Familiarty

Home. A good place to be.

A couple of weeks ago, Daniel and I battled the rain/ice storm and drove to Ruston. The purpose for our trip was to see a friend of mine from LA TECH who was having an engagement announcement party. I hadn't seen Lauren since well before I went to Egypt, so it had been at least 3 years. We went back and forth, deciding whether or not it was wise to travel in the bad weather, but I think the what kept pushing me to want to go was just a longing to be "home".

I guess when I lived in Egypt, I knew that going "home" meant an expensive plane ticket for a relatively short visit. However, now that I'm in Fort Worth, going home just means a couple of tanks of gas and a 4 hour drive. I hadn't been home since Christmas, and I was just really feeling a longing to see my parents and be in our house and see the rest of my family.

So, home we went. And it was so nice. Short, but really good to see my granny, mamaw, papaw, Seth, Vanna, and my parents. We enjoyed mamaw's mmm... mmm... good cookin' Saturday at lunch. You're mouth will water just hearing what we ate: roast beef, deer sausage (links and patties), cornbread, black-eyed peas, and mashed potatoes. OH SO GOOD!!

There's just something about familiarity. In my world that seems to be so rapidly changing - from being KIM, the free, independent spirit to becoming KIM, the partner in ministry and in life, my heart was longing for a taste of what I've always known.

Life is definitely in a mode of change for me. Some days I welcome it with open arms. Other days, I'm just a bit scared. But God revealed something to me this past week. He has been keeping me in a state of change, year by year, since I graduate from college. From Ruston to Cairo. Cairo to Lebanon. Lebanon back to Cairo, then to Morroco. And one more time back to Cairo before landing back in America. But the change didn't stop there. Ruston for 4 months, then Fort Worth. I've been here a little over a year now. It's time for another change.

God revealed to me a scripture that has been familiar to me in years past. Yet, somehow, last Friday morning when I read the passage about worry in Luke 12, it was like I had never read it before. Oh, how the Lord LOVES His creation! He said that Solomon in all of his glory didn't compare to the BEAUTY of the lillies of the field. In his gold and ornately woven robes, etc., that beauty didn't compare to God's handiwork in the fields. God loves me. He cares for me. When everything around me seems to be changing, He is not. He is consistant, constant God and Father. I am HIS creation and He is taking care of me. He is what is familiar to me. Hm...what a BEAUTIFUL GOD!

THE KNOT

We have a "the knot" website if you'd like to check it out.

Valentine's

The day of love. I wrote a blog on Valentine's day and when it was uploading, it got lost in cyberspace, so I thought I'd try again.

Tuesday morning Ashley and I woke up early to go to the gym before my 8:00 class. We stepped outside that morning to see a beautifully painted sky - hues of blues, shadowed with gray clouds. After our workout, the blues had turned to shades of oranges and yellows and the bright sun was blaring through the white clouds. "Thank you for the beautiful day," I said aloud, an expression of joy. As we rode back to the house I thought, "How romantic, that God would paint such a lovely morning on this Valentine's Day." How He longs to romance His children. If we would only stop for a minute to recognize His pursuit of us. If we would only take a few minutes to breathe in the air around us, notice His artwork all around us - in nature, in our friends, in our families. He is constantly romancing us, His bride!

The day kept getting better. After my class Daniel came over and we made breakfast. It was my first Valentine's day to actually have a Valentine. It was nice to enjoy the day with Daniel. He brought over a bundle of balloons that he had stuffed each with a poem. They each were marked with a certain time for me to pop them and read the surprise inside. So sweet...that God would romance me through an amazingly thoughtful and loving Daniel.

MUSHY, GUSHY...I know. Sorry for that.

I'm thankful today for a God who knows our most intimate thoughts, our deepest needs. Open up to Psalm 139 today and let His Word minister to you. HE KNOWS YOU and knows how to meet your every longing. Notice Him all around you today and let Him minster to your soul.

We Dream of This Day From the Time We're Little Girls!!!

Last week was a busy week and at the end of it, I whined to Daniel about not feeling like we had gotten much one-on-one time together. He suggested we spend the day together Monday since we both have Mondays fairly free. I thought it was a great idea!

Little did I know, I walked perfectly in to the plan he had for that day. And my whining just made it all that more natural for him to suggest that we spend the day together.

The plan was to come over around 11 and go to the Botanic Gardens, here in Fort Worth. It's a nice place. We were going to have a picnic, walk around the gardens. We've gone before. Didn't seem too out of the ordinary. So, we get out of the car, spent some leisure time walking around, talking, taking random pictures. He says he wants to walk through the woods, so off we go. As we get off the beaten path, he tells me he wants to tell me a story. The story went something like this:

"Kim, back before we started dating, I came out here to spend some time with God. During that time I was asking Him about you and whether or not I should pursue you. I had some reservations because of your heart for Egypt and my heart for Turkey and I wasn't sure we were going in the same direction. So, I asked the Lord. I didn't want to pursue you unless this was going to be from Him. I felt as clear as I'd ever felt before that the Lord spoke to me at that time and said, 'Daniel, you're not expecting to hear from me. You're expecting to come here, talk with me about this, and feel peace that you've done so, but you're not really expecting to hear from me.' I thought for a minute. He was right. I guess I wasn't. Then He continued, almost like a dare and said, 'Go ahead, ask Me anything and see if I'll answer you.' So, I thought I'd swing for the fences. I asked, 'God, is she the one I'll spend my life with?' And I closed my eyes and got this sense of God smiling down on me and heard this resounding, 'YES!' I sat there for a minute, kind of expecting my mind to talk me out of all of this, but there was nothing. Nothing but peace."

As he got to this part of the story, we were walking up to a fallen tree limb that had made a natural bench in the middle of the woods. We sat down there, and he continued, "That was the day that we had the teachers' meeting at Catholic Charities." That evening before we left the meeting Daniel and I were talking and he was holding a big acorn. Before we were leaving he made a comment about the big acorns he had seen that day at the gardens. He non-chalantly said, "Do you want this?" and handed me the acorn. I took it, put it in the cup holder in my car and to this day, the acorn sits in my car. Several times I've looked at it and laughed, thinking, "Why in the world have I kept this acorn?" I've thought about trashing it on days when I've cleaned out my car, but I never have. So, yesterday as we sat on the log, Daniel continued by saying,

"I've never told you this story before and I thought that it would be appropriate to bring you here and tell you this story." He then reached down, picked an acorn up from off of the ground, got down on one knee in front of me, opened up the acorn and I sat there, my face painted with a huge smile, as I my eyes glanced back and forth from his face to his hands which were holding a cotton-stuffed acorn with a beautiful diamond ring setting inside, and listening to him say, "Kim, I have one chance to be the most outrageously happy man in the world, so I'm taking it now. Kimberly Ann Hood, will you marry me?"

My response was, "Of course I will!!!" And there came Joshua, his brother, running out of the woods with a dozen roses and a poem Daniel had written me in one hand and a camera in the other. (He had been the guardian of the ring while Daniel and I walked around the gardens, protecting the ring from any anxious squirrel who might have scurried off with it!!!)

What a GREAT day!!!

Weekend

Mom and Dad came in town last night and stayed for the day today. It was their first time to come stay with me since I've been here in Fort Worth. It was fun to play hostess to them for a change. They came to go to a wedding. Daniel came with us. I was glad we got to spend time with mom and dad together today. Quick, random story about this wedding:

I was born March 2, 1979 at Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport, LA, just 2 days after Stephen Boutwell was born. Mom, dad, and Jenny and Stephen's mom, dad and brother Jeff were buddies before Stephen and I were ever thought of. Then, we were introduced into the world and became automatic friends. Stephen and I played in the nursery together at church, did Bible Drill together as kids...then my family moved from Shreveport to Ruston. I saw him a few times after that. But then, after a couple of years, we lost complete contact with each other. Until....the week before I moved to Fort Worth, his step-mother emailed me to say that Stephen lives in the Fort Worth area and plays in a band at a church. I should go visit the church. Well, I went, and saw Stephen - it had been probably 15 years since I'd last seen him. Looked the same. Met his girl that day. And this evening, I watched Stephen and his new wife take their vows and pledge a life of service to the Father and love for Him and for one another. Sitting here thinking, funny how sometimes we can be in someone's life for a short time, and then out for a long time, but the reunion is still so sweet. That's how I felt today seeing Stephen and his dad and step-mom. I haven't seen them in years, but felt like I was hugging family.

One more thing. I never wrote about my roommate's engagement. Yes!!! Ashley and Austin are engaged and will be married May 20. Fun times. You can read about their story at

http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/view/co_main.aspx?coupleid=3272287465734868

Old Friends

Do you know the saying, "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold?" I was reminded tonight of just how precious are the friends of mine with whom I share some history. Libby came to Dallas for a conference and Katie and I got to go out to dinner with her.


Libby was a big part of the reason I grew spiritually during my college years. We were prayer partners my junior year of college. We found the most random places to sit together and pray - in the graveyard, on the front steps of my church sitting amongst a swarm of dead crickets (remember that plague that came around 1999?), just to name a couple of the strangest! The Lord used her to challenge my faith and to sharpen me as a woman of Him. Great girl. Great faith. Deep faith. Precious spirit. It was such a refreshing time tonight with both her and Katie.

Katie and I became friends the weekend we went to the outlet mall about 15 miles from Ruston. After our shopping adventure, she graciously went with me to see my great-great Uncle Sidney who was in the nursing home in that town. "What a great girl," I thought!! For her to so willingly accompany me to a nursing home? She won BIG POINTS in the friend category and from then on, we were buddies!!! Many laughs with Katie. Great girl. Great friend. Great listener and empathizer!

I'm so thankful for these two women. God has such a way of encouraging my heart and reconnecting me. There is something about people with whom you have a history. Since I moved to Egypt in 2002 and to Fort Worth in 2005, I have had numerous new friends. Oh...but the mmmm....mmmm...good feeling of those friendships of antiquity! Thank you, Jesus!

gerber daisies

Today Daniel brought these really beautiful flowers to me! Gerber daisies are my favorite flower, orange is my favorite color. I'm not sure exactly what it is that flowers do to a woman, but don't we all love to receive them? Could it be their delightful smell? Could it be their beauty? Probably it is a bit of both, but more than that, for me it's really the thought behind the flowers and the one who is giving them that sends my heart soaring! For my lady friends reading this blog, I thought I'd share these flowers with you - ENJOY!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Just returned from 3 days in Wolf Creek, Colorado with Daniel and others from the ministry at Cornerstone. What a lovely God, the Master Artist. He lifted His brush one day, painted the mountains with such talent, the brush having delicately stroked the canvas with shades of dark green putting tree by tree in its place. Then the Artist blanketed the tree-topped mountains with a white frosting. And when the sun shines down over the earth, the white snow sparkles and creation cries out, "Glory, glory to the King of kings!"

Colorado was beautiful. Skiing was great. It had been about 5 years since I last skiied. We did 10 runs in one day. My thighs were super sore! But, it was well worth it. I very much enjoyed being on the slopes. We also went sledding and a guy with us went ice fishing one day. It was cool to walk out on the ice-packed resevoir. As we all stood out there, we heard a sound that made us think a car was passing by with a really loud system. It was a booming sound. However, Lee and others who were ice fishing said they had been hearing the same sound and it was the sound of ice cracking. We weren't at all about to fall in the water, the ice was several feet deep. However, the sound was absolutely amazing. We stood on the ice waiting with anitcipation to hear it again - another reminder of the Master Artist's creativity.

Audi Christmas

I went to Maryland the 26th-30th to spend Christmas with Daniel's family. It was really great to meet everyone. I had met his parents and his brother who lives in Arlington with him, but there were still the 8 neices and nephews, 3 sisters, another brother, and 3 in-laws I hadn't yet met. Meeting his family was great. There were 20 of us in the house when we were all there together - wild, but FUN! I loved getting to hang out with them, laugh with them, open presents with them and enjoy watching the kiddos get excited about their gifts, go to D.C. and enjoy the city, see Daniel's home, be with him in the house in which he grew up...it was GREAT! Glad to be there.

They live about 20 mintues from D.C. We rode the metro and walked around near the capitol and Washington monument one afternoon. I loved being in the city. I love public transportation!

I'm back in Ruston now and will be in Fort Worth Wednesday. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!

Christmas

I love the holidays - being at home with my family. Because I didn't go away to college, I never knew what it was like to just come home for the holidays. However, since being in Fort Worth, I don't get to come home very much because of work and school and the need to have a life there. So, when I do come home, I very much look forward to spending time with my family. Holidays are great - 2 meals per day and seeing both sides of the family since we all are in Ruston (for the most part). I've recently realized that holidays are about all I'll get from here on out to see everyone. We've all grown up. My youngest cousin is a freshman in college. Our extended family is growing as my cousins have gotten married and my sister got married last year. I so much love seeing everyone. I wish that the season weren't quite so busy, but inevitably it is.

Christmas morning we woke up with Brian in our home for the first time! :-) As we were opening presents, 3 deer crossed the field in front of the house. And...my dad ran to his office, grabbed his rifle, opened the front door, and POW!!!!! one of the deer went down. Yes, it was REDNECK Christmas in the HOOD home this year. Dad and Brian thought it was the greatest Christmas gift ever. The women of the house didn't get quite as excited - go figure.

We spend Christmas afternoon with my granny and cousins on mom's side of the family. Christmas evening is at my mamaw and papaw's and cousins on my dad's side of the family. It was a great Christmas with everyone. I know that my future will one day be overseas. I don't know how often I'll get to come home for Christmas. I'm so thankful for times like these! God is GOOD!