My Honeymoon

I really can't tell you how excited I get at just the thought of being completely done with the wedding and enjoying time off with Julie. Especially here!

Check out the wedding blog if you want to hear more!

French Toast

This weekend Julie and I were able to go to Wichita Falls. I got off work last night and picked up Julie. We got some Subway... mmm and got to Mom's house about nine.


I slept as long as I could at Joseph's and came over to start breakfast. I made French Toast and bacon. I thought the bacon would never be done... Dad taught me how to make French Toast. I personally (and Julie agrees) think my French Toast is the best! Whenever I would go to visit her while we were dating I always wanted to cook her breakfast on Saturday morning. At first she didn't want me to, she was afraid she wouldn't like it and not know how to lovingly, but honestly, tell me.

The first time I convinced her to try I made French Toast. Her mom loved it! She started to ask me what I was going to make for breakfast when I was there. Really simple, three eggs for four pieces. A little bit of milk, just a pinch. And then some cinnamon and nutmeg. Always use butter to grease your pan, and cook on medium to low heat. Butter the pan each time you cook a new piece.

Toppings are the FUN!... lol... This morning was a little powdered sugar with bananas and strawberries... It really was perfect. An Ouellette tradition was to put peanut butter and syrup. It is delicious!

There is a study bible that is called the Serendipity Bible. Serendipity is defined as an aptitude for encountering unexpected desirable discoveries. What a great thought! Anytime you open up the word you really can expect an unexpected discovery. There are many better study bibles out there, I just thought I would mention the name of this particular one.

My mind has found so much to think on in a passage we recently read. In his second letter Peter lists a hierarchy that can be applied so many ways.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. II Peter 1:5-7

It really is a beautiful transition. That first with our faith comes an intent and desire for goodness. Then through that we thirst and desire knowledge of Him and His word, for in it we define what is good and what is not. Then comes that self control to abstain from not only what isn't lawful, but what we also find imprudent. Next we have to find patience to wait on Him. Then we truly start to see that Holiness and Separation (perhaps why holiness is not seen quickly in a new believer is because these other foundations must have some sort of foothold). Then as all men can see that we are called into his marvelous light we love one another, and last but not least comes that unconditional and undeserved love that we all need so much more of.

The only problem with the word serendipity is that it implies happenstance or the unexpected. Perhaps if I reminded myself of how constant the blessings are that I find in the word I would linger at the table a little longer.

In the morning...




There is just something to be said of rising early in the morning. I know I don't love sleep as much as some. My lovely bride, my honorable brother... they seem to study sleep and know it well. I kind of feel like I enjoy it as much as the next guy. I do enjoy it enough to have a hard time getting up, but I love to meet with Him in the morning. I love to read His word, and I find meeting with Him early is different than my time in the evening.



I love this painting. I don't know if it's morning or evening, but I think it beautifully speaks of the times when Jesus would find solitude and pray. I hope your mornings find as much of Him as possible.

Weight Watchers Garden Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

2/3 cup sliced carrot

1/2 cup diced onion

2 garlic cloves

3 cups broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable)

1 1/2 cup diced green cabbage

1/2 cup green beans1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup diced zucchini

Directions:
In a large saucepan, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, saute carrot, onion, and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and salt; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered about 15 minutes or until green beans are tender. Stir in zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

So the picture online dosen't look half as good as my bowl did tonight. Julie told me about this soup a day or two ago - last weekend was a little rough. Kristopher Prince dragged us to Fudruckers and Cheesecake Factory both after having Papadeaux's with all the family last Tuesday. Needless to say this yummy recipe was overdue. I love cutting up fresh vegetables and this tastes awesome. You have to try it

Tips: I don't know what those white looking beans are other than sick looking... If you like green beans you can load them up, but if you make sure and really dice the cabbage you can get all the filler you need. Also make sure you "dices" of zucchini aren't the size of a quarter cubbed, it looks like that one would take an hour to cook... Next time I'll take my own picture.

Congratulations Donnie & Sondra

Mr. & Mrs. Donnie Allen Gandee

In 2007 there will be four weddings in my Euless church... still waiting on how many will be at home to add to it. As I sat there through the ceremony I had so many thoughts of what will happen in less than just four months time.


It was a beautiful ceremony and a beautiful day to be wed!

Happy Birthday Sis Karla.

Not that anyone who reads this blog, dosen't already know, or hasn't told you themselves... But regardless. You are such a beautiful example of a Lady. I love you dearly, and wish you a wonderful and blessed next year.

p.s. I unfortunately do not have any pictures of you on my laptop, so I just got some off of y'alls blog ;)

The Internet, it is quite unreal. I mean what in this life compares to a realm in which the vast majority of so much is right at your finger tips. Few really know all that you can experience partially. Amazing that you can come so close to reality as satellite images of your neighbors house, a virtual tour of a hotel room in Cancun, watch Nat King Cole sing unforgettable and get a recipe for lemon crusted chicken but still never come so close to reality as the taste of a simple peanut butter sandwich. No surprise that some get so lost in the vastness and still feel empty...

Any way. I am sitting here looking for wedding songs. And I come across something so silly I have to blog about it...

"Go hang a salami, I'm a lasagna hog" What in the world? Well, it's a palindrome. Just like "mom", "pop" or "Hannah", it is spelled the same backwards as it is forwards. Yeah... I made you look. pretty cool huh... try "I prefer pi". That's a fun one!

I have a thought that has started to really turn in my head. I think it's something of being grown up, responsible... maybe it's something of my mother's strength. It has to do with dealing. Not cards or negotiation, but the kind of dealing you do when you realize that sometimes it doesn't matter how that makes you feel, or how you wish something would be different. That no matter how you look at it, the situation really won't change. Or worse yet, if you don't just deal with it, you will probably just make it worse.

Something of choosing the higher road, the road less traveled maybe even Samuel's more perfect way. Either way America needs more men, more people, if you'll forgive my gender neutrality, that will just be consistent- not because of their feelings, pressures or inclinations, but rather because the moral authority they're standing upon has not and will not change. Because that other guy won't deal, and I'm not better, but I'm also not of his/her world I'm of His.

How's that for one incredibly random post?! :)

Believe it or not it has actually been less than a month since my last post. However, it has been made known through conversation, even text's, that how ever long it has been has been to long. And so here it is.

Life changes, sometimes radically. I remember what has now been about ten months ago when I started working in Lawton, OK. I would leave the house anywhere between 6:00 - 6:30 am every weekday morning and get home around 7:00 - 7:15 most every night. I worked a lot and spent my leisure time on the phone with Julie, or hanging out with the guys, or spending time with family. That was all quite a change. The past few months have been even more radical. I have kept the tradition of a long ride to and from work, but the work and frequency has changed. I probably put the same amount of hours in, maybe a little less. Thank the Lord I get paid a little more.

I usually get to spend time each evening with Julie. On Tuesdays the church has a Crisis Care Class (trying to equip the saints to minister to those faced with crisis in their lives). On Wednesday is mid-week service, which consists of singing and Young Married's class ( Bro McLaughlin wanted all of his many engaged couples to join). Thursdays I usually work late and Julie every other has choir practice, and Friday nights have been occasionally helping with youth or traveling or whatnot... Mondays are wonderful! Julie usually has dinner ready when I get in from work and we go and play tennis or go for a walk, and try to sit down and read and study together. It is a wonderful time together...

Along with all these changes or experiences have come so many new lessons. Many are lessons previously taught, and principles that I seemingly understood, but with life and days and coming and going has come and brought a clarity that I hadn't had. A clarity of love and life. Giving and receiving. God and His grace, His mercy, His provision, His love. A clarity of how I need Him. I need thee oh I need thee every hour I need thee.