Refreshed

This past weekend, I was privileged to go to a wonderful BSF Retreat in Dallas. Early Friday morning, about 16 women in our class boarded a spacious bus and we took a 5 hour drive north to our destination, the Adams Mark Hotel (WOW, what a treat!)

Though the trip was a bit rainy and muggy, we arrived excited, and amazed at all the people there. . . 3,000 of us BSF leaders for the conference! Jane (my co-leader) and I shared a room which faced the city and all those glorious skyscrapers, with the DART below.

Jean Nystrand, the executive director of BSF, taught through the book of Isaiah - very enriching and insightful! In between lectures, we enjoyed delicious meals, coffee breaks (sigh, I DID HAVE TO HAVE CAFFIENE, MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT!), and lots of fellowshipping with other Christians - praise the Lord for three 'thousand tongues to sing, Thy great Redeemer's praise. . . '!!!

Perhaps many of you may not know, but my involvement with BSF came at a time when I was feeling a need for connection to other women. I really yearned to be deeper in the Word. Haven and I had just moved to San Antonio at the time, and I was eager to join after my mom had encouraged me to go to BSF. I actually started going in the middle of the Genesis study, and it has blessed me ever since. Last year, at the beginning of the Romans study, I was asked to be a part of the leadership - what an honor. This is my first year of being a Children's Leader, something that seemed so overwhelming at first, but I am amazed at God's equipping! I feel so blessed that I can share the opportunity to teach 11 jr. high students with my co-leader!

The most precious thing to me about being in BSF is that I am the third generation in my family to be involved in BSF. A. Wetherell Johnson, the originator of BSF, began to lead a tiny class of women in Oakland, Ca., more than 50 years ago . . . my grandmother came to be a part of that class! At the retreat, they had prepared a special slide presentation of the history of BSF - I think I saw my grandmother in one of the photos they flashed!

My mother was a part of BSF for a while when she was younger - I think that my brother, sister and I were in the children's program at some point. . .

The Headquarters are actually located here, in San Antonio - on a gorgeous piece of land on the northside. . .

From the retreat - I just feel so refreshed and have a new perspective. Sometimes, I get so discouraged about the seemingly impactless efforts we make - but God really is at work through His people, and it is such a blessing to be able to serve Him through this outlet.

New Jersey

Haven took me here for our anniversary weekend-

it was a peaceful and quiet rambling victorian, 3 blocks from the Atlantic. It was about 2 hours from PA, and about an hour from New York city. Coming on an 'off season' time, we had the place pretty much all to ourselves :) My only regret was not taking enough pictures - the website is pretty neat though.

Bed

Sitting Room / Parlour

and, of course, Breakfast! :)

(he was laughing at me for taking pictures of our food - hey, can I help it? It was LOVELY!)

More to come . . .

Forecast - these grey clouds are gonna clear, baby

Its a drizzly day here. I just finished one last sip of a cranberry/sprite concoction flooded with crushed ice. Nothing hits the spot like a chilled and refreshingly juicy drink.

I can't really say that I have had a productive morning. Then again, I have not been lazy either. I had to get up before the sun to go to a leader's meeting and fellowship for BSF. . . it was a big mistake not to make coffee before I left the house. For 3 1/2 hours, I struggled to stay awake through singing, praying, training, and sharing time. I have a tendency to overestimate my energy levels, apparently. I think that I also forget that I am NOT in college anymore, and late-nite studying is not an option for me anymore.

You live and learn, I guess.


Anyway, I am giddy . . .

My hubby is flying me out to see him next weekend and I am so excited. He has a way of always surprising me even if I know what the plan is. :) I know we are going to have a day to spend in New York, and we'll probably be staying in New Jersey. Other than that, I am kind of clueless. What a fun way to spend our anniversary! Together!!!

Girl, put your records on!

(To quote m'dear Corrine Bailey Rae)

More like 'Girl, put your bloggin' on!'

Excuse my absence. Excuse this spurt of random-ness. I guess that I am just so happy to be sitting down and actually blogging again, that I have lost my mind

(what else is new, and hey, no comments from my little peanut gallery on that ;) - yes, I mean you, WILL & JULIA) ;0) (-:

Well, here's the what's up 'round here. . . Haven is going to be leaving for Pennsylvania Monday morning (or, perhaps, late Sunday night). This project is a big cahoona - its actually the Hershey's cocoa plant that they'll be working on :) -
Hmm, maybe I can wrangle some free chocolate out of the deal (I mean, after all, I am giving up my hubby for several weeks. . . ;)

We enjoyed spending some of the fruits of Haven's labor this week, with upgrading our ancient cellphones to new, sleek ones. . . & they are camera phones :) and yes, we finally got text messaging! WOHOO. Oh, and mine is pink ;)

Okay, so we just got back from seeing the Simpsons movie - pretty silly stuff. My DH was pretty amazed at all the new and funny lines. You'd think that things with the Simpsons would get a little stale after all these years, but that Matt Groening is kind of a genius at putting out hilarious material.

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new BSF year in the book of Matthew. Training is going to be all morning, and then we start our class the Tuesday after Labor Day - I am going to be leading in the Children's ministry this year, which is really exciting & altogether overwhelming at the same time. . . I was able to rearrange my work schedule a little bit to get a couple of hours off in the middle of each day to be able to prepare. I am encouraged at how God covers a fretful soul with peace!

Someday I will get my camera from my parents - here's a little snap of us from our trip :)

Black and Silver . . . Updated

Game 1: IN THE BAG!!!

Summer Nights

The past two weekends we have been having fun around downtown San Antonio. Long weekdays sort of lend themselves to a desire for relaxing rambles down at the riverwalk ;) And, last night, we enjoyed a night of Shakespeare, under the stars for the 'Taming of the Shrew'.

(You can see production photos here)

These are pics from the riverwalk. We did a little adventuring in a different section, visiting the new Aztec theater. It was so cool that we decided that we need to go back and actually see a movie there someday :)

A building we both love (can never remember the name!)

Just a little dark

A parade of lights

Tuck in

Last night was a messy night. Did you read the news about the insane tornado that ripped through parts of Texas last night?

We were lucky to not have the storm get that worse in this neck of the woods. It was a wild night here though. Hail, violent winds, and rain in unmerciful torrents. At one point, I grabbed the dog and my cellphone and we huddled in the 1/2 bath downstairs. 4 hours later, It finally passed over and I managed to squeeze in 2+ hours of sleep.

So, I should be sleeping. I was watching a really stupid movie (Marie Antoinette) and eating some dark chocolate. Right as I turned down the lights and my bed covers, a lark starting singing loudly outside the window. . . at midnight.

Good grief - maybe its singing lullabies to restless babies. I dunno. I am going to try this sleep thing again though. Cheers.

Can I take a vacation again? ;)

My plane rolled in to San Antonio last night, in the late hours. I was thankful that I had two family men to pick me up and make sure everything was kosher in my house before they left.
Haven had to stay in Ohio till Wednesday for the C-5 project at Wright-Patt AFB. Its kind of lonely here :(

We had such a wonderful time in Ohioland :)

Thank you Stephen and Rachel if you are reading this :)

*I adore that nephew of mine - he's as cute as a button - no, wait, HE's WAY CUTER.
We spent most of our time enjoying one another's company and holding the baby.

*We had a great time visiting with 'em Paradiso's too ;) (thanks Kat for the dark chocolate and the doggy treat canister - sweetness in a can ;)
*A quick trip to the Air Force Museum & Young's Dairy capped the trip.


I picked up our poochie 'baby' this morning - he has been a bundle of energy and playfulness and is sooo happy to be in his own big backyard.

I'll confess to you, coming back has been a little daunting- some things with my work have happened while I have been away, and its a bit overwhelming to think through it all. I feel kind of inadequate right now, but God gives strength to the weary.

Amen

* I'll post some pictures in a bit :)

Happiness

I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!!!!!

my best friend is engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOO HOOOOO!!!!!!

An Evening of Lipizzaner Stallions

Last night was positively magical. Bright spotlights, gleaming coats of shimmery white, flowing manes, and artistic footwork. A horse ballet, basically.

The events began in steps of two



And then, of course, steps of three



One more was added, for steps of four







We had some exiting extras




And masterful 'airs'







A Tribute to the Calvary






Coats of Red and Coats of White



Top Hats and glitter, adorning Andulusians









Truly, a night to remember



Go to The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions Site for their history and beautiful movements.