Determination = Victory! We love our Haley !!

 When I think of the word determination... a few people come to mind, and they happen to be in the same family. Christian and Haley, my husband and my new sister. They are the most driven and determined people that I have met in my entire life, especially when it comes to sports. I am enamored by this and admire this trait in both of them so much. This journey I want to take you on is about my new sister, Haley. She is a senior in High school and currently STATEBOUND!! It's such an exciting time for her.. and we are sad we can't be physically present at her games through all of this excitement!! But we are SOO PUMPED for her!!

  Here she is World... the amazing, talented, beautiful, HILARIOUS haley lyons. She has been an amazing athlete and soccer player fOR EVER and now.. its her time!! Her time to take her team to state and remember these memories with her teammates and the challenges they will face together for the rest of her life. They are embarking on an amazing weekend ahead that will never be forgotten. When I first met Haley, the first time I actually met christian as well haha, I thought she was a quiet girl.... but oh boy was I wrong! As I have gotten to know this remarkable young woman.. I have learned that it is quite the opposite! She is full of Joy and life.. and you just want to be around her. There is no doubt that God has incredible plans for this girl..or should I say, woman.

  This is the Haley I know, the goofy crazy one!! She brings laughter to my life as I know she does all of her teammates! I have appreciated the time we have gotten to share together, shopping at ridiculous hours in the morning with christian, "vroom vroom .. well, thats an inside joke that I wont finish.., seeing her play soccer (scolding hot weather or wrapped in a sleepingbag), watching endless girl movies, staying up talking.. just enjoying everything about her. It's incredible the journey that her life has taken.. and now, all that she has worked for ALL of these years.. traveling ALL over the country playing soccer.. and now its her time. Its her time to be a state champion, its her time to be leading her team, its her time to play D-1 soccer, its HER time.

 IF i know my Haley, I know that this weekend when she goes out there with her team to play.. she is gonna give it all she's got. She's going to make sure her team comes home with it ALL. It's times like these, when Christian and I would give anything to be home. Seeing our siblings grow up and have HUGE things like championships, graduations and so on... Our families are the most important treasure we have. Our new "lawyer" family we have started, and the lyons and meisels. This is our world... and I dont think I could EVER make it known enough how BADLY we wish we were there screaming our lungs out for our sis.

 Although she has only been my sis for about 1-2 years now.. I feel like she always has been. And If I know anything, its that she has the PROUDEST big brother. Christian is so excited for his sis.. he is dying to be there as well... he loves you SOOO Much Haley..and please know that If we could fly back for just your game and fly back .. we would!!

 Like I mentioned earlier.. Haley has signed with McNeese State.. and she will be going there in August to be once again, none other than.. a freakin STUD!! She has had quite a journey in her high school days, but soon... they will come to an end. And she will start this crazy journey of college and soccer once again!!!!!! (lord willing we are actually in the states for those days!) But.. if there is something that I have learned and been in awe of most about Haley's career as a soccer player so far.. it would be of course all that I have mentioned about Haley, and ALSO  the dedication of her parents.

 Haley has made it to where she is now most def because of her talent and determination. But she has had the full support and sacrifice from her parents. Her parents have been to every game, traveled with her around the country, made sure that she was able to on whatever travel teams or teams that have great coaches and players to help her grow, they have literally been with her every step of the way her ENTIRE life. I can't imagine how proud they must be to be watching their baby out there, playing for a state title, and going on to play her dream in college. And knowing that everything they sacrificed and supported, has turned out to be nothing but success. I have learned from them SO much by watching this whole process on how I want to be when we have a family of our own one day. It has been an incredible example for us, that I hope to follow.

   I would just like to point out this picture is BOMB. :) Basically, with this blog.. I just want to wish Haley good luck.. to make sure she knows how much she is loved, missed, and that she has cheerleaders ALL over the world (literally.) We are soo excited to see you this summer and have the time of our lives... but until then, you have some BUISNESS to take care of!! We love you soo much.. and it feels like just yesterday I was going through my senior year statebound weekend with my bball team.. and I am SOO HYPEd for you right now. Make the most of this weekend, the time with your girls, the time with you coach, this is the time of your life that you will remember forever!

  Christian and I have both been where you are, and we understnad how much of an exciting time this is... and how much pressure can come along with it.. but I think its so great that we are able to understand 100 % of what you are going through because thats how we are able to that much more PUMPED!!

  

 I pray that your team can continue this bond you have so strongly created.. and carry it on not only this weekend, but forever. I pray you guys come together and kick some serious butt this weekend. Focus, remember why you are there, who you are playing for.. and GET HER DONE.

  As you take the field this weekend, make the most of it. Play HARD and leave it all on the field. We are there with you in spirit... we love you with all our hearts... and once again, we would give anything to be there with you NOW! But in June.. we will have our own celebration!! LOVE YOU haley!!!

                                                      

                                                                The whole fam :)

So long BIG sis.. Hello BIG brother

 Two words: TRENT LEE. Pictured above is my CRAZY brother.. who I have come to love sooo very much. The reason I said "come to love" is because, well like most siblings... the older we get, the closer we get. BuT while growing up.. we had some challenges to say the least! I have always thrived on the fact that I was his BIG sister... but as alot of you know now, in matter of size.. he is def MY BIG brother.. Watching my little brohan grow up into this incredible young man has been such a treasure to me. But I thought I would entertain you for a little bit with some of the stories we had growing up. Just to give you a little insight on what I mean when I say, "my crazy brother."



 So your looking at this picture and thinking to yourself... "oh how cute he is sooo sweet." RIght?? NOOOOOOO!! You can see the little evil devilish smirk in his eye if you really look! This picture was most likely taken before he ran off and we couldn't find him for 3 hours. My dad was a fireman while we were growing up, and as you know the fireman life... he worked everyother day..which meant MOM was the bOSS!! But for some reason..(if you have met my mom you understand) this didn't scare my bro one bit. In fact, he saved most or ALL of his terrible days just for her. He was usually on his "angel" behavior while my dad was home (dad's spankings hurt WAY worse.) Speaking of getting spanked, I can't remember if there was ever a time Trent stood still and took his spanking from my mom. Usually it was more of a chase down throughout the entire house... Trent would be yelling "you gotta catch me first!" I don't really know how my mom didn't have a melt down while raising this boy.

 Some Sunday mornings we would be getting ready for church and couldn't find Trent anywhere. We live on 6 acres of land ... if you can imagine that hunt down 5 min before church. He would usually be down at the neighbors sitting on the tractor just hanging out. But the great thing about trent (when he was younger) is that he would do whatever I told him to do. As in the picture above.. I told him we needed to paint our whole body's black with the mud in the driveway because I really wanted to be black. And I knew if I did it alone, the punishment would be much worse... so of course he did it. When I told him we should put on 10 layers of pants while waitng anxiously for our spankins from doing exactly what my mom said not to do, he did it. (that didn't turn out well ..but we endured it together!) One day I made him so sad (he was 4) when I came home gymnastics he had single handingly DESTROYED my bedroom. He literally pushed over my dresser, vanity and stripped everything from my closet. I thought I would kill him... yet, he is still alive.

Until these last few years... I have always been the BOSS of my little bro. I was older, therefore .. I was in charge. When my parents were gone and he "disobeyed" me (didnt get me something to drink or eat maybe haha) He had to stand in the corner.. or I would threaten to call dad at the firedepartment. For some reason that ALWAYS worked! Trent and I have been in a few fist fights, slapping fights, and many verbal fights. (Now if we had a fist fight he would SMASH me..) On our way home from school nearly everyday, we would pull into the firestation... No, not to visit dad.. but for trent to bend over the back of the firetruck and get a DAD spankin for doing only the Lord knows what at school that day.

 Okay, but after all of those CRAZY times while he was growing up... he is blossoming into this amazing young man of God. He has his moments of course as we all do.. and he has a crazy sense of humor which I LOVE and worry about.. haha.. but goodness, I am the luckiest girl in the world to have this brother of mine. He is an amazing athlete, football... golf.. basketball... you name it.

 I am so proud of him!! When I moved away to college, I really began to miss him. I missed our fights, I missed him sleeping in my room because he was scared, I missed watching movies, I missed driving around with him, and I just missed us being us. I began looking forward to going home to see him and laugh and stay up late watching two and a half men.. Getting married and moving away for good, (well you know what I mean.. no more room next to his) has also made us grow even closer. When I got the chance to go back to Lawton from Dallas for the weekends it was so great to see him... and now.. well, we are a little bit farther apart.

 But... thank God for skype! We still talk, I still tell him when he is being SOOO dumb. I give him girl advice, laugh with him, he makes fun of me ALL the time.. and I love it. Being so close with him now has made this hard living so far apart. I have missed alot of fball games and homecoming dances.. but I think he knows I am there in spirit. The other blessing trent has is that he has other sisters are there with him too... Kayla and Linsey.. they have been his other sisters forever as well..

 This brother of mine is going to do amazing things in life. He has a God- given amazing personality, outgoing and fun loving.. but knows right from wrong and when to help a hurting heart. He is mostly always the funny guy.. but there is more to that than some know, there is a compassionate spirit underneath it all. He has determination and drive.. and He knows what he wants in life. He makes me one proud big sissy!!

Okay.. maybe sometimes he makes me embarrased.. haha! But I love him sooo much!! I miss you brohan and I cant wait until August when we can hang out in real life... but until then.... our skype dates will have to work!! I LOVE YOU trent lee....

 And this picture still proves true... I will always be your BIG sis. Love you ...

A day in the Life

 So, the question always is.. What are you doing in Germany?? What is your life like over there?? SO, I thought the most beneficial way to share that with everyone was to blog about it! So, I am going to take you on a little journey of a few of the things we are doing over here in good old Deutschland!! First of all, we are both working in the school system's. Christian is working at the FES (free evangelstic school) where he teaches Basketball, American CUlture, and is what I like to call "Recess Man." He enjoys his job and unfortunately I don't have a picture of the school he works at, but goodness gracious it is soooo beautiful and modern..But since I dont have a picture of his school.. here is picture of him. :) He's a cutie pie.

 I am working at the Hans Thoma Gymnasium... It is the public school, or one of the public schools in our village. It's an older school but still very beautiful. Different from all the school's back at home. I am the "Recess Lady" at my school as well, but really I just hang out with all the kids and learn to play soccer and other crazy games with all the kids.. I also get a lot of practice with my German with all the kids. Telling them to stop climbing trees and yelling at them (in a not scary voice at all.) BUT the best part about my job... is ... well, I get to wear a FANNY PACK!!! yyaayyayaya!!! haha... Don't worry, they won't be coming back in style. haha Here are some pictures of what I get to see everymorning on my walk to school...

 And here is my school... It's so old in the front, and in the back they have remodeled it to be new and modern. Yes, (in case your wandering) kids throw stuff out of those big windows at me all the time. ANNOYING. haha

Christian is also playin basketball with his team the Herren 1. And he coaches the womens team, a 16 year old team, and a 14 year old team. HE is one busy COACH! But, the kids love him...

I also work here in this Cafe. It is called the Kamelion and it is offiliated with the YMCA. It's an outreach to the school I am working at. Its located right across the street and they are open during school hours and serve meals and offer love to all the kids! I get the honor of working here on Tuesday's and cooking and seeing all the kiddo's!!!!

 Now for the FUN part... Not really.. haha CHristian and I work at a restraunt called the "Funfschilling" where we serve food, coffee, drinks and CLEAN. This is a big restraunt with TONS of people there everyday.. Its basically the Applebee's or Chilli's of Germany. Only WAY prettier inside.

Here is the church we are a part of. CHristian and I attend some of the youth group stuff and I work once a month with the 3-6 year olds. SO CUTE!!!! Only.. they speak german and well, sometimes with my little knowledge of german it gets kind of tricky... Lots of funny language barrier stories...

And lastly. OUR BIBLE STUDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every Monday night we host a bbile study for athletes at our house. Its beyond amazing and God is doing Mighty things with this...We are gettingg  deep into the word and really challenging our kids and ourselves. It has been the biggest blessing in our lives.

ANd  how could I forget our humble aboad???? Here is some pictures of our little German home!!!

 We are having a good time over here across the pond.. yes, there are MANY hard times.. being so far away from family and everything we know. But it has been a big growing step for us as individuals and as a couple. I love being on this adventure with my other half.. Bis dan. (until next time..)

OnLy Us....

 As you all already know, I love my husband with ALL of heart... he is an angel that God created for me 23 years ago. He is my best friend in the whole world and I could not imagine life (and its craziness) without him... ALONG with our love, we always seem to have the craziest things happen to "only us." Do you ever have those days that you think, "This WOULD happen to me...." WELL... we have had a TON of these memories in the last 3 years..its RIDONCULOUS. (my mom's new term for crazy stuff that happens.. I am embracing it now as well..) YEsterday we had one of these crazy days... But first, let me tell you of two other CRAZY days we have had.

 Two years ago at Christmas time, as you Texoma people know we had a crazy SNOW storm. This was the first (of what would be MANY) of our snow storms we survived together, this time.. as an Engaged couple. Christian and I had driven to Columbia, MS to visit his grandparents for Christmas. On the way there, it was warm..beautiful weather. We even had the windows down and were loving it!! So we spent a few days there, and on CHristmas Eve day we had to drive back to OKlahoma to spend christmas day with my family. This trip was only an 8 hour trip... OH but not that day. We set out SUPER early like 7 am..(okay to me thats SUPER early..) and all the sudden we see little snow flurries. WHAT in the WORLD??? haha.. It was like summer yesterday!! Well, little did we know we were in For a Christmas Eve to remember.

 Okay our car was not near this cool... BUT you get the point. LOTS of snow started coming down and people were having wrecks all over the place. As we continued at the speed of umm....20 mph.. we were making NO progress. To sum up a LONG story.. it ended up taking us one entire day (from 7 am- 10 pm) Just to get to Dallas. We had Christmas Eve dinner in an old Applebee's on the side of the Highway and we were the ONLY customers... and they were hurrying us out! HAHA! Who has Christmas Eve dinner at Applebee's in the middle of Po-Dunk town???? Only US. After staying with some friends of ours that night, we set out at 10 am the next mornin for Wichita Falls, Texas.. where my family was. From Dallas to Wichita Falls is MAYBE a 2 hour drive. BUT this day, it was nearly 10 hours. We actually got out of the car at one point in stand still traffic and had a Snow ball fight.... on highway 287. Pretty Awesome. When we FINALLY got to Wichita falls, we had the windows down (why? I have no idea..) and a HUGE tahoe went by us spraying our car and us with ice and we did a 180..... SCARED out of our mind.. and SOAKING WET with ice stuck in our eyes and hair.. we somehow survived that without having a wreck. WIth Soaked undies and clothes.... we one hour later made it for Christmas Dinner.

 Snow Storm #2. On March 20th, the first day of SPRING, was our wedding day. AS you see in the picture, it wasn't exactly sunny. Which would not have been a problem if our wedding wasn't supposed to be a GARDEN wedding. The night before our wedding was our rehearsal and dinner. We practiced the ceremony outdoors and everything was beautiful and sunny and the weather was in the high 80's.. PERFECT for our garden wedding.

As you see, the weather was amazing... that night while I was sleeping, I woke up at 4 am to the sound of ICE sticking to my windows. I woke Gabby up and I was FREAKING out... bridezilla moment for sure!! We went outside the next morning to literally, a BLIZZARD. All of the decorations in the back were destroyed, you couldn't see the chairs or anything. BUT I was determined that we would have this wedding outside anyways. I had dreamed of an outdoor wedding since I was a little girl, and I could not believe my dream was being ruined!!! BUT after a long long day of tears, stress and some MAJOR talking to ... 3 hours before the wedding, I decided it was time to have the wedding inside. SO, all of the amazing people in my life were outside in the snow, cleaning all the chairs and decorations and moving the wedding into our training center. (which was already very decorated for the reception.) Needless to say, the wedding ended up beautiful thanks to all of the people in our life.


 Lastly, YESTERDAY. Yesterday was one of these crazy days where CHristian and I never ever used our brains the entire day. We decided to have a day date in town and go walking and find some pretty plants for our garden. First of all, we didn't realize how much we DO NOT know about flowers... we had NO idea which ones to buy, and when we came home to plant it... well, I think its already dead. YIKES! BUT..We had a great time while in town walking, having coffee, shopping some, etc... Our walk to town from our house is about 15 min. After walking all day we were beyond tired and ready to go home and start working in our garden. Once we walked all the way home, literally almost to our house. Christian realizes he has lost our house keys..somewhere in town. OH MY GOODNESS! Can I just say that if I would have been the one to lose the keys it would a WHOLE other story...that was a side note, sorry! ANywho... so, we walked BACK to town and re-traced ALL of our steps ALL over town (which was flooded with people)... while in town we witnessed a fight and a chase down... (intense!) We never found the keys after an hour of searching, so we were worried. Luckily, I had my keys so we could get back in the house. When we FINALLY got home... we found none other than.. HIS KEYS.. on HIS dresser. WOW. that is all I have to say.. WOW.

 After this, we went to dinner at a family friend's house. After we left, Christian left his sunglasses at their house and they walked ALL the way to our house just to return them. WOW. This is all I have to say, WOW. Next.. we decided we wanted a late night Mcdonalds date.. (we love those) SO, we walked (about 15 min) down to Mcdonalds, got up to order and OH ... christian forgot the money. WOW. SO, we walked allllllll the way back home to use the ATM and then went ALLLLL the way back. At this point, we were like zombies from walking all over Germany because christian was out of his mind. WOW. SO, after a long day of christian doing things that normally only I would do... He can NO longer get mad at me for silly stuff I do and forget.

 BUT... the good thing was we got to regain our childhood while jumping on a trampoline the entire evening... it was amazing!!! Thats all of our crazy stories for now.. but believe me there are many more.. :) Thanks  CHristian for ALWAYS making our life so interesting!!! Only Us.