Greg Loves Sarah

Dear Christa was such a living picture of sweetness and beauty of heart, of innocence and purity. During her life, she truly walked with God. She lived in His Presence – wholly and holy devoted to her Heavenly Groom. She truly was the Bride of Christ – it showed in her love, in her countenance, in her joy. I think of Christa and my heart smiles, and I want to be more like Christ, to walk more purely, to love more deeply, to love My God First.

I praise my Heavenly Father for the testimony of dear Christa’s life here on earth. I rejoice with her knowing that she is in the Presence of our Lord. Having seen Christa’s walk here, I can imagine – just in a small way – her joy at the throne of God. God is good always and in all things…

“Precious in the sight of Jehovah

is the death of his saints.”

Psalm 116:15

Welp!! (isn’t THAT a creative way to start out a post :-P ) Let me try that again…. **clears throat**

**GRATEFUL SIGH** (ah, that’s better; now I continue…)

Last week was absolutely amazing! (ok – so maybe it was technically week before last – I am posting late :P) I won’t be able to sum up here what a truly sweet time it was; sooooo I’ll just give a glimpse! The Lord blessed me with a WHOLE NINE DAYS of true vacation. Here’s my definition of the word “BLESSED”: “a thoughtful gift straight from the heart of God to a grateful me.”

Basically, I had 9 days of nothing truly “scheduled” to just BE, to love my family, to relax, to BE some more…it was amazing. **happy sigh**

The sweetest surprise that the Lord gave me for this trip was the company of my dear friend Erin!!!! Her coming along with us was QUITE unexpected and QUITE spontaneous. Thanks, Dad, for the GREAT idea! Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Wy for sharing!!!!!

For the first couple of days, I’d just look over at Erin, or think of Erin, and it was like “Wow! I cannot believe she is actually HERE…with ME…in MY world!” Ah, God is good!

We had such a sweet together of doing NOTHING:

In Texas, we visited, roamed through Mineola, ate out, watched a movie at Cat and Chris’s, visited more, baked cookies…

Then at my house in Louisiana, we visited MORE, shopped, roamed aimlessly through our mall, sat on a quilt by a river bank eating Sonic, slept in, stayed up late, ate out, played “10,000”, visited with family, walked through the woods, laid in a hammock in my back yard, went to a family get-together…

In Mississippi, we did a lot more nothing, but added swimming and sleeping in a pop-up to the list…Cozy in a pop-up, painting nails, and watching episodes of the Cosby Show – that’s what I call doing nothing :)

The Lord knew that we both needed this time for our bodies, souls, and spirits to be refreshed…and He gave it so generously.

Erin and I had such excellent visits – we pretty much solved all of the world’s problems – twice – plus the problems of each other, and when we ran out of all that, we invented issues :)

We talked about life, and our desires for more of Christ, about frustrations with self – It was basically just sweet to find a sister, a safe-place: To have the freedom to talk it out (from “I can’t believe I’m telling you this” to “sigh” to “venting” to “saying nothing at all” to . . . just talking about Christ. It was precious, and I am so grateful!!!

I love you, Erin! So very very much . . .

Erin posted an album with lots of pics from our trip! You can view them at http://picasaweb.google.com/ewychopen

Love y’all!!!

So…The other day, I posted a list of TEN TO-DO’s for while I was “home home”. Out of the 10, 9 are officially accomplished. #3 was attempted – but was unsuccessful. When I went to walk through my yard in my bare feet, it was dark (if I remember right) and the ground was wet and the wet was a tad chillyish. So, we have to save #3 for another trip.

Here is my updated list: (Always feels SO GREAT scratching things off. OK, time to home home AGAIN so I can tackle more :-D heehee)

1) Hug my Mom (Did LOTS of this.)

2) Sit with my dad in the SAME recliner (Such a comfy place. I have a GREAT dad!)

3) Walk through my yard in my bare feet (Yet to be accomplished – but ATTEMPTED nonetheless)

4) Eat a home-cooked cajun meal (Done more than once – Wow, we eat WELL in South Louisiana :) )

5) Sit on our porch and read (I am in Chapter 4 of the Authentic Relationships book. SUCH a great book! No comment…I am determined this time to complete :) )

6) Enjoy a sunset over the field across the street :)

7) Get a hair-cut at Kristy’s Thanks, Kristy!

8 ) Explore the new section of River Ranch -Been wanting to do that for a while

9) Sleep in Loveliness :) :) :)

10) Take a deep breath and BE. :) Need to do this more – even in Big Sandy! :)

Enjoy some pics!

I LOVE MY MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!!!!!! I so enjoyed this visit home… I was missing it before I even left! :(

Malloo and me :) We had about 2 hrs to spend together on Saturday – Mel was passing through on her way from Aaron and Laura’s to Houston…. SO nice living betwixt Bogners and Bakers :)

So… a 7 1/2 mph speed limit. Hmmmmm :-P

Ok…These are called “Bubbies” or “Mochis”. Mel and I discovered these unusual treats at “Scoops” – a little local ice cream shop. We chose not to resist the temptation to experiment. :) They are like little balls of ice cream wrapped/coated in flavored rice flour. It’s sort of like having a little ice cream ball wrapped in something about the consistency of a twizzler. New to the pallet, but quite delicious :)

Me and Momma and Mel :)

Outside of a Community Coffee Cafe… One tall Mocha Mochassippi with an extra shot of espresso PLEASE :)

On my very short walk in the new section of River Ranch. Scratching #8 off of my list :)

And IN CASE you are wondering where Spring is…It is happily situated in South Louisiana. I found it :) The weather was GORGEOUS… The grass is turning a lovely spring green. The skies were clear. The sun was warm on my face. When Mel came by Saturday, she made a sweet observation: That the Lord always blesses us with lovely days. And He does…

I am living in East Texas. But I am a south Louisiana girl. :)

This morning I headed for Houston to spend a couple of days at Home #4 – the Bogners! I arrived this afternoon and am already enjoying a sweet time with sweet girls and their dear mom and dad! :)

Now…I think I am going to watch a late night movie with Mel…..

Laters!!! :)

First things first: I AM HOME HOME!!!!! and SO happy to be here! I was in need of a vacation…I needed a “home-fix” :) And here I am!

And now for a list of 10 THINGS that must be done while I am in Louisiana:

1) Hug my Mom

2) Sit with my dad in the SAME recliner

3) Walk through my yard in my bare feet

4) Eat a home-cooked cajun meal

5) Sit on our porch and read

6) Enjoy a sunset over the field across the street

7) Get a hair-cut at Kristy’s

8 ) Explore the new section of River Ranch

9) Sleep in

10) Take a deep breath and BE. :)

Yup! Sounds like a good list to me! :)

What a whirlwind week and a half it has been!! Full of lots of highs, lots of lows, and an overwhelming amount of GRACE.

First off, MELANIE CAME!!!!! [FYI: If you don’t know Melanie, I am SOOO sorry. We’ll have to arrange an introduction. Call me. You’ll never be the same :) ]

Mel came to Big Sandy for a Chalk Art Course being offered on IAA’s campus. That course just happened to coincide with my birthday – which was perfection!! It has be SO GREAT having Mel here!

I can’t tell you how many years I longed for a kindred spirit and would pray and ask God for a friend. And then somehow, when I least expected it, least deserved it – My Lord sent Mel. She has stood by me, listened to me ramble, made me laugh myself goofy…. made me stay up til midnight on my birthday and then comforted with Scripture when I cried over getting older :) Ah, thank you Father!!

My dear, sweet, best friend and sister Catherine organized a birthday party for me on Saturday! I think it may have been my coolest, most thought through, prettiest birthday party in a looooong time! SO SWEET! Catherine and Mel decorated and baked and cooked beyond their hearts’ content! Several of the gal from ALERT came over and we had a sweet time! Thanks, y’all, for investing in me, for making me feel special and loved! Y’all are priceless. I am BLESSED.

My department at work threw me a surprise party on Tuesday, which was SO sweet! I was very surprised! You know, I can’t remember ever having a birthday like this one – surrounded by SO MANY dear ones taking their time to let me know that I am loved.

…if only Mom and Dad could’ve been here :( *siiiiiiiigh , pout* :(

So, I mentioned at the top that I’ve had lots of highs and lots of lows. As for the “lows” part, I’ll just sum that up by saying that our Precious Lord “giveth more grace”. He sent me family and friends to encourage me, lift my spirits, and to just hold me. *Tears*

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”

My Lord also showed His power and mercy by encouraging me through His Word and through His presence. Ah, I’d love to share with you how He encouraged my heart through Isaiah 53-55. Maybe someday, maybe just in bits, maybe it’ll just stay hidden in my heart. We’ll see :)

So, each of you are precious to me. I wish I could just sit with each of you over a hot mocha in a cozy place….and talk. Talk about LIFE. Talk about YESTERDAY, TODAY and TOMORROW. Talk about JESUS. One more reason to look forward to heaven.

Ah, our God is GOOD!!

AND!!!!………A special thanks also goes out to Josh for updating my site – Great job, Josh! I love the changes you made! Well done, my friend! Thanks for investing so much time and effort and talent! BTW, have I mentioned that you won the “Josh Wychopen of the Year Award” for last year? Well, you did! And wowsers, was the competition ever TOUGH! Almost as hard as winning the “IAA Graphic Artist of the Day Award” ;)