A post on healthy living

Tonight, I went to my yoga class. It was incredibly challenging, with a lot of core work. 

Tonight, when I got home... Aaron and I had this for dinner.

It's all about balance.

Namaste.

The (almost) Meeks take Dallas

The original title of this post was going to be OU/TX 2014 ... but after the dismal outcome, I decided to focus on the happier parts of our adventure. Namely, a visit to Ikea and eating good food.

If we're being honest, Ikea is the main draw for me going to OU/TX. Being really honest, and its a combination of Ikea, In-N-Out Burger, and Fletcher's corn dogs. Just keeping it real.

1. Ikea

Behold, Ikea.

 Ikea is glorious.  I know some people think its cheap, and poor quality or whatever ... but I can literally wander the aisles picking up impossibly named glassware, admiring tiny tiny tea cups, wishing I had need for perfectly gauzy 92" window treatments and longing for giant prints of super quirky art prints. Aaron, prefers not to. But this trip, we discovered what he does love about Ikea.

The room set-ups.

We found one room set-up in particular that we both loved. Meet our almost dream kitchen eat in dining area and pantry/utility space, Lidingo (technically not the right name as the "o" has those weird dots above it).

Yes please.

That sink. I just. I need it.

Basically, the only thing that left us not so impressed were the dark countertops and the dark flooring which divided us as a couple. Lidingo ... we're comin' for you. With your soft-touch drawers and cabinets, glass-fronted cabinet doors, adorable cart, seating for a large family and especially you, double farmhouse sink ... we love you.

Also, Aaron found this day-bed that he loved. We may need to make this ours as well.

Basically, perfect for napping.

2. In-N-Out Burger

I mean ... does this need an explanation? Aaron decided while there that he would really enjoy being the person who chops the potatoes with the potato-chopper machine. So, there's that. Everyone needs a fall-back profession, right? Give me an original cheeseburger and a bucket of those fries ... and I'm a happy happy lady.

Also, I'm no fool. There is absolutely no way I'd let a picture of me literally smashing a cheeseburger into my mouth on here. It was a virtual inhalation of burger and fries. It happened, and that is all you need to know.

3. Fletcher's Corn Dogs

If you have never had a Fletcher's Corn Dog ... you are doing yourself a disservice by not being at the next Texas State Fair. For realsies. These things are in-cre-di-ble. Like, you need a minute or two to eat one in perfect silence, so that you can truly enjoy them. The first year we made the mistake of eating a regular corn-dog before the game, having not been able to locate a Fletcher's stand. We finally wandered upon one after the game, waited in line for nearly 40 minutes, and knew we had made the best decision of our lives the instant the breading touched our taste-buds. This year, it was our first stop.

Oh yeah, and we actually went to the game. Oh, well. Better luck next year .... PLEASE.

Love!!

A reminder.

Amen.

Love!!

WE are Your Church

This song has really been on my heart and mind lately.

WE are the church. Sure, church is a building that we go to. Church has pretty people, saying pretty things. However, I'm finding that a lot of people "our age" have become disillusioned with church. A lot of people see church as a place that is fake ... that tells them they've done wrong ... that tells them what to do. That judges people for their words and actions ... looking down from ivory towers.

Church is not that to me. I think God made it pretty clear that he considers CHURCH to be a body of believers. CHURCH should be a moving, breathing, helping organism. WE are that organism. We should be the hands and feet of Jesus. We've been specifically wired with a set of gifts that will allow us to draw others to Him.

I know I'm not perfect. I don't and never will claim to be. But I do know that I'm made new each day by my loving and heavenly Father.

One of my (answered) prayers is that I've found someone who loves. Not just loves me ... but loves people. I know that God specially picked out Aaron to be my partner and to be my encourager and to be the wonderful father to our children someday. Now, my prayer has become that God will continue to use us ... to be beacons of hope ... to continue to use us to glorify Him.

Take a minute (I mean, you've already read this far...) to read these lyrics. I hope they impact you in the same way they have me.

Come set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we're made
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls
Holy Spirit come invade us now
We are Your Church
We need Your power
In us

We seek Your kingdom first
We hunger and we thirst
Refuse to waste our lives
For You're our joy and prize
To see the captive hearts released
The hurt; the sick; the poor at peace
We lay down our lives for Heaven's cause
We are Your church
We pray revive
This earth

Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray

Unleash Your kingdom's power
Reaching the near and far
No force of hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts
You made us for much more than this
Awake the kingdom seed in us
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
We are the hope
On earth

Don't take this as my high-horse. Because its not. I've been blessed beyond what I could ever possibly deserve. I'm just hoping that maybe this impacts you in the same way as it has me. Imagine how awesome the CHURCH would be if everyone lived this out.

Love!!

Wedding Update

So ... I've been a slacker bride. Like, super slacker. I mean, sure ... we got a lot of things going early on, like picking a date, picking a place, picking a dress, picking a lot of things ... but I know we have a lot of stuff that is still left to do. 

I tend to do better when other people know my to-do list. It kind of guilts me in actually getting things done. So, here you go dedicated reader! In no particular order...

1. Dress fittings. Which is mildly terrifying. I feel like once this starts, I must maintain. Not gain. Not lose. Not shift. Maintain. In order to do this, I made the commitment to switch to Baked Cheetos instead of real Cheetos. So far, I'm not too disappointed.

2. Think of wedding songs. Like, all of them. We have our first dance song picked out - but that's about it.

3. Pick a cake-ist. Duh.

4. Contact a florist. 

5. CRAFT NIGHT. This one, I'm totally looking forward to. Mom and I have had a blast finding ideas on Pinterest (what did brides do before this?!) and now we are ready to bring them to life.

6. Pick out something for the guys to wear. No one likes a group of naked men standing at the altar. Or if they do, they are going to be sorely disappointed.

7. Finalize wedding invitations. We made progress ... and stalled out.

8. FOOD. Because... FOOD.

9. Figure out how to have my hair done ... I have a feeling that "lion-chic" doesn't translate well to wedding photos.

I know there are tons of other things we still need to finalize. But these are the only things that came to mind as I'm typing this out. I think these nine things should keep me busy for awhile. Pray for me.

Love!!

House Rules

Aaron and I decided to institute what we refer to as "House Rules" ... presumably, this would include things like "use your inside voice" or "don't forget to put the seat down,"  however, we only have one House Rule. What is it?

If Louie makes it onto the bed without assistance, he gets to stay.

I'm sure you're thinking "well, that's not hard" ... so I'll provide you with some visual examples of the effort this requires, and similar examples of failed attempts.

And one that is preeeeeeetty accurate of the struggle for Bean...

The failures in life are what make success so enjoyable.

Love!!