New House Sneak Peek!

Last Monday, Jack and I made a life-changing decision... We bought a house here in Conway! We are so excited for this next stage of life and can't wait to get out of apartment living. :) 

Here is a little glimpse of what we will be calling home starting next month!! 

We've still got to get through all the final details and are praying and trusting in Him for a an easy move!

In other news, I quit my GA position at the Child Study Center. I am so sad not to be around those precious kiddos anymore, but it had to be done for school. I felt like I couldn't do my best this semester while also working 20 hours a week, and thankfully my wonderful husband was VERY supportive of this decision.

I guess I'll be spending my extra time not only studying, but also packing!! Eeeee! I can't wait to move!

Happy Sunday everybody!

"In everything, give thanks..." 1 Thess. 5:18

Reasons I am thankful today:

• Jack is finished with his most recent project at work (which kept him at the office ALL weekend)!
• My friend, Julie, surprised me and visited yesterday, right when I was missing NWA family and friends. God's timing is perfect.

• A new study in home group, the college bible study Jack and I help lead. Tonight we will begin our semester's study with Philippians--one of my favorite books!
• Thinking I had a neuro quiz, but then not really having one :)
• Getting to have a quick lunch date with my husband in between classes
• The rain
• Getting ready to celebrate Jack's birthday on Friday!
• That the hogs won the Cotton Bowl (Yes, it's old news...but we're still excited in the Branscum household. Plus, I wanted to post some pictures from our trip!)

25 Prayers for My Husband

1. That he continues to grow spiritually through the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and quiet times. (Proverbs 4:23)

2. That his relationship with God will bear much fruit in his life, and that he will be a man who seeks wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 3:7, Psalm 112:1)

3. That he would walk humbly with God, and would always be convicted quickly about any sin in his life. (Micah 6:8)

4. That he will continue to grow as the leader of our family, and that God would be glorified in our marriage. (Ephesians 5:25-29)

5. That he would have a teachable spirit and a servant’s heart, and that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Proverbs 15:33)

6. That he would always look to the way of escape from any kind of temptation, and that he would rely on God to remain faithful to our marriage and to God. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

7. That he would safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex, and that his heart would be pure and undivided in his commitment to me and to our marriage. (Proverbs 6:23-25)

8. That he would continue to be able to provide for our family, and that he will not become discouraged by doing work he does not enjoy.

9. That money would never become a source of discord in our family, and that we would be wise in handling finances and in stewardship. (Luke 16:13)

10. That the words he speaks will build our family and reflect a heart of love. (Proverbs 18:21)

11. That our physical intimacy would be a positive reflection of selfless love. (Song of Solomon 7:10)

12. That the men in his life would encourage his accountability before God, and that he would be a godly influence on his friends and coworkers. (Proverbs 13:20, 27:17)

13. That he would choose healthy foods and activities and honor God by taking the best possible care of his body as the tabernacle of God. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

14. For his strength — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. (Ephesians 3:16)

15. For him to have wisdom and discernment in training/disciplining our children, and that the Lord would enable him to love them unconditionally. (Ephesians 6:4)

16. That he would always have an eternal perspective, and make the most of however much time he has in this life. (Ephesians 5:16)

17. That he would always be a man of peace, who allows the Holy Spirit to lead his responses in all situations. (Romans 14:19)

18. That he would have a balanced life in regards to work and play, and that he would submit his schedule to God. (Proverbs 16:9)

19. For him to find favor with the Lord, but also with people he knows and interacts with. (Luke 2:52)

20. That he would enjoy peace and refreshment in his relationship with the Lord. (Psalm 16:11)

21. That he would always be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will protect our family from Satan’s attacks. (Ephesians 6:13)

22. That he would be a man of prayer, seeking God in purposeful ways. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

23. That he will serve God and others with pure motives, and that God would be glorified in everything he does. (Colossians 3:23-24)

24. That he would offer all this dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those that bring God glory, and that count for eternity. (Jeremiah 29:11)

25. That he will recognize the lies of the enemy in his life, and that he will always be guided by the Truth. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

2011 Through the Lens

Through the eyes of my camera, here are some highlights of a wonderful year!

Surprise birthday party for Jacky [January]

Sugar Bowl in New Orleans [January]

NYC [March]

Bachelorette party [April]

Graduation [May]

MARRIAGE! [May]

Hawaiian Honeymoon [May]

First camping trip together [June]

Maggie added to the family [July]

New home, new friends in Conway [August]

Razorback football in Fayetteville [October]

New, priceless Chinese friendships [October]

Pinnacle Mountain hike [November]

Home Group [December]

Holidays as Mr. & Mrs. [December]

Dropping the ball

I feel like I sort of dropped the ball this Christmas. I preach it to myself and others every year-- "Jesus is the reason for the season." I didn't feel like it'd be a struggle for me as I get older. I'm no longer counting down the days to open my presents or comparing whether my sister and I got the same amount. After some research and some tough questions from friends who do not celebrate Christmas, Jack and I even decided to do away with all of our Santa memorabilia. Surely with not getting caught up in gifts and Santa Claus, I'd done away with the distractions from Christ this Christmas... Right?

Wrong.

A new challenge presented itself. Every newlywed must go through it. It's the most wonderful time of the year, yet it can also be the most stressful thanks to an ever-growing family now that we are married. Don't get me wrong, both of our families have been great in understanding our new situation of living farther away and still figuring out how to do holidays as a married couple. They've been quick to express that they have no expectations for us to meet, and we couldn't be more thankful for that. The problem was me. My horrible attitude. How can I be a 23-year-old who is still just as selfish as the same 7-year-old who counted numbers of presents? I let all the driving, all the packing and unpacking, all the laundry, and all the hustling around just get to me. I completely lost sight of why we celebrate. I wasn't focused on Jesus at all. I was too concerned with MY feelings, MY hardships, and ME, ME, ME. The worst part is that I took it out on my family. I wasn't prepared for all that this Christmas would bring, and I didn't look at my current situation with a Christ-like attitude.

I've known it all along, but how quickly I forget that HE is there to get me through anything. It could've been as simple as praying away my stresses, diving into His word a little bit deeper, even asking my brothers and sisters in Christ for encouragement and prayer. But I decided I could get through my stressful situation (the holidays) on my own.

Wrong again.

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness! He taught me so much at our church service here in Conway on Christmas morning. He revealed the ugly selfishness that had been in my heart throughout the holiday season and brought me back to the basics of Christmas. Who cares if we have to drive a little extra now? What difference does it make if I have to get up a little early to pack or do an extra load of laundry? Jesus gave up his life-- HIS LIFE-- by coming here to us on that miraculous first Christmas day. Can't I give up my own self-centered feelings to reflect on His goodness?

I dropped the ball, but thankfully, my Savior picked it up for me and got it rolling again. Not just this season, but EVERYTHING is about celebrating Him and what He's done for us. The hustle and bustle of holidays or of life itself should not rid us of experiencing His joy and praising Him daily.

Now, as we await another ball drop (Hello, 2012!), I don't want to lose sight of my Father and Best Friend. It's not a New Year's resolution, it's a life revelation. I'm finally ready and willing to put aside myself and focus on my Lord in ALL areas of my life. I'll drop the ball again, but He'll be standing right there to pick it up for me. And with His help, I'll be more open to let Him do it right away this time.

Merry Christmas!

Time for an update...

It's been a long time since my last post. I'm SO thrilled to say that I now have semester #1 of grad school under my belt! I can't begin to express what a weight has been lifted off of me as I get to relax this holiday break. No more worrying about finding enough time to study or reading textbooks until my eyes burn (at least not for another month). The weirdest part about my break, though, is that Jacky doesn't get a break like I do anymore. Hello, real world. While I have a month off of school and work, he only gets a total of four days. Not enough!! I miss him, but I'm so proud of him. Seeing him during his lunch breaks makes my day (and hopefully his) so much brighter! With all this free time, I've been cooking and baking, catching up on laundry and other housework, and cleaning out my second home--my car! I think I'm also going to go buy the Hunger Games series to read over the break. I've heard only wonderful things about it, and the movie looks awesome. Any thoughts???

Jack and I have been learning a lot about dealing with holidays as a married couple. Last weekend we split time between his family in Marshall and my family in Bentonville. We loved seeing everyone and made some wonderful memories! However, we've learned that we don't want to split one weekend between families anymore, if possible. It would be much more relaxing to just spend an entire weekend in one place instead of spending 6+ hours on the road. This weekend will be even crazier: we'll be in Bentonville the 23rd and 24th, come home to Conway to wake up here together Christmas morning, then off to Marshall for the 25th and 26th. It'll be fun, and we can't wait for more precious moments together and with family... but we (hopefully) won't be doing holidays like this again. :) We're very grateful, though, to be able to live close enough to both families to see them often. We know that we are very, very blessed!

One more exciting thing we're looking forward to this winter break is the COTTON BOWL! Go Hogs! Our tickets came in today, and we can't wait! We have family and friends in Dallas, so we'll be making a fun weekend trip out of going to the game. And hopefully I can get some good Dallas shopping out of it!

Jack Tyler, Maggie, and I wish you all 

a safe, fun, and blessed holiday season!