Lest I Forget.

While I have busy pondering the meaning of life and woo-ing you with sweet baby pictures, I realized I have forgotten some important, albeit occasionally strange events.

Example numero uno:


Just in case we forgot we lived in Texas, we passed the "Steak Bus" on our way to Oklahoma. Weird, absolutely. Did we consider stopping? Maybe.


Have you ever tried to get directions over the phone in another language? Or realized that "the trailer by the airport by the dairy" describes about 80% of Dublin, Texas? Or showed up to a Hispanic friends' sons' 3rd birthday party a day late? Well I have. And it was awesome. I think my favorite part might have been when I heard the phone being run to the neighbors house, where some lady was trying to tell me to turn by the "machines de construcciones". Could have been helpful if we were within 5 miles of those machines. We had a great time despite my goof-up, and decided it was simply a taste of things to come.


And finally, my dear one and I went to see Patty Griffin on Friday evening. Her and Buddy Miller were beyond fantastic, and she has absolutely boo-koos of talent in that tiny little body. A wonderful evening topped off by running into seminary friends who told us they are expecting!! Congrats Pyles!

So there you have it. Not emotional or earth-shattering, but my life none the less. Random, hilarious, and just how I like it.

This weekend we celebrated the birthday of my sweet baby niece:


Except I don't think she had any fun,


and the poor baby didn't get a single present,


and no one paid her a lick of attention.


There's always next year, right?

Bittersweet and Beautiful.

That's what life is to me these days. Absolutely so full of good times and people I can hardly stand it, but with a twinge of sadness stewing in it all. It's funny really, and not what I expected. To be honest, I truly thought that by this point - staring down the proverbial barrel of the gun of our big move - I thought I would weep for at least a good solid chunk of the day. Not because I am distraught martyr, trudging towards obedience; but simply because that's what I do during the major changes of my life.

Take our wedding for example. I started crying Thursday morning-ish, and wept my way down the aisle and out the door on Saturday afternoon because of the absolute, overwhelming joy of it all. Moving - both from Birmingham and Waco, boo-hooed my way down the interstate. (Don't you know a new husband just LOVED that?!) Maybe it's just me or that sneaky X chromosome, but its just what I do. Cry like a baby, and then put on my big girl panties and jump into whatever comes next. I don't think its because I'm scared or sad, but rather just full (my heart - not the panties. Although that could be the case sometimes, hmm?) Full of memories, gratefulness, hope, and sure, some fear as well. So to not be weeping daily, is a bit weird for me. But hey, June is still several weeks away, right? There's still time. ; )

This past weekend we visited some dear friends of ours in Norman, OK. They took a job at a church there, bought a house, and are planting their lives in a new place. While the boys did this in the new backyard:


The girls did this in the newly beautiful inside:

These guys are life friends for us. There's something about walking through times of transition that just bond you to people - and they are some of those friends for us as we shared our seminary years in Waco. As we pulled away after church on Sunday, the inevitable tears did come, but it was a different kind of cry. Sure, there is the surreal "I might not see you for Jesus knows how long" cloud over each goodbye, but this time I realized my emotion was a spillover of the simple goodness of it all. Norman, their church, their house - it all felt just so right, such a beautiful fit and beginning for our dear friends. It is such a joyful thing to see people you love walking in the confidence of a life lived obediently, and on the brink of our own adventure, I found great hope and assurance in that.

I will always love this picture below, because in it I see the hope and excitement of new beginnings all over our sweaty faces. God is so good to allow us not only these friends, but the chance to step into what He has long been calling us to. It's good for me to look at this and see fellow travelers, following the Lord - lots of small and occasionally big, steps at a time.


This weekend gave me hope in knowing that in each step of the journey, we are not alone; that the very God who calls us is the same God who sustains us with His depths of strength and joy. That although friendships may fade from view, they never disappear, and that taking a leap into the unknown is a risky, but rewarding business.

I'm Serious.

Let's recap.

• Signs went in the yard 8:00 am on Tuesday, March 30th


• Received a call by about 10:00 am to schedule a showing


• Showed the house that evening, and multiple times throughout the week


• Received an offer Thursday, April 8th from the first caller/looker


• Countered, accepted and met at the title company to sign papers on April 9th


• Buyer WANTS OUR FURNITRE


• AND CAN CLOSE AT THE END OF MAY (exactly when we needed)
  

To say it could be any more perfect is an understatement . . . and something tells me this next big move is the right thing for Team Bentley. Ya think?

Its Your Birthday. Go Party Like Its Your Birthday.

Dad. Padre. My Old Man.

Today is my Dad's birthday. He and mom are off on a romantic hill country get away (ew), but I had to take a moment to reflect.

The parental department is one of many ways in which I am EXTREMELY, SIGNIFICANTLY, blessed. In my job at the Pregnancy Care Center I see so many girls looking for love - from a boyfriend, a baby, whatever or whoever they think will help them feel whole and complete. So many studies point to the father-daughter relationship as the core of a female's sense of identity and self-esteem. Just by the nature of who my Dad is and the way he has chosen to love me - I know that I am that much more deeply secure and established, simply for having known I was loved since day numero uno (as pictured above).

Dan the Man is one heck of a guy. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who works harder with greater discipline or energy (the mans alarm clock goes off at 3:27 - NO LIE), who gives more of themselves to others (my brother says Dad is a "joiner", he loves him some committees), or who truly is a picture of character and integrity.

The older I get, the more I realize that a man who still deeply loves and cares for his wife, is honest in his business, and is an example to his children - is a rare and precious thing.


So Dad, Happy Birthday.

Thank you for loving mom for 30+ years, the woman is nuts about you.

Thank you for working so hard, for so long, to give us so much.

Thank you for being so faithful to so many things, namely the Lord you taught me to love.

Thank you for being available, whether its a running or real estate question - you always seem to have the answers.

Dan, you ARE the man. Hope your #$th birthday was rockin'.

The Miracles in My Front Yard

Spring is miraculous to me in so many ways. These days I find myself slowing the car simply to oogle the budding tulips just a little bit longer, and verbally encouraging trees with tiny, electric green little leaf buds. I mean, why not, you know?

After the long and relatively cold winter we have had, the sunshine and the little beauties springing forth just THRILL my soul! Most days its all I can do to not pull over and hug the new baby calves I see on the side of the road. I think they would be totally up for it, and people driving by wouldn't find it weird at all. Promise.

But this little darling you see above, I find especially fantastic. Like most first-time home buyers, we set out last spring to plant bushes, flowers, etc., all with the meager hopes of not killing everything we had worked for. And while yes, I know perennials by nature are supposed to come back year after year, I still was shocked to see this little guy in the front yard. I yelled for Baxter, and was beyond thrilled to find 4-5 of this little guy's buddies circling the tree, just as I had planted them last year. Simply astounding. After months of Texas heat, wind, and snow, and a bit of human neglect - these guys LIVED. SURVIVED. That my friends, is what I call a miraculous.



This is my mailbox. And no, it's not a perennial, or even an annual for that matter. It's just a mailbox, or so it was until a few weeks ago. As I mentioned several posts back, Team Bentley is preparing for a move, and in a big way. A part of this new endeavor, is raising support from our family, friends, and church community. We sent out letters about a month ago detailing why, where, what, and when - all in hopes that people might respond and partner with what God is leading us to.

Let me paint the picture for you. You've committed to a major move and life change. You've planned, budgeted, are selling your stuff, and are even about to buy a one way ticket around the world. The kicker, is that all of these details - big and small, depend on money that you won't earn. (DEEP BREATH). While Baxter & I have both done this for short term summer trips, never before has our very livelihood depended on God's moving others to support us. It's been a bit of a lesson to say the least.

The most amazing thing has happened though. People GIVE. And the Lord, oh bless Him - He is unbelievable and undenaibly FAITHFUL. Checking the mail everyday after work is a high and holy moment for me, because I am simply astounded at how the Lord has moved on people's hearts to give to us and the work we'll be doing. I think the Lord must get a big kick out of me, blubbering and weeping as I go through the magazines, bills, and response cards from our letters. He is not in the least surprised - and I can imagine giggles at MY surprise at it all. It is such a rush and a privilege to have to lean on the Lord in this way, and is a part of our journey that I truly treasure.

It's pretty amazing that it's real, and it's all happening. And if you need me, I'll be having church in my front yard. Celebrating that He is making the way for His people and His purposes, just as He always has.

Vacay, oh sweet vacay.

While it already feels like light years away (isn't it nuts how a work week will do that?), we had a spectacular time. Spectacular in the "sleep late, read, lay in the sun, etc." kind of way - which was exactly what we wanted and needed. For the most part, Baxter and I are "do-ers" on vacation. Give us a Lonely Planet and we'll conquer the world. Twice. But this time, we planned an agenda consisting of nothing more than the beautiful sun of the Riveria Maya:


and Harry Potter. We both read the sixth book of the series while we were there (Baxter also read some significantly more weighty material as well), and lets just say I'm still emotionally processing the end of Half Blood Prince. (*moment of silence*).


(Isn't he TOO cute?) Here's a basic recap of trip: yes, we love each other more than ever and it was a dream to celebrate our anniversary in such a beautiful place. And yes, the resort and ocean were fantastic, we're so lucky. (Sigh, this is not bitterness - just the semi-sad nostalgia from life after vacation.) Team Bentley footloose and fancy free:

I promise my cover-up was not scandulous . . . it just looks semi-hoochie here. What I DO NOT understand . . . is those MANY people who decided that since they had been at the beach, it was acceptable to wear your (potentially still wet) swimsuit as undergarments on the plane. NO PEOPLE, NO. THIS IS NOT OK. But I digress.

I also suppose that the glory of vacation has faded in the demand of the MANY things that required our attention quickly after our return. Kind of a bummer about vacation, right? It always has to end, and reality never really does. I think that's why we all need time away, to allow us an opportunity for rest and perspective. Both of which I know are critical to a whole and happy Katie. That and a kid whose name rhymes with Maxter.

One major thing going on right now is the selling of our house. We've ventured into the "For Sale By Owner" world, so far with positive results. Say prayer for an offer and contract SOON from a very sweet young couple. If we could square this away with such ease it would be a DREAM . . . and we are hesitantly hopeful. But if it doesn't, here's a picture that might convince you to quit your job, sell YOUR house, buy OURS, and enjoy life forever in the Cowboy Capital of the World.

Sigh, my pretty, pretty kitchen . . . you've been good to me. Counter space and cabinets for days! However, it has not always been so. The picture below is what we started with . . . and the condition in which we bought the house. How my husband convinced me we could get from that to this, I may never know. But boy am I glad he did!


I could never decide what I loved more, the brown/orangeish stained lineloum, the attempt at shabby sheik door-less cabinets, or the washer/dryer combo next to the stove. Luckily, two out of the three disappeared relatively quickly due to the love and labor of our precious families (remember laying that floor Daddy B? How long was it you stayed, 11 days?!)

We have loved our little house, and transforming it from a collegiate explosion of color and dirt to an updated, clean oasis that we call home. So, if you think about it - say a prayer that our little homestead would sell quickly. Until then, I'll leave us both to look wistfully at what was my view this time last week: