I got engaged!!

Check out the post from my friend, Cristi's blog. More to come from me. :)

Simply Cristi: Congrats Travis and Laura!!: "What an amazing weekend!! I got to go spend four days in one of my favorite places on earth with some of my favorite people on earth! Some..."

Newsletter- Blog Style

Hey everyone, I wanted to send out a newsletter, so I decided to just put it on my blog instead and send you a link.

You, my supporters, friends, and family have been on my thoughts lately. I've been thinking about y'all and wondering if you're wondering what I'm doing in life and why you can never get a hold of me. ha. I want to share with you what I am up to.So... so many things to update you on- where to even begin!

I'm just thankful for life--and life to the fullest- Recently I read in Psalm 119 that "your testimonies are my heritage forever". My heritage in life- are God's stories. I love that. God is always writing new stories for my life.

I wanted to share with give you a little in-depth look into a few areas of work, church, and play.

Currently, I'm working am at Baylor University- as the Program Coordinator for the Texas Hunger Initiative housed at the School of Social Work. This role really is perfect for me- working to see the end of hunger and food insecurity in the State of Texas and Waco specifically. We're a capacity-building collaborative project and work closely with Texas Department of Agriculture in Austin and the Faith-Based Initiates branch of the US Department of Agriculture in Washington DC and many churches and faith-based organizations throughout Texas. Our goal is to end hunger in the State of Texas by 2015 mostly be strategic planning and connecting communities to see the needs and state of poverty in their community and to take action

Check out http://www.texashunger.org/

My role specifically is the Program Coordinator and Administrator. I also get to collaborate with some of the strategy (which I love!) Recently me and my colleagues had a meeting in the Texas State Capitol with some House Representatives and a big wig from Washington DC. We took it very seriously:

Summer Ellis™ Jewelry Business

I'm loving my role with Summer Ellis, managing the studio. I'm gaining so much experience in business management and entrepreneurship- its awesome and fun. We have some incredible talent on our little team of 4- so creative, inspired, and Godly.

Check out our website. www.summerellis.com

Church
I'm passionate about the work of the Church in America and the nations (as yall know!) Currently, I'm involved at my local church in several different layers. I'm co-leading a life group, on volunteer staff with the Serve Project (helping to oversee those in other nations sent from our church), a volunteer at the Community Feast, and on one of the World Mandate '11 planning committees. I love having the opportunity to serve and build alongside some of the greatest people on earth!

Landmark Girls

I'm making sure to have fun with my roommates as well- girls just wanna have fun, right!?

We've been frequent customers of the frozen yogurt places in Waco and have been known to have spontaneous dance parties- we keep our play lists ready! It's also so great to have girls in my life that are hungry for God and growing more and more in love with Him.

Here's a few recent pics:

Leah, Andrea, Me, Cristi

roomies

Andrea, me, Leah, Cristi

The Feast

Every Friday we serve a meal for the community- whoever wants to come. It's been awesome to see the gathering of people that come for 'food for the body and nourishment for the soul'- whether is small families from the neighborhood, single moms, homeless, unemployed, and a little of the waky Waco flavors. I help with the kids. I've enjoyed being able to love on these kids as much as a want and encourage them when they may not get much of that in their lives. Most of my closest friends in Waco also serve and lead at Feast every Friday. There's a group of about 10 who share life, lead together at the Feast, meet weekly for lifegroup, and even some that are dating... more details to come on that one :).
Here's some pics:

Princess Net Net.

Senator Chris

Thanks for taking interest in my life by reading this update. I'm eagerly looking to the future and have so many ideas of what I want to be doing- but you are the people that make my daily life so great. Thanks for your consistent kindness and support. And thanks to God who has so faithful led and loved me throughout these months since being back from Iraq.

Other awesome pics I just wanted to fit in:

Me & the bf at a recent costume party.

My mom enjoying some frozen yogurt.

The cutest best friend baby ever!

Faces of March

Carolynn and I working at the Summer Ellis™ Studio. We love working together and sharing life! The times that we do spend at the studio together are so refreshing- we talk for hours about life, joy, and cupcakes from Olive Branch. She is an amazing woman- so kind and passionate about God.
Aidan. My rommate's nephew. He comes over on Saturdays usually to play with "Tae Tae". That's what he calls my roommate, Cristi. He has to bring his own toys though... we need a toy chest or something.
And "Kath-a-leen" is what Aidan calls my dog. Aveen is still enjoying life and chewing up all kinds of stuff. Aveen is invincible. She dives behind dump trunks, eats coffee grounds, make up, hand sanitizer, lotion, bags of chocolate chips, boxes of treats left on the floor of the closet, chicken bones, and much much more... Aveen has yet to eat anything that she didn't like... or that's killed her. haha.
These beautiful girls are in my lifegroup. I really love hanging out with them- Maddi, Emily, and Maegan bring so much life to any social event with their laughter, humor, and crazy dancing. All their parties turn into dance parties! Seriously, these girls... are amazing!

We've Come So Far Conference- 2011

I just like this picture.

Best friends.

puppies, babies, and doctoral degrees. (in no specific order!)

I have an Office

I have an office.

I have an my very own office.

I have my very own office at Baylor University.

I started working at Baylor today, and honestly, couldn't be more thrilled. After one day, I was reminded of why I wanted to be employed there so badly. Baylor really takes care of its faculty and staff. There are so many perks and benefits for being on staff. Professional development is one of their strengths as an organization. I was so excited to pull up the pages of development classes offered for the faculty and staff- everything from web mastering, digital media, budgeting, management & communication.

So I stuck my faculty & staff parking decal on my car (which means sooo much being a former student, I can park anywhere!!) and officially re-activated my Baylor ID and ID number.

I'm back at Baylor.

Here's my office. I can't wait to decorate it.

Haha, I can see myself making it all recycled-modern art- anthropolgy-esk.. my office would probably stick out compared everyone else's. Office dress code and offce "decore" codes kind of but more...But maybe not, it seems to me, from my first glances, that Social Workers are kinda like really educated hippies, super laid back, and working to see change for the good. I like that. They seem casualy- their tattoos are hidden by their white button down shirts, rolled to the elbow, and kahki paints so desperately wanting to go mountain biking.

And since Baylor was so expensive to go to, I'll work every one of my hours per week to pay back my school debt. Baylor's paying me now! ha. :)

It was a happy day.

Aveen first experience in the snow

I let her out in the morning, in our usual routine, knowing full well that there was 2inches of snow on the ground. She's never seen the snow.

So I videoed what she would do.

And she seemed to be fine. She's afearless dog. I've never seen her back down to anything, except for maybe Ed and Amanda's great dane, but she seemed fine in the snow!

Even though she had little icicles on her paws afterwards.

Tribute to Lana Beck's Wedding

This is my sister. Lana Beck. We just recently celebrated her marriage to Daniel Beck. And I have to say, it was a blast!! Probably one of my favorite weddings ever-- but what can be better than partying with friends and family for a week straight. It was a true Hilton celebration-almost on the festival level. It seems like wedding trends are changing to a "do whatever you want" theme, and that is exactly what we did!

Pictured from left to right: Alfredo Dfoo, BBQ Daniel Beck, and Salsa Podge snacking the night before we left for Vegas.
My brother and I were enjoying the view of Las Vegas from the 21st floor of the New York, New York hotel in Vegas. The mountains, the lights, the sun setting over thousands of hotel rooms. Taking a picture was a little difficult, it required staging yourself behind thick curtains so as not to get a glare.
He's got talent!


Las Vegas.

I wander what inspired writers or musicians have come from this city. hmmm... probably not many. Not the place to go to find inspiration...

And so the bridal party gets ready for the big day! We gathered in the mother of the bride's room to get ready.
The bride does the maid of honor's make-up. Las Vegas colored eye shadow I might add.
Now the maid of honor does the bride's hair.
the crowning moment, the tiara.
Bride at the salon..... looking so beautiful!
wow, I love these pictures. I'm not the best photographer. I kinda get annoyed at taking pictures because it hinders the moment. But I do like these.
Mom blown away at how beautiful her daughter is!
Yep, still blown away. So exciting!!
This was just moments after the ceremony with the whole party crammed in the elevator to go to The Mix, 64 floors up. Celebration!! Pop those corks!

First few moments as Mr. and Mrs. Beck.

looking over the horizon,

to their future,

full of unknowns and surprises,

and endless laughter together,

just as it began.

love yall!

Going to the Chapel

We've landed in Las Vegas for my sister's wedding. It's pretty fun traveling with a group of 20 or so people, trying to get 20 people to the same places. We landed at the airport and took nothing less than a limo to our hotel. Living big! We did in fact, cram 11 adults and 11 adult's luggage into one limo. Our driver went out of his way to accommodate us, even illegally. Here is half of our luggage crammed into the trunk of the limo.

Las Vegas is wow. Here's our hotel that we checked into today. The New York, New York. It's even got villages of restaurants, pubs, and theaters inside the lobby... and a roller coaster that goes through the hotel and outside the back. We rode that yesterday. Even though my sister lost her phone on one of the corkscrew twists and turns. :( We think her phone is now in pieces 25ft below the roller coaster. We might still try and get it back... it's under warranty.


Here's my beautiful bride sister, Lana.
I'm so happy for her, she is an incredible woman and I'm so proud of her.

Endless Christmas

So Christmas this year was great, it felt a little endless because of so many parties, gatherings, and gift exchange. It wore me out! But I was blown away by the gifts people gave me, which I totally wasn't expecting.

This Christmas party was core LG... with a vague theme of "yearbook party". We brought yearbooks, if we had them, and ate some fantastic food. I have to see we have a collection of great cooks in this group! And we tend to go big every event.
The girls: Micheal Ann the punk rock star, Laura in 80's vogue, Cristi the aerobics instructor, and Amanda the high school tennis team all-star.

Then my other LG had a party, themed "tacky Christmas". It was great to see what everyone came up with. There was some tackiness. Emily and I went shopping at Goodwill and found some good pieces... including Sean's glossy red vest.

Elijah came dressed as a Christmas tree, although he couldn't move very far from the wall socket. Very funny.

Net Net & Nu Nu. Love these girls!
And finally my brother and I with cameras rolling. My brother is so funny and makes me laugh probably more than anyone else on earth. My sister trained his humor. So I guess I should thank her.
Darin got a new gun for Christmas, a hand gun.

Tree decorating

My dog helped decorate the tree....

We got some fabric and cut it into stripes and then braided it for tree decor. Aveen helped braid, too!


This is the finished product. We used a real skirt for the tree skirt and put a few lights. It's fun to look at in our cozy living room.
Rachel and Cristi enjoying some couch time together at our chili night. Both are so beautiful!!

My best friend and my's traditional christmas pic in front of the tree, only this year with puppies and babies.

Rach gets cuter everyday, and now she's cooing and making sounds.

disclaimer--I'm not obsessed with Aveen or Rachel, I promise, even though these blog posts might reveal other wise. They just seem to be the only objects of my pictures lately. And in general bring a lot of life and laughter to my daily life. So I like them.