THE PATTERSON LIFE

1st day of school

2010-09-08T08:29:00.004-06:00

Lily and Luke started school on the 7th of September. Lily is in the Pre-K class this year and Luke is in the 2 year old class. They were both so excited and had great first days. Luke thought the stamp he got on his hand was the coolest thing in the world. And Lily can already rattle off all of her classmates names. Both of their teachers are very sweet so it should be a great year. I just can't believe next year Lily will be in kindergarten! Amazing. They look so big in these pictures.

Luke's 2nd birthday

2010-08-26T20:56:00.006-06:00

On August 11, Luke turned 2!

I love this little guy and his excitement for life. He is into all things boy: cars, trucks, dinosaurs, balls, etc. His favorite thing right now is "playing catch" with the football while wearing Lily's princess bike helmet as his football helmet. I guess when you're the little brother you gotta improvise sometimes.

We did a swim party at my parents' house with family and friends. Our friend Stephanie made cute little sports cupcakes. I wish I'd gotten more pictures, but it's so crazy in the moment (you moms know what I'm talking about). We did get some video of him blowing out candles and opening presents.

The morning of his birthday we filled his bed with blue balloons (his favorite color) and sang "Happy Birthday!" when he woke up.

Lily's 4th Birthday

2010-05-21T06:33:00.006-06:00

On March 28, we celebrated Lily's 4th birthday! We began the day with our Breakfast Cake tradition. You can tell she's proud to be 4!

Party at the Park
We celebrated with friends at a park by our house. It was a beautiful day outside, but the wind was out of control. The pavillion we were in served as a wind tunnel making it very chilly. The kids stayed in there just long enough to eat pizza and cake and then headed back out to play. Thankfully it felt great in the sun.

good friends

Evan and Lily

Luke enjoying some cake

opening presents

the rose that Evan gave her

saying thank you with a hug

Luke exploring the playground

Family party at home

a lily for Lily

crashed on the couch post-party

Snow Day

2010-02-14T15:37:00.005-06:00

I have never seen so much snow on the ground here in Dallas. What a fun surprise to wake up to a blanket of white everywhere. As it continued to snow throughout the day, I felt as though I were looking out the window of a lodge in Colorado rather than my own house. Didn't it break some snowfall record in Texas? It is one thing to go somewhere like Colorado and experience such beauty, but truly unique that we got to see our everyday world as a winter wonderland. The buildings and trees that I'm so used to driving past looked glorious in their coat of white. The shops that we live by felt like a ski village with the pockets of snow everywhere. This much snow was just begging us to come and build snowmen and make snow angels. We bundled up the best we could and headed out. Lily was in heaven. Luke enjoyed it for a while. But he wouldn't keep any gloves on so he was done once his hands got too cold. Here's Lily and Daddy's snowman:

Snow angels

Luke on a cracker break

sweet glimpses

2009-11-13T09:56:00.004-06:00

This morning was a lazy one. Josh and I got up with the kids, and he made his famous "egg creation." After eating, we switched from cartoons to music and sipped coffee while watching the kids play. Lily then told me to "be busy" so she and Dad and Luke could play farm animals in her room. I didn't take offense but rather saw it as an opportunity to get some things done downstairs. I started picking up the kitchen when the song on the ipod caught my ear.

It was a familiar one that I hadn't heard in a while so I grabbed my mug and sat down to refresh my memory. I can remember the first time I heard it was back in college when Josh and I attended Bent Tree Bible a few times. For whatever reason, this song has always struck a cord deep within me. Maybe it's the clever phrasing of the words or the evolution of the sweet melody. I just think it's such a beautiful analogy of our lives- moving through different seasons of celebration, change, heartache, growth. I'm reminded that through it all the Lord is at the center. Just as He orchestrates every minute detail of every season change, He is also beautifully arranging the components of my life, providing purpose for each season though I may not see it now.

On another note, this song prompts me to look for Him in what I can sometimes consider the mundane. My friend Kristyn was sharing with me a passage from the book Cold Tangerines. (I haven't read it yet.) In it the author shares about a hectic season in her life when she was so busy racing from event to event, that one day she looked up and saw the tree across the street was the most magnificent shade of red she'd ever seen. She hadn't even noticed it starting to change and was reminded she had lost sight of what was most important. Far too often I get so caught up in the motions of my day that I fail to even think on the Lord. This is a call to see Him in His creation. When I do stop and gaze at the vast sky or admire the rich shade of red on a leaf, my heart is drawn to worship.

Today, through a song, I saw sweet glimpses of Him. My heart was stirred and longed to be near Him. Thank you, Lord, for using your gift of music to draw me unto you.

Every Season - Nichole Nordeman

Luke is 15mo old

2009-11-11T22:26:00.004-06:00

Luke is fifteen months old today. I'd hoped to blog more about his developmental milestones, but, like too many other things in my life right now, I didn't follow through. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to highlight my sweet boy.

Dear Luke,

Happy 15 months today! What a blessing you are to our family. Countless times everyday I thank God for your little life. Your personality is definitely coming through these days! And apart from being a sweet Mama's boy, you also have a goofy side too! In fact, today Daddy and I sat and laughed as we watched you and Lily chase each other around the house, screaming and giggling. You love to run and shake your head back and forth with your tongue hanging out until you get so tickled at yourself you usually fall down. But that hardly slows you up as you're back at it again in seconds!

Probably my favorite thing you're doing right now is hugging. At any given moment, you will bee-line it to my legs and crash into them, squeezing for dear life. And I melt when I'm holding you and you wrap your arms around my neck and lay your head on my shoulder. I could stay there for hours. But you're not just partial to me, you have hugs to share with Lily and Daddy too. There's nothing sweeter than to see you and Lily embrace in a full-on bear hug. I'm praying that you and Lily will be more than just brother and sister- but best friends too. It seems like you're off to a good start there.

Your big sister seems to be your hero right now. You like to do whatever she's doing. Whether it's washing your hands at the sink or sitting on the couch or reading books- you're right there behind her wanting your turn. Lily is a sweet big sister to you- most of the time. She's quick to step in and defend you on the playground when other big kids are around. Always looking out for her little "Lukey-boy." That's what she calls you and I constantly have to clarify when people ask her your name and then look confused.

Walking is now old hat and running and climbing seem to be new found interests. The stairs in our new house are your peak of choice although I'm always there to bring you back down to base camp. We haven't had a tumble so far!

It seems that everyday you're learning and attempting new words. Some new to your vocabulary are: wa-wa: water, ball, please, more, dog, nite-nite, bye-bye, and several animal sounds, but my favorite is "hot." Everything that is set before you regardless of its actual temperature is "hot." You point to it and say "hot" which sounds more like "ha" and then proceed to blow on it at least twice. It's so great and cracks me up every time.

Luke, I am so grateful and humbled to be your Mama. I pray for you everyday, that you would love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. That He would be your everything. I pray that you'd have friends to walk in deep, honest Biblical community with. And that one day the Lord would provide you with a godly wife who loves Jesus and wants to follow Him with you.

I'm thankful for the 15 months we've had together and pray and hope for many more to come. You and your sister stir my affections for the Lord, and for that I'm grateful. I hope that one day as a parent you can understand the joy that I find in being your Mama.

I love you.

Halloween

2009-11-01T22:10:00.008-06:00

This year since we are in our new house (!!!) we decided to stay in our neighborhood and try and meet our neighbors. The Rogers and Joys came over for dinner and then Lily and Josh went trick or treating while Luke and I stayed home to hand out the treats. We got a few pictures of them in costume, but they're just so hard to catch these days! Lily is a Thumbelina Fairy and Luke is a puppy dog. Lily has said several times today, "Man, I can't wait to go trick or treating again!"

Luke and Addison (a chick)

Noah (a nerd) and Lily

Luke's 1st birthday

2009-11-01T21:32:00.010-06:00

Luke is about to be 15 months old so I thought I'd better post some pics of his first birthday before it was time for his second one! Our sweet friend Lindsey Brittain came as the birthday Photographer so Josh and I could just enjoy the festivities. We had the family over to my mom's for cake and ice cream. Luke was WAY into his cake. I think he might have a bigger sweet tooth than Lily?!? He was sad when we had to cut him off. And you can tell that Lily just assumed her role as "helper" with everything from opening presents to eating cake! She was sweet to her little brother on his big day.

Melissa and Jonathan's wedding

2009-09-08T21:57:00.006-06:00

I wanted to put up a few pictures of Melissa's wedding. Everything was SO beautiful. Melissa was gorgeous...absolutely striking. I was stressed out as to whether or not Lily was going to make it down the aisle. While we were trying to take pictures pre-ceremony, she was crawling under furniture and rolling on the floor. You can see that in Melissa's lap she was not happy about getting her picture taken. But when the time came for us to line up, something clicked inside her, and she did exactly what she was supposed to do! She was absolutely smitten with the ringbearer, Wyatt, which helped. He was a couple of years older and so precious. She still asks about him even a month after the wedding! But you can see that as they were walking down the aisle Lily reached over to hold Wyatt's hand! It was so sweet! Couldn't have planned anything cuter!

Their photographer Amber did a great job.

Phone Fascination

2009-09-06T22:01:00.004-06:00

Luke is in that stage where he is totally intrigued by cell phones...or any phone. Whenever he hears one ring, even a ring tone play, he puts his hand up to his ear and says his version of, "Hello." So cute. My brother James and his girlfriend Krista were letting Luke play with their cell phones one afternoon. My favorite face is when the phone that he's holding lights up and his mouth opens as wide as it can go!

trains at the Gaylord

2009-09-01T10:52:00.008-06:00

While our husbands were out of town a few weeks ago, Kristyn, Faith and I took the kids out to see the train exhibit at the Gaylord. The kids loved it. They had free kids meals, free monkey shows and free balloon animals (although you had to endure some awkward comments from the balloon man). We got a double dose of the awkward comments when we had to revisit him to get more balloon animals since Evan threw his and Lily's off the balcony at dinner. It was a fun, and of course, crazy night. :)

Preston getting a little too excited about the trains

"don't mess with us"

flower girl practice

2009-09-01T10:25:00.007-06:00

The week before the wedding, Lily, Luke and I met mom and dad at the chapel so Lily could get a feel for walking the aisle.

breaking in her shoes

little brother looking on

Eating her reward - skittles

now for some fun

flower girl dress fitting

2009-08-31T21:07:00.006-06:00

My sister Melissa got married this summer and asked Lily to be the flower girl. Lily was thrilled at the thought of wearing a beautiful dress and fancy shoes. My mother in law had her dress made from some extra fabric that came off a St. Pucci wedding dress. Here is Lily trying on the dresses for the first time. She wasn't exactly into posing for the camera so I did the best I could. The pink dress is the one she wore to the rehearsal. The white one is the flower girl dress.

it's been a while...

2009-08-30T20:50:00.003-06:00

too long. i blame my blogging absence on my little mac's lack of memory. i guess i could have posted my thoughts in the meantime, but we all like posts with pictures better, right? so thanks to our friend Mo, my mac now has 500 GB, and i was finally able to upload the rest of my photos. a lot has happened this summer. we drove to Arkansas for family camp, married off my sister, Lily did the flower girl thing, celebrated Luke's first birthday and found a house! Yes! it's official- we closed today! so i'm going to play catch up over the next few weeks.

necklaces from Uganda

2009-07-07T22:21:00.003-06:00

Hello, friends!
We just got back from spending the week at Family Camp in the Ozarks of Arkansas! I'm dying to post some pictures, but I know it will take me longer than I should stay up tonight. Hopefully I'll get to that tomorrow. But for now, I wanted to post a link to Emily's blog so you can find out about the jewelry from Uganda she's selling to help African women. Pretty cool! You can contact her directly, or let me know if you want to help!

sweet luke

2009-06-24T20:53:00.004-06:00

haircuts

2009-06-18T09:12:00.005-06:00

The other night we took Luke to get his first haircut. He's 10 months old and has had a full head of dark brown hair since birth. It was getting a little shaggy so we took him into Cool Cuts for Kids to trim it up. He did really well! No tears! He wasn't real sure about the blue cape at first but he didn't mind it after while. His favorite part was sitting in the fire engine! I'm amazed that anybody could cut a 10 month old's hair and relieved I didn't have to do it. He was so squirmy! And she even used the trimmers at the end! The new cut looks really cute on him and makes him look older- more like a little boy.

before

loving the fire engine

smiling for Daddy

mohawk

after- (she was almost done at this point)

Afterwards we went over to our friend Kameron's apartment to get Lily's haircut. Kameron is an amazing stylist whose been cutting our hair for a while, and she gave Lily some layers all over and a long bang. Lily was shy at first, but as soon as Kameron pulled out the "princess" cape and the reeses pieces Lily was in heaven. She was so cute about it! Before she went to bed that night, she asked Josh, "Daddy, will my haircut get messed up when I sleep?" Oh my, she is ALL girl! Wish I had a picture of the after, but I'm sure I'll have some to post soon.

*update: I just showed Lily this post so she could see her picture. She turned to me and asked, "Mom, is my haircut still there?" :)

meeting the easter bunny

2009-06-14T21:40:00.001-06:00

For the past two years, Lily has been incredibly fond of the Easter Bunny. She hasn't always taken to oversized costumes though. One year we took her to meet Bob and Larry (of VeggieTales), and she wouldn't go anywhere near them. She was content to wave from across the store. But for some reason, she LOVES the Easter Bunny and was so excited to see him in Nordstrom after our playdate. She is in Heaven! and Luke doesn't seem to mind it either!

The past two years we've had Easter brunch with some of our family at a hotel in the area. The hotel has an Easter Bunny at the brunch to hand out candy and greet the children. Both years Lily has stalked the Bunny for the entire meal. The other day when we drove by the hotel, she exclaimed, "Daddy, this is where the Easter Bunny lives!"

playdate with jayden

2009-06-14T21:26:00.005-06:00

A while back we had a playdate with Jayden Ogden at the Galleria. It was so fun catching up with our sweet friends the Ogdens and the Iveys while the kids climbed, jumped, crawled, and wore themselves out.

birthday expectations

2009-06-02T21:54:00.008-06:00

i know it's a little overdue, but i thought i'd recap the events of lily's birthday. let's just say things didn't go quite as i planned. oh, she loved every minute of it. but of course, i let my darn expectations get in the way and mess everything up. allow me to elaborate.

this was lily's third birthday. and this year she really "got" what a birthday is all about. another year older, party, presents, cake, etc. even to the point that no matter what store we were in, she'd pick up a random item and say, "well, maybe i can get this for my birthday..." guess i wore that phrase out. anyways, the day was approaching and i was actually planning ahead. her actual birthday was on a saturday, but her party was the next day on sunday. so i was pleased with the task lists i'd made and checked off as saturday came. (need i remind you who i'm married to?) so each year on lily's birthday, i've gone into her room the morning of, before she wakes up, and filled her bed with balloons. (i think i stole that from hillary.) but this birthday i decided to decorate the night before since i had balloons AND streamers. ;) so i wrapped her bed posts in pink streamers and filled her floor with pink balloons.

let me also say that our big present to her was a bike. not just any bike. the disney princess bike. i'm sure you've seen it, as all female toddlers possess it. and not just any disney princess bike. the pink one. NOT the purple one. she had made it clear. (this was funny to me because they ALL had pink AND purple on them. some were mostly pink and some mostly purple. she liked the mostly pink one- which if they weren't side by side i didn't think she'd know the difference.) still, i made sure to find the right pink (not purple) disney princess bike at toys r us and managed to keep it hidden from her. we moved the pink (not purple) disney princess bike into the laundry room for the big reveal the next day.

and being the good mommy i am, i also bought a special birthday outfit for lily to wear all day saturday. a cute little pink and brown dress with a flower on the front, leggings, and a little mini sweater. SO cute. she'll love it, i thought, especially because it's pink.

everything was set. i would make breakfast cake in the morning so lily could blow out her candles. delighted with myself and my preparation, i looked forward to the next day like a little child anticipating christmas.

the next morning we awoke to lily screaming out, "mama! mama! mama!"

a little concerned, i ran into her room, knocking balloons every which way, to find her crouching in her bed confused at all the decor.

"mama! why is all this stuff in here?"

not quite the reaction i was going for.

but, nevertheless, we made a big deal of her birthday as she climbed out of bed. and now for the first present of the day! i handed her the box containing the birthday outfit. she tore into it and then stopped when she saw it.

"what do you think, lily? isn't it cute?"

"i don't like it."

(another dagger in my heart)

"what? but it's so cute! and it's PINK!"

"i don't like it...it's too small."

josh must have been able to sense my frustration at this point as i pleaded with my toddler to wear the special birthday outfit i had especially picked out. he said we should let it go and let her wear what she was wanted. i went into the kitchen to cool off and start making the breakfast cake. so far, i was 0-2. but that's ok because we still had the pink (not purple) disney princess bike to make a big deal of and video her reaction.

at least i thought. minutes later josh came in with "that" look on his face and explained that when he opened the door to the laundry room looking for her "other" dress, lily said,

"hey, is that my bike?"

to which josh answered,

"uh, yeah."

to which lily replied,

"but...it's purple."

and so my last ounce of birthday bliss expectation was squeezed from my defeated heart.

0-3, my friends.

thankfully, lily wasn't bothered by any of this. she was having a great day. and so i had to confess my control issues, apologize for my bad attitude, and let go of my expectations. i was able to laugh about it later that morning, and josh and i recounted the whole thing on video.

and just to top it off, the candles completely melted in the breakfast cake leaving pink rings of wax behind cause i stuck them in before it cooled. of course. :)

all in all it was a great day. it just reminded me of how caught up i can get with the little stuff. my focus was on the wrong things and my hope was misplaced. Lord, help me. we'll see if He has soon - luke's one year is coming up in august! ;)

blowing out her candles

ready to dig in

luke watching from the floor

loving every bite

moving on

2009-06-01T21:19:00.005-06:00

life has been full lately. this summer would have been 5 years in our first house. when we moved in, we always said we'd be in that house for at least 5 years and then reevaluate. i say "that" house because about 3 weeks ago we sold it, and it became another young couple's first house. crazy? yes. especially crazy because we haven't yet found a new house. looking? yes. my parents have graciously allowed us to move in with them until we find our next home. so it's as good of a scenario as it could be considering we are homeless. ;)

the decision to sell came on fairly quickly. we thought we'd probably move in a couple of years when we started trying for our third child. but the more we talked with our realtor and loan guy (sorry, jerry, what's your title?) the more we thought we should try now with the rates as low as they are. so we thought we'd put it on the market and see what happened. within a few hours of listing it, we had a full price offer! we were excited and shocked and still trying to convince ourselves that this was really happening.

i'm not quite sure it's totally sunk in. i mean the fact that we will never go back to that house again. there were lots of memories there. we brought both of our babies home from the hospital there. we had lily's first two birthday parties there. we had countless couples over for dinner. game nights, "24" watching marathons, cook outs, book clubs. not to mention the little things like being half asleep while hearing lily's door open, followed by her little footsteps on the laminate floor, knowing it would be just moments before she'd climb into bed with us. and transforming both bedrooms from office and guest room into nurseries when we found out we were expecting.

my friend carri warned me of the flood of memories that would rush back as i peered into each empty room one last time. she was right. i was overtaken with emotion thinking about all the wonderful things that had taken place within those walls. but then i was struck with the thought that I could take all those memories with me; what i was leaving behind was only the sheet rock and plaster.

probably the hardest aspect of this move is wondering how it will affect lily. that house has been all she's ever known her whole life. and in the past she hasn't dealt with change all that well. i remember when i was pregnant with luke and we were getting his nursery ready. i planned on moving the rocker i'd had with lily into his room. well, when it came time to move it, she had a serious meltdown for the next 30 minutes. so going into this i wasn't sure what her reaction would be. but she's handled it great. we've tried to really pursue her heart and how she's feeling/ what she's thinking about all this change. she says she's sad that we're moving. and she kept asking if she could take her bed, dolls, toys, etc. with her. :) so sweet. i reassured her that we'd take everything to her new room.

i'm still not quite sure that she gets it though. just hours before we turned over the keys, we took one final walk through with the kids to say good bye. it was emotional for josh and me. we teared up again and again as we recalled with lily the fun or silly or special things we'd do in every room. it has proven to be another opportunity to teach her (and be reminded myself) that God is in charge of everything (one of our little village foundational truths) as every night we ask God to provide us with another house. He is in charge of where we'll live next. He's in charge of the sphere of influence we'll have with our new neighbors. and the new memories we'll create as we do life and ministry in our new home. that part gets me excited.

good bye, 2609. we had a good run.

Happy 3rd birthday, Lily Pat!

2009-03-28T21:36:00.005-06:00

I wanted to jot down just a few of the special things about you that make me smile.

I love...

seeing you pop into our bedroom each morning, bright-eyed, carrying your Dora blanket, sippy cup, and at least 3 stuffed animals
the fact that you love everything pink
the way you correct me while I'm telling a made-up story
when you ask for one more hug and kiss at bedtime
hearing you sing Annie in the car for the thousandth time
how you make Lukey-boy laugh harder than anyone else
that dresses are the only form of clothing you'll wear at this point
the way we cuddle on the couch watching Nemo
when you pull your chair up next to the counter so you can help me in the kitchen
your concern for your little brother when he's crying
when you bring him toys to try and cheer him up
the quirky way you sit on the coffee table
that you use the soap dispenser as your microphone
when you surprise Daddy when he gets home from work
hearing you talk about being a princess
your inquisitive nature
when you randomly tell me you love me
your belly laugh when Daddy tickles you
that you got your mama's sweet tooth
chasing you up and down the sidewalk
how easily you make new friends
holding your hand

I love you, sweet Lily. Being your mom is one of the greatest joys of my life. Happy Birthday.

leader

2009-03-17T22:05:00.005-06:00

Recently I was faced again with a reality that I guess I've known my whole life but have always had trouble accepting: I am not a born leader. I'm just not. Now, sure, I've always prided myself in being the type who leads by example, or maybe the silent leader. I'm competent and capable (in most things) ;) But as far as being in charge of others, or taking the reigns, I typically shy away from that. Partly because of 'fear of man'- I guess I'm afraid that others will be analyzing the way I'm doing things and wishing I'd do it their way. (I know this because I'm married to one of those analyzers). And partly because I don't want to be held responsible if "whatever it is" tanks. I like the idea of being the leader but don't feel that I'm particularly gifted to do that. I'd much rather be given a task and run with it than have to oversee or manage the whole shebang. So why can't I be Ok with that? Why can't I be content in my role? Why do I still want to be something I'm not?

I know we're all created in God's image yet wired differently. I married one of those natural born leaders, and I rejoice in how God uses him in my life and in others' lives. So why can't I rest in the fact that He will use my "wirings" in His perfect way too? It's kind of like it says in 1 Corinthians 12: "For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less part of the body....But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose." And I would be the first one to speak up to the foot and say - "Hey, your role is important too! Don't you see that you are designed specifically for a purpose?" Yet I can't seem to swallow that as it relates to me. For some reason I don't feel like it's good enough to be part of the team. For some reason I feel like the preferred spot is the one of the leader. Hmmm. I'm sure that if I followed this trail long enough it'd lead me straight to pride. ;)

My friend Andrea and I were talking about this over our weekly lunch date, and she later wrote me this response in an email. It was really encouraging and something I needed to be reminded of:

Hey Nat…
I was reading Exodus 4 this morning and it reminded me of our conversation yesterday about how you struggle with wanting to be a leader, but that’s not really where you feel gifted. It was good because it reminded me to pray for you..but I thought I would send this particular verse to you and hopefully it will encourage you. This chapter is about when the Lord called Moses to lead the Egyptians and Moses is trying to talk his way out of speaking because he doesn’t feel adequate. And then in verse 11 and 12 it says, “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’” So, it made me think about how the Lord can really make us however he wants…so although He may not have made you a leader, He can still speak through you to lead…but if He doesn’t ever call you to be in charge or lead anything at any point, He still is calling you to be who He created you to be and He will use that gifting to His glory. It’s just kind of cool that we honestly don’t have to worry about leading or not leading because either way the Lord is going to use us, even though sometimes it doesn’t really look like we want it to.

Good word. And if I'm really honest, what am I concerned with here in being the leader? His glory or mine? My prayer continues to be that I will be secure in who I am in Christ. That I will be content in who He has made me and then be able to be rejoice in the giftings of others as well (rather than compare myself- why is that such a common theme in my heart? ugh.) Thankfully, He has promised to continue this work in me.

Annie

2009-03-03T21:20:00.006-06:00

I'm a stay at home mom. I love it. Before that I was an elementary music teacher. I loved that too. Well, most of it. But if you'd have asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I probably would have said something more along the lines of "starring on Broadway!" Yes, although the reality of that life does not appeal to me in the least now, as a kid I liked the idea of singing and dancing for a living. Or maybe it was just that I wanted real life to be more like a musical! Come on, haven't you wished at least once that everybody would burst into the same choreography in the grocery store? Or we could just belt out a melody whenever we felt it coming on?

I love and always have loved a good musical. Phantom. Les Mis (my favorite). Miss Saigon. The Music Man. West Side Story. Guys and Dolls. My Fair Lady. And the one that got me hooked: Annie. I remember going to see it at Fair Park in Dallas Summer Musicals with Weezie (a family friend.) I wore my Annie dress and carried my Annie doll. And I knew every word to every song. Still do. :) So it's been especially fun for me now that Lily has taken to Annie the same way I did. We've been watching it pretty much everyday (sometimes more than once) and listening to it in the car too! Lily is singing along, and it's so cute to hear her make up her own words when she doesn't quite understand what's being said! She even uses the soap dispenser in her bathroom as her microphone! The other day she was singing "Tomorrow" and instead of "clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow" she sang her own version, "There's a wave that's coming here tomorrow". Josh and I just laugh. Her favorite song in the car is "Hard Knock Life." She's pretty good at that one also, but she insists on yelling it rather than singing. And Josh is picking it up too. Next time you see him, ask him to bust out a little Annie.

The other night I put Lily to bed and assumed she was asleep until I heard her belting "Tomorrow" from behind her closed doors. She kept singing the same phrase for probably 20 minutes so Josh and I finally got out the video camera to document this unusual occasion. I'm not kidding she kept going for so long that I finally went in there with the night vision on to see what she was doing. And she was just lying in her bed singing away. This is the first bit of video I got- I'm just standing right outside her doors filming. I'm trying to get her to sing on camera for me but so far she hasn't wanted to cooperate. We'll see!

sibling love

2009-02-23T22:48:00.005-06:00

My sister just posted some cute pics of the kids on her blog...check them out here. I LOVE having two kids. It's so fun now that they are interacting. Lily can make Luke laugh like no one else can! He gets so tickled at her big smiles and silly voices. I get tickled listening to her talk to him in her "baby voice." She likes to say, "Here you go, little Phillip." You're probably thinking, why would she call him Phillip? Well, that's what she thinks we're saying when we say "little fella." Ha! She keeps me laughing! The other day we were driving down the road and she was trying to convince me of something. After I disagreed with her, she answered, "Just trust me on this, mom." Wow. And to think she's only 3 (next month)!

He's home!!!

2009-02-21T12:33:00.005-06:00

Praise Jesus! Josh returned home safely Thursday afternoon. It was a glorious reunion! All of the other wives were there eagerly awaiting their return along with many of our dear friends. Their plane arrived at 2:00, but they didn't get through customs til after 3:00. That's a while to wait with an infant and a toddler! Thankfully, Hannah, Preston and Evan were there to keep Lily entertained. Finally, they came through the doors and our small crowd erupted in cheers! I was holding Luke and grabbed Lily in the other arm, and we ran to see Josh! I was sooooo relieved to squeeze his neck and kiss his face. We both teared up with joy. It took Lily a few seconds to confirm that this guy with a full beard was indeed Daddy, but then she jumped in his arms willingly and hugged away. It's been so great reconnecting as a family and hearing Josh tell stories about the people and places they encountered. And it's sooooo good to have him home!!!

Make sure you get a close look at my t-shirt. No, that's not a hobbit, that's Josh as an adolescent! It says: "One ring to rule them all" (keeping with the hobbit theme). Matt had me scouring for a humiliating picture of Josh and then made these shirts to wear to the airport. Sorry, Josh, we all went through that awkward stage. :)

our little climber

2009-02-09T10:12:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago we went out to REI to get Josh some gear for Africa. As soon as we walked in and saw the climbing wall, Lily was intrigued.
"I want to climb!"
"We'll see," I told her, but I thought it was very unlikely for her to climb at her age.
So we watched some other kids climb, explored the store, tried on the bike helmets, and then made our way back over to the wall.
"Now, can I climb?"
Her persistence up to this point led me to at least ask the guy about the minimum age- which there was none.
"OK, Lily, are you sure you want to do this?"
"YES!!!"
We went and found Josh, who had just spent a small fortune in travel necessities, filled out the waiver, and got in line. Lily, still excited, was watching a four year old girl who had gotten a few feet off the ground. We struck up conversation with her dad who said that she'd climbed several times before- her first one being at Lily's age (almost 3). This gave me a little more hope for Lily, but honestly, I thought for sure she'd get up there, get bashful and shy away. Well, Lily's time came to prove me wrong. She stepped into that harness without the slightest hint of timidity. Luke and I found a rock to sit on, while Josh helped Lily get started.

I was thinking, "OK, she'll hang there for a few moments, try to grab a few rocks, and come back down." But up she went! Josh coached her as to which rocks to grab, and she followed his instruction making it over half way up the wall! I was shocked! She was a natural! Not the least bit intimidated. Twice she lost her footing and dangled for a moment but was able to swing her self around and continue upward. The guide who was belaying her (is that how you say it?) said he had never seen someone her age so comfortable climbing- especially able to get back on the wall after losing their footing.

By this point, lots of fellow shoppers were gathering around to see this little half pint in action. Josh and I were so proud! She came down like a champ and would have done it again if we'd let her! Josh's parents have told us that he was quite a climber as a toddler so maybe it's in her genes. Good thing we got the REI membership and can climb free, cause I'm sure she'll be asking to go back again!

Here are some pictures so you can see how far she made it up the wall...

Josh in Africa

2009-02-07T10:51:00.004-06:00

I miss my husband. Josh left for Africa last Monday on a mission trip with four other guys from the church. It's been somewhat of a rollercoaster of emotions...excitement for him being able to see firsthand what God is doing in Africa...knowing how invaluable this experience will be to his faith and worldview...thankful he will be able to relay these things to our children. But, if I'm honest, the overwhelming and constant emotion seems to be sadness. I just miss him. I miss my best friend. My confidant. I miss being able to pick up the phone at any instant and call to say, "Guess what?!?" I miss hiding with Lily to surprise Daddy when he arrives home from work. I miss sitting on the couch with him and laughing at Luke's latest growling noises. I miss rolling my eyes as Josh flexes in front of the mirror. I miss hearing him get excited about _______ (Crossfit, guard dog, etc, etc, etc). I miss lying in bed next to him, hearing him say, “I’ll be right here if you need me.” (Sigh)

But it is true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. And my affections for the Lord have grown as well. I kind of think of it as fasting from my husband. (Just hear me out...) So many times Josh is my "go-to" in any situation. My first instinct is to take things to him, and often it stops there without even bringing it before the Lord. So this has been good. My communication with Josh is so limited, that I'm forced to confide in the Lord (which is probably how it should be. :) In a very small way, He is showing me that He is enough. He is all I really need. And that my husband is just an added bonus in this life.

Here is the group of guys Josh went with:

Matt Elkins, Jeremy Pace, Dick McFarland, John Wright, Josh
They will be in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Zambia visiting orphanages, encouraging the Smith family and evaluating long-term mission opportunities. Please pray for them and their families while they're away.

Here's Lily saying good-bye to Josh. I wish I had it on video. Right after she squeezed his neck, she kissed his cheek about 10 times. He loved it. :)

I think leaving for this trip was so much harder for Josh than times past because Lily is now old enough to know he's gone. She asks about him in Africa and says that she misses him several times a day. I think that tears him up inside. But the call to go is greater than safety or comfort or even family. Josh goes into that a little bit in this email he sent out before leaving...

Family and Friends—
I am going because I believe. I am nervous and sad and excited and hopeful. Trust me, my emotions are pretty raw right now. Despite it all and because of Him, I will board a plane tomorrow afternoon for Africa. I am being stretched and forced to reckon with the chasm between my belief and my practice. All of this and I have not even gotten on the plane. Crazy.

Africa is a mysterious place that exists in the constant tension of joy and pain. It has endured unspeakable sorrow, yet the Spirit of Christ has seen fit to spark a revival throughout. I believe I will be confronted with both realities and that my heart will be changed. I am not, however, doing this alone. My wife and family are sacrificing as well. It is no small thing to be apart for 17 days. I am also travelling with 4 other men from the church: John Wright (elder candidate), Dick McFarland (elder candidate), Jeremy Pace (Director of Missions) and Matt Elkins (Missions Associate). It should be an incredible time for us to bond and experience the Lord together. When it is all said and done…we believe that Christ is better than life. This is a small way to walk out that reality.

I love you all,
jp

Josh also posted from Uganda on the Village blog here.

first taste of cereal

2009-01-26T08:31:00.004-06:00

Luke is 6 months old! I can't believe it. It's flown by. A few weeks ago we started cereal, and here was his reaction. Not too excited about it!

feel good music

2009-01-11T09:17:00.002-06:00

I know, it's January 11th, and I haven't even posted Christmas pictures yet. I cannot deny that I have been a delinquent blogger lately, but I'm going to try and remedy that now (not with pictures, cause I'm on my mom's computer)- but with a post about feel good music.

You know the kind...the music that just feels right...feels like you should be listening to it on a roadtrip in a convertible seeing beautiful scenery with good friends...music that you could just listen to a thousand times and never grow tired of...the kind you have to sing along to.

I know there's lots of that music out there, but I've recently rediscovered some thanks to my dad. Now, my dad is funny about his music. He's the type that will hear a song and then obsess over it for months. Seriously, like he'll listen to it over and over and over. I think his longest fixation was on Hootie and the Blowfish's "Only Wanna Be With You" when I was in high school. Man, he killed that song.

Recently, dad has been on a Billy Joel kick. Over Christmas, we borrowed his car one night and heard "The Essential - Billy Joel CD" playing "Piano Man." Josh cranked up the volume and we sang along...or did that thing where you don't know all the words so you sing nonsense until you can throw in a few here and there. It's good music. Something so amazing about a musician with a good voice who can write good music and play an instrument (or several.) They're the real deal. Doing what they were designed to do. Using their gifts. And they don't have to be fabricated by the industry with all the hoop-la to cover up their deficiencies as a sub-par musician. (Wait...I'd better step off my soapbox and get back to Piano Man...) Anyways, it was just one of those feel good moments getting carried away by the melody of the piano and harmonica.

Another one of my favorites (that Dad is also obsessing over right now) is "She's Always a Woman." oh, and "She's Got a Way." Just so good. So that's why Billy Joel is on the playlist right now. Let me know some of your favorite feel good music...

Baby Jude is here!!!

2008-12-17T18:58:00.004-06:00

I'm so thrilled to announce that our dear friends the Bleeckers welcomed their second little boy into the world this afternoon. Sweet Jude Michael was born at 3:06 pm weighing 7lbs 9oz and 21in long. Evan (their first born) and Lily are four months apart and the best of friends (and will hopefully get married someday ;). Luke and Jude are 4 1/2 months apart and hopefully will be best buds as well!

I am always overwhelmed with awe and wonder at the miracle of life. Just to think that this morning Jude was still snug in Faith's womb and then this afternoon he was out for the world to see- breathing air, seeing light, stretching out for the first time. Probably quite a rude awakening! And just to think that his journey on this earth has begun.

I know that Michael and Faith lift up the same prayer that we pray for our kids- that they will grow to know and love Jesus more than anything else. That the Lord would reveal Himself and His will to them throughout their lives. That theirs would be a life of significant purpose and deep joy. That they would be undeniably secure in who they are in Christ.

Moments like this are so refreshing. Reflecting on the goodness of God displayed in this new little life leads me to worship. To think on Him, which has been something that unfortunately I haven't done a lot of lately. I've slowly crept back into my routine of cruising. Just staying on the surface cause that's easier than plunging into the depths and facing the depravity of my heart. But He is sweet to use this little miracle to draw my thoughts, my affection, my heart back to Him. He is good. Well, I started this post intending to announce Jude's birth, but I guess I had a little more on my heart to share!

Here's a few pictures I took on my phone...I know that Bleecker will have some posted here before too long.

pretty mama

proud daddy

little Jude!
(sorry it's blurred, he was moving)

trying to keep the toddlers entertained

kissy kissy (after the parents egged them on-i'm sure we'll regret that someday ;)

exciting news!

2008-12-16T23:10:00.004-06:00

Yikes! I still have Halloween pictures up! Wow, I have been quite the slacker when it comes to blogging. But tonight I've got good reason to post...my sister Melissa (Missa as we call her) got engaged this weekend!!!! Yay! I'm SO happy for her and Jonathan. He is such a wonderful, godly man who treats Melissa SO well. Looking forward to having him as a brother-in-law! You can go here to read about the proposal. Congrats, Missa! Love you!

Halloween 08

2008-11-11T23:13:00.007-06:00

Halloween was so fun this year now that Lily "gets it". We went to the Shops near our house for some trick or treating with Evan and Preston. Luke had two costumes that I bought the day before for cheap! Here is his cat costume/onesie. And then Friday night he was a Pumpkin- the typical infant costume- but hey it's cute.

Here's Preston the Bear and Evan as Bam Bam. Originally, I had planned for Lily to be Pebbles but she insisted on being a Ballerina Princess. How could I argue with that?

(Thanks, Missa, for the pics!)

I'm sad to say I don't have any pictures of Josh and me. I'll have to get them from somebody (Bleecker? Kristyn? anyone?) I went as Sara Palin and Josh went as Axel Rose. Wait, I do have some of Josh...from the other time that he dressed up as Axel Rose. But that's a whole other post that I don't have time for tonight. Here's what you have to look forward to...

where does the time go?

2008-11-11T20:54:00.001-06:00

no, really, where does it go? at the end of everyday i find myself asking this same question. there is just always something that needs to be done with two kiddos and so blogging has been pretty far down that list. but i know some of you (brandi) are sick of the 4th grade fables staring back at you, so i thought i owed you some cute kid pics. that's about all i can muster up at this point. :)

here's a video of Luke from October. i think he was 11 weeks (he's 13 weeks now). listen closely all the way to the end...

chocolate pumpkin marble cake

2008-11-10T23:19:00.004-06:00

i found this recipe and just had to try it out due to my obsession with all things pumpkin this time of year. it's a chocolate and pumpkin marble cake. you actually make two separate batters and then swirl them together before baking. here's the recipe if you're in the mood to bake. it turned out pretty tasty, but my favorite pumpkin recipe is still this one.

4th Grade Fables

2008-10-01T21:05:00.000-06:00

Fourth grade was a hard year for me. I think it's a big jump from 3rd to 4th grade- at least it was for me. It was the year I endured several things: my first "B", a painfully long pinch from the class hermit crab, the label of "piddeler" by my concerned teacher, and glasses that covered my entire face. But I survived.

Sunday I was over at my parents' house and Mom handed me a tattered, slightly yellowed book entitled "4th Grade Fables". Inside was a note from my sweet fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Whitworth, explaining that she'd come across it and thought I'd appreciate its sentimental value as much as she did. She was right. Immediately, I opened the book and memories flooded my mind as I combed through the pages and saw my classmates' names and artwork. I pictured each face and the location of their desk in Mrs. Whitworth's room.

And reading my contribution to the book of fables made me wonder what all was going through my little mind. Maybe you'll see what I mean after reading it. Here's my fable entitled "When Winners Become Losers" by #8 Natalie Jeffrey, February 12, 1990:

Steve is the school bully. He has a small gang. They always pick on a boy named Andy and his sister Brittany. One day Steve wants to fight after school. Andy says OK. So Steve decides to have the fight with Andy the next day after school. That night Andy and Brittany have a karate tournament. Steve wanted to go and pick up a couple of tips. That night Steve found out that Andy was a blackbelt and Brittany was a brownbelt. Steve was terrified. That day both boys got beat up.
Moral: In fighting, there are no winners.

What?????

Here's the picture I drew to illustrate my point.

I don't know...I guess gang violence was somewhat relevant to my little 4th grade world??? Josh and I had a good laugh reading through all the stories. Here's one that we found pretty entertaining: (The author shall remain nameless)

The Boy Who Wouldn't Move

Once there was a boy who went for a walk on a race car track during the race. It was the biggest race ever. Car #5 was in the lead. He had to stop because the boy was in the way. He told him to move but he wouldn't move. Car #7 was gaining on him so Car #5 went head on and won the race but the little boy was dead.

Moral: Move fast or die.

Wow. It's a wonder any of us made it out of 4th grade!

Tiny Turtle

2008-09-21T21:03:00.005-06:00

This is Lily's favorite new song that she learned at school. Here are the words in case you can't make them out: (oh, and you can pause the music if you scroll down to the playlist on the lower right)

I have a tiny turtle

His name is Tiny Tim

I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim

He drank up all the water (gulp gulp gulp)

He ate up all the soap (chomp chomp)

And now my little turtle has a bubble in his throat

Pop!

6 weeks ago...

2008-09-21T20:04:00.011-06:00

...my sweet little Luke was born into this world. And I've FINALLY got the pictures up to share with y'all. There were so many good ones it was hard to pick a few, but I think this is a pretty good representation. Hope you enjoy!

Luke at 4 weeks

2008-09-21T19:13:00.000-06:00

Jesus is my friend

2008-09-07T20:05:00.003-06:00

Our friend Kevin (aka K-Bay) finds the most ridiculous stuff on youtube. I'm convinced he needs to start a blog just to post all of these priceless treasures. Here's one of his most recent finds...I don't know whether to laugh or cry....

a big thanks to...

2008-09-06T21:50:00.003-06:00

my friend Elizabeth for making some thank you notes for Luke that match his nursery. They turned out so cute! You can see them here. Elizabeth is starting up her own business, Elizabeth Engelhardt Creations, crafting handmade announcements, invitations, and thank yous. She is hoping it will take off so she can stay home with her two kiddos. Check out her stuff here. Thanks again, Elizabeth!

first day of MDO

2008-09-05T20:35:00.009-06:00

Thursday morning was Lily's first day of school. Now, when I say school, I really mean Mothers Day Out, since she is only two. But still, I can't believe that she is old enough for that! And that I am old enough to have a two year old who is old enough for that! Geez. Sometimes I still feel like a little seventh grade girl...and then I remember that I'm 28, married and have 2 kids. Still getting used to saying that last part. But, anyways, back to school...

I was a little nervous about the first morning, having to get her ready, myself ready, and then somehow feed Luke and get him ready as well. But it all worked out- Luke ate and went back to sleep before Lily even woke up, so I was able to get ready in peace and quiet. She woke up about 7:15 and we had some sweet time together at breakfast. Josh had mens bible study that morning and then had to drive out to Pine Cove for the day so he left her a special note. I read it to her while she ate her waffle and interviewed her on the video camera about what she was going to do at school. "Read books. Play. Eat snacks." Sounded like a good day to me.

After breakfast, I rounded up her new Hello Kitty backpack, her new Hello Kitty lunchbox, her new Dora blanket for rest time (yea, right), her baby brother Luke, and out the door we went. As I pulled into the parking lot, there was quite a buzz of suburbans and minivans unloading kids with pint-sized backpacks and moms snapping pictures to document this monumental day. And I couldn't help but think, "Is this really happening?" as I joined the other moms in the unloading and snapping frenzy. We made it in on time and Lily, after sufficing me with a good-bye kiss, walked through the classroom door like an old pro.

Luke and I enjoyed our time together. I went back home and fed him, shopped for a birthday gift, had lunch with friends, went home to feed again, and showed up eagerly at 2:00 to see how my daughter had fared. Lily had been somewhat timid on Tuesday during the Open House when we met her teachers and fellow students, so I wondered how she would react today. Maybe I was showing this all over my face, cause the first words the teacher uttered to me were, "Does Lily rule the roost at home?" Oh boy. Guess that answers my question. "She can...did that come out today?" "Yes, right away!" The teacher reassured me it wasn't a bad thing, just something that needed to be cultivated in the right way. She is definitely a strong little girl! So, it will be interesting to see how Lily does this year. I'm glad that she will get to be under the authority of another adult besides us or her grandparents. And we'll be praying about how to shape her strong personality, that should serve her well in life, without squashing it out or changing who she was meant to be.

Doesn't she look so grown up?

Lily gearing up to meet her teachers at Open House

Reading a book together in her classroom

First day cheesy smile

Sweet girl

big sister

2008-08-30T10:37:00.010-06:00

Lily loves being the big sister. It's so sweet to watch her care for her little brother. Whenever Luke cries, she reassures him saying, "It's OK, baby Luke, your big sister Lily's here." Or she reassures me, "Baby Luke's crying, Mom. Don't worry, I'm gonna go check on him." She wants to be near him whenever she can, always ready to bring him a toy or read him a book to make him happy. There have been moments of testing, especially when I'm breastfeeding and unable to handle things right away. But for the most part, Lily is adjusting beautifully to having a new baby brother.

I've heard so many stories from friends about older siblings and their reaction to breastfeeding. I remember several little girls actually beginning to pull up their shirts and nurse their baby dolls! Well, Lily hasn't tried that (yet), but she was quite fascinated and/or puzzled by my electric pump. And I can't blame her, it is a weird contraption and even weirder concept, but I won't dog it too much cause it is a lifesaver, allowing me to get away at times.

The first time Lily saw me pumping, she came over by me and stared me down. I explained to her that I was getting milk out for baby Luke. She just continued to stare. Later Josh and I left to take Luke to the doctor, and she stayed behind with my mom. Upon seeing my breastpump on the table, she told my mom, "I'm gonna zip up mommy's machine that goes ...." and she took both hands to her chest and pulled her shirt in and out repeatedly! Yep, just like the pump! Later on she showed Josh and I "what mommy's machine does." So I'm sure we will continue to be entertained at how Lily views this whole transition.

Here are some recent pictures of the Big Sister that were too cute not to share...

two weeks tomorrow

2008-08-24T07:34:00.010-06:00

Two weeks and only one picture...not acceptable, I know. Here's my lame excuse: The Bleeckers were nice enough to let us borrow their camera while we were at the hospital. But when I went to import the photos I couldn't because I don't have the latest version of iPhoto (which Bleecker does.) So, I'm going to buy the latest version so I can get the pictures and post them. I'm sorry this has taken so long! Here are some other pictures to hopefully appease you in the meantime. ;)

Luke in the nursery- they actually kept him in there until about 4:30am to monitor his "grunting" which is apparently common when babies are born early. Once it cleared up, they brought him to me so I could nurse.

Getting burped- please pardon my swollen fingers

I love this one with his eyes open.

The morning after

Lily's first time to hold him at the hospital. So sweet.

His going home outfit was the same one that Josh wore home from the hospital!

First time in his crib at home

Holding baby brother

One week!

2008-08-18T15:10:00.002-06:00

I know...it's been a week since little Luke arrived, and I haven't blogged yet! Sorry for the delay, but I feel like I've been in somewhat of survival mode! ;) Things are going good. Luke was born at 5:26pm last Monday, the 11th. We hung around in the hospital til Thursday and then started the adventure of living at home- all four of us! My mom has been staying with us and has been a TREMENDOUS help this last week. Lily is loving her little brother and loves hugging, kissing, and holding him. I'm feeling pretty good- not near are sore as I thought I'd be- and handling the transition pretty well. Those first few days are always so hard, but I think I'm turning the corner. Luke's feeding well and is almost back up to his birth weight! He was 6 lb 11 oz and 18 in long. It's been so sweet seeing Lily love on her little brother, and I can't wait to see them interacting soon. I'll have some more pictures up soon, but here's a sweet one that I think Kristyn took of Josh and Luke in the nursery. Thanks again for all your prayers and sweet notes of encouragement. I'll try and post more when I get a chance.

baby Luke is coming!

2008-08-06T20:36:00.003-06:00

I know it's been a while since I've updated on the pregnancy. Here's the quick version...a few weeks back my doctor found that my placenta previa was worsening again which meant that a c-section was probably inevitable. He sent me to see a high-risk doctor to get a second opinion and determine if we would need to take Luke early. Based on what this doctor told me, I figured I might be able to wait til 38 weeks or so, but he said it would be up to my doctor. Yesterday, my doctor called and said it was going to be 37 weeks! And that I was scheduled for this Monday at 5pm! I was a little overwhelmed that that was less than a week away, but now I'm actually really excited that he will be here so soon. And it can't be that bad to shave three weeks off my pregnancy in this heat! So, Luke will be making his grand entrance THIS Monday, August 11th! Tomorrow I'm going to my doctor for what I guess will be my last check-up. Please be praying that everything will go smoothly, and Luke will arrive safe and sound...and for the transition in general- for all of us. I know it will take some adjusting, but I'm looking forward to life as four!

the circus after the circus

2008-08-02T21:30:00.000-06:00

This morning we ventured off to the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus at American Airlines Center. I haven't been to the circus in years- probably back when it was in Reunion Arena. (Anybody else have fond memories of Sidekick and Maverick games back in the day? Tatu was the coolest.) Anyway, my mom and dad graciously treated the whole family to breakfast and the "Greatest Show on Earth". We got a solid 3 hours of circus mania since we got there for the pre-show at 10:30. It was a pretty cool deal. They let you walk out on the floor and watch some mini-acts up close. Lily was somewhat overwhelmed at all the people and activity. She squeezed Josh's neck and just stared at all that was going on.

sidenote: As I watched these entertainers perform their ever so random skills, I couldn't help but wonder how they got started. I mean, do you set out to be a circus star? Are you raised from birth to climb sway poles? Are you recognized and scouted out of high school for your amazing stilt-walking abilities? And it made me wonder why there's not a reality show about the circus (or at least a documentary). I would LOVE to see what goes on behind the scenes and hear the stories of the circus family members.

After the pre-show, we found our seats and Lily seemed to relax a little now that we were a good distance from the action. The next two hours were pretty fun, although it got a little slow during the second act. Yes, there's an intermission at the circus. Come on, they've got to give you as many opportunities as they can to buy the stuff they're selling. I've never seen so many flashy, twirly gadgets in all my life. And in case you get hungry (since you're there for 3 hours- during lunchtime) they've got plenty stocked up to snack on. Mind you, it will cost $12 for that cotton candy, but hey- it comes with a super snazzy hat that is obviously worth far more.

I'd say Lily's favorite parts were the jumping poodles, the popcorn, and the cotton candy. All in all, it was a good show and a good time with the family.

By 2:00 and after our short, sweaty jaunt to the gold mini, we were ready to head home and even looking forward to an afternoon nap. But unfortunately, a nap was not to be this day- for me or my toddler. A little over half-way home on I-35, a car illegally cut over in front of us into the HOV lane (one of Josh's biggest pet peeves). Doesn't seem like too big a deal (except that it's against the law), but this car sent some debris (which looked like a pipe) flying at us. There was no dodging it, and we did the only thing we could do- drove right over it. And most of the time you just look back in the rear view mirror, wonder what it could have been, and get back to conversation. All of which we did, until we smelled gas. Not a good smell when you're traveling down the highway at 75 mph. So Josh pulled over onto the shoulder (thankfully it was a big one), and we all climbed out to notice our gasoline spilling out all over the pavement. So you've got six adults (one being 9 mo pregnant) and a 2 1/2 year old stranded on the side of 35 in 103* heat.

Since the gas line was obviously punctured, we called 911 and waited for help to arrive. Within 5 minutes, two fire trucks pulled up on the scene. The firemen were great and even let the girls sit in the firetruck while they assessed the situation.

The tow truck arrived (with half as much haste as the firetrucks) and carried away our beloved gold mini. Dad was a trooper and rode in the tow truck while the rest of us piled into Hillary's and Macy's cars (thank you!!!) and made our way home.

Through this very hot inconvenience, I'm reminded of how quickly our world can change. In just one instant, when I'm not expecting it, something happens that shakes or even destroys my little safety net. And what is my reaction in that situation? What am I hoping in? Where is my joy founded? Thankfully, all that was damaged today was our minivan. We all walked away by God's grace safely and unharmed. But when the time comes when the damage might be far more costly and leave my soul aching, I long to ultimately be at peace, somehow, knowing that my hope lies with my Heavenly Father and His Sovereign will. That my joy is founded in His eternal goodness, regardless of whether He gives or takes.

Just a few weeks away from Luke's arrival, I find myself more reflective than usual. And sometimes that reflectiveness looks a lot like worry. Or maybe it's not exactly worry, but just that uneasiness about what could be around the corner. Things seem so good now. Josh and I talked about this recently, and he reminded me of several people who, in the midst of great tragedy or hardship, said they see God's grace in their circumstances. They know Him far more now than before this current trial. And it just confirms how sweet our Lord is to give grace in that moment to those who need it most. To sustain them and draw them closer still. I spend so much energy worrying about what may never happen rather than resting in the fact that if/when it does, God is there to walk me through the valley. I want to rest in that even now.

Whew. Hope that makes sense. It's been a long day and a really long post. I'm off to bed. :)

Happy Birthday Dear Dad

2008-07-23T16:00:00.005-06:00

July hosts the birthdays of two of my favorite men. Josh on the 2nd, as you know from the last post and my dad today on the 23rd. These men (and Jesus) have shaped who I am today, so here's a short list of things I wouldn't have been or done had it not been for my dad...(I saw this on another blog and thought it was a fun idea.)

Without you, Dad...
1. I never would have learned to throw a spiral football.

2. I wouldn't have as much loyalty and love for Baylor University as I do.

3. I never would have learned to juggle.

4. I probably wouldn't be nearly as free-spirited (what Josh calls "messy").

5. I wouldn't have seen how to encourage and build up others so well.

6. I might not know what it means to live out love the way you do.

7. I never would have waited for a guy like Josh had you not set the standard so high.

8. I wouldn't have been as comfortable getting up to sing or speak in front of people.

9. I would not be nearly as competitive as I am (or ruthless at Monopoly).

10. I probably wouldn't appreciate a good steak dinner as much as I do.

Happy Birthday, Daddy. Thank you for who you are and how you have loved me. I hope this next year is full of joy, laughter, hope, and God's nearness.

I love you,

Nat

In 1977...

2008-07-02T07:26:00.005-06:00

Jimmy Carter becomes president of the US

Most of the 10,000 Vietnam War draft evaders are pardoned by President Carter

Elvis Presley dies in his Graceland bathroom

Congress creates a Department of Energy

New York Yankees win the World Series

Oakland Raiders win Superbowl XI

Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup

Swedish music group ABBA passes The Beatles as having most records sold

Star Wars is the top grossing film

The Shining by Stephen King is published

"You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone spends the most time at the top of the US charts

Three's Company premieres

Orlando Bloom, Shakira, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Liv Tyler, Ludacris, and Josh Patterson are born

Today, Josh celebrates his 31st birthday. Lily must have been extra excited cause she got up a whole hour early this morning! We let Josh sleep in and Lily and I made his Breakfast Cake (recipe below). Tonight we're having the Birthday Feast at Babe's Chicken with his mom Carolyn (also her b-day!) and brother Jared. I must say, this pregnant lady is looking forward to some good southern cookin'! If you can, leave Josh a comment on his big day and check out last year's post for some pics of him growing up. Love you, babe! Happy 31st!

Breakfast cake

Mix together until the texture of meal:

2 c. flour 1 tsp. salt

1 c. sugar 1 tsp. baking powder

1 stick butter, cut into 5-6 pieces

Remove handful (1/3 to 1/2 cup) of this mix and save for topping.

Mix together in large measuring cup or bowl:

1 c. milk

1 Tbs. vinegar

1 tsp. baking soda

Add liquid mixture to dry mixture, along with 2 eggs

Mix well and pour into greased 9x13 cake pan or 10x15 jelly roll pan.

Sprinkle with topping.

Topping

Mix together:

Reserved dry ingredients

1-2 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

1/2 c. flour 1/2 c. brown sugar

Lump of butter the size of large walnut (2-3 Tbs.)

Bake for 25-30 minutes at 325 degrees.

This recipe comes from Noel Piper's Treasuring God In our Traditions (a great read). I've been making it for every special day in our family: birthdays, big holidays, etc. and it's already something that Lily looks forward to. It turns out kind of like a coffee cake. Enjoy!

hilarious

2008-06-23T12:55:00.002-06:00

i saw this on Bleecker's blog and thought it was soooo funny.

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T15:17:00.003-06:00

Here's a video Lily and I (and Baby Luke) made for Josh on Father's Day. I'm so thankful that, like the verse says, he is committed to passing on the works of our Lord to our children. Thanks for being such a great Daddy (and husband). We love you!

answered prayer

2008-06-05T20:58:00.002-06:00

Well, I can't believe it, but I'm no longer on partial bed rest! Thank you so much for your prayers and offers to help over these last two weeks. I am still floored that in that short amount of time my placenta has moved up and away from the cervix and no longer presents any danger for me or Luke. I wasn't even scheduled to go into the doctor until later this month, but I called the nurse on Tuesday complaining about some discomfort. She said the doctor would want to see me and just make sure everything was still OK. He said that the discomfort was just normal pregnancy pains (the lovely loosening of the ligaments preparing for delivery), but in the process discovered my placenta had moved. He said there was hardly any chance that it could get worse again, so I could resume my normal activities. Just like that. Wow.

I am SO grateful and humbled that the Lord decided to do this. I don't understand and almost feel like a bratty little kid who was throwing her fit about the way things were. And now I feel silly for fussing cause the bed rest only lasted for two weeks rather than the 3 months I was expecting (I tend to be fatalistic). I just feel like there are so many people who are in much harder places than I was. And I feel like I don't deserve to have this happen even though it's what I wanted all along. But for whatever reason, probably for His Glory, the Lord decided to move my placenta up and put me back on my feet in just two weeks. So I want to make sure that He does receive ALL glory for what He has done. I know that lots was revealed to me about the state of my heart through this, so I want to continue to press into Him and be refined.

One sweet thing that has come out of this is my renewed passion for my role as a wife and mom. The once mundane tasks of laundry, vacuuming or running errands, have brought joy to my heart these last few days because I feel blessed that I get to take care of our household. I see the beauty and importance of my God-given responsibilities in a new light. And it's been great to be chasing after Lily again. I just want to take away from this all that the Lord intended me to, praying He will continue to reveal His purpose. Thanks again for being such wonderful friends and uplifting our family in prayer. And now may we rejoice together in what the Lord has done, with a full understanding that He would still be just as good and loving even if I were still laid up on the couch. We would still covet your prayers as I start this last trimester...crazy to think in 3 months we'll have another member of the family! Love you all.

pregnancy update

2008-05-26T09:46:00.006-06:00

Last Thursday marked my 25th week of pregnancy. I had an appointment that day with my OB for the glucose test and a sonogram to check my placenta previa. Not sure if I mentioned that in an earlier post, but it's basically when your placenta grows in the lower part of your uterus, sometimes covering the cervix. My doctor diagnosed it early on and we've been checking every few visits to see if it corrects itself. About 90% of cases found in the first trimester do, meaning as the uterus grows, it pulls the placenta up and away from the cervix. But if it doesn't, it can cause bleeding and could put the mother and baby at risk.

Here's a visual.

About two months ago when my doctor checked, he said it looked like it was moving up and away like we wanted. But this time, he saw that the placenta was right up against the cervix. There's still a chance that it could correct itself since the uterus will still expand greatly before Luke is born. Right now he's about 2 pounds, and he'll probably be around 7 at full term. BUT, until it does, I am on unofficial bed rest. Doc said it probably wasn't necessary yet for me to be restricted to my bed, but I have to stay off my feet as much as possible. So no more exercise, long walks (including shopping), vaccuuming (hallelujah!), lifting Lily or really anything for that matter. I'm still trying to figure out how this works with my very active toddler. Thankfully, we already switched her to her "big girl" bed, and she can pretty much climb into her carseat so I won't HAVE to lift her really at all.

As I was on the way home from the doctor, I broke down on the phone while telling Josh the news. How am I supposed to abide by this 1) with a two year old and 2) for the next 3 months! How can I be a good mom to Lily when I can't pick her up or race her down the sidewalk? I know there's more to being a good mom than that, but i guess it grieves my heart a little to think these are the last few months I'll have with just her and that I'm limited in what I can do. Or my sweet husband whose love language happens to be acts of service...how will I fulfill my role as wife and take care of the home when I can't do some of the most simple house chores? And then not to mention, the fear in the back of my mind that I could start bleeding at any time. Or that I might have to have a C-section if it doesn't improve...

This all may come across very ungrateful and some of you may be thinking: it could be a lot worse! And I realize that. Maybe this is just a pity party for myself on losing out on what I want to do. I am grateful that I do have a healthy baby boy and that I'm only on partial bed rest. I know that this is just for a season and that we will make it through. I know that this will all be worth it and that the end goal is to have a healthy baby. And ultimately, I know that the Lord is Sovereign and in control of this situation. And that He cares for Lily and Josh and Luke more than I ever could. Something I've been learning in Recovery and in my Bible study, is that I've got to be honest with what I'm feeling rather than telling myself what I should feel. Even though I know these things and SHOULD be able to rest in them, the honest truth is that I'm still a little sad that it has to be this way. I want to acknowledge these feelings before the Lord, but then also ask Him to allow me to rest in who He is. My hope and prayer is that through this, I will get more of Him and that He will be my joy regardless of my circumstances.

It's interesting too that my Bible study is going through the fruits of the Spirit over the next year, and right now we happen to be focusing on love. I'm realizing that on some level I still feel like I have to earn love or prove that I'm worthy to be loved. It's hard for me to accept that I am loved just for who I am, without the "doing." That Josh would love me for who I am, just as I am and not what I can offer. And I'm sure this also plays into how I receive God's love for me too. Whew. Still got a lot of processing and praying to do on that one. But I can definitely see that He's going to be refining me a lot over these next few months. And Praise His Name for that. So if you think about it, please pray that my placenta previa would correct itself. But most of all, that I would be content in Him and His love for me regardless.

fountain fun

2008-05-17T06:47:00.005-06:00

Lily and Noah enjoying the fountains

beware

2008-05-07T20:34:00.003-06:00

Happy Belated Cinco de Mustache!

Ah, spring

2008-05-07T20:08:00.007-06:00

I love this time of year. Lily and I enjoyed some time outside today between rain showers. The flowers were so pretty and colorful that I thought I'd snap some pictures. Way to go, Josh, on all your hard work grooming the flowerbeds so we can enjoy them!

the day lilies

the climbing roses

the jasmine that smells amazing

Miss Lily and her Ladybug

Tex-Mex and (not homemade) Bundt Cake

2008-05-06T20:54:00.000-06:00

Tex-Mex is probably my FAVORITE food. In fact, I could probably eat it once a day. So I was very excited when the Jones' invited us out to Grapevine for dinner. They live in the historic section of downtown, just a few blocks away from Main Street. (sidenote: downtown Grapevine is a great destination for dinner...Main Street Bakery (amazing everything), Napoli's (amazing cannoli), Cafe Italia (amazing pink vodka sauce), and Esparza's (amazing outdoor patio). And that's where we headed last week for some tex-mex cuisine. Esparza's is basically an old house converted into a restaurant. Their patio is HUGE and a great place for some chips and salsa while waiting for your table. Amanda, Kristyn, Jason, Angie, Josh, and I all worked at CrossCamp together for multiple summers and ate so much Tex-Mex as a staff that one of our camps shirts one year said, "CrossCamp: Just one more basket please" with a basket of chips and salsa underneath. Not exactly sure why that was a camp shirt, but whatever. And now we're glad to have Camden and Philip part of the crew; they're good sports for putting up with our camp stories.

After we were happily stuffed, we walked back to Camden and Amanda's house for dessert (and the Stars' playoff game). There was a slight uproar when the group found out that Amanda bought a dessert rather than making one. She's pretty much Martha Stewart, so the disappointment was justified, until we tasted the bundt cake she served from Nothing Bundt Cakes. It was a marble bundt cake with cream cheese icing...divine. I could have eaten just a whole bowl of that icing. Wish I'd gotten a picture of it, but this will have to do. Luckily, Amanda was off the hook this time.

You may remember from this post how much of a car guy Camden is. Well, because he had a race that weekend, we got to see his race car (complete with trailer and everything). He even revved up the engine for us! Pretty cool. And of course, we had to try on his helmet! Hope you enjoy the pics.

the arboretum

2008-05-02T23:12:00.002-06:00

Today, we went with Lolli (Josh's mom) to the arboretum and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. It was the perfect day to be outside in God's glorious creation. The grass was so green and soft you just wanted to take off your shoes and squish it between your toes. And we found the coolest flower: the foxglove: never seen it before but so pretty.

Lily loved the many fountains and trails she got to explore looking for lizards and birdies. If you haven't been out to the arboretum yet, I highly recommend it!

bumper evangelism

2008-05-02T23:00:00.004-06:00

When we got home from the party, we found this on the back bumper...

not quite our idea of sharing the Gospel...so, who was the sneaky culprit????

Happy Birthday, Preston!

2008-05-02T21:49:00.003-06:00

Thursday night we got to celebrate Preston's first birthday with the Hollemans. And they know how to throw a party. Kristyn outdid herself with the food. Amazing appetizers and every topping you could imagine for your burger. Plus the best chocolate chip cupcakes I've ever eaten. (In fact, I thought about them all day today and invited myself over to have another tonight. They were that good.) It turned out to be a beautiful evening, so we ate outside on the patio (once the smoke cleared from the wild flames coming out of the grill. At one point we thought the house might catch fire...maybe it was the wind?) As we were eating, several flies made their presence known buzzing persistently around the food. And Lily FREAKED out anytime one got remotely close to her. Or her food. Or me. Or my food. I mean, like screaming at the top of her lungs! She's never reacted that way to bugs before, but maybe this is a new phase. To get her mind off the flies, we moved into the front yard and distracted her with The Swing. This is not just any old swing hanging from a branch. No, this swing is suspended from a wire cable (capable of supporting somewhere around 1000 pounds) and anchored to two pine trees so that you can swing in all directions. Serious fun. Lily couldn't get enough. And as if that weren't enough excitement, next came the pinata! But since all of the kiddos were under the age of 3, the dads ended up beating it down. (And might I add that Josh had the final blow...way to go, babe.) Oh, and I just have to mention that about two hours into the party, the Bleeckers realized that the brake lights on their truck were on. When Michael went to turn them off, he realized they'd left the truck running that entire time! Whoops! We all had a good laugh at that one. All in all, it was a great night celebrating the life of little Preston. We're so thankful we get to walk with the Hollemans and watch Preston grow up! Love you guys!

got a few seconds to waste?

2008-04-30T13:18:00.001-06:00

Your Preppy Name Is...

Tenley Godfrey Phinney the Fourth

But most people know you as Muffy

What's Your Preppy Name?

Grapevine Mills and the Fort Worth Zoo

2008-04-28T19:59:00.004-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, Lily asked if she could go ride the merry-go-round. "Not the one at the playground. The one with the horsies". Ah, the carousel. So on Josh's day off we had high ambitions of driving out to Stonebriar Mall to indulge Lily on the carousel and me in Pottery Barn Kids. (Think we found Luke's bedding there, by the way...) But once we all loaded in the gold mini and made our first stop, neither Josh nor I felt like making the trek out to Frisco. So, Grapevine Mills was the next best thing. Lily got to ride the carousel and visit the alligator outside of Rainforest Cafe. As you can see, she was tuckered out from all the excitement.

We also ventured out to the Fort Worth Zoo recently. Lily was a little unsure of the animals at first but soon warmed up to them. She got to see a gorilla and the white tiger up close. The white tiger was pacing up against the glass pane- a little too close for comfort- and Lily squeezed Josh's neck so tightly saying, "Hold me, Daddy!" Josh was loving it. I think her favorite part was being able to run all over the place. We took her big red wagon, but it ended up toting around our jackets and cameras since Lily wanted to race everywhere. She'd say, "Ready...go!" and take off. I think she sat in that wagon maybe five minutes! And of course, we took the little train across the park to ride the carousel. Those were probably Lily's favorite animals of the day! It was a great outing, and we'll definitely be back at the zoo again.

Lily's 2nd B-day

2008-04-23T14:13:00.003-06:00

What a great time! It's so fun seeing Lily growing up. As I was putting together her second year video, I was amazed at how much she has changed just in one year. We're so grateful for a healthy, vivacious little girl and for the family and friends the Lord has put in our lives to love her and show her the love of Christ. Moments like these you just sit back and reflect on the goodness and grace of our God.

back to blogging...

2008-04-21T20:43:00.003-06:00

*disclaimer* this post will not contain any pictures since i am at my parents' house and cannot connect to the internet via my computer. well, it's giving me mixed signals. mac is showing me my signal is full strength but telling me it can't find the server. i have no idea what this means except that i can't load any photos until later. sorry! they will come soon! in the meantime, there's some cute ones from Lily's party on Bleecker's blog so hopefully that will do for the time being.

Now, here are a few things that have been rattling through my mind during the unintended blog sabbatical of nearly a month:

*baby names:
I think we have a winner: Luke. Or "Baby Luke" as Lily likes to call him. (sidenote: she's actually getting used to the idea of being a big sister! today i asked her what her little brother's name was and she replied, "Baby Luke!" so sweet.) There's really no big story behind selecting the name Luke. We just thought it sounded strong and masculine, and I LOVE the way it goes with "Lily." So now we're discussing middle names. Generally, I like two syllable names beginning with a consonant. Sometimes the "k" links the two names together if the second starts with a vowel. So Luke Allen sounds like "Lukallen" which is not what we're going for. (no offense if your name is Luke Allen - merely personal preference here.) Although Josh is not on board with the following idea (yet), if we have a third child like we're hoping to later, I am really liking the name "Lucy." Lily, Luke, and Lucy. Maybe that's overkill, but I just can't get enough of the L's for now. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

*kid shows:
I have a two year old so I watch my fair share of toddler tv. And I must say that one common theme across several shows has me perplexed. Why on these particular shows do some animals get to talk and some don't? Take for example "Little Bear": a show about a Bear cub and his family. Other characters include Duck, Owl, Cat, Hen, and Emily (a human.) But the weird part is that Emily (who is Little Bear's best friend) has a dog who can't talk but behaves like a normal dog. While she and Little Bear are playing fetch with her dog, I can't get past the fact that HE IS A BEAR. How does this make any sense? On another episode, Duck complains to Little Bear about the plethora of frogs in the pond that kept her up all night with their croaking. That's right. These frogs can't talk. They only "ribbit." And so they don't understand when DUCK is TALKING to them in ENGLISH and telling them to leave. Is there some kind of weird "election" going on here in the animated kingdom that I'm unaware of? Some are enlightened and able to talk while others are just behaving as the animals we know and love. And has anybody seen that show "Franklin" about the turtle? Why is he the only one with a name and everybody else is called "Bear" or "Fox" or "Mr. Mole?" Please offer any insight you may have. In the meantime, I might need to lay off the Noggin network for a while.

*belly buttons:
Mine has officially popped out and is no longer an "inny." I'm not sure I ever had a true inny though. Josh has a much nicer belly button than mine: one that is smooth and goes way in. Mine has always had lots of ridges to it and makes me wonder if something went wrong cutting my umbilical cord. So if you look closely at my preggo belly, you'll see my little button making itself known.

*top chef:
love this show. it's this and American Idol for me right now. And the Office when it's not canceled due to weather warnings. If you like food and/or reality tv, then you will LOVE this show. It's amazing how these chefs can create these masterpieces in such little time and with such crazy guidelines to follow. Week by week, I am in awe of how well they know food and what an art it is to putting all those different elements of flavor and smell together. Let me just say that Bravo does reality TV better than anyone. Loved Project Runway too.

Alright. That's enough random thoughts for one night. Hopefully pictures will be coming soon!

It's a.....

2008-03-30T20:54:00.002-06:00

BOY!!!

We are THRILLED! The voters were overwhelmingly right on this one! Thanks for your prayers. He's a healthy little baby. More details to come...sorry, I just haven't had a chance yet to sit down and collect my thoughts, but I wanted to let you know. Gotta switch gears from pink to blue!

wow...i have a two year old

2008-03-28T21:27:00.002-06:00

Happy 2nd B-day, Lily Marie!

The full-length celebratory post will have to wait til I have more brainpower. I've been on my feet all day in preparation for our family party tonight. It was a blast! Tomorrow morning we're having a few of Lily's friends over to celebrate toddler style. I'll have pictures and stories at another time...just lost my train of thought...oh, I must say that this week I was inspired to actually plan for the parties in hopes of avoiding the usual "day of stressed out nervous breakdown" while trying to completely clean, prep, and make last minute runs to Target. And it worked! Today, thirty minutes before party time, I can actually say that I was in good spirits and had not attacked my sweet husband (though I was still in my pajamas while the guests began arriving.) But I think you Type A people might be on to something here. Maybe I'll give it another shot to make sure it just wasn't some kind of a fluke thing. (Needless to say, Josh was so proud.) I'll get back with you about the parties...and about baby #2. We know what it is!!! I'll let you know hopefully tomorrow!

Easter pics

2008-03-26T22:46:00.001-06:00

An amazing God, an amazing couple, and an amazing story

2008-03-25T12:39:00.002-06:00

They're engaged!

Our dear friends Afshin and Meredith were engaged Thursday, March 13!!! Mer accompanied Shin to Alaska where he was speaking at a youth deal, and he proposed at the top of a mountain at a five star restaurant complete with rose petals, red tulips, journal reading, and amazing food.

If you are at all familiar with their story, you know it is a testimony of God's faithfulness and sovereignty. Josh and I are THRILLED to have two of our favorite people becoming one. Mer and I have known each other since we were babies in the nursery together at church. She has always been one of my dearest friends. One that I can be ridiculously silly with but also share the deepest parts of my soul. We've shared each stage of life together, so now I'm excited to walk through this time of engagement and marriage with her as well.

When Afshin first came to Dallas, he worked for my dad at Prestonwood. Our family adopted him as our Persian brother. And people really thought we were related! He then became the college minister at Pwood where Josh and I (and Mer!) were under his leadership. When these two started dating, it seemed too good to be true, and we've shared so many great memories together.

Friday night, Meredith's sweet mom and Afshin put together a wonderful dinner to celebrate their engagement. It was so neat seeing family and friends of all ages who have played a part in their individual lives and/or their relationship. We can't wait until November when these two will begin their new life together.

some of the old gang: Chris and Jeffie Jones, me and Josh, Mer and Afshin, Kyle Gray

Tri-Class-a-thon Complete

2008-03-14T07:15:00.000-06:00

Saturday marked the end of our 8 week Tri-class-a-thon at Lifetime. Each week we had to attend five classes: 2 cardio, 2 strength, and 1 yoga/pilates to earn points. We didn't do so great on the points end, but it was great accountability and lots of fun working out together. And Lily always had at least one friend in the child center! Kristyn, Faith, and I (we missed you Holly and Amy!) participated in a mock triathalon in which we did a 45 minute spin class, a 45 minute strength class, and then a 45 minute yoga class. It was challenging, but the instructors were great and kept it very upbeat and exciting. Now that it's over, I'm not sure what the next workout adventure will be. A lot of people are really into Crossfit right now (my husband especially), but I'm thinking it's too intense while I'm pregnant. Hopefully I'll just stay in this rhythm of classes and ride it on out til baby #2 is here in August. I'd better at the rate I've been eating girl scout cookies! ;)

Family night

2008-03-12T20:13:00.003-06:00

Friday night we had a family night with the Bleeckers, Rogers, and Hollemans that consisted of good food, noisy toys, Disney movies, and plenty of laughter. Far too often we go out together and leave the kids at home with sitters, so this was a nice change. It was so fun seeing the kids interact with one another. When we first walked in, Evan came over to Lily and gave her a big hug (without any prompting!) and then just held on! We had time to pull out our cameras and video camera before they dropped their embrace. It was too cute. Here are a few pictures of the night...

Doesn't Lily look so cute in a ponytail? It's not easy getting her to wear one. I usually end up bribing her with chocolate chips so she'll keep it in. Hey- whatever works. You'll notice she's pulled it out by the last picture. :)

Helping around the house

2008-03-08T15:39:00.007-06:00

With this crazy TX weather, we've had to get a little creative in order to keep the toddler entertained. Lily loved filling in as Daddy's asst. handyman and Mommy's kitchen apprentice.

Lily "playing" on the ladder while Josh and our friend Brad installed a new ceiling fan.

The two bakers in our matching aprons

Lily loves watching the mixer go round and round.

Blowing pretend bubbles

Every good baker tastes her work

random info

2008-02-27T21:59:00.003-06:00

10 years ago:
I was 17 years old and a senior in high school. Glad those days are over.

Things on my to-do list today:
-Work out
-Bible study
-Look up ideas for Lily's b-day party
-House hunt with Missa
-Dinner with Faith and Evan
-Laundry
-American Idol

What would I do if I suddenly became a Billionaire:
-I would love to carry on the legacy of my grandparents (my grandpa passed away a year and a half ago). Not that they're billionaires, but they live humbly and then bless the socks off their families, churches, ministries, communities, missions, pretty much anywhere they see a need. And I know that I can do that even with what I've been given now, but it would be fun to do it on such a grand scale. :)
-Laser hair removal. Summer, I'm with you. oh, to have smooth legs all the time! I'll especially be wishing for this when I'm nine months prego!
-Travel the world. Stay in NICE hotels and eat AMAZING food.

Three of my bad habits:
-Sweets.
-Leaving laundry in the washer so long that I have to rewash it.
-Running late.

Five jobs I have had:
-Golf cart girl/cocktail waitress at a country club. Tips were great...dirty old men weren't.
-Counselor at CrossCamp. Josh and I did this together. Best two summers ever.
-Receptionist at an oral surgeon's office. Got to see lots of crazy things when people came off their anesthesia.
-Ann Taylor. Pretty much spent everything I earned.
-Elementary school music teacher. Loved those little munchkins.

Five things people don't know about me:
-I always have a hair band on my wrist just in case.
-I had a mole removed from my right elbow when I was younger.
-I had lasik a few months before I got married. Before that my vision was BAD.
-I'm always afraid that something is going to fly up out of the disposal and poke my eye out when I turn it on. Does that make me crazy?
-I haven't painted my toenails in several years. Josh prefers the natural look on my feet.

Ok, so I tag Barkley, Lauren C, Andrea H, LB, Sarah.

Happy Valentine's Day to My Man

2008-02-13T22:36:00.005-06:00

About two and a half years ago on our church's women's retreat, I sat in a room full of women (though we carried on like little junior high girls) laughing, sharing stories, and pigging out on junk food. The night took a semi-serious turn when someone suggested we make a list of "twenty things we love about our husband." I'll admit that I was not the least bit excited about this exercise, but as I reflected on my hubbie, my heart warmed at the many little things about him that have captured my heart. We then went around the room and shared our lists with one another. Even though our husbands were miles away, probably sound asleep, we all were a little more in love that night after our list-making. The other day as I was cleaning out some boxes, I came across this list and thought it would be perfect for V-day.

Things I Love about my Husband:

1. people person

2. natural leader

3. loves to sing but he can't

4. his "dad" jokes

5. he lets me cry about nothing (and everything)

6. his "braces" smile *yes, at this time Josh had braces! this pic is from his seminary graduation (though it could pass for his high school graduation too)*

7. he loves to pose in front of the mirror

8. he always tells me he loves me before we hang up the phone

9. he always has the right thing to say

10. he lets me watch sports with him and explains it to me (ex: hockey-can NEVER remember the rules)

11. the way he plays with my hair

12. every night in bed he tells me, "I'll be right here if you need me."

13. he is anal about everything (clean freak)

14. puts 110% into everything he does

15. his sideburns *a little tamer now than they were then*

16. his competitiveness

17. he loves being active and working out

18. he always reaches for my hand during prayer

(I ran out of time before I could get to 20) :)

Our first Valentine's Day together, six months into dating, he mustered up the courage to say, "I love you" to which I denied him with, "Woah, I'm not ready to say that." Well, this Valentine's Day, nine years later, I want to make it very clear that I do love him with all my heart. Not just with that gush of emotions that we felt those first six months, but with a deep, committed, ahava love that will continue to grow and mature for our lifetime together.

I love you, Joshua Rice.

Happy Valentine's Day.

beds are overrated

2008-02-07T22:25:00.000-06:00

Tonight we went to our sweet friends, Cassie and Eric's, rehearsal dinner at Blue Mesa. It was such a sweet time of encouragement, hearing friends and family bless them and praise God for His handiwork in their lives. Lily missed out on the great food (whatever that corn cake was- it was amazing) but instead got to play at Evan's house with Evan, Rebecca, Brooke, and the wonderful Miss Kourtney. We returned to a quiet house at 9:30 and found that Lily had refused the pack'n play and settled for a nice stretch of carpet in the living room. She was out! Bleecker took these shots of her fast asleep.

Thanks, Miss Kourtney, for being such a trooper!

creamy mushroom chicken

2008-02-05T13:12:00.000-06:00

Wanted to pass along a good and easy recipe I used last night. And the best part is....it's for the crock pot - probably the easiest form of cooking known to man. We got this cookbook as a wedding gift almost 5 years ago, and sadly, yesterday was the first time I've used it. There are tons of recipes which made me a little nervous about picking one at random. But, thankfully, I found a good one. All three of us liked it!

CREAMY MUSHROOM CHICKEN

Makes 4-6 servings

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup milk

8-oz. pkg. of cream cheese, cubed

4.5 oz. can chopped green chilies

1 pkg. dry Italian salad dressing

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 6 hours.

3. Serve over noodles or rice.

How could you not love a recipe that has only 3 steps. I was planning on serving it over brown rice, but we didn't have enough, so I used rigatoni pasta instead. And I made it using 98% fat free soup, fat-free cream cheese, skim milk, and it still tasted great.

oh, and if you haven't discovered the greatness of the Reynolds slow cooker bags, you are wasting your time scrubbing. When we were done, Josh literally lifted the bag out of the crock pot to find that there was NOTHING left on the sides or bottom. The less clean up, the better.

Happy cooking!

The Patterson Life...

2008-01-30T15:46:00.000-06:00

just got bigger! That's right, we are expecting our second little one around August 31st, 2008. Saying that still seems kinda surreal, but it sunk in a little more on Monday when we got to see the new baby in action. Even though he/she was only the size of a peanut, we could already see the little arms moving and heart beating at 170 beats per minute. We are thrilled and once again blown away by God's miracle of creation. Just to think that this tiny little fetus will one day be walking and talking and laughing and crying...displaying his/her God given personality, gifts, flaws...all of which are being so perfectly knit together now in my womb. Wow. What a call to worship.

I'm nine weeks along, and the pregnancy has been pretty easy although I am more nauseous this time than last. (I can hear the boy predictions already...) We've tried explaining to Lily what's going on, and every time we ask her, "Do you want to be a big sister?" She replies, "No." Hopefully that will change! Whenever I point to my tummy and tell her that the baby is inside, she points and says, "Open." After explaining that the baby has to stay inside mommy to grow some more, she kisses my tummy and says "Hi." So maybe she does get it. I'm sure it will begin to make more sense once my belly starts expanding.

We would really love your prayers for a healthy pregnancy and smooth transition as our family grows. Here's pictures of that sweet little baby just chillin inside Momma.

Happy Birthday, Blog!

2008-01-22T15:31:00.000-06:00

I know it's been almost a month since my last post, and I'm starting to get called out by some (Summer). So, what better way to jump back into blogging than with a birthday celebration. That's right, The Patterson Life blog is a year old this month! In order to recap the year, I've selected my favorite post(s) from each month. Hope you have as much fun reliving 2007 as I did.

January

February

March

April

May and May 2 (couldn't decide!)

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

please pray for Kenya

2008-01-04T12:47:00.000-06:00

You've probably seen on the news what's going on in Kenya right now. This is a letter from a Kenyan pastor who works with e3 Partners Ministry. Some of the e3 Trainers in Kenya have been affected by the violence.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Receive greetings in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I trust that you are doing fine as you continue to lift Kenya before the throne of grace.

Right now our beloved country is at the cross roads. Right now about 75,000 people have been displaced from their homes. Houses and business premises have been destroyed and hundreds of people have lost their lives and many have been injured.

People are not yet gone to their places of work. In fact some business premises are still closed, including food stores. The ones that are open, have sold out the essential food items and prices of food have started going up. Public transport is not yet back to normal. We are now experiencing fuel or gas shortage in the country, due to transportation problems. The fuel tanks cannot take fuel to the gas stations because of the violence.

We are experiencing chaos in most of the major cities and towns in the country. In fact yesterday we had a lot of engagements between the police and the youth around Nairobi, due to the cancellation of the rally which was to be held in Nairobi.

This is not what we are used to in Kenya. Kenya has been known as a peaceful country; it has been known as the mother of peace in Africa.

Continue to pray, as you have been praying :
· for this country, so that peace and tranquility can prevail in our beloved country
· the people of Kenya can co-existed together, we need to continue to do so.

Yesterday, Bishop Desmond Tutu arrived in Nairobi from South Africa in order to help in mediating the two sides and to find a solution in the political crisis and conflict. Even as the two sides start talking we pray that, violence and destruction of properties will come to an end.

Our church and other Christians in the country have started prayer and fasting for the restoration of peace and tranquility. We ask you to do the same for Kenya. Every day our church members will be meeting for prayers at 4:00 p.m. in the Church ( 12:00pm Central Tine in the US). We are asking God to give us peace, unity, and a safe co-existence of all peoples of Kenya. We are praying that communities will stop attacking each other. We pray that the conflict will be looked at conclusively, where everybody is a winner and the country is held high.

Thank you and may God bless you in all you are doing in His Kingdom.

Yours In His Service,

Rev. Joe Michael Kamau
E3 Partners Ministry – Kenya

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-22T20:53:00.000-06:00

Can't believe we're only two days away from Christmas! And I think I've finished up all my shopping too! Yes, I'm pretty sure that all the presents have been de-pricetagged, wrapped, and placed beneath the tree. This year I decided to go with a wrapping paper theme (inspired by my friend Faith.) I found this really cool craft paper at Hobby Lobby that has excerpts of "Jingle Bells" all over it. I was kind of surprised to find something I liked since all of their gift wrap was already marked down 50%. But then when I started looking for ribbon, I was somewhat out of luck. I couldn't find ANY cranberry or even gold ribbon to match. I think (hope) the red pre-made bows I bought will be close enough to at least complement my paper. Maybe this will encourage me to buy my wrapping supplies a bit earlier next year. Maybe.

We also had some Christmas pictures taken by our friend Michael who did an amazing job. I wasn't sure how successful we would be with a toddler...especially our toddler who is Miss BusyBody right now. But, Lily gave us about a 10 minute window to get some "acceptable" shots, and thankfully, that was all Michael needed. (In Lily's defense, it was dinnertime and her friend Evan was enticing her with his ability to walk freely around the house while she was confined to Momma's lap. ;) ) Here's a few that capture the experience:
(p.s. I'm loving black and white this year)

Lily and Evan waiting for the adults to get set up

Josh looking like The Godfather

Lily enjoying her last few moments of freedom

probably my favorite shot

Lily got herself in this pose

lots of wiggling and giggling (look closely in my right hand and you can see the chocolate that I was using to bribe Lily)

enough is enough

This last picture is a lighthearted portrayal of our reality...imperfection. Sometimes there's tears in this broken world. On Thursday night, our church staff got together for our annual Christmas party. It was a night filled with good food, good conversation, laughter, prayer, and worship. Josh and I both left with an overwhelming sense of praise and gratititude to be part of such a special group. One of the things that resonated with me Thursday night was when Matt acknowledged that we are all broken people. That even as we strive to know Christ and make Him known, we are still incomplete. And we don't have to pretend that we're something other than works in progress. It was so refreshing to hear our pastor tell the staff that they are not expected to have it all together or to pretend they're something they are not. We are free to pursue Christ in a fresh, authentic way, realizing that He loves us in our incompleteness.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

psalm 23

2007-12-12T14:04:00.000-06:00

If you've been reading our blog for awhile you may remember me mentioning an organization called the Voice of the Martyrs. Each week I receive a prayer update informing me how I can pray specifically for persecuted Christians around the world. It's really rather humbling when I haven't even heard of half of the countries where these pastors and churches are located. Today as I was praying through the update, my heart was again stirred. The final entry was about a pastor ordered to leave his native town in Turkmenistan:
'According to Forum 18 News, "Pastor Kakataevsky's visa application to remain with his wife and family was rejected by the Migration Service and he will have to leave the country. He is due to leave on a flight to Moscow on December 11." Officials have refused to explain the reason for denying the visa, Pastor Kalataevsky explained to Forum, "But of course it is linked to my activity as a believer. Everything that has happened to me since 2001 is related to that." Pastor Kalataevsky was released in November after eight months in prison. Pray for his family during this difficult time. Pray for his church as they have no pastor, Ask God to protect them.'

The scripture passage included at the end of the paragraph was Psalm 23. One that most of us have heard over and over again. I think I even started memorizing it as a child in Sunday school and have sung it in countless songs over the years. But today as I read it, I felt like the Spirit wanted me to see it through a different lens. Through the eyes of these Christians who are risking their lives to attend church or share their faith. Now I know that we all face trials and endure struggles of many kinds, and those are not to be discounted or dismissed. But many of us will never have to fear death or imprisonment because of our relationship with Christ. I feel like we have some responsibility to lift up our brothers and sisters who will face that fear. We must remember that the Church is not limited to American Christians but includes fellow believers in Laos, Azerbaijan, India, Turkmenistan, etc.

I hope this isn't coming off too "preachy", but I felt like I should continue to make known the cause of the persecuted church in my own small way. So, may I invite you to check out their website (see link above). My hope is that you will be encouraged to see how God is working and compelled to take part through prayer or however else the Spirit leads.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

sleeping beauty

2007-12-05T13:59:00.000-06:00

Wednesday mornings are typically spent at our church for Bible study. I share my heart with nine other moms and enjoy authentic community while Lily shares toys (hopefully) and enjoys endless amounts of goldfish. Then we head home and have lunch with our friend Andrea. Soon Lily finished eating and began squirming, so, much to her delight, I plopped her on the couch to watch Elmo...her best friend right now. (sidenote: She can even sing along with me to the theme song "Elmo's World". Should I be worried? I promise I'm rationing her amount of TV time a day.) About 10 minutes go by before I realize how quiet it is in the living room. I peaked over the couch and found this:
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Bless her heart. She must have been super tired to fall asleep during her favorite show.

the tunnel

2007-12-02T14:03:00.000-06:00

This morning Lily and I made her first tunnel. She was having so much fun going under my legs that I thought she'd get a kick out of a "real" tunnel. She got a little confused when I told her, "I've got an idea!" and proceeded to move the necessary furniture, get the bed sheet, etc. From then on she kept calling the "tunnel" the "idea" which I thought was so cute. Here is the finished product. I love that it's the simple things. I'm sure this is only the beginning of many more forts, hideaways, and tunnels to come.

oh, and this was too funny not to post...here she is pretending to talk on her phone to Aunt ZaZa (that's what comes out for Missa)

santa baby

2007-11-27T20:17:00.001-06:00

Today, Lily and I visited Santa at Stonebriar Mall along with our friends Kristyn and Preston, Sarah, Crew, and Corban. As you can see, he's a great looking Santa. Lily was not quite sure what to think of him, but at least there were no tears. After pictures we hit the play area, had some great sandwiches at Rollerz, rode the carousel (of course), and even ventured into a few stores for some window shopping before any meltdowns. As we drove away, the kiddos crashed before we were out of the parking lot. Now, that's what I call a good outing.

2007-11-26T20:49:00.000-06:00

2007-11-25T22:36:00.001-06:00

one last post before i call it a night. here are some of the artists i'm enjoying this christmas:

james taylor: at christmas
josh groban: noel
michael buble: let it snow
vince guaraldi trio: charlie brown christmas
diana krall: christmas songs
ella fitzgerald: a swinging christmas
mercy me: the christmas sessions
sarah mclachlan: wintersong
amy grant: a christmas album

what are your favorites?

my heart is happy

2007-11-25T22:08:00.000-06:00

Laptop in lap.
Slippers on feet.
Daughter asleep in crib.
Husband asleep in chair.
Christmas music playing.
Tree lights twinkling.
WoodWick burning.
Christmas coming.

Thanksgiving Feast

2007-11-25T21:24:00.000-06:00

I know it's been FOREVER since I've posted. What can I say? At some point I knew that my lack of consistency would eventually creep into my blogging. But the streak is now over so here we go...

The week before Thanksgiving my mom, Lily, and I drove out to "wide awake" Wylie to Tibbals Elementary. This is a special school to our family because it's named after my grandparents Harry and Retha Tibbals. They have been outstanding citizens in the Wylie community for close to 50 years. This special Tuesday was the Thanksgiving Feast for the students and parents. It was so sweet to see Nanny interacting with the children. One mom told us her son asked if she was the President of the school. They love receiving her hugs and warm smiles.

This mural is painted in the school foyer with the school's motto: "If you love them, you can teach them." -The Tibbals

2007-11-04T21:28:00.000-06:00

Baylor Homecoming

2007-11-04T20:45:00.001-06:00

Yesterday we took Lily down to the Baylor Homecoming parade. As you can see, the green and gold suits her well!

Nonni and Pappa Neal

Katelyn and Lily - future Baylor roomies?!?

cheering on her team

loving on CoCo

Jonathan and Missa

the wedding

2007-11-04T15:18:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday we flew out to Ocean Springs, Mississippi for Josh's cousin's wedding. It was fun reconnecting with Josh's aunt and uncle and cousins. This was Lily's second plane ride and she did great...Lolli and I kept her occupied with crackers, picture cards, books, even the skymall magazine. She also enjoyed riding the escalator up and down as we waited to board. We flew into Mobile, AL which is about an hour's drive from Ocean Springs. I was sure that Lily would crash as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot. And she did for about 30 minutes (slightly shorter than her usual 2 hour afternoon nap).

We got to the hotel around 2pm and Lily and Lolli set out to explore. Auntie Kathy and Uncle Larry stopped by to say Hi before the evening's festivities got under way. After a short visit, we returned to the room to find the crib waiting outside our door. It was a sad little crib with an even sadder mattress that was probably two inches thick. I tried to improve its state with a couple of blankets. Now, Lily was able to take her nap. Or at least I thought she would be. But Lily had other ideas. Thirty minutes later it was obvious she was not going to sleep. This made me kinda nervous since we had a long night ahead of us. I was worried she would be super fussy at the wedding or have a major meltdown during the reception. As a last resort we stuck her in the car hoping she might fall asleep on the way to pick up dinner. No such luck. Oh well. Back to the hotel to get dressed up!

Lily looked soooo precious in her little dress, white tights, and pink shoes. She LOVED being all fancy! We headed to the church which was only a few minutes from the hotel. Lily and I explored outside while Josh and Lolli sat in the ceremony. So far she was holding up pretty well on 30 minutes of sleep. Just as she began fussing and squirming in my arms, the bride Amy and groom Clay came out the front doors. Lily immediately froze, pointed to Amy, and said "Ooohhh! Touch!" The rest of the night she was mesmorized by Amy in her beautiful white dress wanting to be close to her every chance she had. This came in handy during the big family picture...Lily actually sat still in my arms! (can't believe I didn't take any pictures of the happy couple.) :(

I could tell she was starting to come unglued so we made our way to the car. Not more than 5 minutes later, Lily was out! She slept in my arms the entire reception. Didn't even wake up when I changed her diaper and put on her pajamas in the car or as I carried her into the hotel. Thankfully she slept all night long on that sad little mattress.

The next morning we woke up relieved to have an extra hour due to daylight saving time (or so we thought.) We casually got dressed, packed up, and went to eat breakfast. Josh hoped to catch an earlier flight since we had so much extra time. (bet you know where this is going...) At breakfast, Josh noticed that the clock on Fox News said 10:30 central time which was when we needed to leave to make our flight. I decided to go double check at the front desk and sure enough, daylight saving time had been pushed back one week! We raced back to the room, loaded up the car, and sped all the way to the airport. Five minutes short of the cut off, we were all checked in, ready to board, and a bit out of breath. It was a quick trip, but a lot of fun. Congratulations, Clay and Amy!!!

getting a little restless on the flight home

Halloween

2007-11-02T08:11:00.000-06:00

our little flower

Josh as a college freshman

Overdue Update

2007-10-31T10:59:00.000-06:00

So, remember that blanket drive I did a while back? Well, we had a great response and collected 34 blankets! (beat my goal by 24!) The Voice of the Martyrs will deliver the blankets along with illustrated Bibles to the war-torn refugees in Sudan. (If you're not sure what I'm referring to, click here.) Thanks to all who contributed!

New shoes

2007-10-20T08:45:00.000-06:00

Lily got some new shoes for Josh's cousins's wedding next weekend. This morning before breakfast we tried them on. She was so thrilled at the loud "click-clack" they made on the wood floor that we paraded all over the house. She hasn't wanted to take them off yet, so she may be wearing patent leather pink shoes everyday from here on out!

Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-18T12:50:00.000-06:00

Grandaddy

2007-10-17T20:28:00.000-06:00

One year ago yesterday my Grandaddy passed away after 88 years of life. I'm not really sure what I could say to sum up his life other than he did it right. He loved Jesus. He loved his family. He loved others. He loved the church. I've never seen a better display of generosity and humility. He and Nanny were a living example of what Jesus describes in Matthew 25:

"I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me....to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."

Grandaddy got it. He got that his days on this earth were numbered and that he wouldn't be able to take earthly treasures with him. He poured his time and resources into what will last for eternity: the souls of men and the Kingdom of God. After his death, I heard countless stories of how he and Nan blessed others. One of my favorites took place years ago involving his grocery store. Grandaddy was an independent grocer for several decades and saw this as his ministry. His church gave underprivileged community members vouchers with which they could "purchase" grocery items at the church's expense. But everytime the pastor came to reconcile the vouchers, Grandaddy refused reimbursement from the church saying it was covered.

I'm so thankful to have had him for twenty-six years of my life. He was present at my choir concerts, my voice and piano recitals, my graduations, our engagement party, our wedding, Josh's ordination and seminary graduation, the birth of his great-granddaughter, and so many more memories staggered in between.

The last several years of his life, Grandaddy became more outwardly emotional. It was rare that he could bless the food or kiss a grandchild goodbye without a tearful eye. I loved seeing this soft, tender side of him. The night that he passed away, all of his family surrounded his hospital bed, hand in hand, singing old hymns, telling funny stories, praying over him. Even as Grandaddy struggled to breath there was a peace over him as he waited to meet our Lord. And in those sweet moments, his eyes teared up once again reassuring us of his love for those in that room. What a beautiful picture of the gospel. That when the reality of death sets in, we're once again reminded that death has lost its power. God has given us victory.

Thank you, Lord, for my Grandaddy.

sic 'em

2007-10-10T22:19:00.000-06:00

I really enjoy football. It's probably my favorite sport to watch. And while I support my city's professional franchise, my heart belongs to the college game. There's nothing else like college football. The "Comin' to Your City" GameDay theme song, the monochromatic packed out stadiums, the bands blasting in-between plays, the traditions that are passed down (and can get a little obnoxious - can I get a 'whoop!?) The college game just seems to have a high level of intensity and excitement that makes me want to cheer for my team. Until I remember that I went to Baylor. Don't get me wrong. I love my alma mater and wouldn't go anywhere else given a second chance, but sometimes I ponder what it would have been like to have had a winning football team. There have been glimpses of glory (proud to say that my dad was a part of the Miracle on the Brazos back in the day). But not enough recently to sustain my desired level of trash-talk.

I came across this statistic tonight and decided to cling to it if (and most likely when) our record starts to wane. It's got to be good for something. And for the record, whether win or lose, I'm still bleeding green and gold, singing "That Good Ole Baylor Line" and teaching my toddler to "Sic'em Bears".

our first Baylor/A&M football game back in '98

Lily last year (5 mo old) at her first Baylor game (in the same outfit I wore to countless BU games!)

four on a couch

2007-10-10T20:31:00.001-06:00

Storytime

2007-10-05T22:52:00.000-06:00

Pumpkinlicious

2007-09-26T20:17:00.000-06:00

Fall is here whether the temperature reflects it or not. How do I know? Because "pumpkin mania" has hit the public. That's right. Each year at this time vendors everywhere pull out their secret fall weapon and consumers (or at least this one) are putty in their hands buying it up left and right. It's kind of like a rite of passage into autumn along with changing leaves, football season, and the State Fair. So here are some of my favorite pumpkin indulgences so far this year:

1. The Pumpkin Spice Latte at your neighborhood Starbucks

"a delicious blend of pumpkin and traditional fall spice flavors combined with our signature espresso and freshly steamed milk, and topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices."
Ah, that is the essence of fall itself. But I usually go nonfat milk and hold the whip. I figure this way I can have more of them...they're only for a limited time, people.

2. The Einstein Brothers Pumpkin Bagel and Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Divine. I loved every bite of this one going down. My friend Meredith told me about this Sunday night, and by Monday at lunch I had to try one. So, I figured I would run an errand to Babies R Us, which happens to be right across the street from Einstein's. I just had to stop in since I was so close.

3. Kashi's Pumpkin Spice granola bars

"Baked with whole flaxseeds, roasted pumpkin seeds, and a magical blend of spices, our Pumpkin Spice Flax granola bars have 4g of Fiber, 6g of Protein and 300mg of Omega-3s."
Perfect for some pumpkin on the go.

4. Pumpkin Pie

The tried and true classic which got me hooked in the first place. My Aunt Bunny makes the best.

5. Frosted Pumpkin Squares

I took this recipe to Bible Study today, and it did not disappoint. And even if you accidentally put in 1 whole Teaspoon of baking powder instead of just 1/2, it will still turn out great! Not that I know this from experience or anything...enjoy!

1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup cream cheese
2 Tbs. butter softened
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Grease or spray 9 in. square pan.
Cake: In bowl, medium speed, mix together sugar, eggs for 2 minutes. Beat in pumpkin and oil. Low speed: add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and beat for 1 minute. Pour into pan - bake for 25-30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
Icing: mix low speed: powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter, and vanilla 2 minutes or until fluffy. Frost.

The Game of Tag about your Man:

2007-09-26T12:59:00.000-06:00

I've been tagged by Lauren.

1. Who is your man? Joshua Rice
2. How long have you been together? married 4.5 years, 9.5 years total
3. How long dated? 5 years
4. How old is your man? 30
5. Who eats more? Josh (unless we're talking about sweets)
6. Who said "I love you" first? He did about 6 months in. I wasn't ready for that yet so I denied him! He then waited to say it until the night he proposed. :)
7. Who is taller? Josh
8. Who sings better? Me although Josh is better at karoake. ;)
9. Who is smarter? I would say Josh...but I have my moments.
10. Whose temper is worse? I guess mine is quicker.
11. Who does the laundry? I do my best to keep up with it, but he helps out sometimes.
12. Who takes out the garbage? Josh
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you're looking at the bed, I sleep on the right side. It's been this way since day one.
14. Who pays the bills? Josh does the budget and finances.
15. Who is better with the computer? I think I'm better cause I'm a mac snob.
16. Who mows the lawn? Josh and he does a mighty fine job too. Even won yard of the month.
17. Who cooks dinner? I do...occasionally...with the help of Dinner Station.
18. Who drives when you are together? Josh
19. Who pays when you go out? Whoever has the cash.
20. Who is most stubborn? Well, Josh is better at pushing his agenda. :)
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? We're both pretty equal on this.
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine because they live about five minutes from us. Josh's parents live about 30-45 minutes away so we see them often too. :)
23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me...while sitting on his couch in College Station- sometime in Oct. '98.
24. Who asked who out? He did. He had just turned 21, and I was one month short of 18. Awkward!
25. Who proposed? Josh...read the whole story here
26. Who is more sensitive? Me
27. Who has more friends? I guess it's about equal. Josh is more of an extrovert though.
28. Who has more siblings? Me...I have a younger sister and brother. Josh has one younger brother.
29. Who wears the pants in the family? Josh...we both like it that way.

Okay, I'm tagging: Andrea B, Lauren W, Tiffani, Kim, Katie, and Kristen T