Last Christmas Without the LIttle One!

It was kinda crazy to think this would be our last Christmas with just the two of us.  This time next year, Lord willing, we will have a cute little few month old baby with us.  It was also pretty cool that this year Travis's parents had just happened to invite my Mom and Joe down to share Christmas with all of us.  It's cool to see how God orchestrated us being together with such great news to share!  Who knew we'd be announcing we were pregnant!

Another new thing this year is I'm a brunette now!  I did it before I realized I was preggers, and figured it worked out well because this brunette thing is a TON easier than the blonde.  I'll make my way back to blonde one day, but for now we're gonna stay dark.  Here are some pics from our Christmas in Houston:

 Joe loves his new oar!

 Matt and his new gun case for his new gun!

 Mom got her new pots and pans!

 Travis is finally a real Texan with his boots!

And we are one big happy Apple family!

Baby, Oh Baby

Soooo, we're having a baby!  The world pretty much knows by now, but after being harassed by a sweet friend that my blog had been lacking for quiet some time now, I decided to get this thing going again.

I pretty much knew I was pregnant before I took the test.  All those lovely changes that start taking place were happening, and I knew something was different.  It was the weekend of December 18th, and we had been home to Arlington to have an early Christmas with my Dad, step mom, and the Kashubas all weekend, but all I kept thinking about was getting home to take a test.  Sure enough, it was positive.  Even though I pretty much knew what that test was going to say, I was shaking like crazy!  I couldn't believe it actually said positive! Travis and I just looked at each other saying, "Oh crap. This is happening!"  We could hardly believe it.

The next weekend was Christmas. We would be celebrating Christmas in Houston with both of our families.   Since my parents were driving down to have Christmas with us, we decided it would be the perfect time to tell them.  So I wrapped up cute little onesies that said "What happens at Grandmas stays at Grandmas," and cute little ones for the grandpas as well.  Travis and I tried to do a video and take pictures, but once everyone started figuring it out there was way too much yelling and screaming to focus on taking pictures!  I did get a good one of Joe's face right after though, and of course it's on my mom's camera!

After telling just the parents, I wanted to wait until we officially heard the heartbeat to tell everyone else.  Our appointment was last Monday, January 23rd.  The grandparents were going crazy not being able to tell anyone, and knew I was going in around 1:30.  Needless to say they were anxiously awaiting the "go ahead" call shortly after.  Facebook got the news, and the rest is history!

I'm about 10 weeks and 3 days.  We're due around August 25th.  Yay for getting to be in my last trimester in the blazing, horrible heat of Texas.  I cannot imagine how miserable I'm going to be come August!  Lord, help us all!!  So far the pregnancy has been B-R-U-T-A-L!  I'm talking the worst nausea and vomitting imaginable.  Seriously, it has been hard.  I never thought I was that much of a wuss, but I don't know how all you moms out there do it...more than once!  I've prayed this is twins so I don't have to go through this again!  I am praying and praying I get the 12 week break everyone talks about.  Trying to hold on for a couple more weeks.

Sorry for all the blog silence.  Not expecting a ton of readers at this point, but with all the resting and sickness, I'm going to get back on the blogging wagon.  Hope you each are doing well!

Shower time!

Ok, so these next few posts will be out of order, but my good friend, Brenda, just blogged about my last shower, so I'm going to take the lazy way out and send you over to her blog to read about it.   It was, without question, the funnest (yes funnest) lingerie shower I have ever been to!  Lacy Beckler, once again, you out did yourself in the planning!  This is girl is so stinkin creative! So so so lucky to have such great friends!  We seriously laughed so hard we cried.  Such good times. 

Can't wait til the bachelorette shenanigans for this weekend!!!

I'm back...I think

I haven't blogged much in the last couple years, but as I sat in my quiet time today I was overwhelmed with the need to blog.  I've been reading in Deuteronomy for some time now.  I've been taking my time, really soaking up each and every verse of every chapter.  It really is one of my favorite books.  As I prepare for this big huge new chapter in my life, marriage, there are so many thoughts and emotions going on I can hardly keep track.  I have waited a long time for this, and I can say I am so grateful for that time of waiting.  Don't get me wrong, there were many hard, impatient days, but God has done so much in those years, and for that I am eternally grateful. 

I got to chapter 11 or so, and really felt the need to be digging into the new testament.  So, I kinda flipped through some pages (I'm not sure how you guys come to reading the book/chapter you're reading), kinda talking to God and seeing what book kinda grabbed my eye (not saying this is the most effective or suggested way of picking a book, but it's the Bible, can't really go wrong, right?).  I ended up in Hebrews.  I have to say, it is a great compliment to Hebrews. 

I should back up a bit and talk about my love for Deuteronomy.  As I mentioned above, I have been in Deuteronomy for awhile now.  There is just something so relatable about this book for me.  The Israelits, their ridiculousness, stubborness, and God's constancy in always being "there."  I mean, isn't it crazy?  You read this book and over and over again God takes them through these crazy circumstances with odds stacked more than against them, and they win!  And then a chapter or so later, they're whining and doubting God about something else, not believing they're going to survive.  Sadly, I get so lost in the stories I forget I'm reading about them and think it's me!   Because, let's be honest, it is basically me!   

God provides warning after warning about loving and obeying Him, that some might find it borderline annoying and a broken record, but to hearts like mine...to hearts that can so relate to the frustrating ease of forgetting the victories and struggles God has brought you through and helped you overcome over and over again, it is like a refreshing drink of water.  It's God saying 

"Remember how I (the Lord your God) led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands...He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell..."

He protects, teaches, provides, shows grace, and loves...over and over and over again.  So, my question to you...when's the last time you stopped and remembered all the things the Lord has walked you through and helped you overcome?  Don't forget to remember!

The big news...again

Soooo, we're engaged!!! Again!

I know, I know...All I can say is that it's been a great journey, and we've learned and grown a ton! 

It was a complete surprise, and anyone who knows me knows it is REALLY hard to surprise me.  Travis had my mom and step dad drive up to be apart of the fun day.  I honestly thought I had invited them down to see us that day, but somehow Travis got one step ahead of me! Love him!

Here are some pics from the day. 

Last Year in my 20's!!!

Here's a picture recap of the last year in my 20's!!!


January...Travis is 30. VEGAS!

February...SNOW!! Lots and lots of it.

March and April were pretty uneventful.  But here's a pic from a fab 70's/80's birthday party I went to.

May...Settling into Austin

June...Caleb and Kari get married!

July...Trip to Tennessee

August....Kashuba kids birthday bash!

September...kinda boring, so here's a pic from the Miranda Lambert concert in Greene from August.

October...ACL!

November...Thanksgiving

December...For Travis Christmas present I gave him a trip to New Orleans and going to the Saints game!

January...My parents retiring? Retirement Party time!!

February....And finally...I'm 30!!!

 What a wonderful year!!!

Let's Play Catch Up...

March madness is on the horizon, and I know I'm not alone in wondering, "Where has the time gone?!?"  How in the heck is it March!  I know I say this every year, but I swear with each passing year I mean it more and more...I feel like time is just flying by!  Please.  Slow.  Down!!!

I've been doing a ton of reflecting and looking back.  To think I've been in Austin for over 9 months seems impossible.  I in no way feel established or rooted here...at all...even a little.  Kinda sad about that.  Honestly, feeling at home in a foreign country was easier than this!  Austin truly is a strange place.  It has it's "eclectic" spirit, funky dining, endless venues of music, and, of course, it's downright weird people. No really, Austin is weird.  And Austinites love that about themselves.

So, what have I learned after being here?  I'm boring.  Plain and simple, boring.  I'm admitting it.   I just cannot appreciate Austin for all it has to offer.  Sorry to all you die hard Austinites.  Love you, but just not my cup of tea.  I'll maybe visit you once I'm gone, buuuut...maybe not.  ;-) 

On to catching up...I'm going to keep this somewhat short.  It's been 9 months of sweat and tears trying to build up a client base.  I am finally getting into a schedule packed with some great clients.  My gym is finally growing on me.  Soooo different than my amazing Ft Worth gym.   Different is hard, but sometimes a good thing.  Let's just say I can now appreciate what I had, and also appreciate how God is stretching and growing me here. 

Some of the biggest challenges since moving here.... One, finding a church home.  SO.  HARD.  Still working on this, and praying a ton.  Next and biggest update/challenge most know, but vaguely, is there is no longer a wedding happening in June.  Bigger blog to follow on this, but for now know Travis and I are doing great, and loving this season of growing and stretching with the Lord.  It's not the road we planned on traveling, but finding God in it all. 

I feel I'm walking at such a slow pace right now.  Like somehow time has passed, but I feel I just arrived. (If that makes ANY sense at all.)  I'm needing a fire lit.  Something to get me up and going.  I know there's something I'm missing, but just not sure what that is.  Just in one of those apathetic moments in life, ya know?  BUT, there's one thing that keeps me going in moments like these, and that's the fact God is alive and well, working in me even when I find myeslf in these blah moments. Praise.  The.  Lord.

I pray you are well, and walking eyes open and looking around at where God has you.  Keep pressing on....

Oh to be young, and 30?

Miranda was awesome as expected! We all were a bit nervous about the 10:30 start time for Miranda, but happy to report we all survived!  So stinkin fun! Amanda and I are sooooo lucky to have such fun, amazing friends.  Here are some pics from the night...enjoy!!

So many great friends and great memories!!

Kickin off the Dirty 30's...

Amanda and I decided to throw ourselves a big ol 30th birthday shindig...SO, here's a sneak peek at what the two of us and 20 of our most closest, most special friends will be doing this weekend!!!

Take this...

 Plus this...

Plus her...




Cannot stinkin wait!!!

The Dirty 30's Are Here!

So, I'm 30.  The big 3-0.  No longer will I see that young, innocent, sweet little "2" in the front of my age, but instead the "3" has taken over.  Honestly, I find it incredibly fun and exciting.  Seriously.  Not even an ounce of "pretending" to love being in my 30's, or even wanting to hold on to that 29.  Anyone else feel that way turning 30?  I am fully embracing and loving 30.  And here's why...

I LOVED my 20's.  I LIVED in my 20's.  I grew leaps and bounds in my 20's.   I experienced so many milestones, people,  and cultures.  I saw God and met God in so many big huge ways, I still can't digest it all!  I lived in 4 different states, graduated college, started life in the "real world," lived overseas, visited over 20 states, and stepped foot in over a dozen countries.  THAT is living.  It was such a FUN decade.  I.  Am.  OVERWHELMINGLY.  Blessed.

I never settled for average or mediocre.  I pursued God with reckless abandon.  I had nothing to lose but the chance of not walking through every door and journey God had waiting for me.  And I didn't miss one single thing.  I was willing and waiting for God's prompts and calls.

I encountered some great relationships.  Did life, for better or worst, with so many different people.  Learned valuable life lessons.  I hurt, cried, laughed, loved, and at times simply took a deep breath and took it all in. 

I got to know me.  I got to know my God.  I was challenged and pressed more than I thought possible, yet each time He equipped me with all I needed to persevere.  I learned that regardless of how much you think you might have grown, there's still so much more refining to come.  I was humbled, rocked, broken, and found myself, at times, barely at a crawl in my walk with Him.  BUT, regardless of where I was, regardless of how bad I had screwed things up...He. Was. There.  He never left.  Humbling, overwhelming, and completely awesome.  Thank you Lord.  

I may not have left my 20's how I envisioned, but I definitely did more than I thought possible.  I am thankful for all I did, all I saw, and all the people along the way.  So here's to what was, and here's to what is to come!  30's, I hope you're ready!!!