Day 191 and Race Day

Over Spring Break when I was shopping with Bailey for her wedding dress, I got text from my boss informing me that he placed a bet with another guy at our office (Jonny) saying that I could beat him (Jonny) in a swimming race. Despite my efforts to explain to Jonny that I was a competitive swimmer for over ten years, he insisted that we should race and the he would smoke me.
So the wager was set several weeks ago and since then I've had to endure a lot of Jonny's "talking noise," intimidation tactics, and game face looks. Thursday it was all worth it when I raced (and defeated) Jonny at the Texas A&M Natatorium. Most of the office came to watch (and take pictures) of it, and so did Bailey! What a fun day!

Day 190 and Don't Make Me Get the Hose

Wednesday, April 28, 2010Oh... where to begin with this picture.

My office got these new camo hats and I thought they were 365 worthy. And considering Bailey and I never wear camo or trucker hats we thought it would make for funny picture. I'm wearing Macie's camo shirt that Bailey found, and Bailey is wearing one of her Sky Ranch costumes.
We went outside to take a picture in our backyard and Bailey looked down to find our never-been-used water hose. In a thick accent, she yelled, "Don't make me get the hose!" She looked at me and instantly, as if I was reading her mind, I said, "Mrs. Doubtfire!" (We have this thing where I say movie quotes and she tries to guess where they came from, so it was fun to have the tables turned.) We had a good laugh, and thought we'd add it into the picture.

I guess this was Bailey's way of getting me back for all the times I boss her around in these photo sessions. I had it coming. haha

Day 189 and the Annual Terry Picnic

Sunday, April 25, 2010Have we ever mentioned how thankful we are for the Terry Scholarship?

If not, we should again. Bailey and I are both beyond blessed by this wonderful organization. Once a year, every Terry Scholar from all over the state meets in Winedale, Texas for an afternoon of hanging out, eating great food, and honoring the graduation seniors. I have to be honest, it's hard to go to these picnics and not feel pretty inadequate. One senior girl stood up and said that she was getting her first book published after graduation, another guy was going to be an aerospace engineer, and another was going to work for PIXAR. I had to remind myself that God doesn't call us to a spirit of comparison, does he? We all have our paths to follow and Bailey and I are so thankful we don't have to walk them carrying the burden of school loans. (Because Bailey was one of the graduating seniors, she got to stand up in front of over 500 Terry Scholars and board members and share her gratitude, thanks, and plans for the future. Way to go Bailey!)

Day 188 and the Faulty AC

Friday, April 23, 2010We've been having issues with our air conditioning. Since spring is quickly turning to summer, Friday was very, very warm in our living room. What else is a girl to do but make a paper fan and cool herself off on the couch under the whirling ceiling fan?
How did people ever manage Texas summers without air conditioners?

Day 186 and Aggie Muster

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

I've spent the last year preparing for April 21st, the day of Aggie Muster. I have served in the position of Special Operations Sub-Chair and have had the privilege of helping to plan campus Muster.

If you aren't an Aggie, you might be wondering what in the heck I'm talking about. Muster is the celebration and remembrance of all of the Aggies who have passed away in the last year. It is a time of healing for families and time to renew our ties to our school through a Camaraderie BBQ and a ceremony that night. One of the requirements of my job was to write and give a speech to honor the 50th Reunion of the class of 1960 in front of about 14,000 people. You can read the full story here.

My mom, Jessie, Katie, and Emily came on Wednesday to support me. Thanks girls!

Day 185 and Scrabbled

If our project had a catchphrase, it would probably be:
"Jessie and Bailey, Three-Six-Five... dot blogspot dot com."
If you've spent any amount of time with the two of us, you know you've heard it, haven't you?

Over Spring Break I had the privilege of spending one evening playing Scrabble with Bailey's family, and since then I've had a game of Scrabble sitting in the trunk of my car, waiting to be introduced to the project.

Day 184 and The Antique Window

Saturday's Garage Sale Steal at the Hendrick's.
Oh the creative potential this window has... but for now it will have to make do as prop for the Project.

Day 182 and Three Girls in a Row

Here we are, Jessie, Bailey, and Michelle all in a row. Staring up at the stars, clouds, and moon at a New Life hangout. What a good place to be :)

Day 182 and Ring by Spring

Bailey got her Aggie Ring today!

We took a bajillion pictures, but this was one of our favorites.
Congratulations Bailey on all of your hard work these past semesters!
I love you, Roomie!

Day 181 and Lime Faces

Bailey and Jeff cut these to serve with the tea they made earlier in the day.
And well, it would be a shame to let them go to waste :)

Day 180 and an Action Shot

haha

Day 179 and the Mason Jars

I. love. mason jars.
So when we were left with six of them after Patricia's wedding shower, I spent the next day thinking of how I could use them around the house.
Of course I thought of flower vases, but I didn't feel like picking wildflowers on the side of the road again.
Then I thought of candles, but didn't want to spend money.
As I sat down on the couch, I looked down and saw an old Anthropologie catalog I'd been keeping in case I found some way to decorate with some really cute and colorful pages I loved inside it.

bonne idee!

I cut the pictures out, stuck them in the jars, and placed them on the mantle.
Quick and easy craft that adds a little something extra to your home :)

Day 178 and Frisbee Fun

In desperate need of a study break, I grabbed the frisbee I magically found in the backyard (no joke, it just appeared there one morning) and Bailey, Emily, and I walked over to the neighborhood park and tossed it back and forth a bit. We thought all of these were pretty fun and couldn't choose just one, so we made a collage of them all!

Day 177 and the Pink and Pearls Wedding Shower

Our dear friend Patricia had her wedding shower at our house today! The theme was pink and pearls and the decorations were too cute! (This weekend has been great for noting ideas for when we plan Bailey's shower.) Patricia is so fun, Bailey and I met her on Prayer Team during the spring semester of Freshman year and it's been great keeping in touch with her. She always had us laughing and we loved her genuine heart. Every Wednesday night she had great stories from her relationship with Justin, (anyone from PT remember the cock roach story?...haha) Anyway, we are so excited for them and their wedding this June.
We love you Patricia and we wish you and Justin the best in San Diego!

Day 176 and Yard Work

One day I looked at our yard and noticed 5ft tall weeds growing in our flower bed. Let me just tell you, the were scary.

When we all went to get the supplies at Ace Hardware, the salespeople kept telling us "You have to get it by the root, or it will keep coming back."

I thought, what a great analogy to sin. Without realizing it, we can look over one day and realize that sin has taken over and become deeply rooted. We can fix the symptoms of the sin, make ourselves look good to our neighbors, but without letting the Lord clean us from the inside out, the sin will keep coming back.

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

-Ezekiel 36:36

P.S. (Don't worry, we got all of our weeds by the root!).

Day 175 and Morgan's Wedding Shower

Friday, April 9, 2010Morgan was in our Aggie Sister's for Christ WIL Group during the fall of 2008. She was wonderful; so very funny and full of wisdom and wit. We also really loved her extensive vocabulary and use of diction. Her love for the Lord is apparent, and it was so cool to see her trust in Him as as she began her relationship with Reagan. Though it's crazy to think that they're getting married in May, we're so excited for the two of them and felt honored to be invited to her shower. We ate a yummy potluck dinner, played a couple of games (my favorite was making the toilet paper wedding dress,) and opened presents.

We love you Morgan, and we wish you and Reagan nothing but the best as you start this new stage of life together!

Day 174 and Pink Wildflowers

These pink wildflowers were just too pretty to pass up.
I picked them and put them in a mason jar to grace our kitchen window and greet us as we wash dishes, cook dinner, or make our lunch.

Day 173 and the Little White Flowers

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately,

to front only the essential facts of life,

and see if I could not learn what it had to teach,

and not, when I came to die,

discover that I have not lived.”

-Henry David Thoreau

Day 172 and A Week of Flowers: Yellow

This week has a theme to it.
Wildflowers.
Today was yellow. I wonder what tomorrow will bring!

Day 171 and The April Fools Fruit Stand

We were pretty excited about the fresh fruit and veggie stand on campus today. The colors were fun, the produce fresh, and I was quietly excited to buy some locally grown food. We took this fun picture, and Bailey left for work. So when I mosied on over to the cashier to asked if the produce was grown locally, he rather unenthusiastically replied with a "No, some of it's prolly from California... maybe Mexico... i dunno."
Haha what a let down. Guess the joke is really on me and my idealist excitement. Oh well, Bailey's idea to take the picture at the fruit stand was definitely worth it, the colors really popped and for a college student living on campus, this fruit and veggie stand is way better than some of the stuff they have to choose from at the Sbisa Cafeteria.

Day 170 and the Garden

Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

At life group last night, we enjoyed the beautiful weather and spent some time in the Askew's backyard admiring their garden.