Art Car Museum

Benjamin and I tend to take opportunities to explore things in Houston when visitors come into town.  Jeff and Jessica came down to visit us and so naturally, we took them to the Art Car Museum!  The museum gallery was featuring work from local artists.  I was hoping that there would be more art cars than there was, but since there was only a few I guess I'll have to go to the Parade in May!

 This guy is made of hundreds of spoons!

A 12 year old kid designed and built this with his Dad!  The pop looks a little to be desired...

The Grand Dexter Adventure

One Friday night we received a notice that our dear friend Dexter had been entered into his first Wiener Dog race ever and would we like to attend to cheer him on?

Our answer was an emphatic yes!  We bundled up and drove to the Sam Houston Race Park where this sign greeted us.

We found Dexter, Kala and Luke walking down the sidewalk, ready for their first racing adventure.  We entered the building where all of the little competitors were waiting and were overwhelmed with a buzz of excitement and what seemed like hundreds of doxies in racing t-shirts!

In honor of the races, the park was selling $1 hot dogs!  Kinda morbid in one way and creative in another.  Dexter was in the first heat.  While they were lining up, Jeff and Diana met us to get a spot to watch Dexter in his debut race!

Once the doors opened, there was mass pandemonium!  Turns out Dexter didn't quite get the hang of it like we had hoped it would...however he did make it across the finish line {even if Kala had to chase him there!}.

Thanks to Dexter, Kala and Luke for a fun night of cold, cheap and very entertainment!

Slow Me Down

Slow me down, oh Lord, slow me down.
Help my heart to hear Your sound.
Speak into my life, Lord, speak now.
Slow me down, oh Lord, slow me down.

Clear my mind, oh Lord, clear my mind.
Bring me peace that I cannot find.
Take my worried thoughts, break my pride.
Clear my mind, oh Lord, clear my mind.

Wake my soul, oh Lord, wake my soul.
With this mess I've made make me whole.
Of this life called mine, take control.
Wake my soul, oh Lord, wake my soul.

Slow me down, oh Lord, slow me down.

Help my heart to hear Your sound.

Speak into my life, Lord, speak now.

Slow me down, oh Lord, slow me down.

Robbie Seay Band

Rich & Poor

We sing this song quite a bit in church.  It's a poignant reminder of the need to slow down, a need for the desire to be broken and made whole.  A reminder that life is messy and painful, but that He speaks when we slow down and whole heartedly seek His face.  Every day is a constant battle against the urge to allow Self to win.  Sometimes its not even daily, but hourly or by the minute.  It is exhausting.

"Seek my face, and you will find not only My Presence, but also My Peace.  To receive My Peace you must change your grasping, controlling stance to one of openness and trust.  The only thing you can grasp without damaging your soul is My hand.  Ask my Spirit within you to order your day and control your thoughts for the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace.  You can have as much of Me and My Peace as you want, through thousands of correct choices each day.  The most persistent choice you face is whether to trust Me or to worry.  You will never run out of things to worry about, but you can choose to trust Me no matter what.  I am an ever-present help in trouble.  Trust me, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." 
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young; pg 38

The constant struggle of surrender.  The thousands of decisions that affect our moods, our personalities, the way that we love others well.  Praise God that we are not alone if we choose to grasp, cling to His hand.  It was never promised to be easy, just that He would be there when we cry out to Him.

And the winner is...

Well folks, we have ourselves a winner...  

It is Tammy of Next to Grace!  

Congratulations Tammy!!  This cutie will be on it's way to you this week!

Thank you to everyone who entered into the give-a-way - I'm sure that we'll have another one in the months to come!  

I'd love to get some feedback from you - let me know what kind of things you are interested in entering give-a-ways for.  It's always interesting to me to see what people like...

Unwrap a Give-A-Way!

Something nifty that I got for Christmas this year was this ring.

I have worn it almost every day since receiving it.  It's fun, funky and it's like wearing a piece of art on your finger!  Not to mention it has been a great conversation starter with strangers at stores and with co-workers before meetings.  

And it's Kate Spade. 

I love Kate Spade.

Do you love Kate Spade?  

If you love Kate Spade, then I have got something for you - 

A chance to win your very own Curly Ribbon Ring!  

Here's how to do it:

You will have five chances to win, so be sure to enter 5 separate comments

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment saying that you do!

You have to be a follower of our blog through Google Friend Connect or "like" us on facebook by clicking here.  You must be a follower of one of those two places in order to win!  Tell me where you follow!  Double entries if you follow both!

2. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite wintertime accessory is.

3. Tell others about this give-a-way either on your facebook or through your blog.  

Once you have told others, let me know where by leaving a comment!  Double entries if you do both!

The give a way will close at midnight CST on Friday, January 13th with the winner announced on January 14th!

This give-a-way is sponsored by The Crazy Cozads.  Unfortunately, Kate Spade does not know who I am...although I am totally up for being her friend.  :)  

Celebrating a New Year!

This New Years, I hosted my family and Mick, Salem's Dad for our family meal.  For ever my family has had a pork roast or pork loin, mashed potatoes, hot dogs, sauerkraut, dumplings and another veggie to eat on New Year's Day.   I am proud to report that I successfully made a delicious pork loin, my first ever!  Is there anything that you normally eat on New Years?

 Table decor for New Year's Day

 It's not New Year's unless there is poppers!

Happy New Year from our little family of three!  We hope that 2012 has been good to you so far - We are one week in!  Have you made any resolutions?  How are you doing with them?

Girls Night

I went to college at Houston Baptist University.  While there I lived with 13 girls.  Not all at the same time - over a period of three years.  Can you imagine living with 13 girls all at once for months at a time?  I mean, when there that many girls sharing a cabin at youth camp for a week in the summer - that's different than 13 girls for a year!  The last year of my time at HBU I lived with Stephanie and Stacie.  I moved into the room that Rochelle lived but frequented the apartment.  

The memories I have with Stephanie, Stacie and Rochelle are too many to start typing about.  Leading you down memory lane would consist of a lot of stories that I would have a riot reliving would leave you just very confused... or amused...  I'd like to think you'd be amused.

I went back through my iPhoto library to see what I could rustle up.  Most of my college photos are on film with CD back up under my guest bed.  I did have this beauty:

and this one:

Yes.  Those are foil hats on our heads.  We were inspired by the movie Signs.  And yes, those are home made t-shirts.  And we LOVED self-timers on cameras.  Self-timers on cameras are amazing.  It's okay to feel a little jealous.  We know that our awesomeness surpasses anything you've seen to date.  :)

The four of us also headed to Los Angeles, CA to see James Masters with his band Ghost of the Robot.    Stephanie loved him in the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  And we were good friends to go with her.  She knows it too.  We haven't let her forget that.  Or who the real funny friend is.  Or that she is not olive.  (Just kidding Stephanie!)  We also did sight seeing and had a blast!

This is from Stephanie's bridal shower...who doesn't love squeezing into an elevator and taking photos?

Anyway, the point.  The point is this week I spent the evening with these three ladies eating good food, having fantastic conversation and picking up where we left off.  These girls make me smile.  Between the four of us: we are all married, have three dogs and four children.  Stacie lives in Kentucky, Rochelle in West Houston, Stephanie in South East Houston and me on the opposite side.

 It's not often that we get together... but when we do we don't miss and beat jumping right back into where we left off.  I am so thankful to God for these three ladies - each of them influenced my life and played a part in shaping my college memories.  Here's to looking forward to the next get time I get to hug your necks! 

Goals and Resolutions

"You hit a goal, you achieve a goal.  You keep a resolution." - Gretchen Rubin from The Happiness Project.

Last year there were two things that I challenged myself to do and accomplished them!  The first one was read 24 books in a year and the second was to take pictures each week of the year: Project 52.

After much thought and consideration, here is The List for 2012!

1. Be intentional about setting aside time each day to read and meditate upon God's Word.  My mom gave me a devotional book at the start of the year and I plan on going through the entire book in 2012.  I am excited and even more than that, willing and hungry to sit in His presence and learn how to live and love more like Him.

2. Love others well.  When I love others well by taking time to invest in them, to listen to them, to experience life with them, I am more likely to have eternal conversations with them, encourage them from a Biblical mindset and show them a glimpse of how much God adores them.  I have been blessed with a fantastic family on both sides, treasured friends and work colleagues.  This year I want to continue being intentional on spending time and creating memories with them.

3. Read 24 books in 12 months.  Now that I know I can do it, I want round 2!  I have already started my list of 2012 reads and a few more have already been added!

4. Project 52.  I debated back and forth internally on this one.  Benjamin encouraged me to do it again for 2012.  So get ready for another round of that too.  I received a new camera for Christmas so I hope to continue to improve my photography as I learn how to use it!

5. Try cooking a new dish, or a new restaurant or a new dish at a favorite restaurant every month.  Lots of options to achieve this one - how can it go wrong?!  :)

Well, there they are in all of their glory.  Other things will get done in 2012.  I mean, who doesn't love Pinterest and all it has to offer?!  Spring cleaning, parties to host, events to celebrate, quiet time to be with the husband and continue growing in who we are as a couple.

Let's go, 2012!

Project 52 - End of the Year

Bear with me as the last 10 weeks of the year unfold before your eyes....

I did not take any photos this week, but Benjamin did.  Above are shots of his co-residents and doctors in the clinic.  This was in preparation of interviews for the 2012 class!  As a side note, interviews went super well and our sweet friend Kenner clinched a spot in Houston!  We are thrilled to have him join the UT Ortho family.

Halloween.  Nerds.  Our sweet Sheep.

My Mom's birthday celebration.  There was steak, gifts, and cookie cake.

Mom, Salem and I hosted a Style Your Sole party.  We invited gal pals to come over and spend the afternoon snacking on food and decorating Toms!

In clockwise order: the Christmas wreath that I made with the help of Benjamin.  Breakfast overload from The Empire Cafe - our favorite after church place to eat.  Our family on Thanksgiving weekend.  This sign is located in the MFAHouston the last sentence says, "An ancient myth tells that when God created and named all things, he was accompanied by a monkey."

A gift from the boss.  He knows to keep the three gals who keep the department together shortbread.

Outtakes from the parents Christmas card shoot.

Crazy Cozads Christmas Celebration!

Dexter spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with us.  He and Lulu are sweet on each other!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Cozads!

Another goal successfully completed!!  I so enjoyed putting these together and being cognitive to take photos every week.  I haven't yet decided if I'll do it again in 2012, posting every week... but in a nice way it was a fun thing to do to wrap up the week.  It allowed for great conversation between Benjamin and me.  It also has really allowed me to take time to realize how fortunate and blessed I am - in the big things and in the little things that I get to observe daily.  Nothing is too small to be thankful for it.