Author / Bethe

by Bethe

My happy place

I’ve finally turned a corner and have been symptom-free for TWO DAYS! I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. God is so good and I’m giving him all the credit for making me better. And I think I’m going to do a happy dance.
I finish all my meds tonight and head back to the doctor Wednesday to see if I’m infection-free. Please say a little prayer that I am, and that I can enjoy some healthy weeks. I have a beach trip soon and I am hoping beyond hope that I’m antibiotic-free so I can lay on the beach and work on my tan.
In honor of this very happy day, I thought I’d share some of my happy places.
My sweet little house in the suburbs. I built it myself, decorated it with my sister, and love it even more now that Mr. Right has made himself at home. My youngest sister told me once that my house reminds her of Christmas–I feel like there could be no greater compliment. My very favorite spots happen to be sitting in a rocking chair on my front porch, or having dinner with Mr. Right on the back porch (which we do quite often when the weather is good).
The Ballpark. I grew up going to games every week as a child, and somehow landed my dream job as an adult that included entertaining clients at games for several years. Yes, I love baseball, but even more, I love the sights and smells and sounds of the game. I like to drink my jumbo diet coke and snack on a lemon chill while cheering on the team I’ve loved since I was 6.
I’ve probably been to Estes Park, Colorado 20 times. Sitting on the porch of our cabin, sipping coffee and staring at the mountains is one of the most peaceful things I do. I’m ready to go back.
Places where you can watch sunsets. Doesn’t really matter where, but it helps if there’s a cute boy with me.
Anywhere in Europe. Big cities, rural towns, beaches… really, anywhere.
Restaurants where they serve this. It’s how my dad used to cheer me up as a young girl, and it’s what I crave on my very worst days. The best ones come from Braums.

Getting one of these… my happy place of choice happens to be here.
Anywhere this guy happens to be…
by Bethe

Happy birthday Sarah!

Happy birthday to my beloved sister and one of my very best friends… Sarah.

Sarah is one of those rare finds in life – she’s the laid-back middle child who goes with the flow and gets along with everyone she encounters. She’s a hard worker and an uber talented interior designer (go check out her new design blog), painter, and crafter extraordinaire. She’s one of the most creative people I know, and she has a sense of humor and the gift of mercy, making her a favorite of a lot people. Oh, and my dad will tell you that she was an All State softball player back in high school.

For my wedding my mom dug up some old family photos for a slide show, so I thought I’d let you enjoy some “classics” of Sarah and me over the years (and of our youngest sister Lindsay).
When Sarah was a born, I thought my mom had given me my own personal, life-sized baby doll. What a treat she was! From the looks of this picture, I think at first I enjoyed her a bit more than she enjoyed me. I can see the panic on her poor baby face! (Oh, and why did my parents insist on dressing us in bonnets? You’re about to see more…)
For three years it was just the two of us, and then our sister Lindsay entered the scene. It was just about this time that Sarah blossomed into her uber cute phase, and I hit my tremendously awkward phase, which didn’t let up until the eighth grade. Enjoy these and feel my pain…
My parents were cheap when it came to Halloween costumes (as an adult, I certainly don’t blame them), so I was a pumpkin five years in a row. The suit went from rather large to rather tight. After that I was a karate kid for another five years, which might have been slightly creative, except we took karate, so it was the same suit I wore twice a week to class. From the looks of it, this particular year Sarah was a homemade clown, and I think Lindsay must have been Mary from the Bible. Obviously we were good Baptist trick-or-treaters… I guess this was foreshadowing that we would both marry ministers.
Ahh, yes. The year our Easter dresses sported shoulder pads that rivaled any football player. So. darn. cute. (and another bonnet…) And fitting, since both of us happen to be sitting like football players. The adult version of me wishes I could go back in time and tell 11-year-old me to CROSS YOUR LEGS LIKE A LADY! (Oops, was I shouting? I apologize)
Most of our childhood summers were spent either (1) playing softball or (2) watching baseball games. My dad had season tickets to the Rangers through his work, and anytime Nolan Ryan pitched (plus any other time we were in the mood) we’d load up the free Pizza Hut jugs full of Coke and Dr. Pepper and head to Rangers Stadium to cheer on our favorite team. It looks like on this particular night poor Sarah got bonked on the head by her sweet little sister.

We finally grew up (sort of) and lived some fun adventures as semi-adults. We overlapped one year at Baylor, and we shared some wonderful memories while we were there. Sarah changed my life when she introduced me to the hair straightener (her roommate had one of those crazy things… my hair has never been the same since) and I returned the favor by letting her lay on the floor of my apartment bathroom for a day while she battled the stomach flu (it was more comfortable than her dorm room). It was a fun year.
A few years later we were both back living in DFW and I convinced her to visit my beloved church. Soon she was hooked and we spent about four years hanging out with the same group of friends, serving alongside one another and generally just having a ball living life together. We traveled, just the two of us, to New York to watch a Yankee game one summer, and another time we took 15 of our closest friends to our favorite spot in Colorado. In between we got hundreds of pedicures, ate a lot of dinners, talked a LOT about boys, and watched a lot of High School Musical movies. I will always be thankful for those years.
Now we’re both married and have houses about ten minutes apart. She continues to be a total blessing to me, and I am so thankful to have her as my sister. Happy birthday Sarah!
by Bethe

What I’m Reading

Once you go Nook, you never go back. My sweet family gave me an e-reader for my 30th (gulp) birthday, and now I’m too much of a snob to read normal books. It’s just too difficult to turn the pages, and the balance is all off (said the girl who owns hundreds of books).
Here’s what I’ve read lately:

This book sounds awful – it’s about a girl who’s held captive in a room for seven years, and she raises her son in there. He knows nothing about the outside world– “Room” is his only reality. It’s intriguing and sad and really interesting and would make a great case study for any sociology class. A good, fast read.
This sports a typical John Grisham story-line, although strikingly similar to his other book, The Innocent Man. You can tell he’s definitely anti-death penalty. It’s a good no-brainer read but not one of his best.
I loved the Bushes before, and I love them even more now. In this book we see George Bush pray about his response to 9/11, and we get an intimate view of what life is like for our First Lady. Mrs. Bush is downright likeable, although you have to tredge through the first 100 pages, which cover everything you ever wanted to know (or didn’t) about Midland. But once you get to the White House, Mrs. Bush goes into great detail to describe her daily life. Since I’m a bit of a political junky, I absolutely loved it.
This is one of the best books I’ve read in years. Buy it now, and buy one for a friend. It’s the story of the son of one of the founders of Hamas who converts to Christianity and becomes a spy for the Israeli army. It gives you a great view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and because of this book (and my current Isaiah Bible study) I am now looking for a good book on how Israel came back together in the late 1940s. I’m open to recommendations if you have any!
This book is the worst thing I’ve read in years. I could write a better book after taking a muscle relaxer and saying the alphabet backward nine times. (I did this during my sister’s wedding so I wouldn’t get stage fright. It worked.) I’m a sucker for a good chick flick and came in with quite low expectations, but it was so much worse than I had anticipated. It was so bad that about half-way through I had to just give up because I couldn’t bear it one more minute. I’ve probably only quit five books in my lifetime.
I bought this book after my pastor’s series on Heaven. This book is SO good… like most Christians, I think of Heaven as this somewhat indescribable, almost abstract place (for the record, I believe Heaven is a REAL place… I just think about it in abstract terms) where I’ll be in the future, but I don’t think about what it will really be like in practical terms. Luckily the Bible has all kinds of things to say about it, and this book spells it out in very easy to understand terms. However, it’s extremely repetitive, so I’m taking a break after 160 pages (there’s 550 pages), but I plan to pick it back up in a week or two. I won’t be quitting this one.
And this is what I’m reading now. I picked it up over the weekend when I was sick in bed (again) and have blown through about two thirds so far. It’s about one man’s well-meaning lie to save a friend’s reputation that ends up taking on a life of its own. The main character keeps a running (wordy) narrative in his head and the book is almost entirely his thoughts and neurosis. So far it’s a fine read, but I’ll let you know after I finish it. So far, it’s better than average.
Now that I’ve blown through a stack of books, I’m open to some suggestions. What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
by Bethe

Another embarrassing moment

In Sunday School last week, the teacher asked us if anyone wanted to share their most embarrassing moment.

Or maybe it was the time I mooned Banana Republic.
And then there was the time I ripped my pants in a room full of people.
Or the time I almost missed church because I spilled toilet bowl cleaner in my eye.
Somebody should stop me before I hurt myself. Or someone else.
Oh wait… I already did that.
by Bethe

I’m THAT girl

I never liked that girl. You know her – the girl who hasn’t pumped her own gas in years because her husband does it for her? The girl who never has to worry about changing her oil, or buying air filters, or managing her finances? The one who never has to brave a car repair shop on her own while the hood of her car is smoking?
I always envied her a little. I coped by judging her and assuming that I was far superior because I was forced to learn how to do those things for myself. I didn’t need a man to do those things because I was a fabulous, independent woman who put on her big girl panties and learned how to take care of herself.
And then I became that girl.
In the past three months of marriage, I haven’t pumped my own gas, because my husband does that for me every Saturday morning. And he washes my car. He mows my lawn (and let me tell you, he’s a dreamboat of a lawn boy). He lifts heavy things for me. He takes out the trash. He fixes thing when I break them, and he even drove me to work during February’s ice storm… five times.
I am that girl, and I love it. I love it more because I was forced to do those things on my own for so long, so having someone else do them for me is the greatest treat. May I never forget what a gift he is. May I never forget how special those gestures are, or how wonderful my husband is for choosing to do them. May I never take it for granted or forget to thank him. May I never think that he owes me anything.
May I never stop trying to one-up him on all his great gestures. Every time he fills my gas tank, all I want to do is go wash more of his laundry. It’s this horribly wonderful cycle. May it never stop.
What about you? What little gesture does your husband do that just thrills you?
by Bethe

Sick but thankful

I’m sick again. If you’re keeping track, that’s the bajillionth time this year. Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but what isn’t an exaggeration is that I just filled my SIXTH round of antibiotics. I’ve been sick six of the past 12 weeks. Gee whiz.
The last time I got sick, I was so upset I cried. Poor Mr. Right had to comfort me as I totally freaked out. I was SO TIRED of being sick, so tired of not having the energy to do anything.
This time when I felt the dang thing coming on again, I chose not to get forlorn. There’s no use in crying or feeling sorry for myself. I can’t change my situation. I’m just preparing to stay close to home and am going to sadly say goodbye to those two weeks of running three times a week. I had just gotten to where two miles didn’t even phase me. Grrr.
But I’m thankful. Thankful that I don’t have anything life-threatening. Thankful that while a few rounds of illness have been a bit intense, nothing has escalated to something I really have to worry about. Thankful that this time I was healthy for two glorious weeks, which is a week longer than last time. Thankful that I have a sweet husband who is there to console me when I get frustrated. Thankful that in the grand scheme of things, it’s just been three months. Thankful that I’m really a pretty healthy girl.
So instead I’ll celebrate the good things, and choose to glorify God during times of sickness, just like I glorify him during times of health.

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.”
-Psalm 40:5
by Bethe

You can’t do that

It’s amazing how being told “you can’t do that” makes me want to do exactly that.

It takes me back to middle school, when a softball coach told my dad that I would never be good enough to make the all star team. My dad told me what the coach had said, and then asked me if I wanted to prove him wrong. For the next year, I busted my tail and made the “B” team, and the following year, after even more practice, I made the “A” team and ended the season with the highest batting average on the team. Not bad for a girl who’s not terribly athletic.
I love a challenge…
Or in high school when my parents said I couldn’t date a certain boy. Oh my goodness, how I wanted him after that! (I dated him anyway… but they were right… he was trouble.)
I am stubborn…
And now I’m an adult, and I have a total love-hate relationship with running. Even though I ran a half-marathon in 2008, even though I’m on the board for a major marathon event, even though many people think I’m a runner, I dread it. I haven’t wanted to do it for a long time…
Until I was told I couldn’t. Two months of being sick and five rounds of antibiotics meant I barely had enough energy to go to work, much less work out. So I gained 10 pounds. And because I couldn’t work out (and because none of my pants fit), it made me crave running. I was desperate for it.
So last week I was finally healthy, off antibiotics, and able to run. The weather was gorgeous, and I ran three nights around the lake by my house. I did crunches, and lunges, and push-ups. It was pure bliss.
Who knew it’d take two months of being sick to revive my love of running. I needed to be told “no” to appreciate it. Now I can’t wait… I’ll be back up there tonight.
by Bethe

Recuperating

It’s amazing how just a few minutes of stress can totally wreck you.
Yesterday, while at breakfast with some friends, we got a call that Mr. Right’s dad had been hurt in a horse accident, had hit his head and been knocked unconscious. For just a few minutes we couldn’t get any important details… was he conscious? Was he moving? How bad was it? As we drove to the hospital and waited for more information, we did all we knew to do… we prayed.
After a half day in the downtown trauma ER, we got the very good news that other than some bumps and bruises, he was going to be fine. We are praising Jesus and thanking him for protecting my father-in-law from what could have been a very bad situation.
We left the hospital tired, but went on with our lives and had a very full day. It didn’t really hit us until today… our nerves were frazzled. Exhausted. In need of some rest and some quiet. But a nap, a movie, a quiet dinner, and a molten chocolate cake later, and we feel recharged and ready to go. And we continue to thank God for protecting our family and give him all the credit and glory for performing a total miracle.
We are blessed.

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing, you have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever.”
Psalm 30:11-12 NLT

by Bethe

Our little cabin in the woods

I have a deep love for sipping coffee while sitting on a rocking chair on a covered porch. It’s one of my greatest loves. And last weekend, I got to do just that for two whole days. Let me tell you, it was glorious.


A very generous couple from our church let us stay at their little cabin in the woods, a mini-ranch in Graham, Texas, about two hours from home. This little house had no neighbors, no cell phone signal, and no paved road. It was nestled amongst wild trees and fish ponds, far from street lights and road noise. And responsibility.
It was just what Mr. Right and I needed… I’ve been sick for most of our first two months of marriage, so I haven’t had the energy to be as adventurous as I typically like to be. But praise Jesus, last weekend I was healthy and energetic and we thoroughly enjoyed our mini adventure.
What we did:
Slept in
Sat on the porch in our PJs and drank coffee
Read
Hiked the ranch, which was gorgeous
Fed the fish
Took a 3-hour nap (such a luxury)
Will went on a 7-mile run, while I sat on the front porch and hand-quilted my newest project (he’s training for a triathlon, so no days off for him!)
Ate like kings
Watched a John Wayne western
Had a really sweet time of prayer together
Admired sunsets
Laid in a hammock and gazed at the stars
Talked a lot about our first two months of marriage and dreamed about the future
What we did not do:
Check email
Talk to anybody
See anybody
Do anything responsible
It was such a special weekend, one that I will forever cherish. We are so grateful to the special couple who let us borrow it.
What a blessing.
by Bethe

He meant well

We were having such a chick-flick movie moment…

I was in the laundry room, folding the last bit of our week’s clothes so I’d be READY to tackle my week. Organized. In control. Relishing a peaceful evening with Mr. Right.
My wonderful husband was in the kitchen, making me comfort food (beef stew and cheesy cornbread because I’m sick… again). He walked into the laundry room, with a spoonful of stewy goodness, and sweetly offered me a taste.
He fed me the heaping spoonful…
And just then I realized that the soup was SCALDING HOT. Probably the same temperature as the surface of the sun. It was so hot I had to spit it out, and the rest of the spoonful dripped down my face and all over the laundry room floor.
After the burning stopped and Mr. Right knew the burns were only minor, we laughed. And laughed. Not exactly the way it happens in the movies.