Lake Love

Terry consecration complete.

A stone's throw

We would officially like to welcome you to the Spry Sister Trailer Park.

See that cute little trailer on the left...that's ours.

That other house in the distance on the right...that is my sister's!! (its a trailer that the previous owners put rocks on the outside of...pretty fancy, huh? ;))

My sister and I shared a room for the first decade of our lives. We were secretly the best of friends. At night when it was time for sleep, she would climb into bed and ask if we could hold hands so she could fall asleep.



(what did you think about our 80s rompers!?!)

Once puberty, phone talking and boy craziness hit in junior high our relationship went south. Our fights always included screaming, occasionally included door slamming, and sometimes even a hair pull or two.

We had two separate lives. She was the sporty one and I was the dancing one. Yet every where we went people always told us that we "looked so much alike" (we don't see it), we have the same mannerisms, and we can trick people on the phone since we sound so much alike (we were on a joint call with our mom the other day and she kept getting us mixed up).

I tried almost every vocational avenue under the Texas sun; She went off to LSU for her undergraduate and graduate work. We spent our 20s mainly talking on holidays and special occasions.

The last 2 years, Stephanie and I have gotten closer. We have gotten to share some of regular life together and it has been the sweetest gift to me.

A few months ago I got a surprising call about the possibility that they may be moving to Austin! I was literally in shock and couldn't stop smiling for days at the thought of my beloved sister moving into our neck of the hill country.

For about 6 weeks now my beautiful and amazing sister has been my next door neighbor. I still have to pinch myself.

She's a stone throw away and it has been one blessing after another. Our whole family has loved doing life with them.

We love you Hjornevik family!

I appreciate a good baked good in my life

When it comes to my favorites, baked goods are up there. Candy, cakes, pies...I can do without. Put me in the organic bakery & cafe near my home where the baker arrives at 3 a.m. to make by hand each exquisite delicacy with great care and my mouth waters.

One of my kitchen hobbies is trying to make bread the healthiest as possible. I have been wanting to try baking with almond flour so yesterday I gave it my first go around.


3 cups of Almond Flour
1/3 cup of honey
3 eggs
3 very ripe bananas
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp of cinnamon and nutmeg
1 tbs of vanilla
2 tbs flax seed
1 scoop protein powder
1/4 cup coconut oil (or oil of your choice)

I first smashed all the bananas, then added the rest of the ingredients. Then, just to keep things lively I folded in one cup of 70% dark chocolate chips.

I put it in an loaf pan and baked it at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. Don't let it get too overdone- nothing worse than dry almond flour bread, eek!

Happy Baking!

Settling down

Joe started helping his dad building houses on the weekends and during the summer when he was 14. He first toiled as a construction supervisor at 18. Since that time, he has built hundreds of houses, apartment complexes, churches, restaurants, and some other commercial projects too.

But never has he built his own house.

When Joe looks at any raw piece of land or building, he sees all of its potential in his mind. He is a visionary to the core.

When we decided on a building location, Joe could see the entire thing down to every detail. I, on the other hand, am treading water to keep up with him.

As I was reading my Bible, I came across this exhortation from God through Jeremiah 29, "Build houses and settle down."

Trained in Dallas, tested in Normangee, and commissioned to Austin. We know that this is exactly where we are supposed to be and the knowing has been so sweet.

Yet when we walked near our building site a couple of weeks ago and saw this...



it honestly took my breath away.

The hundreds of houses Joe built flashed before my eyes. Every prayer and ounce of sweat for each home warmed my heart. Every prayer we didn't have enough faith to believe.

All of the air was sucked out of my lungs and left me gasping backwards and choking back tears.

Our prayer for our soon to be pile of rocks and tile roof... to be a home for the family God has given us, a refuge for others and safe haven for ministry each day.

All over a septic system.

little maverick

We have shared the God's saving news with Isaac on a variety of occasions but as the truth progresses he loses interest, moves on, plays with toys, ropes some chairs, races down the hall...you know...boy stuff.

Lately, the Terry family has been discussing at dinner and throughout the day where we see Jesus in our day. The answers range from:

"Hanging out in the shade from the double wide"- mom
"Unexpected moment of quiet and journaling"- mom
"Answer to prayer"- dad
"Lollipops"- Isaac
"Dance"- Elyana

Then a couple of days ago, Isaac responded by saying...

"Jesus listening to my heart about loving Elyana"- Isaac

Last night it was just before bed and Isaac came to me excitedly, 'I know where I saw Jesus today, mama." I curiously replied, "where?" He said, "I want to surrender my life and my heart to Jesus."

I said, 'You do? Well, do you want to pray right now?"

(This is usually the point where he has said on several occasions- 'Not yet' or 'maybe later') but this time he quickly responded "yes!"

I continued, "Do you pray and repeat after me."

My little maverick interjected, "mama, I got this."

"Jesus I give you my life and my heart. i love you."

He paused, looked up at me, so I prompted him, "Thank you for dieing on the cross and paying the penalty of my sin. Thank you that you wash me clean, that you give me a new heart and new spirit to follow you." His precious three year old voice repeating every few words.

Immediately afterwards, he exclaims, "My heart is so happy!"

We know that he is three and his understanding of God's truth is limited, but we pray that this is the beginning of a life long journey of honoring and following God.

Thank you to so many of you who have demonstrated God's extravagant kindness to our little guy and for living what it means to be a Christ follower.

Isaac, I have really seen God's grace in you as you have depended on God's strength as we left the community that we loved so much at New Life. I see you as you graciously serve our family, think about others before yourself, consider how you can be a blessing to you neighbor, and desire to use your strong will to help others. God keeps reminding me that He made you strong for a reason and I sure hope that I have a front row seat the whole way. I am honored to be your mama. I love you.