Wednesday, October 24, 2012

What I'm Loving Wednesday ~ Simple and Sweet



I am loving that my Teal Toes still look amazing!



I am love love loving this little girl's smile!


I am loving fall!  I love love love fall!  Fall colors, fall fashion, pumpkins, pumpkin patches, warm apple cider!  LOVE IT!

Bikes Blues and BBQ 2012

I'm not generally a Bikes Blues and BBQ kinda gal.  The only time I had ever been before this year was a few years ago when I was a semi-pro cheerleader. 



We had a promotion there and I was only there for the promo and then I was OUT!  For some reason, I was always scared of it.  (P.S. - we probably look super tired and warn out, we were)

This year, the boy talked me into going.  I was very hesitant to go but I went because I knew it meant a lot to him for me to spend time with him and his brother, to get to know his brother.  So, the first day Ed was in town, just he and Michael went.  Then, I was asked to tag along, so I did and we really did have a GREAT time!  The motorcycles and the amount that were there were PHENOMENAL!  It's crazy how many bikes were there!  Here are a few pics from our Bikes And Blues adventures!


















Life sure is good!  =)

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Fall Fesitval 2012

We recently had our Fall Festival at the Wal-Mart DGTC building and I am very honored to say that I was asked to take photos for our Special Events team.  I have done this a few times for them and I am always just thrilled when they ask me to do this!  Always makes this little Texas photographer's heart jump for joy to see my work being used!

Even though I was working, I was able to play a little and see some of my favorite people! 

 
Cindy is one of my most favorite people in the world and just FYI, (not including the people in the background) there are really three people in this pic besides Cindy and April and THIS fact makes my heart happier than anybody could ever guess!!!!  I love my little munchkin!  :) 



 
Of course the Fall Festival is NOT a fall festival with out my favorite little set of twin girls!  I absolutely adore my girls!!!!



I am very thankful for having Michael in my life!  This year was the first Fall Festival since I have worked at Wal-Mart that my sister was unable to attend due to living in OKLAHOMA (yelling in anger), so I was a little sad but Michael came to the rescue and joined me for the festivities!  I cannot say how truly blessed I am to have this caring and thoughtful man in my life! 

P.S. I LOVE FALL!!!!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

It's Ok Thursday ~ Beware, Negative Nancy on the loose...no seriously, enter at your own risk!




It's ok that I've had a very tough and emotional week....I have to tell myself that....that it really IS ok!
 
It's ok to be totally and utterly confused about life these days.  Wondering if the desires of my heart are ever going to pass and if not then why won't God remove them from my heart and if so, how much longer will I have to be patient?  I'm down to my last straw of patience, down! HE will have to be the one to get me through with patience because at this point, I'm done.  I'm drowning in my questions and confusion.  My faith seems to be somewhat non-existent at the moment.  I keep telling myself that this to shall pass.....but will it? 
 
It's ok that the Hunter Hays "Wanted" song makes me fall even MORE in love with love!  Such an awesome song!
 
It's ok that I'm so exhausted....mentally, spiritually, and physically and really, it's OK!  I'll be ok! I know I will.  I always am! 
 
It's ok that every ounce of my faith is totally buried by burdens and that any type of strength that I have right now is holding on for dear life to my amazing Father, my God!  If it weren't for Him, I would feel utterly broken and drained right now!  More so emotionally! 
 
It's ok that I'm being a negative Nancy right now.  I'm entitled to these days, right?  I'm so emotionally and spiritually exhausted that I can't even MAKE myself think positive.  I'm just TIRED!  This has been by far one of the worst years of my life and I'm so ready for a new season.  I'm tired of loss and tired of questions and confusions.  I'm ready for an amazing season of pure joy and love!  Crazy, ridiculous, AMAZING LOVE!  That's what I want!   That's what I WANT!
 
Even though my heart hurts right now, it's ok that I'm super ubber excited about being a "Celebrity Judge" for Wal-Mart's ISD wing challenge tomorrow!  YUM!  In case you don't know this about me, I crave wings on command! WORD!
 
See, there is always some sort of sunshine in the storms! ;)


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Chapter 2012

I found this from my old blog. It was written December 30, 2009. Wow, I sure have come a long way! I love to look back and see where I have come from! Makes the growing process so sweet!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 2010

It’s about to be a new year again! How exciting. Just like many of you, I am ready for a new year. A new year makes us feel like we can have a new start and a new life. Kind of like when we hand our life and our hearts over to Jesus. We get that new life…..that new start! His mercy refreshes our souls and our spirits and we are a new person.

I remember when I gave my heart over to Christ for the first time. I was in the 8th grade and it was the month of September. I was starting to FINALLY feel settled at Cooper and I felt like I was finally starting to make some friends but there was still that one little thing missing. It wasn’t by a specific friend or really a specific family member that pushed me to make that choice. It was just that feeling that there was a higher being and a purpose for my life besides just living it. I went to a Catholic Church with my family and obviously Church did plant the seed of Christ. I know I also had an amazing grandmother who would teach me the rosary in Spanish almost nightly and prayed for me nightly. Until this day, that is the only Spanish I really know. I also had some amazing Aunts who prayed for my sister and me and whom were great influences in our lives. I remember my Aunt Barbara taking care of us many of nights. She probably doesn’t even think I remember but I remember waking up early in the morning for school and for some reason when I think about those times, I think about her ironing our clothes and preparing us for our day.

Throughout high school, I pretty much continued my Christian walk. I never went out and drank with my classmates. I was pretty much a good kid. I was involved in extracurricular activities (the good ones…ha) and I pretty much lived a pure life. No, I was not perfect by any means. I stumbled a lot and made LOTS of mistakes growing up but for the most part I fed myself with scripture and read my Bible daily and listened to Christian music. I still remember the very first Christian single that grabbed me, “Thank You” by Ray Boltz. I remember my Uncle Don and my Aunt Luisa at our house one night and I asked them and my Mom to listen to it with me. We all stood in my mother’s kitchen and listened. Still not sure why I wanted that but I wanted it and being the loving Aunt and Uncle and Mom, they did it for me. Maybe it was my way of thanking them for roles they were playing in my life.

After my senior year in high school I started at Texas Tech. That is when I begin to wonder what it was like on the other side of that wall. I still wasn’t drinking and still wasn’t too far into the partying but I had started to go out to clubs and bars. I was engaged when I was 21 and went through a huge heartbreak with my ex. For some reason after that break up was when I let loose. I then started drinking. I drank a lot the summer I turned 21. Since then it has been an ongoing battle to not drink or bar hop or club hop. I loved to dance and boy would I go dancing. I thought I was living it up!

Several of you know the battles I have faced over the last two years and some of you do not. Perhaps those moments are meant for another blog as there is a huge gap between being 21 and 31. Right now, I just want to focus on that reconnection I have since then established with my God. I want to remind all of you that no matter what life brings us, He is always there. No matter what battles we are fighting or what heartaches we are enduring, He is there! I backslid for many years since I was that young girl in the 8th grade accepting Christ into my heart and into my life but I always still felt Him there, even when I knew I was a disappointment. He never ever left my side. He was still there when I wanted that pure and simple life back. I still fall short now and again but I know He will be there no matter what.

We are embarking on a New Year and I hope that within the New Year that many of you decide to give your life to Him or recommit yourself to Him. It is never too late and nothing we could ever do would change His view on us.

His view of me is so much more amazing than I could ever even imagine. I am the apple of His eye just like you are. It is not just a new year coming but a chance for a new YOU. A chance for that new or renewed relationship with your Savior that you are longing for. This is a perfect time to establish your relationship with Him and in Him. Don’t let another year pass by without really finding that purpose you were created for. Only He can guide those steps for us. I know when I tried to guide my own steps, I went in circles and got myself LOST. Anytime I begin to guide myself, I find myself going in a circle.

He’s the Author of our story and the leader of our steps; let Him start writing your 2010 Chapter. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

God Bless and Happy New Year! I hope 2010 will be the best thus far for you! 

Crystal

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sunday Social ~ All About Books



1. Favorite childhood book

Considering I was a book nerd growing up, I have a TON of favorite childhood books.  I had a hard time picking my favorite, so here are a few of my favorites....





2 . Favorite Book lately:

Reading this in my Women's Group with Church and it's been awesome!!!


I'm kinda a book nerd, so I am also reading




And Michael and I are slowly getting through....


3. Book you wish you could live in:

This would be freakin' AWESOME! 



Sure it might be creepy to fly around in a giant peach with dancing insects BUT it would be pretty cool after getting over the creep out of it all....haha

4. If you could be any character from a book who would it be and why?


Allie of course....I love her character in this movie!!!  Super precious love story!

5. Favorite Book turned Movie?





6. Favorite Magazines:

Beauty Of A Woman





~~ Beauty of a Woman ~~

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
The passion that she shows.
The beauty of a woman
With time, only grows..

Christian Women's Job Corp Volunteer Fair

A few weeks ago CWJC had a booth at a Wal-Mart Volunteer Fair and we had a GREAT turn out!!!  I can't say enough how blessed it is to be a part of this organization!  I have seen this organization help so many women in different ways and it is a blessing to report that my mentee from last year just got a job at Wal-Mart Home Office!  I couldn't be prouder of her!!!!  GREAT Job Brandy!!!!

Christal and I sat at our booth and passed out flyers and business cards while at the Volunteer Fair and I think we recruited a few helpers for the next session!!!  WOOHOO!

If you are interested in helping out with CWJC, please feel free to contact me at crystal@crystalgarza.com


Saturday, October 13, 2012

Saturday Six ~ First One



Saturday Six Number One: 

This past week was super busy but amazing!  Monday we had our kickball game....lost our first game but we won our second game!!!!  GO APES!!!!


Saturday Six Number Two:

A clean house is always lovely!!!!! LOVELY!!!!!


Saturday Six Number Three:

Life

Saturday Six Number Four:

Busy weekend with shoots and I'm loving it!

Saturday Six Number Five:

Lots going on with my photography business and I'm SO excited for the future!!!!  I'm so thankful for my clients!

Saturday Six Number SIX:

The rain was awesome tonight! I love rainy weather!  LOVE IT!