Weeks 30-33

Week 30


July 24, 2011 – This morning I made red velvet pancakes with a cream cheese glaze. Holy yum.


July 25, 2011 – I am finally packed for this ridiculous 2-week Mediterranean trip (and I think I’ve been PACKING for it for 2 weeks!), and this suitcase? 49 pounds exactly. I am a packing GENIUS.


July 26, 2011 – Today we travelled ALL DAY. I actually don’t even know what day it is at this point. Where am I? WHO am I? We flew from Dallas to Atlanta to Venice today. This is us on the terminal train in Atlanta (pretty early in the trip!) Fortunately, I got a whole row of seats to myself so I could LAY DOWN AND SLEEP for most of the trip. I mean, woah. That was fantastical.


July 27, 2011 – Today we spent as long as we could exploring Venice – we landed in the morning after having travelled for 24+ hours, so we powered through and tried to stay awake when it was light out so we could get used to the time difference. I have to say, Venice is beautiful. Traveling by water amongst the beautiful architecture is absolutely enchanting. And the hotel we’re staying in? WOW. I would love to bring Jack back here sometime. We went to a few museums today and saw Basilica di San Marco (Saint Mark’s Basilica). I could barely stand up by the time we were finished. I fell asleep at 5 p.m. and slept until 6 a.m. the next day. Now THAT was a GOOD night’s sleep.


July 28, 2011 – Today we boarded the ship (our room has a balcony! Holy wow!) and met a lot of the staff and talent with whom we’ll be travelling, including the Women of Faith ladies. They were so sweet. We had a staff orientation on the ship and some good food. It’s going to be a good trip!


July 29, 2011 – Today, Eric, Owen and I had a BLAST in Venice. It was our last day in Venice, and we did some HARD CORE exploring. We had Italian gelato (YUM), Owen bought a ukulele from a little music shop we found (and I bought a cool computer mouse with an Italian flag on it), we saw Rialto Bridge (and a lot of others!), we enjoyed an incredible Venetian lunch by the canal, and we got ourselves so lost that we nearly missed the deadline to get back on the ship. Amazing day. Amazing.


July 30, 2011 – Today we spent the day in Split, Croatia. It was a beautiful port (where they had wifi!). We saw Diocletian’s Palace, had some gelato, took a lot of pictures, and called our spouses on Skype WAY earlier their-time than they probably wanted us to.

Week 31


July 31, 2011 – Today we were at sea. First of all, I kind of have a crush on Steve Green. Don’t worry, I also have a crush on his wife. Gosh, what sweet people and oy, that voice. But my favorite part of today was at midnight, when we went “below decks” with the crew for a really, really informal worship session where Owen was asked to give a short message. And he did an AMAZING job. I haven’t been that moved from a worship session in… I don’t even remember how long. What a beautiful night.


August 1, 2011 – Today we were in Athens, Greece, and I was a bus captain! It was an INSANE day. We took the groups to the Olympic stadium, the Parthenon, and Mars Hill. The crowds were insane and it was incredibly hot, and I literally lost a couple people from my group and another lady nearly passed out. But I saw some beautiful, amazing, historical places and I’m so thankful for that.


August 2, 2011 – Today was our first day in Istanbul (not Constantinople (oh man, we have been singing that song SO MUCH)). We explored the spice market, walked from Europe to Asia (or at least, we thought we did… turns out we got the wrong bridge), and enjoyed an incredible dinner with friends on the water tonight.


August 3, 2011 – It’s day two in Istanbul! And you know what we did? We sat in a wifi area all day. I’m not going to lie… it was kind of amazing. It was great to just unwind and be a little bit connected to the world once again. (And to talk to my favorite boy again –MAN do I miss him!!) Tonight was more preaching and sound checks and shooting… I love my job.


August 4, 2011 – Ohhh, Mykonos. You are LOVELY. Today we explored and took a lot of pictures of beautiful Mykonos, Greece. I put my toes in the sand on the beach, and then we ate hummus (MY FAVORITE!) right on the water at sunset. WOW. It could not get better than this.


August 5, 2011 – Today we started the morning early and headed out to Ephesus. I was a bus captain once again, and this time, I didn’t even lose anybody! It was an incredible day – I got to see places I’ve read about in scripture and walk where Paul walked… I mean, wow. I’ll never read the Bible the same way again. Oh, and tonight, back on the ship? WE DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY. It was so much fun. See also: I am not a cool person.


August 6, 2011 – Today was Santorini, Greece. I have been looking forward to this stop since the first time I saw the itinerary. It’s just. So beautiful. We decided we would REALLY do Santorini right, and we rode the donkey up the mountain. Oh my gosh, I almost died. I mean really, this donkey was suicidal and kept trying to jump off the cliff. We spent the day taking pictures and shopping, getting lost and seeing beautiful things. My goodness I love Greece.

Week 32


August 7, 2011 – Today we spent the day in Katakolon, Greece. Eric and I headed out to Olympia to take some pictures, and it was nice hanging out with him and having some really good conversations. Eric and a new “friend” took a run from the first Olympic running block and stood on the first Olympic victory stand thing. It’s humbling seeing this kind of history in person.


August 8, 2011 – Today we spent a LONG day in Eric and Owen’s room editing our slideshow for tonight’s “farewell” sermon. It has been a long, long trip, but I am thankful that we got to do this together.



August 9, 2011 – Hello beautiful United States!!!! I’m finally home! Jack picked me up from the airport tonight and I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy to see him. It is GOOD TO BE HOME.


August 10, 2011 – I woke up with these two this morning! My goodness, I missed this.


August 12, 2011 - Today I tagged along with Jack to a testing in Sulpher Springs, where he had been invited to be a guest judge. It’s so much fun watching him be big and important at these kinds of things!


August 13, 2011 – Recently I figured out that cutting up melons and putting them in these cereal Tupperware containers is really efficient because I can just pour the pieces into a bowl like cereal. I know it’s lame, but this is the kind of stuff that gets me kind of excited.


Week 33


August 14, 2011 – Today I made Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls, and this is the amount of butter it takes. It’s really best not to talk about that, though.


August 15, 2011 – Today I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with the video boys (because they refuse to let me go to Wing Stop because I’m a girl). Owen ordered this drink, and I just had to document its girliness.


August 16, 2011 – Tonight I fried pork chops. I had never fried pork chops before, but hey, I do what the Pioneer Woman says, and she is never, ever wrong. Yum.


August 17, 2011 – I’m not going to lie, I love this view. Since I’ve been working at the taekwondo school, I’ve had the privilege of watching Jack teach more, and man do I love it. Today, he told all the kids step back into a ready stance with their weapons and say “Waaaaahhhhhhhh!” And they all did it. It was awesome.


August 18, 2011 – Now THIS is a beautiful salad. Yay, lunch.


August 19, 2011 –Jack started reading our Children’s Bible out loud to us tonight. It’s so fun to listen to him read, especially since he does different voices for the character. You should hear his “God.” It’s awesome. Heh. Awesome God. Get it? Get it?


August 20, 2011 – Tonight we went to Top Golf with the Wildmans. It was fun except that I REALLY REALLY suck at hitting a golf ball. I actually missed the ball most of my swings. I have a feeling I’m not going to the Masters any time soon.

Weeks 24-29

Catching up! Believe it or not, I really did take a picture-a-day most every day this year! Just have to catch up on all the posting! Here's the first installment. :)

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Week 24


June 12, 2011 - I finished painting today! And they do look pretty good once they're on. Unfortunately, it looks like they're going to be a pain to put back on, but we'll get to it eventually. Also, I finally have my colors and fabric picked out for my kitchen! They're so pretty with the cabinets - I can hardly stand it.


June 13, 2011 - My brother is in town, and it's his birthday! He's working here all week, so we'll get a lot of time to hang out! I'm excited.


June 14, 2011 - Today was Owen's birthday, and his Mom sent little "Owen birthday boy" sheriff badges for everybody to wear and some other stuff on that theme. We had some fun with it.


June 15, 2011 - Some of Jack's students got him some special flags to hang in the school as a gift. The American flag hung over the capital in Washington DC, and the Korean flag was flown in Korea. We have such thoughtful students!


June 16, 2011 - Tonight we filmed some of the VBS stuff at Stonebriar, and Eric, playing Ned in the skit, used the "fan mail" box I made for him.


June 17, 2011 - Our kitchen is coming along! We have most of it painted now and it's just waiting on doors!


June 18, 2011 - Tonight Jack took me out to dinner at Bonnie Ruth's. Holy amazing food, Batman. He's a keeper for sure.

Week 25


June 19, 2011 - We dropped my key fab in my car and Jack worked very hard to get it back for me today.


June 20, 2011 - We have doors!!! It's amazing just how much the white cabinets brighten up my kitchen! Now if I could just get rid of that awful wallpaper...


June 21, 2011 - Today Jack left for his Mastership training in Little Rock, and while he's gone I'm having the walls textured as a surprise. (Before he left, he said "just please don't start any more projects." Heh.) As it turns out, the first contracter didn't show up, and the second told us we had to take off the wallpaper first. Yikes! My amazing neighbors, the Bedenbaughs, helped me peel wallpaper all day and Chris even mowed my lawn so I could keep working on the kitchen!! I am so, so blessed to have such wonderful friends.


June 22, 2011 - The contractor started work on the kitchen today!! We're running behind and it's making me nervous, but I am glad it's getting started at least.


June 23, 2011 - I made it to Little Rock today to find a very hungry husband - he had just been released from his 3-day Mastership fast. Tonight we had the Founder's Gala, where Jack and his friends ate and ate and ate. He's very glad to be done with that part, and I'm glad to see him again!


June 24, 2011 - Today the Top 10 competetors competed for World Champion, and we ended up with five medals, three of which were World Champ medals! We're so proud of our students!!


June 25, 2011 - Tonight, my husband was dubbed "Master Jack Hornbuckle." I have never been so proud in my whole life. It was definitely an unforgettable moment for both of us.

Week 26


June 26, 2011 - Our neighbors? Amazing. Fantastic. Beautiful. Wonderful. Today we came home from Little Rock to a completely-painted kitchen. I can't believe how pretty it is. I can't stop looking at it. I'm so thankful for them. Jack was so tired when he got home that he didn't even notice at first. When he did, though, he was so excited too!


June 27, 2011 - Jack got this fortune in his cookie at dinner. I think it's pretty darn accurate.


June 28, 2011 - Grocery shopping with Jack is usually super-fun, and not just because he insists on choosing the cart with the little car.


June 29, 2011 - I absolutely love the fabric I'm using to make our kitchen curtains! That's what I've been working on every night this week!


June 30, 2011 - This is what phone promo CDs look like when girls are Broadcast Editors.


July 1, 2011 - My curtains and window seat are all in my kitchen! I am so in love. I can't stop looking at it all! I only got around to making one pillow for the window seat, but hopefully I can get the others made soon!


July 2, 2011 - Today was Jack's Mastership party - so many wonderful friends showed up to celebrate him, and we even got a bounce house for the backyard! It was definitely a fun day.

Week 27


July 3, 2011 - I picked him because he's charming, see? We're really enjoying hanging out in our newly-pretty backyard, thanks to our neighbor, Robby, cleaning up some of the weed-trees we had around before the Mastership party. It's pretty great back here now!


July 4, 2011 - Happy Independence day! We spent today swimming, relaxing, and eating, all the best things!


July 5, 2011 - Today Joel was on a hunt for a new hat. This is the kind of hat you can find at Urban Outfitters. I was hoping he would get it, but for some reason he wasn't into the idea.


July 6, 2011 - We're leaving, on a jetplane! We got to the airport pretty early tonight for our flight to Colorado, so we ate at a restaurant and actually talked to each other. It was magical. I missed this boy.


July 7, 2011 - Colorado!! Today we had a zip line "adventure," which turned out to be quite boring. But we enjoyed laughing at the ridiculousness with Shane and Cassandra!


July 8, 2011 - Today we went rafting all. Day. Long. It was so much fun, until that one rapid where we almost flipped over and I let go of my paddle and subsequently busted my lip with the end of it. And had to pull Jack back into the raft after he was thrown out. Now THAT was an adventure. Later we went to Royal Gorge - Jack wasn't a fan of that bridge at all!


July 9, 2011 - Today we drove up to the top of Pike's Peak. It was beautiful at the top, but very cold and not exactly a carsick-prone girl's dream drive. I'm glad we went once though!


July 10, 2011 - More driving today! We spent the day around the Colorado Springs area, and our most memorable moment was at Cave of the Winds, where we had the most awkward tour guide ever.

Week 28


July 11, 2011 - Sigh. Unfortunately, we had to leave the mountains today to come home. Every time we visit there I wish we lived there. Every time.


July 12, 2011 - Eric brought me back ice cream bowls that match my kitchen from Alaska! It was so nice!! I call them my happy bowls.


July 14, 2011 - Our belts are the same, kind of!


July 16, 2011 - Jack doesn't love dying my hair (he hates it actually), which makes the fact that he's willing to do it for me super-nice.

Week 29


July 17, 2011 - Today Master Rose came and took pictures at Jack's school.


July 18, 2011 - I made hummus!


July 19, 2011 - This is our very favorite pork loin - I cook it in the oven all wrapped up for 8 hours until it just falls apart. Now that's a good dinner.


July 21, 2011 - Tonight we watched The Lincoln Lawyer on Amazon on Demand. Jack was kind of amazed that I could put it on the TV with an HDMI cable. Sometimes it's fun being married to a technology-deficient man.


July 22, 2011 - Oh, this. We wait the whole year for Grimaldi's blueberry cobbler cheesecake to come back (it's only seasonal). Dates with Jack are always great - Dates with Jack and blueberry cobbler cheesecake too? Perfection.


July 23, 2011 - Tonight we spent the evening with our friends John and Amanda playing games and visiting. Jack has to rein in the crazy competitive when we're with friends. Not sure if he did a great job of that tonight - we'll see if they ever let us come back!