Tribute to Mom

So this is a little late, but I wrote it before Mother's Day for my mom and still wanted to post it...

I was listening to the radio Friday night before Mother’s Day and people were calling in to share stories and anecdotes about their moms. One caller was asked to name the most important lesson she had learned from her mom…That got me thinking…What was the most important thing I have learned from my mom? There have been so many!

Most of the things I’ve learned from my mom have been through observation by the example she has given me in the life she leads. One of the things that stands out most about my mother is how she loves the people in her life with God’s love. And by God’s love I mean an agape type of love. A love that is unconditional and never ending. She is a true servant to all of those around her. One way I saw this growing up was in the time, effort, and dedication that my mom gave of herself and her family to take care of my grandparents. My grandmother suddenly passed away when I was seven years old of cancer. For the next six years my mother took care of my grandfather. He was in and out of the hospital sometimes multiple time each year, and she remained steadfast in her dedication to him to be able to continue to live in his home until he passed away. Many times this involved spending days, weeks, and even months in the hospital at his bedside and then in rehab. Each time he came home, we would go to stay with him until he was able to stay on his own again, and then she would go check on him each day. I do not know of another daughter who so greatly sacrificed herself for the sake of her father’s independence and quality of life. Through all of this however she continued to serve her husband as a loving wife, and be there in every way for me as a mom. My mom always made me feel like I was the most important thing in the world to her. She stayed home with me when I was young and then chose a change in career path in order to devote time to me during holidays and summers. She always supported me and encouraged me in school and is a big reason that I was blessed to achieve the accomplishments that I did academically. She also supported me in dance and helped me to develop a passion which has lead me to career I am pursuing today. I hope to be able to be the kind of mom that she was and is to me today to my future children. I hope to be the mom that encourages and inspires her children to be all they can be and more. I hope to be the kind of mom that teaches her children unconditional love, truth, forgiveness, integrity, and faith by example. And in my first year of marriage I have realized how much my mother taught me about being a wife. My mom has always built up my father in my eyes. She always respected him and taught me to respect him as well. She always encouraged my dad and supported him as the head of the household. She loved him and loved his family with the same love that she did her own. Through her I have learned to encourage my own husband and that marriage is a partnership which is held together by unconditional love and deep respect regardless of the circumstances of life. The phrase, “Actions speaks louder than words” truly represents my mother’s love and the legacy that she has past on to me. My mother has truly lived her life as a servant to God and those around her, just as Jesus once instructed, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

I got my mom this Willow Tree Angel for Mother's Day...It stands for Courage, but the inscription was for someone who has a triumphant spirit, shows courage, and is an inspiration through their daily life...I hope this is a reminder to my mom how inspirational she is to me and many others!

Wonderful Weekend! Beautiful Wedding!

Jason and I had a fabulous time this weekend getting away and spending time with our loved ones!

Mr. and Mrs. Defranco!


Newlyweds!
Wedding Party!

Jason and I were very blessed to have been friends with Brad and Krystal. Jason, Brad, and Krystal went to high school together, and Jason and Brad were roommates in college. Brad and Krystal were married this past Saturday at the Botanical Gardens in San Antonio. It was such a beautiful, intimate ceremony. The weather was perfect. It was warm and sunny with a slight breeze and the flowers were blooming all around. They were married under an arbor covered in greenery. And sitting there seeing Brad and Krystal recite their vows to one another and unite as one, it made me think of God uniting Adam and Eve as one in the Garden. How peaceful and joyous it was, as it must have been then as well!

They also had a sweet moment during their ceremony where friends and family shared their blessings, wishes, and hopes with the couple. What a precious time this was to see their friends and family sharing their love and encouragement! I feel blessed to have shared in this special occasion in their life! Krystal and Brad's wedding truly represented what a wedding is a should be...The uniting of a two people as one in the Kingdom Of God, surrounded by fellow believers who pledge to love and support this couple.

Quick Update

It's been awhile since I wrote last...We are headed to San Antonio and Austin this weekend. Brad and Krystal are getting married in San Antonio at the Botanical Gardens on April 26th! We are so excited to share in the joy of their big day! I'm sure it will be beautiful...I will post pictures when we get back! Then we are headed back up to Austin to visit my cousins Jill and Scott, who just built a beautiful new home! Yea! Jason and I are excited to get away for a weekend!

We also decided that we are going to be going back to San Antonio later in the summer for our first anniversary for several days. We were debating between taking another big trip or staying closer to home. We decided to stay closer to home this year, because we are planning on buying a washer and dryer this summer, and are still saving to buy a house next summer! We think we are going to stay at the Hyatt Regency on the Riverwalk and try to get a room with a view of the Alamo. We stayed in a Hyatt here in Dallas on our wedding night and on part of our honeymoon in New York, and enjoyed amazing rooms both times! We have both been to San Antonio many times, but I've been looking for some ideas of different things to do there...and a nice, romantic restaurant to go to the night of our anniversary! Anybody have any suggestions???

Jason and I were talking tonight about eating the top of our wedding cake on our anniversary! I am somewhat leary as to how good something a year old will taste, but the people who made our cakes make a separate top, and package it especially so that you can freeze it, and it's supposed to be good a year later...I'm excited and hopeful! If anybody is getting married soon or needs a fancy cake I highly recommend The Cake Guys. They were awesome!

Also, I would really appreciate everyone's prayers this coming Monday...I can't really go into much more detail now, but they would be greatly appreciated!

Well, that is all for now...Any suggestions for San Antonio would be greatly welcomed, as well as any stories of first anniversary cake topper stories! :-)

We Must All Show Up

It has been awhile since my last post...I have been super busy! I took my students to the Texas Association of Future Educators State Conference this weekend. They did really well, and won a whole bunch of awards. I was very proud of them! I am still recovering though from the stress and lack of sleep that go along with taking an overnight trip (2 nights!) with kids...It's exhausting! Anyways, here is a picture from the conference...While at the conference, I got to here the National Teacher of the Year speak, and she was incredibly inspirational! Education has changed alot over the years, even since I was in school. Today we focus so much on test scores and measuring success, that sometimes we lose the most important component...The relationships we must form with our students in order to figure out how we can help them reach their goals and dreams. One thing that struck me most was a story about her dad who was also a teacher. Some one had told her about a student that her dad had in class that had had alot of issues and was very close to dropping out of school, but his parent moved him to a new school. In this new school, the student was placed in her dad's woodworking class. The student was so imspired by her dad that he went on not only to graduate from high school, but also receive a college degree in civil engineering. The amazing thing about her story was that when she told her dad, he was just as shocked. His response was that this student was not one of those that you see immediate success in during the year while you are teaching him. Her dad had felt like he wasn't sure if he had done enough to help this kid graduate or make it in life. One great point she made was that all too often teachers do not see the difference they are making in student's lives down the line. I have found this to be very true this year. I often work with students who I do not always feel/know if I am doing the right things, but I do the best job I can for them, and hope that in the long run, somewhere down the way I have planted a seed that they can develop and grow.

I have been very blessed to have a few of those cherished moments this year though when I have seen or been told the difference that I have made, and those are definitely the ones that keep me going on my hardest days.

Last semester I lost a student from my Ready, Set, Teach program who was a senior. She passed away suddenly over the weekend due to a long term heart condition. It was very difficult. The week before I had just seen her teach a lesson to the third grade class she worked in and she had done an amazing job preparing her lesson and interacting witht he kids. For you teachers out there she hit almost every part of the lesson cycle, which is a feat for a high school student in my book. Watching her I was so proud of her, and I felt like I could finally see that I had been able to give a student something that they could take with them and use to be successful in life. A week later when she passed away I struggled with the loss of a young life and future teacher who had the ability to impact so many lives.

Over the next few weeks, God revealed many truths to my aching heart...With the outpour of love and sympathy from her friends and classmates at her school and at the school she worked atI realized that my student didn't need to go to college and get a degree and have heer own classroom to make a difference. She made a huge difference in so many of her friends, classmates, and students lives already that you wouldn't believe it. It wasn't about a loss of potential impact...It was about doing what you are called to do by God when He calls you to do it...It was about showing up and being obedient. That lesson the week before and semester she worked in the classroom was the opportunity and the time God had given her to fulfill her dream of being a teacher and make a difference in others' lives. And she did it to the utmost of her ability. And without me even realizing it, I had been called to plant and nurture that seed in her. I am honored and thankful to have had her as a student and to learn that lesson early on...

As teachers we never know how or when our students are going to use the knowledge, skills, and life lessons that we pass on to them, but we can plant the seed, nurture it, and do what we have been called to do in our student's lives, to have the privilege of making a difference in the lives of many others and helping them to achieve their dreams and in turn inspire others.

This is a message to all of us...We only have a limited time on this Earth to do what our God put us here to do...We have opportunities and we make choices as we walk with Him. We must prepare as he leads us, even for the unknown, and show up each time He calls us to, because we never know what difference he has for us to make or what purpose he has for us to fulfill in His kingdom at any given time.

Dancing Before Jesus

I saw this tonight on TV and thought it was awesome and wanted to share it!

Alive Music & Dance with John Tesh

I have danced for most of my life. It is a gift and passion that God blessed me with, and a refuge I would turn to in times of stress to release and let go. I minored in dance in college and was given the opportunity to choreograph, etc. I have lately missed this passion of mine this year...

I used to attend dance competitions and conventions each year, one of which being Tremaine in Dallas. I took several classes over the years with Doug Caldwell, an amazing dancer, choreographer, and inspirational man.

I remember my senior year, I had been going through a time when I had dated a guy on and off for a year or so, and after several break-ups began to learn personally for myself, where to put my worth and belief in myself, in my God. I remember a particular class I went to of Doug's where I danced to a song with lyrics that I felt as if I were living out at the moment, and I began to draw on personal life experiences and see dance in a new light as a way to express my feelings, my life, and experiences. It was such a healing and relieving experience. I always remember walking away from many such dance classes, exhausted, but calmed and full of peace and a quiet energy and renewal of my spirit.

Later in college, I joined a Christian sorority and attended many retreats with my sorority sisters, where we would have speakers and fellowship with one another. These weekends I cherished as a chance to get away from everyday life and connect and focus on my Savior and Redeemer. I always came back with a filled heart and blessed with amazing times of worship and solitude with my God.

Sometime in college I had the idea of how amazing it would be to combine the two. To create a retreat for young girls high school or college age that would involve dance classes with leaders and teachers that could take the dance, the movement, the lyrics, and turn them into devotionals. How renewing this would be! It has been my private dream...This video reminded me of this, because I have always wanted to choreograph a dance to "I Can Only Imagine." I remember my freshman year in college when this song came out, I was growing leaps and bounds in my personal relationship with Him, and "Will I dance before you Jesus or in awe of you be still?" rang true to my heart.

I Can Only Imagine Video

I am overjoyed at the thought of one day dancing before my Lord!

Sacrifice of our Self

The last two years of my life have been a roller coaster to say the least. They have been filled with some of the greatest joys and sorrows that I have faced in my life. There have been many times of rejoicing and praise, and many others of fear and sorrow. My love for my husband grew so great during this time, and we have shared two of the most special moments in our relationship when Jason asked for my hand in marriage and in our union on our wedding day. I shared many moments with some of my best friends and roommates in college that I will forever treasure. I was able to experience the love of my God, my Bridegroom and have a glimpse of the glory to come as I prepared for our wedding day and relished every second of it as the bride of Christ and of my Bridegroom, Jason, on June 23, 2007...

I also faced one of the biggest internal challenges that I have ever faced. In November of 2007 I was in a car accident with my cousin and best friend on our way home for Thanksgiving. I won't go into great detail about the accident, but in short, due we think to high wind currents, I lost control of the car while passing an eighteen wheeler. My car swerved back and forth several times, then turned to face oncoming traffic, and rolled 3/4 roll into the median of the side road. I was not injured other than bumps and bruises. My cousin however was badly injured on both her left and right legs. They care flighted her to Fort Worth, and she is still now recovering from this accident and trying to move on with her life. That first few days were very touch and go, and I can't describe the shock, horror, and fear that I felt. God provided for my family and Amanda in so many ways answering prayers of many people around us, who I am eternally grateful for.

To say Mandy and I are close would be the understatement of the century. From the time we were babies our parents said we shared every toy, every experience, and were two peas in a pod. I cannot describe my relationship with Mandy other than to say that we have been "sisters" for life, and I do not know of another playmate, friend, or confidant, who I have had the privilege to share my heart with throughout life. This whole thing hit me hard and I struggled with it, and continue to. I did not understand why this happened to us and to her.

I have never in my life had a time when I was so angry and frustrated with God and at the same time, so thankful and in awe of the miracles he was continually giving and providing. I had to go back to Lubbock to finish school, and it was the hardest thing in the world to me to be that far away, from my family and Mandy during this time.

Since then, I have watched my best friend struggle with and overcome insurmountable odds, and I know the only way she is getting through this is with the healing hand of God. It has been and will continue to be a hard journey physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I do not know anyone stronger or braver than her in facing these odds and living what she has been through.

I have and still struggle with many internal battles...Questioning how this could happen, why it would happen, what good could possibly come of this...and on, and on, and on. Satan has been battling for my peace and trust during this time. I still have fear when driving, I have fear when I hear ambulances and helicopters that my loved ones are safe. I have anxiety and worry over Mandy's healing process and wish more than anything that I could do something to help or change things for her.

My dad has been and continues to be a sounding board and rock in this time. He shared with me a verse early on that I took to heart and has carried me through many of the hardest moments.

Philippians 4:6-7.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We've heard this a lot in our lives but to truly practice it can be a challenge. The revelation has come in the second part of the verse..."the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding".....

We know the verse "All things work together for the good of the kingdom of God" but I couldn't possibly see how this could be good, and to be honest I don't know that I ever will. I have come to terms with the fact that even one day when I am in Heaven God may not answer this question...But He doesn't have to...He is God, He is I AM. I don't have to understand, and I may not ever be warranted to by His understanding. But I must trust Him...

Which leads me to my true struggle since the accident. We all want to trust God that He will take care of us and provide for us and protect us. But I have been run over with the realization that he may provide, care for, and protect me and my friends and family, in a way that I don't necessarily like, agree with, or desire. Though we believe in Him and trust Him, we live in a fallen world and at times He allows things to happen to us that are scary, dangerous, and inspire fear and deep pain.

And the hardest thing I have found is to continue to rejoice in Him during these times. I struggled with pushing Him away in my personal intimate relationship with Him, giving reasons such as time, etc. I have in a sense afraid to put my whole trust in his provision and protection of me.

In the last few weeks and month I have had worship experiences , experiences while driving, watching TV, and during other random times and when God has spoken to me calling me to draw back to Him. I have cherished these moments and my heart is opening to his calling. I miss the intimacy that I desired each day in a continual "conversation" that I would hear and speak to him in my past.

I say all this, because I just finished listening to some one speak of times of testing and suffering in our lives. It is during these times that God becomes real to us in a way that we never imagined. We can choose to run or we can choose to stand with the strength of God. The person I was listening to spoke of Genesis 22. I have heard this story many times, but recent events brought greater light to it. I have known two people whom I went to Tech with in Phi Lamb that have had their families lose precious young baby girls in a sudden short time. I think of my "niece" Katy, who is really my cousin's daughter, and I cannot imagine how I would feel if our family lost her. I cannot imagine more the pain and sorrow that the parents of these children feel. But what I cannot even begin to fathom, is the trust that Abraham placed in God in preparing to give his son up to God. I am in awe of his Trust for God's provision, and wonder if I was faced with the same, would I be able to do it? But the truth is that we are all in God's hands anyways. Our children are ours on loan from God, and we must remember we all all first and foremost His children.

I want that trust. I want that intimacy. I want God's perfect peace that surpasses all understanding of this crazy fallen world. But to have this I must sacrifice my self, my desires and my beliefs for how my life should be, because we really become disappointed and frustrated with God's plan for our life, when it does not fit with ours. If however, we seek God's plan and purpose first, we can build that intimate relationship that establishes that trust and rest in His peace.

In this time that I was listening to some one speak, they closed with a prayer and a reminder that spoke true to my healing heart...

God is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)...and we can be confident of this that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6)

What hope there is in these verses and our Lord Jesus Christ!

Thoughts on Marriage

I love to share with those who are engaged how amazing marriage is! A friend of mine recently commented how good it was to hear a positive reference to marriage when so many people talk about how hard it is and that got me thinking...

First off I want to say how amazing the last nine months of my life have been to share with my amazing husband. I am beyond blessed to share my life with a man who is such a servant to both God and me, and who continually shows his love for me every day through his actions and his words. I truly feel as if I am the most blessed woman in the world to have him! I have had significant struggles this year adjusting to my job, and Jason has gone so far over and beyond what I could ask in supporting me every step of the way.

Going back to my thoughts from earlier, I think many of us think of love as our basis for marriage. But to build a strong foundation, we must define the love we claim to have as our base...How do you define love? Much of the world defines love as a feeling that is the result of interaction with another...key word there being feeling. If love is a feeling, then feelings change. Many times our feelings are based on our surroundings and the situations we view ourselves in, and the things are continually changing.

When I think to the times in our first year of marriage in adjusting to living with one another and in minor misunderstandings I think back to the Y in the road that I came to each time...Each time I was faced with a choice...You see love is a choice. We choose in those moments to love our spouse and to put him/her over the issue. We choose to bite the bullet, swallow our pride, and sacrifice ourselves for the sake of our spouse. And that is what makes love in a marriage last. It's the continual choice of putting another before yourself, and in uniting as one (not two) in Christ. Speaking of Christ, an amazing model of this choice can be seen in God's choice to sacrifice His son for our life and a relationship with us, so that we can be one with Him...He didn't do it because of a feeling, he chose to do it because of an intense desire to be intimate with us, in being our Bridegroom. We as wives and husbands choose to sacrifice our selfish ways, what we are used to, what we desire, to build and create an intimate relationship with another as one (not two) and continually pursue this relationship with them.

A verse that has stuck with Jason and I since the beginning of our relationship is John 4:19...We love because he first loved us. Meaning our love is an overflow and abundance of God's love. It's neverending...When we our human selves become run down, discouraged, or overcome with life, we must remind our self of God's choice to choose and show his love to us. This verse is also inspiring to me in that His love can be made complete through us. In drawing upon God's love for one another we have the honor of being vessels of His love for our spouse! And our fabuous husbands and handsome grooms can be a glimpse of our Bridegroom in Heaven and his love for us!

Before I wrap this up, I want to highlight the amazing joy in celebrating each day in this first year with my one and only. The little joys of waking up each morning together, coming home after a long day at work, sharing our days, laying down at night, sharing our first married holidays, and creating our first home have truly brought so much delight to my heart that I cannot even begin to describe it! I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life! I know that in years to come we will face hardships, as we already have during the time we have been together...But to have some one by your side to share both the joys, the sorrows, and all the in between in life, is a blessing that I will be eternally grateful for!