#BerryChristmasTrek2011

Well, I've been out of school for almost a month now... hard to believe.  This has been our first Christmas married and well, it's been a marathon from day 1.  Just to hit some high points for ya...

We started the month out right with Herbert completing his first 5K:

The next day, some of the pharmacy friends and I headed to NOLA for ASHP midyear... Now get ready for this: It was my very first trip to New Orleans!  Crazy I know... When you live in Northeast MS, you usually go to Memphis or Birmingham for your "city escape."  I was never fortunate to make it to a frat formal in New Orleans... yep I MARRIED a KA and never made it to Old South (still bitter if you can't tell.)  ANYWAY- I obviously hit up Cafe Du Monde majority of the mornings I was there... I don't care if it's cliche, it was my first time and it was delicious.

I got back in town just in time to celebrate with bride LING during her special day and all the festivities:

It was  just a couple of days later that I found out that my dearest MERRY LEE got a ring and will be getting married in JUNE!

The next day Chad had his knee surgery and we are currently recovering. Luckily the doctor told him he could do his PT on the road so we were off to the mountain for Christmas round 1 and Dad's birthday! It was Herbert's first time and I think he could get used to it up there...

After Chatty we headed to Tupelo... was able to visit with old friends and perhaps the highlight was THIS GIRL getting engaged...  Maybe she'll post about it on her blog soon so you can read the story:)

We then celebrated Christmas #2 with the McElory girls (and Carr, but he and Chad were unfortunate to make the picture :)

Mom has become rather fond of Herbert... he's had a pretty big Christmas himself...

Christmas Day we loaded up again and headed to:

(That's Little Rock of you can't tell.)  We enjoyed more family and yesterday, I left Herbert with complete strangers, we boarded a plane, and I'm currently sitting in my bed in Breckenridge.  Unfortunately Chad can't ski due to his surgery, but he's been a great coach to Mom who hasn't gone down a slope since 1997.

It's extra cold here right now...

Next stop on our little Christmas Trek will be to Jonesboro to celebrate Charmstrong and MC as they tie the knot on NYE!

I thought all this traveling would wear on me a bit, but honestly It has been the best almost 2 weeks I've had in a LONG time.  We are so blessed to have SO MUCH wonderful family and so many great friends.  It's a great time of life.  I couldn't imagine ending this year any other way... 2011, you've been mighty good to me.

time flies

Was it really that long ago?  Tomorrow will be 6 months...

As you can see, Van wanted all to have a good time. 

It was hot... but it was truly the time of our lives.  Thanks to everyone who made our day extra special.  We are SO blessed... I just can't get over it.  

Happy 6 months to us.  

for future reference

Dear Chad,

When/if we have money (or at least some to spare), and when you can send me flowers for no reason and buy me art, I would love some of these Lulie Wallace paintings (see HERE.)

Thanks,
Your Wife.

a magical tradition

What's not to  love about a magical story involving a glamorous Christmas party, toys that come alive, a heroic soldier, a sugar plum fairy and the land of the sweets? Since I was 5 years old, I have been part of the Nutcracker Ballet in my home town... I've played everything from an angel and solider to a snow flake and mechanical doll.  Starting in September, my Sunday afternoons would be spent at the studio rehearsing to the musical stylings of Tchaikovsky and ultimately performing with the live symphony in early December. The music is part of my childhood and whether I hear a snippet on a Hershey's commercial or pandora radio, my heart is happy as I remember one of my favorite Christmas traditions. The Nutcracker has been a part of my Christmas since I can remember and even after graduating high school, I have gone back every year to experience the magic of this Christmas fairy tale.

This year was the first year I was unable to go back home to watch.  Lucky for me, however, I was able to almost make up for it by going to watch the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker with my dearest Em (the most beautiful ballerina I know).  Although I was unable to dance along with the girls in my mind (I think all of us who danced in the NC with Sharon know almost every dance to every role), I was still able to experience one of my favorite traditions.


Oh so dreamy. (no pun intended).

Sweet friends after our very last Nutcracker performance.

In case I don't have your address...

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

And if our God is for us

THEN WHAT COULD EVER STOP US?

I'm sure most of you know this song... I've always liked it, but it has new meaning to me as of late.

I'm going to let down my pride for a minute and tell you a little secret:  I'm not a genius.

Surprised?

Didn't think so.

In complete honesty, I really struggle with test-taking.  Pharmacy school is hard, don't get me wrong, but for me especially, no matter how hard I study, no matter how many hours I put in, I'm just not going to make the top grades.  While high school and undergrad came rather easy for me, something about this program just gets to me.  Most of it stems from the fact that it has taken me a year longer than I planned.  While at first I saw this as a form of defeat, I now realize that it was just a simple glitch in my plan to make the Lord's plan for my life fall into place.  The thing is, though, is that I still let that get to me sometimes...   I don't let it get to me in that I'm still in school (thank goodness I am because I know I'm in the right place), but I let it get to my confidence ... Somewhere deep down I feel like "I can't do it" or "I'm not smart enough" or my personal favorite "I just can't memorize well."

The thing is, I'm actually right.  I can't.  It's a weakness that I'm fully aware of.

But what is the great part of all of this?

IN MY WEAKNESS, HE IS MADE STRONG.

For a while, on my way to an exam (after I had pleaded in prayer),  I would wonder in the back of my mind if God thought I had studied enough... I know that sounds absolutely ridiculous but I did... I put so much of  emphasis on what I had done, and completely negated the fact that it's nothing I can do.  I can work tirelessly day in and day out, but thank goodness it's his FREE GRACE that allows my to get through each exam.  Yes, I do have to prepare, answers don't come out of thin air, but I have finally realized that the Lord isn't concerned about the fact that I may have taken an hour study break instead of 5 minutes.  If he wants to bestow his grace on my incapabilities, he will do it, no matter what I, Hart, do.

So... back to the song.  Sometimes I seriously weep on the way to an exam as I listen to the bridge of that song (perhaps because I'm exhausted), but really:  "AND IF OUR GOD IS FOR US, THEN WHAT COULD EVER STOP US? AND IF OUR GOD IS WITH US, THEN WHAT CAN STAND AGAINST?"  If you believe that our God IS who He says he is, can DO what he says He can do (shout out B. Moore), and that He has the absolute BEST plan for your life, you should believe that statement.  If he is for you and with you, NOTHING, not any exam, not any evaluation, not any person, not any circumstance can ever stop you or stand against you.  It gives me chills. It gives me confidence. It gives me power.

Yesterday evening I found out that I passed Knowledge and Comp Block II.  I did work tirelessly and was antisocial over Thanksgiving, but again, I made exactly what I needed to continue on to the next block. I mean, On. The. Dot.  That has happened twice now and I do not call that coincidence.  My God was FOR me and WITH me on Monday morning and I cannot describe how real his presence feels in my life.

Last night, I went to a Kari Jobe  Christmas concert with my sweet friend Brett and her family. It was on the way that I checked my grade... After a couple of Christmas songs, Kari said "Let's worship" and started singing Our God is Greater, THE song... the one I listen to as I drive to that Jackson Medical Mall to take an exam... Through tears of gratitude it reminded me of my insufficiency and incapabilities as a human, oh but how big, powerful, SUFFICIENT, and CAPABLE my God is.

Although this year is basically awful, I am so grateful for the opportunity it has granted me to rely so heavily on my Savior.

No matter how independent you desire to be (that's so me), remember tis so sweet to trust in Jesus! 

1. 1. 
      
   2. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
      Just to take Him at His Word;
      Just to rest upon His promise,
      And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
      • Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
        How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
        Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
        Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
   3. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
      Just to trust His cleansing blood;
      And in simple faith to plunge me
      ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
   4. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
      Just from sin and self to cease;
      Just from Jesus simply taking
      Life and rest, and joy and peace.
   5. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
      Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
      And I know that Thou art with me,
      Wilt be with me to the end.

We used to sing this at my church growing up all the time... but aren't those such sweet words?