DayCation

Jeff and I took a little Day-Cation last weekend down to Galveston.  Jeff had MLK Day and I, well, I happened to have a day of vacation as well.  First stop, though, was at his kitchen counter where he dished out some waffles, strawberries, and homemade cream.  It was delicious!!!

I bought him this Black & Decker Rotary Belgian Waffle Maker for Christmas.  Upon opening it he looked at me with one eyebrow raised and said, 'Is this for me or for you?' Ha!  It is for both of us, of course!And let me tell you, they were SCRUMPTIOUS!  I knew he needed one of these in his kitchen!  

All the way to Galveston I hinted told him that I wanted to go to The Spot on Seawall.  It happens to be a local favorite and going there makes me feel like I know what I'm doing and I know something about the place.  Emily and I have been here quite a few times.  Sometimes daily if and when we are down there for a little retreat.  Our favorite beyond favorite dish thre was the chicken finger salad in a tortilla bowl.  Sounds like something you can get anywhere, right?  Wrong.  I can't explain it but it was the perfect blend of light and health with salad dressing and crispy tortilla.  Perfect for a break away from the sun.  BUT they did away with that dish a while back and Emily and I just want to know why?  Everytime I visit there's this little inkling in me that thinks, 'This is the day that I will wake up and realize it has all been a bad dream!'  I'm still sleeping, I guess.  We did stop and eat a snack, though, and shared a plate of fish and shrimp.

After stopping at The Spot we drove around and did a little site seeing.  This included driving down to the very end of the seawall to see the spot where a fort was built for the use in WWII.  San Jacinto Fort, I think?  You can also sit and watch the ships coming and going to the port.  There were a lot of people fishing out there as well as two or three groups of older, retired gentlemen who were all gathered around, 'Shootin' the breeze' so to speak and reminiscing of times past.

I had to go down to the water's edge to take this epic cliche picture of our names in the sand.  I've never done that!  Besides, I'm still 14 years old at heart :)  Jeff was very gracious and went along with it.  But isn't it such a cute picture?  With the foamy water threatening at the heart's edge and everything?!

I don't know when the Pleasure Pier was built [below] but it did look like a lot of fun!  Maybe next time.  It was January, after all, and just a little chilly.

After walking around on the Seawall we headed over to downtown Galveston.  Other than Dickens on the Strand I have never walked around there.  It was the perfect weather for a day like this and we enjoyed walking around and looking in all of the little shops.  For dinner we tried something new and went to Nonno Tony's.  It was really good!  We were the only ones in the restaurant for a little while and got really good service.  Not a bad way to dine!

Downtown Galveston

Neglected, no more

Well, I fell like singing '...same song, second verse; a little bit louder and a little bit worse!'  But I won't.  It would be appropriate, though.  I went into work this past Monday morning--and not as grudgingly as I usually am on a Monday morning--and left at 3:34 p.m. with a severance package in hand.  Ugh.  Not the best way to end my already least-favorite day of the week.

Has this ever happened to you?  It's one of the worst feelings in the world and, though it has happened before--albeit much more harshly--it is not something that you get used to.  'The First Cut is the Deepest' is not applicable here.  If anything this cut hurts much, much worse as it goes much deeper than the last, cutting all the way to the core of everything I've trained to do and all that I want to do.

I cannot even begin to describe to you the roller coaster of emotions, thoughts, and feelings that this past week has been but I can tell you that I have been surrounded by the love and support of those that I love the most during this sudden change of events.  Jeff--who was quick to remind me that we made it through this the last time and only about 4 months into our dating relationship--has been more than amazing by offering his best support and encouragement.  He even attended an IIDA [Interior Designer's Assoc.] networking event with me; although I'm not sure that the chili cook-off didn't have anything to do with his willingness to attend ;)  My parents have also been extremely supportive, calling and checking in on me daily to offer encouragement and advice.  Emily/Roomie helped me design and create some really cute contact cards for me to pass out at said networking event.

Pre-water works; waiting for Bible study to start!

Emily also went with me to Beth Moore's first night of her new Bible study on 1 & 2 Thessalonians.  26 hours after being laid off from my job, there was no other place that I would have rather been.  Before getting started, Beth encouraged us to worship in any way that we felt comfortable; anything, that is, short of distracting others from worship.  I thought I would be okay in this until the very second that the band started up on 'Desert Song' and 'Waiting Here for You'.  Oh. My. Goodness.  Thankfully I wasn't escorted out by security for causing a distraction but it's safe to say that my emotions put me very close to the edge of the No-Distraction-Zone warnings.  But, I know that there was nothing sweeter to me than standing there, my sister's arms around me, and stripped raw before My God.  Wow.  I really had not had such a powerful, worshipful moment since, well, maybe since the last time I was knocked down into this boat.

Ok, before this lump forming in my throat turns into more sobbing I will leave you with my memory verse that I will be dwelling on these next two weeks.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."  Phillipians 4:19

2013 Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Verse 2!

2013 Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Verse 2!

If you haven't done so already, go and submit your verse!  I am 5 days late myself :0; it's not too late for you!

My memory verse for the next two weeks is from Phillipians:

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."  Phillipians 4:19

2013 Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Verse 1!

If you haven't already, go check out Beth Moore's scripture memory challenge over on the Living Proof Ministries blog.  I learned about this 2 months too late two years ago and, after looking forward to joining in for 2012, was disappointed when they announced that they would not be hosting one for that year.  BUT they are back and ready for 2013!  I hope that you will join me; I know it will be very rewarding!

My verse for this week is from Psalms 65:11:

'You crown the year with Your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.' 

Now it's your turn; GO!

2013 Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Verse 1!