Same Kind of Different As Me

I just finished the most incredible book. I definitely recommend it to anyone who asks.

It is called "Same Kind of Different as Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.
It is a true story where "an international art dealer and a modern-day slave from Louisiana become friends after the art dealer is roped into volunteering at a homeless shelter by his saintly wife."The super cool thing about it is not only that it's true, but that it takes place in Fort Worth. How neat to hear such a touching story about two men that are still alive and living in our metroplex. The story of how their friendship came to be and eventually blossomed is incredible.

There were two parts that truly touched me and that left me with a lesson were this:
1. When the art dealer, Ron Hall, first started working at the homeless shelter, he ran across this homeless man that was always smiling. It naturally threw him for a loop because he wondered what in the world the homeless man had to be smiling about (especially after learning that the man's son had been tragically killed and his wife had to be admitted because she lost her mind). He decides one day to approach the man and ask him about his constant smile. The homeless man tells him "I woke up today!" How meaningful are those simple words? "I woke up." That's why I said in Monday's post that I was just thankful I woke up... What a blessing to be given another day to live.

2. The very end of the book, when Ron and Denver are recapping their journey together, Denver (the slave) says, "I used to spend a lotta time worryin that I was different from other people, even from other homeless folks. Then, after I met Miss Debbie and Mr. Ron, I worried that I was so different from them that we wadn't ever gon' have no kind a' future. But I found out everybody's different - the same kind of different as me. We're all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain't no final restin place. So in a way, we is all homeless - just workin our way toward home." Perfect explanation by such a simple man.

So for today, I am counting my blessings and thanking the Lord to be alive. :)
Happy Wednesday.

My Music Monday- New Morning

In honor of this beautiful Monday morning (I promise I am not crazy, I am just having a good morning because my kids are working quietly and I have a NEW haircut), my song today is called "New Morning" by Alpha Rev.

Because I am at work, I can't get on YouTube to get you the link, but I definitely recommend that you look it up. Such a great song.
Here is my favorite line:

"No, I'm getting kinda rich on the sight of any soul alive."

Nice little reminder that we are rich not by what we have or own, but by the lives we have been given. It's good to remember that we are blessed to just be here.
For today, I'm glad that I woke up. :)

Oh Thursday.

I accidentally skipped over Wordless Wednesday, so my post will contain some pictures today.

I have to tell you about my best friend's wedding last weekend. It was on a golf course in Houston and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Lauren was the most beautiful bride and I loved watching Dustin as she walked down the aisle. They were both very sweet and got me all choked up!
Her brother married them. He is technically not a pastor, but when she asked him to perform the service, he gladly went online and got ordained! It's crazy what the internet provides us with nowadays! He did a wonderful job... He was so nervous, but he pulled through beautifully and got me choked up even more. It was so neat to see all of the love surrounding us.

The reception was just as gorgeous. I was so excited that it was the first wedding ever that I didn't have to stand with all the single ladies during the bouquet toss. Phew! No one realizes how much pressure that is on a woman. It, in a word, SUCKS! This time, however, I got to watch blissfully as the ladies gracefully tackled each other and started pulling hair fighting over the bouquet. It was a bit more glorious from the outside looking in! :)

The end of the reception was my favorite... They had bought these sticks that look like roman candles, but with a flick of the wrist, they explode with this white confetti. They got passed out a little early and while the happy couple was still in the middle of the dance floor, confetti was flying everywhere. I remember looking up in awe of it... I felt like a kid watching snow come down. Unfortunately, this stuff tasted like salty paper, so it was not quite as enjoyable, but who cares.

I am so happy for Lauren. She deserves this happiness more than anyone I know. I can't wait to see what the future holds for them. :)

Should I?

I am exhausted. From head to toe, exhausted.
In the first 9 weeks of school, I am drained. It is already a hard year. The Spring just might kill me. I have been worried that I am already getting burnt out on teaching (too early for this, I know), but after talking to my colleagues, I feel better about it. We are all drained. I blame it on the kids.

But on a lighter note, I am thinking about cutting my hair this weekend like this:Thoughts???? :)

My Music Monday

In honor of my best friend in the entire world (you can read about her here) who just got married this weekend, I have a special song.

I heard it on the way back from Little Rock a few weeks ago and was surprised to find who the artist was. It is called "Your Love is a Song" by Switchfoot. It has been a while since I've heard a song by them, but I was so happy when I listened to the lyrics. It is absolutely beautiful.

Hope you enjoy it is as much as I did. :)

Granny!

Today, my grandma is having a little surgery. It is a "small" day surgery, but I am asking for prayers nonetheless! Please keep her in your thoughts this morning. :)

My Music Monday

It's been a while and I have a few songs saved up!

This week is a song by one of my favorite artists EVER: Dave Barnes. It's a beautiful song (that I'm sad I didn't hear until after our wedding because I so would have used it)!

It's called "God Gave Me You."

Go HERE to check it out. :) Enjoy.

Lessons Learned

Now that I have talked about the awesomeness that was my wedding and honeymoon, I have something else I'd like to mention...

Getting married taught me a lot about the people in my life.

It is in times of great joy and times of great tragedy that true colors begin to shine. I feel like I am an even better friend to those I love during these times. However, both fortunately and unfortunately, I found a little bit of both during my happiest time.

It is the people I least expected (short of my family and my best friends), that came out of the woodworks to offer help and support. And it was the people that I expected help and support from that essentially let me down.

Looking back, I choose not to take it personally. I am taking comfort in the fact that now I know who I can lean on and who I cannot, who will be there when times are tough and who won't, who will rejoice with me during my next big event (maybe a baby?!) and who I won't expect anything from. I am finding peace in it all.

I must say, though- to those who went above and beyond, thank you thank you thank you. Your thoughtfulness did not go unnoticed.

PS- Don't get any ideas. Babies are NOT coming anytime soon!! :)

MRS.

SO much has happened since my last post. I am walking a little taller, I have an awesome tan, AND my last name has changed. I am MARRIED!
It has been such a whirlwind. Yes, we decided to get married quickly (after 4 years, why wait?!), so I knew it would fly by, but I had NO idea just how fast the 5 months would pass. One day, we are moving in to a new house and getting engaged, and the next day I am standing at the altar with the man I love. It's a CRAZY feeling.

Our wedding was absolutely beautiful... It was everything I imagined it would be and then some. Our honeymoon was phenomenal. I wish we could move to Curacao... Or at least stay longer than a week. It was a beautiful and relaxing place, and we even came back home with 4 new friends. :)

It was perfect. Everything was perfect. I feel so blessed.
I will post pics soon!