Oh, Victoria

I was recently reminded that I haven't posted the pictures from my trip to Victoria, Texas with my mother and grandmother yet. So I of course had to immediately remedy this. Below is the adorable bed and breakfast we stayed in - while charming and old from the outside, not quite as pleasant inside. Unfortunately the place seemed to be falling apart a bit, the owners seemed to be borderline hoarders (is there such a thing as borderline?), and it was a bit dirty. Despite all this however we did enjoy our stay with them.

There was a historical tour in the city, and quite a few old homes that were magnificent looking, however most of our sight seeing was done via car, so few pictures were taken.

We did see this beauty however.

And we even went inside to get a peek at the sanctuary.

While in the sanctuary I took advantage of the amazing acoustics and sang a little song - I put it together with a few dancing clips for kicks and giggles.

Then later that evening I caught a free Easton Corbin concert at the town square for their local "boot fest," which is essentially a mini rodeo minus the actual rodeo functions (sale booths and music only). For a small town festival it didn't seem too bad, though you have to remember I grew up in Austin, where a little music festival is 3 sold out days in the biggest park with 5 stages and a TON of bands, so I might be hard to impress on that front.

Just before taking off to our separate homes at the end of our relaxing weekend we took a few pictures together on the front steps of our B&B.

Of course this is my favorite one, where I am still smiling at the camera but mom and grandma have turned to each other to share a few choice words.

While on my drive home I stumbled across some remarkably beautiful countryside that I felt the need to photograph as well.

While photographing the barn I was kneeling next to a barbed wire fence and a thorny vine, so I also took some close ups of those.

Then shifting to my left I discovered I was kneeling right next to this beautifully frightening scene, so I snapped a couple quick ones and then quietly backed away. (Notice the one on the top right of the nest is staring right at me EEK) Still gives me the hebegeebees.

Just past all of that fun there was a magnanimous cotton field (even though I'm from Texas I had never seen one in person) so I naturally couldn't resist it's beauty either.

Scripture:

I saw this one in a frame on the wall at a friend's house, though I had read all of it before I had somehow never really noticed this one until now, which makes it seem like even more of God's doing since it's rather pertinent to my current life situations.

"In his heart a man plans his course,

but the Lord determines his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

You may plan out your life, but God will direct you where He wants you to go.

Fotos with Faith

 A week ago my friend Faith and I (who both thoroughly enjoy photography) went out and took pictures together, and here are the fruits of our labor:

Heirs to the Kingdom

Lately I've had more free time than is typical for me, so naturally I've filled it with things I love - namely photography and cooking.

In photography: There's this bridge near my mom's house in Austin, called the 360 bridge, to the outsider there is nothing special about it, it's just a bridge. For me though it holds special memories, one thing Austinites know is that it is a marvelous place to catch the sunrise and sunset, and you can see the city skyline from afar. For a while I had this idea of trying to capture the bridge lit up only by car lights and this is my attempt at it.

This is the city skyline, I would zoom it in more, but on the hill where it was taken it was very windy that evening and it's a tad bit blurry.

As for cooking there has been loads of deliciousness going on here. On last Sunday I made potato soup from scratch (unfortunately didn't take any pictures, and I already froze the leftovers) and Italian cheese bread. Friday I made chicken and vegetable soup and French bread.

Apparently I'm in a major soup and bread kind of mood - comfort food? And today I plan to make my famously delicious apple pie!

Heart/Scripture:

God has weighed several scriptures on my heart recently all similar in how they effect me.

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." -Romans 8:15-17

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." -Ephesians 1:3-5

"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba. Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." -Galatians 4:6-7

I'm sure you will notice as I have that there is a common theme in these scriptures. That we are adopted into the family of God - to be called sons and daughters, to be heirs in the kingdom of Heaven, that we are to cry out to GOD as "Abba, Father." To some, the profoundness of this may be lost, but it has truly struck at my innermost being that The God who created the universe not only loves me and wants to save me, but He wants me to be His child. I who have sinned against Him, I who have turned my back on Him - He wants me. We as Christians could not ask for something better than this for God has not only given us salvation, but He is giving us His kingdom. Sometimes we jest that we just hope God will let us in, but He's not just going to "let us in" He's giving it to us as heirs. That is most remarkable to me.