Well, Christmas is over. We are always so busy getting prepared and then just like that, its done.
We are determined to make our New Year's celebration last, so we will be joining the Leivas and the Bocks for a 7 day cruise that leaves on Sunday! Just 3 more days! We've had this booked since April or May I think...
Anyways, our stops are in Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel...and the weather is perfect! Highs in the 80s, lows in the 70s! I just simply cannot wait.
The great thing about a cruise is that you get to put your whole life on hold....for 7 days! At least in our case! No internet, no cell phones, not really much TV. Just you, those you love, a tropical beverage, and lots of sunshine out in the middle of the ocean!
HOORAY! Michael and I have lots to do to get ready, but are ready to go cruisin' to ring in the 2008 New Year! Hope your's is great too!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
My Morning Commute: Way to Go AGS!
So this morning on my way to work, I thought that I might change things up a bit, you know add some excitement...so I drove my car into a ditch.
Here's what really happened:
I take Memorial to San Felipe to get to my office in the Galleria area. Memorial drive (in the Memorial Villages area) is very curvy. The speed limit on the road here is 35, I was going about 37, which was no good becuase the roads were wet this morning. I felt my car hydroplane and begin to spin right as I was coming to a major curve in the road. I remembered in driver's ed that you are supposed to turn into the spin, which I couldn't remember what that meant...my instinct told me to just turn the other way! I did, then my spin just changed direction. When I hit the curve my car went off into the ditch...
This must happen a lot in this area though becuase this is one of the few curves on this road that there is a guardrail there (which I was INCHES away from hitting) and a wide flat shoulder area. Fortunately there was no damage AT ALL to me, my car, or the ditch (other than some tire marks!). I called Michael immediately although I was very shaken. While I was waiting for him to come, a very nice man stopped to check on me and wait with me until Michael got there. He is a director of Young Life in the Memorial area and an AGGIE! You have to understand that this is a residential area with heavy traffic. Tons of people drove by me, but no one stopped! No one but this Aggie named Mike. I love Aggies!
While Mike was waiting with me, a Memorial Villages police man stopped, got out of his car, asked if I was calling a wrecker, then got back in his car and left...thanks a lot buddy!
When Michael pulled up, 2 men from Houston Parks and Recreation Services also pulled up and help pull the car out of the ditch. They were extremely helpful to Michael and I. Thankfully, my brother left his Explorer with us while he is skiing this week and he happened to have a tow strap, so that was useful to us as well.
All in all, a pretty eventful morning. I have never been in an accident before, never had a ticket, nothing...so this was pretty scary for me. God's hand had to have been on me too becuase Memorial is a busy two lane road and no other cars were involved in my mishap, and I was sure I was going to smash into the guardrail and I stopped just inches away from it.
Anyways, all that to say thanks to the Ag and Houston Parks guy that stopped to help! And of course thanks to my husband who was awaken out of the clutches of slumber to pull his wife out of a ditch...that kind of sounds like a metaphor for marriage (but thats another post)!
Here's what really happened:
I take Memorial to San Felipe to get to my office in the Galleria area. Memorial drive (in the Memorial Villages area) is very curvy. The speed limit on the road here is 35, I was going about 37, which was no good becuase the roads were wet this morning. I felt my car hydroplane and begin to spin right as I was coming to a major curve in the road. I remembered in driver's ed that you are supposed to turn into the spin, which I couldn't remember what that meant...my instinct told me to just turn the other way! I did, then my spin just changed direction. When I hit the curve my car went off into the ditch...
This must happen a lot in this area though becuase this is one of the few curves on this road that there is a guardrail there (which I was INCHES away from hitting) and a wide flat shoulder area. Fortunately there was no damage AT ALL to me, my car, or the ditch (other than some tire marks!). I called Michael immediately although I was very shaken. While I was waiting for him to come, a very nice man stopped to check on me and wait with me until Michael got there. He is a director of Young Life in the Memorial area and an AGGIE! You have to understand that this is a residential area with heavy traffic. Tons of people drove by me, but no one stopped! No one but this Aggie named Mike. I love Aggies!
While Mike was waiting with me, a Memorial Villages police man stopped, got out of his car, asked if I was calling a wrecker, then got back in his car and left...thanks a lot buddy!
When Michael pulled up, 2 men from Houston Parks and Recreation Services also pulled up and help pull the car out of the ditch. They were extremely helpful to Michael and I. Thankfully, my brother left his Explorer with us while he is skiing this week and he happened to have a tow strap, so that was useful to us as well.
All in all, a pretty eventful morning. I have never been in an accident before, never had a ticket, nothing...so this was pretty scary for me. God's hand had to have been on me too becuase Memorial is a busy two lane road and no other cars were involved in my mishap, and I was sure I was going to smash into the guardrail and I stopped just inches away from it.
Anyways, all that to say thanks to the Ag and Houston Parks guy that stopped to help! And of course thanks to my husband who was awaken out of the clutches of slumber to pull his wife out of a ditch...that kind of sounds like a metaphor for marriage (but thats another post)!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
We're Here!
Well, we are finally moved. After 3 long months filled with anticipation to be in our new house, and to be together, we are finally in Houston. We came down last Friday night after a long day of packing a moving truck and going to Michael's graduation. We couldn't have done anything without the help of our family though! Michael's sister and brother-in-law, Emily and Daniel Tardy, came down from Nashville to see Mikey graduate and were also a HUGE help in loading the truck helping us out. My older brother, Jason, was also an all-star mover. He drove up early on Friday morning, helped move, went to gradation with us all, then headed to a Christmas party. He was back on Saturday though and that was GREATLY appreciated becuase he was the only help we had that day!
We are busy this week unpacking and getting ready for family Christmas dinner that will be at our house this Friday!
Come by and see us at our new house!
We are busy this week unpacking and getting ready for family Christmas dinner that will be at our house this Friday!
Come by and see us at our new house!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Some Thoughts on Marriage
When signing papers for our new house last night, I realized that Michael and I just past a miletsone (albeit a small one) 18 months of marriage!
This morning, I began to think about what I have learned during my time being married, particularly the past three months that Michael and I have spent apart, and the over-arching theme in all that I've learned is that God is not just sufficient for every need and desire, he is MORE than enough.
Most of us are familiar with the metaphor used when describing salvation, that we all have a void that only God can fill. There is so much truth to that statement! However, somewhere after our salvation, we begin to rely less on God for our needs and more on others and ourselves. We become work-aholics so we can be successful and make enough money to buy things we "need." We rely on our parents for advice and direction. When we get married, we rely on our spouse for support, protection, encouragement, the list goes on and on.
Its funny becuase we feel so completed when we find the "right" person. But here is where my thoughts have changed. Since I have spent so much time alone the past three months, I haven't been able to rely on my husband to fulfills needs I have as his wife, not becuase he wasn't trying, but because distance makes things SO har. At first I felt so empty and lonely. But what God has been teaching me is that I was never created with a void that only Michael can fill. I was created with that one void that God can fill, but I try to replace Him. In doing so, I put so much expectation on my husband to fulfill needs that he (on his own) just can't do. That can cause so much stress and strain on a marriage.
What God has shown me is that it is INDEED HE that fulfills every need, and that I am lucky enough that he uses Michael as a tool to do so. I have had no choice or option but to go to the Lord for companionship, peace, support, and encouragement since I haven't been able to be with Michael. And the Lord NEVER fails. It is unfair for me to expect Michael to fulfill needs that were created for God ALONE to fill.
Getting rid of those expectations has deepend my relationship both with Michael and with the Lord. There is so much relief in going to The One who does not fail FIRST.
At our wedding, we had a dear friend read Psalm 139 as a prayer. This is one of my favorite passages in scripture becuase it reveals how intimately involved God is with all his children. And now I know that when I think Michael knows me best on this earth, he does. But its not becuase he can do it on his own, it is becuase of the power of God in him. God knows me intimately and every day he reveals that to me when Michael anticipates my thoughts and moods.
Marriage is so beautiful when Christ is the center and my prayer everday is for all of my friends and family to experience the stability and peace of being fimrly secured to The Rock and Redeemer.
Here is an excerpt from Psalm 139:
1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
This morning, I began to think about what I have learned during my time being married, particularly the past three months that Michael and I have spent apart, and the over-arching theme in all that I've learned is that God is not just sufficient for every need and desire, he is MORE than enough.
Most of us are familiar with the metaphor used when describing salvation, that we all have a void that only God can fill. There is so much truth to that statement! However, somewhere after our salvation, we begin to rely less on God for our needs and more on others and ourselves. We become work-aholics so we can be successful and make enough money to buy things we "need." We rely on our parents for advice and direction. When we get married, we rely on our spouse for support, protection, encouragement, the list goes on and on.
Its funny becuase we feel so completed when we find the "right" person. But here is where my thoughts have changed. Since I have spent so much time alone the past three months, I haven't been able to rely on my husband to fulfills needs I have as his wife, not becuase he wasn't trying, but because distance makes things SO har. At first I felt so empty and lonely. But what God has been teaching me is that I was never created with a void that only Michael can fill. I was created with that one void that God can fill, but I try to replace Him. In doing so, I put so much expectation on my husband to fulfill needs that he (on his own) just can't do. That can cause so much stress and strain on a marriage.
What God has shown me is that it is INDEED HE that fulfills every need, and that I am lucky enough that he uses Michael as a tool to do so. I have had no choice or option but to go to the Lord for companionship, peace, support, and encouragement since I haven't been able to be with Michael. And the Lord NEVER fails. It is unfair for me to expect Michael to fulfill needs that were created for God ALONE to fill.
Getting rid of those expectations has deepend my relationship both with Michael and with the Lord. There is so much relief in going to The One who does not fail FIRST.
At our wedding, we had a dear friend read Psalm 139 as a prayer. This is one of my favorite passages in scripture becuase it reveals how intimately involved God is with all his children. And now I know that when I think Michael knows me best on this earth, he does. But its not becuase he can do it on his own, it is becuase of the power of God in him. God knows me intimately and every day he reveals that to me when Michael anticipates my thoughts and moods.
Marriage is so beautiful when Christ is the center and my prayer everday is for all of my friends and family to experience the stability and peace of being fimrly secured to The Rock and Redeemer.
Here is an excerpt from Psalm 139:
1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Bad Idea for an Ornament Exchange
So as you all know, this semester has consisted of my spending weeks in Houston while Michael is in College Station. Before the move, we began serving on the leadership team for our Sunday School class at Grace Bible Church, but since I'm out of town so much, Michael has had to shoulder more of our joint responsibilities than he was previously used to.
Last Friday night, December 7th, we held our annual Newly Weds/ Young Marrieds (NWYM- our Sunday school class) Christmas Party and Ornament Exchange. We were supposed to bring an ornament and dessert. Michael did great on dessert- got strawberry cheesecake- then came the ornament. Because we are a class of young marrieds and newly weds, Michael thought it would be funny to get an ornament that says "Baby's First Christmas." I present to you exhibit A:
Exhibit A
Funny right? Well I thought so...many of us did initially. Until we realized that there are actually couples in the class who are trying to get pregnant but have not been successful yet. OOPS! Now what? By the time this realization dawned on us, the ornament exchange had already started.
It gets worse from here! We have friends that we suspected may be trying to get pregnant but were unsure about it, and at any rate it hadn't happened yet...at least we thought. Oh no! They got the baby ornament...what if they were struggling with getting pregnant and now they have a horrible reminder of that?
But yay! God works all things for good (wink wink). Our friends who got the baby ornament just told us that they were in fact, PREGNANT! Yay! Now we don't feel bad about our ornament! And we get to celebrate with our friends, Aaron and Liz Palermo.
Monday, December 3, 2007
We Got Elfed!
My friend at work showed me this hilarious site today. Check out the elf version of me and Mikey doing a fabulous performance to Jingle Bells!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1153134588
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1153134588
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Our Favorite Letterman Segment
Michael and I love to watch David Letterman and our favorite segment is "Great Moments In Presidential Speeches." Here is a compilation of these segments that Michael sent to me today...we love our president, but this sure is hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa3J-L29iT8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa3J-L29iT8
Monday, November 26, 2007
We Love La Bodega!
If you know Michael and me, then you know how much we LOVE La Bodega! It really is our favorite all time place to eat in College Station.
La Bodega is famous in CS for their fish tacos. Sound gross? Thats what I thought at first, then I tried them! La Bodega serves their tacos open face on soft, warm corn tortillas with the filling of your choice (I like the fish, Michael like habenero shrimp, and we both like the steak), the famous cilantro cream sauce, pico d
e gallo, shredded lettuce, and a little cheese. If you get a taco plate, you'll also get rice and their amazing black beans...literally, the are amazing. Tacos aren't the only good thing on the menu either! Michael often gets a burrito (which is comparable to a monster sized burrito from Freebirds), and we like to start off our dinners with guacamole queso, and a mexican martini shaker (just $5 until 7pm) delicious! And don't forget a strawberry tart for dessert!
e gallo, shredded lettuce, and a little cheese. If you get a taco plate, you'll also get rice and their amazing black beans...literally, the are amazing. Tacos aren't the only good thing on the menu either! Michael often gets a burrito (which is comparable to a monster sized burrito from Freebirds), and we like to start off our dinners with guacamole queso, and a mexican martini shaker (just $5 until 7pm) delicious! And don't forget a strawberry tart for dessert!Just this past year, we also discovered the goodness that is La Bodega breakfast! On the weekends, La Bodega opens early to serve a FABULOUS breakfast. They have all sorts of breakfast tacos, breakfast burritos, breakfast quesadillas, breakfast enchiladas, and an amazing blackberry cream cheese coffee cake. We've enjoyed getting up early and going before church to enjoy a nice breakfast. And the best part is, college kids don't wake up ealry on the weekends, so the place is nearly empty in the mornings!
We will really miss this wonderful place when we move to Houston, but are planning on returning often! If you're around CS for the next couple of weeks, just let us know...we'll be happy to join you for a La Bodega Experience!
Monday, November 19, 2007
SOLD!
Well, we are coming down the last leg of our home building journey and we are so glad its almost over! A few things still need to be finished...like light fixtures need to be installed, carpet installed, sinks and bath tubs put in, and mirrors and shower doors...but these are all things that can be done quickly.The move in date is scheduled for December 15th as of now. Anyone available to help out? As long as everything stays on track we'll be in the house for Christmas. Actually, we are keeping the decorations set aside so we can get the Christmas tree and garland up for the holidays. The countdown begins!
Friday, November 16, 2007
An Aggie Tradition
Tonight, Michael and I are heading down to Galveston to see my little brother, David, dunk his ring. I thought I'd take a moment to explain what this Aggie Tradition is.
When a student receives their Aggie ring, the tradition has been that they drop it in a pitcher of beer, then chug the entire pitcher until they get their ring back. I'm really NOT making this up. And if you don'
t drink beer, then your ring can be "dunked" in something else. Some of my girlfriends dunked their rings in a HUGE bowl of ice cream. Michael and I both kept with the original tradition and used beer. I only did about 3/4 of a pitcher though...but it only took me 43 seconds...now that is impressive. We'll see how David fares tonight. Considering his size, I think he'll do just fine. We'll post some pictures after the weekend.
A&M is a great school, steeped in tradition. We may be the butt of a lot of jokes, but the Aggie ring is one of the most recognizable symbols to Aggies and non Aggies alike. Michael and I have met numerous people and started numerous conversations simply because some one else was also wearing an Aggie ring. Clearly, we are proud to be Aggies...don't believe us, just ask us!
When a student receives their Aggie ring, the tradition has been that they drop it in a pitcher of beer, then chug the entire pitcher until they get their ring back. I'm really NOT making this up. And if you don'
t drink beer, then your ring can be "dunked" in something else. Some of my girlfriends dunked their rings in a HUGE bowl of ice cream. Michael and I both kept with the original tradition and used beer. I only did about 3/4 of a pitcher though...but it only took me 43 seconds...now that is impressive. We'll see how David fares tonight. Considering his size, I think he'll do just fine. We'll post some pictures after the weekend.A&M is a great school, steeped in tradition. We may be the butt of a lot of jokes, but the Aggie ring is one of the most recognizable symbols to Aggies and non Aggies alike. Michael and I have met numerous people and started numerous conversations simply because some one else was also wearing an Aggie ring. Clearly, we are proud to be Aggies...don't believe us, just ask us!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
More of Our Family!
Michael and I have 2 precious nephews! Westin, the cute blonde with the toothy grin, is 3 years old, and sweet little Reid is 4 weeks old. Their mom and dad are Andy and Kristy Waters. They are all such a joy and X-tra fun to hang out with. Michael particularly enjoys his random phone calls from Westin. This weekend, Westin called while we were camping and repeatedly asked, "What are you doing?" We have lots of fun being Unlce Mikey and Aunt Erika! 
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Speaking of my Little Brother
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Since I mentioned Andrew in my last post, I figured that now would be a good time to introduce him. Most of you know that I have an older brother, Jason, but sometimes get confused when I talk about my little brother...I have two of those...David who is 23 and not really so little (he's over a foot taller than me!), and then there is little Andrew who is 5 and in kindergarten. Andrew is so much fun to be around and is very interested in things that I know that he doesn't. For example, he is thinking that he might like to watch Nightmare Before Christmas but is worried that it will be too scary. A couple of weeks ago, he and I sat on the couch and had a very long discussion about the movie and what everything means, and why there are skeletons, and if they are bad. It was very cute. He did the same thing before his trip to Disney World. He wanted to know every ride I had been on and which was my favorite. I am so glad that we moved to Houston and I get to be more involved in the life of little Andrew!
Fun With Our New Camera
Becuase we love photography, we decided that it was time to buy a good camera. We got a Nikon D40x...I don't know exactly what that means...Mikey I'm sure will post about it later. Here is a picture that Michael took last night of our dogs, Dixie (white) and Kona (brown). I really like this pic becuase if you notice, it looks like they are flying! "Wonder Pets to the Rescue!" I stole that line from a tv show my little brother Andrew used to watch called Wonder Pets. Ask me about it some time and I'll sing you the theme song! Anyways, we'll post more pictures soon. Have you started to notice that our dogs rule our lives? Look how many times they are talked about in just a few postings. Oh brother.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Stupid crooks
So I get on to check my bank account this morning, which I recommend everyone do regularly, and discover the following:
**** Purchase THE PEPBOYS 000086 351.92
**** Purchase THE PEPBOYS 000086 300.00
**** Purchase TARGET 000232 668.13
**** Purchase TARGET 000232 605.90
**** Purchase TARGET 000232 99.95
**** Purchase SEARS ROEBUCK 1508 216.49
**** Purchase WALGREENS #6822 Q .75
Yes, that is a total of $2,243.14 in fraudulent charges. These are all memo posted to my account, which means they haven't actually been processed, but the charges have already been made. This dispute process is killing me. What is worse is thinking about how someone got access to my card number to make these charges. My debit card has always been in my possession, which means someone stole the info, most likely from a store where we actually made a purchase.
Hopefully, we get our money back...
**** Purchase THE PEPBOYS 000086 351.92
**** Purchase THE PEPBOYS 000086 300.00
**** Purchase TARGET 000232 668.13
**** Purchase TARGET 000232 605.90
**** Purchase TARGET 000232 99.95
**** Purchase SEARS ROEBUCK 1508 216.49
**** Purchase WALGREENS #6822 Q .75
Yes, that is a total of $2,243.14 in fraudulent charges. These are all memo posted to my account, which means they haven't actually been processed, but the charges have already been made. This dispute process is killing me. What is worse is thinking about how someone got access to my card number to make these charges. My debit card has always been in my possession, which means someone stole the info, most likely from a store where we actually made a purchase.
Hopefully, we get our money back...
Monday, November 12, 2007
La Familia de Aguas!
Welcome to the Waters Family Blog! Well at least the Erika and Mikey version. We will keep you updated with pics of the girls (Dixie and Kona), the progress of our house, and our various travels!
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