Brian and Gina's Wedding

We had the pleasure traveling to San Antonio to attend Brian & Gina's Wedding a few weekends ago and it was so much fun. We left Houston after work on Friday and headed to San Antonio to spend the weekend on the River Walk. It was so nice to get away for a weekend and what better excuse then to attend the wedding of some great friends. We wish them all the best and cannot wait to welcome them back to our bible study as a married couple.





Bible Study Ladies


Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Langford!

Concan 2011

Just wanted to post a few pictures from our trip to Concan, TX with the family.

The View


Rollie enjoying the water


Getting out


After rolling in the dirt to dry off


A weekend at the river makes for one TIRED puppy.


We cannot wait to go back!

Things I'm Loving Friday

It's time for another things I'm loving...!


My bible study girls! It has been so much fun to get together with these girls (and their husbands) over the last year. It has really made a difference in the way we view Houston. There will always be someone you can call to hang out with or say a prayer for you. We meet monthly but it is fun to see each other outside of our normal meeting times. Here we are at Gina's wedding shower, she and her husband Brian are getting married next month, can't wait!

There is also a song that has been on my heart lately that I especially love. The verse that truly resonates with me and where I am right now is as follows:

Everything that I am
Everything I long to be
I lay it down, at Your feet. (Matt Maher)

I find myself singing it in my head all day long.

Finally for today I am in love with Pandora Radio...it's the only thing keeping me going til five!

Did I mention I LOVE Fridays?

Easter with the Nephews

I had one of the best Easter's ever, this year! I got to spend it family, and had a great time playing with my nephews all afternoon. Here are some pictures of the fun. I just love these boys.

My Heart is in Aggieland

Some may boast of prowess bold, of the school they think so grand
But there's a spirit can ne'er be told, its the Spirit of Aggieland

Today in Aggieland, and all around the world for that matter, there is a ceremony called Muster. It's held every April 21st, to honor all Aggies who have died in the past year. It is said that “if there is an A&M man in one hundred miles of you, you are expected to get together, eat a little, and live over the days you spent at the A&M College of Texas.” We are called to not only gather and remember our time in Aggieland but to remember those Aggies who are no longer with us. A Roll Call of the Absent is read and as a name is announced those loved ones or fellow classmates of that person answer "Here". Its amazing to me that there are over 400 of the ceremonies held worldwide and someday I will be remembered, and someone will answer "here" for me.

The following are two poems read at Muster.

"Roll Call for the Absent" -Dr. John Ashton ‘06
In many lands and climes this April day
Proud sons of Texas A&M unite.
Our loyalty to country, school, we pray,
and seal our pact with bond of common might.

We live again those happy days of yore
on campus, field, in classroom, dorm, at drill
Fond memory brings a sigh -- but nothing more;
Now we are men and life’s a greater thrill,

Before we part and go upon our way,
We pause to honor those we knew so well;
The old familiar faces we miss so much today
Left cherished recollections that time cannot dispel.

Softly call the Muster,
Let comrade answer, “Here!”
Their spirits hover ‘round us
As if to bring us cheer!

Mark them ‘present’ in our hearts.
We’ll meet some other day
There is no death, but life etern
For our old friends such as they!


"The Last Corps Trip" -P.H. DuVal Jr. '51
It was Judgment Day in Aggieland
And tenseness filled the air;
All knew there was a trip at hand,
But not a soul knew where.

Assembled on the drill field
Was the world-renowned Twelfth Man,
The entire fighting Aggie team
And the famous Aggie Band.

And out in front with Royal Guard
The reviewing party stood;
St. Peter and his angel staff
Were choosing bad from good.

First he surveyed the Aggie team
And in terms of an angel swore,
"By Jove, I do believe I've seen
This gallant group before.

I've seen them play since way back when,
And they've always had the grit;
I've seen 'em lose and I've seen 'em win
But I've never seen 'em quit.

No need for us to tarry here
Deciding upon their fates;
Tis plain as the halo on my head
That they've opened Heaven's gates."

And when the Twelfth Man heard this,
They let out a mighty yell
That echoed clear to Heaven
And shook the gates of Hell.

"And what group is this upon the side,"
St. Peter asked his aide,
"That swelled as if to burst with pride
When we our judgment made?"

"Why, sir, that's the Cadet Corps
That's known both far and wide
For backing up their fighting team
Whether they won lost or tied."

"Well, then," said St. Peter,
"It's very plain to me
That within the realms of Heaven
They should spend eternity.

And have the Texas Aggie Band
At once commence to play
For their fates too we must decide
Upon this crucial day."

And the drum major so hearing
Slowly raised his hand
And said, "Boys, let's play The Spirit
For the last time in Aggieland."

And the band poured forth the anthem,
In notes both bright and clear
And ten thousand Aggie voices
Sang the song they hold so dear.

And when the band had finished,
St. Peter wiped his eyes
And said, "It's not so hard to see
They're meant for Paradise."

And the colonel of the Cadet Corps said
As he stiffly took his stand,
"It's just another Corps Trip, boys,
We'll march in behind the band."


Today, as always, my heart is in Aggieland. Say "Here" for me at Muster when my time comes too, cause that's what we do when we bleed maroon.

Things I'm Loving Tuesday (Birthday Edition)

My mom came up this weekend and we had the chance to spend all day on Saturday shopping. She also brought me some gifts from home. The biggest gift and the one I am most grateful for besides spending the day together is having my car detailed, thanks Mom! Can't wait to see how new my car will feel once this is done.

I am also realizing more and more how incredibly blessed I am to have the husband that I have. He is supportive and kind but he is also thoughtful when gift giving.
I got an early birthday present a few weeks ago...first on my list of things I am loving...Sperry's. I have wanted these for a few years now but would not spend the money on myself to get them. But, Ben was confident that I would get good use out of them and that I deserved to indulge myself every once in awhile.


We had discussed that those shoes were going to be my birthday present so I wasn't expecting anything else. Then today he had flowers delivered to my office at work. Roses and Calla lilies. The sweetest part was that he said he looked for daisies (my favorite flower) but none of those looked good enough. Sweet Boy.


To round out the rest of my birthday and to add to my favorite things we are going out tonight, with friends, to watch the Texas A&M Women's Basketball Team compete in the National Championship game! Whoop! This is the first time the women have ever made it to the final four round much less the title game. Gig'em Ags! Beat the Hell Outta Notre Dame!


One more thing, Rollie (the puppy) had a birthday about a week ago and she turned 3! I cannot believe it has been three years since we brought our puppy home to become part of the family. She wanted me to add a few things to the list. Ben and I got her some cow marrow bones that kept her entertained for hours on her birthday...yum!


And, my mom also brought a few gifts for her. She had a blanket monogramed for Rollie so she could lay on the couch without covering it with hair (thanks from me too Mom) and she also got a car seat cover for the backseat so after my car gets detailed it can stay pretty. She really likes the one my mom has in her car so I am sure she will love this one once we put it in (and remove the other puppy).

Just a few pics...

Here are just a few pictures from Jeff & Kristen's Wedding we attended last weekend.

The bride and groom leaving the reception.

Jenn & Ben

Ben & Adam

Jenn & Jordan

Jenn & Ben

Ben's 23rd (A Little Late)

Well I was going through pictures on my camera and forgot to upload these from Ben's Birthday back on January 31. So here they are. Happy 23rd Birthday baby.


Let me just say...this is no ordinary hat or cake. Ben had been talking about getting this hat for forever. He would make comments every once in awhile that we should make a trip up to College Station to get it. But he didn't want it bad enough to drive the 2.5 hr round trip to get it if he didn't have another reason to go. Well I had another reason so I got it for him. On our anniversary we did not eat the top layer of our cake that we DID keep frozen in our freezer for a year. (that counts right? it made the move with us multiple times) Anyway, since we did not eat our wedding cake on our anniversary (Jan 9th) Ben kept mentioning how much he wished he could have another piece of the cake we had at the wedding...more times then I think he realized. So I called our wedding cake lady and she said she would make us a cake in the same flavor/icing for his birthday. I usually bake him a cake myself but I thought this would be a good exception. So I took a half day from work (without Ben knowing) to drive to College Station to buy him his hat and cake. He was very surprised and happy to see this when he got home from work.


Look at his very convincing "I love my wife" expression ha.


He couldn't believe I was making him blow out candles...I thought by now he would have known me better then that :)

Before cake, we went to our new favorite restaurant Grimaldi's for Ben's Birthday Dinner. And after dinner, our good friends Haley and Zack came over to help us celebrate/eat his cake. What a great night

Valentine's Prep

So usually I am not very crafty...Hobby Lobby is a place I visit for a cheap frame or Christmas Ornament...not for fabric, glitter or glue guns. But this weekend I found myself (and a few friends) searching for the perfect Styrofoam heart wreath, red felt, and stick pins to give a Valentine's wreath a try. I mean I am supposed to be domestic now...aren't domestic girls crafty?



We made the wreaths after going to try on bridesmaid dresses for the future Mrs. Holland (pictured below)It was a lot of fun getting together with all of the girls and deciding on a dress, as well as coming back to our house to work on this project together.



Steph- Sorry we didn't get a picture with you!
April & Britt- Can't wait to have yall join us next time!



In case you are inspired to make a similar wreath here is the website where I got the instructions: http://www.theidearoom.net/2010/01/felt-heart-wreath.html

I think I may make a few more of them for the house since this one is going on the front door. Happy Valentine's Day.

Christmas/ New Years Pictures

Since I never got around to posting anything about our Christmas or New Years here are a couple of pictures!

Merry Christmas from our Bible Study!

Family Christmas Picture...Take 1

Family Christmas Picture...Take 2

Happy New Year!

Year One...Check!

What...A...Year! Here is a recap of our first year of marriage.

January:
-Got Married
-Honeymooned on a Cruise to the Caribbean
-We settled into our cozy duplex in College Station
-Ben started his final semester at A&M

April:
-Ben handed over his title of Infantry Band Drum Major for the Aggie Band and closed a wonderful, exciting chapter in our lives of him being in the Corps of Cadets and me being an arm ornament (which I loved)

May:
-Ben graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Nuclear Engineering!

July:
-Jenn was offered, accepted, and started a job as an Accounting & Operations Assistant at Ontility in Houston, TX
- We moved into an apartment in The Woodlands, TX

August:
-Ben was offered, accepted, and started a job as a Nuclear Engineer at Bureau Veritas in Houston, TX

October:
- We put in an offer on a house

November:
- We moved into our new house the weekend before Thanksgiving
- Celebrated our First Thanksgiving in our new house eating Cinnamon Rolls and Pizza (trust me we had an AWESOME time)

December:
- Celebrated our First Christmas in our new home hanging stockings and assembling a tiny maroon tree. We vowed to hang lights and get a better tree next year. Things were still a little crazy with the move.

On top of all of our big life changes: graduation, moving, new jobs, house... we also attended five weddings: Betz, Ferrari, Smith, Prather, and Hartsfield. We were honored to be at each and every one of them. Congrats everyone we hope you all have a very blessed first year of marriage, and many more to come!

It was a great year, and we cannot wait to see what year two will bring. Ben and I both agree that we would be happy to slow down a bit, but who knows! Here's to year two!