One Happy Sister

My brother just came in town from Hershey Park, Pensylvania for the week, and this big sister is quite happy!

Randomly, we took this pic right in the middle of Costco last night when we went with our cousin Anna to pick up he 35,000 photos she'd taken at camp.  (I may be exaggerating slightly.  Costco does have a great deal for photos, by the way.)  I almost didn't go with them, but Troy looked back at me on his way out the door and said, "You comin' Shay?  Come on."  I was toast.  The three of us jammed out to John Mayer the whole way there and back.

In case you hadn't noticed in my posts about phone conversations with Troy, entertaining THE band, or having him home at the beginning of summer, I really enjoy hanging out with my brother (maybe because I only see him in small doses??  Who knows.). He makes me laugh and roll my eyes like nobody's business.  Sometimes he's so ridiculous, you just have to laugh.  But that's what I love about him. 

Almost my entire family is in town, actually, and it's been so much fun.  I got to have lunch with Anna yesterday, have dinner with everyone, and dinner the night before with most of them, too.  (Can you see I'm getting a lot of great (free) meals out of this?  Excellent.)  We spend most of our time laughing, telling stories and giving each other a hard time. 

I'm really grateful for them, and I'm so glad we can get along and have fun together.  Now I'm just ready for the weekend so I don't have to work while they're all playing!  One more day...

Magical Memories

Last week, I was looking through a book my mom had put together about all my school days.  There were report cards, awards, projects and most importantly...birthday photos and invitations!

One of my favorite cakes ever was the one where the dress of a Barbie Doll was actually cake, very similar to this one:

When I think back to growing up, I have some really great memories.  We took some great beach trips and had lots of fun with my family.  But probably my sweetest memories are with this lady right here:

{My Great Aunt Jenny}

Aunt Jenny was Papa's older sister (they had six kids with about a 20 year age span!).  When my mom went back to work part-time after I was born, Jenny stayed with me during the week.  We took naps together, went to the park together, made pumpkin bread, and had sewing projects, just to name a few things.  

When Troy came along, I had to share her, but I didn't mind too much.  I do, however, remember my mom telling me about getting to go to preschool.  I immediately asked when I would see Jenny during the week.  (And I think a few tears were shed.)  But I still got to see her every week, and I'm certain it was a highlight.

Over the years, we became good friends, despite our 70 year age difference.  Together, we planned our very first "Camp Cousins" event.  (I think this was the beginning of my love for party-planning.)  We would go to her house in Fort Worth, have donuts, and spend the day playing games, making t-shirts with puff paint, eating pizza and washing her car.  (Something tells me it probably looked better before we washed it!)

We must've had Camp Cousins for at least five years.  Troy and I only have two cousins, Austin and Anna, and we are all so close in age that it feels like I have additional siblings sometimes.  For the most part, we've always gotten along great, but they will tell you that I was quite bossy.  And I probably was.  Sorry guys!

{Boston with the Cousins, Fall 2008}

Jenny encouraged us to all get along and have fun together, especially at Camp Cousins.  We danced along with to the music her player piano made and built forts out of umbrellas on her front porch.  My mom and my aunt are really close, so it made it easy for the four cousins to be good friends.  But I think these times we spent with Aunt Jenny made us even closer.

Troy's freshman year of college, the three Baylor Bears went up to visit him in Boston over our Fall Break.  We had a blast all together.  It was kind of like a grown-up version of Camp Cousins!

Jenny had a soft spot in her heart for her brother Travis' (Papa's) girls.  Mom and Laura have stories about Jenny from when they were growing up, too.  Before I left to study abroad in Europe in January 2009, Mom, Laura and I went up to visit Jenny in North Carolina.  (She moved there about eight years ago, and it was very far away!)

Aunt Laura and Aunt Jenny

Mom and Aunt Jenny

{Yes, I know that my mom and Laura look alike.  No, they are not twins!}

We were able to spend lots of time with Jenny, going through photos, laughing, talking and playing the piano.(That seems to be a theme.  We must really like music!)  Mom practically played through the entire Hymnal on the piano at the assisted living place while Laura and I sang.  It was definitely one of the neatest memories I have, because the people living there came into the big room to sing along, even making requests.  I definitely teared up a few times, especially as I sat there singing with Jenny squeezing my hand.  

We also watched the inauguration together, which was really cool to witness a historical event with three generations.  It felt very momentous.  

I got to enjoy 22 years with my Aunt Jenny.  At the age of 93, she was more than ready to get to Heaven.  In fact she told me about two separate occasions where she was at the pearly gates and they wouldn't let her in yet!  Amazing.  I know she's rejoicing now.  :-)

I thought I would be remiss not to include something about my Aunt Jenny on this blog, since it's all about the people and things that I love!  Thanks for humoring me and reading about the random thoughts in my head that included a birthday cake, Camp Cousins and my Aunt Jenny today.  :-)

Sometimes...

I'd just love to be here...

Or here...

Wouldn't you?

My First 5k!

Sunday morning, bright and early, I got up to run my first 5k.  I didn't sleep much the night before because I was nervous and excited. 

Claire and I left around 6:30 and got there with plenty of time to spare.  Adam met us there, and as we were waiting, we thought we might be the youngest runners there.  Seriously, everyone that got there early was OLD!  {Like 80.  No joke.}

Soon enough, more people started coming, so that made me feel better!

 

Of course, I forgot to see if my camera was charged, so it's a good thing I had my iPhone (yet another reason to really like it!). 

 

{Claire and I pre-race!}

{With my running coach!}

{Rockin' our iPods.  Go Team.}

 

 

Adam snapped some photos as we were running and ran alongside us throughout the race. 

I've been running at about a 12:30 pace, and I was SHOCKED to get to the first mile after only 10 minutes.  Talk about an adrenaline rush!  I walked briefly two times, just to have a break for a second, but I was always eager to get running again.

As I came up to the finish line, this old man had been running a behind me.  He said, "Come on kid, kick it in gear!"  And then blazed past me to the finish.  Needless to say I hurried up!

 

 

{All Smiles!}

Here I am just crossing the finish line at 32:46!!!  It was a really exciting moment!  My goal was to finish under 40 minutes, and I blew past that.  I really had no idea that would happen!

 

 

 {Sweaty post-race pics with our medals!}

I went from running 2 minutes to 32 minutes, thanks to Adam, and I can hardly still believe it! 

Claire and I were home by 9:30, and we both felt like we'd accomplished so much already for the day!  I took my time showering and getting ready, and I even tried to take a nap, but I was just too pumped for that. 

We joined Mom, Dad and Papa for lunch at Houlihan's, and it was so delicious.  Mom and Dad gave me this card, and inside was a running ribbon I'd received in elementary school.  Our P.E. teacher kept track of how many miles we ran, and every 5 mile incriments, we'd get a little ribbon and post it by our name.  Mom found one and stuck it inside the card.  :-)

 

 

 

 

And then we most definitely ordered dessert!  But we did share it with the whole table.  Promise. 

After lunch, Claire and I did a little shoe shopping (I'm convinced it's a great way to recover from a run), hanging out, and nail painting.  And then I'd been instructed to wear a dress and be ready for a fancy dinner that night.  :-)

 

Adam picked me up, and we went to Jaspar's for dinner to celebrate my first 5k.  So incredibly delicious.  We had their blue cheese potato chips, chicken and porkloin and then creme brulee and cherrly limeade pie for dessert.  Whoa.  I was still full when I woke up Monday morning.  And that never happens.

 

 

 

This is definitely my favorite picture right now. 

Needless to say, I spent the whole day feeling very encouraged, loved and celebrated!  I received so many texts, messages and Facebook comments from friends and family.  They know that this was a huge accomplishment for the previously non-runner-Shay.  But now, I guess I'm officially a runner!  And I'm already planning to do my next 5k very soon, and hopefully in under 30 minutes.  We shall see!

 

I caved, y'all.

I bought an iPhone yesterday.  My contract was finally ready for an upgrade, and my Blackberry internet just wasn't cutting it anymore.  So I caved.  And I love it.  {This is when I wish the english language had more than one way to say "love."  Let's just say I really like it.}

I typically don't like to do what everyone else is doing.  {Hence why it took me so long to wear capris pants and buy a pair of TOMS shoes, just to name a few.  But all are things I wish I'd done sooner.  The iPhone is no different.} But anyways, I got one.  And it's super fun to play with.

{See?  I was having a little fun with the computer camera.  And trying to be artsy.  Whatever.}

This was last night at Petco--taken with my phone.  I'm not quite sure how we ended up there as part of our date after dinner at Lover's Pizza (so good), but we did.  (Life with Adam is always an adventure!)  He was just trying to scare the turtle.  I don't think it worked, but we won't tell him that...  Although he did manage to scare the fish--didn't know you could do that.

Turns out I learned that small rodents really gross me out--hamsters, Guinea Pigs, mice, etc.  kind of give me the heebies.  But it was entertaining, at least.

Well, I'm off to load up on carbs for dinner before I run my first 5k in the morning.  I'm pumped to finally be able to say that I've run one!  I'll keep you posted on that.  

Practicing Hospitality

 Every time I walk (or run!) by this house, it just looks so inviting and makes me want to walk right up there and sit a while.  I love porches.  I love rocking chairs and swings.  It's just so calming to me and makes me feel very content.  While I don't have expectations to live in a house anywhere nearly as big as this one, when I grow up, I would like to have a porch.  I think that's more realistic.  :-) 

Today I was reading a post on hospitality on (in)courage.  They have various contributors each month, and this post happened to be about opening one's home when things are looking less-than-perfect around the house. 

I also know that hospitality isn't about perfection, or even near perfection.

In fact, I share continually that hospitality is about just being available, and that it's about the time spent connecting with one another. And yet even though inviting people to share life with me is what I do, it's what I desire, I couldn't shake "Martha's" increasingly loud whisper.

To me, porches are a symbol of hospitality, of "connecting with one another."  I can't tell you the countless memories I have of conversations on porches... 

My mom and dad are excellent in the hospitality department.  I'd like to think I learned a few things from them over the years.  :-)  On our back porch, we've celebrated graduations and weddings.  It's there I'd like to think I've learned the art of conversation.  We hosted a send-off party for Berklee College of Music students from Texas, and James Taylor's brother came and gave us a private concert last summer.  (He's a professor there--cool, huh?)   For several years, we had a celebration for the interns at the firm where my dad works.  I learned a lot about how to connect with people and how to try and make them feel comfortable. 

Now that I have a place of my own (with Claire!), I love having people over and making them feel welcome.  (Turns out you don't need a porch do that.)  It gives me great joy to open our door and invite them in.  I realize that to some, opening their home is completely overwhelming and quite a challenge.  And that's ok.  Everyone has different gifts!  But for a long time, I have loved The Message version from Romans 12:9-13 because of the parts on hospitality:

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

I'm not really sure what got me thinking about hospitality and porches today, but I just wanted to share it on the blog today.  Have a wonderful weekend!

 

What would I do without friends?

Have I mentioned that I have the dearest friends?  I think I have, but just in case I forgot:  I have the best friends a girl could ask for.

Last week, I helped plan and facilitate our state-wide assessment meeting at work (I feel like I sound so old when I say that).  It involved lots of planning, crunching of numbers, making PowerPoint slides, and then my job specifically was to plan a celebration dinner where we honored all of our divisions with various awards.

Since we're a non-profit, and it's still a bit tough economically, the goal was to have the dinner cost as little as possible.  I love a good bargain, and I love to plan a party, so this was right up my alley.  I enlisted my mom to help on the day of our dinner.

{Mom and me last September in Boston.  I love this pic.  It reminds me of cooler days ahead!}

We had Zuzu's Mexican Restaurant cater fajitas, and my mom came to help me transform our small ballroom at the hotel into a Mexican Fiesta.  She is a machine.  Seriously, having her there with me to set up was such a huge help!  We borrowed table decorations from her business partner and friend, Kathy, and then used some pots and other stuff from around our house as well.  I'm still a novice when it comes to flowers, so Mom did those for me on Monday morning, and they added such a pop of color!  It was perfect.

 My favorite part was the cloth napkins we used that were all different.  It just added a classy feel to the evening, instead of paper.  It was totally worth ironing all 60 napkins we used that night.  Fortunately, when I washed them all, I pulled them out of the dryer very quickly, so they wouldn't have time to wrinkle!

Don't these desserts look heavenly?  My good friend from high school, Sarah, just got back from cooking school in London, and she's heading back soon to complete her pastry degree.  She made these awesome cupcakes with dulce de leche icing.  Oh. My. Word.  So good.  She makes all sorts of wonderful food.  I'm so grateful for her generosity, her friendship and her mad chef skillz!

{With Miss Sarah at a wedding earlier this summer.  Friends since 9th grade!}

{Amanda and I at our first work event together after a long day of meetings!}

And one of the definite perks of working where I do is getting to see Amanda at these meetings, on occasion.  She came in Sunday afternoon and was also such a huge help, putting certificates in frames and helping me get organized for the next couple of days.  She said it well:  "Shay, you were kind of a basket case."  I was.  Which is why it pays to have such great friends to keep you from going crazy.  Amanda stayed with me two nights, and we got to catch up so much and even made a Sonic run during our lunch break the first day.  It was such a treat to have her here.  (Even if we had to work!)  She even made my bed and sent me out the door with toast every morning.  Such a sweet friend!

I'm so blessed to have such great friends that are so sweet and helpful.  Life would be so boring (and I would go crazy) without them!

Won't You Be...My Neighbor

The roomdog and I have a new neighbor!  We are so excited that Smoo moved just a mile from us.  It's not quite the same as living in the same apartment as her like I did in college, but it's still pretty great!  I'm just so glad she's here in the same city!

We have already shared many meals--Uncle Julio's, Best Thai, Uncle Julio's, and Uncle Julio's.  Maybe we should try eating at home, since we have two great kitchens to work from!  :-)  

Smoo, I'm glad you're here in your cute little home.  Maybe sometime soon I can RUN over and see you--literally!  I'm so proud of you!  Love, Shay Butter

In the style of Today's Letters

I'm writing in the style of Today's Letters this Monday morning.  Check it out--it's my new favorite blog.

Dear AMP, having you with me at the rehearsal and dinner this weekend in Austin was a de-light.  Truly.  Mrs. Czimskey, you make a beautiful bride.  I'm so thankful for our lifelong friendship, and that I could sing and stand beside you on your most special day.  What an honor.  Smoo, dinner and gelato with you last night was superb.  Your wisdom and insight so encourages me.  I'm so glad you're back in D-town.  I'm hoping your adventures in home ownership become less stresstful soon.  :-)  Dear three suitcases that are still packed from various trips: if I could pull a Mary Poppins move and snap my fingers and sing a song, that would be great.  It looks like something exploded in my room.  Mom, our slumber party and the ride back from Austin yesterday was quite fun.  Thanks for the girl time. Adam, here's to my last week of training before my first 5k.  I couldn't have come this far without you!

Running Milestones

A few weeks ago, I posted about my new running hobby.  At that point, I was semi-enjoying the running process.  Somehow in the last week or so, though, there's been quite a change, and I have really begun to look forward to it.

Last Saturday, I set out to run 20 minutes on the treadmill at my apartment's workout facility.  I put in my headphones and began to run.  The time actually flew by, and there was a good song on my playlist, and I didn't want to stop just yet.  I thought, "Why not five more minutes?" So I did.  Then I thought, "I've done 25 minutes, why not go for 30?  There's another good song on my playlist."

And so, last Saturday, I ran 30 minutes.  Without stopping.  Woohoo!

{This was back in May at the lake, when I was still struggling to run 5 minutes without stopping!  Apparently I smell...haha.}

Then, two nights ago, Adam and I went running.  We were about five minutes from my apartment door, and all of the sudden I fall flat on my face.  Literally.  The sidewalk was uneven, and even though there were street lights, I couldn't see the unevennness.  Oh man, falling down and scraping your knee REALLY hurts.  I'd forgotten!  I have a skinned knee, hip, shoulder and palms.  (Have I mentioned that I'm in a wedding this weekend?  Yikes.)

But, the most surprising part is that I got back up and kept running, when I could've very easily gone home.  I really wanted to finish!  Because I'd run 30 minutes earlier in the week, my run was so much easier that night.  I was so glad.

We got back to my apartment and Adam took such good care of me and my scrapes.  :-)  I even had dirt on my face.  Crazy.  I felt kind of stupid and hardcore all at the same time.

The 5k is coming up next Sunday, and hopefully I'll be good to go by then!

Kids in Kenya

Today, these 15 kids (and a few adults) leave for Kenya.  I've watched most of them grow up in our church and can't believe they're old enough to go half way around the world.  I am so excited for them!  And I kind of wish I could go along.

I've had several of the girls in my Winter Weekend group (aka Disciple Now), and they have the most amazing hearts.  I cannot wait to see how the Lord uses them and opens their eyes to the wonderful things He will do in Kenya.

Our old youth pastor, Tom Stickney, and his wife, Kerry, and their two kids are moving to Kenya to live there full time and take over the ministry his dad started years ago.  It will be quite an adjustment, I'm sure, but I can't wait to hear more about their time their as well.  You can read their blog here.  This is the third year they've gone to Kenya with our youth in the summer, and the Stickneys will stay there after the kids leave.

Linley, one of the girls headed to Kenya today, wrote this:

"That's why I'm going to Kenya. Because I need to tell people that God is the same God who has been around since the beginning of time...and even before then."

They will be in Kenya from July 6 through July 22.  Will you pray for them?

July 4th Weekend

This weekend I headed to the lake with my family for a quick trip.  It was great to get away to relax and celebrate!  The weather was stormy when we got there, but it cleared up on the actual 4th to go out and ride jet skis.  

Adam came with me, and we had a lot of fun hanging out.  See?  We built a fort!  (And that's our friends' dog, Max.  He liked it a lot, too.)  We were going to watch Forrest Gump in our fort (can you believe I've never seen it?!  How un-American.), but the DVD player wasn't working in there and we had to relocate.   We found the Sombrero in a closet with all the blankets, and our family friends that came for the weekend brought the fireman helmet as a joke for when they met Adam.  Hence why we have hats on.  And it's just way more fun.

My family really was around (despite the lack of photos), and we even got to see Papa and Jonita for dinner before heading back to Dallas.  It was a fun time.

We made it back to Dallas last night in time to see several firework shows around White Rock Lake.  I really love the 4th of July.  My weekend was a long one, so I'm still not quite done celebrating.  I'm off to see more friends on my day off.  Love it!

It's the Fourth of July!

May your day be filled with lots of...

Laughter....

Beauty....

Friends....

And Fireworks!

Happys

Yes, I realize that "Happys" is not a word.  But this is the blog world of Shay, and so today, it's a real word.  Just go with me.

There are few things I love more than the Fall season.  This week while shopping, I've spotted tall boots {perfect for cooler weather}, Fall decor, and School Supplies.  The latter being my absolute favorite.  There's just something so exciting about a brand new notebook or an empty planner.  Oh, the possibilities!  The better question is, Why is there Fall stuff out in July??  But one can never fully understand retail.  Don't they know that it's still hotter than blazes here in Texas?!

I found all three of these things at Office Depot this week.  I needed a new notebook to write in for work, and my calendar was going to run out at the end of July.  I was so excited to find this cute little water colored planner.  I'm rather picky about these things--they have to be just right, you know?

The notebook in the middle is rather uncharacteristic of me, but it very much screamed, "CLAIRE" when I saw it.  You see, the roomdog is an incredibly graceful lady and danced all through high school.  She does ballet moves down the empty aisles of grocery stores.  So, naturally, I just had to get this for her.  She has crazy, insane and vivid dreams, so I think she might use this notebook to record them.  It's truly hilarious the things that go on in her head while she sleeps.

These last two weeks have been more than a little rough for her.  Her mom was diagnosed with chronic lymphoma leukemia and has been undergoing a series of tests for the prognosis.  We are praising the Lord that the prognosis was a good one!  They actually caught it so early that there's nothing to treat just yet, so they are just going to watch it closely.  Isn't that great?!

Needless to say, I thought Claire could use a little pick-me-up.  {Not that a ballerina composition book will solve all the worlds' problems.}  But it's what my mom refers to as a little "happy."  Just a little something to make you smile.  Sometimes we all just need a little "happy." {Mine often comes in the form of a Large Sonic Dr. Pepper...just sayin'}

In Beth Moore's study on the Psalms of Ascent, there's a lesson on Psalm 128. Here are the first two verses:

How happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!

You will surely eat what your hands have worked for.  You will be happy, and it will go well for you.

In the Hebrew translation, some have translated the word happy to mean "blessed," and while others have taken it to mean the emotion,"happy".  The study says, "They can [translate it] accurately because the original term encompasses both, suggesting both a condition (blessed) and a human reaction (happy)."    

Matthew 5:4 says, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.   {See here: blessings do not always come in the forms of happy endings.}

I loved this part of my study the other day:

Sometimes the circumstances of our suffering may not change, but the circumstances of our hearts are changed in the midst of them through a keen sense of God's presence and a lively perception of His activity.


So in times when things are going well and when they are not, we can still be blessed.  I'm so grateful for that.  Aren't you?