Texas Adventure- Zapp Hall

This past weekend I went on a Texas adventure and drove from SA to a tiny little town called Warrenton. Warrenton is located between Austin and Houston and it took me a little over 2 hours to drive there. Twice a year Warrenton and the surrounding towns host an antique show. Over the past several years I have heard all about it from my friends Evan and Annalee. Their family owns an old farm house and dance hall (called Zapp Hall) and twice a year they rent space on their property to vendors. While Antique Show is going on their family and friends run an outdoor restaurant on the property called Royers Cafe.

I drove over to Warrenton on Friday night, had a blast working in the restaurant serving drinks next to Annalee and friends all day on Saturday, and then wondered around taking pictures on Sunday before I headed home. Although getting to see something I'd heard so much about was worth the trip, the best part of the weekend was spending time with my friends and their family! 

Here are the pictures:

Happy Birthday Courtney!

Me and Courtney in Flushing Meadows,
Queens, NY
at a Billy Graham Crusade

Bridge jumping in Martha's Vineyard

Today is the birthday of my dear friend, Courtney! Courtney and I became friends 9 years ago when we were fresh out of college and nannying in New Jersey. I knew no one outside of the family that I nannied for (and I really didn't even know them very well), when I first moved to NJ in November of 2001. I had prayed for a group of Christian friends and after 3 weeks of not meeting anyone in my age group, I began to pray for just one friend. A few days later, on an airplane ride home for Thanksgiving I sat next to a girl named Emily, who happened to be a nanny in the town next to where I was living. She began telling me about her friend Courtney. Before the plane landed, she gave me her phone number and wrote down the name of the church that she and Courtney attended.  The next week I met up with Emily at church where she introduced me to Courtney.  I only hung out with Emily a time or two after that, but Courtney over the years has been to me like Jonathan was to David. She was the answer to my prayer! I am blessed to have a friend that knows we as well as she does.

Top 10 things I Love about Courtney:

I love...

1. ... Her sense of adventure. We have had several grand adventures over the years (see evidence from pictures below).

Building sand castles in Bermuda

2. ... That she is always reading a book that makes her think. Courtney is very introspective.

3. ... Her competitive nature. One time when we were playing tennis, she had the nerve to call me Grandma. Let me just tell you that was probably the best tennis match we've ever played!

4. ... That she is a dare devil (well, I love it except for when she is driving). Pushing the "danger" boundaries is something in Courtney's nature! We've gotten ourselves into a couple of predicaments because of it, but our adventures have been more memorable and I'm thankful for that!

Watching the sunrise on Chappy

Boating in MV

5. ... How Courtney has so much compassion for others, especially when others are hurting. People are drawn to her and I have always admired her willingness to listen and to give a hug at just the right moment.

Watching the sunset in MV

6. ... That Courtney and I have witnessed each other growing up as adults. We are not the same people we were 9 years ago. We still have some of the same quirks but we are better than we were. Thank you, Lord!


7. ... That she is easy to talk to. We have spent the equivalent of years talking about EVERYTHING!

Courtney and all of her bridesmaids at her
bachelorette weekend in VT.

8. ... Her love for the outdoors. Long walks, swimming, running, biking, exploring, skiing,  jumping on the trampoline, we've had a lot of fun outside.

Dancing with a dolphin in Bermuda

9. ... That she likes to sing along to good music in the car with the windows rolled down. "It's a great day to be alive..."

Courtney and her handsome hubby, James.

10. ... Her desire to be more and more like Christ. 

                                      
                                                  
                                                  
                                                              




                                                    

                    Courtney, I love you and wish you a very happy day! 

Meet My Neighbor Monday

Strangers are just friends waiting to happen.  ~Rod McKuen

This is long overdue! I have now been in San Antonio for over a month and I continue to meet so many wonderful people every week.

                                               Alyssa (Left) and Jessi at a '70s themed Chi Alpha event

This week the spotlight is on two new sweet friends, Alyssa and Jessi. I picked them both this week, because I had the pleasure of hanging out with them tonight when they came over for dinner. I wanted to celebrate them both.

Alyssa is a sophomore at UTSA and is studying Art and Communications. She hopes to one day be a graphic artist. Alyssa grew up in Houston and enjoys being in college only a few hours away from home. She lives in a house here in SA with 3 other girls... all four of them are truly amazing and I have had a blast getting to know all of them! Alyssa you are a blessing.

Jessi is one-of-a-kind! She manages working full-time and being in ministry full-time. She is a college women's small group leader and leads a weekly small group with 14 or 15 girls in it! She also tries to squeeze in one-on-one time with each of the girls. I don't know how she does it. Proverbs 27:17 says "As iron sharpen iron, so one man sharpens another." Jessi's life serves as such an example to me, her faith sharpens my own.

-M

Meet My Neighbor Monday

This week's spotlight is on my friend Amy!

Haven, Johnny, and Amy

     I met Amy in December when she and her family stayed with Jen and I in Colorado while they were passing through town on their way back to Texas. I knew I liked Amy then, but I knew we would be friends when she asked what she could get me from Sonic the week I moved here! Amy is fun, an optimist, and she has a beautiful singing voice. She also values the relationships in her life and that she sees the best in others.

     Amy grew up in Austin, Tx and went to college at Sam Houston State. She and her husband Johnny lead the Chi Alpha college ministry team here at UTSA. They love Jesus and college students and they are a natural fit in this ministry. I am in awe of the way Amy handles both the responsibilities of ministry and parenthood. she is an amazing mom to an 18 month old. She handles life so gracefully and sets a great example not only for college age women, but for me as well.

Psalm 139 is one of Amy's favorite passages
"... You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You both precede and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head..."

Free Photo Book

I just found this great deal from Pocket Your Dollar, a blog I subscribe to. It is for a free large photo book from Picaboo. The offer expires 8/31/10. The coupon code is:Freebk 

Click on the link below for more information.

http://www.picaboo.com/promo/free-book.html?siteID=v5uUrC7BUMs-eUG7c_mOxbkrjpi6hEPPEA

-M

Meet My Neighbor Monday

                                                                       Valorie and Josh 
The last two weeks in San Antonio have been a  whirlwind! I've unpacked, had a job interview, been job searching, worked on my resume, and sent out my resume. I have figured out were all the important places like Sonic, Target and church are. I have also been swimming, gone to my first Chi-Alpha meeting, and had a few dinners/lunches/coffees with new friends. The highlight though has been meeting some of the incredible people in this community. I've decided to feature one of my new "neighbors" ever Monday in Meet My Neighbor Monday.

This week's spotlight is on Valorie!

Valorie is the very first person I met in San Antonio when I rolled into town on August 3rd. She is also physically my closest neighbor as her bedroom is across the living room from mine. She is my new roommate! Valorie is sweet, thoughtful, and soft spoken. When I first arrived, she was waiting at our apartment ready to help me unpack my car. She has been so helpful in showing me around and introducing me to various people. Valorie moved to San Antonio a couple of years ago after going to school at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, TX. She moved here to attend nursing school and is now a nurse at a local hospital. She has been very involved in college ministry and loves spending time with the college aged girls form UTSA!

Tonight I made dinner for Valorie and her boyfriend, Josh. We also enjoyed a sampling of delicious cheescake for dessert and are now watching a sweet but cheesy movie called Letters from God.  I'm thankful to have already made great friends.

Our cheescake sampler. Delicious.

Howdy Y'all

At the end of the last school year I left Vail, Colorado to pursue the next chapter in my life's story. As you may have guessed by the picture, this chapter will be taking place in the Lone Star State! It's a BIG change but also a great one. I arrived last tuesday night and am getting settled and familiar with my surroundings. I am looking forward to sharing more of my story as it unfolds.

-M