another group who did it. Why do all the Kennedy's die? Doesn't it seem a little weird??? I dunno the answers but sometimes its fun to listen to the theories...they can get a little far fetched. And yes, I did spend quite a lot of time watching but hey, it's educational...right??

Then, as the JFK programming was ending and I thought I might actually be able to get away from the TV, the history channel jumped right into a special on 9/11 conspiracy theories. I guess I've been under a rock for the last 8 years but I had no idea that people really thought 9/11 was this huge conspiracy. And although I found it quite interesting and entertaining to listen to, I can't help but think there is something wrong with people that think the government is wicked enough to fabricate such an elaborate and devastating event. Don't get me wrong, I think the government is corrupt in many ways, but to kill thousands, or to allow thousands to be killed sounds too far fetched. Anyway, if you are curious, you can google "9/11 Conspiracy" or "Loose Coins" to hear more of these theories.

Outflow - outward-focused living in a self-centered world:

My mom gave me a new book to read today. It's actually more of a 5-week study on how to better yourself and others by living a life focused on others. I'll admit it: I'm self-centered and self-absorbed. I often worry about myself and only myself, my problems, my life....but that's not how it should be and that's not how I want to be remembered. On the very first page of the introduction, I read something cool. It's a pretty simple, but profound concept:

The glass is not half empty, and it's not half full, it's overflowing.

Despite all the problems we face daily, don't we all have gifts, that are overflowing that we could and should share with others? Instead of focusing on ourselves and our situations, we should look to others to see how we can help them. If we all did that, then there would be others looking to help us, while we were helping others. We'd all reap the benefits. Make sense? Have you ever taken note of something nice someone has said to you, or something thoughtful they've done for you? Think about what an impact it would make if we all did more....even just little things for other people. Sometimes I get bogged down with thinking I need to make these grand gestures or come up with elaborate ways to give back....I think to myself, when will I ever find the time, the money, the resources? Before I even do anything, I get overwhelmed and then as a result, do nothing. Well, not anymore....or at least hopefully not anymore!!

You've Got Mail -

Some of my readers (hum, hum) ok, all of my readers have gotten a little lazy and rely soley on my emails, to plop in their inbox, so they can read all of my profound thoughts. That is NOT the way a blog is supposed to work....at least I don't think it is. A blog is an actual website that people are supposed to visit regularly. I've been babying all of you and for this reason, nobody reads what I write unless it is emailed to them. So, in the near future, I am going to stop sending my posts via email. Hopefully this will encourage everyone to visit the website and if you want to...make it a "Favorite" or "Bookmark" it so you can visit again and again. And trust me, I have some GOOD stuff coming up in the near future.....so you won't want to miss a post! : )

So that there's no confusion the website is:

http://bplusmcox.blogspot.com

2009-10-08T11:09:00.002-05:00

No TV Tuesdays -

In an effort to be more productive, Brett and I have started a "No TV Tuesday" rule at our house. More accurately, it is a "media-free" night. We stay off the internet and refrain from watching TV on Tuesday nights. We are on week 2 but I am already convinced that it is a great concept. We all waste so much of our free-time surfing the internet or sitting in front of the TV. Think of all you can accomplish without those little distractions. This week, instead of watching TV, I:

-cleaned up around the house

-updated our weekly activity board

-updated our weekly dinner menu board

-finished my book, White Oleander

-took my first bubble bath in our new home

-decorated for Fall

-cooked dinner

Not too bad! And Brett was also productive! Brian and Cassie introduced us to the concept and I really hope we can keep it up! Of course, having DVR helps us make sure we don't miss anything important. HA! : )

Fun at Fort Woof -

This past weekend was a full weekend for us. There was a lot going on in Fort Worth. I attended Christmas in Cowtown with Brett's mom. Then immediately after, Brett and I took the dogs to "Barktober Fest" at the dog park, Fort Woof. There was a great turnout of canines and their owners. They had an entertaining dog costume contest. It was funny! We had a good time and I think the dogs did too. Here are a few pictures…

Dance Buster Dance!!

Sweet little Buster with his mommy!

Brett and Maddie...how cute are they??

World Site Day -

Take a Moment to Reflect…Today is World Sight Day!

Today, October. 8, 2009, is World Sight Day. This international day of awareness is held each year on the second Thursday of October, to focus attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

Sponsored by Vision 2020, a partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), there is a theme each year surrounding one of the societal causes of world blindness. This year World Sight Day is focused on the relationship between gender and access to eye care. Two-thirds of blind people worldwide are women and girls and in many places men have twice the access to eye care.

Oh the life of a housewife...

This picture made me laugh! She looks so pathetically "distraught." I'm into vintage pictures of housewives….and I'm wanting to do a Vintage theme in the kitchen and use pictures of women and housewives cooking….kinda like these pictures below:

ABC

2009-09-24T10:43:00.000-05:00

Day 2 of my challenge - Use the alphabet to take note of what you are thankful for...bear with me...some of these were a little hard to come up with! : )

A Alive - I'm so glad to be alive!
B Brett - I don't know what I would do without him.
C Creativity - Although I don't always use it, I am so glad to have a creative mind!
D Dogs - Maddie and Buster can be a handful but I love them more than I like to admit.
E Ears - Although my hearing is limited at times, I'm so glad I can hear!
F Friends - I have some of the best friends a girl could ask for, I'm blessed to love my family enough to call them friends.
G God - I am thankful that God is good.
H Home - Brett and I feel so lucky to have a place to call Home
I Inspiration - I am thankful for the many things that inspire me daily.
J Job - I'm very lucky to be employed.
K Kids - They say the darndest things!
L Love - It is a blessing to love and be loved.
M Meatloaf - Weird as it may be, I do think it's my favorite meal...made by one of my favorite people
N New - I'm greatful for all of my new things: new house, new furniture, new clothes!
O Olives - YUM!
P Pillows - Nothing hits the spot like a great nap. Pillows make this possible!
Q Quilts - They are great for snuggling!
R Reading - I'm amazed at the power authors have to move you with their words.
S Salsa - I like to make it and eat it.
T Technology - Without modern technology, my little blog would not exist.
U Umbrellas - Very good to have when it's raining!
V Victory - Winning is always something to be grateful for.
W Washer & Dryer - I've been living without one for the last few months and am so thankful that I'm about to have one again.
X Xylophones - Can I be thankful for Xylophones? Without them the letter "X" would hardly be used.
Y Youth - Even though I feel old at times, I am grateful for my youth and I'm trying to enjoy it while I have it!
Z Zippers - Ok, so maybe it's a stretch...but it's a pretty cool invention so I am thankful for it!

Gratitude Challenge

2009-09-22T19:13:00.000-05:00

Give Thanks
Yesterday was World Gratitude Day and I got an email about a new initiative called the Gratitude Challenge. It's a pretty cool concept. Basically, you commit to giving thanks for 21 days. I encourage all of you to check out the website and if you dare, take the challenge yourselves. I'll do my best to take you all with me on this 21 day journey. If nothing else, I encourage you to watch the video below. It's pretty cool. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again, we all have so much to be thankful for. Things will never be 100% perfect in life but if you choose to focus on the positive, you will see how truly blessed you are!

DAY 1

Today you start The Gratitude Challenge. Sign the contract and make a commitment to take note and give

thanks for the next 21 days. Express why you accepted this challenge and what you hope to achieve from it.

THE GRATITUDE PLEDGE

With a hopeful outlook, I, ______________________, promise to fulfill the terms

of The Gratitude Challenge. Over the next 21 days, I pledge to complete the

activities on my gratitude calendar, including writing journal entries, taking

photos and connecting with friends. I promise to take note of life’s little blessings

and to give thanks for the relationships, experiences and opportunities that make

my life unique. From this day forward, I commit to living on the brighter side of life.

Signature: _____________________________________ Date: _________________

Drumroll Please...
I know you have all been anxiously waiting to hear how Brett and I did in this year's Church-wide Chili cook-off. Well, the results are in and we are the CHAMPIONS this year!!! Much to our delight we won 1st place for our "Deep Fried Chili" served with a Chipotle Sour Cream sauce. YUM YUM!

We were in Austin this weekend (Brett was able to go after all) and drove back at 6 a.m. in order to get home in time to fry 5 lbs of chili balls for the cook-off. We were exhausted by the time we finished but all our hard work paid off! We received tons of compliments and even got what I like to call, "a book deal." There is a lady at the church that wants to include our recipe in a cookbook!! (I'll let you know where those can be purchased since I know you will all want to rush out and buy one!) We had so many people say that we should enter our creation in the State Fair, that we are going to look into it for next year. Who knows, we could soon be millionaires. I'll try to keep up with my blog after I'm rich and famous, but I may have to hire someone else to do it if I get too busy and important! : )

So, despite the disappointing Tech game, Brett and I ended the weekend VICTORIOUS!

2009-08-27T13:25:00.000-05:00

Again and again I am amazed at how relevant my morning devotionals can be to what I’m going through in life.

Today’s scripture: No Worries

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”

~ Philippians 4:6-7

So as well all search for a purpose and become who we are destined to be, it is good to know that there is no need to worry. We can voice our concerns in prayer and trust that God will hear us and bless our lives accordingly.

Time Traveler’s Wife

Last night I finished reading the Time Traveler’s Wife. I’ve had it recommended to me before, but when I saw that they were making it into a movie, I knew it was one that I should read first. It was a great read and one that I would suggest to anyone looking for a good book.

Tonight I am going to see the movie and I’m a little nervous. I’ve gotten a little feedback from what others thought about it and I’m just not sure if the movie will be as enjoyable as the book was. However, I’m a big Rachel McAdams fan so I was excited to see that she is playing Clare, the main character (the time traveler’s wife.) I’ll report back and let yall know what I think!

Is your refrigerator running?
Earlier in the week I forgot to mention what exciting, MONUMENTAL event took place at the Cox household last Sunday. We got a new refrigerator!! Ok, ok so it’s not really new but it is new to us and hey, isn’t that practically the same thing? We think so! We are now a “2 fridge family” and it’s pretty thrilling. We now have a main fridge and a backup for overflow. Now, the grocery possibilities are endless!

A Reason, a season, a lifetime
Someone once shared with me that there are many different kinds of friendships that we will have in our lives. Some are there for a specific reason: maybe to teach us a life lesson, or to build our character. Some are there for a season: For whatever reason, the relationship begins and flourishes and then after a period of time in wilts and the friendship ends. Just because it ends doesn’t mean the friendship wasn’t real, it just means the season has ended. And then, there are those friendships that last a lifetime: they are with you from beginning to the bitter end.

I have been blessed with all three types of friends in my life and I am so grateful for the things they have all taught me. They’ve helped shape the person I am today. One of my closest friends shared this little poem with me and I wanted to pass it along.

When I was little,

I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,

And then I started to become a woman.

And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,

God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.

Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.

Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.

Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'

Another , 'Let's fight together,'

Another , 'Let's walk away together.'

One friend will meet your spiritual need,

Another your shoe fetish,

Another your love for movies,

Another will be with you in your season of confusion,

Another will be your clarifier,

Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,

On whatever the occasion,

On whatever the day,

Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,

Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself .

Those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several...

One from 7th grade,

One from high school,

Several from the college years,

A couple from old jobs,

On some days your mother,

On some days your neighbor,

On others, your sisters,

And on some days, your daughters.

2009-08-26T16:32:00.000-05:00

Paint Party This past weekend we painted the room that will soon be our "studio." The color you ask? It's called Sparkling Lake. It's basically just light blue, but we like it and hopefully it will inspire us when we are in there hard at work!

Our new "studio" desks....

Alignment

I have noticed, as of late, that I am surrounded by people who are looking for change or searching for “something”. I know people who are starting new careers - some looking for a new job, some are venturing out and starting their own businesses. I know many who are unhappy or unsatisfied with their current employment. No matter where we are, who we are or what we do, we all feel unfulfilled at times or think that there’s gotta be something “more” out there.

We’ve all felt a little lost. At times like these, I like to turn to successful people for advice and guidance. Oprah, where are you??

Well, it just so happens that she has some great advice. If you have time, check out her article here, http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200909-omag-oprah-power. For those of you who don’t have the time or inclination to read the full article, let me hit the highlights:

“The secret is alignment: when you know for sure that you’re on course and doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing, fulfilling your soul’s intention, your heart’s desire, or whatever you choose to call it (they’re all the same thing). When your life is on course with its purpose, you are your most powerful. And you may stumble, but you will not fall.

I know for sure that in every challenging experience there’s an opportunity to grow, enhance your life, or learn something invaluable about yourself. Every challenge can make you stronger if you allow it. Strength multiplied = power.”

Now I want to be clear on one thing. If you are feeling a “spiritual” lost-ness (yes we are going to pretend like that is a real word) then you need not turn to Oprah, you need to turn to God. But sometimes you can know what type of path your spiritual life should be on and be COMPLETELY clueless as to where your “professional” life should lead you. Make sense? I hope so!

After reading the above paragraphs from Oprah, the “Queen-of-success,” does it give you warm fuzzys about your current profession, or does it bring to life the fact that you haven’t a clue what you are really meant to do in this world?

For the clueless: you aren’t alone. There’s help!

I found another insightful woman, Kristin Kaufman. Check out her blog at: http://www.alignmentinc.com/blog/category/leadership-and-team-alignment/

She has a business centered around finding “alignment” in your life or business. Here are a few of her tips for success:

• Listen to your heart. Pay attention to that little voice inside. It may come as a question in the middle of the night. Or as crystal clear as a voice in the shower. The voice is your soul – it is your core and it is the pure essence of what and who you are meant to be. Heed it.

• Let go. That is a hard one, believe me, I know. Many times we will have this ‘whisper’ to do or be something other than what we are presently – and we fight it (or just flat out ignore it) because it is not what we think we should be doing. The trappings of our world are intoxicating. We often get ‘drunk’ on these. What I believe, however, is if we truly follow our heart’s desire – we will be successful. All the other trappings will take care of themselves.

• Read. Read everything. There are many books I can recommend which may help to stimulate your juices. Here are just a few:

o The Seat of the Soul – Gary Zukav

o A New Earth – Eckardt Tolle

o The Power of Now – Eckardt Tolle

o Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

o Care for the Soul – Thomas Moore

o Living a Life that Matters – Harold Kushner

o Three Cups of Tea – Greg Mortenson

o Man’s Search for Meaning – Victor Frankl

o The Wheel of Life – Elisabeth Kublar-Ross

• Keep a Journal. This may be a stretch for some – that is ok. Even if you only write down only one or two thoughts you have – when you have them – it is amazing how they will grow and multiply in your mind’s eye. It is a great way to reflect on your day, the lessons learned, the observations of yourself and others. It is like living it ‘over’ in some ways – which is incredibly powerful.

• Connect with your body. Breathe. I have learned recently that our body is often the first signal that something is awry, not the last. If we are really in sync with our bodies – through yoga, meditation, centering exercises, walking, etc. – we are told when things are not right, or not in alignment.

• Finally, just get to know you. Give yourself freedom to be who you are. Just BE and let all things flow from there. Observe yourself – and be curious about what drives your behaviors. This can be such a revealing process.

So basically, it’s ok to do a little soul-searching in order to determine what you should “do with your life.” But once you find that “thing” that you are meant to do, align yourself and your life accordingly so that you can achieve happiness and success in that “thing.” I’ll leave you with a few inspirational quotes….I’m sure you’ve heard some or all of them before but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded:

"I don't believe in failure. It's not failure if you enjoyed the process."

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly."

"Those who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try nothing and succeed." (adapted)

"You won't skid if you stay in a rut."

"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle."

Interesting Ad...

2009-08-18T15:07:00.004-05:00

365 things I've learned...

2009-08-17T12:30:00.010-05:00

Brett and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary last weekend. Neither one of us can believe how fast time has flown by and just how much has happened since August 16th of 2008!! Looking back over the past year, I feel like I've learned something new about life, marriage, or Brett every single day. We've really grown up this past year and I think we've become stronger people as a result of being together.

Here are a few of the more interesting things I've learned this past year:

1. Brett LOVES the Rangers (we've hardly missed a game) but doesn't appreciate my girly dramatic reality shows. There is a need for multiple TVs in our home to keep the peace!

2. Sports talk radio isn't so bad after all. It's actually pretty entertaining!

3. Brett loves milk and salsa and it's hard to keep either one stocked in the house

4. Brett enjoys blasting loud music throughout the house and singing Karaoke to it. He secretly wants to be a ROCKSTAR....I will support him in his music endeavors! : )

5. There is no rhyme or reason to Brett's waking up habits...some days he hops right out of bed at the crack of dawn...other days I have to drag him out of bed.

6. I have had more of a problem putting the toilet seat down than Brett does!

7. Brett loves to eat Pop-Ice....by the dozen...and likes to leave the wrappers in secret places for me to find. It's a fun scavenger hunt game we play.

8. Brett doesn't really like to dry off before getting out of the shower. Who needs a towel!

9. Brett is an excellent chef. His specialties: Burgers, cobblers, and biscuits...YUM!

10. Brett is a wonderful husband and such a hard worker (actually I already knew that but he's proven it time and time again!) I feel so blessed to have had the chance to learn more about him over the past year!

*Anniversary pictures to come...I have to find the cord to the camera and upload to the computer...

I'm a Queen...

2009-08-12T10:03:00.004-05:00

and now I have the bed to prove it!! Brett and I have finally upgraded to a QUEEN SIZE BED! YAY!!! And it gets better....we have a brand spankin new mattress and new bedding also. We are just so excited about all our new things! Our old "full size" bed was just that - too full! Brett's feet dangled off the end and it just wasn't quite big enough. Now, when I lay down in my fancy new, bigger bed, I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm awake and not dreaming but then I'm awake and have to try to get back to sleep...which is easy since the matress is so plush and cloud-like!

Take a look...

Testing Testing...

2009-08-06T16:31:00.006-05:00

My previous post-

The page below was just a test. I found this website that let's you create your own web page. Kinda cool....although I didn't spend much time getting everything right...

Will you sign my baseball?

Guess who Brett saw on Tuesday?? The one, the only, Nolan Ryan!! Brett was walking downtown on his lunch break and saw him going into PF Changs. Brett decided to go buy a baseball and get it autographed. Now we are the proud owners of this baseball!

New Furniture-

We finally took the big leap and bought some "grown up" furniture!! I am so proud of our new dining room table, and buffet. I think it makes the room look so pretty! We also bought bedroom furniture (bed, dressers, nightstands) but haven't set any of that up yet. I'll take pictures once we do...

2009-08-06T13:54:00.001-05:00

Free website - Wix.com

Project 3/50

2009-08-06T11:03:00.005-05:00

Although I try not to be a big spender these days, I do appreciate locally owned businesses and try to support them when I can. If we all shopped locally a little bit more, we would not only find more interesting things but we would be doing our community a HUGE favor! It's at least something to consider.....

I love online shopping as much as the next person but when you start to think about how you are affecting the business owners in your city, it just doesn't seem worth it.

2009-07-31T14:30:00.022-05:00

Happy Birthday Brett -
Yesterday Brett turned 26. Unlike me, he doesn't like drawing attention to himself. I had a feeling he wouldn't even tell anyone at work that it was his birthday.....so naturally I had to step in and make sure he was given the proper recognition! I emailed a girl in his office and asked her to work on something special. She did a great job. This is what she created:

I was quite pleased with what she came up with!!

Happy Birthday Brett! So glad you were born!! : )

Texas Tech Alumni Dinner -
Last night Brett & I attended the Texas Tech Alumni dinner at Joe T's. Brett was selected as the Scholarship chairman so it was his job to select this year's two recipients and announce them at the dinner. I was nervous for Brett but he did a great job when it was his turn to present the scholarship dinners. He made me so proud!!

The president of the Alumni association, Bill Dean, was there and gave us an update on enrollment as well as projects going on in Lubbock, at Tech and his sports predictions for the upcoming year. He played a quick video and it really made me a little sad! As much fun as it is being an adult and all (i.e. buying a new home!!) there are still those times I wish I could go back to college. Oh to be young careless and fancy-free again...

Anyway, the dinner really got us pepped up for college football (which is right around the corner) and it inspired us to get more involved with the Alumni association. The current Fort Worth chapter is fairly small and needs some work. Our goal is to get more people involved and help the chapter grow!

Also last night I talked to Bill Dean about getting a new diploma. For those of you who don't know, yes, I may have "misplaced" my diploma. But, Bill said he will help me get a new one. Hooray! I will be an official Tech graduate!!

Oh, and on a final note: Guess who we sat with at the dinner and didn't even know it?!?! A former MASKED RIDER!!! Pretty cool!!

Attention Drivers:
There is something that has been bothering me for a while now and I feel like I should share it with you....
When you are on the highway and see a sign that says a lane is closed up ahead and you continue driving in that lane (especially when there is heavy traffic) that makes you a total JERK! I am about sick of people doing that to me. I am a driver of integrity so I follow the rules and stay out of the closed lane. However many feel like they are above the law and choose to zoom past me and then want me to take pity on the when they are stuck in the closed lane. They expect me to let them over. Well, not on my watch buck-o!!! If you were so concerned about the closed lane you would have gotten over a lane before passing like 30 cars. UGH! I don't normally experience what most refer to as road rage but when people are plain rude and think they can drive past me going 50+ and then "cut" in right before they hit the traffic cones it irks me! So if you are accustomed to doing this and hear someone honking at you, look around, because it's probably me and I think you're RUDE! Phewwww I feel much better now that that is off my chest.

House Update -
Things at the new house are going well. We are slowly getting more and more unpacked but we still have a long way to go! We are hopefully going to buy a dining room table and bedroom furniture in the near future. Very exciting!

This morning I took my first shower in the guest bathroom. I have been meaning to do this all week but keep forgetting. I wanted to make sure it worked and nothing was broken etc. I am happy to report that it was a delightful shower! I feel like such a rockstar. We have not one, but TWO showers with water pressure!! We are pretty darn fancy. I feel like we've finally arrived in this world. HA!
Also exciting: We turned in our keys to the rent house today. Goodbye Specialized Property Management!!! We will NOT miss you but please send us our deposit!! Note to all the readers out there: Do not rent from them!They will not fix things or return your phone calls!

So you think you can Dance

2009-07-23T12:33:00.012-05:00

I love the art of dance. I took dance lessons for over 12 years growing up and even though I don't still practice it, I feel that I have a great appreciation for great dancers, choreographers, and musicians because of my past experiences. Over the last few years, I have come to love the show, "So you think you can dance." I believe they have some of the most talented young dancers in the country. I am amazed each week by their skill level. It is truly inspirational! Unlike Dancing with the stars, SYTYCD displays a variety of dance types. In fact last week, the boys did a African tribal dance. Since I love 'em all: hip hop, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, Broadway, etc it's always fun to see what they will do next.

Last night, two of this season's dancers, Melissa and Ade, performed one of the most moving dances I've ever seen. It gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. Their dance told the story of a woman fighting breast cancer and the friend that stood by her side through all her pain. WOW, it was awesome! The song, "This woman's work" is quite powerful on it's own but combined with the amazing dancers and unique choreography, it was even more PHENOMENAL!

The dancers conveyed so much, without saying a word. Which is the incredible thing about dancing. You can make people feel things without the use of words.

I encourage you to get on YouTube ( click on the title of this post) and watch their dance. If that doesn't get you, listen to the judges comments afterwards. Quite moving!

By watching these incredible dancers, I was reminded that we all have God-given talents that we should share with others. Of course, we can't all be wonderful dancers, but that doesn't mean we can't contribute something significant to the world.

Go out and share your talents with others!

I could not ask for more

2009-07-21T13:03:00.008-05:00

Yesterday was a monumental day for Brett & I. We closed on our very first house!! It was very exciting and something we'd been waiting for for quite some time now. Everyone had made "closing" sound like such a big deal. However it was a little anti-climactic when we finished signing all the paperwork. When I put the pen down, I almost expected people to pop out of the woodwork and start cheering for us, chanting our names, dancing a choreographed jig. Sadly, none of that happened.

But what did happen is that hours later, we were given keys to our very own HOME, giant Mickey Mouse keys no less. Not being able to contain our excitement, we started moving in last night and spent our first night there.

While in the car on our way to the new house, a song came on the radio and I couldn't help but think it really did apply to us. Edwin McCain's song, "I could not ask for more" is a little cheesy and it's really more of a love song, but it captured how I felt last night and brought a tear to my eye. Brett and I are so blessed to be so young and already buying a home. We are blessed to have each other, to have jobs we love and we should not take any of it for granted!!

Here are the lyrics:

Lying here with you, Listening to the rain,

Smiling just to see, The smile upon your face,

These are the moments, I thank God that I'm alive,

These are the moments, I'll remember all my life,

I found all I've waited for, And I could not ask for more.

Looking in your eyes, Seeing all I need,

Everything you are, Is everything to me,

These are the moments, I know heaven must exist,

These are the moments, I know all I need is this,

I have all I've waited for, And I could not ask for more.

Chorus:I could not ask for more than this time together,

I could not ask for more than this time with you,

Every prayer has been answered,

Every dream I have's come true,

Yeah right here in this moment, Is right where I'm meant to be,

Here with you, Here with me. . .

These are the moments, I thank God that I'm alive,

These are the moments, I'll remember all my life,

I've got all I've waited for,And I could not ask for more. . .

Good song....like I said, a little cheesy, but still true!!

In closing, here are some of my favorite things about our new house:

-We have water pressure!

-Our fan has a remote control.

-There is a TV in the kitchen

-Our walk-in closet is no longer a long dungeon but a real walk-in closet!

-There is not a possum (that we know of) living with us.

Of course I could keep going, but you get the point. We are LOVING our new house and can't wait to show it off once all the boxes are unpacked!

Concert in the Gardens

2009-07-09T16:50:00.001-05:00

Here's a cute picture of Brett and I.....before I got the black eye!!

Red, White and Blue...

2009-07-09T13:43:00.005-05:00

4th of July was a lot of fun for Brett and I. We spent time with family and friends, saw some great fireworks, and even managed to relax a little.

However, take a look at my 4th of July souvenier from the lake. A boy, who will remain nameless (since I don't know his name) decided it would be fun to throw a lit firework up into the night sky. Well, it almost landed right on my head!! While trying to run out of the way, I came face to face with a metal pole. Here is the result:

It looked worse in person and has started turning all kinds of fun shades and colors! Currently it's taken on a yellow hue to match the yellow shirt I am wearing. So fun!

I hope everyone else had a much safer 4th of July!

Contentment vs. Complacency

2009-07-09T09:17:00.014-05:00

Two weeks ago we heard a great sermon at church. It was about the importance of being content with what you have and focusing on God instead of material things. It was such a good message and it really hit me hard. It applies to so many areas of our life.

Most of us live our lives always wanting something bigger and better. Nothing is ever good enough. I know I'm guilty of this at times. I think it is partly due to my selfish greed but also a result of my generation. We've been told to never settle. We've convinced ourselves that we are entitled to everything under the sun. We live in such a fast-paced world that we can't just slow down to enjoy what we have, we have to go-go-go and figure out how we will do more, get more, be more, etc.

I don't want to live my life like that. I want to be grateful for all the blessings in my life. I do have so much to be thankful for. We all do. But, I don't want to sit back and become complacent with myself either. So, how do you improve yourself without taking it too far?

In my mind, there is a fine line between being content and being complacent. Let me explain: I recently had my yearly review at work. It went well and I received a raise. All in all I am very content with my job. For the most part I enjoy what I do, the people I work with, the company I work for. However, does that mean I just continue doing what I'm doing for the next 5 years?

This week I heard about a future opening in our company's Communications group. My ears immediately perked up. Obviously, I have an interest in communications since I majored in journalism and minored in English. But to this day, I have yet to find a job where I can put that degree to good use. At times it is quite frustrating! I enjoy writing and using my creativity. I would like to have a job that allows me to do both. So what do I do? I am content with my job but do not want to be complacent and let a great opportunity pass me by...it's quite the delima!

It's been a while...

2009-06-15T08:57:00.010-05:00

It's been so long since my last post. Let me try to catch up on all that has happened. I can NOT believe that it is already July!

May was full of family birthdays! And at the end of the month, I hit the quarter of a century mark....the big 25! Exciting! My friend Whitney and I share a birthday so naturally we wanted to celebrate together. We went out in Dallas on our birthday and then all drove out the next morning to our friend Shannon's lakehouse. We had alot of fun!

June was full of wonderful weddings of our friends and family, more birthday celebrations, news that some of our dear friends are having a baby and a little house hunting thrown in when we could find the time.

Now that it is July I am happy to announce that we have found a home! We are so excited about our first house. If all goes according to plan (and we hope it does...although you never know) we will close July 20th and move in the following weekend! YAY!

Here's a sneak peek for those dying to see it!

The house is only 2 miles from the house we live in now so we will still be in the same general area of town. We are still right off of I-30 and close to Camp Bowie. I can't wait for everyone to come see it!!

So currently we are trying to get everything taken care of so that we can close in 20 days. We've started packing up our things in preparation for our new home. Moving is so much fun!

That - in a nutshell is what we have been up to over the last few months. I'm sorry I have been a bad blogger. I will try to do better!

p.s. RIP Michael Jackson, King of Pop. You will be missed but never forgotten! Your music lives on!!

What's the past tense of "When Pigs Fly"

2009-04-30T10:34:00.005-05:00

The answer: Swine Flu

It's got everyone in a tizzy....but what is the real danger? I'm sure I'm not taking the necessary precautions but I'm just not that worried about getting the pig flu.

I love pigs - pork that is! And the thought of them taking pork off the shelves has me worried!! We had yummy BLT's for dinner last night and we are doing just fine!

Pork is the other white meat and today, in honor of our current situation I think I'll cook a pork product for dinner!

YUM YUM!!

Answered Prayers

2009-04-28T13:31:00.011-05:00

Thank you to all of our friends and family who have been praying for Brett's grandmother for the last week. Her open-heart surgery was a success and she is out of the hospital! She got to go home yesterday and I know she was ready to be back home! It is a HUGE answer to prayer. Please continue to keep praying for her speedy recovery as well. We love you Grandma!

Two weekends ago Brett & I attended a friends wedding - congrats to the Midkiffs! - in Midland. It was so nice to be home even if just for the weekend. We got to go see my granddad and aunt & uncle in Andrews on Saturday. It was good to see everyone! Hopefully we will be back in West Texas sooner rather than later!

These pictures are from the wedding.....

In other news, I would like to let everyone know that I will be creating a spin-off blog in the near future. I haven't finalized the details but I can tell you that you will definitely want to read it! I plan to have my own blog for random (surprise, surprise) topics, ranting about politics and sharing my personal thoughts. So stay tuned. Once I have it created, I'll let you know where to find it!

And fear not, this blog, B+M, isn't going anywhere. We will still be posting things here to keep you updated on Brett & I. Oh - and feel free to add a comment to our posts or add yourself as a "follower" so I know that someone out there is reading what I write! I'd hate for all my wise words to go un-read!

Give us pictures!

2009-04-22T13:30:00.004-05:00

The public wants pictures.....so pictures I will post. This is the only one I have for now. But, there will be more to come! Aren't we a cute couple?!?! I think so! : )

Deep thoughts...

2009-04-22T12:41:00.008-05:00

*This blog post contains confidential copyrighted information. The reproduction and or distribution of the information here within is strictly prohibited. *

What if they made Fabreze for people? I may sound crazy but go with me here - I just might be on to something good! Instead of spraying it on your clothing and furniture, you sprayed it on your skin and hair. Not sure you would use it, here are some examples when it would come in handy:

-Went to a smokey place last night and don't want people to know about it the next day - Just Fabreze it!

-Were you outside for a period of time and now smell like outside? - Fabreze it!

-Did you wake up late and run out of time for a shower? - Fabreze it!

-Did you forget to wash your hair? - Fabreze it!

The great thing about my invention would be that it wouldn't necessarily have a smell. It would just eliminate any unwanted smells. It wouldn't be overwhelming like perfume or body fantasy. Nothing is worse than riding the elevator with "that person" who either has bathed in some sort of flowery Eu De Perfume crap or smells so bad that you wish they had!

I sat outside to read for an hour on my lunch break and came back in smelling a little musty! The combo of dirt + sweat = you need fabreze for the skin!

What a handy invention I've come up with!! Now, I just need to think of a unique product name. How about....Skinbreze, Epibreze? I dunno if that has the ring I was looking for. I'll keep brainstorming! Please let me know if you have input or suggestions - or if you want to tell me how BRILLIANT I AM!

Give it some time before it hits the shelves of grocery stores everywhere - but I think I'm on to something!

On another note: Happy Administrative Professionals Day to those lucky people out there that get to make people's coffee and copies at work each day! Technically, I'm not an admin but I did get a Starbucks from my former boss today, so I'll go with it!

Crown of Thorns

2009-04-21T10:57:00.015-05:00

Instead of wearing a crown of jewels for the next year, it looks like beauty pageant contestant, Miss California Carrie Prejean will be wearing a crown of thorns. She is being criticized for being honest, giving her opinion, and opposing gay marriage. Oh the horror!!!!

I say, "You Go Girl!"

My respect for her has nothing to do with the fact that I personally agree with her, wait, ok maybe it does have a little to do with that. But more importantly, I support her, because she has convictions, and in front of the world and the most well-known flaming homosexual (Perez Hilton) of our time, she stuck to her guns. In a day and age where everyone thinks everything has to be P.C. - she took a risk and spoke her mind. How rare that is!

Had she supported gay marriage - nobody would have batted an eyelash. Outraged Christians, who follow the word of the Bible, would have been silenced. This story would have never made the news. Interesting isn't it?

We live in an America dominated by liberals. They say we should have the "right to choose." They want "equal rights" and they claim to believe in "free speech." Sounds fair, but don't be confused, what they really mean is that it's only ok if you believe what they believe. If you don't, they will make sure to make you pay!

Don't agree with me? Ok, let's find another example: John Ziegler, creator of the film, "Media Malpractice" was arrested yesterday at USC for standing outside of the building where Katie Couric was receiving an honor for "journalism excellence" for her Sarah Palin interview. John wasn't loudly protesting or being violent but he was arrested just the same. Why is that? Because he doesn't buy in to the liberal hoopla. He has a problem with the way the media was allowed to destroy Sarah Palin and worship Obama throughout the election. He thinks there should have been equal praise and criticism for both sides. He doesn't agree with how things played out. And quite frankly, neither do I!!

What happened to honest, unbiased reporting? What happened to neutral journalists that reported the facts, and didn't use slanted language and wouldn't dream of giving their personal opinion in a report? Those days are long gone. I graduated only 3 years ago and already, the ideals I was taught in my News writing class have been lost by the media. It really is a shame!

You can read more about John Ziegler's arrest here: http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jziegler/2009/04/20/the-truth-about-my-arrest-at-usc/

Don't even get me started on society today! I am so frustrated with the media and the way they have brainwashed America. We've lost our values as a country and in my opinion, a country with no morals cannot be strong! The ole US of A needs to find their moral compass and get back on track!

I've lost a lot of respect for those in the media. Not just the reporters, but everyone on TV that feels it is their duty to promote their personal agenda. David Letterman - my parents were right! Every joke you make is still about Bush. Heaven forbid you mock the current president. Why aren't the rules the same now that Obama is president? What a double standard!

To those out there who stand up for what they believe in - whether I agree with you or not - I tip my hat! For those of you I do agree with - I double tip my hat! If we all keep doing what is right, not what is popular, maybe we can make a difference. I sure hope so!

2009-04-16T16:05:00.003-05:00

Go Rangers!!

2009-04-16T15:43:00.005-05:00

A little over two weeks ago, Brett & I attended Opening Day of the Rangers and had a blast! We both took the day off of work and went out to tailgate before the game started at 1. It was just the two of us, but we still managed to have a good time, roasting hotdogs on our mini bbq grill, and trying to stay out of the cold wind! Our seats were great but in the shade so after 3 innings of shivering, we moved down to some open seats in the sun. It was a great day for baseball!

The Rangers had a great first game. We must have been good luck! However, since then our Rangers have not been doing so hot. They finally broke a 5 game losing streak last night! I'm still trying to decide who my favorite player is. I started out thinking it would be Josh Hamilton (since I've read his book and think very highly of him) but now I'm not so sure. Last night, Ian Kinsler hit for the cycle! What a stud!!

For those who don't know what hitting for the cycle means, click here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitting_for_the_cycle

I really hope the Rangers can keep winning and put that losing streak far far behind them!

If you think you're weird..

2009-04-16T14:46:00.011-05:00

Just in case you think YOU'RE weird, trust me you aren't....unless of course you are like the 40 other "Objective Sexuals" in the world that claim to be in love with inanimate objects. That's right, I'm talking about the lady who married, yes MARRIED, the Eiffel Tower. Her name....wait for it....is none other than: Erika La Tour Eiffel.

I mean are these people serious?!?! Sadly, they are. And because our media loves to give attention to any freak willing to share their story, these weirdos are getting attention for being completely INSANE! You can read about Erika here: http://digg.com/d1SpGe

This is from Topix.com on the subject of Objective Sexuals

Objective Sexuals - A new kind of sexual orientation? "They feel an innate connection to objects. It comes perfectly normal to them to connect on various levels, emotional, spiritual and also physical for some."? We all see beauty objects, such as the symmetry and sleekness of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or the the powerful history in the once-standing Berlin Wall.

We all see beauty objects, such as the symmetry and sleekness of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or the the powerful history in the once-standing Berlin Wall.
Erika Eiffel during her commitment ceremony with the Eiffel Tower two years ago. She is attracted to inanimate objects and changed her name to reflect her bond with the Paris landmark.

For one woman, the intense feeling that inanimate objects can inspire goes much deeper and becomes something more like true love.

"The Berlin Wall is a masterpiece. I can feel how much he yearns to be loved," Erika Eiffel said.
Her love of the Eiffel Tower is somewhat recent, and two years ago the San Francisco woman had a commitment ceremony and changed her name to reflect the bond.

"I thought everyone had a connection to objects in one way or the other. It really wasn't until I saw that they were dating each other and I was dating a bridge, that I was different. I just went to school and pretended I was like everybody else," Eiffel said. Her obsession has also led to ridicule by peers, abandonment by her family and a discharge from the Air Force. But she said she is fulfilled by her unusual love. "I will tell you that I know love is being reciprocated," Eiffel said. "I'm happy, I'm not hurting anyone, I'm not hurting myself, I'm not being held back. I love my life."

This guy here (also weird) has a thing for the Empire State Building....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFeFX5ptseA

They say most of these "objective sexuals" have Asperger's syndrome which is characterized as a disorder that affects a person's social, emotional and communication skills. So when they can't get a date with another human, they turn to objects??!?! REALLY???? I just don't get it!

I trust I haven't offended anyone out there reading this. But if I have, please seek help. If you love something that cannot talk or produce thoughts of any kind, then you might have a problem. Nope, I take that back, you DO have a problem!

Just when you think it can't get any weirder out there in the world, you hear about people like this! It would be funny if it weren't so sad!

p.s. I didn't just stumble upon this topic. They were discussing it today on the "Ticket" - a sports talk radio station that Brett and I listen to.

Write now, not later

2009-04-16T08:05:00.007-05:00

"I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart."

- Anne Frank

I found this quote last night in a book about journaling. Although I don't know how much I truly have "buried deep in my heart," I do have a lot to say and occasionaly a deep thought will arise. Thus, my reason for blogging. I can't help but wonder: If Anne Frank were alive today, would she have a blog? Hmmm.....see, I told you I have deep thoughts!

Last night Aubrey and I held our first official writing club (insert cool name we come up with for our club here) at Borders. We both enjoy writing and want to become more disciplined by developing a routine for writing and completing excercises. We are both really excited to see where this leads! Before we left our gathering, we gave ourselves homework and set a goal for ourselves.

Our homework topic: Secrets

The excercise: Write 3 different monolouges or paragraphs where each character reveals a secret. Write from three different age perspectives: a young child, an adult, and an elderly person. Try to capture the voice of the character through realistic dialog.

Perhaps I'll post our work when we've completed this excercise. I'll keep you posted on our progress!!

I started reading a new book this week, My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult. I would highly reccommend it to anyone looking for a great read! Her writing has been inspirational for me. She is extremely talented at creating lovable characters, challenging situations, and tugging at the heartstrings. It's a true page turner! I'm already on page 200 (which is good for me since I'm notorious for starting a book and leaving it half-read) and hope to finish it by the end of this coming weekend! While looking on the author's website, I just saw that they are turning the book into a movie! Of course I have mixed emotions about this. I love when they turn really good books into movies but then I hate it when the movie turns out to be complete RUBBISH! (HA, am I suddenly English now?)

Let's look at some examples:

In Her Shoes - Great book...not so great movie

Secret Life of Bees - Amazing book....but the movie left something to be desired

Devil Wears Prada - Good book and equally good movie

The Notebook - Both made me cry like a baby!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (don't laugh) - I loved both of those!

So you see, it's so hit or miss with books turned into movies. Naturally, I'm nervous that they will ruin what could be a great movie. Cameron Diaz is set to play the mother in the movie. Although she is not what I envisioned in my head, I think she has the talent to pull it off. But will she? The movie comes out in June......so we just have to wait until then!

C is for Count Your Blessings not your Problems

2009-04-02T10:48:00.019-05:00

Yesterday marked the first day of April, better known to some as "April Fool's Day." For a few weeks now I had suspected Brett would have something up his sleeve for me. So yesterday, I woke up on "high alert" and went into the day prepared for a prank....a prank that never came.

Instead came the news that Brett's work had another round of layoffs. In addition, those who survived the layoff, Brett included, would be taking an immediate pay-cut. Of course I thought this was part of Brett's master plan to trick me, so I went through the day hoping and praying that it was all a joke. Afterall, yesterday was the day we planned to make a decision about a house we had been interested in. Yesterday was the day all our dreams were going to come true! Or so I thought....

I later confirmed that Brett had planned no joke. It had all been orchistrated in my head. (That happens alot with me. I have a vivid imagination. My mind creates quite a bit of imaginary drama. A good imagination works well in some situations....but not this one.)

It's funny how God has a way of putting us right in our place when we need it most. Sometimes the most important lessons in life are very hard to swallow. I had everything so perfectly worked out in my head....until God threw a kink in my plan. How rude! Why did he ruin my plan?

And then I slowed down long enough to think: Hmmm.....What if my plan isn't God's plan? Perhaps he has a better plan! Could it be????

Well of course I know that that is the case!! Obviously, this house, at this time, is not right for us. Does it make my disappointment go away magically? Well no, it doesn't. But do I know that there is a reason for everything that happens? Yes, I do! And I fully believe that if we give it to God, he will make sure that we are blessed far beyond our imagination!

In the mean time should we sit around in wallow in our disappointment? Of course not! I was about to lick the stamps on the invitations to my pity party when Brett gave me quite the wakeup call. I respect him more than ever now because of it - he is very wise! He told me that we can't let this situation get us down. Being upset won't do any good. And he is ABSOLUTELY right.

Character is developed by our reactions to situations in our life. I am proud of Brett's character and how he has dealt with his disappointment. I'm not so proud of my own behavior. I have some work to do. But, I'm lucky to have such a wonderful teacher, who can show me the error of my ways.

I love a good quote - here's two:

“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

“We have no right to ask when a sorrow comes, 'Why did this happen to me?' unless we ask the same question for every joy that comes our way.”

So after a hard day, Brett and I went running and then indulged in a Molten Chocolate Cake - grateful that we have legs to run on and grateful that we have enough money to buy ourselves a treat!

Looking to the future we plan to wait to buy a house, continue to save, and pray for patience. We need to slow down enough to enjoy the life we have now, the things we have now, the people in our lives now. We are truly blessed and we can't lose sight of that! So instead of numberng my problems I will be counting my blessings. I'm not saying it's always easy but I encourage everyone to do it! It could always be worse!

B is for Basketball

2009-03-31T08:18:00.004-05:00

So it's March Madness...or whatever and I'm trying to care. I really am! I filled out a bracket for the tournament and everything. But my heart just isn't in it! I have learned to love college football but I can't get into the basketball. Sorry!!

However, I have decided I am going to turn my focus to the pro world. After watching a 60 minutes interview with Lebron James, Brett and I have both decided we are BIG fans. He is really a great guy. And he's only 25!!! Already he is an inspiration to his team and all other athletes. He not only leads on the field (just kidding, I know it's a court) but also in the real world. He is building a successful empire worth millions and he's not stopping there. His goal is to be the first billionaire athlete! WOW!

Brett has always talked about how much he respects Lebron for handling the fame he's earned so well. Despite the temptations he grew up with in Akron as well as the temptation that came when his first paycheck hit his bank account, he has stayed on the straight and narrow. He is a respectable guy! I wish all athletes would model themselves after him.

In his 60 minutes interview he said something that we thought was profound: "You can't be afraid to fail, It's the only way you succeed -- you're not going to succeed all the time, and I know that. You have to be able to accept failure to get better. You can't be afraid to fail."

I think most successful people would agree with this statement. In life, we can't let fear keep us from taking risks. Afterall, most fear comes from Satan anyway because he doesn't want us to succeed. He doesn't even want us to try!

For Brett & I, our most recent fear has been to buy or not buy a house and all the variables that go along with that. We want a home of our own but it is a HUGE decision that we don't want to take lightly! What if we buy the wrong house? What if we lose our jobs? What if, what if, what if!?! It gets a little stressful. However, the bottom line is that we can sit back, and be too fearful to take the risk of buying a home or we can go for it and see what happens! Either way, we're in it together and will figure it out as we go.

In basketball terms that means we can either sit it out (life) on the bench or we can get out there and play ball! Thanks Lebron for the inspiration! You've turned me into a Cavaliers fan. And I'll be rooting for your team to win the championship this year! I still know very little about the team or any of the other players, so bear with me as I research further. I'm going to figure out exactly what it means to be a Cavalier fan. Until then, Go Cavs!!

A is for Aardvark

2009-03-30T08:41:00.004-05:00

Friday evening we got our fill of some great local musical talent. First we went to the Art Gallery Cafe to watch Brett's boss's band - The Usual Suspects. They are a cover band and they play a variety of hits, old and new. They sure know how to jam! While there, Brett and I had some coffee and enjoyed the show. Had our evening ended there, we would have been content.

But wait, there's more! After one final song....(GLORIA! G-L-O-R-I-A!) including full audience participation and even a little cowbell, we headed over to the Aardvark to enjoy a few more concert performances.

Brett introduced me to Green River Ordinance (you should check them out! http://www.greenriverordinance.com/ ) a few years ago and we have been fans ever since. We first saw them in Lubbock and then last year they played at Central Market and we were hooked again. They just got signed to Virgin Records and Friday night was their CD release party at a little place called the Aardvark. We thought it would be fun to go and support them. They did not disappoint. It was a great concert. They played a few of their older, more familiar songs and then they introduced us to some new ones. I can't wait to get my hands on their new CD. I really like it! I expect them to do really well in the future. That's why I'm saving our ticket stubs. Then I can prove that I was a fan before it was really cool to be a fan. Hurry and you can too!

The opening band for GRO (that's what the cool kids call them because who has time to say Green River Ordinance??) was also really good and I think they will also be big stars some day! Their band, The Campaign, is similar to GRO. They have some really good songs - you should also check them out! ( http://www.myspace.com/thecampaignmusic ) You can buy their EP album on Itunes, which is pretty cool!

All in all, Friday was a great start to the weekend! We had a great time!

First things first

2009-03-30T08:29:00.003-05:00

Brett and I have decided to start a blog to keep our friends and family updated on all our latest adventures! You may have thought you knew us before...but just wait. You're about to find out about the real Brett and Molly. Welcome to our B+M Blog. We hope you enjoy!