Having Fun in TX

So last weekend was fun and relaxing (for me)! Last Friday we had a group date nite and went to this place called Main Event. It has bowling (cheap), lazer tag, arcade, and billiards! So the 12 of us went bowling (except for me, I watched so that I wouldn't throw out my pathetically weak back!) We had a lot of fun! The boys had a lane and the girls had a lane. I have no idea who won, but it was lot of fun to watch and laugh with everyone and just escape from real-world stress!

Saturday Tony had his first day at Six Flags with four hours of training and had to miss his flag football game :( But I stayed loyal and went to support and cheer on Take it Easy!! The wives had a lot of fun on the sidelines cheering them on (and probably embarrassing them). : /

Isn't he cute!?!

Tony had to work at Six Flags from 8 AM to 8 PM on Sunday! :( I thought I was going to die of loneliness and boredom. But it wasn't too bad. I went to church (alone) which is always awkward if it is not your church family.. But had a good time and really enjoyed the sermon and worship. Then after a couple hours of contemplating just napping the rest of the day, a friend rescued me and the two of us had a pajama/chic flic party!! It was a great time of relaxation and good ole' girl fun!



And I have to share with you a little from my devotion today! Not only does it speak to all of us, but it tugs at my heart daily:

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God's peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.

Stress management is a spiritual discipline that begins with diligent preparation in every area of life - mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. We must be ready to deal with stress before we are required to deal with stress. Dealing with stress is an ongoing, daily battle that will not end - this side of Heaven. In order to win that battle, we must be prepared. While there is no single secret to handling stress, God's Word is filled with many truths that can enable and empower us to deal with stress in a healthy, productive and God-honoring way.

In Psalm 23 He promises to be my shepherd, to lead and guide me, to provide my every need, to protect me from my enemies, to fill my heart with peace, and to stand between me and my greatest fears. God delivered a profound message when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us each and every day. Jesus could have come to us in many ways but He chose to interrupt the ordinary with the extraordinary! Jesus could rightfully have been born in a palace. He was, after all, a King. Yet His life on earth began in a manger - a smelly, dusty, dirty and definitely common barn. The simplicity of His birth is one of His most precious gifts to us and a constant reminder that He really does care about everything that touches our lives - no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. God wants to be involved in the simple, ordinary happenings of each day.

While I cannot imagine my world without the presence and power of Jesus Christ, I am often guilty of living as if He does not exist. The result is a stress-filled life. A trial comes and I try to handle it on my own. Loneliness empties my heart and instead of reaching out to Him, I withdraw into the darkness where stress is waiting to fill that emptiness with anxiety and fear. Still, God is faithful. His peace is a soothing balm that leads me once again to the manger and away from stress. Emmanuel, God with me! He steps into my life and changes everything.

When He comes, stress is stripped away, tranquility given in its place.

Stress has no place in a heart that kneels before the manger. Stress is powerless in a life that continually seeks God and chooses to surrender to His love and care - like the sheep surrender to the love and care of their Shepherd. Psalm 23 describes the intimate, personal and trusting relationship between sheep and shepherd, between child and father, and is not only a beautiful portrait of God's complete and faithful provision, but an arsenal of stress-busting truths and principles that, when embraced and applied, will empower and equip us to live a life of peace and victory.

Stress is one of the enemy's favorite weapons to use against me. Especially in the time of our lives right now when I don't know how we are going to pay that next bill or fill up our gas tanks next or feeling lonely in my times of self pity feeling family-less and friend-less.... I constantly have to bring my heart and mind back to God.

How are you doing? Need help? Please pray for me, my attitude and heart, and us as a family trying to focus on Him and we promise to keep praying for you!! (REMEMBER: please leave a comment of your own personal prayer request so we can pray specifically for you!!)

Love you, Blessings,

Diamend

Mid Month

Well it's the middle of October already and there is still so much going on. I have had my final day of training at Six Flags and now I'm a Certified Ride Operator! I've been placed in the very last place I wanted to be and that is Looney Land. I get to operate SIX rides just for kids. I'm hoping to train out of Looney Land to a more grown up ride. But it is nice to have a job! I also have an interview tomorrow at the Apple store by TCU. And if for some reason that doesn't work out, I've got an invite for another interview at the Apple Store in Grapevine. Plus I've already interviewed at Zumiez and I think they liked me. But God is blessing and hopefully I will be able to balance 2 jobs and a full load of classes. If not, bye bye one job!

Thank you to everyone that is participating in my Student/Parent Devotionals! These are gonna help you get closer to Christ and your parents! If you have any questions mid-week about them please let me know! Remember ALL evaluation forms need to be turned back into Grace by Sunday October 25th!! I hope you enjoy them and the time you are getting to spend with your parents!

That is only one of my many projects due within the next 3 1/2 weeks! I could list them all and their entirety but it would be kind of confusing. Instead I'll tell you to pray for me and the work that I have ahead of me. And on that note I need to go. I've got research to do! Thanks again for all the prayers and please leave prayer requests, funny thoughts, or anything in the comment section!

Love Peace and Chicken Grease!

Tony B!

Being a Wife...

When we excitedly came here to seminary I made a goal. While Tony was studying and relishing in his calling at seminary; I wanted to learn also! I really wanted this time for me to really learn to be that godly woman and wife, that Proverbs 31 women that Tony and our ministry needs and deserves. I have a lot of fun getting life application through other women and my dear friends (seminary student wives) here; but I have also been really enjoying a daily wives' devotional. Today's devotion really tugged at my heart and convicted me to really begin being the best godly wife I can be and strive for a heart like Christ's!

So, every once and a while I'm going to share an exerpt from my devotion with you and hope to encourage someone out there! This devotional is from Wives of Faith:

A virtuous and worthy wife is a crowning joy to her husband, but she who makes him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. - Proverbs 12:4

WOW! We are a HUGE influence in our husband's life. And, when we do not step into our roles as wives properly, we are a hindrance to our husbands. We are a bad influence. When we argue, fight, refuse to submit, boss, verbally bash privately or publicly, disrespect, and treat our husband in any way that is out of alignment with God's Word, we are hurting them. We are ROTTING THEIR BONES!

Hey, I did not write the Word. God inspired men what to write. God made sure that we all know everything we need to live happy, peaceful, and joy-filled lives. His Word does not adapt itself with the times. His Word does not change to fit our needs or the culture. It just IS. We all have choices...we can obey and be blessed or we can disobey and bring ruin to ourselves and our husbands.

Benefits of obedience:
- blessings
- allows God to WORK in our husband's life and heart
- helps our husband BE what God created him to be
- trains our children to be God obeyers NOT the cultures lackey

What does the fruit of Disobedience Bring?
- a ruined husband with rotten bones
- divorce
- hindrance or our husbands spiritual walk
- trains our children to life selfish worldy lives

To put it bluntly, we need to stop waiting for our husband's to fulfill OUR needs and OBEY what God wants US to do as wives. NOT based on the performance of our husbands. We need to DO what God says to do BECAUSE God SAID it and HE knows best!

When we let go of what we want and do what God wants, then and ONLY then will we truly have all that God wants us to have. Then and ONLY then will God actually have the room and ability to WORK in our husbands hearts and help our marriages.

We cannot go on expecting God to change them and we are not even willing to do what God has said to do!

Let's Pray;
Daddy God, please forgive me for being a selfish wife. Please forgive me for unrealistic expectations, and expecting my husband to fulfill my needs. Help me to turn to You and allow You to be my source for everything. Please forgive me for being stubborn and expecting my husband to change before I will. Help me to love him. Help me to obey You and what You want regardless of my husband's behavior. Help me to NOT be a rottenness to his bones. Help me to be a crowning joy to him that helps him to be all that You created him to be. Help me to love him unselfishly. Show me how I can honor, encourage, and delight my husband. Thank You for Your Word, Lord. Thank You for not changing with the times. Thank You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. Help me to be consistent in all I do. Praise You Lord. You are worthy of my obedience, love, and worship. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus Mighty Name.
Amen!

God Blesses

It has been quite a week/weekend! For of praises for God's blessings and personal dissapointments...

As Tony mentioned in the last post, I've had some huge back pain since Wednesday night- which kinda ruined my week. I wasn't able to move or do anything! However, Friday Tony came home to me (couch-ridden) with GREAT news of getting a job at Six Flags!!! I am so thrilled and proud of him! We also received a wonderful card from a couple of dear friends who blessed us! (Love you guys!) The only downfall of Friday is that we did not get to go be gouls at the haunted house like we had been excited about :( I was also out of work for two days without sick pay... so that will suck come next paycheck :(

Saturday, I forced myself to get up and go (very stiffly and painfully) to Tony's flag football game. Which I'm glad I did because he played awesomely (of course!)

I am back to work this week, still stiff and in pain- but definitely not as bad as last week! Thank you for all your prayers! And now, since I am a list person, I want to leave you with a list of praises of God's wonderful blessing (to prove how great He is!) and a list of prayer concerns so that we can continue partnering with each other in prayer! (Also- please leave your own prayer requests in our comments so we know how to specifically pray for you!!)

Praises:

• Tony got a job!
• We continue to get cards/notes/letters of encouragement and support from our friends back home!
• We are building wonderful friendships here!

Prayer:

• With Tony's job, comes a pricey uniform!
• Two days out of work w/o paid sick time coming on our next check (Although a praise that I get a steady check!)
• My back and my attitude that comes with it
• My lonliness when he works every weekend :(

We love you guys- miss you all back in Illinois (and Iowa!) and cannot wait to see you at Thanksgiving!!!! Please leave your own prayer requests so we can continue to pray specifically for you!!

Blessings,

Diamend

I Got A Job!!

The comic above is an example of something I was doing.

Yes, if you haven't heard I recently got a job. Ironically, it was at a place that I applied for after I had made my last post. I am a ride operator at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, TX. Arlington is about 20-25 minutes away and I'll be working there for the rest of the 2009 season and I'll also come back to work the 2010 season. Six Flags in Arlington is only closed one month out of the year. I know crazy right? So for now I will be able to work weekends only (since that's all they are open now)! The only down side to this job is that I must BUY my uniform. Polo shirts, pants, shorts, and a jacket. Plus, I have to have all white shoes. So these are some things that we were not planning on having to spend money so it's a little crazy. But we are sure that God will bless because I feel that He really wants me to work there. I was basically hired on the spot and it will give me plenty of opportunities to work with christians and non-christians. I will be able to show my faith through my actions each day I work! So THANK YOU all for the prayers and kind words! You are an encouragement and Diamend and I always look forward to hearing from you!

If you have been following us elsewhere you have heard that Diamend has hurt her back. She missed two days of work and has been basically stuck on the couch for the most part of the weekend. Every time I get determined to take her to the doctor, she's feeling better, so I wait and then it gets worse. It's been a crazy couple of days in that regard. But she is feeling much better today and she will be returning to work tomorrow. I even made her get out of the house to watch my football game yesterday and go to church today!

Football has been tons of fun for US. Yes, US! I have been enjoying getting together with a great group of guys and hanging out with them on and off the field. And Diamend and the "wives club" has formed and is the best cheerleaders any team has ever seen. I think they are gonna make t-shirts?! We have been blessed with great friends here to match those of you who are only here with us in spirit. And yes, you are! We think of you all so much and we can't wait to see you come Thanksgiving!

I want to end this post with a tiny message. I mean, I can't be in seminary and not preach sooner or later! But God is faithful. That is my encouraging word to you. He is. Diamend and I have had our troubles and times of when we were not sure how things were going to turn out. But it was until we literally came down here and knowingly saw that we could not do this on our own. If you know my amazing wife you know that she had everything planned to a T. But even all our planning told us that we needed God to do this. And we have. He has spoken to us and shown Himself to us in many different ways. Through encouraging words from others, to cards in the mail, to friends calling to just give a kind thought on a day when it was needed the most, to an amazing surprise from a relative of Brittney Spears, and so much more. So I want to leave you with two more things, if you think that God is nowhere to be found, stop, step back and look a little harder, because He is in more than we know. He is in everything, we just need to look! And the last thing is "For everyone who asks receives;he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." -Luke 11:10

Thank you to all our readers and know that you are always on our minds! Thank you for all your prayers and we can't wait to see you again!

LPCG

Tony B

Good Times!

Well I haven't gotten called back about a job yet. Still praying that God will provide. I know He will it's just in His time not mine. But it is still hard to wait. Diamend and I did get some rather fun news. We will be able to volunteer at one of the "Top 5 Scariest Haunted Houses in the USA"!! It's a haunted house that takes all of their profits and donates them to charities. Last year 1.6 Million!! So Diamend and I will get to scare people for a good cause. We are excited about it and Diamend even more so...she is usually scared of Haunted Houses but since she will be on the other end it so it should be really fun! We'll be sure to put up pictures of us once we get into it!

I've decided that since God wants us to pray directly rather than indirectly I've compiled a list of all the places I've applied. If you could pray for a couple that would be great.

1. Southwestern

2. Apple

3. Best Buy

4. Blockbuster

5. Wal-Mart

6. Target

7. Buffalo Wild Wings

8. Starbucks x2

9. Office Max

10. Johnny Carino's

11. 99.5 The Wolf

12. The Italian Cafe

13. GameStop

14. Kohls

15. AnchorBlue

16. Zumiez x4

17. American Eagle

18. Fossil

19. Jamba Juice

20. Movie Tavern

21. Starplex Cinema

22. Main Event Entertainment

Thank you in advance!

I have really been enjoying my classes! Greek is a lot of fun but tons of memorization. I think I've re-learned English because of it! New Testament is good but it's got more reading than I've ever done before. But I've really felt that I need to share my final grades with you. Not because of pride, but because it will keep me accountable for what I'm doing here. Some of you reading this have supported me through prayers or finances. Therefore, I feel that you deserve to know what I receive and see how I am doing.

ATTENTION ALL GRACE SBC YOUTH!!!

Yes it is about time for you to help me out with one of my classes. You will be receiving a packet with instructions. But it is a 4 day quick bible study with your parents and it will be lots of fun. Trust me. It will bring you guys together and you will be able to learn from one another!

Well sorry for the long post. But know that we love you guys and we love reading your comments. Thanks for all the love and we can't wait to see you again!

LPCG

Tony

I love Fall!

I absolutely LOVE fall! So of courses, October 1st, I had to pull out my fall decor and make our little home festive!!

I don't know what it is about fall that makes me smile: brisk air (not in TX!) and the warm house full of fall fragrance, colorful leaves and warm colors, wearing sweaters!... there is just so much to love!

We had a very nice relaxing weekend! We didn't do too much and it was borefully uneventfull -- which was very much needed after the last weeks! :)

We got some great R&R with each other, a pajama movie night with friends, a Flag Football game in this lovely Texas weather and a great church service followed by lunch with friends at PF Changs!! It was just what we needed!

Of course, I can't have a blog post without bragging on my hubby and his Flag Football Skills!

And of course, only in Texas and only if you me could you possibly get sunburnt in October!! I will not be posting those pics ;)

We have really been enjoying updating the blog -- it gives me something to look forward to and excuses to take pics!!

October is a fun month for us also - because it is both our Momma's birthdays!! This Friday will be Tony's momma's 50th Birthday!!! And in exactly two weeks it will be my momma's 46th Birthday!! More updates on that to come!!

Until next time...

Blessings,

Diamend