more than i imagined.

A few people have asked if I'm feeling nervous about our move. And I almost surprise myself each time I say, "No, not really," because two years ago, when we were facing our move from Oregon to Texas, I felt a lot of uncertainty. We were leaving family, friends, familiarity. In this post from April 2011, I wrote...

I will have the opportunity to find a new community of friends and family-away-from-family.

And, most importantly, I will still have the joy and the trials and the opportunities for faith that come with being constantly refined by Christ's presence in my life. And likely in ways I can't even imagine. 

And it's been so, so true. God provided us with the best community--especially in our dear friends at UBCabilene. It's been an honor to serve alongside a such united group of believers who are truly committed to reaching Abilene for Christ. There have been so many small, sweet moments where I thank God for bringing us into a wonderful community. Small moments that have meant so much, like being given a dining table just before Thanksgiving, or seeing smiles on the faces of my FamilyLife girls every Wednesday night. 

And the joys and trials that we've faced in these two years have pushed me to lean wholly on God's plan and provision. We haven't experienced the highest elation or the deepest grief, but we have, in those small, sweet moments, known the joy that comes from serving Christ even through our daily struggles. 

Ephesians 3:20-21 says, Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

God has done immeasurably more than all I could have asked or imagined, not in loud or jaw-dropping ways, but in those small, sweet moments which have moved mountains in my heart. And so I trust that He'll give us just what we need in the days ahead. 

take me home.

There are some days when Texas doesn't feel that different from the Pacific Northwest. When it just seems like people are people, and connections and memories are possible anywhere. And then there are other days when the differences seem drastic. When my situation and my roots just don't match up (for instance, a quart of blackberries costs $8.00 here. They grow like weeds in Oregon.). When it feels like my little Oregon heart flies in the face of Texan culture. When I'm reminded that, without my views changing, I have gone from being a conservative in a liberal place to a liberal in a conservative place.

I had one of those days last week. And by the end of the day, I just wanted to crawl into that treehouse in the photo above, wrap myself in our Pendleton blanket, turn on The Followers, put on my hipster glasses (that I don't yet have) and talk about things like Ramblin' Rod, Mt. Hood Conference track, and Crema lattes. Basically, I wanted to crawl into a cave of comfort and familiarity. 

But that's not where I am right now. Right now I'm in Texas. And while the differences can be amusing some days, they're tiring on other days. And so I trust that this is an important and rich part of my experience, too. That I don't have to fall head-over-heels for Texas, but I do have to seek out what God has for me here. And I only have to buy blackberries if I want to.

xoxo.

Photo sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

P.S. I suppose this is a good time to announce that I get to return to the motherland for a couple of days around the 4th of July thanks to CookingThyme. Hooray!

the year that changed me.

My texagram (which I just invented).

After more than a week of traveling, we arrived in Abilene, Texas, on May 23, 2011. One year ago today.

Wow. One year. I'm already tearing up.

There's something that happens to you when everyday for a year has some element of the unknown in it. When it always seems like a surprise might be right around the corner. A bill you can't pay. A job you didn't get. A church you've never been to. Even simple things--like a phrase you've never heard (i.e. frito pie). But each day, the unfamiliarity and the worry and the fear wear off a little bit more. And you start to know a new place. You start to be known in that place. And you start to know yourself. And slowly, the surprises change their tune. A check you didn't expect. A job that seemed like a long shot. A church that welcomes you and keeps you. And even simple things--like a dining table for Thanksgiving. 

This is a thank you, and it's been a long time coming.

UBCAbilene, thanks for fooling us with your giant building. Without it, we may have never visited on that first Sunday. And even though there were only about 75 people there that morning, you hooked us with your welcoming Texas charm and spaghetti lunch. 

To our awesome lifegroup, which has walked with us faithfully for a year. Thanks for the conversations, laughs, meals, endless desserts, and prayer. Getting to know people in Abilene so quickly after our move has made such a difference. We treasure you all.

Dear friends in Oregon, San Diego, and beyond, who we miss and think about often. Someday we'll take you all to Fiji or something and all hangout together (that's a totally empty promise). Thanks to those who have called, listened, and laughed at how crazy Texas can be. And rebuked me for turning into a cat lady (ahem...Renee).

My cousins and siblings, who SOMEHOW managed to pull out a Turkey Bowl win even without Primetime (that's my name out on the field). And for live tweeting to keep me posted on the score.

My family (some of whom like to consistently answer the phone with "How y'all doin?"), for the support, advice, prayer and love, even from 1,600 miles away. And for Facetime-ing me during important events, like the Turkey Bowl and Browning Family Easter Egg Hunt. Special shout-out to my mom who, no matter how many times I call her, still picks up the phone every time. She can handle everything from tears and tiredness to questions about roasting chicken, and that takes a special lady.

Landon's family, who shared a special time at Thanksgiving with us that I'll always remember. It's also great that they think the Abilene Chihuahua Gangs (ACG) are as funny as we do. Thanks for your constant love and encouragement. 

And to Landon, for having the faith, wisdom, and insight to bring us here. I think he was a little uneasy about moving to a small town in West Texas with a girl who spent a year being homesick in San Diego of all places. But I wouldn't change a thing. God has given us so many opportunities to grow, and I'm so very grateful to be able to experience that with Landon. A year ago, I remember assuring Landon before we moved that I didn't want a man who was committed to keeping me comfortable. I wanted a man who was willing to help me change and grow, and who would change and grow with me. He's been that, and so much more.

To my faithful Savior, your love, provision and grace never fails. I am yours.

Here's to another year of trials, blessings, and God's faithfulness.

xoxo.

my day.

...was filled with taking these photos. This was the first graduation I've been to where the graduates pose with horses following the ceremony. 

#awesome

xoxo.

three things.

1. Wishing my sweet niece Shayla a very happy 7th birthday today!! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you, Shayla!

2. I worked every night this week, and, despite my exhaustion, I get to do really fun things like edit llama photos. 

3. I said my very first "y'all" this week. To be fair, I was quoting someone. Buuut I'm slowly transforming into a Texan. Yikes!

(Don't worry, I still recycle, Landon still wears crocs, and we often talk about missing OPB. #oregoniansatheart)

xoxo.

our wonderful weekend.

 Our weekend was made up of three of my favorite kind of days: the ones where Landon and I spend basically every moment together, talking about everything we I can think of. 

First up, a picnic of course! ...And at what we deemed the Mission Bay of Abilene, no less.

...Followed by a trip to the Abilene Zoo! We were quite impressed with this little zoo...

And every cat made me miss our sweet little Snook!

This vulture was clearly thinking, Whaddup suckas?!?!

Also, this...

Our Easter was filled with lots of tasty foods! I'm actually quite happy to announce that, with the exception of my not-so-pretty deviled eggs, everything turned out!

We had sweet potatoes with roasted grapes, goat cheese and honey...

(recipe here, repin here)

...lemony asparagus

(recipe here)

...creamy deviled eggs

(recipe here)

and chocolate shelled cheesecake "eggs" with peach jam!

(based on recipe here, repin here)

I also got to watch my niece and nephew on their egg hunt in my parents' yard, thanks to FaceTime!

Hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend!

xoxo.

a year ago i wrote this...

We were the plane ride home from a trip to Virginia...

There are days when I feel nothing. When all is routine, predictable and life is simply a pattern to follow. But today is not one of those days. Today is full and I feel everything. I feel hope, love, pride, strength and possibility. I feel like a kid at Disneyland, with no lines. I can choose any ride and it will undoubtedly be the time of my life. So I choose the big one. I don't choose "It's a Small World," because I'm over predictability. I've been there before. I choose Thunder Mountain, or Space Mountain, because I will be thrilled, scared and overwhelmed with joy all at the same time. And so it is in our lives right now. With opportunity opened up to us, we can choose to take the big ride--with all the unknown and the fear as well as the possibility of great joy and new heights--or we can stay circling in our pattern, singing "It's a Small World," and wondering what the big ride is like. And so, the two rides before me, I choose the big ride for us. I choose change, a rarity for me, and yet something very necessary, so crucial to growth. And undoubtedly there will be times when we're just crawling along, creaking up to the top, overwhelmed with fear and anticipation because we don't know what's on the other side, but then there will be downhills too, when we're riding free with our arms in the air, saying, "It doesn't get any better than this." And so I'll choose the big ride, for all it entails. For joy, sorrow, growth, discouragement and accomplishment. 

Hang on, cause this is the wildest ride in the wilderness.

We had just decided to move to a little town in Texas called Abilene. The idea of moving somewhere for Landon to go to grad school had been a "what if" for a while, and we decided to go through it. We hadn't been in Lebanon for very long, but it just seemed to be the right time for a change. The months that followed were some of the most scary, exciting, frustrating and rewarding months I've ever had. And you know what? God knew what he was doing all along. 

We moved with no jobs, a little money, and no fair warning about the weather. Now, I have a job that I love and Landon is a straight-A go-getter. We still only have a little money. And, for now, the weather is perfect (I'm denying that summer is just around the corner). 

In between, though, there are a thousand stories of how God has proved Himself faithful. Life is not perfect, but I praise the one who is. And I'm glad we threw our fears aside and chose change. Because not a single moment when I've thought, What in the world am I doing here? has gone unanswered. He is faithful.

xoxo.

it's march.

It's March, which means four things:

(clockwise)

1. Time for a new desktop calendar background from Oh, Hello Friend.

2. My nephew turned twelve today. I remember holding him just weeks after he was born and thinking, When he's twelve, I'll be twenty-four. I wonder what we'll be like when we're twelve and twenty-four! Now that day has come, and he's quite the guy!

3. Time to take my first trip to San Antonio! I'm traveling with Landon and the HSU track team this weekend and I'm excited to see the city and see some track and field!

4. We've been in Abilene for 10 months. What?!?! The time has passed so quickly, and I'm so grateful for the time that we're spending here.

What will March bring for you?

xoxo.

P.S. Whenever Landon and I need a laugh, we watch this and this.

we're home.

We made it home. And even though Enterprise tried to make us walk from Dallas to Abilene (aka they wouldn't rent a car to us because we don't have a credit card, and we have Oregon licenses, so clearly we're orphaned runaways who can't be trusted), Avis pulled through and got us home sans walking. 

The best part? We got to fly on the UO plane from Portland to Seattle. The day after the Ducks' Rose Bowl win. How many people can say they got to do that?

All of the other people on our flight, I guess. 

It's good to be back.

xoxo.

it's the end of the year, and what a year it's been.

Wow. 2011 has come and gone. What a year. Honestly, I start to tear up every time I think about it, because this year has been so full of change, growth and unexpected blessings. And my only conclusion, my only theme as I look back at this year is that God is so good. God is so good.

Last year at this time, Landon and I were just barely thinking about looking at grad school opportunities for Landon. We hadn't told anyone, but we would spend our nights researching and wondering and praying. We were both ready for a change. In January, we started applying to different places. Different schools, job opportunities and graduate assistantships as they came along. 

In mid-February, we were eating dinner at Air Thai (if you're ever in Lebanon, Oregon, be sure to stop for some pad thai!) when Landon got a phone call. He stepped outside to take it, and ended up missing the entire dinner, so I knew it must be important. It was a professor from Hardin-Simmons University. Landon had sent him an email the week before inquiring about a possible grad assistant position at HSU. From there, Landon was put in touch with the head track and cross country coach at HSU, and things started to fall into place. We waited another month or so to tell our families (partially based off of the philosophy in this TED talk, and not wanting to jinx ourselves), and I announced it on The Bright Life in early April. We were moving to Texas in May. 

We decided to only take one car and whatever we could fit inside. And fit we did. I sat on two blankets in the front seat, with one bag under my legs, one at my side and two on my lap. There was a lot of stress while we were packing, and a lot of, Are we really doing this?

The second night of our trip, we stopped for burgers just outside of Sacramento. We weren't in the restaurant more than 20 minutes, but when we got back to our car we found a shattered window and four missing bags. Our computer, our wedding video footage and my baby blanket, among other things, were all gone. 

Our Christmas Eve service this year was based on the idea of God's interruptions. That God's timing may not always make sense to us, but that His plan is always best. At one point, the question was posed, "How has God broken into your life this year?" It brought me to tears, because I think our break-in, in some ways, was actually God breaking in to remind us that He's in control. That we may spend hours, days, years accumulating things and memories, but they don't matter in comparison to His plan. 

We made it to Texas after over a week of traveling, and settled into our little house. The summer stretched us in many ways, but God's blessings were apparent in each challenging situation. We had to find a new church, so we visited the closest one to us. We were overwhelmed by how welcoming the church members were, and we continue to be blessed by our relationships there. We survived a summer of crazy hot temperatures, which made the fall and winter even more of a blessing. And we learned to rely on God, and not our bank account, because our bank account clearly wasn't going to sustain us. And again, God's blessings and provision carried us through. 

I have more joy and more of a sense of God's presence and plan than I ever have. I love, love, love seeing Landon pursue something that he has a passion for, and I really enjoy my job. I don't know what 2012 will bring, but I'll try to plan less and trust more, because God is so good.

Happy New Year!

xoxo.

good news {joy}

This is the third week in my Advent series. Advent is an ancient Christian tradition, celebrating this season of preparation and an anticipation for the birth of Christ. Many churches light one candle each Sunday on the four weeks leading up to Christmas. I'm following that pattern, with the themes of hope, peace, joy and love.

joy

"But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight." -- Isaiah 65:18

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. --Philippians 4:12

Joy is a delight in life that runs deeper than pain or pleasure.

I remember hearing these words from one of my dad's sermons a few years ago, and it's really stuck with me. My joy is often rooted in my location. I grew up in Portland, a beautiful, fun and quirky place that is really unlike any other that I've been to. We drive 55 mph on the freeway, we have killer parks (which my best friend's dad is now in charge of, side note) and the best, most smooth, foamy, beautiful latte you've ever had on the corner of 28th and Ankeny. Even now as I type, my heart aches for that place, because it's filled with so many memories, and because I know the city and I feel like the city knows me. It's about comfort really. I am familiar there, I'm understood. It's where my family is, it's where I was shaped, it's where I'm rooted. And roots are important, but so is growth.

So, with my joy rooted in a city I loved, I packed up and moved to San Diego for college, 1,000 miles away. And naturally, I was homesick. Terribly homesick. I cried weekly (if not daily) for an entire year over a decision that was entirely my own. And my sweet mom listened to endless phone calls, endless complaints about San Diego (I know what you're thinking, how can you complain about San Diego? I promise, it can be done), and her response was always the same: Choose joy. Choose joy.

But, I didn't really want to choose joy, because I was more comfortable thinking about where I wasn't than where I was. I didn't want to do the hard work of getting involved in a community in San Diego, because it was easier to be sad about not being in Portland. And while I had wonderful, fabulous years in college, I wish I had done more during that first year. I wish I had learned to choose joy by acknowledging my roots, but also opening myself up for growth. I guess I'm a slow learner.

Fast forward a few years, and I'm now in a small town in West Texas. And somehow, even though there's no ocean, no fabulous coffee shop, no running trails and no curbside recycling pickup, I have joy here. And more joy than I've ever had. Because I know that my roots are in Portland, but my growth is now. And now is West Texas. I don't want to waste my time crying over what isn't when I could be acknowledging the fabulous things that God has blessed us with. 

There are certainly times when I really wish that we could just have a dishwasher for a day. Or where I'd give anything just to walk into a Winco and pick up a box of Wheat Thins for cheap (never thought I'd say that, but crackers are steeply priced here). But I wouldn't trade my joy for a dishwasher or Wheat Thins, because I know what it's like to have my joy rooted in something other than Christ, and it doesn't work. Because inevitably, at one point or another, that thing will run out, and you'll be left looking back at what you had with sadness, rather than thanking God for what you have with joy.

We joyfully praise you, O Lord, for the fulfillment of your promise of a Savior and what that means in our lives. Thank you for the gift of salvation through the birth of your son, Jesus. Create us anew as we wait, and help us to see your glory as you fill our lives with your living Spirit. Amen.

xoxo.

[prayer and verse via]

sunday lovin: changes.

 Friends, I have some fun changes to tell you about! A few weeks ago, I applied for a job (almost on a whim) at Hardin-Simmons University (HSU), where Landon is going to grad school...and within the same week, I was offered the job!! While I was getting good experience at McMurry University, working at HSU will help us cover some of the extra costs of Landon's schooling, so switching jobs was the right decision for us (and definitely a HUGE blessing). The photo above shows the building I'll be working in, starting tomorrow! I took a walk around the HSU campus last weekend and snapped a couple of shots...

I'm excited to work in such a beautiful place! I think this will be a good fit for me, and the fact that it's within walking distance from our house doesn't hurt, either. It's also right across the street from our church, so it's like we've got our own little corner of the world here, and I love it.

Along with the job change, I've decided to change things up here on the blog. I love posting on here, but lately, I feel like my posts have been lacking a little something special, and I'm always putting them together last minute. So, I devised a plan. As a way to help me work ahead on things AND keep you inspired, I've come up with some lovely little themes to bring you each week. 

And they are...

DIY Monday: (DIY project from me, or DIY inspiration from around the web)

Inspired: (what I'm loving and inspired by)

Life Lately: (an update on Landon and I and our adventures in Texas)

The Anthology: (a collection of pretty and inspiring things or ideas)

In the Shop: (a featured item from our shop)

Sunday Lovin: (an old favorite)

What do you think? I'm hoping this will be a good change for The Bright Life, keeping me on track and bringing lots of lovely things your way!

xoxo.

the TylerBright Texas weekend (and a baby shower).

 Remember when I told you about TylerBright? Well, the "Tyler" of TylerBright came to visit me over the weekend! It was LOADS of fun, and we accomplished some great things (including a 5k...of which there are no photos included in this post. Turns out running a 5k when you're out of shape is not as fun as it sounds).

There was lots of this (yummy food):

a little of this (YouTube karaoke...who knew?):

and a whole lot of this (Renee putting her amazing handwriting to work on my tablet/stylus thingy):

I also attended a baby shower this weekend, and Renee helped me put together a little present for the mommy-to-be. First up: Some embellished long-sleeved onesies for the baby...

And some lemon sea salt scrub for the mommy!

All wrapped up...

I can't take credit for the adorbs handwriting, we all know that's Renee...

And, if you want some of this adorbs handwriting for yourself, head over to our shop!

I found the recipe for the lemon sea salt scrub on The Beauty Department...LC to the rescue! (which makes this the second time I've found myself thanking Lauren Conrad publicly on my blog...see wedding hair)

The baby shower was in our church library, which just so happens to be the coolest room I've ever been in. Giant globe? Cubby desks? U-shaped table? I'm sold.

 It was an AWESOME weekend, and I'm so glad Renee made the trek to little Abilene all the way from San Diego!

xoxo.

P.S. We also did quite a bit of work developing a price sheet for both handwritten and typed wedding invitations through TylerBright. If you know someone who is planning a wedding and you think they'd like our style, feel free to pass our name along!