The Picture...

In case it wasn't glaringly obvious, I'm kind of madly in love with my husband. :)  And the other day, I discovered the 4,239,103rd reason that he's adorable.

For as long as I can remember, Micah has kept a picture of me in his bible.  I've always thought that it was a strange picture to keep there, because it's from a mission trip we went on with our youth group during the summer before my senior year in high school, and I'm dressed up like an Israelite in a blue sheet.  (I'm not really sure how blue sheet equals Israelite, but apparently that's the look we were going for at vacation bible school.)  

We weren't even together then, and it never occurred to me to ask him about it until the other night when we were reading together before we went to bed and I saw it stuck somewhere in the middle of Psalms.  

"Hey, where did you get that picture?" I asked.  "And when?"

"I got it from David," he said.  (David has been one of Micah's good friends since they were in middle school.)  "He took it while we were on the mission trip."

"And he just randomly gave you a picture of me?" I replied.

"Well, I kind of asked him for it.  And then I just put it in my bible."  And there it has stayed... for eight years. I wonder if Micah had any inkling, in that moment that he decided to keep the picture of a girl he wasn't even dating yet in such a special place, that we'd end up together.  The absolute flawlessness of God's planning never ceases to amaze me.  :)

Meal-Planning Wednesday

It's definitely a Pioneer Woman week here in the Hargrave house this week.  As I was meal planning this afternoon, I saw so many yummy recipes on her site that I just couldn't resist.  So here's what I'm making.

Wednesday:  Fancy Macaroni and Cheese.

Thursday:  Summer Stir-Fry.

Friday:  Date Night!!

Saturday:  Ranch-Style Chicken with Restaurant Style Smashed Potatoes.  (I've made the Ranch-Style Chicken before, and it's delicious!)

Sunday:  Frito pie.

Monday:  Chicken Salad with chips and fresh peaches.

Tuesday:  Fettuccine Alfredo with Caesar salad and garlic bread.  (I've made this dish about every which way you can make it, so I'm interested to see whether or not I like her version better.)

Ten clues that I'm a country girl...

I'm sure that you know that I grew up in a small town.  This picture above?  It used to be my front yard.

In honor of my hometown, I'm going to give you a Jeff Foxworthy-esque, "You Might Be a Country Girl If..." kind of list.

So here we go.  Here are ten signs that I'm from the country.

1.  I go weak in the knees when I see a Chevy truck with big tires.

2.  I spent more than one Friday night watching men in cowboy hats team rope.


3.  My favorite drink is super sugary, almost syrupy sweet tea.

4.  I've been "parking"... on a four-wheeler.  (Don't worry... it was Micah, and we only kissed.) :)

5.  For me, a twenty-minute drive to the grocery store is a short trip.

6.  In the words of Alan Jackson, my first car was a pickup truck.

7.  I've been muddin' more times than I can count.

8.  My grandparents went to high school with Micah's grandparents.

9.  For fun, my friends and I used to toilet paper houses  (Maybe this isn't a "country" thing, so much as a teenager thing.)

10.  I married my high school sweetheart. :)

My guilty pleasure...

So I don't watch a lot of T.V.  I mean, apart from the hours and hours Micah and I spend watching Lost.  

But I do watch one show religiously.  And if I tell you what it is, you have to promise not to judge me.  Okay.. are you ready?  Here goes.

My name is Ryan, and I'm addicted to "The Bachelorette."

Yes, I totally get that it's trashy T.V.   But isn't that part of the appeal?  I'm watching this cute girl try and wade through all the bullcrap spewing out of the mouths of these whiny, desperate men, and I'm loving it.

This week, she FINALLY kicked Casey to the curb.  I like that she's being careful in giving each guy a chance, but seriously... that guy was nuts.  If I heard him utter the words "guard" or "protect" in the same sentence with the word "heart" ONE more time, I was going to go crazy. 

In seasons past, I've had one or two guys picked out from the beginning.  This season, it's these two:

This is Roberto, and he just seems like a really, really good guy.  Plus, he's not bad to look at. :) And he and Ali seem to have really good chemistry.

And I also like this guy.

Also very cute.  And he seems smart.  AND he's sweet.

So there.  I've come out with it.  My guilty pleasure is out there for the world to see.  Are you judging me?

Blessed be Your name...

One of the most incredible things about being a Christian is the ability to rely upon God's strength in the difficult times.  While I'm weak, He is strong.  When I am scared, He has a plan for my future.  

But what I struggle with sometimes is continuing to glorify the Lord in the midst of my struggles.  Sure, I let Him catch me when I fall, but do I still show His love? Do I still exude joy?  

I heard a song called Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman several years ago, and I still cry every time I hear it.  

It's just so true.  God is just as good today, in the midst of the difficulties, as He was yesterday, when life was wonderful.  I want to post the lyrics here because they are so beautiful.  Let it remind you to give praise, even when you're on the road marked with suffering.

Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman
 

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name