Fake or Real

This post is dedicated to Shana...and that trip to Ruidoso long ago!

So I found this quiz on the "How About Orange blog"- very fun/random site- link to the right...you judge wether a person's smile is fake or real. I got 16 out of 20 right...I thought that was pretty good- its an 80%!

Click here to take the quiz! Happy guessing!

AAAHHH! Blogs....

So I was trying to make my blog cuter because it is so drab! Well, I don't want to pay $ 20 for a template so I tried to make my own....YIKES! Clearly it is not working very well, as you can see! I love this font, the font that our name is written in- its called "bleeding cowboy" and its from a website that has tons of free fonts if you are using for personal use only. http://www.dafont.com/- love it!
So I am leaving my title like this for now because I have been trying for some time now to make it look good. If anyone has any suggestions PLEASE let me know!

Rainy Days, chili and some

Well its been a cold and dreary day here in Denton, I feel like I am back in Portland and its funny how everyday was cold and wet in Portland yet I rarely felt like being lazy or not going out in it...but one day of rain here keeps me in all day! It was nice. John was working this weekend with the Home Group Leaders Retreat so I was left at home with the dogs to protect me last night and I slept in until 11am!!! I couldn't believe it. John would have definitely had us out of bed long before 11. I actually woke up at 9am but just laid in bed for 2 hours. I love bed, in case you couldn't figure that out by that little story.
Sleeping in that late made my day pretty short:

I had some oatmeal and yogurt- yes I ate breakfast at 11am!
*I am very excited about my yogurt because I had The Cupboard order me "Nancy's", delicious yogurt made in Oregon! It came in yesterday and I was eager to eat some

I did some laundry

My favorite part of the day was when I made a fire and starting reading Humility by Andrew Murray with a cup of tea and cupcake in hand. It had been a long time since I had done that- it was so great and I realized that I should make more time to get away like that , especially while I have no job and no babies!

I also managed to start studying for my EC-4 Teacher Certification test!

A couple other favorites from the weekend so far:

*Worshiping our God with my husband leading, not only is he is incredibly talented but as Josh P. put it last night he is amazing at "disappearing" while he leads so that we can see the face of Christ! I love when he leads us!

*Meeting one of Olivia's friends, hard but sweet!

* Taking cupcakes to the Rozell's and leaving them on the doorstep- I just love leaving little surprises!

*Getting to pray for friends!

*Chili- here is a great recipe ( beware, its pretty meaty!)
1 lb ground beef
1 lb sausage
1 onion
2-15oz cans dices tomatoes ( with or without spices)
1 - 10oz can Rotel
1- 15oz can ranch style beans
1- 15 oz can kidney beans
1-2 T chili poweder
1 T Cumin
1 t minced garlic
salt to taste

1.Ground your meat
2. Add Onions,seasonings and all tomatoes ( I ususally sautee the onions first then add)
3.Cover and simmer for 1/2 hour
4. Add beans and simmer for 1/2 hour more

Its really easy! Enjoy!

Hope you and your families are all doing well!
Love from the Warren's

Ordination and more

Last Friday night was John's Ordination Service. It was so meaningful and just humbling. Mostly humbling because of the fact the Our Great God and King has chosen us! And I don't necessarily mean that He has chose us ( John) to be a pastor and "in the ministry" but just the sheer fact that He has chosen us. Over the last week, from the Ordination to today I am seeing more and more the way His choosing us changes my life. He has Chosen us to be in His Kingdom, to follow Him, to get to walk in His grace and mercy. Chosen us to live in freedom, to not be under the law, He has chosen us to be free from sin ( not that I don't sin anymore- ha, I wish- just that I don't have to be held captive from it) and walk boldly in who He has created us to be.
The few years we were in Portland were mostly very dark for me spiritually and really since we have moved here I have been hearing the Lord more and really feel like I have just been living more- not even sure if that makes sense but I have shared some of this with some of you. Yesterday, I felt like the Lord just really spoke some truth to me and it was refreshing because I had been believing a lot of lies. I grew up in what I would consider a legalistic church...But I think I still struggle with actually believing that I can run to the Lord whether I have it all together or not. I just get caught up in what I haven't done. What if I didn't spend time with him everyday...that is the big grip that holds me and every so often I realize that that grip has a hold on me again. I felt so much freedom yesterday realizing yet again that it doesn't matter. I mean, He wants me even though I failed. He doesn't measure us on our duties alone. I am so thankful and so glad that He has chosen me, that he will not leave me or forsake me- ever! He loves the brokenhearted and contrite spirit. During worship yesterday I just kept thinking " I am broken, I need you" and that is the truth- we are all broken and need Him. This is what He has come to do:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound

Now some pics from the last weekend with
John's family (mine came also but just for Friday night). We went to the JFK museum and he Dallas Arboretum and they even liked playing the Wii!

Steph, Mo and Nat

Steph and Mo (One of John's sisters and her boyfriend)- we are so glad they made it down!

John and I

We love Magnolia Trees!

Just a cool Iron gate

I don't know either...

Classic!

The 3 ladies