tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48531557823534828082024-02-02T02:22:44.903-08:00The Padilla PadUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-7889087309637669772013-07-30T22:37:00.001-07:002013-08-12T06:52:11.358-07:00The Sweetest Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9knOVRgZGenT6hMQI5dBdQNY3W7JgoUqPJrMcB_K_H7E0XvonryTGiPNmEzTT-r4zI03VoR_5kQ37Ksji02FeE4tHHigCYV08D88ngb4GY5BeruKA0MhB25HC-iTnDSdpNZqrzb2UIs/s1600/photo(61).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9knOVRgZGenT6hMQI5dBdQNY3W7JgoUqPJrMcB_K_H7E0XvonryTGiPNmEzTT-r4zI03VoR_5kQ37Ksji02FeE4tHHigCYV08D88ngb4GY5BeruKA0MhB25HC-iTnDSdpNZqrzb2UIs/s320/photo(61).JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is what has been gracing my counter top for the past two
and a half weeks.<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Over the years seeing this sweet clutter on other people’s
counters always made me smile because of <i>who</i>
it means they have - a little baby all their own. I’ve washed so many bottles
for friends, changed so many diapers, tickled so many tummies; I’ve loved it,
and at the same time wondered if God would ever choose to bless me in the same
way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now here I am with a cute grassy drying rack becoming part
of the set of my kitchen and daily routine. And it thrills me because of <i>who</i> it means I have - a little baby all
my own. You see, my family is in the middle of another one of God’s incredible
stories, one that points to Him and humbles me and makes me so glad to be His.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Would you like to hear about it?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">OK, I’ll tell you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's the short version...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">8 years of marriage, 8 years of fun, 8 years of infertility,
of learning to trust our sovereign and loving Father. Almost 2 years since God
began His first glory-giving adoption story in our family. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Even before Danny and Livi’s adoptions were finalized last
November, Michael and I knew we wanted to look into infant adoption. Last
October we got the initial paperwork and prayed about the whole thing, that God
would direct our paths, and for the future birth mother of our possible child. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In March we started the state-required classes – we were
told that our agency usually cancels the 8-week-long sessions if there are less
than 3 couples signed up. Our class had only two couples, but they had been
canceling so many that they decided to keep it on the calendar.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Lord, is this You clearing
the way for us?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We filled out our “child desired form,” checking boxes as to
what we would/not be ok with. Any race, we said – but we wanted a boy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>We wanted to raise
warriors for Christ </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>in this feminizing society of ours! Huah!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We wrote a “match letter” – a letter with lots of family
pictures written to potential birth moms telling them all about us. We were
told that birth moms choose three families and then make their final selection
after meeting each family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Praying that God would
lead the right woman to us, </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>and praying a lot for her.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We were told that once the match letter was in circulation
the average wait to be matched with a birth mom was 6 months. We made a ton of
copies and brought them to the agency to be distributed state-wide.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Grappling for my phone
every time it rang from then on </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>to see if it was “the call.”</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shortly after we put our match letter out, God moved our
hearts to change that child desired form to accept a boy OR a girl. It wasn’t
wrong to choose one or the other but we felt we needed to let the Lord bring us
whoever He wanted. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>YOU direct our path,
Lord!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">4 weeks later on a Friday in May, Mike found out that we
would be moving this fall. I was sad…we’d have to start this whole adoption
process all over again in our new city!
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>More good lessons on
resting in His time.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And then that same night we got the call. A very brave and selfless birth mother had
chosen us – and not only that, but she hadn’t chosen anyone else! We were <i>the</i> family. She was having a baby girl
who would be born in July and had no problem with us leaving so soon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Lord! Really?! Are you REALLY blessing us like this?!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
…And so after lots of baby shopping and planning and
preparing, on July 11<sup>th</sup> our precious little one was born and we took
her home two days later. Her name is Arlie, and we are so in love, and I am so
glad she’s not a boy, and I am overwhelmed with God’s love for me. Overwhelmed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">coming down from the Father of lights, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">in whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">James 1:17 </span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8OUH9m68NR2GEaz1gXmBFdOGt4NUMEZOsBRMdLBcf2wJE5KpPzQ0byQvER1hfDgIPEJIHUSHzhSMLwS9YceKFhyyLPvrYh4SVk4MeyZUYomUUvllLVgFK7opPKCwKsvpP0LZKmXeEU0/s1600/_DSC4491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8OUH9m68NR2GEaz1gXmBFdOGt4NUMEZOsBRMdLBcf2wJE5KpPzQ0byQvER1hfDgIPEJIHUSHzhSMLwS9YceKFhyyLPvrYh4SVk4MeyZUYomUUvllLVgFK7opPKCwKsvpP0LZKmXeEU0/s400/_DSC4491.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-26067499537817120432013-05-14T07:34:00.002-07:002013-05-14T07:34:35.795-07:00A Very Blessed Mama<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0vhjgdVsS00ZImAUmz2UacgJWcKIIUbpqIQC4C9XVGT3WbhmNzXGsEwBC7NH-oZDzfVFu14U8qUQohHa3ovYJu3YtM02PRUT9m9ewWQ_8U_u7nS6po4CMeF1tiBQ6znKMGpumWumYw8/s1600/photo(58).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0vhjgdVsS00ZImAUmz2UacgJWcKIIUbpqIQC4C9XVGT3WbhmNzXGsEwBC7NH-oZDzfVFu14U8qUQohHa3ovYJu3YtM02PRUT9m9ewWQ_8U_u7nS6po4CMeF1tiBQ6znKMGpumWumYw8/s400/photo(58).JPG" width="400" /></a>Today was my first official Mother's Day! We had the kids last year - my mom was here and made it special by potting a basil plant and baking a cake for me - but this year it was official since the kids were adopted in November. </div>
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On Friday Mike took the kids out for a while and gave me a couple glorious hours alone at home with the command to stay seated and relaxed (I was a good wife and submitted). On Saturday he went and found a butcher shop and picked up some amazing steaks, got some extras at the grocery store, and came home and prepared dinner all by himself for me! I am still impressed.<br />
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After dinner the kids brought out presents - they had gone to the mall where Mikey got some beautiful sunglasses for me and the kids picked out a workout t-shirt. They were so excited to give it to me! Then Danny presented a project he had made at school, a little book - here are my two favorite pages:<br />
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I love it! I always get a kick out of seeing what my friends' kids make on Mother's Day and when he gave it to me I got so choked up! I have a son who made one for me...God is so kind to give me such a sweet-hearted little guy!<br />
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Olivia realized she had nothing to give me so she ran upstairs and brought down her toy ambulance and gave it to me. That was so meaningful because she loves emergency vehicles - she hears far-off sirens and yells out "Fire truck! I hope the people are ok!" and always points out police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances on the road. So in her little world giving her mama her only ambulance was a big deal. I feel so loved!<br />
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Every day Michael is very appreciative of me and makes sure the kids are aware of all I do (he's amazing), but this weekend he really celebrated me and I feel SO LOVED! God has blessed me more than I know, as I am finding out more and more. I'm so thankful that He made us a little family, that these two precious little souls have been entrusted to me to raise up, AND that I don't have to do it on my own strength! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-31076692652982468612013-05-08T12:03:00.000-07:002013-05-08T12:05:12.946-07:00A Sick but Happy Day<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I never thought helping someone throw up would bring me so much joy.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today Olivia woke up sick. She gets this stomach bug every so often and today she is weak and nauseated, and I've been tucking her in, cuddling her, and speaking softly and lovingly into her ear when she has to throw up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As I was watching her fall asleep on my chest I thought back to another time she had this bug - we had had the kids for a few months and at that time she and I hadn't really bonded. Those few days she was sick was a sort of testing period - I was proving my love and devotion to her as her mommy. I <i>still</i> want my mommy when I'm sick, and at that time I hadn't quite won that spot in her life yet. I remember a change in our relationship after that; God had used her sick tummy to bring us closer together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today is different from that day. There is no doubt in her mind that I'll comfort and care for her; she expects it and relies on it. I love being her mommy, her safe place. I love when she asked me today all puppy-eyed, "Mama, will you lay down with me?" and as soon as we got snuggled, she fell asleep. I love thinking about how far God has brought us in the past year and that what my mom is to me, I am becoming to her - just as sure, just as comforting as if I'd been there all along.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-18775672488433597302013-01-16T14:33:00.000-08:002013-01-16T14:36:51.891-08:00Boy vs. GirlOne reason it's super fun to have a boy and a girl is because we get to see the amazing ways God uniquely creates males and females. There are such differences, and so early on in life!<br />
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Mike and I laughed at one together last night. As you know, I've been rocking Olivia before bed and singing to her. I also recently started stroking her face while I rock; just one soft finger drawing little paths all around her sweet little face as I sing to her. She loves it, and every night as we're brushing her teeth she makes sure I'm planning on doing it. She says, "Mom, will you pease do <i>this</i> to me tonight?" and she pokes her stubby little finger around her face.<br />
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She's been fighting the flu so for the last couple of nights I've had the huge blessing of rocking her to sleep. Oh...those sweet moments in my life...my heart swells and I praise my loving Father for letting me experience them with <i>her</i>, my daughter! Last night we got all snuggled in her pink crocheted blanket and started rocking, both of us looking at each other and smiling. She just stared into my eyes as I sang. I LOVE watching her...watching her little eyes fighting to stay open but slowly losing the battle against the swaying chair, the soft humming, and mommy stroking her soft face...soon her eyes closed, then opened every so often, looking right up at mine. Oh my, how thankful I am for those moments and that I am her mommy, the very last thing she sees and the very last voice she hears singing of God's love before she falls asleep. We love our time together, my girl and me!<br />
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So last night as my heart is swelling, I lay my sleeping beauty down and cover her all snuggly and pink and say "I love you," as I shut the door, even though I know she can't hear me. And I walk down the hall to Danny who is waiting for me to say good night. He is sitting up in bed, all energy, and asks if I will rock him. Of course! He is quite a bit bigger and heavier than tiny Livvi, but we manage to get him on my lap and wrap his big 6-year-old body with his spiderman blanket, and I begin singing the gentle songs I always sing to him. He is looking into my eyes just like Livvi had been and I think to myself that I will stroke my sweet boys face too. He'll love it.<br />
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I start at his forehead and he says "Mmm, that feels good!" Then I slowly move down his cheek, and he starts getting a look in his eyes...and by the time I'm down around his chin he is pretending to be a dog, snapping and bouncing and trying to bite my finger. <br />
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And there's the difference between my boy and my girl! I love it! I'm thankful I have a boy who is all boy, along with a tender heart, and a girl who is all girl, along with a love of adventure. My kiddos. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-48076091786663137562012-11-27T10:03:00.001-08:002012-11-27T10:05:50.437-08:00Danny Boy<div style="text-align: left;">
Our son has the goofiest way of smiling for pictures.</div>
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He says the funniest things, but not always on purpose.</div>
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"Mom, I think that man is from Mexico because he looks a little Jewish."</div>
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When he prays, I am amazed at my God who can do so much in such a young heart.</div>
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He sleeps with one of Michael's t-shirts under his head and snuggles up to one of mine:</div>
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"It makes me feel so close to you." </div>
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This is one special little guy God brought along to us. A couple months ago in the middle of breakfast he said, "I think God saved me last night." My heart flip-flopped...up until now when he was asked if he was a Christian he would say, "I don't think so. I just don't know if I believe it." He told me that while he had been laying in bed the night before he was praying...</div>
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"Jesus, my mom and dad say that You're true, and they don't lie. </div>
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If they say You died for me then I believe it."</div>
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And it was that simple! Faith like a child. Begging God to grant our children salvation has been our most frequent topic of prayer - how AWESOME is God to grant that to us so early on!! We are so thankful for God's answered prayers and humbled that He would use us in this kiddo's life. Time will tell if it's genuine...It's been neat to see small changes in him and so refreshing to be able to interact with his as another believer. God has done so many special things in this little life already, I'm excited to see what He does through the years.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-71182110838494177402012-10-24T19:31:00.004-07:002012-10-24T19:31:43.378-07:00A Rocking ChairAdopting older kids has meant not only adjusting to a new life personally but also being responsible for the transition of our kids and keeping a very close eye how each of them are adapting. A few months into my life as a mother, I noticed that Olivia had not really bonded with me much. She is so bright and cheery and she liked me, but I hadn't become her safe place yet. I know it will just take time, but in order to help our relationship along I decided to get a rocking chair.<br />
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One of my favorite childhood memories is of my mom wrapping me in a blanket and singing to me as she rocked me. I remember looking up into her face and feeling so cozy and safe; it's something I've always looked forward to doing with my own kids. So I found one on craigslist, nice and rickety, and we went and picked it up. It's become part of our routine now; we rock and sing before nap time and bedtime every day. <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"You rock me before I go night night?"</span><br />
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At first she was very squirmy, as she has been from the beginning; always wired and never wanting to just be still for more than 15 seconds. The more we rocked each day the more quiet and still she became, looking up at me, and the more we have became not just a woman in a chair holding a little girl but a mother and a daughter.<br />
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I didn't realize how much God has used our rocking chair in our relationship until a couple of weeks ago. Em was having her baby shower, so Mike sent me packing to Austin for the weekend (amazing man). It was my first time away from the kids for more than 24 hours and Mike's first time along with them for so long. One night I got this in a text from him:<br />
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Mike was putting her to bed and on their first rock backward they just kept going - this is the result! There were no injuries, but Olivia lost it and was crying so hard because she thought I wouldn't be able to rock her anymore. Mike said, <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Baby, you have no idea how much it means to her the time you two have together rocking in that chair."</span> He couldn't console her for a while, but finally she understood that he would fix it or get a different one. (He also took a picture of her crying and I wish I could post it! SO precious.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Isa-40-11" id="en-ESV-18432">He will tend his flock like a shepherd;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-11">he will gather the lambs in his arms;</span></span><br /><span class="text Isa-40-11">he will carry them in his bosom,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-40-11">and gently lead those that are with young.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Isa-40-11"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Isaiah 40:11 </span></span></span></span></div>
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I love my Lord! It is so neat to look back and see these little decisions that God gives me, like buying the rocking chair, that He uses in big ways for us. He is gently leading me. He is so kind to me! I read once that,<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> "He is the Father of fatherhood and the source of all motherhood." </span>I look back and see in myself a failure as a mother but success in what God has done, and that's really all I want, for His strength to be seen. I praise God for the blessing to my sweet daughter and me this chair has been!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-64867570074062769082012-09-23T16:32:00.004-07:002012-09-23T16:32:50.108-07:00Mike got home recently from being gone for 4 months overseas. I steered clear of sharing anything online; we try to be super careful about sharing too much information. Most nights of the deployment Olivia prayed, "Dear Jesus, thank you Daddy come home, us, hurry hurry." And we are SO thankful God answered our daily prayers for a safe return! It is good to finally get back to being a whole family again. We took time to go camping, had lots of fun waffle mornings, and enjoyed just being together for the couple week before Mike had to go back to work. Then we got back into the swing of things and we are happy to be back to learning our new normal as a family of 4.<br />
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This morning at church we sang How Firm a Foundation and the fourth and fifth verses made me think back to the deployment...<br />
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<i>"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,<br />
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;<br />
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless<br />
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress." </i></div>
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we went through a lot while Mike was away; a broken leg, a torn meniscus, a move into a new house, a minor surgery...and it was AWESOME to see God provide through it all! Our lovely family members sacrificed and stayed for over half the time Mike was gone and were present for each of the big events - God's protection. Our church body also loved us SO much through it all, especially during the move which they organized and carried out<i> themselves</i> as I laid on the couch icing my knee. Friends here served us so well by watching the kids often, letting me go to doctors appointments and giving me breaks. All the while poor Mikey had to sit there overseas wishing he could be here to protect his family...<br />
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Right now I'm remembering walking into the orthopedic office for her broken leg check-up; I carried her in my left arm with her hot pink cast sticking out and used a crutch with my right arm because I still couldn't walk myself. It makes me laugh now - it felt like it would never end! But here we are, and I look back now smiling because I see how God used it<i> for our good.</i> God used it all to bring us closer together as a family and to grow our trust in Him. He humbled me and MADE me have to ask for help frequently. He used our church to encourage us which encouraged them in return. The kids' relationships with family members grew. Mike lead us in amazing ways from 1000s of miles away and came home an even better leader than before. And I know I don't know the <i>half </i>of what He has done here...<br />
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<i>"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,<br />
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.<br />
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design<br />
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine."</i></div>
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And that is what this life is all about; letting Him refine me and pull me closer through the heat! I'm thankful.<i><br /></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-81381604898065863552012-05-18T19:02:00.002-07:002012-05-18T19:02:59.889-07:00A Family Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i> Ingredients:</i></b></div>
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1. 2 children in a foster home in Tucson, AZ, waiting for a family.</div>
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2. A husband and wife, married 6 years, waiting for God to grow their family.</div>
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3. God's eternal sovereignty that moves the man and wife to Tucson, AZ.</div>
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<i><b>Directions:</b></i></div>
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Just add water.</div>
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I'm sitting in my freshly-organized living room on my favorite red over-sized chair, enjoying the sun and breeze-blown trees out my windows and the quiet in the house; it's nap time around here. Olivia is asleep in my bed, a special treat. "Peas, Mommy, I seep your own room, nap?" she had asked this morning. She was singing the hymn Rock of Ages to herself a while ago but has quieted down now, so I know she is sleeping. Daniel is in his room and I can hear him chattering away to himself, having a conversation with someone about how he is in the Air Force and has to go to Africa now. "But it's OK, because that's what God wants me to do. And I gotta obey God."<br />
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With all the stunningly fast changes and adjustments, I forget to stop and realize what is going on here. God, before He made time, had planned all this. He planned for Mike and me to be unable to have children naturally. He planned for Daniel and Olivia to be born into a family that didn't know Him and just couldn't get their lives together. He planned for them to be placed in a foster home that loves Him and His word and that kept them in their home for over 2 years, praying for a Christian family to come along. He planned to bring Mike and me to Tucson, and to have us all meet up in the same little church.<br />
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When we moved here in August, God made it clear pretty quickly which church was for us, and we quickly got involved. We got to know several families, one being the kids' foster family. They had us over for dinner and it was fun getting to know them and meeting their cute foster kids, but no one thought much of what would happen.<br />
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One night, about 2 months after moving here, another young couple had us over for dinner. They had been planning on adopting 2 kids from within the church but had just that day decided it wasn't God's plan for them; they had twins a few months ago and were already on to number 3. "You aren't interested in adopting 2 kids, are you? Haha." Jesse had said. Mike and I had driven separately, and on our drives home, we both prayed about it. I decided not to say a thing about it, but to let the Lord do all the work in Mike's heart. And He did. The next morning we woke up, and Mike said, "France, we need to seriously pray about these kids." Crazy! So we did, and we called all of our immediate family to pray with us. Almost immediately we felt we should at least move forward with it, whatever that meant, so we waited and prayed for a week to make sure. By the end of the week we had met with our friends to learn where exactly do we go from here, and had enrolled in the 10-week-long classes that the state requires we take in order to foster or adopt. Because God was just rolling out His
plan, the next class started in just a couple of weeks.<br />
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And so began all of the paperwork and assignments and To Do lists and home visits and evaluations and <i>prayers. </i>Oh my, how many prayers have been said!<i> </i>We have had SO many people praying with us through this, it has been humbling to know that so many of you love us and prayed so fervently for us, and it has been exciting to see God answer your prayers! Truly amazing, to see Him working through your prayers.<br />
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There were lots of nights of confusion and seeking God's will, learning to trust in ways I've not had to before, coming to the point of truly saying "Lord, my life is Yours, do with it what You want! I will follow." Scary, but so wonderful to learn in a new way trust my Jesus.<br />
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Early in February a meeting was held at the adoption agency to choose between us and another family. Early in the afternoon, Mike called and asked if I was sitting down. I was driving to the grocery store so I pulled over and he said, "We've been chosen!" What a strange feeling! I quickly changed directions and drove straight to the base so I could give him a quick hug and kiss before he flew that day, then got to work making T-shirts that said "Mom" and "Dad" for later that day when we would skype and tell all of our family.<br />
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Our families are too wonderful to really explain...everyone has been so excited and supportive and encouraging and level-headed. We have the best families! It was so fun to tell everyone - Mike's parents, Aba and Abo, who were now becoming the grandparents of not 3 but 5 children; Uncle Travis and Aunt Candy and their 3 kids who were getting 2 brand new cousins; my parents who were becoming Grandma and Grandpa for the very first time; Uncle Jon, Aunt Gaga, Uncle Sam, and Aunt Tess who were all becoming first-time aunts and uncles! It was such a fun night.<br />
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The next day began the "transition"...another story. From that night we started praying about the kids to the day they moved in with us as our son and daughter, it was almost exactly 4 months. That's pretty fast. But so obviously God's plan and so easy to ride the wave of His sovereignty and love.<br />
<br />
This verse was huge for me through all of the emotions and questions and unknowns:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Psalm 37:23-24</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Through the last six months, the thing we asked for the most from the Lord was for Him to make it clear to us what His will was so we could do it. He was gracious and answered our prayers, and here we are in His will, with a little girl sweetly asleep in our bed and a little boy in his room imagining he is grown up and just like his Daddy.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
First God plans our lives, then He delights in watching His plan unfold. He is good! The God who made the Milky Way is delighting in forming and growing our little family of four. Lord, let this little family live for You!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-15261941774699065482012-01-07T19:30:00.000-08:002012-01-07T20:25:16.430-08:00On Friday I got to watch B for a while and then take him to school. While we were at his house he showed me lots of his toys, his bible memory verses from AWANA, and we ate lunch. He is 5 and super sharp, and we had some great conversations. I wrote them down shortly after because I wanted to remember them!<br /><br />As we were sitting at the table playing with some magnetic toys, he was telling me about the different people at his school.<br /><br />"There's this boy as my school, his name is Riley. He's my friend, and we run away from the girls on the playground."<br /><br />"Well how fun to have a friend you get to play with!"<br /><br />"Yeah. There's this girl Sarah - she's mean to me."<br /><br />"Oh, that's too bad. How is she mean to you?"<br /><br />Making a 3D box out of magnets..."Well, she yells at me a lot, and she yells in my ear."<br /><br />"Well that's not very nice."<br /><br />"Yeah."<br /><br />I thought, <span style="font-style: italic;">Hmm, I know this is a great teaching opportunity! Lord, what do I say?</span><br /><br />"Hey buddy, did you know that people were also really mean to Jesus?"<br /><br />"No."<br /><br />"Yeah. People yelled at Him, and made fun of Him."<br /><br />Pulling a magnet snake across the table..."Why did they do that?"<br /><br />"Because He wanted them all to know that He was God, but they didn't believe Him. Do you know how He responded to them?"<br /><br />"He tried to annoy them."<br /><br />"Nope...He LOVED them! And He was KIND to them!"<br /><br />"Well why did He do that?"<br /><br />"Because He is God! And He never sins. He is perfect all of the time, and He is always loving to people."<br /><br />"I don't think I could do that all the time."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sweet! He totally gets it! He's so smart.</span> "You are so right! I can't either. No person can. Do you remember what Romans 6:23 says?"<br /><br />"Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."<br /><br />"Great job! So, 'wages' are things that we earn, and because of our sin, we <span style="font-style: italic;">earn</span> death. Death is separation from God forever."<br /><br />"How long is forever?"<br /><br />"It doesn't have an end...when you think it's going to end, it just keeps going and going and never ending, ever. ... Hey buddy, can you say your John 3:16 verse for me?"<br /><br />"John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."<br /><br />"Great! So, why did God send Jesus to us?"<br /><br />"I don't know."<br /><br />"Because of our sin! Jesus was born, and was a boy, just like you are, and grew up into a man just like Mr. Padilla, and all His life, He never sinned! Do you know why He never sinned?"<br /><br />"Because He's God."<br /><br />"Right! And when He grew up, He was killed. He died for us, in our place!"<br /><br />"Well why?"<br /><br />"Because He <span style="font-style: italic;">loves</span> us! Even though we are sinners, He loves us. Remember from John 3:16? It says that because God loved us, He sent us Jesus to die for us so that God could forgive us. And if we believe that He died and can forgive us, then He says He'll give us eternal life - <span style="font-style: italic;">life</span> that lasts forever instead of <span style="font-style: italic;">death</span> that lasts forever.<br /><br />"Huh."<br /><br />...So that was that, and I'm so thankful for that conversation! It was kind of choppy and pretty tough coming up with ways to explain things to a 5 year old, but I know God can still use it in his little heart, and I pray that He does!<br /><br />A while later we were putting on his shoes so he could get to school and he started crying because he wanted to wear a different pair.<br /><br />"Well what's wrong with these shoes, buddy? I like them!"<br /><br />"Everyone says they're not good, and that I can't run fast in them."<br /><br />"Oh. So you want to wear <span style="font-style: italic;">these</span> shoes because you think you can run faster in them."<br /><br />"Yeah, and everyone says those ones aren't good."<br /><br />"OK, buddy, well you can just ask me to wear this pair, you don't need to cry, OK?"<br /><br />"OK."<br /><br />We tried putting the 'good' ones on, but they were way too small.<br /><br />"Oh, buddy, these are too small! That's why you can't wear them."<br /><br />More tears..."But everyone makes fun of those ones!"<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, Lord! Another teaching opportunity! Help!</span><br /><br />I pulled him onto my lap..."Oh, buddy, I know how you feel! You don't want to wear these shoes because people might make fun of them and say that they're not good shoes, and that you can't run fast on the playground."<br /><br />Huge tears falling onto my jeans..."Yeah."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, what do I say?</span><br /><br />"Well, God says that people look at what is on the outside - your classmates look at you and they see what is on the outside of your body: you shoes, your jeans, your shirt, your hair; but God sees what is <span style="font-style: italic;">inside</span> of you - what is in your heart, what you think, how you treat people. So your classmates see whats on the outside of your body and will say what they want to say about it, but you can be like Jesus and be kind, because God sees what's on your inside, and it matters more what God sees than what people see."<br /><br />"Ok, I don't want to get a red mark for being late. Can we go now?"<br /><br />(haha) "Sure, buddy." And we happily put on the 'not good' ones and headed out.<br /><br />So I don't know if that one affected him either, but I know I got to talk about my God to him and the He'll do what He wants to with it. It was <span style="font-weight: bold;">awesome</span> to see God helping me through the conversations, and I'm thankful for the practice!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-39005987468849837572012-01-04T09:52:00.000-08:002012-01-04T10:24:35.667-08:00Since October we've been praying about and pursuing adoption. There are 2 children in our church who we are praying about adopting. Crazy...I'll update in another post sometime. For now I just want to keep up with fun stuff as it happens.<br /><br />On Saturday we had The 2 over from noon until 7, then put them to bed at their house and sat until midnight. Mike's parents were still in town and the 6 of us had fun taking ornaments off of our tree; Mom Padilla handed the kids a few ornaments and they carried them over to me where I wrapped them up in tissue paper. At one point the Boy was looking at an ornament as he was bringing it to me and he said, "Hey, I made this!" I looked at it, and it was one of a few foam ornaments that had been included in a large holiday care package that our church had put together for it's members who were serving in the military. We had opened the care package a few weeks ago and thought these little child-made ornaments were so cute and thoughtful and we hung them on our tree. So here was the Boy holding this ornament that he had made which had made it's way to us. He was so excited! A few minutes later we found another one that he recognized and he said, "I made this one too!" and was so happy he jumped into my arms for a big hug. :)<br /><br />The 3 guys took the tree to the lot to drop it off while the 3 girls stayed home and payed. Later we all went for a walk. It was so fun to watch Michael running after B on his bike, and G kept yelling after Michael, "DIA!" (she can't say "Mr. Padilla" or "Mrs. Padilla," so she calls us both "Dia."). Mike would turn around and run toward her and I'd run pushing her in the stroller until we crashed into him, G giggling so hard. So fun!<br /><br />The kids call their foster parents Mama and Papa. When we were giving the kids a bath later that evening, G was sitting there playing, and quietly sang to herself, "My mama, my papa, my brother, my Dia." Precious.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HBltC62vSjMnAnqTX74AGca9VDHgg4k8UBFDeHuSAbd_j86OPtHzC49H2pfYfvuNBQLK5-ahPN49l5Z5eBozaLFkFlk1w8PWTghhO6W2ApBP3AlmcviWpymOGTJWFMNP_sL1vfADtow/s1600/IMAG1019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HBltC62vSjMnAnqTX74AGca9VDHgg4k8UBFDeHuSAbd_j86OPtHzC49H2pfYfvuNBQLK5-ahPN49l5Z5eBozaLFkFlk1w8PWTghhO6W2ApBP3AlmcviWpymOGTJWFMNP_sL1vfADtow/s320/IMAG1019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693843921784806482" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-41455227959673805862011-11-18T09:58:00.001-08:002011-11-18T12:05:32.220-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoxB3_lR4zBQjJ6FIntQ5mlxdm2znz68i5wCop0GLU94h7Fkfl_BfAfF23ucQn4qa41Qult3SW7btSrXWXiBFgiFeKbEdWxwVi8opJTpfwdWkscuxQW8JBniC0ni7z1CBNr0VBojWutg/s1600/17+Nov+2011+14_22_2011-11-17_07-57-36_709.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoxB3_lR4zBQjJ6FIntQ5mlxdm2znz68i5wCop0GLU94h7Fkfl_BfAfF23ucQn4qa41Qult3SW7btSrXWXiBFgiFeKbEdWxwVi8opJTpfwdWkscuxQW8JBniC0ni7z1CBNr0VBojWutg/s320/17+Nov+2011+14_22_2011-11-17_07-57-36_709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676421520733678786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I was reading Psalm 30 yesterday and when I came to the last two verses, I noticed that I had underlined them sometime in the past. I don't know why they stuck out to me back then, but yesterday they meant something new to me. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. Oh Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever."</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">God has done this in me! 6 years of wanting to be a mom, to make Michael a daddy, hoping and waiting and praying...left to myself I would have been and would be a rumpled pile of self-pity and jealousy. But praise God that He has been SO good to me and has kept me close to Him, always reminding me of His love and sovereignty and that it's not what happens to me in this life that matters but how I respond to it and whether or not I glorify my God through it. His plan is best and that's all I want, whatever it is.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">He has given me a husband who is compassionate toward me when I'm emotional, gently corrects my perspective when I'm tempted to despair, and is my best friend, my favorite person.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">He has kept me from envying people in my life who are being blessed with their first or fourth child and instead given me the ability to be truly and deeply joyful and excited with them. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">He Himself is the fulfillment of all my desires and I need nothing else.</span><span style="font-family:arial;">He has taught me,<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: right; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;">"My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken." </span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">He has given me so many people along the way to help and encourage me, so many people who pray for us. He has given me the endurance to keep renewing my mind with His truths and an eternal perspective when I'm tempted with self-pity, and earthly focus.<br /><br />He has taught me contentment in Him and gratitude on a level I never would have reached had He not blessed us with this trial.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I could write forever...and I believe He has given this to me and lead me through it so that like David in this Psalm said, "my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">That's really all I want, for my life to point to Christ. <span style="font-style: italic;">"Consider it all joy, my brethren..."</span> and I do! By His strength in me, by His power alone in me. I see Michael and myself as blessed to be here and be able to view our life and show people all the ways God has worked in us, to point to Him. And it all goes back to the cross; I have His power because He died for me and gave me repentance and forgave me. He made me right with Him and I'm accepted and cared for unconditionally! I want people to look at me and not see me, but Jesus. He is my life!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We're not at the end of the road here...this is just a moment of pause in the middle of a life to stop and reflect. Now looking ahead, I know the faithfulness of my God, and am excited for what He has for us. I will still struggle with wanting a baby and with a multitude of other things in life, but I know the faithfulness of my God!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:arial;" >"Oh Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever."</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-23338184659777606302011-11-16T08:11:00.000-08:002011-11-16T08:39:55.252-08:00KetchupMy, oh my! <br />Here's what has happened since July...<br /><br />...Mom Padilla and Em helped us move to Tucson. Such a fun trip! We spent a week in lodging on base together.<br /><br />...We found a lovely house and are very thankful God put us here. We love it!<br /><br />...We found an awesome church and have been LOVING spending time with everyone! We've had so many dinner invites and get-togethers, so fun!<br /><br />...We visited Stephanie and Jeremy in NV; first time in 4 years the 4 of us had been together! So much fun, LOVE those guys! Addie was getting big...<br /><br />...We said goodbye to our new and wonderful friends Andy and Olga<br /><br />...I visited NV for Steph's baby shower (she's sooo cute pregnant!)Can't WAIT to meet that little girl!!<br /><br />...We did a 3-day backpacking trip; amazingly beautiful and so super fun.<br /><br />...Mom Padilla visited and we all went to a family wedding in Phoenix.<br /><br />...Mike and I went to the AZ state fair! I showed my devotion and love for him by riding the feris wheel.<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a63334f444d314d44633d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a63334f444d314d44633d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/anytime-slideshows.html" target="_blank">Free photo slideshow</a> generated with Smilebox</td></tr></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-48171927433203198492011-07-20T15:40:00.000-07:002011-07-20T17:16:48.006-07:00Lake Ouachita<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0f4hGVwv7WuZp09x_mW6yTVfbaVzvgC3wrOwRKr2AkM-9iBFhaC8-KiGH7Pa9imaKWp6ri2A__hiK3TXRX7HU0hBqzy0-gAQ_gtmLseGKx_CIoXJjHRyG4gwtIXz_LU3gmuyAcMu1v0/s1600/IMAG0952.jpg">Yesterday we went kayaking on Lake Ouachita! It's in a national forest close by to Hot Springs. We had tried to go last week but turned around due to thunderstorms, so we were pretty antsy to get on the water - well, I was - Mike was just doing it for me, sweet guy.</a><br /><br />We got up early and drove 2 hours through the beautiful forest and made it to the marina where we rented our kayaks and let in to the water! After about 10 minutes of paddling around and exploring the huge lake, Mike realized that there was a hole in his kayak! The water in the bottom was growing and I could tell that his boat was lower in the water. So he started paddling like crazy to get back to the marina for a new boat - I almost wet my pants laughing so hard as my funny husband who had never kayaked before and didn't really want to be doing it was paddling to save his life, and with every stroke of the paddle his boat sunk a little more. HILARIOUS. Being the good wife I am, I prayed for his safety and his attitude as I was laughing hysterically.<br /><br />So he got a new kayak and we set off again; this time everything was wonderful! We had so much fun exploring and paddling around and enjoying such beautiful creation.<br /><br />After a while we found the tiniest island where we stopped and had a snack and a swim.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tEbMpS-7kd-PWAmjJYLdeAnrUSLWQa2C6V-6P0ANBowWRf8blPSmPxUMGq2oP2VpGjqwT59TbuNxzMe8FpVEgXjl9TCiXym_TEso8sFffBjMrvPNG-8vKt-jmRChj5_ElxEquAznAeI/s1600/IMAG0175.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tEbMpS-7kd-PWAmjJYLdeAnrUSLWQa2C6V-6P0ANBowWRf8blPSmPxUMGq2oP2VpGjqwT59TbuNxzMe8FpVEgXjl9TCiXym_TEso8sFffBjMrvPNG-8vKt-jmRChj5_ElxEquAznAeI/s320/IMAG0175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631574545690101058" border="0" /></a><br />Mike was brave and brought his phone on board; thanks for the great pics, Mikey!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHnpTHQUed-4yFYJ-8poVFb6ozIF7Pm-fRFKbqGAvXb7yczx29HJPK10A-nOOgy6kFGUyztI67E4AzdHtbC2h-Bg7Nb72De6_zISQY1AIpyVz7V2YxwFuJ50pdPdUQpKwKqIB71Kqm1Q/s1600/IMAG0180.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHnpTHQUed-4yFYJ-8poVFb6ozIF7Pm-fRFKbqGAvXb7yczx29HJPK10A-nOOgy6kFGUyztI67E4AzdHtbC2h-Bg7Nb72De6_zISQY1AIpyVz7V2YxwFuJ50pdPdUQpKwKqIB71Kqm1Q/s320/IMAG0180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631574402243742770" border="0" /></a>Taking a break and enjoying the sun and the breeze...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZooPWMKBFQZk2uuiNJm0qdov4p_WS-107rUPN_blr3h7LlNJtTG0ft6cEIwivV5uQ5oAv6H8DutxoJPhaer-_sQeBzse27Opse-OD-ctj8QOOJ21CNBmZRurZ9Gli89S9uIDklUWzmTg/s1600/IMAG0186.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZooPWMKBFQZk2uuiNJm0qdov4p_WS-107rUPN_blr3h7LlNJtTG0ft6cEIwivV5uQ5oAv6H8DutxoJPhaer-_sQeBzse27Opse-OD-ctj8QOOJ21CNBmZRurZ9Gli89S9uIDklUWzmTg/s320/IMAG0186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631574283778572754" border="0" /></a>The day was perfect, just the two of us on the water together; Mike ended up loving kayaking so much that we're talking about getting our own and scoping out bodies of water around Tucson!<br /><br />After we got home and showered, we ended the day with a dinner date at Bonefish Grill. Yum!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0f4hGVwv7WuZp09x_mW6yTVfbaVzvgC3wrOwRKr2AkM-9iBFhaC8-KiGH7Pa9imaKWp6ri2A__hiK3TXRX7HU0hBqzy0-gAQ_gtmLseGKx_CIoXJjHRyG4gwtIXz_LU3gmuyAcMu1v0/s1600/IMAG0952.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0f4hGVwv7WuZp09x_mW6yTVfbaVzvgC3wrOwRKr2AkM-9iBFhaC8-KiGH7Pa9imaKWp6ri2A__hiK3TXRX7HU0hBqzy0-gAQ_gtmLseGKx_CIoXJjHRyG4gwtIXz_LU3gmuyAcMu1v0/s320/IMAG0952.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631574075645777682" border="0" /></a>I love my dear husband so much! And I'm so thankful to God for such a wonderful day with him; we both agree that this was the best day we've had on our Little Rock adventure.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-12344013610240167202011-07-11T11:00:00.000-07:002011-07-12T09:23:57.257-07:00Coffee and the Kindness of my Lord<div align="center"><div><div>Today I spent some time at Starbucks, sitting by the window with my bible and journal as rain was pouring down. It reminded me of another rainy day I had spent at a Starbucks...<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>About 3 years ago, on a rainy day in San Antonio, I had taken my bible and journal to Starbucks. We had moved to TX a couple of months ago and we were loving it; new city, new house, new church...but that day the rain was reminding me of Omaha and the dear people we had just left behind. It made me miss familiarity and the days when I could go to any Starbucks in town and run into a friend.<br /><br />As I sat there, I journaled and prayed to the Lord, crying a little and asking for His comfort, when all of the sudden I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and there were Mary Asher and Martha Zamber, two wonderful ladies from our new church! How wonderful is God's love! I felt so loved by Him, to send these two loving new friends to me exactly in my moment of sadness!<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>Mary and Martha are in their 60's and have been good friends for a long time. They meet once a week together at that Starbucks to encourage each other in their marriages and ministry and walks with the Lord. I was so happy to see them; the joy of seeing other Christians throughout the day, knowing that these "older" women of the faith still regularly meet to urge each other on, to so keenly see God's kindness and tenderness toward me...God is so kind, and He showed me in a very particular way that rainy day.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>Over time, that Starbucks became familiar...it became a place that I would frequently run into people I knew! Hmm...makes me wonder which coffee shop in Tucson will become "our" coffee shop and who we will get to know there....<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div style="font-weight: bold;">"How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. </div><div style="font-weight: bold;">They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house, and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. </div><div style="font-weight: bold;">For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light."</div><div style="font-weight: bold;">Psalm 36:7-9</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-18674725427550541252011-06-22T22:43:00.000-07:002011-06-22T22:53:01.697-07:00Another Visit<div align="center">Last weekend Mike's parents came to visit us from Louisville! They are wonderful and we always have a great time together. We had a fun and relaxing time hanging out, talking, watching a couple of flicks. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">On Friday night we went out for a nice dinner at Bonefish Grill to celebrate Father's day! On Saturday we got up super early and climbed up Pinnacle Mountain...those Padillas are mountain goats. Here we are at the top...</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXV-6cIHgF-rDuGcSDpvvmuWV_YGrS6uzJlXqHvJO8UJJZ7A8c7cH1z_s3x-8YF4rpj-jaRXdNYYK1s-MlfwQBK71driMs9eIFrTYR5BsmumiXpyq5I684-I4XMf1PGVlQjSDW4NRD9w/s1600/IMAG0127.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621286891059522482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXV-6cIHgF-rDuGcSDpvvmuWV_YGrS6uzJlXqHvJO8UJJZ7A8c7cH1z_s3x-8YF4rpj-jaRXdNYYK1s-MlfwQBK71driMs9eIFrTYR5BsmumiXpyq5I684-I4XMf1PGVlQjSDW4NRD9w/s320/IMAG0127.jpg" /></a> It was a serious climb and we all felt amazing after we got to the bottom. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">That night a family from the Bible Church of Little Rock, where we've been going, had us over for a cookout. It was nice to have Mom and Dad meet the people we're getting to know here.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Sunday morning we left early for church and enjoyed some time at starbucks together, and after church they had to head back to KY. We're so thankful for them, had a great time and are super excited to be with them and the Herlads over the 4th! Thanks for coming, Mom and Dad!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-82866020759309226542011-06-13T06:22:00.000-07:002011-06-13T11:42:12.493-07:00I Was a Wand'ring Sheep<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">A hymn</span> </span>by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">I was a wand'ring sheep,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I did not love the fold;</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I did not love my Shepherd's voice,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I would not be controlled.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I was a wayward child,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I did not love my home; </div><br /><br /><div align="center">I did not love my Father's voice,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I loved afar to roam.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">The Shepherd sought His sheep,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">The Father sought His child;</div><br /><br /><div align="center">They followed me o'er vale and hil,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">O'er deserts waste and wild.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">They found me nigh to death,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Famished and faint and lone;</div><br /><br /><div align="center">They bound me with the bonds of love,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">They saved the wand'ring one.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">They spoke in tender love,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">They raised my drooping head;</div><br /><br /><div align="center">They gently closed me bleeding wounds,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">My fainting soul They fed.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">They washed my filth away,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">They made me clean and fair;</div><br /><br /><div align="center">They brought me to my home peace,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">The long-sought wanderer.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Jesus my Shepherd is,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">'Twas He that loved my soul;</div><br /><br /><div align="center">'Twas He that washed me in His blood,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">'Twas He that made me whole.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">'Twas He that sought the lost,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">That found the wand'ring sheep;</div><br /><br /><div align="center">'Twas He that brought me to the fold,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">'Tis He that still doth keep.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">No more a wnd'ring sheep,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I love to be controlled;</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I love my tender Shepherd's voice,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I love the peaceful fold.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">No more a wayward child;</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I seek no more to roam,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I love my heavenly Father's voice,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I love, I love His home.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">*******</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Oh, I love this. It makes me want to fly to heaven right now and finally be with my tender Shepherd who sought me and found me and loves me!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-35531963192551149462011-06-11T17:18:00.000-07:002011-06-12T15:25:48.319-07:00Update on Life in Little Rock<div align="center">Hard to believe, but we've been here in Little Rock for a month! We've had a lot of fun here, and it's been great just to be together. We'll be here for another month and a half. We drove in from Austin late in the vening and got into our hotel room, our new home, and crashed. The next day we got all settled in, and the next day was Mike's forst day of school! Here he is heading off to class...</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVxlXiy5fXyPZE7mgPmyA7-8A9N2_KBrlsex0jg9HStWqfQUwraCbr36Ofe9-7WjJYpLcOfGazASfGu9a937T74BRxXQn6YjNyfaMLHWs_H3iZ7HxJl_jFP_q2KVnmhCydPtRqcGVEQs/s1600/IMAG0897.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617452365493015154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVxlXiy5fXyPZE7mgPmyA7-8A9N2_KBrlsex0jg9HStWqfQUwraCbr36Ofe9-7WjJYpLcOfGazASfGu9a937T74BRxXQn6YjNyfaMLHWs_H3iZ7HxJl_jFP_q2KVnmhCydPtRqcGVEQs/s320/IMAG0897.jpg" /></a> When I dropped him off I went and enjoyed some quiet time with the Lord at the lake on base. I LOVE water and this was such a peaceful spot to pray and remember that through all of this change and feelings of homesickness my God never changes; He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and He is my life!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617452172177187394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD05NrjMV-Wno3zNyZEz2CG8qxzMbD13GBAHoLozUs214u4cMab2kKcs5D6DYOWVBXwz7-m0BdNH0l33ZAzqe7iEJgwnczQ6ikib80jO9koVAYjONNrL0wy9Ty3WR3wgVujBE-oUajp3s/s320/IMAG0903.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CQ4BXt2Hb45zobNrY1OwjLuNNRCj_BbECYQzCmvGactrSMY_ReESZWRVxkNLzDTVCT4ONFu-J9Kzf9m0nxtz1C_ajefnjSvHGGiaU6JrLsC1NrzMwibrmM9sIA_SUzxdhxOnnphpMaI/s1600/IMAG0901.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617452272852234274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CQ4BXt2Hb45zobNrY1OwjLuNNRCj_BbECYQzCmvGactrSMY_ReESZWRVxkNLzDTVCT4ONFu-J9Kzf9m0nxtz1C_ajefnjSvHGGiaU6JrLsC1NrzMwibrmM9sIA_SUzxdhxOnnphpMaI/s320/IMAG0901.jpg" /></a> Since being here we've enjoyed several new restaurants on date nights! Our first date night we went to Cajun's Wharf on the river. We had a great seafood dinner inside then drinks and live acoustic music on the patio. Loved it! Later in the evening there was a full live band in the basement. We had fun listening and wathching people dance, and as soon as we got up to leave they started playing "Amazon Woman," so we had to stay and dance for that one. :)<br /><br />Here we are on the patio; I thought it was funny that I had a beer and Mike had a sissy drink in a jar.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1_VGUCP7ojyI128DQIpHxiNeXcSI97qz-3RpbiUAoSB-UW0E4MJYCbAVIxT8kBPOSaYS3Mi0O0_ZlGpKGWiCt8rnudFCyF00wk8VX9wfBNiw52cm7kpz0UspWSj7P_n2mgfrxDYzV5s/s1600/IMAG0905.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617452057539795282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1_VGUCP7ojyI128DQIpHxiNeXcSI97qz-3RpbiUAoSB-UW0E4MJYCbAVIxT8kBPOSaYS3Mi0O0_ZlGpKGWiCt8rnudFCyF00wk8VX9wfBNiw52cm7kpz0UspWSj7P_n2mgfrxDYzV5s/s320/IMAG0905.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1xKRTRnWKBuq3-c96Q1fYjQNFopSKiB9j3KxyEWgFPGEUhbmyf5FvPwU6CklNL7B4gwoYvCGTzaL1U0ZrvEOXpdnleo9P_qU1SJizmSADgNgsMt_pzLOJ1LLMdCyWUdfvgGwJ97w_d4/s1600/IMAG0904.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617451981581759634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1xKRTRnWKBuq3-c96Q1fYjQNFopSKiB9j3KxyEWgFPGEUhbmyf5FvPwU6CklNL7B4gwoYvCGTzaL1U0ZrvEOXpdnleo9P_qU1SJizmSADgNgsMt_pzLOJ1LLMdCyWUdfvgGwJ97w_d4/s320/IMAG0904.jpg" /></a> At Orange Leaf frozen yogurt place on another date night...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifprONTDwu2plFdcS6W4NTB8PRkZ9i34tdIdATGkS_0y-P834G8ddWOzwLiRkfS2vLJs6aa7uW9tpoqdWlp2dpR6A9BMIfqqw-Yc8TH4CK7uwV16QJf0g9Qf4jOizjFBk3ECpYdqCzMM8/s1600/IMAG0919.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617451847490785954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifprONTDwu2plFdcS6W4NTB8PRkZ9i34tdIdATGkS_0y-P834G8ddWOzwLiRkfS2vLJs6aa7uW9tpoqdWlp2dpR6A9BMIfqqw-Yc8TH4CK7uwV16QJf0g9Qf4jOizjFBk3ECpYdqCzMM8/s320/IMAG0919.jpg" /></a> At a breakfast place recommended by Bart and Shannon...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UKXbhjq8hPFzbFLefYxjNO6lD4QRKEmHmORfUHKVstOEpJLLVvTejw1N8SynvuF-sXvcKtQ3RjNp2P6pRVY1PIPrjoB6_fF9HBeCwKwt9SxQmX7kKUGY6tARZJ_hZzYWFmrPYEWWmME/s1600/IMAG0915.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617451771709701042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UKXbhjq8hPFzbFLefYxjNO6lD4QRKEmHmORfUHKVstOEpJLLVvTejw1N8SynvuF-sXvcKtQ3RjNp2P6pRVY1PIPrjoB6_fF9HBeCwKwt9SxQmX7kKUGY6tARZJ_hZzYWFmrPYEWWmME/s320/IMAG0915.jpg" /></a> We've also had the pleasure of seeing some friends as they've passed through LR! The day after we arrived, Ally, my friend I used to meet with in San Antonio, flew in and stayed the night with us before heading to Memphis for her sister's graduation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbaExTUbnpLr_f-AFBLy1GxJmuGi0v7Lt8yWM8Bi_dYg1CiWJXFt7HohlQGVr1fFIIcsf6ADyf0Vv3HMnQVixgCaWRkmut7oEQYGChBuwlnNuNJDQHb8vBSIyBdGxcTjFpdSV3cOV_0o/s1600/IMAG0899.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617451657709916706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbaExTUbnpLr_f-AFBLy1GxJmuGi0v7Lt8yWM8Bi_dYg1CiWJXFt7HohlQGVr1fFIIcsf6ADyf0Vv3HMnQVixgCaWRkmut7oEQYGChBuwlnNuNJDQHb8vBSIyBdGxcTjFpdSV3cOV_0o/s320/IMAG0899.jpg" /></a> Last week Jelaine and the kids came into town with her sister so her sister could see some old friends. It was so good to see them! We hadn't met their little daughter yet - she is adorable and so smiley! And Tre is so big and so smart! What a blessing to see good friends.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgJ7BUS3UUkS2MdFeoVyiL0zSv2-D60lOob_iN0xFqc9kCOasLi1PVHTMl59fCC3o8uM4uLht9ouhVoYwAKh691wIofKcVSQH8mOyRoEMiKH1tsjSyKPkFzIBVXYgnpYIkRyrirYnO-4/s1600/Little+Rock+147.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617451489739362274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgJ7BUS3UUkS2MdFeoVyiL0zSv2-D60lOob_iN0xFqc9kCOasLi1PVHTMl59fCC3o8uM4uLht9ouhVoYwAKh691wIofKcVSQH8mOyRoEMiKH1tsjSyKPkFzIBVXYgnpYIkRyrirYnO-4/s320/Little+Rock+147.JPG" /></a> One thing we've looked forward to here is enjoying the outdoors. Arkansas is called The Natural State. Last weekend we hiked up Pinnacle mountain! It was a challenge, but we loved it!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>On our way up...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvGPOn63M3f-ArzwxI9rfq721v1ddbW4GtQFy766JuNRhgs2S7ucPFq9v_DKa0ZPrgbHizmWhqz5WaR4S68zV0fbbJfGBIEHrzXsZftOjhtTivly5nZWhyphenhyphenAfccIdAE96xnXiyPm1l3jc/s1600/Little+Rock+149.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617451328204772114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvGPOn63M3f-ArzwxI9rfq721v1ddbW4GtQFy766JuNRhgs2S7ucPFq9v_DKa0ZPrgbHizmWhqz5WaR4S68zV0fbbJfGBIEHrzXsZftOjhtTivly5nZWhyphenhyphenAfccIdAE96xnXiyPm1l3jc/s320/Little+Rock+149.JPG" /></a> At the top!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DiT5Yq-LgRn5sCZD7SGDKIF0vwXf4VtBVzMOyq1xXKi6tx64ayKuNIPOwz979zhDPahQGfD6U07bVdhyXkSRpYcCkiAT8fbU0tAerGGxKN7E0-HRRgQGFx0qc1Lfb1Xaz1uuv04qYjk/s1600/Little+Rock+150.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617451217622747874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DiT5Yq-LgRn5sCZD7SGDKIF0vwXf4VtBVzMOyq1xXKi6tx64ayKuNIPOwz979zhDPahQGfD6U07bVdhyXkSRpYcCkiAT8fbU0tAerGGxKN7E0-HRRgQGFx0qc1Lfb1Xaz1uuv04qYjk/s320/Little+Rock+150.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36gbenfdYMtAp9EPTOzMCouUiqO3WIIYxNr5hyphenhyphenN27WhZwNEUzYQWrvUfE5JUdJMGVSfofCcSAJP8qgPKsM9B5RkdDAyBTLPgxd-RCxkTZ3JOROI8UHqyGMEGRHZsXBZj-X5wARp9tu0c/s1600/Little+Rock+152.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617451111670067554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36gbenfdYMtAp9EPTOzMCouUiqO3WIIYxNr5hyphenhyphenN27WhZwNEUzYQWrvUfE5JUdJMGVSfofCcSAJP8qgPKsM9B5RkdDAyBTLPgxd-RCxkTZ3JOROI8UHqyGMEGRHZsXBZj-X5wARp9tu0c/s320/Little+Rock+152.JPG" /></a> What a view!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZCLxi_uvWoJhIqZ1ew-22-7b8I1UiKVFCPUj1oH1SHrEl0rYGrsrOtF6rUjZ006G5-6l3IuUSUtRPBOAeGjINqV1AiZIgEFwqVsBrSEPBSu__BbbwKNaWuYeCG_cXT8Bg_GyCG-R9Kw/s1600/Little+Rock+153.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617451007043122434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZCLxi_uvWoJhIqZ1ew-22-7b8I1UiKVFCPUj1oH1SHrEl0rYGrsrOtF6rUjZ006G5-6l3IuUSUtRPBOAeGjINqV1AiZIgEFwqVsBrSEPBSu__BbbwKNaWuYeCG_cXT8Bg_GyCG-R9Kw/s320/Little+Rock+153.JPG" /></a> The other night we went out for dinner with Mike's 4 other class mates. Being the only spouse to tag along to Little Rock, I was asked by one of them: "So it begs the question...what do you DO all day?" :) My life here is pretty chill and I'm loving it! I'm viewing it kind of a time to exercise my spiritual life by being able to have long quiet times in the word and reading some good solid books to grow my love for God, and as a time to exercise physically. We wake up and have breakfast together then go to starbucks for our Americanos...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgiCgYLRKqs5TpaxRCN03KAKXSVQ7eu8b68kS4UVvaTk2CRNrTQS5hCV8QHS20XAN5Xu9hhJVDUD6Zxxqo7gg09m8vq33gLCWRk3NikxSIuZp9yHlAuSr1oLGhe1Qg445GXDpDhzZVUg/s1600/IMAG0913.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617446781552758162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZfzhxcRmVvDhI7-bGIthYMYKdno1eJzlttTE0L0XSMMGpTl30kfWIueS4UvfsNYxbXdrXCuk5CTVOfFC2-XdONAMjOGvqLYXivs6AKd3kELnSyNpEZWEivG4cP3SosfpGHHikwGCzTw/s320/IMAG0927.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Then I drive Mike to work and go home for my quiet time. Then I work out...I've been taking a weight-lifint class and a Zumba class (SO fun!), and swimming laps and running a bit, all throughout the week. Mike comes home for lunch and I have a couple of hours to read, write emails and letters, skype with friends and family, do laundry, embroider and listen to sermons...then he comes home and we get to hang out a ton! It's super nice, and I'm thankful for this time to be with Mike so much since work in Tucson will be pretty demanding.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>We're liking our time here and have REALLY been enjoying The Bible Church of Little Rock! AWEsome teaching and really friendly people. We went to a care group last Sunday night and stayed until 11:30! We're so very thankful for this fellowships and teaching!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>More to come on Life in Little Rock...</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>(Here is a sign posted in the women's locker room at the gym that made me chuckle...)</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617446957066616082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgiCgYLRKqs5TpaxRCN03KAKXSVQ7eu8b68kS4UVvaTk2CRNrTQS5hCV8QHS20XAN5Xu9hhJVDUD6Zxxqo7gg09m8vq33gLCWRk3NikxSIuZp9yHlAuSr1oLGhe1Qg445GXDpDhzZVUg/s320/IMAG0913.jpg" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-40091315579693998402011-06-10T17:57:00.000-07:002011-06-12T15:26:15.812-07:00Memorial Day<div align="center">Travis, Candy, and the kids drove all the way down here for Memorial day weekend! an 8-hour drive with 3 kids under the age of 3 isn't easy. We felt so loved! They arrived at about 9am so Mike and I took Truman and Eva to the park while Travis and Candy rested up a bit. </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEvgsEkQ78ZBKAK2ZNGz7MYW5tkdZSiUM5wNJwbhPZMRKoDnbNpiOjAJGQGRVeQPumLCaxBOovKrI5h19GXY-hD-gVOKdq60pFHNjnzoInoca7bNUsbwxkA1P01D1B3jU_4fUYcxUlYU/s1600/Little+Rock+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617438448860728242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEvgsEkQ78ZBKAK2ZNGz7MYW5tkdZSiUM5wNJwbhPZMRKoDnbNpiOjAJGQGRVeQPumLCaxBOovKrI5h19GXY-hD-gVOKdq60pFHNjnzoInoca7bNUsbwxkA1P01D1B3jU_4fUYcxUlYU/s320/Little+Rock+002.JPG" /></a> Then we all spent some time in our little hotel room. We weren't sure how the kids would respond to us; Candy has done a really great job of showing them pictures of both of us and talking about us a lot so they'd remember us, and it didn't take Truman long to warm up to his Tio! Here they are wrestling - you may not be able to see, but Truman is laughing so hard!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-Rge7lcrWuhvY0diln7thyomTipkn85Lftpffa16AvTtLENy52sRtTTjlIEjMxgTOwgXjuuvR2ukutgTDsPCkzMIIGcUsiq_O92ciBkMeiC6yd0P6FEFgofrl-0gOAfVlxTFlD22Ay0/s1600/Little+Rock+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617438266711234658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-Rge7lcrWuhvY0diln7thyomTipkn85Lftpffa16AvTtLENy52sRtTTjlIEjMxgTOwgXjuuvR2ukutgTDsPCkzMIIGcUsiq_O92ciBkMeiC6yd0P6FEFgofrl-0gOAfVlxTFlD22Ay0/s320/Little+Rock+008.JPG" /></a>Truman is so much fun to play with! He is so smart and intuitive; it's amazing the concepts he understands. He is so good at baseball it's scary! It helps to have a softball star for a mom and a dad who played baseball all his life! </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">That night they headed to their hotel. There was no room for them in the inn here on base so they had to get a room several minutes off of base. Because of some confusion on my part, the hotel they ended up in was further away than necessary and more expensive; but they ended up meeting another young mother who lives in Louisville and wants to hang out with Candy! As Candy sweetly pointed out, if I hadn't made that mistake, she wouldn't have met this new friend. God is so good and it;s so fun to see His sovereignty! So often what we think is a bad thing is just Him working out His will in a good way!</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">On Sunday we had our Memorial Day cookout at the base lake! It was a great place to hang out outside, and the kids had fun feeding the ducks, looking forrocks and throwing them into the water, and playing baseball (they're both really good!) I love how Eva is all wound up for a big toss of bread!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUxgX3up_FgSFZrOb8Yi33kERzTov9E4RlL3T8cmQ_0HTinJ-4mH3utDqGnJcn3oT6d4Y4A9wiEFEHzu3TBcZJQTb-Yk2wGziDDZrVQPUBcYrsirHp6XWtiqacrUhG2APLjrzbMAEW5c/s1600/Little+Rock+023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617437923101037762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUxgX3up_FgSFZrOb8Yi33kERzTov9E4RlL3T8cmQ_0HTinJ-4mH3utDqGnJcn3oT6d4Y4A9wiEFEHzu3TBcZJQTb-Yk2wGziDDZrVQPUBcYrsirHp6XWtiqacrUhG2APLjrzbMAEW5c/s320/Little+Rock+023.JPG" /></a> This is little Gabriella, is she not just darling? She has the perfect temperment for being the third child in a busy family. As long as she's comfy, she is totally content just sitting and watching everyone. She's so squishy and comfy and fun to hold!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CBYD-pBfOkE7Ow-gmA7Vx4IJ5YfEwd_SojuoF58Go9hpsW2m2ikolPbxK9vwKXnQ7hIBSI1xhLNPpJ0eE2kYO1HIcOFTrw_jmPoi9i5OdA6pocf7RZa5YbcYmm_ot4VBIv1D6b0FVbo/s1600/Little+Rock+042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617437729684074594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CBYD-pBfOkE7Ow-gmA7Vx4IJ5YfEwd_SojuoF58Go9hpsW2m2ikolPbxK9vwKXnQ7hIBSI1xhLNPpJ0eE2kYO1HIcOFTrw_jmPoi9i5OdA6pocf7RZa5YbcYmm_ot4VBIv1D6b0FVbo/s320/Little+Rock+042.JPG" /></a> Tio with his nieces and nephew...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIE2ew88aZhcSXQ9gAxfTLgyIbUmOcYE1iG-naXWR9fpHG5jfbW2TeSU_dRTgh1pCJGrj5V_oOxBrq53ThfLQzGagSmkbYRsltgQq124VuguiU4ZwZos2_VckIhrygw5GiHvUVhm3LHE/s1600/Little+Rock+038.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617437597436018274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIE2ew88aZhcSXQ9gAxfTLgyIbUmOcYE1iG-naXWR9fpHG5jfbW2TeSU_dRTgh1pCJGrj5V_oOxBrq53ThfLQzGagSmkbYRsltgQq124VuguiU4ZwZos2_VckIhrygw5GiHvUVhm3LHE/s320/Little+Rock+038.JPG" /></a> That night we went for a walk around base where the airplanes are displayed. T took his bubbles with him and was much more interested in them than in seeing airplanes from American history. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTP7Ve0YcjZUAeQUIDlIlQoCA8URdg4sHuDZvU28H0qaq8ykitFo2mUu56HQxPTl6bO-W5rcup3uS1RgmOWlG3DtjQ5_zPPI1blFtdfp3AulekFtBZpNrUi6i3RuAy194N1rWZ3fjHrs/s1600/Little+Rock+049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617437441830866242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTP7Ve0YcjZUAeQUIDlIlQoCA8URdg4sHuDZvU28H0qaq8ykitFo2mUu56HQxPTl6bO-W5rcup3uS1RgmOWlG3DtjQ5_zPPI1blFtdfp3AulekFtBZpNrUi6i3RuAy194N1rWZ3fjHrs/s320/Little+Rock+049.JPG" /></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617437045357061138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXC3jptMURjakhdGsnMTiN2fejt2tO48kDFj_nT7lZ9AcfJjdeZ25oFr4NR6E_j2Ppr7zeMIOtYT6r9eM0tgpjFL6WGWlWFZnZm1xyWyf1mpE9pHIkL3iiBa8JzTeKV3sHa06rFWj1mA0/s320/Little+Rock+056.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Sweet mama with her two oldest...</div><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617436885427145570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4r3qhJ2cRu65I3uDIR3GiKsWcHrF5zUh9UoXo-l6aOB8gFKzD711gSY6rU6OrBGhfKVyW0T8X-C45y9Rj22DsMP3ijhyphenhyphenFYRH__0lYFtDRjrZV_66SxZLixF08NaNjIRobcoCV_4wdBKs/s320/Little+Rock+066.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>In the morning we met up for breakfast and M and I took the kids to a playground while Trav and Can packed up.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Eva is so cute; she is intense in whatever task she is doing and is totally fearless! She'll be one driven young lady in a few years (and a beautiful one!)</div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBJQjkghDCl58hyT5HxYT7tAeCbilqW2Qel-yRWkiMSy3PVbqzb-9sNE9Gu9cVgUy_Y2sRCGQ5ODrb7yfcnI2fWelt7EHBfrfjjpjuHjwKfqCWvrnALJDtPbhtuyAktUHcOqkdbsAatk/s1600/Little+Rock+124.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617437304641111938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBJQjkghDCl58hyT5HxYT7tAeCbilqW2Qel-yRWkiMSy3PVbqzb-9sNE9Gu9cVgUy_Y2sRCGQ5ODrb7yfcnI2fWelt7EHBfrfjjpjuHjwKfqCWvrnALJDtPbhtuyAktUHcOqkdbsAatk/s320/Little+Rock+124.JPG" /></a>The kids like to pretend they're behind a counter taking food orders; in this pic Truman is handing me a cheesburger and milkshake I asked him to make for me. SO cute!<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp85GuGt4lIcSi3Msro-xeFmD7Ipvp74i6uUGwJez0CdFknqGB4-wEe9fNL-ZENk92LVGG7E_nNLSfyKgp-ZrlXXtnXH0PeFoRJZJBhyic48PMA5x8lfGKGglgG92TJ0Rshyphenhyphen7EgY3fI2g/s1600/Little+Rock+079.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617436622266342578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp85GuGt4lIcSi3Msro-xeFmD7Ipvp74i6uUGwJez0CdFknqGB4-wEe9fNL-ZENk92LVGG7E_nNLSfyKgp-ZrlXXtnXH0PeFoRJZJBhyic48PMA5x8lfGKGglgG92TJ0Rshyphenhyphen7EgY3fI2g/s320/Little+Rock+079.JPG" /></a> Fearless Eva. She climbed right on up with no help. Tio was the scared one!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eGxIs7eF7i21ilsk_WTltQKz0hsiMaP9Ky0lbYVVjUJG9Kc2dUYGaT2syZvvVHDVVFRJsP6bKoweagoMiKpKJ8I5_8Iq7nGU3wSalYFQEXQ_lmc3P74wXhxNU18QvY30pqGTopO8W3I/s1600/Little+Rock+097.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617436459191811330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eGxIs7eF7i21ilsk_WTltQKz0hsiMaP9Ky0lbYVVjUJG9Kc2dUYGaT2syZvvVHDVVFRJsP6bKoweagoMiKpKJ8I5_8Iq7nGU3wSalYFQEXQ_lmc3P74wXhxNU18QvY30pqGTopO8W3I/s320/Little+Rock+097.JPG" /></a> Before they took off we went to the mall, walked around, and had lunch. How CUTE it Gaba in her little fedora?!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYf1VpgNhRpPqsVWMfJenSXyP6N5WrmeoGy_PfWcpTkhau3_9QgFsrjNBPSumGsRvFbGxEo1TIDWTbkvKQ0aOOR7gE3-PcSdDrbSN8JzBzjhuL66Qa9l-bHYND0KLiX4g_cXZhJlvLQZU/s1600/Little+Rock+135.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617435987729161634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYf1VpgNhRpPqsVWMfJenSXyP6N5WrmeoGy_PfWcpTkhau3_9QgFsrjNBPSumGsRvFbGxEo1TIDWTbkvKQ0aOOR7gE3-PcSdDrbSN8JzBzjhuL66Qa9l-bHYND0KLiX4g_cXZhJlvLQZU/s320/Little+Rock+135.JPG" /></a> Getting into the van for the ride home. Eva is rockin her new shades, keepin it real at the wheel.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7ExEc3kvPRn9EvgmpW-G8hm-KrNVRreZ4cuclWSewk9DDsNPWnltSkryVCawS2F0Pd7bgvso2GhlZUmOI3ZL6QpKdrS7Ch-H8wujt3NK1KDQgoF7aWLm_ChwCHW4HpjAV9kqeQvop2k/s1600/Little+Rock+143.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617435761169159682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7ExEc3kvPRn9EvgmpW-G8hm-KrNVRreZ4cuclWSewk9DDsNPWnltSkryVCawS2F0Pd7bgvso2GhlZUmOI3ZL6QpKdrS7Ch-H8wujt3NK1KDQgoF7aWLm_ChwCHW4HpjAV9kqeQvop2k/s320/Little+Rock+143.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />We are SO thankful they came down! It was so great to have the whole family to ourselves and for the kiddos to get to know us a little more. We love those stinkers SO much! Watching Travis and Candy as parents was really encouraging; they work together so well and clearly love their children very much and are doing such a great job of teaching and trainging them. It was fun to see and fun to learn from them. Thanks for coming, guys! We love you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-79900883267922552022011-06-09T17:20:00.001-07:002011-06-12T15:26:34.057-07:00Nashville!<div align="center">After work one Thursday, Mike said, "Hey, we have tomorrow off...wanna drive up to Nashville?" And since lately I've been complaining that my 36-year-old husband lived out his days of spontaneity before we got married, I said, "OH YEAH!" So we called out friends there and headed up the next morning! We had made plans for supper at Seth and dixie Christian's, and on the road we got a text from Seth saying, "How do burgers and beers sound for tonight?" We both said, "Oh MAN that sounds good!" Finally a home-cooked meal! We checked into our nice hotel which was close to our friends and the church we wanted to go to.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Then we headed over to Seth and Dixie's. Seth was like my big brother back in Omaha years ago (my dad was his best man!), and Dixie is such a cool woman, and they were so hospitable to us crashing their friday night! On the spot they made us an awesome supper; Seth grilled hamburgers and Dixie put together some veggies and dip and french fries. We enjoyed our food on the back porch that Seth had built himself, and got to know their littles, Zayli and Zeke. Adorable! Zayli was showed me her chilrens' bible and said, "I'm a Christian twice, because my name is Zayli Christian and I am a Christian because Jesus died for my sins on the cross." Oh, so sweet. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">We had such a great time talking over oreos late into the night, and we even got a little show - several police cars and K-9 units showed up next door and were walking around the area. One officer walked through their front yard and looked in at us! S&D said they just wanted to make our Nashville experience complete. :) </div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">It was so so good getting to know eachother more...Mike had never met Dix and had only spent a few hours with Seth, so it was great for them to get to know my husband. I had only known them as a kid back in Omaha, so it was such a blessing to get to know them as an adult! Seth is passionate about pursuing his love for God and growing his knowledge of His word and his ministry. He's a super chill dude, hilarious, and a really fun dad. Dixie is so laid back and down to earth, and I so appreciate her openess and how matter-of-fact she is; I really like her.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">The next day we met up with Nina for lunch at a Saphire and then walked around darling downtown Franklin. She had a group of friends going our for dinner and salsa dancing so we tagged along; it was super fun to meet her friends and her little beau!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617130345455460050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlppAx6u1ympMRyiGKFhM5C9KoMWEcDEZIPEhJ5zcb9kK0S6hgfYN3iXBUNowJUyR2b-6Euz3Bq7MPs4qMVyTapHsZUUCJxe_g2zH6cNEHaEx2g5zGAkmH9ZzbmSNT-SD5_VAnPUfHjg/s320/222.JPG" />On Sunday morning we went to Community Bible Church where S&D and nina all go; Byron Yawn is the head pastor and we are really excited about his ministry! You can check out the church's website <a href="http://www.cbcnashville.org/">here</a>. It was great seeing S&D and the kids again, then we had lunch with Nina and 2 friends downtown. Such a cool city! We totally hope we can make one more trip up while we're here.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-59520833418968315632011-06-08T18:14:00.000-07:002011-06-12T15:30:31.131-07:00Last Days in Austin<div align="center">Before making the trek to Little Rock, we spent a few days with my family in Austin. We love being with them! On Saturday we split up; the boys toured the local military base while the girls went walking around downtown and out for lunch at a classy Mexican restaurant.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkADppeJidlNBG329Zn8ORnwvuSYfHhPxkRBaAMG4XhPFyJPsF2GKmqSoy3y3fHL7sqfQy4GtyXORnsu7P8Gu_TtYx6X_6O7dsAjxthxdo1E4uS1BSKN3ggRfC3GZEMmehhjcpROed1-E/s1600/DSC04073.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617125981470406098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkADppeJidlNBG329Zn8ORnwvuSYfHhPxkRBaAMG4XhPFyJPsF2GKmqSoy3y3fHL7sqfQy4GtyXORnsu7P8Gu_TtYx6X_6O7dsAjxthxdo1E4uS1BSKN3ggRfC3GZEMmehhjcpROed1-E/s320/DSC04073.JPG" /></a> On our way home we called the giys to see of they wanted to do The Salt Lick for supper; I wanted to get in all our favorite eateries before leaving...but they guiltily told us they had just had lunch there! But we were happy they had a great time together. So we made plans to go to Home Slice, the best pizza place on earth, instead; it didn't disappoint, and it was fun to go there one last time all together.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Sunday was Mothers' Day and Em and I put together a little tea for lunchtime; we made three different kinds of tea, some great biscotti, Em made some really delicious scones, and we enjoyed some amazing chocolate-covered strawberries that Sam and Tessa had sweetly sent her. (Thanks for sharing, Ma!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGHYAT9qdVIna8_qG5hVwXem-NQuSg_1c7ivYsXcBCjw3iPUx3xJh6DLYs-SAjwBYqr9wjfXezKwnDx3cPYyatgpT5IGBn_YZ5DCZTeD6r-LRQKE5k5IeWPEKzFA5Ia1FCRof9sr1h5k/s1600/212.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617125673648196866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGHYAT9qdVIna8_qG5hVwXem-NQuSg_1c7ivYsXcBCjw3iPUx3xJh6DLYs-SAjwBYqr9wjfXezKwnDx3cPYyatgpT5IGBn_YZ5DCZTeD6r-LRQKE5k5IeWPEKzFA5Ia1FCRof9sr1h5k/s320/212.JPG" /></a>Other than that, we just bummed around; we enjoyed watching movies, reading outloud, and just being together.<br /><br />Here are Mike and Jon; we were all just hanging out and I asked if I could get a picture of the two of them, and they both said "Sure," and stayed right where they were and just looked at the camera. Too funny.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZl9T3GwQsm0NmMYk8ATCynw1lJ1QVfmam-mrllufXi5cBQ3QyhHvINcuoHu-QTJH5RSJgt74fW6UCb8xk7CnBwSI7eC33H8_2zFLLwpRMb4NwJsXl9q9pKeZLvKU9qdi0-z2ThM5MVk/s1600/218.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617125535688343922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZl9T3GwQsm0NmMYk8ATCynw1lJ1QVfmam-mrllufXi5cBQ3QyhHvINcuoHu-QTJH5RSJgt74fW6UCb8xk7CnBwSI7eC33H8_2zFLLwpRMb4NwJsXl9q9pKeZLvKU9qdi0-z2ThM5MVk/s320/218.JPG" /></a> The morning we left Mom had to go right in to work but the rest of us got to spend a few hours together before we headed out. Em made some more of her splendid scones for us! Isn't she cute?<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X_BzndzYgkrn-UkBqleaDU5x8QRc2Yw3jddEtlBYmM0F8OLK8dgbKi1QBpizFlKRzRMRTbj8kWZ569F2WyfaH4PAnPDaN2cbLtNmAT1KxC1JK2rhX7SgsttJUCiP5VAhA_S4TzSygO8/s1600/220.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617125366132061746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X_BzndzYgkrn-UkBqleaDU5x8QRc2Yw3jddEtlBYmM0F8OLK8dgbKi1QBpizFlKRzRMRTbj8kWZ569F2WyfaH4PAnPDaN2cbLtNmAT1KxC1JK2rhX7SgsttJUCiP5VAhA_S4TzSygO8/s320/220.JPG" /></a> So we packed up the 4-Runner, tearfully said goodbye, and were on our way. I cried pretty hard and Mike was so sweet and comforted me! It sure helps knowing that we'll see them again in August for a few days. What a lovely family God has blessed me with. I love y'all SO SO much!!! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-18179718313064165722011-04-08T09:26:00.000-07:002011-04-08T09:48:24.934-07:00Opportunities<div align="center">On Monday Mike received his orders...looks like this move is happening! After a year of on-again off-again plans to move, God has taught me so much about just resting in Him and waiting for His plan to happen...<em>opprotunites</em> to put aside my plans and wait on Him. </div><br /><div align="center">With our departure quickly approaching, I am planning and organizing for the move...<em>opportunity</em> to think ahead but still live each day fully for Him where He has me, not living in the future. ("Wherever you are be all there." -Jim Elliott) </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">And after putting off thoughts of good-byes for a long time, now I'm thinking that in few weeks from now when we'll say a very very sad goodbye to our church family and our immediate family, it will be <em>opportunity</em> to remember God's sovereignty and goodness, to think on eternity, that God made us for relationships and one day the pain of being separated will be gone, and we'll be together in perfection...<em>opportunity</em> to go with God, who never moves away... </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Psalm 16:3 "As for the sains who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight."</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-73667147069894515802011-03-09T19:56:00.000-08:002011-03-14T19:51:01.470-07:00Take a Left at John Lennon's Glasses<div align="center">This is my dear friend, Stephanie.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582295513292250994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQZ-ZF8kZjp8jMuwJZszDuXu5d0py_scTWgwyKxnCR8e1UvQPbwHITrsBaZSz8NDytnh3LbhvzyAWyJ8a7Jex5K7dhnhlae7OkK0VqeFo7wRifBbo61q2qpUaEi_MpLbulfpnbfVKmPw/s320/IMAG0817.jpg" /></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#6600cc;">Gorgeous, isn't she?</span></div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">Steph and her husband Jeremy live in Nevada, and last week she came for a visit!</div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">After I picked her up from the airport and we hugged and caught up, we sat down and listed out everything we wanted to do in our time together. </div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">Farmers markets! Enchanted Rock and Fredricksburg! Catch some music at Gruene Hall and peruse Gruene's boutiques! And of course visit the outlet malls...<span style="color:#6600cc;">she's the BEST person to shop with.</span></div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">That night we went to our small group Bible study where Steph got to meet all of our dear friends and have a meal together and a Q&A session with our pastor. It was so fun for me to have my friends meet her!</div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center"></div><div align="center">That night we went to bed excited for our eventful week, and the next day we were able to cross several things off our list.</div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">We woke up and went for a run, a new shared hobby, and got ready for a morning of shopping and an evening downtown. We drove out to La Cantera where Steph made some returns and I found a fab pair of shoes, and where we met up with Dre (SO fun for my different worlds to cross paths!)</div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">Then we headed downtown, and after finding a parking garage, Steph stopped at a special store to buy a special gift for her special daddy. <span style="color:#6600cc;">That's something she's always doing - on the lookout for gifts for people in her life. </span><span style="color:#000000;">When we asked an employee to point us toward the restroom, he said, "Straight back, then take alaft at John Lennon's glasses." :)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><p align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></p><div align="center">We had noticed a sign at the Majestic Theater advertising the play Wicked and decided that since we're two girls who have really wanted to see it who are married to two guys who really haven't...that we should see it. So we hunted down the ticket booth and purchased our Wicked tickets! </div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">Now we had 5 hours to kill. What to?</div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">The Lord had given us perfect weather, so we took a riverboat tour around the Riverwalk. Our tour guide was hilarious, and I got to be his lookout. "You in the yellow," he said, "take a peak around the corner and give me a thumbs-up if I'm clear to turn the corner." I gave him a thumbs up, and on my way off the boat at the end of the tour he said I could come back and be his lookout any day. </div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">After that we made our way on foot toward the Tower of the Americas. She was a trooper as I did a poor job of navigating. We took the glass elevator all the way to the top (with our faces turned toward the wall) where we had a delicious dinner at The Chart House. <span style="color:#6600cc;">Stephanie is an</span> <span style="color:#6600cc;">amazing cook and a connoisseur of good restaurants</span>, so I knew I was in for a treat. We enjoyed our creamy clam chowder and amazing chocolate and peanut butter lava cake as the restaurant slowly rotated and gave us a beautiful 360 degree view of the city and the sunset.</div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">Then it was time to head back toward the Majestic! We waited a while to be let into the theater, then quickly found our seats and waited for the show to begin. It was so fun - neither os us knew what to expect and we both really enjoyed it, especially because we got to see it together!</div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">The next day we had scheduled to go see my family in Austin and to introduce Steph to the most amazing pizza, Home Slice. I woke up feeling a little off, andI couldn't finish our workout video, but I got over it and we headed north to meet my fam at the restaurant. </div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Em got to meet Steph for the first time (<span style="color:#6600cc;">Yay!! My two best girls!!)</span> and to see my parents again. Em was so sweet and had brought a little gift for her, we all had a nice time, and the pizza was amazing as usual.</div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">After lunch, I was really not feeling well and Steph now had started feeling funny, so we drove Em back to the house, Steph got to meet Jonny, then we decided to just drive home so we could try to sleep off feeling so ill.</div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center">What a drive that turned out to be...we both got sick and it seemed like it would never end, but God got us home safely and we went right to bed. It turned out that our whole Bible study group came down with the same thing! It was a case of mass casualty flu. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582297084570825618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0QRMYmZiaYT1bxre2IcwMesDE6axfuJ5wPaF7zWHFYiEN7ViQmw7LYPMQINSvNJOnjwEQ4bJq7Xd1t2m8FSVB1Ck-HtcMSFgSxBjklrNOpdcgSSXCT-e1ZL4NgHYG7_c_L-E8bteMnE/s320/IMAG0799.jpg" /></div><div align="center">So the next 3 days we spent resting in the living room, feeling better little by little. (Even though we were miserable, we were happy to be with eachother). There went our exciting schedule! But we were reminded...</div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center"><span style="color:#006600;">"The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">On Sunday afternoon Steph finally was feeling a bit better, so we ventured out to Costco where we found some great workout clothes, and then had a relaxing evening of SkipBo.</div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cVYnnMoTIsmt0znBUhPhBTnEe4wi-mf5JrsKPt3MF-z0redMccOzg16QV2VRrH0YvUsO-NGSfc0wy0XTVos31p8CMqUgkPuf6Ikp3cu0U2dmaL8E8ktwgOX8u6VE0uNvcPfDCg-ZUSU/s1600/IMAG0804.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582296908069208914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cVYnnMoTIsmt0znBUhPhBTnEe4wi-mf5JrsKPt3MF-z0redMccOzg16QV2VRrH0YvUsO-NGSfc0wy0XTVos31p8CMqUgkPuf6Ikp3cu0U2dmaL8E8ktwgOX8u6VE0uNvcPfDCg-ZUSU/s320/IMAG0804.jpg" /></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582296755743089154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJyJydxu69-UK0tdRV7o1zR7lKH6SUYUXQflixqQ_0747Q7UNQNpvYX7uWneAgh_IZnRV2nSZtIDlvk9N7rwy2Z54Y1WwGjTyjGOrhY3Sb-EE-AkyhLA_wPQwCfxN_9ID0b3RQhtuhsk/s320/IMAG0806.jpg" /> The next morning we were feeling great and it was a gorgeous day, perfect for shopping the outlet malls. Our first stop was for pancakes at IHOP and during breakfast we were reminded...<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">"The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail; they are new every morning." Lamentations 3:22-23</span><br /><br /><br />Back in the car and a few miles down the road we ended up with a flat tire! Thankfully, were were able to get safely over and the Lord blessed us with an extremely fast and integritable roadside assistance guy! We had to wait a while as he ran to the store to get some parts he <span style="color:#000000;">needed, but we were thankful that we were together and able to laugh at it all and encourage eachother to be content with what God has for us that day and to appreciate these "pruning" times.</span><span style="color:#6600cc;"> What a dear friend to have!</span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582296440232538402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hNPhYl4buMxNYTssRO_niy0fNbEt8RTNkuuu_MU5xGySF2XVTpPzZVbVUM5c0Jgn9VpWfTrHT07Ug-gtDoAR_XVlTIJotYjUaJE5TibtyWCHAhLNNYAAghGa4JuBI17JVAmmNdxtRNk/s320/IMAG0811.jpg" /><br />During the wait poor Steph had a little attack from some friendly fire ants! I felt so bad. Thankfully she didn't seem to be allergic to them and<span style="color:#6600cc;"> she handled it so happily</span>. Way to go, girl!<br /><br />Finally we were back on the road, only a couple hours behind schedule, and we still had a full and fun day of shopping and we ended the night with a delicious supper at The Cheesecake Factory.<br /><br />She left the next day after we squeezed in a few more rounds of Skip Bo and a prayer for safety and a calm heart.<br /><br /><br />What a trip! Not at all what WE had planned, but exactly what the Lord had for us. <span style="color:#6600cc;">I'm so happy I got time with her, as crazy as it all was.</span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">From a song..."This days been crazy but everything's happened on schedule, from the rain and the cold to the drink that I spilled on my shirt..." </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">I miss her already, my friend who I've known for 3 years and my whole life! Love you, Fifi!!</span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-46699672037732588022011-03-08T17:49:00.001-08:002011-03-08T18:06:23.531-08:00A Clip from the PastMike is studying across the table from me and I am looking at my old Xanga page. Remember Xanga? I was tickled my this post from October 2005, written from my bed as I was recovering from mono...<br /><br /><div align="center"><em>I'm eating some doritos and I just realized how much cheesier they are now than they used to be. Anybody with me? It made me think about how eveybody always wants stuff bigger and better - there's never enough "cheese" on the "doritos," you know?</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-37038877290682508482011-02-02T06:55:00.000-08:002011-02-02T07:44:41.125-08:00<div align="left">On Monday we celebrated my Michael's 36th birthday! What a man I have...</div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">He wanted to keep it simple and stay home, so I surprised him with one of his favorite dinners...bacon, eggs, and homemade hashbrowns, and a chocolate birthday cake with peanut butter frosting. After we ate he opened my little present and then we snuggled on the couch under The Cloud (our down comforter) and watched a movie, one of our favorite little things to do together.</div><br /><div align="left">He told me that he felt so special and so loved, and I told him that no one had more to celebrate than me because I got to spend one more year falling more in love with him and following him as he lead me closer to the Lord...I get to wake up next to him and hear his voice in the morning, I get to watch him grow in godliness and love for others...I'm the one who gets to share funny moments and inside jokes with him...I'm the one God chose to give him to and I'm so undeserving of such a wonderful man, my very own Mikey! Happy birthday, baby; I love you so much, more and more. God is SO good!!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569106533606578178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1HQ9F-tor4HTjktzExfz4Ty13Iq4rTNiQYOiPOUsm6siSf8Wz93_jGKvRjvwolHS5pr1MgnMk1if4PwGyI8jW7RrRMJQLvgP30G9d-r4ebvB2eng0TcpGSBZLz2khG5Dyea2VZx_Z0s/s320/365-1-31.jpg" /></div><br /><div align="center">Some pics of my love and me over the years...</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569107276119003506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNBFYV9OmS9iS5Xaidub5Qd4eSJkHwIUKhsd8-bKu0bdIbtErnzDbZ_kNLbBOW0kiMG7BpegBaDYW6Y6ACP1N38UQ4FCeslTZnP6pEa7MbZj3WpFw1dwI2zNUMDo9su5LcYCclypMwUg/s320/2008-02-20-1448-00_edited.jpg" />After running around n the rain the week before our wedding<br /></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569108750640504594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxS5JJejmrLyYYvIs3l3UShE71cu97dxZSvPBA4dwAhBmO2OG7dn5lYI6hfSPZD_8rOEO0GgAYNWVun_fmF-Wl9Ide2CzEFWz8Acar1iNIxuY8tBbO4Uzq7EMYajKhGhMBfB11mJ3Cy0/s320/New+England+Trip+012.jpg" />On our first trip to New Englad in 09 </p><br /><p><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569115925473196642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZGzOCY5oAKBITL0KvU4kYL_vO9Cg23mnrwh0R_-tT-5lxuIDV_qUVGtey8w3jwyQ-mjotUThPiz52EivOIfft2BseCyuw_2dJzkiCerKpFoyNOIZldXbj1k6NUB_QtaGit5EBhPBlQM/s320/Misc+002.JPG" /> <p align="center">On our 5th anniversary<br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVb9VDAWKlrI2PvutlBOtBMDyvSidBxqHc_WfXdbjrqhbfsA9_wcLDV4mJuHzWrt5XeTqvQIbrubp-P1F49nWZedCk7EaTFtKZ3bvMIh0OvpUiXwDZoyHfzSCIxUfpb_74MBl5SauejU/s1600/DSC00002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569107105473966642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVb9VDAWKlrI2PvutlBOtBMDyvSidBxqHc_WfXdbjrqhbfsA9_wcLDV4mJuHzWrt5XeTqvQIbrubp-P1F49nWZedCk7EaTFtKZ3bvMIh0OvpUiXwDZoyHfzSCIxUfpb_74MBl5SauejU/s320/DSC00002.JPG" /></a> My favorite thing to do :) </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853155782353482808.post-54650449210029408622011-01-06T19:03:00.000-08:002011-01-06T19:18:47.016-08:00A BitterSWEET EveningTonight we had dinner guests: Mike's co-worker, Brad, and his sweet daughter, Chloe. I've been praying for these two since Mike met Brad a few months ago and it was so fun to get to meet them and spend time with them! Brad is raising his daughter by himself because the Lord took his wife, Sarah, home to be with Him in 2009. He kindly volunteered to tell me his story; so sad, and so joyful, because he gives ALL the glory to God! It makes my heart swell to think of what he's been through and to think that he is clinging to Jesus and my Savior is being glorified through him! From one of <a href="http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com/">Brad's blog</a> posts toward the beginning of their trial...<br /><br />"The Lord is my strength and my shiled. My heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give Him thanks in song." Psalm 28:7<br /><br />I'm praising God for such encouragement from a brother in Christ tonight!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3