The Meling Mailer

December 1, 2009

Quotes from Vanessa

It has been awhile since I have written on Vanessa's blog, but I have been keeping track of a few of her funnier quotes. All three deal with work related issues...

1. "It's so frustrating because I can't do any homework while I'm at work." - this was said after Vanessa was unable to do the homework she had specifically set aside to accomplish during work hours. These are your tax dollars at work!

2. "Shane, you need to leave your work at home." - Freud might have something to say about this one, but she was really trying to tell me to not bring my work home with me.... fortunately I'm very good at translation.

3. "I have an 8-to-5 job and I'm there by 8:30 every morning." - This was Vanessa explaining her work ethic to my sister Dawn when we lived in Longview.

So hopefully those make you laugh a little bit. Vanessa and I spent Thanksgiving with the VanBrocklin's for the second straight year in Houston and had a fun time. Although, it would have been nicer to be able to stay a little bit longer. It was the first time we had seen Kym pregnant. While we had fun in Houston we did miss out on Vanessa's parents spending the weekend with us because her dad's mom (Vanessa's grandmother) passed away on Wednesday morning so they had to go to Florida. She was in her 90's. We are really looking forward (at least I am) to going back to Slippery Rock for Christmas this year. We leave on the 20th and get back on the 29th. Love you all.

Shane

November 23, 2009

Your Hands

This weekend was just tough....dealing with my emotions and wrestling with God's plan for my life. Although painful I'm always reminded of God sweetness during times like this. Everytime I turned on the radio in the car or at home, there were songs that lifted my spirits or a Scripture verse that comforted me. There is one song in particular that has resonated with me because it's where my heart is right now. Despite the pain I feel in my heart I am reminded of the hope I have. He has me in his hands.

You've probably heard of it - Your Hands by JJ Heller:

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away
I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands
Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...I never leave Your hands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlL8LayF0uw

November 22, 2009

The 3rd annual Texas Visit

Kathe and Tom (Shane's parents) came to visit us on their 3rd annual Texas visit. We had a great time as usual, despite our busyness and Tom being sick. Tom had the flu part of the visit and Shane had to work quite a bit because of our football team making the playoffs and hosting the first round.

It's alwasy nice to have family come and visit and see what life is like for us. It's always interesting. They got to go to the game at the end of the week which was cool. I do have a few pics of the game.

Shane and I are so very thankful to God for Tom and Kathe. We are truly blessed to have their loving support and faithful prayers. I am forever grateful for the Godly son they raised and the investment they made in his life. He is an incredible husband and I know a lot of it has to do with the family he comes from. I am a blessed person because of it. Thank you for giving of yourselves.

The Traveling Pants

The months of October and November have been full of travel for Shane and I. At the end of October we drove to Abilene for the weekend to watch the football team play Abilene Christian. It was a great weekend, although our team lost. Shane and I enjoyed driving around Abilene, trying out new restaurants, and checking out the other college campuses (Hardin Simmons & McMurry).

I flew out of Abilene on Sunday morning to Kansas City, MO for a work conference. It was great to be in KC in the fall. The weather and the trees were absolutely gorgeous. I met up with another co-worker and we had fun again trying out new restaurants that we had not been to such as, The Melting Pot and Fogo de Chao. Highly recommend both if you haven't been there. The Melting Pot was worth the experience one time, probably won't return. Fogo De Chao....is worth going back to. It was the best Brazilian Steak House restaurant I have ever gone to. I was excited to hear that they opened one in San Antonio! Oh, the conference was excellent as well. :)

Here are a few pictures of where the traveling pants have visited.

At Fogo de Chao in Kansas City

Our hotel in Kansas City - The Intercontinental

The park I ran at every morning one block from my hotel

Absolutely beautiful neighborhoods in KC
...I wouldn't mind living here.

at Abilene....our Javelina Band

TAMUK vs. Abilene football game

October 27, 2009

A Treasure

Since we've moved away from family and friends, we sure do consider all visitors a treasure. This last weekend, my best friend in the whole world came to visit us for the first time since we moved. It was great timing since this past weekend was Homecoming. We had a blast being part of the downtown parade and waving like homecoming queens! The best was going to the homecoming football game. Homecoming is not complete without football. She also experienced tailgating South Texas style and the after parties. We sure were busy. It was great to give her a sneak preview of our lives. Here are a few photos of what we did:

Archie waving like the Homecoming Queen

One of my co-workers and her family

Football game

In Corpus Christi

And I will leave you with a glimpse of what I'm going through in my doctoral classes. I'm currently taking Statistics and enjoying it a lot. Here is a snapshot of some of the things I'm learning:

One-Sample Test
Test Value = 32
t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference
Lower Upper
Reading .645 11 .532 .750 -1.81 3.31

Please pray for us that we will be salt and light in the midst of darkness in our jobs, our community, and in my classes. Come and Visit!

Until later....

September 25, 2009

We are ALIVE!

It's been awhile since I've written on this thing. I don't know if people are still checking it anymore. But here it goes....

August 2009 - Shane and I had the priviledge of celebrating our 4 year anniversary on August 13th in the Bahamas. My parents were there and my best friend was able to come too. The beaches were absolutely beautiful. It was a very relaxing week and we would love to go back. I must say that God has truly blessed me with such an amazing man for a husband. The more I get to know him everyday, the more I fall in love with his heart, his sincerity, his sense of humor, his kindness and so much more. I thank God for thinking of me when he provided my husband.....He does care for us afterall better than "the birds in the air and clothe us better than the lillies of the valley." Thank you, Father, for the gift of marriage.

Septemeber 2009 - With both of us being in the education environment, the beginning of the school year is always hectic. After our little vacay at the Bahamas, we came back and jumped into all of the crazy trainings, football practices, first day of classes and so much more. I also started up my own doctoral classes. Balancing all of this has been quite a challenge, but very rewarding. We are blessed to have so many opportunities. I love what I do, love being in school, and love the opportunity of getting to know people at church and at work.

If you're reading this, we do ask for your prayers about the following:

My testimony in my doctoral classes. I pray for boldness and truth to cover me as the class is exposed to many philosophies such as postmodernism, humanism, and many more. I need articulation to present Truth in the midst of darkness.

Shane's travel with the football team. They are 4-0 right now and enjoying it! His witness to those around him.

We found a church that we like and have become members. We need direction on where to serve and minister.

Decisions that we must make in the near future. We need wisdom, discernment, and listening ears to His word and voice. We need healing and guidance.

For God to provide us friends. There are times that we are just lonely and we yearn for good Christian friends.

If you're reading this, we consider you a friend. We covet your prayers and thank you for your friendship.

Until later.

August 7, 2009

A sweet, familial visit

The week we were doing our bible club, my brother David flew into the states with the entire fam. We weren't sure if they were going to drive 7-8 hours from Dallas/Longview to visit us, so we were surprised that they did! David, Fernanda, Abigail, Emily, & Alex all came down to visit their Tio Shane & Tia Vanessa!! We had a wonderful time with them. They were able to spend 4 days with us and we packed lots of FUN into their visit.

We went out to eat and shopped in Corpus, the kiddos got to experience the bible club the last two days, we went to the beach, went toy shopping :), dressed up and had a fashion show with the girls (check out the video), played board games, went swimming in our pool, went to church, and watched the movie "Toy Story" a lot with Alex, although he prefers the movie "Cars"!

I must admit, it was hard to say goodbye to them after having spending so much quality time with them. We couldn't believe how much they had grown since the last time we saw them in March. Unfortunately, since they are missionaries we don't have the pleasure to just go over to their house and visit with them. It was a sweet time. We did savor every moment of it with the entire family and were wishing to hold the hands of time so that our time would not end.

Oh, how I wish I could see those kids grow up and be a part of their daily lives. But I know that God has them in Honduras sharing Christ and serving others. They are my real-life heroes.

Father, I pray for my bro and family that you will protect them and keep them safe in a country that is experiencing political unrest and instability. Bless them for giving of themselves and sacrificing their lives for you. I will alwasy love them and miss them.