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!!

the importance of family

lately i have come to truly understand the importance of family. there is a unique richness. a refreshing feeling. a sense of strength, comfort, relief and a glimmer of hope when surrounded by family.

having a conversation with my mom today over lunch gave me another appreciation of family. as we look back on 2 months of my dad not being with us. we wonder how we are making it? we wonder why we feel stronger then others who are also dealing with a loss in their family. through our discussion we pin pointed an answer to that question... not only do we feel comforted, encouraged, and strengthened in knowing that my daddy is with Jesus, but we long for that day when we will get to see Jesus face to face, for that is our eternal home. our time on earth is temporary. for we just passing through. and yet, if we take that one step further. if we simplified it even more, as my mom pressed...we find that we believe the Word of God is true. We believe God says heaven is our eternal home and this earth is only temporary. God's word is our hope. it is His very words that give us hope, strength and courage to face each day. (Matt 24:35; 2 Cor 4:16-18)

in addition to that though, there is something else. it plays a secondary role...the support from family members. i won't go into details of how mine has been the sturdy support for me and how we all function together, but my mom stated that she has made it thus far because of us kids being strong for her and finding ways to support each other. we have found that we need each other to get through it all. whether we are a sister, mom, brother, dad, child, cousin, friend...we all function together. we all play a specific role. the question is, are you fulfilling your role in the family God has placed you in? it may be your biological family, but it also may be your spiritual family and the people God places around you to live life with. 

i find myself today looking ahead in returning to the people of mawanga. to know we have been called as God's family to love, support, strengthen, encourage, and walk through life together. we need each other. i know i can't offer anything to those in uganda that will fix their situation, but i can offer Christ's love and God's word to them. we can read it together. we can find courage together. we can find truth together that gives HOPE to our weary hearts. together we are the church. the body of Christ. His strength will be our strength. therefore we press on each day...

AMAKA! 

Happy July...part 1

i can't believe this month is already half-way gone. so many fun things have happened, thus the reason for lack of blog posts...here's a recap...

july 2-4th : weekend of family reunions, lots of food, and good fellowship at the lake for the holiday (sadly i did not take any pictures...)

july 5-10th : mom, dad, and i took a road trip to red river, nm. we spent most of our time with my aunt and uncle at their cabin, but the main event was our best family friends' wedding. one of their daughters was getting married in angel fire. we had an absolute blast!

at dinner in red river

new mexico is beautiful!

my best friend for 18 years!

dad and me

got to hang out with these two beautiful friends 

at the reception..bethann & ashley

Julie Anna and I..love her so much!

the precious couple: Michael & KJ

volleyball tournaments & a wedding...

every day seems faster then the day before. i blink and 3 weeks have gone by. it felt like yesterday that i was in baltimore. so here's a very quick recap of the last 3 weeks in pictures.

April 14-17 : Dallas, Tx...Lonestar Qualifier

thought this was a cool picture of the dallas skyline

in between matches..

April 21-24 : Baltimore, Maryland...Northeast Qualifier

on the deck of an old boat in the inner harbor

the inner harbor...beautiful! 

Easter sunrise...HE LIVES!

April 29 : Royal Wedding

this day will be a sweet memory made with my precious mom. we woke up early friday to begin watching the Royal Wedding. while watching one celebratory event, we worked on a project for my brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law. our project was to unwrap the original ozark water bottle wrappers and replace them with the special designed labels. as you can see below, it has a picture of tully & tara and on the back it has their story. LOVE THIS IDEA! anyways, all the guests at the rehearsal dinner were given one as a remnant of the wedding weekend. mom and i we were in full fledge wedding mode to say the least....i look forward to mine one day. the time spent with my mom and sisters is simply priceless!

April 30-31 : Regional Qualifier in Dallas...last tournament until June
(no pictures)

May 4-6 : Decorating for brother's wedding

setting up pavilion for rehearsal dinner

center pieces we made..mom had a great vision for them! 

hanging the birdhouses..by tractor that is...it's how we roll in the country

the rehearsal dinner! perfect night!

May 7 : WEDDING DAY!!!

Bridal Luncheon...future sister-in-law with her mom

first baptist church of cleburne

tully & tara cutting the cake

my sister's amazing groom's cake!!

this week...

we all have been trying to get out of the "post-wedding lull". to be honest, i thought we all would be relieved to be done preparing for wedding events, but it has been the complete opposite feeling. the week leading up to the wedding, and then the day of the wedding itself, were probably the most memorable 2 days with my family. weddings are for celebrations...not only for the couple who are making their commitment to each other, but for everyone involved. the couple is making their covenant promise to the Lord. it is the celebration of God's gift to us, His people. and together as a family, we celebrate together the Lord working in our lives. its another glimpse of His abundant love He has for us.

we actually have one more reception to do...in order to accommodate for all of my parent's friends from throughout the years, they decided to have a 2nd reception. its at the ranch on may 22. again, we get to gather together to celebrate the Lord and His love. looking forward to more memories made!

pictures

"mom to 5 kids and the family farm i live on"

1 of 4 baby goats at our house

the chicken coup...right outside my bathroom window

anna working on her picture to send to the kids in africa

the entire art class i taught

2 of the little rascals i got to hang out with...joshua and anna

the crazy crew...we had a fun week together!