First RUF Large Group!

We had our first RUF Large Group of the semester last night and it was so much fun! People + coffee + Jesus = AWESOME.

Really excited for this semester, to see the students learn how much Jesus loves them, to watch them grow in grace....ahh this is the life.

The changing seasons...or not

I have come to realize that EVERYTHING is different in Texas. The tea is sweeter, the grass is prickly, and the weather is...the same.

For most of my life, the first of September meant cuddling in warm blankets, crispness in the air, apple picking, pumpkin flavored everything, and curling up around a warm fire. It's hard for me to believe that it's actually the fall when I'm still wearing shorts 99% of the time.

This weekend, I decided that the Texas weather is not going to stop me from enjoying my favorite fall pastimes. On Sunday, I dragged Ben out of the house to purchase our first pumpkin spice latte of the season. While it seemed strange drinking the hot latte in 90 degree weather, I enjoyed every sip and am already looking forward to my next fall activity. Chili anyone?

Corpus Christi Hooks

Before all of the hustle and bustle of the semester started, Ben and I decided to head out on the town here in Corpus Christi and we experienced our first Hooks game! Let me say, this will definitely not be our last visit to the Whataburger stadium here in Corpus; it was so much fun!

The crowd was into the game, the environment was fun, and the game was a nail biter! What more could you ask for?!

We sat right behind home plate and cheered along with the rest of the crowd as the Hooks defeated the San Antonio Missions. I'm so glad we went and we will be back soon!

I guess Texas really isn't that bad...

With views like this, I really can't complain too much about Texas.

Whataburger

Ben and I had our first true Texas experience at Whataburger this last week. It's a big deal down here in the Lone Star State.

Whataburger actually started right here in Corpus Christi, Texas, by an entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson. The idea was "to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn't help but exclaim, 'What a burger!'" Served on nothing other than Texas toast, I will say that the burger was definitely big, but then of course everything is big in Texas!

While it didn't leave me proclaiming "What a burger!" , it was a fun to experience a little bit of Corpus Christi's culture.

The life of an intern

We filled up our trunk with food for a big BBQ RUF is hosting on campus tonight! We bought over 80 pounds of just meat! Ben and I really felt like interns when we loaded up the CRV and drove away with a full car. I guess this is just intern life.

It's going to be fun and I'm excited to get to meet more of the students here at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi tonight! Hopefully I'll have more pictures of the event to share soon.

We made it!

Well, we made it to Texas and this week marks the beginning of the semester at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

We have been blessed to be able to stay in a wonderful house close to campus. While this may seem silly to some, the Lord providing us this house is a constant reminder of his faithfulness in our life as well as confirmation of our ministry here.

The trip itself was LONG. By the end, when we were driving through Texas (which took almost an entire day), I called up Ben and told him I had nothing else to think about and with no scenery around me (everything is SO flat in Texas) I was loosing my mind! I will be avoiding the drive back to Virginia for as long as I can! If you have any extra frequent flyer miles, let me know!

Thank you all for praying for safe travels! I am thankful to report we had only one flat tire and that the rest of the trip went without a hitch. Driving in and seeing the water was surreal. I knew that Corpus Christi should now be what I called home, but emotionally, I'm just not ready for that yet.

The first week felt like vacation. Ben and I got to spend a lot of time together getting to know the town and settling in, and for that I am thankful. I don't know if I could have faced that first week alone.

As for a church, we have found a wonderful home church in Southside Community Church. At this point, I don't think any other church can live up to the expectations I now have of hospitality. Ben and I were "pounded" (don't worry mom, we weren't given a good beating). "Pounding" is an old southern tradition that welcomes new pastors or missionaries to the church with non perishable items. The term "pounding" stems from when standard grocery items were sold by the pound. It was so sweet of everyone to provide for our needs before they even had seen our faces!

Now it's week two, and reality is setting in. Even with all of the kindness bestowed upon us from our church community, moving to a new place is still so lonely. Ben has gotten swept up with his new job and is enjoying meeting new people and doing what God has called him to do, but I'm working from home, and missing the old routine with familiar faces and places. I'm a person that enjoys knowing what's next, knowing my surroundings and planning for the future. I can't prepare for anything here. I don't know what's next. I don't even know the directions to the grocery store! But, I do know that the Lord has brought us here and He will provide for all of our needs.

Last day at Liberty

Today is my last day working at Liberty University. I can't believe this is actually happening. After two years, I can't believe I am saying goodbye. I am thankful for my time at Liberty. So many friendships and memories at this place.

It's still surreal.

I guess this means Texas is really happening. It still feels like a dream. 

Ocean City 2013

Every year my family heads to Ocean City, New Jersey for a family vacation.

Ben wasn't able to make it due to RUF training in Atlanta, so it was just the five of us enjoying one last Cornfield family vacation before the big move. Our time was filled with lounging on the beach, morning runs, Browns donuts, putt-putt, family dinners, and some much needed quality time. I'm missing it already!

I love my family!

Time flies when you're....moving to TEXAS

Seriously. What has happened over the last few months? Even I can't really answer that. Ben and I found out we're moving to Texas and we've been coping with that impending change ever since. To be honest, I've been coping (think crying, screaming and gnashing of teeth) while Ben has been more excited than ever to live out his dream of ministry. I don't know why I'm being so dramatic about the whole situation. Please do not feel sorry for me. When I married Ben, I knew ministry was part of the picture. We even talked about RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) and someday participating in that ministry together. "Someday" is the key word here. I never had to think about the reality of what getting a job with RUF would mean. Ministry together doesn't sound that bad. In fact, serving the Lord, working together, sharing the Gospel with college students...well, that sounds idyllic. But this is the reality of all those dreams coming to fruition: We are moving across the country. Fundraising. Leaving behind friends and family. Changing jobs. Moving from the known into the unknown. And it's scary!  I felt the pressure to put on a happy face and tell people that I'm excited to move and that Texas sounds exciting and wonderful, but that just isn't true.

So for the past few months, I've been processing and coming to terms with what this move means. And in all my pouting, pessimism, doubting, and frustration (Texas...really Lord?) the Lord has been more faithful than I could have ever imagined. 

There is just so much more to process, stories of answered prayer to be shared, fundraising to be done, boxes to be packed, but this is happening! We're moving to TEXAS to work with RUF.

When I first started this blog, I had no idea that this is the story I would one day share, but here I am, talking to you about Texas and RUF. And, while it has taken me a while to come to terms, I am getting a little excited to move (only a little. Don't buy me cowboy boots just yet). 

Pending fundraising, we are trying to move on August 19. We still have about $5,000 that needs to be in the bank before we can leave, so keep praying with and for us during this transition. Hopefully I'll be a little more faithful about blogging and keeping you up-to-date as this whole transition happens.

Saturday

Ben and I stumbled upon live music in Old City Cemetery this weekend. It was a happy providence.

Life lately

It has been so busy lately. The fact that Ben and I are moving to Texas hasn't quote sunk in yet. I'm not ready to write about the big transition/reactions/feelings revolving around the big move, so instead, I will show you my life in pictures.

These last two pictures were taken on the same weekend! One day we were sitting outside eating lunch and the next we were bundled up inside watching the snow fall.

We're moving ...

...to Corpus Christi, Texas. It's still all sinking in.

It's here

The first sign of spring popped up in my yard this morning and I couldn't be more excited. I'm ready for sunshine, ice cream, grilling, and laughter.

Spring 2013, keep on coming!

One year

One year later and we're still alive! Ben and I spent a wonderful weekend away in Staunton, Virginia celebrating our anniversary. We quickly fell in love with the atmosphere and character of the town. Our trip involved an interactive Shakespeare play, lots of coffee, antique shops, lunch at Devil's Backbone Brewery, Ox-Eye Wine tasting and a whole lot of food thrown in between.

It was such a relaxing weekend spent with the person I love. I can't imagine anything better.

Here's to many more anniversaries! I can't imagine living life with anyone else by my side.

Life Lately

According to my iPhone photos...

It's happening

We found out late last week that my wonderful husband got the internship of his dreams working with college students in a ministry called Reformed University Fellowship. The boy and I have been talking about this internship and the possibility of doing it since we first started dating. It’s crazy that those dreams and ambitions are finally becoming a reality and I’m so excited for him! I’m excited to see him live out his dream and do what God has blessed him to do. At the same time, my little type a anxious soul is crying out.

Where are we moving? What am I going to do? Will he raise all of the funds we need in order to go? Will the campus pastor like us? Will we find friends? Do I want to still pursue marketing as my career? Do I want to go back to school and get a master’s? And the biggest one of all…what am I going to do without my immediate family five minutes from me at all times?

I know I’ve been spoiled. I know most people don’t have their whole family available 24/7, but I do. I’ve been spoiled by Sunday lunch weekly with my parents and siblings. I can call my mom for dinner and say, “what’s cooking” and be at her house within five minutes sitting at the table. Ben and my brother can go climbing together while my sister and I go to the downtown Tea Room. This is normal life. Spending Christmas with my family is a foreign concept because every day is Christmas over here!

And I’m going to miss it (so, so much).

I’m sure I’ll be processing so much more about this change over the coming months, but the reality of being away from my family is quickly setting in. I want to soak up every minute I have with my family now because August is going to be here so soon! So father, mother, brother, and sister, bear with me as I try to spend every waking moment with you over the next five months.

August is going to be here so soon.

Busy

How does life get so busy. I can't believe it is already March. Just trying to live in the present over here because everything seems to be moving quickly in the Spivey household!

I hope everyone is having a great Monday!

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Over the weekend

Just a few pictures to recap the weekend.

Running errands on Saturday morning.

16 groundhogs tall...who knew? And Ben's obsession with groundhogs continues.

Enjoying a little Blue Label. The expressions say it all.

Lunch date

Yesterday was a lunch date kind of day. Running late in the morning = good food in the afternoon. I think I will be running late more often.

Who doesn't love an afternoon fiesta?

That guacamole is to die for!

Secret lovers week

In college I lived in the most wonderful dorm in the world: Olson Hall. I have so many wonderful memories there and I lived with some of the best girls in the world.

It was during my time at Taylor University that the tradition of secret lover's week was formed on Third Center Olson. The idea behind it is, each girl on the floor gets the name of another girl on the floor and for the seven days leading up to Valentine's Day, makes that person feel like the most special girl in the world. It's like secret santa, but for a whole week. We were college students, so spending a lot of money was out of the question, but that didn't stop us. I remember one year, a big purple sign was hung in our dining commons that said "Kirstin, you are the mac to my cheese." Secret notes came to mailboxes, Starbucks was delivered in secret, and other shenanigans took place. It was so fun finding creative ways to show someone else how special they are. Giving was so much more fun than receiving.

I decided that this tradition should not stop in college! So while it's not so secret who my lover is, I have enjoyed giving Ben a little something every day since Feb. 7. So far my not so secret lover has received mustache socks, fruit by the foot, a key chain flashlight, and most recently a mustache mug!

It's so hard to not give it all to him at once, but it's nice taking a moment each day to show Ben (in a very little way) how much I love him.

Over the weekend

It has been crazy around here lately. I honestly have no idea where the time goes! Ben started a new job on Friday so of course I had to take a picture of him on his first day of work!

a little blurry, but you get the idea...

Friday night I worked on an etsy order so nothing exciting happened but we made up for on Saturday with breakfast out at a local diner, a movie at noon, and plenty of Arrested Development episodes to go around!

I also worked on some new Etsy projects over the weekend. It's so nice having a creative outlet again!

Happy Monday!