Strength for today...Bright hope for tomorrow

Last post

2009-01-02T21:45:00.002-06:00

I write this with a smile on my face. I am ending this blog. The title of it no longer fits. I am starting new chapter in life and it deserves a NEW blog. Come check us out here.

Thank you all for your LOVE, your PRAYERS and your ENCOURAGEMENT! You have no idea how many times I go back to read your comments and it blesses me again and again. Thank you for loving us and rejoicing with us! I love all of you!

Bye for now!

The Day We Will Never Forget

2008-12-04T20:07:00.010-06:00

I loved being a bride. I loved being Paul's bride.
It was a perfect day.
Nothing in life is perfect, I know...but it was a wonderful day.
It was a picture, a shadow, if you will of something that is perfect.
It was a day that reminded us of God's goodness.
I kept thinking...I don't deserve this man.
I don't deserve this day.
But isn't that just like God?
He gives us what we have not earned, what we do not deserve.
Look at these children. Aren't they precious?
They made the day extra special.

My daddy and me. Isn't he handsome?

The men in my life...could they be more handsome?

The rings

Mia Beth

My boy is so sweet and loving. Here he is rubbing my back before the ceremony because he wanted to do something nice for me.

When the time came for the ceremony to begin I was so calm. I felt peace at my core, knowing that God had created this union and I was just getting to walk it out.

Cait walking down the aisle

Benjamin walking me down the aisle

Paul first made vows to Benjamin and Cait. He promised to love their mom and be faithful to her, but also to love and care for them as his own. He gave them each a gift to remember the promise he made to them. He gave Benjamin a Bible, his first real one. He gave Cait a James Avery bracelet with a charm he had engraved to say, "Dad."

Paul's dad performed the ceremony, which made it very special.

Finally...husband and wife

Yes, it was joyful, but almost more of a feeling of relief that it was a done deal.
We're married!!! Woo Hoo!

The family

My family

His family

The kids

Then on to the restaurant for dinner.
Here is the breathtaking cake that Julie made for us. I wish you could have tasted it. It was our favorite...carrot cake. You wouldn't have been able to stop eating. It was divine!

Feeding each other

After an amazing dinner, family style at Maggiano's, people got up and shared things about the goodness of God. People talked about how they viewed the workings of God in bringing Paul and I together. One of the most special times were when Kristi read a letter to Paul from their mom. She passed away over three years ago, so we weren't graced with her presence at our wedding, yet she had prayed for Paul's wife for his whole life. Paul's dad said that night that he and his wife had been praying for me. What a blessing to realize that.
Also, Ryan shared about how they just knew that Paul was the one for me from the very start. And that we will never understand why God does things the way that He does sometimes, but that we have the assurance that this day was His plan from the very beginning. We rejoiced at hearing that.

Here are the boys in the limo before we left.
And then us in the limo.

What a day. Perfect...well as perfect as it can be here on this earth. It's real life. It's not happily ever after as we ride into the sunset. It's just the beginning of a marriage. It will be hard some days and maybe even some years. But Paul and I are committed to this thing. We are committed to each other and more importantly to God and the covenant we made with Him before several witnesses. He will help us keep it. Look at how faithful He has been. We know that He will continue to be everyday that lies ahead.

Thank you for your love and prayers and well wishes. You have made our joy that much fuller.

Wedding Preparation

2008-11-29T16:49:00.006-06:00

We're home from the honeymoon as of Friday night. YAY! We're husband and wife...FINALLY! I am now Mrs. Paul Lewis. Can you believe it? I have so much to share with you about the days leading up to the wedding, the day itself and the amazing trip we took after the ceremony was over! However, I've been very busy and haven't had much time to post. Besides, I don't have the wedding pictures yet so I can't share with you...I should have them this week though! Can't wait!

The family came into town on Wednesday night and it was SUCH a joy to have them here. It wasn't this huge stressful thing, like weddings usually are. It was just a delight to have them here to celebrate with us.

Thursday night Laurie, Danyel and I went all around town buying flowers for the wedding. Laurie did a lot of the flowers and sweet Julie did the rest. Aren't the flowers beautiful?

While we were flower shopping, Paul and both dads were moving Paul's furniture into my house. Look how happy he is on moving night???!!!

Friday wasn't a bad day. I went to school and it was Grandparent's Day. My parents loved this, but it was stressful for the teachers, let me tell you. However, when it was over I was done for the day. I left early, thanks to my wonderful assistant and got to head over to the spa. The parents in my classroom gave me a $500 gift card to the Grand Spa in Dallas. WOW! Never been anyplace like that before! I got a sea salt scrub, massage, facial, ultimate manicure and ultimate pedicure. It was unbelievable. Jenni and Danyel joined me for the nails and toes and it was so much fun.
After the spa we all ran over to the church for a little rehearsal. It went pretty smoothly. I only had one minor freak out and I got over it pretty quickly.

Here are Danyel and Kristi fluffing the wreaths before we hung them on the church doors. Thank you Amy for making these! They were lovely!

Saturday morning was perfect! I woke up as my babies were crawling in bed with me. We cuddled for a while and then Paul called. He wanted to read to me from what he had read that morning in his time with the Lord and then he wanted to pray for us. It was a conversation I will never forget.

Then, the day looked like this:

1) Finish packing
2) Take Cait to get her nails done

Isn't she precious??

3) Get make-up done at Neiman Marcus

Look at the sweet look on her face as she is watching me. Not many little girls get to see their mommy as a bride. She kept telling me how beautiful I looked. So sweet!

That's all I have for today. The photographer picked up here at the hair salon, so we'll have to wait on her. But...maybe I can get some honeymoon pics up this week. It was an AMAZING trip! More than I dreamed it would be! I love being married to Paul David! What a man!

The Family Comes Today and Other Fun Things

2008-11-19T18:40:00.001-06:00

It's HERE! It's HERE! Let the festivities begin!

The family is on their way here as I type. It has begun.

Just for fun, because distraction is sometimes the best way to cope with anxiety :-) here are some fun pictures from the last few weeks.

#1 - Little shower
...with all my co-workers in the 4th grade hall.
Let's just say they gave me gifts that I will not post pictures of on the internet. Very pretty though, and FUN!

Mendy, Suzie and me

Dusty and Donna

Cheryl, Amy and Andrea

I did get a little bottle of perfume. I can post a picture of that!

#2 My son playing a joke us us

The other night I asked the kids to go get their pj's on. When they came out of the bedrooms, this is what Benjamin was sporting. Oh yes! He was in his sister's nightgown!!! HA! He thought he was so funny.
So I said, "Well since you think you're so funny, you're going to wear a bow for family devotion time!"
He played along and thought it wa funny. Sad thing is...he makes a pretty little girl with that long, curly hair and eyelashes!

Twirling, learned from none other than his sister!

My "pretty" little boy!!

#3 Colonial Day in 4th Grade

After studying about colonial America we committed an entire day to the experience of that era.

My room was the home arts room. We taught the kids how to weave on a loom (so fun!).

Here are Charla and I in our Colonial garb. This was my mom's dress from like 30 years ago. As a little girl, I can still remember her wearing this dress at a costume party. Perfect for me now!

On the loom and also learning to quilt a square.
Here Charla teaches the basics.

#4 Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast

Cait's class had a traditional feast, including the pilgrims and the indians!
The Kindergartners were the Indians.
Their 3rd grade pen pals were the pilgrims.

Cait and her 3rd grade pen pal, Katie.

Here's Cait with her buddy Lauren.

Placemat and place card

See, life is still going on even when I feel like it should be coming to a screeching halt for us!

3 more days, y'all!!!!

Preparing my heart to be a wife

2008-11-18T06:41:00.000-06:00

It's so interesting how life comes full circle, or so it seems at times. Some days I actually feel a little guilty that my "valley" wasn't all that long of a trek. Shouldn't I have had to drudge through a little longer, Lord? Well, His plan was good! And I remember that this is the answer to a prayer that started with my dad. Shortly after my divorce, my dad told me that he was praying that I would marry again one day and that it would be soon. I argued with him a little and then he told me that his desire for this husband to come soon was really for the kids sake and not so much mine. I joined him in that prayer asking the Lord to bring the kids and I someone who would come soon enough that the kids would hardly be able to remember before he came into our lives. God chose to answer this prayer.

Now, in just 4 short days I will marry this man that God has sent to us. We are all kind of getting married as a family in a sense. The kids are gaining a dad. Paul is becoming a dad for the first time. He is becoming a husband for the first time. I am becoming a wife...again. It's no secret that I've walked this road before, even though some days I would like to deny it as truth. But I can't. I can't "fix" that. I have been married before. It's no secret to Paul or anyone else for that matter. But, still somewhere inside I wish it could be the first time for me as well.

So, I began the heart training many weeks ago when I accepted Paul's proposal of marriage. I began talking to myself about what it would look like to be Paul's wife. How can I love him more? How can I serve him better? How can I promote peace in our house and make it feel like a home? It has been a joy to begin thinking these thoughts again. Even the other day I had so many things to get done in a tiny window of time. I was battling with which things to do next and what things to drop altogether. The thought came to my mind..."What would honor Paul the most?" So, I decided that ironing his clothes for him was first priority. It's been fun retraining my mind from a selfish mentality and for my children only...to someone else as well. Someone wonderful!

What could we all push off out to-do list that free up some space to bless someone else? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The Countdown Begins

2008-11-17T06:17:00.003-06:00

Some of you think I've dropped off the face of the earth. You call, and I don't answer. You e-mail and it takes me days to reply (very unlike me). I assure you that I am here and that I am well. Just busy and wanting to focus on what is happening. It's so big to us! It is the biggest life change of our lives so far.

So...here we are! It's the week of the wedding and there are only 5 days before the BIG day. We had the whole weekend free, for the most part, to run errands and take care of stuff, but we really didn't have that much to do. We have planned pretty well up to this point.

So, the family comes in on Wednesday night. Very exciting! I have multiple jobs for them that include either a glue gun, running an errand or helping me with my daily stuff. I have complete confidence that we can get it all done easily and with peace and calm. That is atypical for the week of the wedding, I think! My family is so great to do this for me!

I went to tan this weekend for the first time in...I don't know, 10-11 years. I have these stark tan lines from my bathing suit this summer that do not match my wedding dress lines. I should have started a month ago if I wanted this to be effective, but hind sight, right? So, the result? Well, I am burned in places I've never been burned before. It hurts! I so hope it tans over soon and doesn't peel!!! AH!

Who cares, really though? Paul doesn't. He wouldn't care if I was shedding like a snake. It's going to be a great week!

My Dress

2008-11-13T06:47:00.002-06:00

I never could get around to posting about my dress shopping experience with Danyel and Kristi. However, my sister FINALLY started a blog and she did post about it. Please go read about that day and see some pictures. Paul, no peeking!

Click HERE to read.

All Things Fall

2008-11-02T08:13:00.000-06:00

There is no season I have ever loved more than fall. If you know me very well at all, you know that about me. I love the colors, the weather, the smells, the foods, the celebrations nearing, my birthday falling right in there. I've always loved fall, but now I have an ever greater reason to love it. It will be the season I celebrate the anniversary of my marriage to Paul...God's blessing to me.

Because I love fall and we like to do fun things in fall, I thought I'd post some pictures for you. Soak it in guys. You can just see God's glory displayed in each intricate leaf and every relief of a breeze on your face. Praise Him in the midst of this season and tell your children of the goodness of the Lord!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Pumpkin House

Hay Ride!!

I looked down and saw Cait's sweet little hand holding Paul's. They're sweet on each other.

Aunt Kristi and cousin Tyler

Crazies!

Uncle Jimmy and Cait

GiGi came to help with the garage sale and got to stay for some pumpkin patch fun on Sunday.

Jenni and I got to coordinate our annual Ladies Retreat this year. Not sure what was more fun...the planning or the retreat itself. Absolute blast!
One thing that made it so much fun was the Christi got to fly in from Tennessee for the retreat. It had been too long, friend.

The Aggies in their burnt orange. They freaked out at first, but then got over it!
My dear, dear friend Mindy also got to come in from Maryland for the retreat. Our visits are always so anticipated by us both and then are over so quickly. Can't wait to meet your baby girl, Min!

The gang right before heading home.

Another dear friend I hardly ever see...Amber! So glad you got to come, Amber. That baby bump is one we rejoice with more than most, seeing as how we prayed for her for so long. Praise the Lord!!!

So glad you got to come, mom! This will have to be an annual tradition!

I love fall!

Old Friend

2008-11-01T09:08:00.003-05:00

Right about the time Paul and I got engaged, we were able to hook up with a friend from my past. Talk about way back...I mean, I can't remember not knowing him. We hadn't seen one another or even spoken in ten years. We found each other on facebook. Gotta love facebook, huh?

Anyway, coincidentally, he and his wife and baby girl were about to move to Dallas. Right after they arrived in Big D we had them over for dinner! What a fun, fun, night! We laughed and talked and reminisced about old times. We pulled out pictures and laughed at home much younger we looked and for some, how much more hair we had!

I couldn't let such a fun reunion go unnoted, even though it happened in the middle of so many other exciting life changes.

Love you, Rolf! Hope we will be friends for ALL the years to come! God was good to you when He gave you Daniela and Amelia! Can't wait for our next family get together!

Rolf and me

Rolf and his beautiful family

Would you look at this beauty! Rolf you better watch out! You got a little beauty in your care. Better start cleaning the shotgun now!

Engagement Pics!!!!

2008-10-16T08:34:00.008-05:00

I think I might be overly excited about these pictures!!!
Taylor once again did a great job on our photos. She has a great eye for pictures and then does a great job of touching up (especially on me!!! Thanks for that Taylor!)

We had such a great time getting the pictures made. Paul thought it was especially fun because someone was asking him to be all lovely dovey with his girl. He thought that was a pretty good deal.

One thing I just realized....this is the shirt I was wearing in the picture where Paul first saw me. This very shirt and necklace (hey, I don't have that many clothes!). Isn't that ironic? Full circle. God's hand...oh His sweet hand!

Here are a few of my favorites....

Do you see this man God is giving me? Words could never express how precious he is and how he loves me. God is giving him to me. I'm still in awe. Thank you, Lord and may I never take it for granted.

Wedding Things

2008-10-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

wedding venue - check
reception location, food, service - check
pastor for ceremony - check
wedding dress and accessories- check
flower girl dress and shoes - check
musicians - check
decorative pieces for ceremony - check
honeymoon to Jamaica - check
two kitchens merged and extras priced for garage sale - check
clothes for honeymoon - check
passport - check
engagement pictures - check

We have accomplished a lot in the last few weeks. Way more than this little list, because of all the details that go into each. But you already know that. It has been so much fun!!!! Paul is into the details with me. This is not my wedding, it is definitely ours. What a joy that has been!

Thanks to all who have helped us accomplish these things. So many people helped us, so thanks!

Now...what we still need are:

tuxes

a spa/salon to gt my nails/toes done - don't want one of those cheap places where they rush you in and out, but also don't want a high dollar place. Any recommendations?

a bathing suit for me

flowers - I know who is going to make them, just don't know exactly what we want them to look like

our vows. We haven't decided on those yet.

Who am I kidding? I can't write all the things left to do here. It's too long. And then, I'd get overwhelmed. Not good. Anyway, just wanted to update you on the progress and the sheer delight of the planning!

The kids' reaction to the news

2008-10-08T17:28:00.003-05:00

Well, it has taken me quite a while to get to this, I know. If you only knew the pace at which my life is moving right now, your head would be spinning right along with mine. I feel like with God's grace and Paul's help I've been holding it together. So, let's go back to the day after we became engaged. Wow! That was a ways back, wasn't it? That day we decide that we should tell the kids before someone else did. We were so happy to tell them, knowing they would be thrilled, but also nervous at the same time. All this is becoming a reality. And as you have probably experienced...reality is often different than what you envision in your head.

So, as soon as Paul got to our house that night, we sat the kids down to tell them. Paul and I both were so nervous, I can't even tell you. I kept ringing my hands and Paul and I kept looking at each other. B was looking at us like...oh no! What are you about to tell us? He looked nervous. So I said, "Guys, we have wonderful news."

pause

"Last night Mr. Lewis asked me to be his wife, and I said yes."

another pause

We waited and watched their little faces. Cait looked completely confused like..."what did you just say?"

But B...he had eyes FULL of tears! Paul kind of freaked out. He was rubbing B's leg and asking, "Are you okay, buddy? What is it? Are you upset? Worried? Sad?"

B looked up at us through tears and said, "No. I'm just sooooo happy. I just can't believe that God answered my prayers. He really answered my prayers."

Paul and I looked at each other and just started bawling. Oh, the relief! Oh, the joy! Can I tell you? It is a soaring feeling to know that God was the designer of this new little family. He put us together because we all needed one another. What a good God we serve!

So, from the couch we moved to the table where dinner was ready. We all held hands to pray and I said, "We sure do have a lot to be thankful for tonight, don't we?" Everyone nodded. Then B said, "Can I pray!!! Please, please!?!" We agreed, of course.

And he prayed..."Dear God, thank you for hearing me. Thank you answering my prayer and letting mommy get married again. Thank you for giving me a daddy to live with me and play with me everyday. Please help us to be a happy family and to love one another. Please help us to have fun together too. I just can't believe that you heard me. Thank you God. Amen."

Talk about tears? Paul and I just sat with tears rolling down our faces (yes, I have a very tender-hearted man), squeezing each other's hands. We were thankful too. We were in awe too. Cait was a little oblivious, but that's okay. I hope she never remembers a time when Paul was not there as part of us. B, I know he'll always remember, but that's okay. He was supposed to. God is growing him. God is showing him even at age six that He is a faithful God and that He answers prayers.

My parents started praying right after my divorce that God would allow me to marry again one day and that it would be soon. They prayed this for Benjamin and Cait's sake. I'm so grateful that they did, because I know that this is the best thing for them as well as for their mommy.

Thank you to those of you who have prayed and prayed for us...for years now. God heard and He answered. Thank you, Lord!

The Story

2008-09-29T06:35:00.003-05:00

Okay, so there is just no time to post on my blog! Can I tell you how busy I am right now? I am so blissfully happy these last few weeks, I'm flittering around trying to come down to reality often enough to feed and clothe my kids and do my job! But anyway...I am so very happy right now, as we all are when things are going right. But I'm sure that you can imagine it runs deeper than that. I'm looking at a big picture and I see God's hand. And can I tell you? This whole blessing of an amazing man to be my husband and a dad to Benjamin and Cait is so not deserved. Seriously. I mean, God cared for us and lavished us with His care and provision and salvation. Hello! That would have been so much more than I deserve in and of itself. But...isn't it just like God to give us what we don't deserve to show us that it isn't about us. It's about Him and His unfailing, ever-flowing love. I am one blessed girl.

So...how did he propose? Well, going back even further, I told you the story of how we met here. If you didn't hear that story you can go catch up. It has been 8 months since that first meeting and God is so good to lead us here! Woo Hoo!

So, on September 14, Paul and I had a great day together. The kids were with Chris, which is unusual for a Sunday. But none the less, we went to La Madeline around lunch time and had brunch. This is one of our favorite things... to go there for brunch and sit outside. We bring our Bible and devotional book and read to one another. It's wonderful! That day was no exception. After brunch we ran to the mall and we shopped a little. He bought me a new pair of jeans and himself a few things also. It was a fun afternoon hanging out. Then, we went back to my house and got ready for dinner. He took me to my favorite restaurant...Jaspers. It is WONDERFUL! It's at the Shops at Legacy. Divine food!

Okay, so the reason this restaurant is significant is because this is where Paul took me on our second date. The first date was awkward!!! But the second date had given us two weeks of getting to know one another over the phone and it was comfortable, fun and sparks began to fly that night. Can I just tell you how handsome he is??? OH! He makes my heart flutter! I remember how I felt the beginnings of that flutter that night. It's a night we go back and relive often. "Remember on our second date when..."

So we drove to the restaurant on THE night and he had asked for our table. The waitress walked us straight there. No suspicions yet. Then I see Paul has a beautiful gift bag in his hand. Then I start to get nervous. We sat down and chatted, giggled and gazed at one another. He was so stinking relaxed. "This isn't it!!" No way could he be relaxed if he were about to propose!!!

So after the meal he pushes over the gift bag. I open it and find a Kodak book that he had made for me. It was the story of our courtship. It documented every little thing with words and pictures. I love that man! At the back there was a message from him that said that these memories with me and B and C were precious to him and that he wants to make a lifetime more of memories. He said that he knew God's hand had been in brining us together long before we met and that now he's grateful, eventhough it was hard to wait for me sometimes.

And then I turned the page one last time to read:

TAMRA
WILL
YOU
MARRY
ME

I looked over at him to find him with a ring box in his hand and tears in his eyes. How precious he is...oh if you only knew! I've waited for that day for a long time now and I can't believe it came with all the joy and healing and promise that I hoped it would.

Can I just say that my blog title, "Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow," has so described my road. God gave me those things because He is perfectly faithful. Thank you Lord!

Paul and I are excited to be engaged, but more excited to be married! So, the plan is to have a tiny family wedding on November 22 (yes, of this year) here in Dallas. Paul's dad will perform the ceremony at this beautiful little chapel we found. Cait will be our flowergirl and Benjamin will walk me down the aisle. They will be the only ones to stand up with us.

Intimate is our theme for the wedding and I think we have that mentality because of the kids. We know that hundreds of people will be rejoicing with us in that day, whether crowded in the tiny chapel or not.

THANK YOU for your prayers and your joy expressed for us! It blessed us beyond belief to read your comments! God is good!

Okay, now I need help!

2008-09-24T06:20:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! This week has been a whirlwind...of fun and praise to the Lord and smile muscles hurting. Paul and I are so giddy!

Thank you ALL for your comments and e-mails! What a blessing they have been to both Paul and me! I am looking forward to the journey!

The one thing I am NOT looking forward to is the stress of planning a wedding, honeymoon, merging lives. I just want all the fun stuff! HA!! Anyway, here is where we need your help. We are looking for a place to have our wedding. We don't want to have the reception there (unless it's a beautiful restaurant), just the ceremony. Very small, but we just want it to be beautiful! Ya know? We're going for atmosphere. Like a gazebo somewhere with a beautiful setting behind it...or a gorgeous park somewhere. What about a quaint little, tiny wedding chapel or a courtyard at a hotel or church? We want to get married in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Can you help???? Several of you have offered to help...so now I am taking you up on it. You know how it goes...you research and research and dead end! It's frustrating! Oh! The other thing is that we don't want to spend a lot! Small order on our part, I know!

Thank you , friends! And thank you for being patient with me while I get around to giving you the details of the engagement! It was perfect, by the way!

He asked...

2008-09-22T21:26:00.003-05:00

The post that I have longed to write for so long now...and now that the time has come I'm at a loss for exactly how to say it. God's blessings have come full circle. The cycle of leaving Egypt, walking the desert and learning, growing as I trust Him have all culminated in arriving at the Jordan. On the othe side of the banks I see the promised land. And can I just tell you...it is flowing with milk and honey, frineds! It is rich and more than what I hoped it would be.

Paul Lewis, my best and dearest friend, asked me to be his wife. And I eagerly replied, "Yes!"

The ring of all rings! Perfect!

Thank you Lord...not only for where I am now, but thank you for the journey. Paul and I both have met you in a more intimate way in these last few years, than we could have planning our own steps. You are a gracious God...loving and perfect in all your ways. Thank you for caring for us both and bringing us to one another. We are so thankful and we can only hope that we, as a couple bring more glory to your name than we could as individuals.

"O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
You have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago."

Isaiah 25:1

Labor Day 08

2008-09-08T20:40:00.007-05:00

So it's kind of the last hoorah on Labor Day weekend at the lake. After that it is pretty much too cold to get in the water or else we're just too busy with school and stuff to get up to the lake. So, it's sad, but it's kind of the closure to a really fun summer...always!

Fun in the sun, of course and then some down time decorating cookies.

Eli cared WAY more about eating the icing than putting it on his cookies. Life is short, right? Eat the icing off the spoon, I say!

Pooped boys in need of a nap.

Feeding the deer corn is one of our lake house rituals. The kids love it...especially when we get to see the little fawns. By this time of year they are being weaned from their mothers and starting to eat big deer food! So sweet to see, though.

My monkey climbing across the porch swing, upside down.

Cait can always sweet talk Paul into playing with her. This day it was coloring. This was before the broken arm and so she was coloring inside the lines, instead of making everyone else color for her and she acts as boss of which color goes where.

Fishing with Poppa

Paul and I got a great workout in the kayak. This was a BLAST!! To be honest, we did get in a minor argument when I was in the front. I think we had two leaders that way! The next time I let him sit in front so I could follow his lead. Much better that way! HA!

I cannot stop cracking up at these pictures! Ryan was throwing B up in the air and into the water. So crazy when I see how high he was really flying!!!

And my favorite!!

And the biggest thrill of the weekend for us all was Paul's big catch! He and dad went fishing one night and Paul caught this 8 pound 6 ounce bass!!!!

Dad just can't wait to show this off to his fishing buddies! Good job Paul!!

Another great weekend...another great summer!

The circus

2008-09-06T11:10:00.000-05:00

Okay...I told you I was behind on blogging! But I couldn't leave this one out!
Paul gave Cait tickets to the circus for her birthday. We went on her actual birthday, which gave us something really special and fun to do that night. It's been years since I went to the circus and I loved it just as much as an adult as I did as a child...minus the commercialized products they are trying to get you to buy!

She's 5 now!

Okay, so the tickets were expensive enough! And Paul reminded me in advance of all the glow things they were going to be selling there, so I got an idea! We made a trip to the dollar store and stocked up on everything we needed and more for that night.

We bought glow necklaces, glow bracelets, glow sticks...we bought candy for all of us. We even found this cool package of Barnum and Bailey Circus gummies. Perfect!
Total spent on snacks and glow thingies= $7.00
At the circus: one bag of cotton candy= $12
RIDICULOUS!!!!!

This was Cait's favorite...dancing dogs with little costumes on!

These were my favorites...the acrobats flipping in mid air and landing in a pyramid.

TIGERS, oh my! They look littl sweet BIG kitties, don't they?

This tiger is hopping like a rabbit. Notice his feet are not touching the ground.

A kiss from Blanco

These girls were freaky bendy! It's what I wish I could do in my yoga class!!!

Thank you sweet Paul for such a fun night! The kids asked on the way out the door that night if we could go to the circus again tomorrow. I think it was a hit!

BLING!!

2008-09-06T10:06:00.003-05:00

Check out Cait's new and pretty cast! Cait and Mommy painted and made that sad little cast a little bit better!
She's doing really well with her cast and has no pain, but her sling hurts her by the end of the day. She calls it her slingshot! hee hee!

One month ago

2008-09-03T15:09:00.006-05:00

Well I told you that I was behind on my blogging, but this is ridiculous! On August 8-10 we went to the lake house to celebrate 3 birthdays...Cait (with the fam), mom and Danyel. It was a GREAT weekend! It was also three BIG birthdays to celebrate.

Cait turned 5.
Mom turned 55.
Danyel turned 30.

There are almost exactly to the day 25 years in between each of them. So neat!

So I thought I'd just show you a few pictures. Here is Cait opening one of her presents, which is now our favorite nightgown!

Mom finally getting the mug she has been asking for with her grandbabies' picture on it.

And Danyel opening her heaviest gift of all.

30 cans of her favorite cream soda that can only be found at Central Market. Actually, all of her gifts were in increments of 30.
30 Twix bars
$30 gifts cards
30 minute massage
30 dollar bills
You get the idea.

Her last, and my favorite gift was a book, "Thirty People that Love You."
Here she is opening her book and reading from 30 different family members and friends that love her and told her why they do. It blessed me to read that book. THANK YOU if you are one of the people who contributed to that little project. I think she liked it!

Now it is tim for cake! This is another Lisa cake...same lady that made Kristi and Cait's cakes. It was strawberry swirl on the inside. Mmmm.....

Paul had these made by a guy at work. Aren't they hilarious?! Thirty dollar bills with her face on it. "Danyel Dollars." "In Danyel we trust...NOT!"

Later that night we played a game that Paul and came up with. We researched the years 1953 and 1978, the years mom and D were born. Then we made up a trivia game about music, movies, world events, etc. of those years. It was a lot of fun!!

I had to throw this sweet picture of prissy Mia in here from the next day. It was a good weekend, save the fact that Paul and Tyler both got sick. We were so blessed to have Kristi, Tyler and Bill come with us this trip. The more the merrier, esecially at the lake!

2008-09-02T19:12:00.003-05:00

I keep forgetting to update my blog!!! So many things to document here! First, B earned his orange belt in karate about a month ago! Woo Hoo! We are very proud of him! He takes his classes very seriously and practices all the time!

Way to go buddy!

Today w celebrated Cait's birthday at school...yes it is one month late, but who's counting! It's sad to have a summer birthday, y'all!

Here she is with her teacher in front of the class. They are sharing th character qualities that they admire in her. The teacher makes it into a place mat with her picture on it and the whole class's. It's great!

The birthday girl got to bake her cake with a friend from class while the rest of the class made her place mat. Here they are blowing out the candles and singing to her right before lunch.

Sweet thing!

After the birthday celebration, Chris and I ate lunch with her in the cafeteria. Her daddy got her Chick-fil-a and she got to eat some of that pink cake!

5 years and 1 month! HA!

Here I got to pose with the girl.
The celebration was great, but it was short lived. By the time I got upstairs and she had gone to recess, I got a call that she was in the nurse's office. I ran down there to check on her.
You're not gonna believe it...but my girl broke her arm!!! She was pushed accidentally down the slide backwards and tumbled down landing on her wrist!! OUCH!

Of course we weren't sure at first, but after a few x-rays it was confirmed! A buckle fracture in her wrist. Three weeks in a cast for our little love and then two more weeks in a brace.

Here she is in her little white cast. They were all out of color, can you believe it? Well don't worry, we will bling it up for sure!

She was a trooper, but she did announce that she didn't think she'd be able to go to school anymore...kind of like, "Well school was fun, but I don't think I'll do it anymore, but thanks anyway!" HA HA! And B was utterly sad to find out he has to go to school tomorrow but Cait and I do NOT! Bummer!

One thing...pray for her as she learns to use her left hand more. She can't even pull up her underwear at this point by herself. What are they going to do with her at school????
And she was just starting to make progress with hr handwriting! Now we are going to have a 5 week set back! But main thing is, she's okay! It could have been a lot worse! And now I gt a day off!

My Class and Hannah

2008-08-28T16:33:00.002-05:00

Well, the year is off to a great start for me in th fourth grade hall! I absolutely LOVE my class, which wasn't 100% true of my class from last year! They were all sweet kids one-on-one, but a mess as a mix. Well this group is great! I'm sure that a lot of that has to do with th fact that this isn't my first rodeo anymore at TCA. I know where to anticipate things before they happen. It's been a MUCH smoother go so far. About my class. Here are some facts...

I have triplets in my room. Yes, all three of them together in one room. This is usually a no-no in schools, but the parents made an appeal and it was granted. They are precious!
I have the daughter of a well-known car dealership chain in Dallas.
I have (for History) Tony Dorsett's daughter.
I have 4 divorced families, that I know were strategically placed in my care (seeing as I might have a heart for those types of situations).
I have 3 dyslexic children, who are all jewels!
I have 12 boys and 11 girls.

It's a great start to what I think is going to be a great year! But let me tell you about Hannah...she and I have already formed such a special bond. She comes to my room everyday after school and just wants to hang out with me. Today she fell in a puddle of tears when I told her I had to leave. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she didn't want to go to her dad's house. I hugged her while she cried. About half-way through the hug I felt her arms wrap around my waist. It breaks my heart, y'all! I want to be a safe place for Hannah. I want to pray for her and for her to see the power of that prayer. I want her not to be poisoned by her mother or hr father's words. I want her to be saved. I want her to one day experience the healing that only Jesus can bring to a heart that's been wounded. And we've all been wounded in one way or another, haven't we?

Keep praying for Hannah! And if you would, would you pray for me too that my words and actions will be of the Lord? Thanks friends!

Pray for Hannah

2008-08-21T16:38:00.003-05:00

I know it would not be wise for me to go into detail about a student in my class. But please, would you pray with me? There is a beautiful little girl in my class that came with a BIG reputation! She comes from a messy...and I mean MESSY divorce situation! She was described to me as "evil." When I heard that I immediately felt compassion towards hr and began praying for her by name. Guys...I feel so strongly that Hannah was put in my room by the Lord for a purpose. I so badly want to be the hands and feet of Jesus to her this year, but how on aq day to day basis might not always be clear. Would you pray that God would do a mighty work in her lif and in her family's life this year? And would you pray that my words would b God's words to her and that my actions would be with a great purpose towards her? I want this to be her year! I want God to bring healing for her and save her sweet little soul.

Would you stop and pray for Hannah right now?

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him." I John 5:14-15

First Day

2008-08-20T16:53:00.005-05:00

Today was the day! Our first day of school! For some reason I am in complete denial that this day has come and gone! Both of my babies are in school now!

Cait started Kindergarten today and Benjamin started first grade. Wasn't it just yesterday that they were crawling around under my feet in the kitchen?

It was such a special day! We packed lunches, backpacks, ironed and laid out uniforms the night before. We were ready! Then this morning we all hopped out of bed and hit the ground running. Despite the rain and early morning, it all went great!

Here are my babies in the morning before school.

Kindergarten here I come!!!!!!

Our neighbor came out to get the paper and offered to take our picture. So fun!

First grade watch out!!

Mrs. Gilliland, Cait's teacher. Benjamin had her last year and we LOVED her!

Mrs. Herritage, the Teacher's Assistant

Putting her backpack in her cubby.

Benjamin being greeted by his new teacher, Mrs. Henderson. She requested him in her class because she said, "Us red heads have to stick together!"

Putting away his backpack...

B thought it was so cool that he got to chew bubble gum on the first day of school.

When I went to pick him up after school I asked him how his day went and he said, "Mom, she's great!" He was talking about his sweet teacher. That makes a mom feel good! Cait enjoyed her day too and said her favorite part was lunch in the cafeteria. Go figure!

It's gonna be a great year!!!

Priceless memories

2008-08-16T09:36:00.010-05:00

Can I just say that Taylor of Barefeet Photography did an AMAZING job taking pictures of my children! What a precious thing to have these keepsakes!

Take a look....
I cry every time I look at them!

BIKES!!!

2008-08-11T08:20:00.004-05:00

Well I would say that th kids got new bikes, but that's simply not the case. Cait got 2 hand-me-down bikes and we decided to make the most of them.

We cleaned them up, aired them up, tuned them up, fancied them up and then gave them to the kids. You would have thought they were brand new, amazing bikes that they had always wanted! I love those looks on their faces!

WHOA!!!!

Now B has to learn without training wheels. It's about time, I know!!!!

Thank the Lord for helmets, knee and elbow pads!!! It makes this momma rest much easier during the learning process.

Last weekend

2008-08-07T22:40:00.010-05:00

I'm a little behind in t blogging business lately...not because I haven't posted, but because I've had so much to post about! We've had some serious fun time here at the end of the summer! Last Sunday Kat and I piled in the car with the kiddos and made the...I don't know 12 hour drive (maybe not that long, but it felt like it!) to Fredericksburg (did I spell it right Danielle?)

We had plans to visit friends from college and allow our kids to get to know one another all over again. Our visits are so few and far between that they barely remember one another in between visits. Sad.

Anyway, I wanted to post some fun pics of our visit together...

Danielle, Lori and Kat showing off the cake and cupcakes we made (minus the 50 we ate). Lori gave us a mini cake decorating class.

Second generation girls (minus Abby who didn't get to come)
Rachel Rose, Cait and Rebekah

Samuel and David...the youngest in the group

The camper where Lori and her kids slept...on the driveway.
Hey! She insisted!

Danielle and David

The crew eating supper

Elijah and B in the tent they made

Micah!

The boys had such a great time playing sheriff. They were not allowed to shoot each other except for in the leg and drag the bad guy to the sheriff.

Trying to kill a squirrel...pretend of course!

And then it was slip and slide time!! Woo Hoo! Cait busted her booty hard here but she just laughed!

Jonathan

The morning look, aren't we cute?

Our 10 year college reunion is this year and we are in denial! Have we all really been friends for 14 years? My how we've changed and our circumstances along with us in those 14 years!

But then again...some things never change!
(This was the classic pose we did all the time in college. We have this pose at all 4 of our weddings! Bridesmaid dresses and wedding gowns in all!)

All the kiddos!

We usually only get together once a year, but this year we have our reunion to look forward to in November! YAY! See ya then girls!

Birthday Tea

2008-08-07T17:45:00.011-05:00

Won't you join me for tea to celebrate my 5th birthday?
Saturday, August 2,
1:00 pm
At my house

Please wear your best tea attire or
choose from any of mine...I'd love to share!
Bring your mommy too!

It's TRUE!!! My baby girl turned 5 years old!!!
How can it be? Seriously, this girl brings me so much joy, showers others with so much love and has a smile that could make any grump find a smile.
She is a joy and I am so, so very grateful to have spent the last five years of my life with her!

We threw a little tea party this year for Cait's friends and their mommies. Here are a few pictures of her girly tea pot cake.

Benjamin and Paul needed to be a part of the celebration...but a tea party really wasn't a boy thing. So, we decided to turn them into our waiters!! Bow ties and all!

What sports, huh?

B took the job very seriously and truly served the girls, pushed in their chairs and ushered away their dirty dishes.

We were so pumped that Aunt D, Eli and Mia rode with GiGi to Dallas and were able to come to the party!
Sweet Eli and Mia

My two favorite girls!

Abbey

Chatting over "tea"...otherwise known as pink lemonade

Kat and Abby

Mia Beth

Oh, the joy of pouring their own cup!!

sweet Emily

GiGi and B

Sweet friends Truth and Cait

Emma

Girl time

Rebekah

Elizabeth

Happy birthday to you, love!

It's pink! It has to taste good, right?
To Cait, if it's pink it's the best.

Present time!

I gave Cait her first TCA uniform. Look how adorable my little Kindergartner is going to look!

Oh wow!!!

Danyel (who's about to have a birthday of her own!), me and Kristi

The party was great and went off without a hitch. It was a joy to be surrounded by Christian women and their sweet little girls...the kind of girls that I hope Cait is drawn to as friends for all her life. Thank you to everyone who came and made the party a special day for us!

This is a post-party picture of Eli and Mia. Eli couldn't wait until after the party to get a dress on and show off his twirling. Danyel just rolls her eyes. I personally think he's been playing with his girly cousin a little too much!

Karate Champ

2008-07-26T13:44:00.006-05:00

So B started Karate lessons this month. After watching the first lesson of Benjamin's first day I was sold! What other sport do they focus on self-control and respect as well as personal goals, physical strength, health and the like? I was super pumped about my boy gleaning from this kind of experience! So how this all started is I bought one month of lessons at the TCA silent auction for $1. That's right, $1 for a month of karate and a free uniform! Woo Hoo! So, why not try it, right? At th time I bought it, I had no idea where we would be living. We;; guess what? The karate school just so happened to be at the first major cross street from our house. Literally 1 minute drive. What's even better is it's in th same shopping center as my gym, so Cait and I can walk down and workout for 45 minutes while B has class. Awesome!

So B has been going for about 4 weeks now and he has already earned a strip on his white belt. He is Super cute doing his little kicks and punches! I LOVE it!

Here they get to learn how to break boards with a plastic form that splits in the middle.

He DID it! Very impressive!

Here he is practicing his self-defensive moves with a partner. His "Ha-ya" was a little scary obviously because the boy is flinching! I love that they are learning moves on how to ward of a stranger who might be trying to abduct them! Makes this momma feel better!

So fun to see them grow up and learn new things!

Who is Paul?

2008-07-25T14:05:00.004-05:00

Man, if I had a dollar for every time I got that question over the last few months...I'd be RICH! Well, today is the perfect day to answer that question for you.

Six months ago today I went on a blind date. Yep. It's true. No, I wasn't desperate for a date and neither was he. BUT...God ordained the circumstances and looking back neither of us know why we agreed, but we did.

My friend Amy, from church, asked one of her friends named Ashley if he knew of any great Christian guys for her friend Tamra. Ashley said that he DID know a great guy that happened to be one of his clients. Ashley is a financial adviser and Paul was just on of his clients...that he thought very highly of. Ashley contacted Paul in September or maybe early October of 2007 and asked him if he was interested in being set up with a nice Christian girl. This, of course was all without my knowing! No reply came form Paul. Another e-mail from Ashley and still no reply from Paul. This went on for several months. Finally Ashley sent Paul a picture of me and he finally gave in. January 2008 Paul called me for the first time. A little awkward at first, but not too bad. After a little get-to-know you talk Paul asked if I'd like to go out to dinner sometime. I thought, "What can it hurt?" so I agreed.

So, Friday, January 25, Paul picked me up at Trinity around 6:00 pm. When I came out of the front doors and took one look at him I was pleasantly surprised! He looked exactly like what I wanted him to look like...a man. Not a boy, but a man, and a nice looking one at that! So, after a little bit of awkward giggling and uncomfortable introductions, we got in the car and headed out. He took me to a SUPER nice restaurant called Go Fish right down the street in Addison. The food was amazing, but the conversation was a little painful. Seriously, neither of us were acting ourselves and it was just weird. It was obvious that he was a genuinely nice guy that loved the Lord and his family. We even seemed to have lots of common interests, but it was still painful. After dinner we went to the Watertower Theater where we saw "Much Ado About Nothing" by Shakespeare. It was an excellent choice on his part. Lots more laughing and good conversation happened there.

Well, even after a painful date and many embarrassing comments on both of our parts (that we STILL tease each other about today) we are still continuing to spend time together. Tonight, to celebrate 6 months of wonderfulness, we are going back to the same restaurant where we had that first date. We are celebrating what God has done in bringing our paths to a crossing point and giving us the opportunity to grow as friends over these last six months.

So...there ya go. That's Paul. I wish I could tell you all the things that make him so wonderful in my eyes. I wish I could tell you why he is such an obvious blessing from God to me and my kids. I wish I could share with you all the amazing evidences of God's hand in this relationship. But that will have to wait until another time. I'll have to leave you with more to come because right now I need to go get ready for my night on the town!

Tenth and last day of vacation

2008-07-22T01:16:00.000-05:00

Our friends, the Bacaks had to go home pretty early this morning of our tip. We had a great time visiting, but more company was on the way. Mom had a "honey-do" list for dad, me and Paul to get ready for our company. All my dad's family, mom, brothers, sisters, cousins, children, the children's children were going to be there. It was going to be a full house!

Mom read a little bit to the kids that morning after we were all set and just waiting for everyone to show up. This is the version of "Cinderella" that I had growing up. Man, do those pictures bring back a flood of memories!

Here's grumpy...I mean, Uncle John

This is Riley, my cousin Michelle's first baby.
She's a dumpling!

Mommy Michelle with her baby

Cousin Angela leaning in over my Aunt Shanon's shoulder.
Aunt Sharon sitting across from them on the other couch.

Benjamin was impressed with Riley's "muscles."
He thought hers were bigger than his.
Seriously!

I SO wish I had more pictures of the family from that day. What was I thinking? Oh well, you'll just have to trust me that it was wonderful catching up with everybody!

After lunch and a little visiting it was back to Dallas for unpacking and getting ready for life back in the real world. I'll end the vacation report with my favorite picture. Benjamin took this picture with my camera. Pretty good, huh? It's not so much the picture that I am fond of though, as it is the person in it.

Vacation Day #9

2008-07-21T13:18:00.003-05:00

Day 9 of our trip was a great one. It started out with some boating and riding on th jet skis. It ended with a visit from a very old friend. Well, she's not old, but our friendship is!
Jennifer Seay Bacak and I have been friends since high school. How we really became friends exactly, neither of us could quite remember, but what does that matter? Jenn and I were always and still are in many respects a lot alike! We just thought alike. We had common interests (both loved to sing) and we both loved the Lord and wanted similar things out of life.

Well, after college, our lives kind of went indifferent directions (literally) and we lost touch, save the annual Christmas card! I had seen her babies grow year by year through that Christmas card picture. I loved it! Well, two Christmases ago Jenn got a little bit different card from me in the mail. I signed the card as usual, but this year...2006 I signed it,
"Love, Tamra, Benjamin and Cait Perkinson"

Jenn picked up the phone immediately and wanted to know what was up. Last time she checked there was another member in our family. I remember her saying, "Did he die?!?!"
I had to laugh because in a lot of ways it felt like he had. Ya know, you think you know someone and then you find out that person doesn't exist. He is not who you thought he was. It really felt like a death in a lot of ways.

Anyway...seeing as how she and her husband, Rusty live 30 minutes from my parents' lake house, we invited them up for a visit. We were so blessed to have Jenn and her two oldest kids, Emma and Jax to come and play and stay the night. Oh what catch was needed between the mommies and what fun was to be had between the kiddos! What a blessing to see the wife and mommy that she is today and be encouraged and spurred on.

Instant friends!

Jax and Benjamin after their baths, in PJ's ready for bed. They are snacking on cheese whiz and crackers. B said, "Jax, I don't know about this stuff, but it sure does taste great!" I bought him a can of this cheese whiz today at the store. He'll be so pumped when he finds out!

JAX!!!

Here's the gang with their morning hair! What a crazy bunch!
Cait, Emma, Benjamin and Jax

Jenn and I both decided that we would pretend that this (below) was a picture of two buddies hugging. Well, in actuality Jax is abducting Cait and she was rather enjoying it!

It was a fun time with fun friends! We are definitely planning to do it again in the near future!

Vacation Day #8

2008-07-16T22:07:00.010-05:00

No, once again, I did not forget a day of our trip. Day #7 was a super fun day! But for some retarded reason I have no pictures of it. The 7th day was the day we had to leave the beach!! Boo hoo! We packed up and headed up I-45 to the Woodlands. There we met my parents and both of my grannies for lunch. Both of my grandmothers were anxious to meet Paul, I think and give him their stamp of approval. After lunch, the Lewis family headed back to Fort Worth, but mom and dad, the kids, Paul and I all headed to the lake house for the 4th of July.

Day #8, the 4th of July began with a boat parade that morning. Check out these boat floats, would ya? So fun!

Parade watching...mom and dad. So sweet!

Sitting on the boat watching the parade in the shade.

After the parade it was time to get wet! We went over to Dick and Sue's house on the other side of the lake and had lunch and then swam a little. B and Paul were having jumping contests to see who could jump the furthest or make the biggest splash or the best cannonball, etc. It was hilarious! Here are a few shots from that day...

Then some fishin'!

And of course some fireworks that night. What a display we saw all across th lake! SO cool!

A great end to a great day. I love my family! What a blessing they are from God!

Two more FUN days to go with LOTS of great pictures! Can't wait to tell you about them!

Vacation Day #6

2008-07-15T00:14:00.008-05:00

So, the next day of our trip starts out with running downstairs to check on our precious crabs that we caught! Time to say goodbye! Parting is such sweet sorrow!

Next on the agenda was a lesson from Mr. Lewis (Paul). He taught us all how to go crabbing in the back bay. First we got some chicken necks, tied string to them and then threw them out, holding onto one end. When the line got tight you slowly pull the string in. While the crab is busy eating you scoop him into the net and you have supper!
Here we are getting our tutorial from the crab catching expert!

Waiting patiently for a crab to snap at our bait.

Swinging the bait out was an art form in itself!

CRABS!!!!!

After we caught all the crabs we could, then headed out to the jetties. We walked out into the middle of the ocean!

After a full morning of play we had some worn out kiddos!
We headed back to the beach house where we played on the beach for rest of the day!

FUN TIMES on Day #6!!!
More fun ahead!

Lion Hug

2008-07-14T21:48:00.001-05:00

You HAVE to go watch this! AMAZING and a little scary!

Vaction Day #5

2008-07-12T12:19:00.011-05:00

No, I didn't lose count! I really have no pictures from day #4 of our trip because it consisted of another morning at Sea World and then we all drove down to Surfside Beach where we had rented a beach house for all of us. Again, Paul did an awesome job planning this trip for all of us! The beach house was great! That night we made dinner and hung around the house and did a little resting up for the next eventful day!

So day #5 begins...
We woke up, had a big breakfast as usual and then threw on our swim suits. We loaded up all our gear and walked down to the beach, where we spent all day playing.
Being a good cook runs in this family!

I love theses pictures of the kids. I wish you could have witnessed the sheer joy on all their faces to be playing in the ocean! They were elated!

She had muddy toes and wanted to come show me. She's so funny!

Playing ball with Tyler

Classic beach picture...love it!

We buried Paul in the sand and here's Cait who wanted to be a mermaid

Surfin'!!

Building a castle in the sand. We had more fun than the kids did, for sure!

Adding shell embellishments to our sand castle

What do they see?

Dolphins! They were so close off shore. Very cool to watch!

Later that day Paul, the kids and me drove to West Columbia where my sister and Ryan live. Paul got to see Danyel and Ryan's house and we hung out a little. Then, we met the rest of the Lewis's at a Mexican food restaurant in Lake Jackson. This one was MUCH BETTER than the one on the River Walk! Yummy food!!!

After dinner ice cream

The girls...we look like Christmas!

Mia Beth getting some dessert and after dinner dancing with Mr. Lewis

When we returned to the beach house that night, we decided to take a little night time adventure down to the beach with our flashlights. We brought our shovels and pails just in case we found some treasures. Well we did! We found crabs! I missed out on most of the fun because of a splinter incident with my hysterical and almost always dramatic daughter. But...the boys and Kristi had a great time. Look at the cool crabs they dug up and then caught!

We decided we would wait to let them go until morning. They were just too much fun to let go quite yet!
What a day, I know! Can't wait to tell you about the next day!

Vacation Day #3

2008-07-11T13:00:00.000-05:00

Sea World is a must if you are going to take a trip to San Antonio, right? Well, we discovered that the 2 day pass to Sea World was a few dollars cheaper than the one day pass alone. So...this is just day 1 for us, but we had so much fun! Here's the whole gang for our one and only group shot.
Bill, Jimmy, Benjamin, Kristi, Tyler, me, Cait and Paul
What a crew!

The Three Musketeers!

Benjamin feeding the dolphins. Cait wanted nothing to do with it! She screamed when I was trying to put her up on the wall. Guess she thought I was going to throw her over. She has a reason to be fearful of that since I do it so often, ya know!

CHEESE!!

Here we are in line for the Shamu roller coaster. Woo Hoo!!

My pretty girl with her sweaty-smeared face paint

Shamu!

Here's B making the sign for Shamu to splash him. Sadly, we sat no where near the splash zone, so there wasn't a chance for even a sprinkle.

In the aquarium watching the sharks.

After w went home and cleaned up, we all caravaned to th River Walk and had dinner. Can't remember the name of this restaurant, but I don't recommend it. I bet they have better Mexican food in North Dakota than at this place. Sad.

Walking around the River Walk after dinner

Brotherly sisterly love!

The kids and me

KK

Mommy with her boy...bout to be a Kindergartener!

Such a fun day and evening! That night we came home and got in our jammies. We watched "The Chronicles of Narnia" and ate caramel popcorn. Fun times!

Can't wait to tll you about Day #4

Mom Stories

2008-07-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

Mom has provided us with lots of opportunities to laugh over the years. For that, we are so very grateful, seeing as we are a family that likes to laugh.

Well, I'll start with a story that occurred many years ago, when I was in the horrible junior high days. We were living in a little rent house that lacked many amenities such as central heat and air, a working septic system and mold-free closets. It was a beloved home that also provided us with many stories to tell today. ("It's a fo buner nigh!" Only my family will get that) This was a very short-lived situation and obviously we have no idea most of those issues existed in the home until we were in it!
Well, because we had to use space heaters, my mom lived with this deep fear of the house catching on fire or one of us being electrocuted. So, one day she was asleep on the couch. She was out cold. She had covered up with one of those homemade crocheted afghans that all grandmas are so skilled in making. Ya know the type? Anyway, she was really wrapped up in that thing good! The last memory she had before she drifted into la-la land was that of my sister ironing. I guess she was having worried thoughts as she dozed off of Danyel killing herself by electrocution.

So, in the back of the house I am coming out of the restroom and my dad jumps out and scares me. I scream like only junior high girls are equipped to do. My mom, in her delirium attempts to jump off the couch to come and rescue what she thinks is her beloved daughter, Danyel, who has just been fatally shocked by the iron with a short in it. Well, unfortunately she was really tangled up in that afghan and she more like rolled off the couch in a thud and began to do all she could think to do...army crawl across the floor, dragging herself by her arms to come to the side of her possibly dead daughter.

Are you envisioning all of this?

So, as she crawls, she is calling out, "Danyel! Danyel!" in that hysterical crazed voice. Do you know the one? Sadly for her, but MOST hysterical to us, as she rounds the corner in her frantic army crawl rescue mission she looks up to see the three of us, Danyel, dad and me all just looking down at her. We have those looks on our faces like, "What...is...the deal?"

Oh, I wish what happened next really hadn't happened, but it did. It's too late to go back now and fix it! Well, we all stood there looking down at her and then we burst into laughter. And I mean BURST!!! Unfortunately, she saw not one bit of humor in the situation and stomped to her room to finish her nap.

Well since then we have had LOTS of laughs retelling that story and mom will be the first to tell it and the first to laugh at herself now! So, that makes what happened a few weeks ago all the more hysterical. Mom and dad were at the lake house with Danyel, Ryan and the their kids. Eli was in one of the bedrooms playing with the karaoke machine trying to bust out a song. Well, he got the mic too close to the speaker and it started to squeal a little. He is so very sensitive to sound and it scared him to death. He started crying. Well, mom was in the other room washing dishes and she heard Eli crying. For some odd reason, she thought he was being electrocuted!! Are you seeing a pattern here? So she bolted for the bedroom to save him. The only problem was, she was wearing those big, fluffy socks that all of us girls have these days and let me tell you...they ain't got much traction! After an attempt to run, which I heard just looked like she was running in place, she fell to the ground. Eli came out of the bedroom and just stood over her like, what's the problem GiGi?

So sad to say that mom had more than a hurt ego this time, she tore the ligament that attaches her thumb to her hand. She said it swelled up huge right away. POOR MOM!!

Here's a picture of Eli with his GiGi and her bandaged hand, along with the infamous fuzzy socks!

And as one of my favorite pastors, CJ Mahaney would say, "The ability to laugh at oneself is a mark of humility." I love that about my mom!

Soapy Love

2008-07-09T00:00:00.002-05:00

I know you would just love to cool off by biting into this beautiful and scrumptious looking popsicle, but...you'd have a rude awakening if you did! This is soap y'all!

Precious, huh? I just ordered some today cause I got a coupon for 20% off.

If you are interested in looking at all the different soapsicles they have go to their website here.
The coupon code for 20% off is GOCITY20

Happy sudsing!!!

Vacation Day #2

2008-07-08T20:27:00.002-05:00

Day #2 began with this little girl sleeping through it all...we had to wake her up so that we could get going on our day. She was already worn out after only one day of fun!!
Once she woke up, she was up and ready!

If you knew how we ate on this trip...you'd gain weight just hearing about it.
This morning Kristi made cream cheese sticky buns.
Yeah.
Enough said.
YUM!!

Look at those sweet baby faces!

Paul did such a great job planning this trip! Instead of staying a hotel, we stayed in this quaint little house in the woods. Literally, it sat on 20 acres of land, that we shared with no one (except a few raccoons). The kids and I stayed in a room with an iron bed and a bathroom with a claw foot tub. Perfect! And the best part is, it was way cheaper than the 8 of staying in 2 hotel rooms in San Antonio.

So we spent our second day of the trip in San Marcus at the outlet mall and then Natural Bridge Caverns. The kids were thrilled about seeing a real cave. It was fun to marvel at God's creation!

Here are the kids mining for gold and secret treasures. They found a few. I would have labeled them as rocks, but B and C seemed to think that they were treasures worth hanging on to....only be found at the bottom of the washing machine a few days later! HA!!

The natural bridge...thus the name of the caverns

You know that pictures of natural places like this always wow you in person and then your camera just doesn't seem to capture the beauty of it. Any one else ever experience that?

Going down in the cave was scary! Being the dork that I am I wore flip flops. And the inside of a cave is 99% humidity y'all. Yep, makes for great hair AND slippery hills to walk on. I slipped like a bazillion times. That part was not fun!

Paul :-)

We really wore these three out with all the walking!
The adults had to take shifts carrying them!

Kristi and Tyler

The kids and me...these are happy times!

FUN DAY!!! Can't wait to tell you about Day #3 of our trip!

New Do and Some Twirling

2008-07-08T13:38:00.005-05:00

Cait, my angel girl is growing before my eyes! It's wonderful and sad all at the same time!
Yesterday I took her to get a haircut. She looked so precious this morning with her new do and her new twirling dress that GiGi bought her. I just had to share.

Oh the JOY!!!

Vacation Day #1

2008-07-07T17:09:00.004-05:00

We hit the road...a little bit later than planned...but who cares? We set off on our vacation. Well, I called it a vacation. Cait kept calling it our adventure and Benjamin kept calling it our field trip. Funny. Anyway, whatever you choose to call it, it was going to be fun!

We turned the key to my car at about 10:30 that morning to leave. Well, as must always happen...the battery was dead. Oh yes...seriously. After banging on many a neighbors' doors, we finally got some jumper cables. Paul got the car going and we were off to Walmart. Paul bought me a pair of brand new jumper cables! I was giddy! No, but seriously, it was very, very sweet and I felt so very safe having Paul with me through the whole ordeal. You wives don't take that for granted, okay? Man, it's scary to have car problems or house maintenance when you are single!

Why did I get off on all that? Not sure.

Anyway, here we are stopped in Waco for lunch. We went the ultra-cheap vacation route. That means, we cooked almost all of our meals and had sandwiches everyday for lunch. It was great!

Yummy sandwiches!

We drove straight to San Antonio where we rented a house for three nights. Here are Kristi and me in the kitchen whipping up some dinner. This was one of the most fun parts of the trip...working int he kitchen with everyone. You learn a lot about people by the way they cook. For example...Kristi is an amazing cook, but very messy! She will tell you that herself. She also opens every cabinet door and leaves it open. I felt like the official cabinet door closer. I just tried to follow her lead and learn form her! She could fatten anyone up if you let her. The ironic thing is, she's so stinking tiny!

Anyway, talk about tangents! I'm going in every direction writing this!
Tomorrow I'll tell you about day #2 of our vacation. FUN TIMES, y'all!

Okay...

2008-06-20T10:40:00.005-05:00

So we've had so stinking much going on since my last post. Let's see, school let out for the summer (hooray!), we moved to Carrollton (5 minutes from TCA - double hooray!) and we've been getting settled, having company, and doing summery things like swimming and VBS. I'm tired just writing that.

Anyway, Danyel and the kids were here this week, which was a blast! We had fun just hanging out and letting the kids play. Last night Paul and I threw a luau with Kristi, Tyler, Danyel and the kids. It was fun! I thought I'd show you some pictures.

Here's Mia getting her lei and kisses from mommy

B drinking his festive drink...obviously without alcohol!!!! But it sure did look fun!

B and Ms. Kristi

Paul showing off his kabobs all grilled, yummy and ready to eat!

D, me and Kristi

Kiddos...aren't thy cute? This is the only time they sat still all night!

Paul and me

Paul's photography

Fun on our new trampoline. We have just as much fun on there as the kids, I think!

And what luau would be complete without the limbo?

Since school let out, Benjamin just GOT this reading thing! Seriously...he can't put books down now. It's like a light went on and now he wants to read everything to anybody who will sit and listen! I love it! I guess we'll be doing lots of reading this summer!

More updates to come. I'll post pics of our house soon! We love it and are really enjoying summer so far!!! Hope you are too!

Holding Hands

2008-06-09T22:11:00.001-05:00

This is so stinking funny! It only lasts like 1 minute and so worth it. If you were raised int he baptist church you will especially appreciate it!

Memorial Day at the Lake

2008-05-29T22:30:00.000-05:00

This was a super fun weekend with so much going on that it kind of left us all reeling! It all started with Cait's ballet recital on Saturday afternoon. This really threw a kink in our weekend plans, but it was worth all the trouble.

Can you say adorable?

There is nothing cuter than a stage full of 4 and 5 year olds performing "ballet."

You should have seen those babies...precious! Anyway, here are some sweet pictures of MY little ballerina! Does everyone think their child is beautiful? I know they do...and wonder how that happened considering the gene pool she came from! HA!!! Just kidding!

After the recital it was off to the lake house. The new additions to our summer fun are my dad's new boat (muy rapido!!!) and 2 jet skis. Fun times, people! Who knew Cait would be the biggest dare devil of them all? "Faster!" was her mantra of the weekend.

Paul and I even got a turn on the jet skis. Obviously this is post-water sport hair, so don't make fun!

Paul had a little surprise this weekend! His family came up and joined us at the lake house to help celebrate his birthday. I made a carrot cake (not as good as his sister's but yummy enough), BUT I forgot the candles. So here he is blowing out his imaginary candles. Hee hee!

Please forgive me...but I went kind of camera crazy with my Mia girl this weekend. She is the cutest thing...so prissy and independent. Here she is giving her Auntie T a kiss.

My girl

Precious baby girl....

B really got brave this weekend. Here is is jumping into the lake.
READY...

SET.....

GO!!!!

JUMP!!

SO BIG!!!!

Elijah...what a boy! I wish you could hear his little voice. He is such an angel!

This is a terrible picture of me, but I can't stop looking at it. It makes me smile. We were cracking up (as usual) about something. Man, it's good to feel carefree and LAUGH!!!

And now for my favorite picture of the weekend.

Happy Birthday Paul! I hope this next year is one of your best, ever!

Birthday Celebration

2008-05-05T18:43:00.002-05:00

We had a great weekend! We spent it in Azle, which if you don't know, is located right outside of Fort Worth. It is fondly referred to by me as "the other side of the world!"
We celebrated a special birthday this weekend. Actually, the real day is tomorrow!! Our friend Kristi is turning the big 3-0! I got a picture of the birthday girl with her birthday dunce cap on.

Here's her cake. Isn't it pretty???

Happy Birthday!!!!

Party Animals!!!!

The Lewis family.
We've known them such a short time, but they are already so dear to us!
Jimmy, Kristi, Bill, Tyler and Paul

After dinner the kids played outside for a while.
There was lots of room to run and play!!
Cait digging in the dirt.

A good old fashion game of tag...

Okay, I know this is an obnoxious number of pictures, but these next three are my absolute favorites!!!! Click on them to make them bigger.

SO FUN!!!!!

This is Bill Lewis. Mr. Lewis to you and me. This is his face when he is getting on to you. He told me not to take a picture of him and I did anyway. Better to ask forgiveness than permission, right? Really, his bark is bigger than his bite. He's quite harmless, actually.

Birthday girl

Later that night Paul built a little fire for us from his fence he tore down that day. So much fun! We roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. Kristi had never had a s'more before!!!

We spent the night Saturday night at Kristi's house and then went to church with everyone Sunday. After church we went o Mayfest in Fort Worth. Yeah, I wish I could say that was an absolute blast...but well...at least the company was great!!!!
Thanks guys for letting us hang out with you this weekend. We loved every minute of it!!!

General update after being away so long

2008-05-01T20:51:00.000-05:00

My sweet girl did what every four year old must do...cut their own hair.
Bummer.

Oh well, at least it was the back of her hair up to her shoulder and not the front. We had been talking about bobbing it before school started in the fall, but I guess she just couldn't wait.
Doesn't she look sweet, though?

As a general update...a few weeks ago we went bowling with some of our dear friends. Here B is showing a little too much affection for Tyler, I guess. Looks more like he's choking him than hugging.

Here's the whole gang minus me, of course

See, I was there. Have you ever noticed how there is often no proof that the mom was at any given event? Well, it's because she was behind the camera instead of in front of it! I guess somebody got a hold of my camera though!

Fun times!

Well, then last weekend we had the treat of Ms. Kristi spending the night with us on Saturday night and going to church with us the next morning. Here she is playing dress-up with Cait.

Crazy girls!!!

Because we've been having SO much fun lately, there hasn't been any time left over to post. But that is OKAY by me!

Happy weekend to you!

Friday Funny

2008-04-18T06:08:00.000-05:00

So, yes, I stole this catchy title from the Girl Talk blog. That's okay though! I just felt like posting something funny today. It's been a long week of testing at Trinity and my brain is kind of fried. No, I'm not the one actually answering the questions but I have had to walk around for the ENTIRE time the kids are testing, check for bubbling errors, making sure they are on the correct page, correct section of answer key, etc, etc. There have been MANY major errors caught! But my brain frazzling has occurred because of looking at the answers the kids are marking. I would figure out one answer on the test and then I would walk around the room checking for everyone's answer on that particular question.

Like for example...according to three of the 4th graders in my room, did you know that the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches are the three branches of the US Navy? Huh. Neither did I!!!!!!!

Or, you walk by one kid's desk and he's on #14. Thirty seconds later you check him again and he's on #32. Huh. Strange. Speedy and diligent worker? I think not!

It's okay, it'll all pan out in the end. Of course, it will be a major reflection on what I've taught them all year, but who's worried?

Not me.

Anyway, on to the funny.

Twice a year we have Bible Bowl competitions in our lower school chapel service. They ask the kids Bible questions and they answer them, competing on boys vs girls teams. The kids love it. So the funniest answers of recent Bible Bowls...

1) What three gifts did the wise man bring Jesus?
A: gold, a pretty box and......and..... a check?

2) When God created Eve, what part of Adam's body did God remove?
A: His backbone

HA!!!!!!!!

Happy Friday, y'all!

Baseball Game #1

2008-04-15T23:38:00.000-05:00

What fun! B's first baseball game as an Angel. They were so stinkin adorable!

B spent most of his time in th outfield dancing. Seriously, the kid has some moves. Don't ask me where he got them from, because I know he didn't get them from me and I can assure you he didn't get the dancing gene from his daddy either!

Chris shared these pictures with me. He can do some really cool things with his photo software. I get to benefit from his love of photography when he takes cool pictures of my kids!

Sweet little feet

Homemade Vanilla

2008-04-14T23:35:00.000-05:00

Okay, so do you love to bake? Well if so, you need this vanilla. You've never had anything like it and nothing I've ever tasted compares.

Best of all, it is EASY and way less expensive than buying the cheap, less yummy stuff from the grocery store!

Here are the girls on our vanilla making night!

Okay, so here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Vanilla Extract

1 bottle of 80 proof Vodka (we made Eric go to the liquor store and buy 2 cases of Vodka!)
6-8 Vanilla beans (we ordered in bulk from an on-line based company)

Split the beans with a sharp knife. Pull open to ensure that they will stay open.
Drop beans into Vodka bottle.
Shake. Done.

You will want to continue to shake the bottle several times a week to help the process along. It needs to sit for at least 4-6 weeks before you can use it. However, the longer it ages, the better it becomes! Store it in a dark place for best results. Julie said that when she gets to the bottom of her bottle it's almost a little syrupy. Yummy!!!

We're planning to make jelly together again next month. Can't wait!
Any other ideas of fun and simple things our little group can make or learn to make together? Please share!

Overtime for the Tooth Fairy!

2008-04-12T11:13:00.001-05:00

Well, B lost his very first tooth last Friday and it was quite a day for all of us. Then, Tuesday it happened again! He lost his second tooth. It was wiggly, but not ready yet...I thought. Anyway, it came out alright. He's getting rich!

The Tooth Fairy brought him $2 and a fruit-by-the-foot again. She brought that particular treat again because B said as he was climbing in bed that night, "I sure hope the Tooth Fairy brings me the same thing she did last time." So, well, she listened and brought the same thing. So, on the way to school the next morning Benjamin said, "You know what? I think the Tooth Fairy has been taking those fruit-by-the-foot out of our pantry!"

I had to laugh!

Such a silly boy I have! He's trying to master the art of jokes. Knock-knocks are his favorite right now. Here's an example:
"Knock, knock."
"Who's there?"
"apple"
"apple who?"
"apple"
"apple who?"
"apple"
"APPLE WHO?"
"aren't you glad I didn't say apple again?"

And then he laughs hysterically at himself! I'm left sitting there trying to figure out the joke!
I think that joke works better with the orange. But who cares?

Kindergarten was studying bugs this last week. Here B is showing us his spider. "Spiders have eight legs and 6 eyes," he told us. "And this is a grandma spider."
"Oh really? How do you know it's a grandma spider?"
"Because she has blue hair."

I kid you not! And NO I do not call older people blue-hairs!!!! Where he got that, I have NO idea!!! We got a good laugh out of that one, though!!!!

Fish Story

2008-04-12T11:05:00.001-05:00

I know!!!! Can you believe this catch? Dad caught this fish on our lake at Camp Creek.
8 lbs. 9 ozs!!!
It's funny because that is exactly how much his second daughter weighed when she was born!! This fish weighs almost twice as much as Benjamin did when he was born!!! He was a little runt!

Sharing a fish like this for a fisherman, is like a mom sharing the stats of her newborn child! Dad is actually going to be in the Tomball newspaper for his catch! Fisherman's dream. Way to go daddy! When is the fish fry? Count me in!

Love you daddy!

Day at the Zoo

2008-04-08T23:00:00.000-05:00

Don't you love that time of year where you start getting outside again? Gosh!!! It is SO good for the soul! Well, this past Saturday was a perfect day! Absolutely gorgeous! We spent the day at the Fort Worth Zoo (along with 10,000 other people I might add).

Here are Benjamin and Cait with our friend Tyler

Ms. Kristi giving Tyler a piggy back ride.

Welcome spring!

My boy

Sweet Tyler

Baby girl

We LOVED feeding the birds!!!

Cait got brave and even stroked the bird's feathers

A perfect day!

Baseball Superstar!!!

2008-04-07T18:30:00.001-05:00

Baseball season is upon us! Getting outside after the long winter, taking in the changing season, feeling the warmth of spring. Ahh...... Just what the doctor ordered for all of us!

Here's my sweet, sweet boy getting ready for baseball season. The Angles have been practicing to get ready for their first game next week. I had to share some of the adorable pictures of my little superstar!

I love his face here! He looks like he's having so much fun!

Yes, they're practicing with tennis balls for catching...they're friendlier!

Ready...

Set...

swing!!!!

Another hit!

Out of the park, people!!!!

Home run star!!!

Double-Timing Tooth Fairy

2008-04-07T06:13:00.000-05:00

It happened! B lost his very first tooth!!! We have done some serious wiggling over the last month on that poor little tooth. We stepped up the diligent working on that baby tooth after we noticed that the permanent tooth had completely come in already behind it...very much in the wrong spot! Don't worry, I immediately set up a savings plan for braces. Braces start so much earlier these days! Did you notices all these 8, 9, 10 year old kids with braces these days? Like half of my 4th graders have or have already had braces. They do them in two stages these days. Those same kids will have them again in their early teens if needed, but for a shorter time.

Anyway...back to MY boy! I will try not to cry as I type this....He lost his tooth at school. I wasn't there when it happened. BUT, BUT, BUT.....his sweet teacher brought him straight up to the 4th grade hall to find me! Wasn't that precious? He was covered in blood and grinning from ear to ear with that little wad of paper towel stuffed in his mouth to stop the bleeding. All the 4th grade teachers were with me to scream and do a victory dance over the celebration of the tooth. It really was special, which made it a little easier on this mama that I wasn't there. I'm so trying to think about what I should be SO grateful for, instead of focusing on what I'm missing out on by not being at home with my kids! And this is one instance where I am so grateful!

So, because B lost his tooth on a Friday (his night at daddy's house) the tooth fairy visited Benjamin TWICE! Cool for him, right? (No, we don't do Santa or Easter bunny, but we do play tooth fairy. He's knows the fairy is mom and day, but he still plays along and it's fun for all of us!) This parenting thing is fun, y'all. Are you all having fun? I hope you are as much as I am! These are the moments we'll be talking about when they've got kids of their own. OH, I'm gonna cry again. Guess that's enough sap for one morning.

Have a blessed week you guys!

Bon Appetite!

2008-04-01T21:56:00.000-05:00

So, Kindergarten outdid themselves again this week! To conclude a study on France, the students had a French Cafe and invited one special person to share it with. It was so elaborate and fun! All the little girls dressed in a Madeline costume and all the boys wore their regular uniform with a little beret. SO cute!!!

Here are the place settings that Benjamin made just for he and I. The menu has colored pictures of what we were being served.

Mrs. Goude, a Kindergarten assistant welcoming the parents...so funny!

Each Kindergartener paraded in to the song, "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. Precious! B served me my plate and said, "Bon Appetite!"

He served me buttered french bread, strawberries, mini quiche, and cheese.
Here we are together...ooh, la, la!!!

After eating the éclairs that Benjamin made just for me, we all went back into the classroom for their Madeline presentation. They quoted the book to us, with each child having a segment of the book. So stinking cute, y'all! Here is B, my little ham. He does have some drama blood in him after all!

The kids thanked us for coming. They were saying, "Merci, Merci!"
I love Kindergarten and I'm so glad I get to do it again next year! Did I tell you all that Cait was accepted to Trinity? Yay! We're good to go now, as far as I can see for next year! We'll all be together.

Happy Easter

2008-03-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

I didn't get one single picture of the kids on Easter morning in their cute little spring outfits. Bummer. I did get some fun pictures of the other festivities in the day. After church we headed to Fort Worth to spend the day with some new friends of ours. We had a blast. Who wouldn't when the eggs were filled with money?!!!! I was bummed that I forgot MY basket!

Let the hunt begin!

Cait had some major help from sweet Mr. Jimmy!

Cait getting more help from "Mr. Lewis"
Cute, huh?

Tyler showing off his bounty. He has $15 in those eggs!!!

Tyler's mommy, Ms. Kristi

Benjamin showing off his enormous duck!

Cait showing me her huge Bunny that she "won" for finding the most eggs. Hmmm...I wonder if Mr. Jimmy had anything to do with that? She found 31 when her brother found only 19. HA!

I hope everyone had as fun of a day as we did!

A word of encouragement

2008-03-24T22:12:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine e-mailed me a few days ago with encouragement. She of all people can encourage me because her situation is the same as mine. If you only knew how many precious ladies I am friends with that are in my same situation! It is crazy, y'all! Some days it feels pretty discouraging! I mean, what is going on??!!

Anyway, this post is about encouragement, not DIScouragement!!!

A few months ago I kept having this thought run through my head..."I feel like spring is almost here." Now, I don't man literal spring, as in the season, obviously. I was talking about the spring of my life. Winter has come and stayed a long time. Winter is not my favorite. Not in the least. I hate the cold. I think the bare trees are depressing and the staying indoors all the time (because I hate to BE cold) gets so stinking old after a few months. I think I get vitamin D deprived. Loneliness is a common thing in the winter. I hate that feeling. I am a social person and I hate feeling all alone. But all that said, I kept feeling like winter was coming to an end. Spring was near.

So interesting, because this friend e-mailed me with some encouraging words and a verse from Songs of Solomon. How interesting, huh?

“My beloved responded and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along.
11 ‘For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. Song of Songs 2:10-11

Oh, let it be so! Come spring! Please come. I'm tired of the bitter coldness of winter and its bleakness. I'm ready for the warmth and the newness that so perfectly follows the cold and rain.

Easter party

2008-03-24T20:00:00.001-05:00

Benjamin's class has the neatest little parties. They are not only for the kids, but also for the parents. I love that! Here the kids are singing some little songs they learned about Jesus and about spring. They also recited Psalm 121 using their sign language. So precious!
B's face lit up when I walked in the room. It made me feel good and sad all at the same time. I have to admit that it's been hard for m to be a part of everything the Kindergarten has put on this year because of my own class. That is a bummer. However, it works out most of the time, which I need to be so grateful for.

Here Benjamin is telling me about his box. They read a sweet book called, Benjamin's Box together as a class. The main character, Benjamin, tells the story of Jesus' death and resurrection through the eyes of a child. As he tells the story, he collects little keepsakes along the way and puts them in his box. They are items that help retell the story behind the gospel. Each of the students made their own box with those same items to help them tell the story over and over again. He was going piece by piece telling me the story. Makes me tear up just thinking about it now.

Wednesday when they had their class party, a monsoon swept through Addison. Seriously, it was mega rain like my kids have never seen! Because of that, the egg hunt was indoors. Here is B taking a peek in one of eggs.

Happy Easter!

So many pictures, so little time to post

2008-03-24T16:46:00.001-05:00

Last weekend we went to the lake house to celebrate sweet Eli's birthday and Easter with the family. Heeere's the birthday boy...all of 3 years old! Can it be possible?

Danyel threw the coolest Curious George party. Look at this table, would ya?

Unfortunately, this is what the cake looked like when it arrived at the lake house. Bummer! It completely cratered. After a little bit of touch up, it almost passed as looking normal...from just the right angle, anyway!

All the monkey celebrating got our kiddos in the mood to act like monkeys! Here they are jumping on GiGi's bed! Actually, one DID fall off and bump his head. How ironic!

Here's the gang with empty baskets right before the hunt began.

Ready,set, hunt!

Comparing the goods

Does it get cuter than this, folks? I seriously doubt it.

YAY!!! Full baskets with tons of candy and treats!

Mom...glowing from all the grandbaby exposure.

Mia checking out what is in her eggs. Look how impressed she is!

Daddy..isn't he handsome?

Our twinkie girls. They look like they could be sisters, don't they?

Grandparent's Day

2008-03-24T16:22:00.000-05:00

What a fun day! Mom and dad drove all the way from Tomball to be here for Grandparent's Day. Benjamin was SO stinking excited ro have his GiGi and Poppa there to show them what he does everyday at school. Mom and Dad brought him lunch and then let B show them around the room. The pictures are priceless!

Pictures taken at JUST the right moment!

2008-03-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

Danyel sent these pictures to me. It made me laugh so hard that I just had to share! There are more, but the rest involve more poop or otherwise embarrassing situations. If you want to see them at your own risk, just e-mail me and I'll forward!!!

Let the laughing begin...

Click on this on to enlarge. Poor kid!

Struggling to find Hope

2008-03-10T19:00:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago I really started to wonder how someone was supposed to find hope. Ya know, doesn't it seem like such a cliche?

Hope...

Well I set out to really try and get my arms around the meaning of hope. I started by looking up as many verses as I could find. Maybe that would help me understand.

I Cor 13:7 "Love always hopes"

Job 13:15 "Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him."

Psalm 25:3 "No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame."

Psalm 33:18-22 "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them from famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

Psalm 42:5 "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."

Lamentations 3:19-25 "I remember my afflictions and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him."

So...I listed verse after verse, many more than the ones I put here. Then I thought about it and prayed about it and still didn't get it! Help me Lord!

Finally, I resorted to the dictionary. This is where things began to come into focus for me.

Hope: 1) feeling that something desired is possible 2) confidence, full trust or assurance

AHHHH..... I think I'm starting to get it. Hope means two different things!

Okay, so I remember my pastor, Hal, preaching one time on the difference between faith and hope. We can have faith that God will do what He has promised. He tells us so many things in His word that we can count on with 100% certainty. We can expect them!!

However, we can only hope for other things. We can hope for things that He might give us, things that are good, but they are not things that we are guaranteed to receive from Him. In my case, I think often about the gift of a husband. Can I have faith and believe with 100% certainty that God will give me what I desire in that particular instance? NO! He has not promised a spouse to me in His word. He has promised to give me good things and to do what is best for me. He is the only one who gets to define what that looks like.

I can hope in something like a husband if it is in alignment with His word and His character. Is it consistent with gifts that He says are good? Would it be like God to bless me with that desire? Yes! So therefore, I can hope for it!

Now what Webster helped me to understand is that there are two different types of hope.
1) Hope FOR something and 2) Hope IN Someone...in God

Hoping FOR something: Feeling that something desired is a possible reality

Hope IN someone: complete confidence and trust IN Him

So then I went back to all of those verses that I originally looked up and tried to decide which type of hope applied to each. I can HOPE for good things from His hand. I can hope for certain circumstances and the things that my heart longs for secretly. But, my hope cannot ever be IN those things! My hope needs to be in my Savior alone, not His gifts or blessings that come from His hand. Hope that gives makes me have complete trust that He is what He says He is and He will do what is good and right is hope IN Him. His definition of what is good needs to become my definition. I will pray that my desires will be conformed to His so that whatever He gives me in this short life will be the desires of my heart...because my heart is aligned with Him and the things His heart wants.

I'm hoping for some things. You can hope with me. But SO much more importantly, let's put our hope IN Him. Let's focus on His face instead of His hand and what we hope comes from it.

2008-02-26T21:47:00.000-06:00

1ooth day of school meant that the Kindergarteners at TCA dress up like they are 100 years old. Funny, huh? Look at my little old man!!

We sprayed his hair gray, which is hard to see in the picture. He borrowed my assistant's cheap reading glasses (knowing they would probably get lost, and they did).

Seeing our frinds in class looking like they aged a little since yesterday!

When Cait was younger I was struggling with the idea that she didn't care for chocolate. I mean, seriously...how was I supposed to bond with a daughter that didn't share a mutual love for all things chocolate?!
Well as you can see, she is definitely over that little silly dislike! She loves to cook, but she loves to lick the spoon WAY more!

2008-02-09T23:09:00.000-06:00

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, then you know about my appreciation for Sara Groves. Her music has ministered to me in the most amazing ways. Not just one song has meant a great deal, but several. I sort of feel like she and I are friends! HA! Well, tonight I had the opportunity to see her in concert. It was a real blessing, as I knew it would be. The friends I went with all got sick. One got sick beforehand and never showed. The other left right in the middle of the concert, leaving me there alone. It was okay, though. I'm getting more and more acquainted with being alone and it being okay. So, anyway...after the concert I bought a couple of CD's and was just standing there looking at them. I then ran into a friend that I worked with at TCA. She introduced me to her husband, who happened to be the announcer for the event. I told them how much I loved Sara Groves and how the Lord had used her music in my life. So, my friend's husband said, "You need to tell her that yourself. Come on, I'll introduce you."

I got to shake Sara's hand and tell her for myself. I'm sure she hears those same words everywhere she goes from a hundred other faces, but it felt good to tell her anyway.

So, as of tonight I have now completed my Sara Grove CD collection. I now own all of her CD'S. So if you're in need of some fresh new tunes, I'm the girl to see!

Good night, y'all!

God is so good

2008-02-09T11:33:00.000-06:00

If you ever are frustrated with God or are questioning WHY He is handling things in your life a certain way...you just give me a call! I will talk your ear off about His goodness and speak to you testimony of all the ways I've seen Him be GOOD to me, even when it didn't feel good at the time!

I do so look forward to the day...you know the day where I get to see how He restores all that the locusts have destroyed. That day when it all comes full circle and I can see more clearly what He was working on all along. But, in the meantime...He is GOOD to give me little things. Reasons to smile and hope and be distracted in the most fun way imaginable! It's like icing on an already wonderful cake. He loves to lavish on us, doesn't He?

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" I John 3:1

"May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:22

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." I John 4:9-10

"As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God's love for those who fear Him." Psalm 103:11

Note to self

2008-02-05T20:55:00.000-06:00

Be still my soul!
The Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change He faithful will remain
Be still my soul!
They best, they heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Be still my soul!
Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still my soul!
When change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

What can I share?

2008-02-02T20:30:00.000-06:00

Over the last week I was reflecting on what my posts have looked like for the last several months. They all seem so superficial and silly. Sure, fun things with my kids are important to me, but not deep and probably not encouraging to anyone out there. God has been teaching me steadily through this season. I have felt growth in Him and He's showed me so many neat things in my day to day life to comfort me and strengthen me. I have had some big decisions over the last few months. I've had some big shifts in mindset. I've come to accept some harsh truths and scary possibilities. All of these things are BIG to me and I'm sure they would encourage others out there to see how God works in other's lives as well as their own. But the problem is...the reason I haven't shared, is because they are so very, deeply personal. So many of these thoughts and decisions and struggles are too private to post out on the world-wide web. God is moving, I am learning and growing, but I can't share it with the masses.

I will say, though that this Christmas was hard. I have wondered if this is all there will ever be...just the kids and me. I know God is good no matter what. I know He would be so very loving if he gives me an amazing husband who loves God and and leads us, his family, in a mature, fun, steady way. However... He would be JUST as loving if He gave me no one as a husband except for Himself alone for all the days I live on this earth. His promises will remain and will be fulfilled...He will be working in me, doing His will and good work in me until the last day, with love and faithfulness. I know this is the truth, but some days it doesn't FEEL like it is. Some days the picture pops in my head...me, 50 years old, single, kids grown and gone, alone with a cat and plastic on my furniture! Sad. Very sad and depressing. But then I think about it again and remind myself that if that what God has for me, then...well that is the best plan. He will be fulfilling in me what He desires. I will better be serving Him as a single lady rather than a married lady. Now, I'm not saying that I'm totally okay with this idea. I do rebuke this thought of perpetual singleness in the name of Jesus often, so I'm not too comfortable with the idea yet, nor do I want to be. However, it does bring me comfort knowing that I will be most happy and most at peace in His perfect will for me. And...that's what I want. That's where I want to be.

After all, being single isn't so bad. I go to whichever restaurant I want. I buy groceries and plan meals according to my likes and cravings, only. I watch chick flicks all the time...no more alternating between turns (shoot 'em up - chick flick - shoot 'em up - chick flick). I sleep in the middle of my queen-sized bed, not sharing the covers with anyone. I spend my money how I see fit...no convincing needed that occasional highlights are a necessity. I get lots of friend time. I get to think about the possibility of falling in love, getting married and having babies, even though that dream already came true once.

But...I know what you're thinking. Don't even say it. I can read your thoughts. I know....but there's definitely some major downfalls to this single life. With all the obvious things being unsaid, uhuummm....there's also no one to zip my zippers. There's no one to help me carry in the groceries or do heavy lifting. There's no one to keep a home for or serve. There's no one to debrief with at the end of the day. There's no one to lead me or comfort me or love me. I know.

But I'm okay. I really am.

Please don't think this is cliche....but He really is all I need. I don't feel (very often anyway) like I'm going without. I feel the most enormous amount of joy...and peace. Now, COME ON PEOPLE!!!!! That is not me!!! It's so clear where that peace and joy comes from!!! It's fruit y'all. Fruit that can only come from the work of the Holy Spirit, bearing that fruit in us. I'm just a tree. He is the one that gives the tree life and He is the ONLY one that can make it bear anything beautiful or wonderful. I thank Him for that every hour of every day, I think. It's constantly on my mind...what He has done and continues to do.

Trials stink, I know. Especially when they are far enough removed that people start to expect you to be "over it" and "healed by now." It's funny, because it's been a year and a half this month, but I still cry about it at least once or twice a week. I cry for different reasons. Sometimes I cry because I'm sad that it didn't work out...out marriage and little family. Sometimes I cry when I drive by and see dads on the soccer fields with their sons. Sometimes I cry when I'm lonely and other times I cry when I am about to go on a date...thinking "what am I doing?!" Other times, I just cry because I'm releasing to Him the control I've always wanted over my own life. That breaking and surrendering hurts, because it's against our nature.

Have you ever tried to part your hair on the other side? you know how weird that feels and foreign? Well, that what it feels like for me to be single. Very unnatural. Very foreign. Yet, when I look to the Bible, I see example after example of how others felt this very same way and God was using it all to a greater end. That end...was for His own glory.

I believe wholeheartedly that that is exactly what He is doing now through my humble, uncomfortable circumstances. You'll be there too one day, if you haven't already...in that place where you would not have chosen to be, but a place that He will work in you to fulfill His plan and bring Himself glory!

Those Born 1920-1979

2008-01-29T21:16:00.000-06:00

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. (not all of us!!!)

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored, lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because,

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.!

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.......

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them.....CONGRATULATIONS!

Christmas recap

2008-01-20T20:21:00.000-06:00

We had such a great time in Houston for Christmas. I just had to put some fun pictures up here to share, even if it is a month past due!!

Mia and Cait on a deer statue in front of my aunt and uncle's house.
Mia and Eli...How cute can you be without it being a crime?

This what we do at our house at Christmas...rough house and tickle and goof off! We love to laugh! Here's Ryan with the three big kids...swinging them all around at once. He's just a big kid!

More being silly!! Look at Mia's face!

Cait got this Snow White costume for Christmas. We put it on Mia for fun. Is this not hilarious? The wig and all!

Granny Kemp with the kids. She joined us this yar fro Christmas. It was so much fun to have her there.

Mouths of Babes

2008-01-13T20:00:00.000-06:00

After a trip to the ice cream shop, Benjamin wanted to call his daddy. He said, "Daddy, today I had an ice cream Wednesday." It was a Wednesday and it just made sense to him.

Tonight after bath B was telling me something he had learned and I gave him that sad, "you're growing up too fast" face that he knows so well. He looked at me and said, "Don't worry Mommy. I'm growing up to be strong and wise, just like you and God want me to be." :)

Cait asks the most difficult questions these days.
"Mommy, what does 'I love you' mean?"
"Mommy, what does 'I forgive you' mean?"
"Mommy, what does 'worship God' mean?"
All phrases that she has been using since she could talk and that she's heard since she was born. But just now she's starting to dissect their meaning.

I love these kinds of questions because it allows you that opportunity to lay a foundation in their little minds. You get to paint a God-centered universe from their perception of things. Right now their hearts are tender and teachable. Oh, how I pray that they will always stay that way.

Merry Christmas from us a little late

2008-01-05T17:00:00.001-06:00

We hope you guys all had a wonderful Christmas ad new year celebration with your families. We certainly did. Busy and full of laughter, family, kisses, hugs and lots of new memories made...we had a great time. Here are some pics from our Christmas card photo shoot. I just felt like sharing them for fun. We built the fire in the fireplace, but we had a hard time getting it to show up in the pictures. The one we chose was the only one that you couldn't see the fire. Also, it was the very first picture we took... of about 100. Go figure!!!

Going a little crazy after so many tries!!!

The keeper!!!

Happy New year, y'all!
I'm hopeful for what God will do this year!
He has been faithful to do great things and He will be again!

He's Six...

2008-01-03T17:18:00.001-06:00

Six years ago a wonderful thing happened to me. I was forever changed by becoming the mother of this sweet boy! I mean, look at him!!! How could you NOT love and adore him? Seriously! He has brought me more joy in the last six years than I ever thought was possible to experience. Well, Tuesday this precious boy of mine turned six years old! It was definitely a cause for celebration! B wanted a little bowling party and he invited a few of his close buddies...and of course his cousins!

Eli (my nephew) after a great bowl gives mom a high five!

Miss Rebekah and Benjamin kidding around. If she weren't so much taller than him, I would definitely be trying to arrange a future marriage between these two! She is precious!!

CRAZY fun!!

GiGi feeding baby Mia. Can you believe they all drove to Dallas for the party? So sweet!
GiGi, Poppa, Aunt D, RyRy, Eli and Mia!! We LOVE our family!!!

This is the sad little cake that I made. Right now looking at this picture I so desperately want to reach out and touch it up. Oh well! There was a second cake also, shaped like a bowling ball, that was too bad to post up here. I was trying to save money and make a cake, rather than buy one from a bakery. However, after watching the whole cake making fiasco ...my mom volunteered to BUY the cake next year!

The birthday party gang!!
Luke, Rebekah, Benjamin, Mia, Eli, Hannah, Cait and Jackson

Feliz Navitoss

2007-12-19T22:46:00.000-06:00

Click on the stop light when you get to this sight. Funny!!!

http://www.citizenlink.org/Stoplight/A000005834.cfm

Little Christmas Elves...the cutest you've ever seen!

2007-12-15T18:34:00.000-06:00

Go here and see the cutest little elves ever!! From left to right: Cait, Eli, Benjamin and Mia. FUN!!

2007-12-04T19:18:00.000-06:00

Texas Round Up Day meant for lots of rootin' tootin' cowpoke games. Here's B playing a relay game in his Texas get up.

look at my little horseshoe throwing cowboy. Pretty good, huh?

Is this the cutest thing you've ever seen, or what? Singing, "Deep in the Heart of Texas" with their hands on their hearts!!!

Here's the whole K3 gang after eating their vittles and dancing and playing till they can't take anymore.

Merry Christmas to a Recovering Soldier

2007-12-01T08:30:00.000-06:00

My dear friend Lori sent me this address to add to my Christmas card
list this year. Maybe you will want to add it to yours as well.

A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001

Welcome Home Soldier!

2007-11-29T20:06:00.000-06:00

My assistant at Trinity, Charla, told me about this wonderful idea! She and her family have been participating regularly to greet the U.S. soldiers as thy arrive home from overseas. Here is an excerpt from their website.HES THIS WORK?

There is a plane load of Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines that lands at Dallas Fort Worth Airport every day. This is mostly servicemen and servicewomen who are on two week R&R leave from overseas, mostly from either Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kuwait. This is their first landing on US soil, and from here they board other flights or catch rides with family for the trips to their hometown. With the outstanding support of DFW Airport, a daily welcome party is held to give them a warm reception and let them know the folks here at home support them. As they get off of the plane and exit customs they encounter our party...a group of enthusiastic patriotic Americans of all ages with flags, balloons and posters applauding and shaking their hands.

The reception area is very accessible, thanks to DFW Airport, and anyone wanting to come welcome the troops can participate. You can park right across from the gate. Just go to Terminal B, Gate 39. Your parking is free as you are given parking passes. To find out the time of the flight arrival, just check the recorded message at 972-574-0392...just be sure to check it a couple of times on the morning you are coming because the times often change. You are welcome to bring your group to participate in this, as we often have boy and girl scouts, church groups, school groups, co-workers, etc. If you have a group that is interested, just pick a day and show up. We hope to see you there.

What a valuable thing to teach our children...that these men and women are risking their lives to serve our country and they deserve our recognition and thanks.

Are you interested? If so, here are the details:

www.welcometroops.com
972-574-0392

They usually arrive at 9:30
Terminal B, Gates 37 and 39

Please let me know if you participate in this. I'd love to hear about it. I plan to take the kids some time soon (maybe over the holidays)