Thunder Up, part 2

The Thunder vs Lakers series went to Game 5, played here in OKC, and a lot of our friends ended up going. What a game to go to! Peter & Amanda got tickets to Monday night's game, which meant slumber party with P and J at Laura's house! We were having so much fun, the time flew by! Between making dinner, sending Evan off for a guy's night, feeding the boys, getting pajamas on, and reading books, I didn't even realize how late I was getting them to bed! It was a fairly painless process, and I even got to watch most of the 2nd half with Evan, after putting away groceries and leftovers. Unfortunately, I started getting a headache as the game ended, and it lingered all night and all day Tuesday, which made for an interesting morning...playing in my bed until breakfast.

 

I love having kiddos spend the night every once in a while, a little more than Evan does. It makes me both thankful for time with just Evan right now and gives me confidence that I could do this. Plus, I love these boys!

Thunder Up, part 1

Over the last 2 years, we've jumped on the bandwagon and become OKC Thunder fans! Since then, we've learned a lot about the backgrounds of the players of the Thunder, especially Kevin Durant's story--he's my favorite. Nick Collison is a close 2nd, with Westbrook in 3rd, especially with his improved attitude this season. Evan's favorite is James Harden. For his birthday, I got him this:

We saved up in our Dave Ramsey Entertainment fund to get tickets to the a playoff game on Wednesday--Round 2 Game 2 vs. the Lakers! We went to a playoff game last year against the Memphis Grizzlies, when they did a "Blue Out", but this year when we went they did a "Checkerboard"--the sections alternated blue and white. It looked really cool!

I love the teamwork that has been evident among them recently. If one the "stars" is having an off-game, they're still committed to doing what they can for the team while someone else takes the lead on scoring.

At this game, we got our bottle of water and snack before we ever found our seats. The previous games, I would ask Evan to get me a snack or drink, but somehow it would always seem to be put off until the end of the 3rd quarter, at which time everything closes. We avoided that situation entirely this time! Once we found our seats, put on our blue shirts (always blue...maybe one of these days we'll get white shirts), and got settled, the seats beside us filled. The man to my left was a little larger and seemed to make himself comfortable, encroaching into my space. I spent most of the game standing up or sitting on the seat folded up so I wouldn't keep bumping legs with him. Towards the end of the 4th quarter, when the game was getting really close (and the couple of random Lakers fans who had been sitting behind us left), I moved up to their seats to have a little breathing room. Those last couple of minutes were intense, ending in a win!

When we left the arena, traffic looked crazy, like it would be a long time before we got out of there. So we went to Reverse Happy Hour at the Melting Pot for half-price cheese fondue after the game. By the time we left there, the streets were clear, and we zipped on home!

New Hair

I have been growing my hair out for the past 2 years, I think, to donate to Locks of Love. I've done this 2 times before, and I love how simple it can be to help someone else. An added bonus--I had short hair when I met Evan, so every time I cut it short, it reminds us of the beginning of our relationship. And now the big reveal...

Before

 

After

 Beware the spunk that seems to come from the short hair!!

New Chapter

So what is this new chapter, you may ask. Well, for the past 4 years I have worked as a Children's Minister. These 4 years have been the most stressful, breath-taking, heart-breaking, and Spirit-working years of my young life. I've learned a couple of things--Ministry is hard...a young female in Ministry is even harder. I have absolutely fallen in love with these kids, and the relationships I have with them, from the babies to the trying 6th graders, have kept me persevering. I have had many moments when I could so clearly see God working through me in the lives of these children and when He was working through them in the lives of others. God sure has a knack of opening my eyes to this, when I've felt at my lowest--a reminder that He is always there and working through everything.

After several years of trying to meet the expectations of many different people while still staying true to what I felt I should be doing, it's time for me hand off the responsibility and re-discover who I am. I'm finding that I've lost my identity in being a Children's Minister (not sure whether that's a good or bad thing). I went to college with the aim of becoming a Children's Minister, was doing such before I even graduated, and have continued since then. I haven't known anything else, and I've had a wonderfully supportive husband through it all--the tears, frustrations, and joys.

Unfortunately, working in ministry has left its wounds of bitterness, resentment, and a desire for the refreshment of church. Even though I have been at church, I haven't experienced church in quite some time, except for visits to other churches where I have no responsibilities or expectations. These wounds will heal, but it requires time and God's healing hand. In spite of the pain I have experienced, I have no doubt that God called me into ministry of children, and now I am seeing God's provision for me to lay it down.

When Evan and I got married--actually about a year and a half afterwards when we became Dave Ramsey fanatics, we set goals of paying off all debt--student and car loans--before we would start trying to start a family. Before we reached that goal last Fall, we decided to postpone starting a family to finish out one more school year of Tutoring/Mentoring, at which time I would step down. (It's a stressful job, and I internalize stress, which would be very bad for a developing baby. I just couldn't do both.) I gave nearly a year's notice of this plan to the leaders, hoping that would mean a smooth transition and the kids would be taken care of. This Spring God showed his provision for us by blessing us through Evan's job in several ways that gave us an additional measure of peace that this was the right decision.

Now, I'm looking ahead to my first week of not working at church--no expectations I have to meet and nobody I have to please. I'm excited. I'm looking forward to experiencing church and renewing my spiritual life. I'm looking forward to organizing my home and other home-improvement projects, which has been perpetually on my to-do list. I'm looking forward to try my hand at being crafty. I'm looking forward to spending time with friends I'd like to know better. I'm looking forward to spending entire weekends visiting family and/or friends. And, I'm excited about my three days each week with this sweet little girl (and her 'crazy face')!

 

On outings like this to the zoo!

   

Let this new chapter begin!

Beginnings

A new chapter in our lives means an entrance into the blogging world. I have loved and been inspired by reading these blogs: Strawberry Ruckus, This Little Light of Mine, Elle-m-n-o-p, Morning Rush, and a few others. Now, I'll try my hand at blogging and see where it takes me.