Santa Baby

Here are pics from the Austin Trail of Lights 5K. Note the super sexy Santa costumes Meredith bought for us to wear over our running clothes (who new victoria's secret lingeria could look so good on the outside of your clothes!). Even though we took the 2 mile shortcut, it was a great event. We had so much fun at the run, at dinner and then at our "girls only" slumber party where Meredith and Nicole shared their singing talents with us. Merry Christmas! Love you girls!

Affirmation

The past two and a half weeks have been crazy (hence the lack of blog entiries). This is the third week of my new job, and it is going really great. I am stealing the title of this blog from a good friend of mine back in D.C. who blogs about her life. She talks about affirmation, and the feeling you get when you know you are doing the right thing at the right time. For me, it is rare to have peace about major decisions, but today I have perfect peace about our decision to move back to Tejas and to take this new job.

I am the Director of Public Affairs for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. While I don't really know yet what the title "Director of Public Affairs" ensues, my main job is to bring more public awareness and raise the profile of the association. Basically, I am in charge of the media operation, which means I get to talk to reporters on a daily basis about what it is TSCRA is all about and why it is important. The Cattle Raisers have been around since 1877 so they are a pretty credible group of cowboys and cowgirls.

My dad and my brother are cowboys...and to some extent, I am a cowgirl. I grew up in White Deer, TX (population 1,060), and my family (the Terry's) have a ranch. On the ranch we work around 650 head of cattle. We are stewards of the land, keeper of the cows, and producers of American beef. But maybe most importantly we are a family with a deep heritage. My great great grandfather settled the ranch in the early 1900s. He had 14 (!) children and it was eventually passed down to my grandfather, Ernie Bill. Now, my baby brother is living on the ranch and working the land in the house that my great-grandfather built in 1912. What history!

It is such a privelege to work for an organization made up people that share the same history, work ethics and values as your family. You may not think that agriculture is important to your life until you stop to think about it. Most things you own or eat started on farm or ranch somewhere by a family like mine.

This job is hard. There is a lot to do and working with the press and getting them to write your story is never easy. The organization plays a huge role in the history of our great state; however, we have never sought much press coverage. Enter: Carmen Fenton. Lot's of late nights, early mornings and many miles on the highway are in my future...but that is ok. In fact, I kind of like it. It is really cool waking up in the morning and knowing you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

The pics above are from the Terry Ranch. The mysterious shadowy cowboy is my baby brother and those are his dogs.

Good Luck Fenton!

Today's your big day husband. No, it's not your birthday or your first day of work. It is LSAT day. You are the smartest man I have ever met and I love you so much. You will do awesome. I will be praying for you all day while I am Christmas shopping. Good Luck!

Cowboy For A Day

Today OSU plays OU.  If OSU wins, Texas Tech goes to the Big 12 Championship.  So today I am cheering for the cowboys.

Go Pokes!

Homeward Bound Part I

So, I have made it to Texas. I fully intended to blog about our trip while we were actually on the trip, but I couldn't find the power cord to the computer the first night, and a major Texas Tech upset left me in no mood for conversing the next night.  And we have no Internet at the new house.  But now I am in Fort Worth with the Fentons celebrating Thanksgiving, and lucky for me, their neighbor has some powerful service.  So I am pirating at max potential (I do feel a little guilty) now and will have to write about our trip in the past tense.

We packed up the truck (with the help of 3 amazing movers) on Friday, spent the night in the hotel, and left before the sun came up on Saturday. I was too tired to be sad. We drove to Dickson, TN (west side of Nashville) before we finally stopped for the night just in time to see kickoff of the OU-TTU game. Mom, Dad, Jason and I made the drive just fine. It was the two cats (Jack and Jake) that had a problem. And who could blame them. The poor things were stuck in kitty cages the entire drive.

The last time the Fentons made the drive to Texas we let the cats roam around in the car freely. Not smart. So this time the good lady at Petsmart assured us that putting the kids in the cages would be safer for them and for the driver. She even talked Jason into buying this Kitty Calming Spray that you spray in their cages to calm them down. I am not convinced it worked, because our cats were super mad at us the entire time (until they finally wore themselves out). They cried and cried, and towards the end of the day...Jack somehow figured out how to open the cage and escaped David Copperfield style.  It was quite impressive for a cat.  

What wasn't as impressive was the dismantling of my undergrad Alma matter, Texas Tech, by my grad school Alma matter, OU.  Even though I have an advanced degree from the University of Oklahoma, I am in no way a Sooner.  I really don't know if it is factual to say I even went to school their.  OU has a room in a strip mall (satellite campus) in Washington, D.C. (believe it or not) where I attended classes for a year to get my degree.  My parents bought me a plane ticket to Norman so they could come see their baby girl walk across the stage, but other than that one time, I have never stepped foot on campus.  I guess you could say I am the step-child of OU.   I am, however, a die hard Texas Tech Red Raider fan.  I love them with all my heart...so much to say that I will be disappointed if my kids decide to go to school somewhere else.  

My dad always tells me that Texas Tech will break your heart.  And that night he was right. Riding high off of our winning streak, Tech fans across the nation were slammed back down to earth when we were literally creamed by the Oklahoma Sooners...pretty much ruining our chances of winning the Big 12 South.  The only slim chance we have left is if Oklahoma State beats OU, knocking them out of the running and leaving it between Tech and Texas.  Since Tech beat Texas, we would go.  

But back to the road trip.  Day two of driving was a little easier because the west side of TN on into Texas is a lot flatter.  Jason and I spent most of the day in the Budget Rent-A-Truck, which was kind of fun.  Until we got to Arkansas, where the roads are just as rough as the people (no offense to Arkansas folks who may be reading this).  

Around 3:00 we finally rolled into Texas (I swear the sun shined brighter and their were angels singing).  We spent our last night on the road in Fort Worth with Jason's parents.  The next morning we woke up super early, borrowed Jason's little sister for slave labor, and headed South to Austin.  That was pretty much out trip, not to eventful, just really long.

But in the present I am in Texas enjoying the first holiday with my new extended family.  I am so thankful to be here, and thankful for all the friends I have both in Texas and in Washington, D.C.  I am thankful for my wonderful husband who gave up his career to follow mine all the way back to Texas.  I am thankful for my family, who is celebrating in White Deer today.  I am thankful for our new house and our huge kitchen.  I am thankful for Mike Leach, Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree (even if they did lose last weekend).   I am just thankful...thankful for all the blessings in my life and for the plans that God has in store for us here in Texas.

Washington D.C. - Senior Year

My desk is packed. My inbox is empty. My blackberry is no longer in use (this includes my cell phone and the ability to text), and I am sitting at my empty congressional desk at 2:05 p.m. with absolutely no responsibility.

I could get used to this.

Leaving Washington, D.C. after 4 and a half years is a lot like leaving college or even high school. Just like I did then, I really don't know what to expect now. Of course, now, at age 26 I have a devoted husband, a new job waiting for me, a new house and even a new blackberry, but the uncertaintly of "what will be" comes back strong, just as it did 4 and 8 years ago. I am so excited to be headed back to Texas, my home, my state, my resting place, but part of me is a little sad to be quitting my exciting life. And part of me wishes Jason and I were headed for one last adventure before we settle down.

But deep down I know that this move is what God wants for us, what he has planned for us, and since, after all these years, I still don't know exactly what he wants me to do, this move is a little scary.

In a few hours, I will walk out of the Carter office for the last time. I will say goodbye to all the co-workers I love like family, and will bid farewell to the halls of Congress. In a few hours, I will no longer be able to tell folks, "I work in Washington." In a few days, I will be in a U-haul with the three men in my life (Jason-husband, Jack-old cat, Jake-baby cat) and will be driving down 395 for the last time.

Tear.

I will miss you Washington. All your prestige, all your power, even all your games. I have graduated from this time, this place between adolescence and adulthood and am headed for a new life in a familiar place.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer 29:11)

It Is All My Fault!

I have a confession to make. It is my fault that Obama is President.

You see, the night before the Texas Tech, UT game I made a deal with God. I told him I would trade an Obama win for a UT loss. Of course at the time I wasn't really thinking clearly, and was more wrapped up in the Tech football season then the prosperity of our nation.

Well, if you ever think that God doesn't answer prayers...think again. Because not only did Texas Tech pull up the biggest upset in college football history, but Barack Obama did indeed win the presidency.

As much as I disagree with President-Elect Obama on just about everything, I have made a promise to myself that I will not call him names in public or on my blog. I don't agree with his policies and I truly think he is bad for the country, but he will be the President, and I will respect that.

But enough about politics, let's talk football. More specifically let's talk Texas Tech football. The UT game was huge and the OSU game was equally as satisfying. For the first time, since I can remember, Texas Tech has a 10-0 record. Does anyone know how awesome this is! I am sure those UT, OU and all the other schools who expect their teams to march to greatness every year know what it feels like, but for those of us who have consistently rallied behind a team that has a history of breaking hearts, it is clearly a major thing.

So, for all the Texas Tech fans out there, take the weekend off. Concentrate on the next big challenge (the OU game in two weeks), and let's pray for another Texas Tech victory.

It has certainly been a bad year for Republicans, but I have a feeling it will be a great year for Texas Tech. Wreck 'Em!