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This is my 100th blog post.
Upon realizing this was my 100th blog post, I begin to wonder how I could have 100 things that I thought worthy of sharing publicly. Then I wondered why people would want to read 100 things that really never had a point to begin with other than to ramble, waste time and carry on about nothing. However, I do have one thing to talk about then I want to do something in honor of 100 pointless blog posts.
Last weekend, Byron and I had the opportunity to attend an engaged couples retreat in Salado, Texas. 
Now, I'm sure when the term "engaged couples retreat" crosses your mind, you immediately think sarcastically, "Wow...that sounds like fun.."
Actually, it really was fun.
The weekend retreat is a program hosted by Legacy Family Ministries, which is ran by Dr. Byron and Carla Weathersbee from Waco. Byron W. is native of Rotan, Texas - thus the connection with Byron K. The Weathersbees are a really neat couple that has devoted their lives to ministering to families, engaged couples, married couples, etc.The "Weekender" - which is what we attended - was a condensed version of a seven week course Legacy teaches to couples in Waco. Byron and I and two other couples gathered at Summer Mills, which is a really beautiful resort near Salado.
Anyway, the point of the retreat to was learn how to be better husbands and wives the way God intended us to be. I know a lot of people scoff at the idea of doing "premarital counseling" because it makes it sound like they have a lot of issues they need to work out before getting married. It's not about that. 
At our retreat, we covered everything from setting budgets, to communication, to inlaws, to emotional intimacy. And those were just a few things. We talked about things that will help prepare us for our lives together, and most importantly, keeping God at the center of our relationship.
It was an awesome experience, and there was nothing cheesy, mushy or boring about it. I can't praise God enough for the work he's done in both of our lives. I would recommend this program to anyone, whether they're thinking about getting married, or have been married for a few years (there's a weekender for that, too!)
There was even time for some fishing along the river that flows by one of the most photographed mills in Texas.
I brought my fly rod (which was an impulse purchase I made about six years ago during one of my random hobby phases).
Byron caught a catfish within 10 minutes. 
And I caught this fish.
The smallest fish ever. 
The experience was amazing, and it was something Byron and I will carry with us forever.
OK, to wrap up the 100th blog post to Essays From Texas, I have included a poll on top right corner of this blog for fun. It's called "Would you rather..."
Play if you want to. Or don't.
Check out this link on Weather.com.
It's always great to see the town you live in all over the Weather Channel.A mixture of rain and hail created quite the situation in L-Town.
No, I'm not advocating Al Gore in this post. I'm really just warning you for more gruesome images of softball injuries.
This time, it's not me. In fact, I wasn't even there when it happened. No, I was at my apartment when Byron came in after a softball game. He had mentioned on the phone that, "he had got kinda banged up" in the night's game.He made my little knee scrapes look like, well, little knee scrapes.
Apparently, it was necessary for him to slide into home plate. I will never complain about someone being competitive, because that would be the pot calling the kettle black. But, this guy wants to have a softball game the night of our rehearsal dinner. I'm pushing for him to wear a football helmet, but maybe a pair of sliding shorts would be more appropriate.
Let's just say this guy hurts really bad when he tries to sit down.
Way to show some leg.
I drove to Austin yesterday for the Texas Grain and Feed Association convention. The drive to the state capital from Lubbock is about 5.5 to 6 hours. The landscape changes rather drastically, to say the least, from point A to point B.
At one point, you're driving through fields that are home to thousands of wind turbines. I've talked about these things before, but seriously, you have to see them to get the full effect. There are tons of them.
These pictures do little justice to the size of these things.
From Lubbock to Austin, it's like going through a Texas version of Candy Land. You drive off the Caprock, through the land of wind turbines, over the hills, and end up in a big city full of pretty buildings, extremely fit people, and a couple of random celebrities like Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock. Oh, and tons of annoying Texas Longhorn fans. I vaguely remember the Hogs' Southwest Conference days, but I will always despise the burnt orange.
Meanwhile, I'm down here in Austin, while crazy storms have ravaged the South Plains. It hasn't really rained in Lubbock since late September of last year. Yeah, it's been that long.But, tonight they've had two tornado warnings, pea-size to golf ball-sized hail, and flooding. The fun had to wait to happen until I was down here by a bridge that's home to hundreds of bats. (This will only make sense if I get up in time tomorrow to go down and photograph the bats that come out at sunrise beneath the Lake Austin bridge.)
Different people have different things that amuse them.
This particular group of women is amused by dressing up in second hand clothes from a clothing ministry, getting in character, and holding an event called Easter Tea.
Last year was the first Easter Tea. I thought they were all crazy, but I was home for Easter, so I too wore an old, ridiculous looking dress.
A few weeks prior to the Tea, they all go to Life Ministries - an organization that takes in used clothing and goods to sell cheaply to those in need, or to those in need of an opportunity to wear old tacky dresses.
The event is held at my mom's house. Mom has a tendency to go "all out" when hosting others, and Easter Tea is no exception.
There's ample amounts of spring treats to temp the taste buds.
Last year, there was more of an emphasis on bonnets. We had very elaborate bonnets last year. This year's theme was centered around formal wear.
We had old bridesmaid dresses, prom dresses, bright shinny dresses, and in my case, a dress my mom wore when she was a graduation attendant in high school.
It was a tad on the hippie side, so my name was "Peggy Peace" this year instead of last year's "Tess Texan". (To my new in-laws, I'm certain you now find me to be very odd. Please don't hold this against me.)
The hostesses greet the other Tea party goers as they arrive.
Each person has their own tea cup. At the end of the Tea, ballots are passed around to vote for the year's "Miss Easter Tea" - Mom held last year's title.
Other awards are given out, such as "Best Frock of All", "Your Grandmother Would Be Proud", or this year's newest addition "Most Likely To Run Away With the Easter Bunny".
Malia was the 2009 Miss Easter Tea.Malia also sang a preview of a melody she would like to sing at the wedding this summer, while Kim did sign language for the hearing impaired.
Then, the Easter Bunny showed up. And, back by popular demand, I did a heel click with the large stuffed rabbit.
Luckily, Byron showed up from Dallas while the Tea was still in order.
For those of you from Texas who will be coming to the Arkansas pre-wedding party, bonnets are optional.
This was on the street that Byron's parents live on in Lubbock.
A few weeks ago on this very street, we saw a guy riding a 10 foot bicycle and we nearly ran over him because his reflectors were so high off the ground. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either.
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