More NZ Pics!!

Husband and wife climb a terrifying mountain face together...awww. I am not really doing anything too exciting here b/c I had found a nice little ledge to stand on and there was no other really good place to go with them... Drew on the other hand is killing that hard climb next to me... we were over the ocean...way way way up!!!


Another view from Cathedral Cove, where Prince Caspian was partially filmed (see preview) just after the sun set.


We are sitting on these huge tree roots in a park in downtown Auckland... some of them were at least three feet above ground and the trunks were crazy twisted and neat!

Yes,

We are in NEW ZEALAND!





Today is our last full day here in the city of sails. We have done all sorts of things, which will be expanded upon in later posts I am sure along with the 500+ pictures we have taken. We visited Mordor and the cove where Prince Caspian was shot (you can see it on the preview too)! Last night we walked around Auckland and tried some Mexican food... think freebirds or Qdoba... but still tasty. Tonight we are going to a Rugby game and a chocolate factory. We've had fish and chips and a few other local treats along the way. We camped out and have walked/hiked a lot... no really... A LOT! We also have done some rock climbing on actual mountain-like faces over the ocean and in the forest... plus some indoor climbing as well. It is so scary but quite a fun accomplishment. Drew is a super grand climber!
A few phrases we have picked up....
Good on ya = way to go, good for you, cool
Sweet as = sweet as the sweetest thing you can think of also substituted with cool as, salty as (my personal rendition) etc etc
** surprisingly enough it has nothing to do with swear words referring to your bum!
Cheers = thanks, your welcome, hi etc..
Ta = thanks
Tomorrow (Sunday here, Saturday elsewhere) we are flying back to the states. Hopefully I'll have my paper done by then too.. I've been working on it yesterday and today....

On a Quest....

FOR MODESTY!!!




I have searched high and low all over Louisville, Kentucky in search of a modest bathing suit. I have gotten some of the strangest looks from nice older ladies who ask if they can help me in various department stores. When I tell them I am looking for something modest, it is almost as if they do not know what that word means any more. I figured I would run to Target, my shopping place of choice, and simply pick up the cutest tankini for the best price and be on my way. Oh no no no. For some reason, this year, even the one pieces barely cover the essential areas. Then the tankinis make up in cleavage what they cover in midsection. I want something that covers it alllllll, no comprehende?! I have even looked in maternity!
FINALLY, I found the best, most amazing swimsuit I have ever seen in my life and it's from Sears and actually from the Lands End catalog. Sears now carries some lands end stuff and they have this swim suit top that is a basic high tube top but it has straps you can make a tank or racerback or halter. The tank goes all the way to my hips but both sides have the elastic stuff with strings coming out the bottom so you can cinch it up higher or leave it longer, which ever way suits you!!! It's really not even that tight in the mid-section either. Then, you can pick which ever modest bottoms you like to go with it! They are a little pricey but my husband was willing to splurge for a one time expense that will end the drama of wearing your underwear in public places that happen to have water! I personally chose a solid color top so I can mix and match different or same colored bottoms with it! Then all you need is shorts and you are good to go! So, for all you lovely ladies that are looking for a modest suit for all your summer fun, this could be the place for you. They actually have a ton of tankinis online that come in basic colors that are all pretty modest! CHECK IT OUT!!
I really have to question why we have gone along with culture on this issue. I never even really thought twice about it before. But especially now that I am married I am more conscious of some of these things. I would NEVER EVER wear a bra and underwear in front of ANYBODY at our church or at school or even any of our friends minus a few girl friends alone. So why do I feel like this is really okay as long as there is water around? Why has the church just run right alongside the world on this issue? Even a lot of one-piece suits are crazy provocative!!
I do have to admit, I think 2-piece swimsuits are really cute. When I was on my search I was tempted so many times to just buy a decently modest two piece because they are just way more appealing to me because that is what I have been programmed to like because of what the world prizes and advertises and because of my own sin that wants me to feel attractive and sexy etc etc etc.... So I'm not at all condemning people that wear two pieces and I haven't trashed all of mine. I am just saying we need to really be thinking about this. We need to be people who are constantly evaluating our lives and the things we support and go along with. That is what I am doing, not at all expecting every one to feel my conviction on this issue. Really writing this is a way for me to keep myself accountable to what the Lord is showing me right now, because I am soooo tempted to fall backwards on so many issues.
Happy Shopping

ps. The reason for the bathing suit is because we are going to NEW ZEALAND TOMORROW!!! We will try and post while we are there, otherwise you can expect a long update when we return!!

Vote for my Dad!!

My dad is a lawyer and used to have his own private practice and now works for the District Attorney.. .he's big time. People at work know him as the ice-pick because... well, let's just say he knows how to get his way! haha. He's put countless bad people in jail or cost them fines etc etc.. he's tough and great!
However, if any of you have seen him at home it's a little different. He often still has to be tough but with three daughters and a wife he's had to develop his softer side through the years. He took us on walks, protected us against dogs and boys, had long talks and shared truth.
My dad has yet another side... maybe a combination of the two. He's a great writer!! It wasn't until middle school or high school I even found out that my dad liked to write. I always knew he loved to read but that seems to bleed over into some amazing poetry, Sunday school lessons that are better than many published commentaries and hopefully some future books!!
He's obviously just an all around great man!
SOOOOO... here's your chance to see him in action. One of his best poems has been published and he is in a competition to win some stuff if you VOTE here
http://www.poetry.com/voteforme/poemvote1.asp?PID=12801286
SO GO NOW, VOTE!

Then you can check him out at his blog larrythompson.blogspot.com

happy reading!!

The Good Ole Days

Okay, I am lazy. I haven't posted any pictures from our most recent adventures... and there have been quite a few. I don't think I've posted the cake I made for Drew for VDay... it was a red velvet cake and I made it all from scratch, even the icing.


Then there is Bree Wells Proffitt's wedding. It was beautiful and such a fun time full of new friends and old memories! We
also visited our families in TX on that trip and ate plenty of Mexican food, donuts, Einsteins, and laughs... and some DP in there too!


Then to welcome us back from our warm weather week in the good ole state we got a HUGE SNOW!! It was about a foot... more or less depending on where you were. Our balcony was under atleast two feet of snow. I had never seen anything like it, except for on Mountains. It just kept coming down for two days. Our friends B&B were over having dinner and got snowed in and so we had a slumber party!! They stayed over and we made a minisnowman and snow angels!! The next day we were amazed at how deep the snow was and went sledding in our laundry baskets. We were super hilarious on those things and some one finally felt sorry for us and let us borrow som eof their 5+ sleds! It was all like a big unplanned festival. There were 100s of people on this huge hill in one of the city's main parks. It was so much fun. There were rich and poor, large and small, old and young... all sledding down the same hill with squeals of delights and terror. fun times. Then we drank hot chocolate with mini marshmellows and went out for bacon cheese burgers. Fun day!





Then back to school and life as normal has returned.
Drew has some interesting things going on, but more on that once things are more solid.
We are also getting ready for our trip to New Zealand to see Drew's best friend and roommate of at least 4 years... Joe and his loveable and beautiful wife... Emily. We can't wait to see these guys and miss them a whole ton. They are the only reason I made it through living those months in Tyler. And we can't wait to meet their new friend NEW ZEALAND!! We don't anticipate getting to do this sort of thing many times if ever again and so we are going to try to soak it all in! This also means I am cramming my time to finish all my school work for this week and for the week after we get back, since I won't be working in NZ.

Spring is around the corner, winter is in a losing battle. The rain and daffodils tell me so.

For Bethan and her peeps...

Crockpot Lasagna Recipe

In a LARGE skillet cook 1lb ground beef with 1lb italian sausage (I use med high)
After all is 99% cooked add one large (or two regular) cans of tomato sauce (homemade or store bought)
Add 1 tiny can of tomato paste and stirrrrrrrr in
Add garlic (lots), salt, pepper and lots of italian seasonings to your taste (oregano basil etc etc)
Bring to a bubble but not for too long b/c you'll have a messy kitchen
***sometimes we sauté carrots and garlic and onions and anything else you like and add them to the sauce if we think we can get away with it without Brandon knowing.... =) (it works best if you shred the evidence... especially the zucchini and carrots)
THEN (or before) add a regular size bag of Mozzarella (I use 2% kind) and either 1 container or cottage cheese (low fat) or ricotta and some parmesan cheese and mix together. (see I don't do exact measurements!)
In your unheated crock pot put a layer of lasagna noodles, meat and cheese and repeat... sometimes I only do two layers of each and sometimes I stretch it out to three layers of each
Put in crockpot on high for 8 hours I believe... Bethan you can correct that because I'm not positive about the time. But it's great to do the morning before church
We serve it with sauteed greenbeans and homemade bread... yummmmmm!!!

Note** This will not come out in your perfect restaurant square of lasagna... so if that bothers you, you can use these same ingredients and to it in a casserole dish for about and hour and a half in your oven at 350degrees (approximately)... but this is the yummiest lasagna I have ever had!! (I don't even really like the stuff usually) and it makes TONS AND TONS!! I am pretty sure you could serve about 8 people with this stuff... the most we've done is 6 but we've always had leftovers!

ENJOY!

New Beginnings

My new friend Sloane!


trying to take awkward smile pictures and cracking up!


awkward smile success!!


This weekend my long time roommate and friend got hitched. It's fun when you are married and your single friends get hitched. There is a whole new variety of things to talk about!! haha. The wedding was beautiful and very unique, just like the bride. Everything went without a hitch and every one had a blast!
I was worried going into this whole thing that I was about to spend a week alone, the weird outsider from Kentucky. My friend is from a small town in West Texas as were most of her bridesmaids... and they were all blonde.
So, I prayed. I prayed that we would all be mature and Christ-like. I prayed that I would not be selfish and insecure. I prayed that I would not feel all alone and that God would give me a friend while I was there and away from my husband for the second time in two weeks. I prayed that I would serve serve serve.
God answered.
While I was back in Texas I did make friends. I got to hang out with the Bride a bunch, which was super fun. The blond west Texas girls were very friendly and didn't even make fun of me for having brown hair. haha. I was not as selfish and insecure as I was worried I would be (not claiming to be perfect by any means!). I got to serve that beautiful bride all week and make sure her life was easy as pie the week of her wedding. He also let me meet Sloane!
God is so good. I was already amazed at the way he quickly and obviously answered my prayers and then he goes and tops my requests.. showing once again he is the Father, Creator, Originator of Good gifts!! When Bree was needing an errand run or when she was with her fiance (now HUSBAND!) I got to go around with another gal... Sloane. This girl is funny, godly, beautiful, generous, hilarious, gorgeous, artistic, feminine and talented in almost every way! It all started with getting our eyebrows waxed and then we were friends for life. I laughed so hard with this girl all day every day for a week! I never thought I would leave this wedding ready to cry over some one I met the previous Tuesday! God ordained some awesome conversations between the two of us and even just today revealed another way that we were meant to meet. He is showing us how we don't even know the depths of his foresight. I can't go into all the details but God is so good and I am thankful for Sloane.
There have been low moments this past month where I was clinging to the fact that I knew God would do whatever it took to conform me to the image of Christ... and I was willing to go through low times if that meant looking more like him... and I feel double-blessed that he gave me a friend this week when I really needed one in Sloane to help conform me to his image too.

Lord, you give and take away and my heart is choosing to say BLESSED BE YOUR NAME!!!!
Blessed be the name of the LORD!