I know I haven't updated my blog in many, many months. When I had gone to post in early March, I realized I had reached the quota of pictures I was able to post. Instead of doing something to fix it, I simply ignored my blog. Well after several people wondering if I would continue my blog, I fixed the problem and figured there was no better time to post than my annual "Thanksgiving A-Z" post.
2009 has been a good year, and that is much to be thankful for!
A: Airplanes:
I lost track of the number of different trips I took through the year - flying to NC for Tully's ordination, going to Houston a few times for Curisllo and Curisllo training, a mission trip to Belize, a trip to Minnesota to be in Sarah's wedding, my Company of New Pastor's trip to California, a week of vacation in NC, and a another flight or two I'm sure I'm missing. I'm thankful though being so far away from friends and family for being able to get to either coast in 3 hours (or to Belize in just 3 hours), and to being able to stay connected to the people and places I love!
B: Bearian:
When Becca and I were working together at San Marino Community Church, we were given the nickname Bearian (Becca + Marian = Bearian). And it's been fun to see her throughout the year at various events. But, it's been fun to still have opportunities to be a team, and do ministry together even though we live so far apart. We staffed a Houston Presbyterian Cursillo weekend together in April, and then in November she came out to Texas to be one of the speakers for our Disciple Now (a youth retreat) weekend. After serving in ministry together for three years, it's great to be able to do that again.
Becca and I in Palacios Texas during a Cursillo event in April:
The two of us after a 10k race:C: Company of New Pastors:
When I signed up to a be a part of the Company of New Pastors program in seminary, I knew I was signing up for a six year commitment that involved daily Scripture readings. The first two years we met monthly with others from our seminary, and then when we graduated we were placed in regional groups and now we meet once a year. This past year we met at Malibu, and spent most of our time discussing the two books we had been assigned to read. Our time of study and discussion was good and enlightening, but the real blessing of the trip is just the time together - with those who are also relatively new to ministry and our pastor mentors.
Our group at the end of our meeting this year:

Jill (a fellow Fuller grad who is working in Austin, TX) and Mary (one of our pastor mentors) on the last day of the retreat:
D: Drapes:
In order to texture/paint the rooms in my new house, I had taken down the blinds leaving nothing over the windows. As a temporary fix, I put up sheets for privacy, but thankful they didn't need to stay up too long. My mom and her friend Mary came out from North Carolina equipped and ready to make curtains and drapes for the house. Friday we drove all over Fort Worth and Dallas buying fabric, and then Saturday, Sunday, and Monday they sewed. My job was simply to hang the curtains and buy food. But by the end of the four days my house looked completely different - it looked wonderful!
Half of the living room windows:
The drape makers hard at work: E: Engineers:
At the end of seminary, I was very used to mainly being around other seminary students. But as I have graduated from seminary it's been fun to get to know people who are involved in other professions. At some point this year though I realized that a good number of the people I spend time with are either engineers or retired engineers. The one I see on the most regular basis would be my roommate, Michelle, but there are quite a few others. And I am very thankful for each of them and the blessing they are in my life.
Michelle and I before the Hotter than Hell bike race in August:
One of the other (retired) engineers in my life that I see the most often is Homer. Homer and his wife Joan are members at FPCA, and have been a huge blessing to me during my time in Arlington:

F: Family:
I am very thankful for my family, and for all the time we have had together this year: for the two trips I was able to make to NC (one for vacation and one for Tully's ordination), for my parent's 3 trips out to Texas (1 of them together, and two of them was just my mom, one for my surgery and one for drape making chaos!). I'm looking forward to spending Christmas in North Carolina, and hoping to see more of my extended family, and my Westminster family then too.
My dad and I before a recent triathlon:
My mom and I shopping for pants (which we did not buy):

G: Generous Friends:
My house wouldn't be as far along (it's not quite done, but it's close) as it is now if weren't for the amazing generosity of people who helped texture, paint, line drawers, build mantles, mow lawns, and do so many other things I can't even begin to list them all. And I wouldn't be as far along if it weren't for all the people who helped cook me meals, give me rides, and care for me after my recent surgery. Thank you!
Michelle, Suzie, and Keelan hard at work painting:
Lew working on texturing over wallpaper:
Rob helping me figure out how to scrape off the not so pretty wall paper border:
Scot helping me pain my kitchen blue:
My brand new fireplace and handmade mantle (thanks to Joe!):

H: House:
Though the closing process was a little more chaotic than I had originally hoped, I did eventually close and I love my house. It's a huge blessing to be out of apartments and in my very own house.
I: "It is Well:"
Music has always been a big part of my faith journey. Recently we have started singing a new song at our Sunday evening 6:33 service - it is Todd Field's rendition of "It is Well." Ever since I first heard it, the song spoke to me and I loved it:
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well, it is well
through the storm, I am held
It is well, it is well with my soul
My sin O the bliss
Of this glorious, glorious thought
That my sin not in part but the whole
Was nailed to the cross
And I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul
It is well, it is well
through the storm, I am held
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well, it is well
God has won, Christ prevailed
It is well, it is well with my soul
O Lord, Lord, haste the day
When my faith, this blind faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
And the trumpet shall resound
And the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul
It is well, it is well
through the storm, I am held
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well, it is well
God has won, Christ prevailed
It is well, it is well with my soul
J: Journal:
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I would give thanks for my Thankfulness journal. A few years ago, my friend Sarah gave me a journal with the instructions of writing down each week the top five things I'm thankful for. When I moved to Texas it got packed in a box, stuck on a shelf, and I never used it much. But when I moved into my house I rediscovered it. And it has been a tremendous blessing these past few months to make a regular discipline of writing down the things I am thankful for.
K: Keelan:
The week I closed on my house, Keelan came out to help me texture/paint/clean. At one point, Keelan said, "I feel like I'm on a mission trip." We were putting in 12 hour days, eating our meals sitting on the floor with no utensils. But in the midst of it all, we had a blast, and I never would have gotten half of the work done without her!!!!
Keelan found only one good place to sit in order to paint the ceiling above the sink:

A sushi dinner on the floor:


Texturing the living room:

L: Lattes:
I have never been a coffee drinker, but I found myself drinking (and enjoying) quite a few cups of coffee this summer as I was traveling all over on various youth/mission trip. I haven't transitioned to the point where I drink coffee on a regular basis at home (or even on a weekly basis), but much to my surprise I discovered that I actually like lattes.
M: Moises:
If you haven't heard me talk about the miracle of Moises, you can read more about it on
the FPCA missions blog The short version of the story is that while we were in Belize last March, we met a little boy named Moises. He had been run over by a truck in early Jan leaving him with multiple internal injuries. They had done multiple surgeries in Belize, but during the last operation they had been unable to close his abdominal cavity, and the doctor thought he would be dead within a few hours. He was under 30 pounds when we met him, and barely hanging on. His only hope of survival was to get to the States for medical treatment. Led by Tim Tam, missionary of the Word at Work, we began to pray and make phone calls. And it wasn't too long before a hospital in Amarillo, TX agreed to take him and there was a donor who agreed to fly his private jet to Belize to pick up Moises.
The first step was to help Moises gain weight through
TPN. And once he was strong enough, they operated, repaired his internal organs. Now he is a normal, healthy boy, and he is back in Belize with his family. The boy that no one thought would live is alive and well!
Since he was only in Amarillo I was able to see him three separate times while he was in the States, and it truly was a miracle to watch him heal and regain strength over the months.
Moises on the first day we met him in Belize:
Moises on his first day in Amarillo (it happened to have snowed that day):

Moises towards the end of his hospital stay:

N: New Braunfels, TX:
Though I haven't made it down there very much this year due to a busy schedule, I love knowing that New Braunfels and some of my dearest friends are only a four hour trip down the road. Michelle and I traveled down there for the 4th of July weekend to go tubing and get some much needed rest and relaxation. It truly was a gift to be able to enjoy the hill country, the river, and to catch up with Sharon.
Michelle and I tubing the river:

Sharon and I at dinner over the 4th of July weekend:
O: Ordination Services:
It is been a joy this year to be able to attend various different ordination services - being a part of Tully's ordination service as he was ordained to be a Minister of the Word and Sacrament, to see my roommate Michelle be ordained as a deacon, to be present at Westminster Presbyterian in Durham when they were ordaining the new officers, and to see a fellow Company of New Pastors member being ordained during my trip out to California.
One of my favorite memories from my ordination service was when everyone who had previously been ordained came up to lay hands on me and pray. And it is now a true privilege to be able to be a part of that at ordination services.
Tully and I with part of the past and present Westminster Durham pastoral staff just before his ordination service:

Tully and I after the service:
Part of our Company of New Pastor's Group after Jolene's ordination service in September:
Nancy and Sarah after Sarah was ordained to be a deacon in August:
P: Presbyterian Cursillo:
Ever since April of 2006, the Houston Presbyterian Cursillo community has been a significant part of my life. And I am never ceased to be amazed at how loving and wonderful that community is.
I loved being able to staff this past April and watch my dear friend Karen moderate the weekend - she did a wonderful job. I love the new friendships I develop each time I staff. But I also love the ongoing relationships that exist outside of Cursillo weekends.
Becca, Jeff, and I were the Spiritual Advisors at Houston Presbyterian Cursillo weekend #55 in April:

The whole staff from HPC #55:
One very cool Cursillo connection from this year - Barbara came up to be our women's retreat speaker this year:
And another blessing - when we were on our October mission trip to Galveston, a few HPCers drove down to have dinner with us in Galveston:

Q: Quality health care:
I had an unexpected health problem this fall that resulted in me needing abdominal surgery. But I am extremely thankful for the surgeons, that everything was able to be fixed, and that I am on the road to recovery!
R: Running and Rock-climbing:
I couldn't decide which of the two is my favorite sport. Running is the sport I do the most often, and I love! I love running daily, I love training for half marathons. I just love the stress relief that is running.
I also love to rock climb, and I wish I was in a place where I could rock climb more frequently. I love the challenge that rock climbing presents and the rush I get from being up on the rock.
Both are great sports.
I've loved doing little 5k fun runs. This is one from last January that I did with Michelle, Rafaela, and Presley:

In February we ran the Cowtown Half Marathon:
Michelle and I after the race:
And one of my favorite things to do when traveling is to just go out on a nice easy run, and explore. Michelle and I enjoyed beautiful sunrises each morning when we were in South Padre when we went out for morning runs:
When the junior high youth went to Colorado, we spent an afternoon rock climbing, which was a ton of fun!
Unfortunately, there aren't any big mountains near here. But fortuntately there is a climbing gym (not quite the same thing, but is good for practice and gets the energy out).
S: Sarah and Charles:
It was a gift and a blessing to be able to attend and be a part of the bridal party at the wedding of Sarah and Charles Kennedy. I had to miss the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner because I had to fly straight from Belize to Minnesota for the wedding, but I am so thankful I didn't have to miss the actual wedding. It has been a privilege to watch the two of them date and fall in love, and to watch the many ways that they care for one another. They are both fabulous people, and together they are an amazing couple!

T: Triathlons:
In February of 2004 I tried a triathlon, but since then have mainly dedicated myself to running. Michelle, my roommate, is very involved in triathlons, and so I figured I'd give them another shot - I love to run, bike, and swim, so why not try them together. I only did two during this past triathlon season but I had a blast. One of them I was able to do in North Carolina, and that was extra special because my parents were able to be there. I don't think my parents have even been able to see me race and so I loved being able to do a race with them there.
Coming in for a finish during my August triathlon in North Carolina:
Michelle during the swim of our triathlon in Amarillo:
At the end of the race in Amarillo:
U: Underwater Cameras:
I rarely ever use film cameras any more, but I have on multiple occasions this year bought single use underwater cameras: to take Fun in the Son (a senior high youth conference) at South Padre Island, Great Escape (a junior high youth conference) in Gunnison, Colorado, and to go tubing on the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, TX.
Michelle snorkeling in South Padre:

Rafting the Taylor River in Gunnison:
Tubing in New Braunfels:
V: Visitors:
Both in my apartment and in my house, I have a guest room and it has gotten plenty of use this year - and I have loved it!!!!
If you want to come and see Texas, please come visit, I would love to have you!
There are quite a few people that we haven't taken pictures of - so these are just a few. Beth from the Word at Work came for a week in October to help us with a presentation we were doing on Belize, and then we just got to spend the weekend hanging out with her.
Becca came in November to help with Disciple Now (and so did Jeremy and Dave):
Erynn and her roommate Jordan came out over their spring break:
There was about a day and a half before I closed on my house when Keelan actually got to rest before I put her to work texturing/painting:
I couldn't get Mary and my mom to stop making drapes long enough to actually pose for a picture:

W: Word at Work:
In March six of us from
First Presbyterian in Arlington joined with a group from
Westminster Presbyterian in Lubbock, TX and traveled down to Belize. There we worked with the Word at Work ministries, a missions organization that is doing amazing things in the country of Belize. We will be sending groups to Belize in March of 2010 and March of 2011. I am thrilled to be continuing our partnership with the Word at Work!
I am thankful too for both Beth and Tim, both of the people who work for the Word at Work.
X: X-mas traditions:
Ok, this is a stretch, but I have a hard time every year thinking of an "x" word.
I am thankful for the Christmas traditions from Durham, NC. I love the way Westminster Presbyterian in Durham does the "festival of lights" at the 8:00 Christmas Eve service. I love the days when all the Dankus and I would pile into the van and drive around and look at Christmas lights. I love opening stockings on Christmas morning with my family. I love spending the day with family, and then going to see the Hatch family in the evening.
I realized though that I am privileged to share in new traditions here in Arlington. They felt funny and foreign at first, but they mean something to this family of faith here. And so they mean something to me now too. I love how excited the Agape alumni are to sing the Hallelujah chorus on Christmas Eve. Last year Michelle and I didn't pile into a van to go look at Christmas lights, but her friend took us up in a plane to 3,000 feet so we could see Christmas lights "from above."
It's good to appreciate the old traditions, and to be able to still keep some of them. And it's also a gift to be able to make new traditions and to be able to be a part of traditions that have been going on for years before I moved to Texas.
Y: Youth:
I love working with the youth here at FPCA. It's been a fun year, and I am very thankful for a job which I love and amazingly fun people.
Trying to make a pyramid after a day of work at the mission trip:

The group during our Disciple Now weekend:

Z: Zany Fun:
Now this one shouldn't come as a shock to anyone who knows me, even slightly....I love to laugh, I love to have fun, so here are a few pictures from your enjoyment (I'm not going to try and explain them all - if you have questions, feel free to ask)!















