A BIRTHDAY BLESSING.....

My best friend started a group text on my birthday with Jenn.  (you may remember that I was in Jenn's wedding back in September -- or maybe I never blogged about it)  Anyways, Bri and Jenn and I grew up together.  Jenn lives in LA with her husband and Bri lives in Bellingham, WA with her family....so many of our conversations are completed via facetime or group texting.

Bri challenged her and Jenn to text "30 Ways We have Loved the first 30 years of Tonya's Life."  It was SO touching and completely MADE my day!!!  I am documenting here more for my own memory and not to boast, so please feel free to not read if you are not interested.

Here we go.

1. (Bri) Her awesome high school pajama pant collection
2. (Bri) How Tonya treats me like a bickering spouse.  (so true)
3. (Bri) Trying to get through Canada without a map
4. (Jenn) Her love for fitness and living a healthy life.
5. (Bri) Her eagerness to serve others and even seek out a way to serve someone.
6.(Jenn) Her loyalty to friends and family.  She fights for them, encourages them, and you know she will always be there for you/with you.
7. (Bri) Her taste buds that could beat anyone in a diet soda taste test.
8. (Bri) Her diversity within her friend group, and her willingness to give anyone a chance.
9. (Bri) Pickles on my backyard fence.  (one of my favorite memories too)
10. (Patrick, Jenn's husband) Her youthfulness -- she is always doing fun and adventurous things
11. (Bri) Out of site is NOT out of mind for her.  (also so true....haha)
11b. (Jenn) Her intentionality in keeping up with old friends and also mentoring younger girls.
12. (Jenn) The way she celebrates people and gets others excited about doing it as well (birthdays, engagements, gym memberships)
13. (Bri) Her ability to make anyone around her feel comfortable and at home.
14. (Bri) She is hardworking. Be it work, church, friends of family - she will give it 100%
15. (Jenn) She can flip houses like no one's business!!...Like a business!
16. (Jenn) She can handle taking care of anyone's Mom during stressful times.  Anyone's Mom!!
17. (Jenn) She runs marathons and half marathons practically in her sleep!!
18. (Jenn) She's respectful, a hard worker at her job and a devoted wife.
19. (Bri) She keeps her word. Always.
20. (Bri) She is not intimidated by a big task.
21. (Bri) Her willingness to walk along side you on any journey
22. (Jenn) Her hospitality.
23. (Bri) Her ability to laugh at hard situations.
24. (Bri) Also her ability to forgive awkward phases in life. (likewise Bri....likewise!)
25. (Bri) The times she woke up before dawn to Skype regularly with me when I was in South Africa.
26. (Jenn) The way she visits all of her friends where they live and really wants to know and understand their life and what it's like.
27. (Jenn) Her discipline.  I'm pretty sure I try to be like Tonya when I put my mind to something.
28. (Bri) Her planning!  She throws the best parties.
29. (Bri) I am beyond thankful God gave Tonya to me as a friend.  Through awkward phases, happy times, hard times, far times, I know I have a sister in her.  She is there to cry with, celebrate with, and vent with.  I can only pray I am half the woman and friend she is. (you are and then some!) Cheers to 30 years behind and many more ahead!
30. (Jenn) I remember being in high school and loving Tonya's long hair.  She was immediately cool because of that.  Then I remember college wanting to be a CPA because she was.  And running a marathon because she did.  (i wouldnt have been able to run without you Jenn) And then after college wanting to support my hubby like she did.  And now, wanting to be even half as loyal as she is to her friends.

Seriously, this is the best gift ever.  The best part of my birthday weekend, was that God used the weekend to remind me how overwhelmingly and abundantly blessed I am with amazing friends.  I would not be who I am without the support of my family and friends.  I am so grateful to the Lord for his many blessings through people.  He uses all of my friends DAILY to help me through challenges, remind me of His provision and encourage me in my faith -- and convict and challenge me in my faith too.  I do not deserve the outpouring of love and support I received through all my friends, but it is a great tangible example of undeserving grace and love.

Thank you to all my friends for making me feel so special and so loved.....

Thirty, Flirty and Fabulous

Happy Birthday to me!

I turned 30 last week.....so far 30 has been amazing.   Our house sale is in progress and we are set to close on April 4th.  We have our temporary housing set up and have started the hunt for our forever house!!  God has blessed every step of the process so far, so we are just trusting in Him as we continue.

I spent the day of my birthday working, and then went to see Bruno Mars with Alex, Erin and Amanda.  Bruno was PHENOMENAL!!!  He is so talented and so entertaining.  We had a ball.  Perfect week day birthday.  Saturday I got my hair and makeup done for my birthday par-tay!!!

Scott and Amanda came over before the party to get ready and start celebrating!!  Here are some pics from the night.

LOVE celebrating ANYTHING with Amanda ... she makes my heart smile!

Check out my pimp cup courtesy of Paula from work.  It was perfect because I am horrible about putting down my glass and then not being able to tell which one is mine, but that was impossible with this amazing cup.  It said "30ish" so I can re-use it every year.

Boys being boys

Whoa!  I am thirty.

Alex made my birthday so special.  So grateful for him!!

Party people

I got to see The Cody's -- Yay!

My amazing bible study ladies...Erin is MIA

We had a dj at my party.  Her name is DJ Elle....and she is 12 years old.  She is quickly becoming very well known in the Houston area.  She did such a great job and is super sweet. If you have an event where you need a legit DJ, you should consider her.  She made the night!

It was so much fun.....loved it!  Looking forward to seeing how thirty progresses.

Phew....now that is what I call relief.

I have had the blessing of attending Beth Moore at Houston's First this spring.  Beth Moore has written numerous bible studies and is a very dynamic speaker.  She has so much talent, life experience, passion, humor and honesty - that if you have the opportunity to hear her speak, please take it!!

My Mom decided she wanted to make the commitment to drive in every Tuesday and attend with me.  We meet at church at 5 PM and eat dinner together and then at 6:30 head in for worship and teaching.  It has been such a blessing that I am getting sad we only have two weeks left.  I love my Mom and am going to have to come up with a new excuse to see her every week!  The last two weeks my Grandma has also attended....it doesn't get much better than that.  My grandparents live in Minnesota, so we typically see them once or twice a year.  My grandma is 5 foot nothing and a firecracker.  I love every SECOND i get to spend with all my grandparents.  Normally in the summer I head to Minnesota for a long weekend, but won't get to this year because I am going to the Dominican Republic for a mission trip and Rush Week with our youth group in July.  It was a tough decision, but the right one for this year. 

Anyways, Beth is teach on 1 and 2 Thessalonians and still in the process of writing, so I am not going to go into too much detail on her teachings, but one verse she mentioned really stuck with me.  It was 1 Peter 1:6-8.  (well she focused on 6-7, but I like 8 too) 


"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:6-8


Beth mentioned that this verse focuses on three time periods: NOW, For a little while and when Christ is revealed.  She talked about when we are going to trials, the longest they can last is for a little while.  What a relief....although a little while could feel like a long while, it was a good reminder that everything in life is temporary....good or bad.  God can get us through ANY trial and will be glorified through ALL trials if we let Him.  But its temporary.  Blessings in life are temporary.  So, why do we take each day for granted?  I challenged my 9th graders this week to look for God's love every day.  To look for one moment where they think "huh....that was special.  God loves me"  Could be as simple as their Mom making them breakfast, or a friend saving them a seat at lunch.  It has been a good reminder for me to.  God is and wants to be part of everything I do, every breath I take, every move I make.  (haha)  But he really does.  If it ever feels like he is absent, it is because I am creating the space and distance.  He is just waiting, EVER SO PATIENTLY, for me.  When my burdens feel overbearing and like one more little thing may cause me to bust, maybe I am not giving enough of my burden to God.  Am I trusting Him to help me carry the load?  He is there, just waiting, ever so patiently. 

How much relief do you feel knowing that you are not alone?  God is there, just waiting to love you.  How much relief do you feel knowing He knows the plans He has for you?  God is there, just waiting to show you He loves you.  How much relief do you feel knowing that no matter how overwhelming life's circumstances feel right now, you do NOT have to carry the burden alone?  God is there, jsut waiting for you to ask for help.  Phew!! I feel better. 

Observations on a Sunday.....

I am doing the Siesta Scripture Memory Team through Beth Moore's blog for 2013 and it has you memorize a new scripture every two weeks.  Here are mine so far this year. (I am not cheating, I promise - I will strike through my mistakes)

January 1
"The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still." Exodus 14:14
January 15
"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in all ways acknowledge Him give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
February 1 - don't have this one down yet....
"I will give thanks to the Lord for he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." Psalm 7:17

I picked the third one because I have never really studied what it means to be just and how to be more just myself in my day to day, so I figured it would be a good challenge.  This was our lesson topic for youth group on Sunday, so I was trying to talk through this with my 9th graders.  It was actually very interesting to hear about what they thought it meant to be just in their day to day lives. 

We discussed looking at others equally, without bias.  My girls asked tough questions about injustices in the world, like how women are mistreated in middle eastern countries and how to have confidence under persecution in countries like china where they dictate what religion you have.  Another girl asked about those people that are completely unreached and whether or not they will have an opportunity to meet Christ.  God really used Sunday to remind me of how innocent questions can cover BIG issues.  The girls asked me about how to share their faith at school -- like logistics...how does it work?  I have to see these kids every day, what if they think I am weird? Or a hypocrite?  I can't be perfect, so I don't want to call out anything to them? 

"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:2-6


God calls us to have the faith of a child -- and God allowed me to see that a bit on Sunday through my small group.  During big church on Sunday, my small group and I volunteered with the 4 year old church.  Here is a conversation I had with a 4 year old named Emma.  Let me paint a picture for you, I was sitting on the floor with about 50 kids around me.  Two of my 9th graders were to my right, a vietnamese girl named Lydia and a chinese girl name Mary Abigail. 

Emma: Are those your sisters? [pointing at Lydia and Mary Abigail]
Tonya: Well, they are my sisters in Christ
Emma: Oh ok....[goes back to story time for a couple minutes]
Emma: Is your Mom here?
Tonya: No, my Mom is in Austin.
Emma: So what...you just drove yourself here?!?!  [goes back to story time]
Emma: Do you have bunk beds?
Tonya: Nope, no bunk beds.
Emma: Why not?!?!
Emma: Do your sisters have bunk beds?
Tonya: Well, I don't know if they do.
Emma: [pauses, looking concerned] You mean you haven't been in their rooms?!?!

Innocence and being just all in one.  To Emma, it did not EVEN occur to her that it was an odd question to ask if a swedish girl, a vietnamese girl and a chinese girl were sisters.  What was shocking to her was #1 my Mom didn't bring me to church and #2 that I didn't have bunks NOR did I know what kind of bed my "sisters" had.  I just love the picture of that God.  God doesn't see color, he doesn't see family lineage, education, he just sees us and wants US.  He desires to love us....and could care less about our "make  up".  God I pray I can look at others justly....and not see their past, or color or credentials but just see them the way you do, as a child that you desire to love unconditionally.

Happy Birthday Teeks

Happy Birthday Erika!!  Thirty looks good on you!!! 

Today is my wonderful friend Erika's birthday.  Erika is one of those friends that holds a very special place in my heart.  I have been a part of every decade of her life.  If Erika had to be defined by three words, I would say they would  have to be pillar of strength, knowledgeable and loyal.  Once you are in her inner circle, there is nothing she wouldn't do for you....she will support you through ALL  your ups and downs and will challenge you to be better.  Love better, serve God better, be a better friend, teach better, learn more, reach for goals.  She is wonderful and I DO NOT tell her enough how much I value and NEED her.  I definately take advantage of the blessing God has given to me through her.  Much of my spiritual growth can be attributed to her spurring me on and holding me accountable. 

Not to mention, when we are together we have a LOT of FUN!!!!!

You can't see me!

UH Tailgatin'

Alex's 30th Bday



Aggie Football



 I love you so much Erika....words CAN NOT express what you mean to me and never will.  I love that I have gone through almost all of my life with you as a friend, sister, companion and spiritual support.  From cheerleading in 5th grade, to our lip sync to R.E.S.P.E.C.T. in our sequin gowns, to growing spiritually together in high school to going ot A&M together, to starting Phillies, to living together, to first pets, engagements and fiances, to wedding planning, to weddings and all that comes with marriage, to meeting my precious nephew, to serving our students together....all the while, having fun, crying some, laughing A LOT and growing in life.  I can't wait for you to set eyes on your niece/nephew one day and for all the future life events we will get to go through together.  I pray that God fills your birthday today with an overabundance of love, that you know how incredible you are and that you feel so cherised, because you are!!!!

I love you with all of my heart.  Happy 30th....I am not far behind joining you in the purty thirties. 

I must have been good last year

Alex TOTALLY shocked me and bought me a new camera for Christmas!!  I have been wanting a "real" camera for years, but always talked myself out of it.  I am SO excited to learn how to you use this camera and it should give me some great inspiration for blog posts.

Stay tuned!!

Best of Leiva

We are SO fortunate in Houston to have a lot of fun and unique things to eat, see and do.  I thought I would post some of the best places I have tried so far.  Let me know if you have any "Best of Houston" places and I will be sure to try them out.  Also, let me know if you try any of these places!

Best Date Night Place:

Coppa - Coppa is an eclecticly decorated italian restaurant with unique dishes and great wine prices.  Alex and I first learned about Coppa from Jason and Samantha, but have gone back numerous times and absolutely LOVE it.  I even celebrated by 29th birthday there last year. 

Raven Grill: Raven Grill is a great quaint little restaurant, with a really calm atomosphere and the food is fabulous.  We learned about Raven Grill from Mikey and Erika and LOVE IT.

Best Lunch Spot(s):

Arpi's Phoenicia Deli and Coffeehouse: Arpi's is a mediterranean place that has homemade hummus and bottomless pita bread, both crispy and soft.  I haven't tried it yet for dinner, but want to.

Zoe's Kitchen: I frequent Zoe's a lot and tend to order the Protein Power Plate over steamed veggies thanks to Amanda! It is delish!

       

Ruggles Green: Ruggles Green is my ALL TIME favorite lunch or dinner place.....you.can.not.go.wrong.no.matter.what.you.order.

Best Happy Hour:

Benjy's: They have everything for $5 so it is a steal and oh so good.  They make a great Blood Orange Margarita!

Some New Places I have tried that may become a best.....

• Simone on Sunset -- this is a great lounge and they have a very modern juke box that Alex and I love!
• Hearsay Gastro Lounge -- we went here with my theater group (seperate post) and LOVED it!!!!  Unique drinks and food options. 

Best Hair Salon:

Therapy Hair Studio in The Galleria -- Go see Erin.  Your hair will thank you!!

Best Food/Spiritual/Other Blogs to Follow: (besides personal blogs....love all of you!)

• Living Proof Blog -- great encouragement and challenges.  I can't wait for Beth Moore to start teaching us about Thessalonians next week.
• Our Best Bites -- great, do-able recipes, gift ideas and fun things to do with kiddos.  Seriously, CHECK THEM OUT!!!
• Skinny Taste. -- I am new to Skinny Taste, but loving it so far. 
• Erin Condren -- she makes the CUTEST personalize planners, stationary, call back cards, gift bags, and the list goes on and on.  LOVE her stuff.

Best Running Loops/Trails:

• Terry Hershey Park -- 6 miles of trails down the bayou
• Memorial Park
• Bayou Loop
• Tonya and Jenn's Half marathon loop -- that is right, we are famous!

Seriously, if you want any more detail on these loops, just ask! 

Best Shellac in  Houston:

• Bora Bora Nail Salon
• Isle Pedi Spa

Best 5K in Houston:

The Color Run!!

Best 9th Grade Girls Group EVER!!!! Just missing a pic of Desiree.

Best Dog in the world:

Best Best Friend Pic taken to date:

Now, I am just being silly....I should go home.  Have a blessed day!