I Exalt Thee

It seems that music moves me more than I realize. The choir my mom is in has recently been struggling due to lots of changes that have taken places. Last week though, they seemed to be much more together. Particularly on one song that really moved me. I grew up hearing it every so often, but something was different this time.

I looked briefly for a good video of it on YouTube, but couldn't find one I loved. Plus, we kinda combine two songs. So, here are the words instead.




Lord, You are more precious than silver;
Lord, You are more costly than gold;
Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds;
And nothing I desire compares with You.

I exalt Thee
I exalt Thee
I exalt Thee, O Lord!







Ok, so I like this guys version of We (I) Exalt Thee @1:30 - 2:25.

To Be Continued

40 days of random 1-5 sentence thoughts. Not really sure how the formatting was messed up, but for some reason the space between thoughts gradually gets larger....

Friday February 24:

There is nothing like driving into College Station when you haven’t seen it for months.

O’Bannon’s brings me back to my senior year when a group of us would meet there every Wednesday. I think knowing of the greatness ahead got me through Wednesday night Becker classes.

Sunday February 26:

Going to Mass with 1,000s of other people your age and actually hearing participation is wonderful. If St Mary’s was an hour away from my house, I’d make the drive every week.  

Come to the Water really got to me today. I love Matt Maher's version!

If I don't even hit the speed limit while passing a car on a two lane road, they are going tooo slooooow.

You know what's also really annoying? When you're driving down 45, cruise control on, and you keep passing the same car cause they can't pick a speed. Seriously, must you fluctuate THAT much?

Coming home early was definitely worth seeing Brooklyn. :D

Monday February 27:


What’s with today today?

Tuesday February 28:


Today I'm learning about the beauty of CC'ing someone on an email. It's actually quite helpful. :)


Thursday March 1:


Happy birthday, Kelly! Love my work girls. :D


THIIGTSJD!!!


Saturday March 3:


Happy Birthday, Lauren! Here's to the next 10 years of our friendship. :D


Mmmmmm pistachio almond ice cream!


Sunday March 4:


I love watching The Amazing Race with Husbandy. :)


Monday March 5:


Happy Birthday to be best Husbandy ever! I can't wait for May and all the changes that will come with it. I looooove you!!


Wednesday March 7:


Hopefully now that I've finished The Hunger Games, my dreams will stop being so weird.....


Saturday March 10:


Oh, good, now we're known as the flakes.  :(


Monday March 12:


Husbandy is here for the entire weeeeeeek!


We did it!! We took the plunge! Eeeeeek! :D


Tuesday March 13:


I took half a day off today (the only day I get while Husbandy's home) and we were so productive! We got pre-approved for a loan, mailed my passport off to get my name changed, and met with our Realtor for the first time! Can't believe this is finally happening.


Wednesday March 14:


The house hunt has officially officially begun! We looked at four houses today, but none of them wow'ed us. Still excited to be house hunting though.


Thursday March 15:


Husbandy and I found the most gorgeous house today and it's in our price range!!!! We had my whole family come over to look at it. Now Husbandy and I have a big decisions to make. It's only our 5th house to look at, but it could be the one.


Friday March 16: 


Decided not to go with the house we found yesterday. Husbandy drove around the neighborhood this morning and decided it's not where he wants to raise a family. I'm going to dream about the kitchen and bathroom, but I'm at peace with this decision. 


The house hunt continues.


Saturday March 17:


HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!!


Husbandy and I ran our first 5k (Dash Down Greenville) together this morning. By together I mean we were running in the same race; I technically ran the race with my awesome friend Kit. I thought I was going to struggle, but we jut talked the whole time and I actually had fun. Thanks, Kit!


Loved having a cookout with friends, can't wait till we can host one of those.


Sunday March 18:


Happy with the race results, I didn't finish last! I wasn't even last within my age group. Mission accomplished. Husbandy did really well, I'm proud of him.


Husbandy's last day in Dallas. :(

Wednesday March 22:

It took me 50 minutes to get to work today....I live 10 miles away. That is ridiculous! 

Monday March 26:

Husbandy got his Aggie ring ticket! Yea!!

Wednesday March 28:

Well this day has really gone down the tubes within the last hour.....

Friday March 30:

It's Husbandy's Aggie Rings Day!!! He's been waiting for this for so long and I'm so excited I get to be the one to present it to him! He's worked hard for this. :)

Thanks to Chad for coming to see Husbandy get his ring!

Saturday March 31:

Date night with my husband to the place we ate the night he asked me to be his wife. :) I love him.

The Stars are not making this night go well....

Tuesday April 3:

I'm not sure if it's because I'm not on fb right now, or if it's because I really haven't cared this season, but I just found out at work that the championship college basketball game was last night. Woops!

Got some sweet tickets to the Stars game from a girl at work! I'll have to post pictures. :)

Saturday April 7:

Annual bluebonnet/drive-in movie day with the Fry's!!! So excited that we are actually going early enough to see bluebonnets this year. :D

EASTER IS TOMORROW!!

Reliving Our Wedding

You probably already knew this….but I have an awesome sister. Over the last few years I have really seen her faith blossom and it’s been such an encouragement. Not only to me, but to Husbandy and I. It’s good to be able to talk about our faith and struggles with people as close to us as Rebecca and Jason are.

Rebecca wrote the below post one her 1 month wedding anniversary. It’s so wonderful, I had to share it over here. I pray that all my friends are able to relive their wedding day like she describes. I love you sister!!

How Could It Be That My God Would Welcome Me Into This Mystery

I thought the 1 monthiversary would be a good time for some of my reflections about marriage.  For the short version please see the definitions of wonderful, joyful, and right in the dictionary.  I can't believe how fast this month has gone by.  Like I told Jason in my note to him this morning, it merely takes me closing my eyes (or scrolling through our wedding pictures for the 100,000th time) to bring back the rush of emotions I had when I saw Jason waiting for me at the end of aisle and the unbelievable joy I felt as we danced our first dance.  And it's not just because our wedding day was that awesome, it's because what it has led to.  What we have become in a month.  We're a family now and I am so blessed to be able to call him my husband :-)


I know that marriage will not always be this rosy.  The multiple marriage prep classes we did reminded us of this.  It is hard and takes real work to get through some of the toughest times.  I do plan to write more about these sometime in the future.  I know I say that a lot, but so much has happened the past few months it's hard getting caught up with everything.  I'll just say I think the Church does it right.  We are well prepared to love and support one another as we go forth in our marriage.


Okay now my reflections:  Remember when I said I think the Church got it right?  This extends so far beyond the prep classes.  This extends to the history of the Church, to the sacrament of marriage, to the institution of the Eucharist, to our relationship with Christ.  I remember reading a Christopher West book once and he related a story about his father-in-law receiving Communion the first time after his wedding.  He broke into tears and expressed that "for the first time in my life I understood the meaning of Christ's words, 'This is my body given for you.'"  This always struck me as interesting.  What was this change that was made in him so quickly?  How did the Mass suddenly come more to life for him through marriage?


Well, I can say I believe I experienced something very similar to this the Sunday after our wedding.  I became so overcome with emotions during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  Here I was kneeling before the body of Christ with my husband with whom I was now one.  This Sacramental mystery we had been welcomed into is an image of our union with God in the Eucharist.  Beyond this I was realizing that every time we come to Mass we get to relive an integral part of our wedding day.  Not just see pictures, watch a video or passively reminisce, but relive, actively participate.  How perfect that the Mass is often referred to as the marriage supper of the Lamb. Christ constantly renews his Vows with us by offering Himself to us in the Eucharist.  So too do Jason and I offer ourselves to one another in marriage, living out our vows.  Even still when I go to Mass I feel I am participating in a new way.  I'm reliving our wedding day, being an active part of the wedding supper of the Lamb, and anticipating the day we enter into full communion with Christ.  It's pretty awesome.  I have read about this through Theology of the Body and believed in the mystery and sacrament of marriage, but to actually experience being a part of it is new and exciting.  It's not better or more perfect than it was before (you can't improve on what is already perfect) but for me it is more complete.  I love going to Mass with my husband  :) I hope in the future as we face troubling times we can look to the Mass as something which can always bring us together and remind us of our wedding day.  


On top of all of this, it has brought even more meaning to the words of our second reading from Ephesians 5
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.


If we are able to live out these words I am confident in our marriage.  If we always remember that marriage is a reflection of Christ's love for the Church and strive to imitate and share this love we cannot go wrong.  



Photography by Susan Gilbert

Photography by Chandler Arden



                                                             

It's a First!

I was recently approached by someone who was dying to write a post for my blog. I'm pretty sure this means I'm a big timer in the blogger world! So without further ado, here is a post written by none other than....Husbandy (with some comments by yours truly)!

There’s a time in every Aggie’s life that is absolutely invigorating. It’s a time when you feel more proud and honored to represent a school that stands for so much more than just an education. I understand I could be talking about many different events. However, the moment I’m talking about this time is one that's filled with so much excitement and joy. It makes a statement about who you are and what you represent. It is when you order and receive your Aggie ring.

Sidebar: Whoop!

Growing up in an extremely meek home in a small Florida town, I was unaware of the tradition, family, faith, loyalty, and servantship that Texas A&M University held. I was a follower and well down the road to destruction when God had other plans. Thinking to myself, “I’d be lucky to get an associate’s degree,” He put something, or rather someone, extraordinary in my life. Someone He knew would catch my attention; motivating me to go above and beyond dreams I thought I’d never reach. This is a person who didn’t look at where I had been or criticize my past; a person that knew I was in need of God’s help, love, and grace. This amazing woman, I can humbly, and proudly, say is my wife.

Sidebar: *blush*

Seeing A&M for the first time as an outsider was a bit strange, I agree. But once you become an Aggie, that all changes, and it’s so hard to describe. So I’ll leave that to someone else.

Sidebar: I feel like there’s saying about that…..

I moved to Aggieland in August of 2003. Wifey was an incoming freshman and completely sold on being an Aggie.

Sidebar: I bled maroon since I was born!

It took attending a few events before I was fully able to comprehend what Aggies were all about. The interaction and togetherness the campus exhibited was just remarkable. I previously attended a community college for one year and had no motivation to go back to school. But, I suddenly had a change of heart. This was a small flame that grew into a Bonfire (Whoop!) over the years. I began working as a leasing agent in College Station, after attaining my real estate license. I was making good money and attending Blinn part time in hopes of transferring into Mays Business School. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out as planned. Wifey graduated, we moved to Dallas, and got married a year later.

Sidebar: Have no fear; we traveled back to College Station to tie the knot. It was only appropriate.

I transferred to UT (or TU) Arlington and met a group of lifelong friends, both students and faculty, through the Goolsby Leadership Academy in the business school. As I applied for graduation and began to prepare for acquiring a job, I spoke with a friend of mine who had graduated from the Master of Real Estate (MRE) program at Texas A&M. We had worked together at Century 21 in College Station, and were very similar in personalities, likes and dislikes. He thought the MRE would be a perfect for me and that I would really enjoy it. I visited with the MRE faculty, and just loved the idea. They said there was a good chance that I would be accepted, so of course I applied. (Side Note: Being accepted to TAMU is another exhilarating moment for an Aggie) The day I received THE email, I was on campus at UTA in an organization’s office. Click, wait, click, click, wait longer….cccooOOMMEE ON! ........ “You have been accepted!!!” I jumped and yelled for about a solid 2 minutes, then called wifey and friends.

Now, here I am in my last semester. I recently acquired the amount of hours that allowed me to order the…AGGIE RING! WHOOP! The day I became eligible I went straight down to the Association of Former Students and ordered it! On March 30^th I will proudly wear the symbol of family, tradition, loyalty, servantship, and faith!

Sidebar: CANNOT wait to be there for that. J

Then, on the weekend of May 12^th I will walk the stage in Reed Arena and accept my Masters of Real Estate from the Mays Business School faculty! This is an accomplishment not attainable without God, wifey, family and friends. Over the past 9 and ½ years that I’ve lived in Texas, I’ve learned that God has our plans laid out; we shouldn’t fight them, but accept them. He knows you and your motivations, and he will lead you down the right path. He will provide when He knows you’re in need. Trust Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  - Jeremiah 29:11

And We're Mobile

I see her at Becca and Jason's wedding and she's a 6th month old....a week and a half later she's crawling and has two teeth! Brooklyn, you are so old! And cuter than ever!!

If you haven't noticed, I am completely in love with my niece. This got me thinking one day, "I don't think I've ever really fully appreciated my aunts and uncles." I have wonderful aunts and uncles who have always shown their love for me and encouraged me. But ever since I became an aunt, I've gotten to experience how deep that love actually is. So, if any of you are reading this, I just want to say I finally get it and thank you!

Leave Work at Work?

I've had this topic on my mind for quite some time, but yesterday events inspired me to finally write it down.

A few months ago, Husbandy and I were at Mass and all of a sudden there was a commotion on the other side of the church. From everything going on, you could tell someone had either fallen or fainted. Without skipping a beat the man in front of us got up and rushed over to help. We later figured out he was a doctor. I sat there just thinking, "Wow, here we are at Mass and this guy has to be ready at all times to jump up and help not even knowing the situation." What got me even more was that there were probably few people in the church that knew he was a doctor. He didn't have to get up and help to prove anything, he did it because he knew he should. What an incredibly selfless act. I don't know his name, I don't even know that I could now point him out, but I am thankful for him.

Mom and I were watching my sister's dog, Boots, while she was on her honeymoon this past week. Boots is very much a runner. As soon as he has a chance, he'll dart. My mom's dog, Katy, is not a runner, however. She stays right by you and cowers if you raise your voice. Except for when she has her doggie friend around, apparently. To keep a long story short, the two dogs got out and ended up running across a six lane road. Both made it safely the first go around, but before I could catch her, Katy was darting back across. This time she wasn't as fortunate and got hit. There I was, holding Boots, yelling, and running towards Katy. When I got to the street I could see she was alive, but still just laying there. All I could think was pick her up, get back to the house, and call my sister-in-law. I knew she was just getting off work, and I'm sure anxious to get home to her husband and baby. But I called her and she was immediately on her way. I was so so thankful for her and comforted knowing Katy was going to be checked out. Luckily, Katy had no broken bones and came out with just three spots of road rash. This isn't the only time my sister-in-law's done something like that. Multiple times when we are hanging out someone will call with a pet question. Without looking at any books or notes she just knows the dosage the pet may need, symptoms the owner should be looking for, or anything else they may be asking.

I can't imagine always being on call. When I leave work I don't think about anything I may have on my plate the next day. But these people can't ever just "leave work." In emergency situations they have a responsibility to step up, people look to them and trust their knowledge. I submit no one will ever be in a situation where they yell for a CPA desperately. This is probably a good thing as I would most likely need to do some research. All this being said, I just want to say thank you to those people who are always ready to help because of their profession. You truly have a servant's heart.

2012...The One with Lots of Big Plans

Wow! Again I've gone for about 2 months without posting anything. The past couple of months have of course been busy with bachelorette parties, showers, a Darling wedding, Thanksgiving, more showers, Christmas, mafia, New Years, a Fry wedding, meeting family and an Olympic Trials Marathon. I wish I could write about all of them, but I probably won't... I will try to hit some.

This post isn't about any of those though. I just want to write a couple of things down before we get too far into 2012, and it's not any resolutions. This year has potential to be a HUGE year for Husbandy and I. The first few months will probably start off slow as school starts back up for Husbandy, but beginning March 30th, let the fun begin! I've already marked that Friday as a vacation day for me cause I'll be in College Station seeing  Husbandy get his Aggie ring!! Whoop! Since he's moved to Texas, Husbandy has 100% fallen in love with Texas A&M. I like to say I've had some part in that. :P He is more Aggie than some people I know who had the privilege to go there all four years (or more). Trust me, if time and money allowed him to,  Husbandy would have. Sometimes I say I went a little overboard on "teaching" him Aggie tradition. Anyway, he definitely deserves the ring! At this point, I'd like to thank Ross Busby who lent  Husbandy his Aggie ring during the Aggie picture at our wedding. Who knew the picture would actually make sense in just 3 years.

I promise he's wearing a ring

Continuing on....  Husbandy is on track to graduate in May!! He's taking 9 hours this semester and is also focusing on finding a job. I am constantly praying that he finds the right job for him and that God will lead us as we make decision about our future.

Mixed in between the semester and the end of school we will be looking for a house!! I have loved living with my mom. We are both so gracious that she's opened her home up to us for the past year now, but we are also ready to get our things out of boxes! I've been so blessed this last year, I think when we move I'm going to have to learn how to be a wife again. My mom has really spoiled me. We don't know exactly where we want to live. I would love to stay in Richardson, but I'm not sure we'll be able to afford as big of a house as we want here. We want a house we can grow into. Basically Husbandy's moved 9 of the 10 years he's been in Texas, and we don't want to have to do that again for a while. Who knows where we'll find something.

We are also planning a big trip this summer. I'm so excited cause we are most likely going to be going to the Czech Republic!!! I've wanted to go there for a while now, mostly because both my dad's parents are Czech. We're thinking about going on a tour with the guide (Herbie) who was in charge on the trip to Europe I took after graduation in 2008. It actually worked out pretty amazingly....we wanted to take our trip over the 4th of July so we could save vacation days. We mentioned this to Herbie a couple months back and he was like, oh, I have a trip to Berlin/Prague over the 4th of July this coming summer! How perfect! Now all we have to do is take the plunge and put down our deposit...and pray airline prices take a plunge.

Maybe the biggest thing "we have planned" (hahaha...like we can actually plan this) is to get pregnant this year! I don't expect there to be a little Wagner by next Christmas, but maybe an announcement? I know I really don't have any control over when God plans to have our family grow, but we are hopeful that it will happen sometime in 2012. I practically tell Husbandy everyday that I want a baby. I should probably stop that as it most likely causes some stress. 

I am super excited about this year. God has a lot in store for us and I can't wait to see how everything unfolds. Who knows, maybe I'll look back at this in January 2013 and think how naive I was. Until then I'll wait in joyful hope. God bless, I pray your 2012 is filled with joy!