Last week/weekend was filled with friendships we’ve not seen in far too long. After a full week of work (Ryan and I were both beat), we got to hang out with our friend, Steve, who is in from Australia. This is the second time we were able to see him on his visit, which is so awesome because we haven’t seen him in years (I’ve skyped with Steve a few times with my coworkers as he does team building work using MBTI & Strengths Finder… If you’d like to do some team building for your company or even personal consulting, I highly recommend reaching out to him. He is so good at identifying strengths of your individual team members and helping you understand each other and how your team functions best together.) God has used Steve greatly in both Ryan’s and my life, and it was so good to see him again. We also got to see our friend, Sterling, as we gathered at Gingerman to listen to our old friend, Tom play (I know him as “Tommy” but I will try really hard to refer to him as “Tom”). Ryan and Tom used to be roommates and Steve was our college minister years back (also where we know Sterling from), so it was a pretty surreal thing to reflect on God’s goodness to all of us over the past few years. Side note: we learned that Tom Lynch plays at Gingerman pretty consistently on Thursdays (6-9p). He’s pretty incredible musically, so if you ever want to go chill with some friends and hear some great local music, you should totally go check it out.

Good lookin’ crew, eh?

We also have some friends in Houston from Missouri for a mission trip. It’s ironic for me, because the trip they’re on is the very trip my brother-in-law came on like 15 some years ago and met my sister. He ended up moving down here after the trip, and worked with my sis as a youth minister to intercity students. They of course, ended up getting married and eventually moved back to MO. Just kinda funny to now see some high school friends taking the same trip.

Brock and I were in the student worship band at church when I was a senior in high school. He confirmed that I was good at telling everyone what to do (shocker.. it’s a spiritual gift). But he said it was a good thing, so I believe him. :) We got to meet his beautiful girlfriend, and showed them around some parts of Houston on their free-day.

Is it bad that I kind of enjoy taking pics of people when they don’t know what to do? Keeping it awkward.

Also saw this little guy as we were leaving. 

It was a lot of fun reconnecting with people and hearing what they’re up to and where they’re headed. God is so good to us, and it’s a great thing to be reminded of how far He has brought us. Gives me hope for where He’s leading us. :)

Today also happens to be my momma’s birthday! She seriously is one of the best people I know. Her love for the Lord is undeniable, and it’s clear that her one desire is to see more of God, and for as many people as she knows to see Him too. She also has a really dry sense of humor, and really enjoys giving people (especially my dad) a hard time. I TP’d my first house with my mother, and learned how to play pranks on people from her (sorry for outing you, mom). She loves people deeply, and cares for everyone she meets. Growing up, we always had people I’d never met before at our house for holidays just because they didn’t have anywhere else to go. She taught me how to study God’s word and showed me what it looks like to fall in love with Him through it. She is one of the most selfless and giving people I’ve ever known. I still look up to her and ask her questions about this scripture or that, knowing that the wisdom she has been gifted with has one goal: to magnify Christ. She’s lived some life for sure, and her life is a living testimony of God’s redemption and grace to us. Ask anyone who’s ever met her, and I can almost guarantee they’ll say the same. I’m so thankful for her life, and that God saw it fit for her to be my mom!

She’s also a really great cook, and a fabulous hair-dresser (yep, she cuts my hair), but that goes without saying. Oh, and she rocks the salt and pepper hair better than anyone I know.

I hope that you have someone (or someones) in your life that inspires you to fervently pursue the things of the Lord. I hope that you don’t take yourself too seriously, and allow yourself to do things just for fun! I hope that you are better because of the people God has brought into your life, and I hope that you intentionally thank the Lord for those people and experiences. They are a gift not to be taken for granted! Live well, live full, live in thanksgiving. And be that inspiration to those around you!