A Few Memories

Here are some of the pics from our Christmas break. The first one is Josh and I sitting at the table getting ready to eat Christmas dinner.

The second pic is of our nephews Elijah and Gabriel. This was too cute not to include.

The last photo is perhaps a peek into our future. Josh playing with Gabriel at a gathering over a the neighbors house.

We had such a great time catching up with everyone and we can't wait to come back to Ohio and visit some more. We miss everyone so much!

Last week was very busy. Josh and I had a lot of rehearsal to attend for the spring Symphonic Band concert. All of our small ensembles played at the start of the concert and then I filled in on clarinet when the Symphonic Band took the stage. Needless to say we both feel like we need another spring break.

Things are back to normal here.....it is spring and with that comes lots of fun critters like wasps and what Josh and I call "those we do not speak of" ..the dreaded cockroach.

Although we've only seen about 10 wasps this week and none of the other...we know that these things have a funny way of working themselves into our home.

Anyway, we take everything in stride and hope that this year will be even better than the last.

Here's to a beautiful spring and summer and hopefully we will see you all very soon!

God Bless

HB

Easter is here once more

It is almost that time of year where the trees begin to bloom and the flowers start to grow. Spring Break is next week and I can not wait for it to arrive. I remember a time when spring break meant going home and lounging in front of the television for hours at a time. Now, it's different. I will be visiting my good friend out in Texas and working a little bit up at the school and doing a lot of practicing. It's funny how life changes slowly over time. This year Easter weekend coincides with our spring break, which is great because we get to relax and enjoy that time. I remember when my sister and I were little and our mom would dress us up in Easter dresses with hats, and little hand bags. It was always a great time with our family. My mom would cook a nice dinner and it really was all about being together as a family. It is difficult being away form those you love, especially at a time that means so much. God rose from the dead and being able to celebrate that with family is so special. Even though we will be far away from all of you this Easter, we will be thinking of you and most of all we will be giving praise that our Lord and Savior was risen from the dead. God Bless, HB

Off we go...

Well......the holidays are over now and we are back in the swing of a new semester. I will post some pictures of our travels in a later blog once I get everything downloaded. Josh and I traveled to Ohio and Alabama over the Christmas break and it was a lot of fun. We were able to visit with family and there is nothing better than waking up on Christmas morning and making cinnamon bread and watching everyone as they open their gifts. Now that our visit is over, Josh and I are back to teaching. This semester is going to be a challenge for me, because I will be teaching the saxophone along with the clarinet studio. Please pray for both Josh and I as we embark on the new semester together. Something that always hits me when I get back from Christmas break is how sad I am that I have to wait another year until that Christmas spirit comes back. I love Christmas and I especially love the music. I look forward to that time after Halloween and before Thanksgiving when radio stations begin to play Christmas carols. Most people get sick of them and by the time the New Year rolls around they are ready to pack it in, but I wish Christmas could go all year. I think that at Christmas time the ability to talk about Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas helps me to come out of my shell (so to speak). I am quite shy when it comes to witnessing to others and I am not an "in your face" person with anything. I hope that through the way Josh and I live our lives and how we are apart from one another reflects and I pray that we can be positive christian models. I know that sometimes people gain more from what they see from you than what you may say. I just know that it is very difficult to speak up about God to anyone I know, even if they are a christian. So.....Christmas is a time of reflection, and being thankful and truly knowing the meaning behind all of the lights and gifts. I am so happy that Josh and I were able to spend that time with our families and hopefully we can carry that "spirit" with us all year round. Thank you for a great Christmas!! God Bless, HB

Walking the path

Everyday I wake up and roll out of bed, make coffee, watch the morning news, shower, get ready for work, wake up my husband and then I'm out the door for another day. Each day from Monday through Friday I do the same things. Does it ever seem that the path we walk is not with God? I've written about this before and I knew I would have to write about it again; if nothing for the fact that I am weak. I am, just like you, of the flesh and I must be reminded of my miss-steps, no matter how small. Now..I'm not saying that we must always concentrate on the negative, but we must seek help everyday through the good and the bad, no matter how small those things may be. I am trying to be more consistent with God....to make Him a part of my life in the smallest ways and the biggest ways. To me that means seeking His guidance from everything to balancing the checkbook to driving to the store; to praying for family, world leaders or the neighbors across the street. What I have been convicted of time and time again this week is that my heart has been hardened to those that may be seeking help. And...if my heart has been hardened, what good am I to God. I must be able to let down my walls and soften my heart to God so that I may be a servant to Him, for Him, by Him. It may seem silly to ask this, but if you are reading this would you mind praying for me about this, because it is laying very heavy on my heart today. I am reminded of the fact that I can be so giving and loving towards the people I am familiar with in my life, but when it comes to strangers or acquaintances I seem to freeze up and not allow them to see the "real" me. I know that I am not alone in this..it is sometimes hard to confront the unfamiliar, but if we try...really try...we can overcome with His help and your prayers. I walk the path that is unknown to me because I know that God is there. The more familiar, comfortable path is not the one I want to take any longer. God Bless HB

Busy Busy...

Well... it has been one busy week this week! Josh and I have had a lot to do. Last night was the biggest football game on this campus. The two rival schools (OBU and HSU) played each other in football. We lost 18-0 but that's OK...maybe next year. Today we get ready for a nice weekend, but do you ever get the feeling that you see more of your office or classroom than you do of the people you love the most. It is frustrating at times to know that I stare at my computer screen all day, but I only see my husband for what seems like a brief few moments and then we are off to another class or rehearsal. I know that God honors hard work and he has blessed Josh and I with the ability to work within the same campus and even the same building. However, there are those times when I just wish we didn't have so much on our plate. I guess we must press on and know that no matter where we are or how far away we are from the ones we love, they are really right there in our hearts and it makes the time we do spend with them that much more special. God Bless! HB

Just God

With so much happening in the world today I actually paused this morning to read from Oswald Chambers. Have you ever thought of how "we" tend to be very needy in our lives? It struck me so strong this morning that a lot of what I think about is myself, my family and friends, money, career and not much else lately. I don't always think about God.

What Chambers stated in My Utmost For His Highest was this: I am paraphrasing, but the basic thought was when will you become without lust, be selfless, etc. The only time is when you stop wanting God's blessings and just want God!

I thought about this very thing. I am always praying that God bless our days; that He bless our family and friends, our health, our safety, but I never actually came to the realization that if I just stop and hold tight and just want God, all that I pray for is already there.

I know I am not done with this and there is much that must be thought about, but if you are in need of a blessing or prayer or just need a break, maybe it would help to be still and know that He is God.

God Bless,

HB

Autumn

Well it's that time of year when the air gets nice and crisp and the leaves begin to change colors. I love the Fall and everything that comes with it. The peacefulness of the holiday season begins and of course it is all kicked off by that wonderfully creepy holiday - Halloween.

I remember dressing up for school on the weekend of Halloween and my sister and I would go trick-or-treating. It was great! Then, when we got to be "too old" to beg for candy, we would hand it out to all of the kids that would come by. It was a big deal in our house to put on the scary music and my dad would dress up in an ape mask and run around and scare the poor children, but they loved it!

Somehow as I've gotten older I have become more of a scaredy cat when it comes to the creepy movies and the trick-or treaters, but I still love the weather. Josh tries to get me into the spirit by watching Halloween or some other scary film and I have to admit, my curiosity always gets the best of me and I usually give in. I look forward to this Halloween and especially Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The holidays always represent the chance to see family and maybe that is why they are so special to me - well that and all the food!! HA! Anyway, enjoy the weather and celebrate this season.

God Bless,

HB