A Shift

...a change in emphasis, direction, or focus

...a move or cause to move from one place to another

Sometimes in life we all go through a transition, a move or a shift of something. It may be small as a relationship shift, a job change or quite possible life altering such as losing a family member or moving states. No matter the degree, the shift can be difficult for anyone. Maybe it's more emotionally draining than the actual, tangible change itself. Maybe it's going from what you know, to an unknown territory or path in life. Maybe it's a change in focus or passion. Maybe it's changing the focus from being self focused to being other's focused. Maybe it's a culture shift in how you choose to live because of someone or something else. 

That is exactly what happened to Jordan and I. Recently we have been challenged with a shift of our own. Through recent conversations over the past week with friends, along with Sunday teachings through our church, God has been using various avenues to stir up in us a desire to do something. 

With what God has given us, we want to be good stewards. We want to give what God has given us. 

We don't know what they may be exactly, but our prayer is that we would be aware of those around us and the needs. We want to be generous givers without hesitation; which is hard for us since we tend to be more frugal these days and just trying to save what we can. However, we desire to live biblically and give to those in need. We want to live with our hands open for God to use.

Praying the shift that God has us do will be Glorifying Him at all times. He knows our hearts. 

To Be more like Him,
joy

Student Impact

My hiatus from blogging is only due to the crazy-mad schedule Jordan and I are on these days. once school starts, we barely have time to breath; much less spend time with people we love. we play catch up on the weekends, whether that's laundry, cleaning or resting. Saturday and Sundays are sacred to us and we try seek to find refreshment and rejuvenation somehow.  though the days are busy and pack full, we both know that God is using us some how, some way. It's not until little moments that we recognize that our measly selfs are being used.

There are moments in our jobs that sometimes we don't see purpose or the fruit that is growing in our students. We can easily get discouraged or question our position and role. However, this past friday I believe God reminded us of WHY we are doing what we are doing. And that our job is not a job at all, but a ministry.

Last Friday, was a normal day with classes, work and scheduling. However, during our lunch hour we were humbled to have some of our former students come visit is. They were on break from college and wanted to make an effort to come catch up over lunch. It blessed Jordan and I so much that they took the time without anyone asking them. We visited for about 2 hours and got to hear how their first few months of college has been.

Our Lunch Date!

I can still hardly believe that they wanted to see us. It was in that moment that I knew God had been using Jordan and I to build relationships with these young adults that begin a year ago. We hope our friendship with them will remain for years to come.

My hope is that God will continue using us to influence others and somehow make an impact. It is only through Him that lives are changed.

more than winning..

i love inspiring movies. i love the emotion they evoke in me. i love the celebration of victory when not only the good people win, but when hearts are impacted and lives are changed.

jordan and i rarely get to go out to the movies, so with our final weekend of summer we headed to the theater saturday night and saw "when the game stands tall". two big thumbs up from the suggs. this movie is not just a a feel good movie. it's not just celebrating the victory. in fact, it's so much more than that. it's about brotherhood. relationships. sacrifice. rising up when life struggles hit you. seeking to fight for one another. looking beyond the game, or even winning, but finding who you are and how you will live because of the struggle. to be committed and give perfect effort.

being a coach and teacher, jordan and i both have had our fair share of battling what is more important. is it the title? the success? winning? getting appreciation? meeting expectations? seeing change or transformation? is our to-do list taking more priority than where we are or who we are around? are we making it about us? or are we striving to make much of God? are we loving God and loving people?

from this one movie, my mind races to ask those questions. in our culture today, we are measured by our success or achievements. somehow we've been placed under a standard or expectation by others. on the other side, one cannot necessary measure a heart that has been impacted or a life that has been changed. i didn't realize how certain people played a part in my life until later when life is tested and the hardships hit. that is when you know who you really are and who truly will stand tall next to you. all the little things in life then fade away. all the titles, wins, loses go away. 

[i am beyond grateful for my best friends (you know who you are) who have never wavered in their support throughout my life and all what has been thrown at me. you have bravely stood tall, held me up and fought for me. you have become precious irons in my life. for that i am forever thankful to my God in heaven for the gift of you.] 

what a reminder to me and jordan as we head into a new school year. tomorrow is the day we start year 3 at nbca. we have been given such a platform to be in the lives of teenagers each day. whether that's teaching in front of them or coaching them on a court or a field. we've been given a responsibility, to not just add to these students academic education. not just prepare them for the next year or even their job. we've been given a chance to invest in the very lives of the next generation. in hopes they too will make much of Christ and live fully for Him. i want our days with these students to be filled with life giving conversation. with laughter, encouragement, prayer, character building, and most importantly helping them understand who they are in Christ. 

so yes, there is so much more than coaching, than winning, or even success. 

as one of the coaches from the movie said, 

"don't let the game define who you are, 
but let the way you live your life define you."

a sugg summer ends...

Sugg Vacation in Port A

Well the Summer is gone and it's hard to believe that Jordan and I will be starting our 3rd year at New Braunfels Christian Academy. Just 2 years ago we met for the first time. It's amazing to me how time flies and all that God can do in a short amount of time. We have LOVED all the ups and downs of married life and how we've grown together in our 16 1/2  months of marriage. It's true what others have said that marriage only shows more of your selfishness and pride. The Lord continues to point out in me my insecurities and struggles, yet brings a freedom through His grace and redemption. I am one blessed woman to have married Jordan.

Recently I have had the privilege of witnessing this man be such a strong warrior for me and my heart. He has been man of protection, love, wisdom and justice. He has ministered to my heart more than I could put in words. Throughout this season we are in, God surely has anointed our conversations with such richness. It's been one of the blessings in disguise that I wouldn't trade for anything. I guess I didn't recognize how God can use tough moments, to ignite a freshness. I have to believe hard moments and tough situations can be turned around to be used to bring much glory to God! That is my hope anyway.

As a new school year begins, I can only hope for all that God will do. Jordan and I have much to be grateful for over the past few months. We have been in our new home for 3 months now and we are looking forward to hosting many events throughout the year. It's still a work in progress as far as updates, but that won't keep us from opening our doors to whomever will come despite the flaws. We are blessed to be in a wonderful neighborhood and the surrounding community. We are grateful for a church body in which we can connect, be challenged and grow spiritually. We are thankful for our jobs and the Lord's provision financially. We are thankful for the future plans God continues to write for us and place in our hearts. We are overwhelmed by the Lord grace and mercy. We don't deserve any of this. Our prayer is that we choose to honor the Lord in these things as well as bear His image through our words and actions.

~THE SUGGS

Here are a few pics from the Summer...

Golfing in Port A

Family Crab & Shrimp Boil in Galveston

 

Sugg Family Selfie...weekend in Granite Shoals on the Lake!!

our summer so far!

an update...the short version...

May 15 - we closed on our beautiful house & moved in with a slew of workers, trucks and car loads. we could not have done it without all our friends and family helping us!

May 17 - Senior Graduation & a hill country wedding in Fredericksburg. Jordan gave an amazing speech and we had a blast with our friends celebrating another couple joining in marriage.

May 23 - last day of school & summer 2014!

May 27-30 - I ran my first volleyball camp & had a great turn out! My high school kids sure help out in ways I cannot repay. After 4 full days and 8 hours of coaching each day, I was exhausted to say the least but thankful for a successful camp!

June - lots of house projects...painting all rooms, removing wall paper, painting trim, removing & painting all doors, removing carpet, painting door knobs & hinges, buying furniture off craigslist, finding unique pieces at max's house (awesome consignment/antique place) and now awaiting new flooring.

It's been a crazy June already filled with more projects than I can handle and more paint than I ever wanted to buy. My head has never been more overwhelmed with decisions, but I'm learning more each step of the way. Sometimes I stop in the middle of my thought process and can't believe how much pressure I'm putting on myself to decided on a shade of white or grey. It's the littlest things that God speaks to be most. I'm am ready to be done with projects for now. Jordan and I are both ready to through open our doors for guests and company. We are looking forward to all that is to come and every day it gets a little closer.

We are extremely grateful for this home the Lord provided for us and the place he has put it. We have been here just over 5 weeks and couldn't be happier. We look forward to spending our time with others and not on projects.

Ready for a getaway this weekend on the coast with some family!

March Madness...Sugg Style

well for most people, march madness is full of college basketball games. but for jordan and i, our march is filled with much more than that...

march is full of celebrations which continues on in april. first off, jordan's birthday is march 10. we were on spring break spending it in beaver creek, colorado with some of my family. we skied, relaxed and enjoyed being in the mountains for the week.

then the next big and new celebration we've had this month is that we found  home! we are currently under contract with a home and so thrilled.  we are in the 10 day option period so a lot could happen within the next week, but we are beyond excited at the realization of us having our 1st home. we have been looking since the end of january (i guess since the last post), so we are thankful to finally be at this stage in the process.

future sugg shack

our third celebration of this month is by far the best...our 1st year anniversary!! today, march 30, is the day i walked down the aisle to the most amazing man and promised my life to him. it's been the most exhilarating year filled with ups and down, challenges, blessings, more trips than we can handle, friendships, laughter, tears, celebrations, talks, adventures, dreaming, making memories and all around the most fun one could have with a husband. we definitely surpassed any expectation we had for year 1 and we only hope year 2 will have just as much bliss!

dinner at flemmings steakhouse

night at the majestic to watch wicked

the hunt is on...

house hunting that is!

we are officially in the process of looking for our "first house". it's honestly surreal to be at this stage of finding a place you will probably raise a family in. woah, did i just say that!?! am i really old enough to be at this season in life? i just got married and i'm just now getting used to this whole "how to be a good & godly wife thing". i still have to pinch myself to remind myself that i've been married for 10 months now. wow!

i feel so lucky to have my man. he has dealt with a lot of me since saying i-do and it's been embarrassing to think back on certain moments. he loves me through my mood swings, tears, frustration, rude comments, anger and much more. i'm thankful he still likes me after all of that. :)

okay, back to houses...our house hunting actually started back in the fall when we would search via trulia or zillow, but we knew coming back from our christmas break we needed to put some feet to our searching. so after talking with my awesome brother-in-law who is a real state agent, we began the journey. to best sum up the process, it's a giant puzzle! you are trying to find all different criteria and match it together. hmm...much easier said than done. we know we won't be in our dream house, but we want to be in a house we love and can envision raising children in. so then the questions come...how many bedrooms? bathrooms? square foot? lot size? neighborhood location or geographical location around the city? how far is the drive from work? are there nearby parks or rec centers? will the house appreciate over the years? will it be a good resale house in the future? do we buy low and put in upgrades? or do we buy higher with less projects? will the neighborhood be safe for our kids one day?

now the questions begin to shift. once you get married you consistently think of your other half and their likes and dislikes. a very humbling sate of mine. in addition, to imagine kids in a particular neighborhood is stretching me. which makes me even wonder..what will their generation be like? the culture? our society? who will their friends be? how will we be as parents? etc...and then my insecurity rises further....will i be a good parent? can i really take on the responsibility as a parent in taking full care of a child? will they like me? i know i don't have the ability to do any of these things. i'm scared half to death, but excited for the adventure whenever God decides it's best for us to really parent. that's just it though. in my timing, i know i will never feel "responsible or capable or adequate enough for it" but He will equip me with the tools. He will give me the skills, the energy, the knowledge, the discernment, the wisdom or knowing of how to do it and when to do it. whew. for now though, i get to focus on where that could all start..."the first sugg shack"

off to house hunting...

new name

hey everyone,

our blog will be moving over to a new name. probably something along the lines of "thesuggstories". hope you will join us there and keep up with our lives.

much love,
joy & jordan

Out of Hibernation...

 Well..after a LONG time away from the blog, I am wanting to jump back on this bandwagon. It's amazing how time flies but yet only feels like a few days. 

From my last blog, I think I was celebrating 3 months. Well folks...It's now been a whopping 9 1/2 months of marriage! I can't believe we are coming up on our 1 year mark. Hmm..what to do on our 1 year anniversary!?!? (I will get back to that subject later..but any suggestions??..please post in the comments) I should also wish you a HAPPY 2014!! Another year in the books. I just wonder what is it in store...

My Mom, Jordan & I on New Years Eve

  Jordan and I had a crazy start to our school year in August. We were optimistic going into it but we soon faced the exhaustion head on. Not only were we taking on our regular hours of work, but we both took on additional after hours of coaching. I ended up coaching both our varsity and jv volleyball teams, while he stepped in as the middle school soccer coach. Along with Coaching we were adjusting to new class schedules and routines, plus the most important aspect...being married (my favorite job) ! I tell you what, it was a stressful semester but overtime it leveled out and the Lord carried us through. I look back at those months as a huge stepping stone going forward in our marriage. I came away learning what I can handle and what I can't; what I should say or not to say; and simply when I should ask for help. It's humbling and I probably will be continuing to learn those lessons throughout my life. 

Weekends and holidays are what we lived for during the fall semester. It was during those times we got to take a breath, rest and get rejuvenated. We have found such pleasure in quality time with one another as well as our family. The Lord was so gracious to give us so much time with them. Our Thanksgiving break was spent at the Cross J Ranch along with all my siblings and their kids. The house was busting at the seams with people, but oh how we all enjoyed visiting, watching football and cooking food. Through that, we have created a family recipe blog so we could all share our favorite foods with one another. (I have yet to post in it but will be doing it soon!) 

Christmas break was a long vacation for Jordan and I. We left New Braunfels on a Friday afternoon and didn't return until 2 weeks later. We picked my mom up and headed for Red River, NM to spend Christmas with my in-laws and brother-in-law and his wife. We had a few days to ski and just relax. The snow was beautiful and fires were warm! After a week with the Sugg's, my brother and sister, along with their families came in for a few days. We all packed up on Jan 3 and drove back to Texas. 

Jordan, Me, Kristy & Cory on the slopes

Jordan & I being look alike ski patrol

Jordan & I found "our tree" we marked last summer..we added year '14

Celebrating 9 months in Taos Ski Valley!

  We just finished our first week of school this semester & into our second week. The spring semester looks much more promising in every aspect. Jordan is finishing up high school soccer in 5 weeks and then we switch to wedding celebrations. It's hard to believe this time last year I was in high gear trying to pull off a wedding in 3 months. I love how God brings things full circle!! Praise God!

Looking back, we have had our ups and downs as we tackle one month of marriage at a time. It's been an adventure learning all about how to be a wife, taking care of household chores and serving my husband. To be honest, it's hard due to my ugly and selfish desires. It's a process that takes time. I wouldn't change where I am for anything because to be honest...being married is the greatest challenge, yet most rewarding gift I could've asked for. Jordan is the best gift for me and God chose my husband for me, to ministry to my heart in becoming more like Christ. Each day with Jordan is a blessing and I'm humbled to be called his wife. 

Walking in Grace,

Joy

happy 3 months!

wow. i can hardly believe that i've been married for 3 months today! it has been the greatest journey so far. having my man next to me to do every single day with, is absolutely amazing. he brings so much more life and excitement to my ordinary mundane life. he is my best friend and the one person i love doing everyday life with.

looking back over the last 3 months so much has occurred. here's what the last couple months have looked like...

May ~ 

while this month was a tougher one for us newlyweds, we learned much more about our roles as husband and wife. as we entered our 2nd month of marriage, we had many reality checks that challenged us to step out from our selfishness and serve the other. it's in those harder moments that you are drawn closer together. the conversations, emotions and feelings you share allow for a vulnerability and transparency far deeper than you can describe in words.

the month of may brought lots of events...

1.) we welcomed 1 of 2 new neices to the world. on april 18, tinley grace was born. jordan and i finally got to meet her over mother's day weekend...

tinley grace at 3 weeks old... 

2.) we finished up our school year at nbca. we were thrilled to finally enter into our summer together and have lots of play time..which included camping to guadalupe state park

our campsite...

3.) we have spent several days floating the comal river; which has become one of our favorite things. it has provided such a calming, peaceful and yet great conversational place for us to share and talk about life. 

4.) we also welcomed our second of two nieces to the world. on may 31 reese michael was born!

holding reese just a few hours old

baby reese getting treatment for her jaundice 

jordan getting some reese time...

June ~ 

we started and ended this month with weddings! one was in boerne, tx and the other in cleburne. both were outside weddings and absolutely beautiful! 

at joseph and barbara's wedding in boerne, tx june 1st 

beautiful outdoor ceremony

June 14-16 : i had an opportunity to attend one of the largest volleyball coaching clinics. it was held at tcu and we had the coach from standford, ohio state and penn state share their coaching highlights and inspire all of us. 

my colleagues with the penn state coach

June 22...Cory and Kristy's Wedding in Cleburne

jordan and i headed up to cleburne for his brother's wedding. 

at the wedding...

cory and kristy during their first dance...

my beautiful momma

the sugg women are now 3!

 excited to do life with these 2 precious ladies

happy family! love my in-laws!

Here's to month 4 with my man and all the adventures in july! we are headed to red river, new mexico this week, working tbarm next, then it's up to fayetteville, arkansas and branson, missouri! it will be fun ride with my hubby! lets go!!

Life as a Mrs...

So it's been 1 month and 3 days since I became Mrs. Sugg! I can't believe we already have the first month of marriage under our belt. It has been the most beautiful, gracious, glorious, yet challenging, character building, sharpening adventure of my life thus far! I am amazed each day that the Lord allows me to spend another day being a wife to the most wonderful man. I definitely married up and I am honored to stand next to Jordan. He is God's gift to me and I feel so privileged to get to serve and love him each day. God has been washing HIS Holy word over me and showing me more ways to love Jordan than I could have fathomed on my own. I LOVE MARRIED LIFE...AND I believe I always will...though it may be tougher at times, those moments are for the better. They are making ME, making us, more like Christ. 

Thank you Jesus for the man you have blessed me with! I do not deserve him at all, yet he is the one you chose before time. He is a man after your heart and that makes me run after You faster! May Your hand be upon us as we run life together! Our desire is to make much of You in bringing Glory and Honor to Your Name! Amen.

Here is a snap shot of the wedding told by our amazing photographer! They are pretty spectacular! :)

Click on the link to read our story told through our photographer's lens...

Joy and Jordan's Wedding Pictures

Time to Rehearse!

Thursday night before the wedding, I had my bachelorette party with a little lingerie shower afterwards. I had the greatest time with all my favorite women in my life! From sisters, to mom, to college roommates, to kanakuk friends! It was one of THE BEST times I've had with all those women! We had a great dinner that evening, then a sweet time at the Bridal Luncheon the following morning. (Luncheon Pictures coming soon!)

Friday night was the grand rehearsal! It starts to hit you when you finally have to put people in places that you have envisioned. It was a bit crazy at first, but fun getting to have all these great people in one place. Following the rehearsal, we headed to the dinner at Thistle Springs ranch. Rusty and Becky (my sweet in-laws) did a fantastic job at hosting everyone! The BBQ, fellowship and sweet words shared,  blessed Jordan and I so much!

Here are few pictures of those events...

My uncle Jim (Dad's best friend) walked me down the aisle...

We did it..we are ready for the real deal to happen! :)

Two our dear friends, Mike Meredith! 

Excited for life with them!

Yummy BBQ dinner!

The lovely ladies in my life! 

(Missing my Mom, a few bridesmaids and HP's)

Listening to our family & friends 

at the Rehearsal Dinner

Next up...Wedding Day!

Bridals on the Ranch...

 As a bride, one of your favorite things is putting on your dress. Not just once, but as many times as you can! I had several opportunities to put on my dress, but there is one day in particular (besides my wedding day) that you get to wear it for a good chunk of time...Bridal Portraits! I chose to do my pictures on my parents ranch and then at Thistle Springs Ranch, where we held the reception. Here's a snap shot of the day...

Next up....Sugg Wedding Weekend!