IBC Blog

Formed

Are We There Yet?

Buc-ee’s is a Texas Chain of travel centers known for its clean bathrooms, many gas pumps, and an adorable red-hat wearing beaver mascot. In our house, we make sure that Buc-ee’s is a regular stop on any road trip. No matter what time of day we stop there, our routine is the same. We go in, go to the bathroom, grab my son’s favorite beef jerky, my daughter’s favorite jalapeño kolache, my husband’s brisket sandwich and I make sure to grab one of their Crispy Treats. There’s something so comforting about stopping at Buc-ee’s, because we know we can count on the same service, the same food, the same atmosphere, and the same clean bathroom. In essence, we feel safe at Buc-ee’s.

On any road trip, or any car trip in general, we will inevitably have one child pipe up from the back seat and say, “Are we there yet?”

Formed

Come, Let Us Reason Together

What is the most interesting invitation that you have received? There are many I wish I had received – invitation to the White House, backstage with Carlos Santana, invitation to the U.S. Open in New York City. I don’t know how you felt when you accepted, but I know how I would have felt.

Several years ago, I went to a classic car show in Pomona, California I was walking around with my camera, having one of my best days. I heard some good bluesy rock in the distance and walked toward it. This name may mean nothing to you, but the music was from Darrell Mansfield and band.

Hope & Healing

I Am Not Crazy

I would say that it’s safe to assume that the summer between junior and senior year of high school for most students is stressful. It is a time filled with studying for college entrance exams, taking college entrance exams, starting college applications, and writing essays for college applications. My high school, like many others, offered a quick one-day breakdown tutorial on how to navigate college applications and how to begin to write your college essays.

Formed

Wonder is a Moonflower

My favorite plant in my garden is a moonflower. Its thick green vines wander freely outwards and upwards. In late spring, large white flowers that look like porcelain trumpets bloom only under the light of the moon. They offer a delicious fragrance during their lifecycle, which only lasts a few hours. If you don’t see the moonflower the night it blooms, you’ve missed the miracle. In the late fall, the vines wither up, curling in upon themselves until the plant looks like a russet-colored tumbleweed.

The first year I planted moonflowers I was sad to see our gardener cut away the dead plant, leaving no proof it ever existed. What I did not realize was that the seeds of the moonflower remained dormant.

Formed

What are you afraid of?

This is going down as one of the most fearful years on record. There’s a global pandemic that has killed 828,000 people. There’s a recession that has left us with double-digit unemployment. There are racial injustices and unrest in the streets. There are murder hornets, hurricanes, and fire tornadoes. That’s right: fire tornadoes. Look it up.

Last fall, before our problems reached 2020 levels, the home security company ADT released a study that identified America’s most common fears by state. The “research” was little more than a Google report showing which fear-related terms were used most in internet searches. But the results were interesting.

Formed

God Knew

I’ve been reflecting on thankfulness. I try to thank God every day for my husband, my children, our home, our church, our jobs…etc. A lot of what I am thankful for are things I prayed for, longed for, asked God for and he answered. But recently I thought of blessings he has given me that I never even thought to ask for, things I didn’t even know I needed…but He did.

Let me tell you about my friend Jennifer.