Fly Me to the Moon

Ray and I were recently introduced to some of
my sister's astronaut and NASA friends.

This week while Ray and I were in Houston, Todd Hellner from NASA spent hours showing us around Johnson Space Center.

It. Was. Incredible.

We had conversations with astronauts who mere months ago were living on the International Space Station, stepped onto the floor of Mission Control, and sat in the practice shuttle's pilot and captain's seats.Here are the few pictures captured before my camera battery died.

The old Apollo Mission Control room.
This is where Gene Kranz sat during Apollo 13.
This room is no longer operational and is now a Nation Monument.

Down the hall is the current Mission Control room, which we were lucky to get into; an hour later and it would have been closed down in order to prepare for the Shuttle Atlantis, which launched yesterday afternoon.
In the Shuttle!

Did you know that in the Space Station, the craft is moving at such a fast speed that the astronauts experience a sunset or sunrise every 45 minutes? Or, that there is only a 5 minute window every day in which a shuttle can launch and reach the station without using up all their fuel? Amazing, yes?!

We are so thankful to our friend Todd for such an incredible experience.

One Vision

It is said that the first year of marriage is the most difficult.

False.

At least that has not proved to be true for us. Year two has been filled with more struggle and growing pains than I think we ever expected. Yes, eight weeks ago we lost our second child. Sure, a week after that our lives changed dramatically with a completely gluten-free lifestyle taking up its permanent residency in our world. Of course, like most young ministers we are attempting to creatively live on one salary while I commute to and from Waco 10 hours a week to be in school full-time.

Yet the difficulty in our relationship has come less from the pain of loss, and frustration of finance, and more from the realization that we are two incredibly different people.

Our fabulous counselor, * we are big believers in the ability a trained, professional listener has to encourage our relationship to be as strong as possible, which is especially important for ministers. I'll talk about counseling often, so if the mention of it makes you uncomfortable and causes you to question your own sanity, you may want to talk with someone about that.* recently had us take a personality assessment called an enneagram, in which a person falls into one of 9 personality types. I sat in total shock as I listened to our counselor describe how, based on our results, my personality type at its worst becomes Ray's personality type and Ray's personality type at its worst becomes mine. Yeah, feel free to read that sentence again.

How?! How have I been married to this man for 21 months and not realized that we are exact opposites? I mean, we get along so well. No hesitation; I'd rather be near this man (in every simple and complex way that means) than any other living, breathing human in existence. We balance each other out. He is gracious when I am quick to criticize. He goes with the flow and I plan out details. He rarely looks past next Sunday and I scheme months in advance. I crave the experience of adventure and He longs for the stability of a hometown. I live a few dream clouds above reality while He naturally abides on the ground of actuality. I prefer the liturgy of high church and He prefers the grassroots simplicity of guitar led worship.

Do we love each other? yes.
Are we friends? the best.
Have we recently woken-up thinking "oh no, who is this person I have forever hitched my wagon to?" without a doubt.

My dreams include multiple scene changes; most of which have mountains as a backdrop. His dreams stay faithfully under this massive Texas sky; hopefully in the same place for 30 years or so. As we become more honest and unravel the depth of our diverse visions for our future, the more difficult, taxing and (let's speak truth) scary the weight and reality of "two becoming one," becomes. How do you submit to each other as equals and deal with the less than flattering discovery that you may actually be more selfish than you ever cared to acknowledge? How do release pieces of your dreams and goals without losing yourself? How do you create and give birth a new vision, a shared vision?

Honestly, we don't know quite yet. But, we do know that this vulnerable growth process (though painful at times) is bringing beautiful, servant-minded, trust-filled, grace-founding life to our "one."

April

April was a big and busy month! Both mine and Ray's Birthdays, finishing up projects, and adjusting to my new gluten-free life! Here are some pics from the past few weeks.

Friends together for Ray's birthday at Ninfa's

My Sister, niece, and friends Kristyn, Ryan and Jackson came over on my birthday to celebrate with an incredible gluten-free meal made by my amazing husband! GF cheesecake and all!

Kim and Harrison's Beautiful Wedding

Happy Birthday . . .

Kristyn: Creative, loving, Patient, Inspiring Mother

Sweet Kristyn, I feel like we've been friends much longer than a year and 1/2! Your friendship has been such a blessing to me. You are a deeply inspiring woman of God. Your love for Ryan and Jack is steady and true, your patience for teaching children who really do not want to learn is never-ending and your passion for Christ-centered living is infectious. Though I am so sad you, Ryan and Jack will be leaving soon, I hope we will not live so far apart for too long! Love and blessings to you on your birthday!

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Ryan: Inventive, Hardworking, Not easily surprised

Happy Birthday Brother-in-law! You are such an important part of our family and I have been blessed by your presence. Addison Road would not run as smoothly as it does without your passionate, creative, (lets be honest) OCD work ethic! Getting to watch you grow from a husband to a husband and a father has been a joy. Your love for Anniston is overflowing and contagious. Ray and I loved being apart of your first surprise party! Much love to you on you 30th Birthday!

Homestead

Yesterday the Millers and some of our best friends the Arnolds took advantage of (what turned out to be) beautiful weather and spent several hours at Homestead Heritage. This beautiful Anabaptist community uses God's creation and their gift-given abilities to create and sustain a more simplistic, Christ-centered way of life. There are several stores in the community where you can purchase their incredible creations, as well as a restaurant, in which I had a delectable turkey sandwich on the best gluten-free bread I have ever tasted (you gluten-free friends know what a huge discovery that is!). What an exciting opportunity to be invited to into such a loving community and be encouraged to look around!