just my thoughts

Mikenna's 1st halloween!

2009-11-05T21:31:00.002-06:00

a smilebox documenting Mikenna's first Halloween! On Friday morning I took her to work with me for a little while to show off my bumble bee then that afternoon she dressed up in her G-ma's devil costume (G-ma wore more than that) after that we went to visit a few houses as a "treat"!
Saturday Logan, Presly and Braedan came to visit and we went to the Fall Festival and we got to have a tractor ride with Mr. Robert!!! What a great 1st halloween!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Poor Kenna; Poor Mommy

2009-11-05T16:10:00.004-06:00

yesterday Mikenna was 9 months old! She is crawling, pulling up and beginning to cruise (but just a little) She has 7 teeth and loves to feed herself!! French toast was breakfast this morning and she LOVED it!
Today we went to see Dr. Perez and our beloved nurse, Miss Kitty. Her well baby check-up went great, she is 22 pounds and 27 3/4 inches; an ideal wieght for her heigth is less than 20 lbs...oops! At the end of our visit Mikenna got her Flu booster, shots are never fun, but this wasn't that bad. She cried a very short time and then even smiled at Miss Kitty when we left. We got paperwork for lab work this morning, it was to test how her blood reacts to lead. I was told that it was normal at 12 month check-ups and my doctor likes to get it down earl. since we were close to a location and had already been pricked once I decided to get it done today.
Not the most fun I have ever had...I had to hold Mikenna tight on my lap and then hold her arm in 2 places so it wouldn't move. A needle AND being held...NOT HER FAVES! They had to collect 2 viles of blood. It didnt really take that long BUT it was the longest short period of time I have ever spent as a mother! The girl taking the samples was very good at her job and she didn't have to adjust the needle or re-stick. She was very reassuring to me as well! I was very thankful for a quick job and a job well done by a very good "vampire".
We had lunch, a run to Target and met Mom and Don at Chick-fil-et on their way out of town (going to Teague to see the central Texas grands), then we had a restful couple of hours and now waiting for Mike to get home!

hello blogger!

2009-10-26T08:50:00.002-05:00

WOW!!! it has been quite a while! I have been doing most of my communication on Face Book so I haven't been here in a few months! I came on this morning to look at a pictures my friend in Japan had posted! So I decided I would post as well!

Just a quick Maxwell update:
Mike got a promotion of sorts inJuly. He is still working in technology for the school just a different area. He is the Systems Administrator. He likes the change, well what change there is...He has a differnt boss and new office!
I am still Speeching and still love it! I continue to work with the kiddos in Poteet and this year have added a few Pleaston campuses to my caseload!
Mikenna will be 9 months on Nov. 4th, wow, that was SOOOO quick. She has been crawling for about a month and has been pulling up for a week and 1/2 or so. Yesterday she pulled up using my leg, let go to clap and then gently sat back down :) we will be chasing her across the house pretty soon! She already has her favorite spots to play, unfortunately they are with books, my dihes on display or shoes she likes to eat...NO Spots. Miss Mikenna does not like that word very much she chooces to ignore it and then growls at us when we pop her little hand! Being 2 will be fun!!!!!
Saturday we went to the Pumokin Patch and took a few pictures! they turned out really good and Mikenna had a great time! Halloween is right around the corner and I can't wait! No trick or treating this year but we will dress up for the Fall Festival at the church yard! look for pictures soon!

So that's what's going on, Life is not much different from the last post just a different stage in our family!

looking good

2009-06-25T07:38:00.002-05:00

Kara, Daniel, Mike and I visited with Jamie last night. He was in a pretty good deal of pain and some of the medicine would make him nauseous, then the nausea medicine would knock him out. :) He was awake most of the time we were there and coherent during our conversations, His hand looked very good (but I don't know what to compare it to. He was in very good spirits and when he was "getting sick" he apologized to me, in case it was making me sick too! Praise God for carrying him through this surgery and building his confidence in the Dr. for future surgeries!

Jackie said it right

2009-06-24T11:11:00.002-05:00

"My God is an awesome God"
just using this to give an update on Jamie...
Cissie called about an hour ago (a little after 10) Surgery went VERY well. The doctor is very pleased. He really couldn't get to the spot he wanted to that would have shut down this vein problem permanently due to the hardened glue they shot in there in Oklahoma....but that can still happen in the future with another surgery. They took care of the immediate problem which was his pointer finger and middle finger. They will worry about the other a little further down the road, the Dr is thinking about another surgery around Labor day. He will be in Room 223 and will possibly go home tomorrow. He is awake but in a lot of pain. They are rather dumbfounded as to why he is awake as they gave him a LARGE dose of morphine. Anyway, the hand does not look black as it has in the past (before Oklahoma) when they used the alcohol in the veins method. It is pink and warm! Praise God!
Cissie sounded really good, but really tired! Continue to keep all of them in your prayers!

a house full

2009-06-23T07:51:00.002-05:00

...of CRAZINESS! Mike and I left a little after 6 yesterday evening to meet Jay and Tammy in Austin to pick up J.T. and Cooper. Mikenna stayed with Mom and Don while we were gone. We picked them up about 8:30, about the same time mom was in Floresville picking up Tanner, Elle and Lizzie. Mike, J.T., Coop and I got to Mom's house about 11 and then entered chaos!! :)
Don goes to San Antonio on Tuesday and Wednesday to be with his kids there and Mom is working; so the kids (all 6)loaded up in the van and we came home! I so love having them around! They are all so sweet and well mannered! But it was a bit CRAZY at our house until about 12:45 when they finally all went to sleep.
It was very neat this morning to wake up and check on Mikenna in her room, see the girls sleeping soundly in the computer room and walk into the living room with every soft seat taken by boys!
I took Mike to work a 1/2 hour ago and and am enjoy a few moments of quiet before the bliss begins!! We are going to have a fun week :) hope you do too!

Wonderful

2009-06-20T23:35:00.002-05:00

What a beautiful wedding Caleb and Gaby shared with us! The ceremony and reception were wonderful and the scenery was just outstanding! It was so good to be able to celebrate with them!
It was also good to visit with Dana and Lin together!!! Being on the swings in that yard made me smile; we have all spent many moments there in the past! What a great time it was to think of old memories while making new ones as well.
Happy together forever Mr. & Mrs.

a river rat

2009-06-15T14:02:00.008-05:00

Every June our family takes goes to Concan to vacation on the Frio River. Mom and Don have 5 children combined and we are all mairried so there are 12 adults and 4 of us have children of our own. Nick and Kayla weren't able to make the trip this year and Cam wasn't there either, but ALL the grandkids were there...including the 12th due to meet us in September.

We were a little worried about Mikenna being in the river because it is usually so cold, but the river was down so much this year that is was actually warmer than the pool we swam in the week before! Mikenna loved the river...and slept so well at night while we were there!

ready for the river

the Maxwell river rats!

Here are a some pictures of Mikenna with a few of our nephews in the river...

Tanner

JT...She looks scared doesn't she? :)

Cooper

We had such a good time with our family, wish everyone could have made it this year, we sure did miss them.
The first weekend in June we went to Teague (our first long trip with Mikenna) for my Dad's family reunion. When I get pictures from that I will post about the weekend!

a growing girl

2009-06-09T21:36:00.003-05:00

Mikenna and I went to the Dr today for her 4 month check up and shots. We have a healthy girl! (just in case you haven't seen her in a while) She weighs 15lb,2oz and is 24.25 inches long her head is 41.6 cm (i think). She is in the 90th percentile for wieght...a very chunky girl she is, 40th percentile for length and 50th percentile in head circumference; dr seemed to be concerned about the head but didn't say anything except that she's growing! She SCREAMED with her shots this time, it was very hard for me! but she stopped crying almost as soon as I picked her up. She had a bottle right before the shots and I saved some so she could finish it before we left and she slept most of the way home!!!!! which was good since we were by ourselves this round.

We napped for almost 2 hours this afternoon but she had a pretty ruff evening. Not only did she get shots, she's teething...sad girl, but she went to bed earl this evening, hopefully she will sleep well tonight!

I need to unpack and do laundry from last weekend so I can pack for this weekend...RIVER TRIP HERE WE COME!!!! very excited about our annual trip to Concan!!!!

yea for summer time!!

just a glimpse

2009-05-24T21:14:00.002-05:00

Things are so very busy and will continue to be busy into the summer...but YEA! it will be summer! including yesterday, we have 3 weekends with showers, 2 weeding/couple and 1 for baby! the last shower falls on a weekend that we will be out of town (first weekend in June) a friend coming to visit during the week and TO THE RIVER the next weekend, then a wedding (YEA! Caleb and Gabi!) and Father's day...that's just the weekends, there are birthdays for the 1st 3 weeks in June and at least 1 in July. And even though it will be very busy, I am so excited about our summer there will be so many firsts for all three of us!!
We just need to get to summer first; work is EXTREMELY BUSY and will be up until the very last day; June 5th.
Our days and weeks are very busy right now but LIFE IS GRAND!!!!
happy memorial day all, enjoy your day however you get to spend it!

a few pics from the last couple of weeks

2009-05-23T16:05:00.006-05:00

something neat!

2009-05-21T21:12:00.002-05:00

A few of us from work took a personal day yesterday for a day in San Antonio. We got back late, Mike picked up Mikenna and went to mom's because our niece Bristin was there. I picked up dinner and met them there! But it was almost 7 when I got there, we ate and mom and Bristin left for class. we grabbed our stuff and headed out later.
Since we were so late getting to class, I stayed in Cradle role with Mom, Bristin and Mikenna. there were only the 4 of us there.
I have always loved the way my mom interacts with children and seeing her with Mikenna is so very awesome. But last night I got to watch her teach her granddaughters about God and sing the little songs...The look on her face as I watched her sing and teach was just so fabulous! She has great love for God and so much love for her grandkids that when it comes together...just beautiful!!!

a little more calm

2009-04-20T21:24:00.002-05:00

Ok so work was still work today and still overwhelming and stressful. But this evening...much more relaxing than the past few! Mikenna and I got home from Charlotte a little after 5:30 and visited with Mike for a few minutes then headed to a tee-ball game while he worked in the yard! And yes it was very relaxing! We came home and watched our man in the yard, then came in. She played in her jungle and I sat. But not for long my little lady got fussy so I gave her a bath she swung for a while and napped and we rocked for a while until she instantly became famished!!! I just fed her, and we talked to her daddy through the window (he's almost finished working outside). Now it's her bedtime, Mike will get up with her tonight, I'll take her to Grandma's in the morning! I'm tired but its been a nice evening! and you know, the dishes and messy table will still be there for me tomorrow!!

I also watched The Land of Women during my evening of bliss...GOOD SHOW!!! Time to kiss my girl and her daddy and get ready for the night!!! Hope yours was enjoyable too:)

just a minute

2009-04-18T23:27:00.003-05:00

Whoa, It has been an overwhelmingly busy week! In the 2 1/2 weeks that I have been back at work, I have been incredibly busy trying to get back in the swing of things and all. On top of getting use to a new normal we have a new program that we conduct our annual meetings on. We switched from paper documents to an electronic program, it's not too difficult just very different and I am just learning. I feel like I am a new girl to the group both professionally and socially. I work late each day trying to catch up and then spend time with family when I go to get my girl so when we finally do get home I want to spend time with Mike and Mikenna before doing anything else and actually do not do much else. I look forward to the weekends and LOVE the extra time with family. I especially love the morning time with my little miss! :) I enjoy being able to be lazy and can't wait to be able to do that again :)
We have had a busy weekend thus far...Last night went to San Antonio with friends; dinner and bowling, we girls got back about 12:30 the boys came in a little later. Then Mike and I went to my mom's to join 'Kenna in the guest room (didn't want to wake her to bring her home but didn't want to give up my morning with her either). When we woke up, Chad, Brittney and Bristin had just arrived. It was nice to hang out with them. were able to chill most of the morning then we got ready and left for a nephew's 1st birthday party. When we left the party we went to the store and Mike got a hair cut and then went to Relay for Life for a few hours. Came home Mike cooked breakfast for supper (my fave) and we watched the end of the Spurs game. Now it is already so late and the rest of my family is asleep I will get bottles ready for tonight, the bag is ready for tomorrow and then get my loves (and myself) to bed! Enjoy your Sunday!

not too horrible

2009-04-01T17:33:00.002-05:00

Well, Mikenna had her 2 month shots yesterday and didn't do too bad at the time! She cried of course, and it did hurt but it sure did aggravate her that Nurse Kitty held her legs down!!! As soon as I picked her up she was fine and went to sleep shortly after. The late afternoon and early evening were a little hard on us. I stayed home from Bible Study to keep her comfortable and also for me:)
When I finally laid down for bed (way way late) I just let it all out, I think I cried for close to an hour. I didn't want to go to sleep and as Mike held me tight he reminded me that "tomoorow will come weather you sleep or not". Finally i slept.
Mike's mom came to the house this morning and we left before Mikenna woke up. Not bad. I did cry a little when I got to the office and friends and mothers would give me hugs. Once I got to my campus and began seeing my kiddos, I was fine!
I got home a little before 4:30 and got my fix...I got my girl!
Not too bad, now I gotta do it again :)

ah man!

2009-03-30T00:17:00.002-05:00

Well, today was pretty busy...
we got up and dressed for church, even left early for breakfast that the high school class prepared, YUMMY!!! then off to lunch and afternoon visit with family, which is always nice. Today we visited with Aunt Mary and Uncle Jay, they have new baby goats and one is inside because her legs are not strong yet so she can't nurse...they are all very cute! We got home a little after 4 and rested until time to feed Mikenna and get ready for church services then we had dinner together. We got home and I began cleaning a little while Mike brought chairs in for tomorrow night.
Tomorrow I will get up and CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN, Secret Sisters March Meeting is at our house tomorrow evening!!! When I am finished I will get our girl from her Papa's and I need to make my dish for our get together. Hopefully I will get to rest before all our sisters begin showing up:)
Tuesday Mom and I are taking Mikenna to San Antonio for her 2 month shots :( We may shop a little bit, she's ready for a Johnny/Jenny jump-up, if we have time. Then that evening we have Bible Study at Robert and Jackie's!!!
Wednesday I go back to work:( :( :( Mike's mom will keep our little precious, We have Bible class in the evening. I'm sure I will go to bed early to start another day.
` Thursday after work is Volley Ball, I haven't decided yet if I will go but Mike will.
Then it's FRIDAY!!! Mike and I will go to work while Mikenna has her Friday-Papa-day!!! Than that evening the youth (and anyone else who wants to) are coming over for pizza and a movie!!!! I haven't had youth over in WAAAAAAAY TO LOOOOOOONNNNG!
Saturday we have a birthday party to go to and then we start over again with Sunday and church! And in the afternoon we have another birthday party!!!
I think I will want to go to work just to slow down a bit!!! too bad Mikenna can't come too:)
Have a great week all!

ooh! ooh! pick me! pick me!!!

2009-03-25T16:50:00.003-05:00

ok, my turn for 25 random things about me...
(I've had to think about it a lot)
1. It has taken God 32 years to prepare me for this contentment...I LOVE my life...and couldn't be happier than I am with these blessings
2. I have ALWAYS wanted to be a mommy; the desire to be a wife came along about 5 years ago!
3. As a child, I wanted to be a 3rd grade teacher and a part-time mechanic...I adored my dad and always "helped" him change oil and work on our vehicles. I can change my oil if I needed to!
4. I like puppies but not dogs
5. I live for Tuesday night Bible Study
6. Memories live in odd places for me...I look at my kitchen canisters and smile because I remember shopping for them with Dana!!! ~and the fact that they were on sale was a most pleasant surprise!!!!
7. I miss my Granny terribly. I always miss her at Thanksgiving and Christmas when those wonderful smells should be coming from HER kitchen, but Mikenna makes me miss her so much more, Granny would enjoy her greatly!
8. My mom is my the strongest and most compassionate person I know
9. It is very difficult for me to not want to treat some people with the same judgment and ridicule that they have dealt me. Its easy to forgive but so hard to forget
10. I LOVE thunderstorms; it's when God gives me a peek at His power!
11. The most amzing noise right now comes from 11 pounds of goodness :D
12. I'm blown away by the way Mike cares for 'Kenna
13. I love movies and could watch most of them over and over and over
14. I am a speech therapist because I WAS in speech therapy
15. I remember the first time I tied my shoes, my brother taught me how (we were in the old superS with my granny
16. I absolutely love the food network
17. I loved my experience in Guatemala
18. Parents that don't do everything possible to give their best to their children make me angry
19. I am not very good at sports or games but enjoy playing them
20. I am not competitive, but mischievous... I revel in beating someone who is very competitive...Beating Jamie at Risk (forever ago)
21. The Frio River is one of my favorite places to go
22. a spontaneous road trip to no where special is special.
23. I don't like my chin but LOVE Mikenna's
24. Movies that show poeple being mean and abusive to children and difficult for me to watch.
25. The way Mikenna looks at her Dady is priceless!!!

busy busy busy

2009-03-23T11:17:00.004-05:00

Mike took the day off on Friday and he had fun plans for us! We got up early and headed to GeorgeWest to visit his Grandpa and let him meet Mikenna! Grandpa Catcus is 94 years old and just LOVES babies; ours was no different! HE laughed and smiled and thoroughly enjoyed our little munchkin! That was a great visit!!

After that we headed to Corpus where we met up with Kara, Ajane and Jamie. We ate lunch at Crawdaddy's mmmmm:P Cajun seafood...well I had chicken!! Ajane tried an oyster for the first time...FUNNY but good for her, I won't eat that slimy thing!
After lunch we visited with Mike's brother and his family, We haven't seen them since the baby was born. We had a good visit!

After leaving Lee's we headed to the beach in Port A for a while. It was getting a bit cool when we go there, We decided not to get Mikenna in the water, but I put her suit on for pictures...She liked the sand but didn't like when the cold water splashed on her after a wave; oops sorry baby! We stayed there for a few hours and then had dinner and ice cream before we headed back home. It was late when we left and we were all so very sleepy! the passengers all slept and weren't very helpful to our drivers, sorry Mike and Kara!

We woke up late Saturday morning and lounged around watching movies then early afternoon my parents came to visit for a while and then we headed to Charlotte to visit Mike's parents. They weren't there, but Mikenna was hungry so we fed her inthe car, put her to sleep and headed back home. His parents came over when they got back from San Antonio for a nice little visit!
When Jamie got off of work he and I went to the store for dinner. He got meat, I got corn and dessert. We picked up Mike and Mikenna and met Kara and Ajane at my mom's to grill out have dinner together and watch a movie! Dinner was excellent! most of us fell asleep during the movie! Mikenna spent the night.

Sunday we had church, ate lunch with family, Mikenna, mom and I went to a baby shower and then we got home to rest a while before we headed to SA with family for March Birthday dinner! It was fun but we were tired and on the way home Mikenna let us know that she was TIRED of being in her carseat and being held...poor baby, she was bundled, fastened and contained for most of 3 days. We played on the floor with her for an hour when we got home. She stretched her body enough to be ready for her bottle and her bed! and she slept!!!

We had a GREAT weekend but I think we were too too busy!

so much has happened...

2009-03-17T15:41:00.002-05:00

Sunday morning i rose with memories from a year ago...
March 15, 2008 I woke up early (on a Saturday)met up with Joanna and Ashleigh and headed to San Antonio for hair and make-up. I hardly ever rise early on a Saturday, fixing up my hair is not something I generally worry over and how I often do I wear make-up... But this day was different; special! There was to be a wedding! White dress. New suit (3 actually) and 2 newly made pink dresses (hot pink, thank you)!!! And it was a BEAUTIFUL DAY; the previous week had brought us lots of rain that we were so thankful for as a community that needs rain but as a bride of an outside wedding, you thank the Lord for the rain on Friday and pray for a pause until Sunday.
What a wonderful day it turned out to be; I added a new last name to my identification and partner to my life. That day was the beginning of big changes...What a busy year it has been. As I type, I sit in my home tht we bought this summer, rocking in a new to me glider that was given to me this summer as I would need to rock a little something soon. And speaking of that little something, she's lying on the couch making those cute sleeping baby sounds!
So the last 53 weeks have brought many new things...
~a birthday--my favorite so far (31 was a GREAT year)
~a husband--who's fabulous
~a house
~a new district at work
~a baby
~and another birthday a week before...
~a first anniversary!

posting this is easier than emailing it...

2009-03-11T23:31:00.002-05:00

I have not yet occupied the resource of an address book in my email setup so I would have to remember all addresses and manually put them in order to send it to all the women I would like to, but most of them read the blog! Dana emailed a survey that I have done before but the answers have changed and I have chosen to complete it again...

1 . What time did you get up?
I woke up a couple of times during the night :) but began my day a little after 9am
2. Diamonds or pearls?
depends, I have a 2 pieces from Mike that have diamonds and a pearl necklace that was my Granny's I love all 3 for the sentimental value each one possesses
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Australia, with my mom
4. What is your favorite TV show?
Ace of Cakes or Challenge
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
if I eat breakfast its a Special K or Fiber1 bar (what's the point in having breakfast when its almost time for lunch)
6. What is your middle name?
Sue
7. What food do you dislike?
dinner at breakfast
8.What is your favorite CD?
an mp3 disk that Mike made a few years ago with over 160 Christian songs on it...including Something Beautiful by the Newsboys
9. What kind of car do you drive?
my cute Jeep Patriot
10. What is your favorite sandwich?
a grilled cheese
11. What characteristic do you despise?
it was recently dishonesty, but has changed to a fake-ness (which I guess is dishonesty)
12. Favorite item of clothing?
I have these dark brown pants that I'm in love with right now (same as Dana)
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Colorado in the summer, a cruise anywhaere
14. Favorite brand of clothing?
I'm loving my Duo maternity, Old Navy have soft comfy shirts, and jeans from Levi Strauss
15. Where would you retire to?
near a river
16. What was your most memorable birthday?
28 was great!!! 31 was even better, but 32 holds many firsts!!!
17.Favorite sport to watch?
anything my nephews play
18. Furthest place you are sending this?
I'm sure it will be read in Colorado
19. Person you expect to send it back first?
not sure, Lin may send it out email or post it. I can see Janina sending it out
20. When is your birthday?
March 9th
21. Are you a morning person or a night person?
becoming more of a morning person than a night person, but it is midnight and I'm blogging!
22. What is your shoe size?
7 1/2
23. Pets?
a wild, rotten cat that I LOVE!
24.Any new and exciting news you 'd like to share with us?
the only thing I can think of is gross...Mikenna just taught me that spit-up taste nasty. bleh!!!
25. What did you want to be when you were little?
a christian mommy, a 3rd grade teacher and part-time mechanic
26. How are you today?
tired, but wonderful
27. What is your favorite candy?
sixlets
28. What is your favorite flower?
Gerber Daisies but I pretty much love them all!
29. Is there a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
March 30 and every Tuesday
30. What is your full name?
Jennifer Sue Jones Maxwell
31. What are you listening to right now?
its an amazing sound...Mike and Mikenna are soundly sleeping, I hear their breathing
32. Last thing you ate?
Chili's's Choclate CHip Molten, mmmmmmmmmmm!
33. Do you wish on stars?
Not really but I pray
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
green in all its shades
36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
my mom
37. Favorite soft drink?
Big Red, with A7W root bear as a close 2nd!
38. Favorite Restaurant Chain:
Olive Garden or Saltgrass
39. Real hair color?
brown
40. What was your favorite toy as a child?
not sure, probably my babydolls
41. Summer or winter?
summer for the activities and places, Spring for the weather, Winter for the holidays and family that is close and Autumn for the new beginnings (although its actually a signal of end for the plants)
42. Hugs or kisses?
both; I can get hugs from many more people but I do love a kiss
43. Chocolate or Vanilla?
DEFINITELY chocolate
44. Coffee or tea?
tea
45. Do you want your friends to email you back?
of course, I am interested in their answers!
46. When was the last time you cried?
this evening, but I can't remember what I was talking about that made me cry
48. What did you do last night?
Bible Study, we ordered our new books!!!
49. What are you afraid of?
not really afraid, but I'm dreading Mikenna learning that people in the world are cruel and mean and hurtful
50.Salty or sweet?
probably sweet unless it is togehter (peanuts mixed with candy corn)
51.How many keys on your key ring?
I'm not sure but Mike calls me "janitor" when he was to use them!!
52. How many years at your current job?
5
53. Favorite day of the week?
Tuesday, Sunday
54. How many towns have you lived in?
WOW! 8 - Midwest City, OK; West Monroe, Louisiana; Jourdanton,Pleasanton, Cuero, Teague, Abilene, Tehucana (ta-wa-can-knee)but 4 of them at differant times with different addresses
55. Do you make friends easily?
not really, I'm kinda shy
56. How many people will you send this to?
4 through email
57. How many will respond?
the possibilities are endless

can you smell that?

2009-03-11T15:57:00.002-05:00

As I rocked Mikenna this morning I heard an old familiar sound, one I haven't heard in quite some time.
Is it? Can it Be? YES!!! It is RAIN!!! I love that smell!!!! and am so glad we have the opportunity to smell, see and feel the tain, even though it only lasted a moment!

While I'm thinking about smells, here are a few I love...
~Mike (especially after a shower and a spray of cologne)
~laundry
~My mom
~Granny's house durung the holidays (now a good memory)
~new carpet
~bacon that someone else is cooking
~baby shampoo
~Mike's pillow (I like tp slide to his side of the bed when he gets up and breath in his scent)
~and a new Favorite is Mikenna--Even when she is not fresh out of the bath or doesn't have lotion on! I LOVE the way her head smells!!!

not planned

2009-03-10T23:47:00.005-05:00

I have a blog in mind that I got on the internet to write...
I intended to post earlier today but was busy. We had a very enjoyable but VERY busy and very LATE weekend... My girl and I slept in this morning:) and I tried to nap this afternoon but each time I got Mikenna to sleep, she woke up shortly after I put her down (hopefully she will sleep well tonight).
the blog I intended to post will have to wait!!! I'm fading!

One month!

2009-03-04T16:52:00.008-06:00

One month ago, we went into the hospital to get set up and receive a cream that would help with labor so we could induce the next day. We got into the room and hooked up to monitors a little after 4pm and the nurses were immediately on guard for our little one's heart beat was dropping. We delivered her a little before 9:00 that evening via a c-section and I had my first hello

that first week sure was stressful; we had lots to deal with at the hospital and then lots of visitors to greet us when we got home. There was also a few adjustments to be made by all at the house!! happy 1 week sweet heart!!!

We finished off the 1st week with Grandpaw & Mamaw heading home and leaving us to get started with just us 3. Whew! more adjustments, mom and dad got into the hang of things...sorta, I don't think we'll ever "get use to it" or "get it figured out"!!!
but we did begin a bit of a routine (at least for napping) :)

Week 3... started venturing out a little, besides going to church and doctor visits, Mikenna and I began going to work places to introduce her to our friends!!!

As week 4 started we began to try new things! (as mentioned in the previous post)
Tuesday I got on a little of a schedule, I washed laundry and folded and put it all away! and then today I was back to NOT being very organized, but some things did get done! Mamaw and Grandpaw are here to visit tonight on their way home from Corpus. I got cute pictures this morning!
one month old!

a couple of firsts

2009-03-03T17:19:00.002-06:00

Just a short list of a few fisrts from this weekend, not too many new things and not anything totally out of the ordinary but all new for us!
~Friday we took our first family walk! Our neighborhood has circles around and is 1 mile of nice shady road that makes for a good walk. Mikenna and I had taken a few short walks earlier in the week, but tis was my first full walk (1 mile) and the first time "Daddy" joined us! It was nice, but man I was tired when we returned home!! Hoping to walk again this evening when Mike gets home.
~Saturday was our first family outing... we went to San Antonio and traipsed around the mall a bit, met friends for a short visit and the ended up at Gruene to visit with my Aunt Beth and her Oscar and then had dinner with them. Very fun!!
~Sunday Mike and I "got in trouble" in our class (sad looks were given to us) when we walked in without Mikenna...She was in her class!!! Mikenna went to Cradle Roll class with her Mrs. Nell!!! It was hard to leave and I missed her during class, but I know that that is where she needs to be and you have to start somewhere!!!

~Monday we finally put a car seat base in Mike's truck and loaded our girl up...her first trip in Daddy's truck!!!
--Nothing spectacular, but just a few firsts!!

I so felt like I was at camp!

2009-02-24T23:25:00.002-06:00

This past Saturday, Seth and Ashleigh had a get together at Rutland Ranch, his parents' place in Stockdale. We got there around 3:30 or so and hung out for a while. We played horseshoes, washers, the ladder game and walked down to the creek and around the pasture a little bit. Then we ate dinner; fajitas...YUMMY;p Later we sat around a fire eating smores and just visited; as the son descended and the night rose around us, we sang songs, listened to a scripture reading (Psalm 121 i think) and had a couple of prayers. Being out there in the cool night air, sitting around a fire and praising the Lord with friends as well as strangers was so awesome! It so much felt like camp!!! But I got to share it with people that I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO CAMP WITH (including my husband and my daughter) It was just so amazing and I am so thankful we got to be there!

blue skies and...

2009-02-19T19:14:00.003-06:00

MY SUNSHINE!!!

that's what we had today:) The weather has been cool and cloudy and kinda damp. Yesterday was pretty good and we were outside for a little bit but today was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!! and we were at the doctor's office all afternoon:( maybe God will give us another chance tomorrow to enjoy a nice sunshiny day!

grandparents

2009-02-17T10:58:00.009-06:00

Grandpa (daddy's step"dad")
Grandma (daddy's mom)
G~ma & Papa (mommy's mom and daddy-don) we need a new picture with them:)
Grandpaw & Mamaw (mommy's dad and stepmom)
Grandpa and Grandma (daddy's dad & stepmom)
Paw-paw

Well, Miss Mikenna has A LOT of grandparents and as of this past weekend, All of them have been able to meet her. Some of the pictures are from the hospital, they have been by to visit us since we've been home we just haven't taken pictures. :)
Paw Paw is my grandpaw, Mikenna has another great grandpaw, Grandpa Catcus, he lives in George West and she hasn't met him yet, I will post pictures when we see him!

Due to seasonal illnesses, distance and busy families non of our siblings have been able to see our sweetheart yet:( Updates will be posted with pictures when we get to see all her precious aunts and uncles!

at last

2009-02-15T22:22:00.002-06:00

I can remember being a young girl in church and thinking about my future. I would be sitting with my family or even my friends and watching families around me and want what I saw. Being as young as jr. high or even younger I remember dreaming of a time when I could sit in church next to my husband, with my child in my lap. And then later (college years) praying for the time when I would find the man God created for me so we could be in worship as a family.

Today I remembered those time, those dreams and that prayer; as I sat in church next to my husband with my baby in my arms! I thanked God for answering those prayers ~ a christian man, a baby ~ with tears of joy and gratitude streamed down my face.

God is SO GOOD! It is unbelievable how He answers our prayers and takes care of us in His perfect time and His perfect ways.

what a week!

2009-02-11T18:23:00.013-06:00

I can't believe its already been a week and at the same time its hard to believe its only been ONE week.
Well, we finally got to a room saturday night, as a family and oh how amazingly wonderful it was to have her ALL to ourselves. It was just our little family,on our own! We spent the night, just us, no wires, no nurses, no beeping and no one else but us! The nurse left for the first time and I held her in my arms and the tears just flowed! The Lord is so GOOD and we are so very blessed!
we had a good night and then waited for our release on Sunday!

We were discharged, loaded the car and headed home! There were bows on the mailbox and the door, waiting for us and announcing the arrival of our bundle of joy! It was SO SO SO good to be home! We had a good steady stream of visitors, it was nice to see people that were not in scrubs:) Dad and Janina came to stay with us for a few days (they were so helpful) and we enjoyed being around them. The first night home was good, she woke up every 31/2 hours to eat and went back to sleep and I did too.

Monday started off slowly and then we had a few visitors at lunch and then we had our 1st bath at home. We dressed up pretty and went to daddy's work. We had some in the evening. We even had the "church police" over that evening:) it was visitation and Andy and Robert came to see us...well, came to see Mikenna:)
We had a good day and kinda established our routine. Night 2 was as good as the first!

Tuesday was busy ALL DAY LONG! Mike went to work, it was hard to see him leave, I was getting use to him being around:) but I think it was more difficult on him to leave than it was on me. Mikenna had a doctor's appointment, so we all loaded up and headed to San Antonio. Then we stopped by Toys R Us and came home. The visits started we got back and lasted until Bible Study. Then we got to relax and headed to bed. Janina offered to get uo to feed in the night, since it was our last night to have them here to help out. It was nice to sllep through.

Mike went to work this morning, after he brought my little girl to me and we stayed in bed for a while. Dad and Janina left and 'kenna and I laid around all day! It was just us until lunch; my mom came and then "daddy" came home. We took a long nap!!! and then hung out in the afternoon! so nice. We went outside and got to meet some neighbors! Another good day. A very nice end to the 1st week! Now we need to get dressed, we're going to church.

I'll try to be better about blogging, we'll see!

one more night

2009-02-07T18:41:00.004-06:00

our little munchkin is doing well today and is so better! She is still not eating quite as much as she should be. We will stay one more night. BUT tonight we get to stay with her! She is still in ICU but they have family rooms that have all the hook=ups for monitoring and also oxygen just in case! AND it has a full size bed...so not only will i have my baby with me tonight I get to lay next to her daddy!!! that will be nice, I have missed him, even though he
s been right there! Today has definitely been a good day! and I think tomorrow will be so much better!!!!

and it keeps getting better!

2009-02-06T19:41:00.005-06:00

Mikenna ate better today! if she keeps it up through the night and in the morning, the dr may release her tomorrow or Sunday. I will be released to morrow, but my dr. will keep me if Mikenna's dr keeps her, he said that insurance will let me stay 4 nights, so he will let that happen (he's great!) :) but hopefully we will all be able to go home tomorrow! She is a little jaundice but the nurse isn't concerned about that yet, they'll watch it over night too. She has had great nurses and that has been really reassuring to me. i'm glad we're in such a good place!!!!
so blessed to have friends and family that love and care for us so much! We couldn't do it without all the prayers, messages, calls and visits!

she's good at keeping us waiting!

2009-02-06T11:07:00.003-06:00

...and not to mention cute and cuddly and full of so much sweetness!!
Mikenna has had her xray this morning, everything looks fantastic! She is not eating though as they would like for her to, so they are talking of keeping her there until she starts getting more at each feeding. I am so beyond ready to have her with us! We get to visit her in the NICU when we want (except between 6:15 and 8:00 each half day). I know she will be fine when I am able to feed her (milk's not in yet) but she needs to eat so she can join us! Thank you so your prayers and thoughts, please keep them up for her and for us as well!

this is my favorite from yesterday. we'll get family pix when she can come up here!

a better day

2009-02-05T22:17:00.002-06:00

Mikenna is still in ICU tonight :( but we were able to visit her so much today! I have been there at almost every feeding time to feed her. My milk has not come in yet so I only give her a little taste of what's to come...which does not make her happy, she likes it and wants more. She was not a very good eater last night and showed most of the day to keep that up. She did, however eat a REALLY good amount at 6!!! We were very proud. I will go in at midnight to feed her and then go back in the morning.
The x-ray today showed that there was still a tiny tear in the lung so she remained there to be monitored. The doctor thinks that the x-ray she will take in the morning will show that it has healed up and our baby girl will be able to join us!! Thank you for all the prayers that have gone up on our behalf, please continue them.
Love you bunches!

just a little stressfull...

2009-02-05T06:50:00.004-06:00

we went into the hospital yesterday, about 3:30 to get set up and be given a topical cream to help speed the process of inducin on Thursday. When we got all situated in the room Mikenna's heart rate began to drop a little and continued to fluctuate. The Dr. decided not to do the cream, see how she does over night and then induce in the morning with a possibility of a c-section if the heart rate continues to drop. The on-call dr. came in around 7 and decided to go ahead with the surgery to stop more trauma that coul come with trying to deliver. It was not an emergency but they didn't want that to happen. Little Miss Mikenna was born at 8:55pm last night (2/4) She weighs 7lbs, 4.5oz and is 19 3/4 inches long. Just Beautiful! She had swallowed some maconium so she went to the transition nursery to be monitored and assisted with clearing her lungs. We went to see her about 1am when they moved me to my room. her lungs were clear but there was a little hole allowing air to escape (this happens in about 8% of infants but is not noticed b/c they are not checked for it- and turn out fine) as precaution they moved her to NICU to be monitored more closely, they think she will be able to jion us sometime this morning. While we were there, we both got to hold her for the first time, WOW!!!
Mike and I are both fine, just wating for more time with her!!!

incomprehendable

2009-01-30T08:51:00.002-06:00

I am sure that we ALL have those AH-HA moments when we are blown away by how much we are loved by the ones that are around us and how much that commit to, participate in and take ownership of our lives and our accomplishments. I was recently reminded of how much a part of their lives our family actually is. And I am absolutely blown away!

I know that our Bible study group and our Bible class group love us and are proud of the accomplishments and successes that we have made in our lives. And I know that they are a HUGE part of our lives but I never think about how important we are to them (to y'all). As Mikenna's arrival gets closer the prayers on her behalf and our behalf have increased as well as the emotion behind those prayers. Amy and Jackie have really touched my heart in those conversations with our Father. This much awaited arrival is such a great blessing to Mike and I but hear a dear sister thank God for bringing her to "all of us" makes my heart so happy!

There are actions and decisions in my past that I regret and relationships that I never should have been in. But one bad decision 9 years ago brought about many really good consequences... It brought me here and to all of you! I am so thankful of that bad decision. And even more thankful of all the blessings God has presented to me since then!

a cute border

2009-01-26T20:59:00.004-06:00

ok so Ashleigh came over this past Wednesday and helped me throw some paint on the walls is Mikenna's room!
I painted the pink and green ribbons and Ash stenciled the lady bugs, butterflies, dragonflies and flowers! We really were concerned about what it would look like and then we got it completed, we were quite please...AND surprised! I guess low expectations aren't always a bad thing :)

and now it is all ready for our little sweetheart, whenever she decides to make her presence known!!!
The due date is still the 31st (5 days) and we will induce on February 5th if she doesn't come by then...TEN DAYS, TEN DAYS!!!! so within a week and a half, we will have our little girl in our arms!

The Real You

2009-01-10T14:27:00.002-06:00

Do you have a friend that you are not so close to anymore? One that was close in the past you could finish each other's sentences. And now because of distance and the different place each of you has taken in your OR the place you've been put in your life, there feels like a huge gap between you?

I have a friend (or 2) like that, I am a friend like that. We were close when lived in the same town or when life was treating us the same. I knew how she felt the moment she was in my presence and vise-versa. We could have a good time with each other, just sitting and visiting, watching a movie, riding around, being goofy or just being together not doing anything at all. We loved each other, we needed each other and we truly enjoyed each other! Not that we don't still love, need and enjoy each other... its just not the same.

There are many miles between us and many things to keep both of us busy, and while we still have those deeply routed common areas; our lives are very different, we are in vcry different places. Sometimes we can relate with what the other is going through and sometimes we just can't because of the lack of experience on one of our parts.

We are still close friends and visit when we can. Sometimes because our lives are so different at the moment our visits almost seem forced; we want to be a part of each other's lives and each other's "right nows" we just don't always know how to relate. There have been some visits that are very atypical of our past almost like we don't really know each other anymore, Many times, I don't know what to say or how to act and I think she feels the same way too. Our inward selves get in the way of our friendship and that bound that goes back so far. Sometimes I will leave from being with this dear friend and be sad because I we didn't connect the same way this time.

Well, I got to visit with my friend recently and WOW!!! We were able to put all distractions aside and just let it all out and really have a good visit. There was no distance between us, no difference. Just two gals being friends!!! The True Me and the The True You!! it was nice!!!

random things from the weekend

2008-12-29T13:43:00.003-06:00

*There are beautiful babies in my family! And I LOVE being with them.
*The lady who did my pedicure is pregnant with her first child, a baby boy due on January 31st!!
*I find myself going into the baby's room and looking at her clothes or peeking into her crib.
*My feet have begun to swell a little and my legs are beginning to cramp some...back to walking and drinking lots of water!
*Lindsey's wedding was absolutely beautiful and I am very impressed it started at 7!!!
*I'm missing Tuesday nights and can't wait 'til they start back after the new year!
*Mike and I are really getting ready to meet our little lady!

Happy Holidays!!

2008-12-25T21:19:00.001-06:00

ha ha ha! just kidding... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
I hope everyone has had and is having a wonderful time with family and friends! Its a tradition in my family to have Christmas Eve at my Paw Paw's. We eat tamales, read the Christmas Story in Luke and then pass out the gifts.
Mike and I did our Christmas last night when we got home! He did GOOD!!! We had a nice time sharing and being together...Mikenna even had a small something in her stocking from her daddy!!
Today we had lunch over there; we all bring a dish or 2 to help with the preparation. After lunch the ladies chat at the kitchen table and the guys watch the game in the living room (which means that they all nap!!!).
This afternoon Mike put the baby bed together while I napped!!! I kinda sorta helped at the end!!! It looks so good in her room, now just need that cute little thing to put in it!
We will have Christmas with my mom Saturday at noon, we'll all be there except for my brother and his family (of 8) which makes up almost half of our family (there are 20 of us in all)!!!
tomorrow Mom and I will get up EARLY and hit the after Christmas sales at Target and Walmart...We're leaving our house at 5:30!!!
I pray you all have a fun and safe Christmas that's filled with love and laughter!

Australia

2008-12-19T23:37:00.002-06:00

Such a good movie! It is set in 1939 and ends right after the US get involved in WWII. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman were so good ,and she's not normally one of my favorites. It was about 20 minutes shy of 3 hours but totally worth it (of course I had to be excused a few times during the show) :)
The story line was good, the acting was wonderful, I don't remember any cursing and no nudity! It had a some action for the guys and some romance for the girls!
A REALLY good show! Am so glad momma invited me to go!
have a good weekend every one!

and the rest...

2008-12-15T20:16:00.002-06:00

...of the weekend was just as good as Friday!

I LOVE Saturday mornings when we have nothing to do! We laid in bed until we absolutely HAD TO GET UP!!! it was so nice just to be lazy and hang out talking and cuddling and watching t.v.! Then I got dressed, Mom came over and we headed to San Antonio for shower #2! WE ate at Chick-Filet ~YUM~ our favorite!!! and went to Target for a little bit---well, actually too long, we left later than we should have and then got into traffic and were 30 minutes late!!! oops, but we knew they couldn't start without us:) Actually most people were late and Kayla was glad because she wasn't quite ready!
There was a little Christmas tree with pink and white ornaments and pink and white markers to decorate for Miss Mikenna!!! It was a small group and loads of fun!! I got a bottle sanitizer lots of cute clothes and blankets AND a gift card for my travel system (which I couldn't find that night (not fun st all). Mom and I went shopping afterwards and then ate at Alamo Cafe ~another YUM!!!
Sunday rolled around and class was GREAT, as usual and worship was...well, a little wild with Logan and Presley but good! Then we had a fellowship meal and we remembered!! YUM one more time!!! We took a lllooonnngg nap that afternoon and went to worship! Great song service, Jamie!!! Then to grocery and home!

Then it was back to work today! ...already looking forward to Friday!!!

SURPRISE

2008-12-14T17:19:00.003-06:00

What a great weekend it has turned out to be. and its not quite over yet!

My mom had asked me to come over Friday evening and help her wrap gifts, YEAH I get to spend time with Mom!!! Then Friday morning she called and asked if I wanted to go to Sister's after work, I told her to call me when she was on her way and I'd let her know because I had a get-together right after work.
One of the speeches (we girls at work that are speech therapists) planned a "stress relief" party for after work on Friday (4:30ish). We have these a few times throughout the year just to unwind and hang out; they usually involve snacks and everyone brings their favorite drink. But she didn't ask anyone to bring anything, but my office mate, Roxie, had stuff for cheese dip... okay so I have meetings in Jourdanton ALL afternoon and then I ran by AT&T to get Jamie's wonderful present; a framed sonogram picture with Mikenna's name on it in a wide mat for people to sign. BEAUTIFUL. He called a lot to make sure I had it before I left work for the day! So I get back about 3:30 and like no one is there but a few of us. I showed Roxie and she loved it too. Right before she left her husband called and she told him that she just finished interrupting at the high school (sign language) then she told him she was going to the shower, i mean party. I am finishing up my reports to turn in and getting ready to go to the party and am the ONLY one there so I leave a little early! I had my frame that I wanted to show the girls and I ran by the house to get the baby book that I am scrapbooking to show everyone what I have so far!
There are only a few cars there so I take my stuff in at the beginning since the ones I wanted to share with were the only ones there!
...It was NOT a stres relief... It was a SHOWER!!! for me!!!! and it was a SURPRISE!!! and a secret! and both mom's were there and Kara too! I could have put the pieces together if my brain and body were not so tired here lately!!! the normal, nosey me would have figured it out but the pregnant me missed all the clues, including a couple of weeks ago when I was talking about the shower yesterday and Jamie said "oh is that the one you're not suppose to know about?"! WHAT A FUN TIME!
Later, i'll write about the shower we had yesterday.

Christmas Party

2008-12-07T08:17:00.002-06:00

...and so it begins, last night we went to our first Christmas party for the year. And it was a BLAST!!! I have been in Pleasanton for 8 years, and every year the church plans a Christmas party. And I have never attended, for some reason; last year I was going to go but something else came up. But finally, we went. Mike Mom, Don and I rode up together. We left early to do a little shopping/returning and took Broc home too, then to the Riverwalk! It took us a crazy amount of tme to figure out where we were going but we found Lee, Darla, Linda and Doug and Doug led the way! We rented out an upstairs room from Casa Rio on the River and it was decorated for Christmas so nicely. There were round tables around the room (I LOVE round tables) filled with our friends and family. We wandered around telling everyone hello and then found our table. Vernon and Melissa sat with us and then James and Linnie Bee sat with us too! The food was way yummy and way too much, but I ate almost all of it and then we were all miserable! We had to be out of the room at 8:30 and at 8:30 they started turning the lights out on us!!! Caleb, Daniel, James and Lin and mike and I decided to go to a coffee shop to hang out, drink coffee and play games! We went to Candlelight Cafe on St. Mary's. James and Lin went last week with jamie and Dana, so we went there too.
It was a really neat little place and smelt so so so good inside:) We had drinks and cake and played pictionary until almost midnight! We played guys against girls but Lin and I had to steal a guy, Caleb was sitting on the couch with us so he agreed to play with us!!! The guys beat us pretty badly the 1st game. The 2nd game we started in the middle of the board and we barely beat them!!! It was such fun and was totally worth staying up wwwwAAAAyyyy past my bed time!
Now, the next Christmas party we have definitely has a lot to live up to!!!

a bundle of JOY!!!

2008-12-04T21:15:00.002-06:00

I so love this pregnancy! Everything about it, despite the hurting back, quick tiredness and the running to the bathroom a million times a day!!! I LOVE being pregnant; experiencing the bumps and kicks. Just being excited about this child and waiting to meet her and hold her. I know that those close to me; Mike, Mom and other family and close friends are excited about this kiddo too and the day when we get to meet, but others that I'm not really close to, just aquanauts are also excited and happy for us! And seeing everyone else excited about my little bundle just makes me even more excited about her!!! Everytime Lindsey sees me, she kisses my belly, my sister in law rubs my belly and "talks" to Mikenna beofre I get a hello and today a teacher that I work with almost ran up to me to rub my belly and ask how we are doing... and she was truly excited and couldn't stop smiling as she talked to me. My kids ask about her and are already asking me to bring her to school after she's born!
I think it is so amazing to be able to feel all that I am feeling, both physically and emotionally. It just makes it so much more wonderful to know that so many others are also so excited!!!

praying hands

2008-11-20T17:31:00.002-06:00

For the last few weeks we got to sit with Kristy Brown and her kiddos on Sunday Morning for worship services. This is a treat to me, I remember sitting with Kristy when she was pregnant with Logan and watching him move around. I have always enjoyed her children and of course being with her as well. Well, she is teaching Logan and Presley to sit quietly and to have quiet "praying hands" during the prayers. Logan has had this down for a while (although sometimes he would prefer not to) but Presley has just started folding her hands during the prayers. It is so cute to watch both of them pray. If Presley has a bag of munchies though, they are a part of her praying hands too. She's in no way, shape or form going to put her snacks down. Nope, the bag just dangles as she holds it tightly between her sweet little hands as her fingers are intertwined and her head is bowed.

This past Sunday Logan stood on the pew in front of us with me during the last song and prayer. I think he was really ready to go, through-out the prayer he would say "and amen" "and amen". As I whispered "praying hands" into his ear, he took one of my hands and folded his fingers in with mine, then he added hi other hand into the mix! Folding my hand in with his. It was all I could do to keep the tears from rolling down my face! What sweet children! What a good example their mommy is setting for them! What a wonderful thing I have to look forward to as Mikenna grows and begins participating in worship!

random moments of the week

2008-11-14T16:25:00.002-06:00

okay, just a little to catch up from the blog-vacation i recently took---SORRY!!!

So It Begins
I know that once the baby gets here, everyone will not care about your/my presence as much as the baby's. No more "Hello Jenn, Hey Mike" it will now be, "Where's the baby?" I know this will happen, I have done it to so many new moms and dads!!!! And I will be okay with it.
Well, last Sunday, Lin and James were in town and we were waiting for them to get back to the church building parking lot so we could eat. When they got there Lin and I ran to each other for a hello and our very special hug. We were SO SO SO excited to see each other...When we close enough to hug she stopped, touched my belly and kissed Mikenna!!!! Sweet, she's already getting the first hello!!!! IT was really really sweet!!!!

Yummy Bumps
I've noticed in the past couple of weeks that Mikenna is really moving in the early evenings and a little after I eat. Last Tuesday we had Fried chicken at jackie's before Bible study...YUMMY!!!! When we got home and I lied down ready for bed, Mikenna was really moving around a lot and her kicks felt harder than they have before. So we turned on the lights and watched my belly...AND IT MOVED!!!! for between 5 and 10 minutes we watched my belly bubble with each little movement she would make! Of course we weren't able to see legs or elbows or anything, but definitely bumbs and bubbles. This is just the coolest thing ever!!!

have a great weekend

Whispers

2008-10-28T08:39:00.002-05:00

Whispers

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang.

But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, "God, speak to me" and the thunder rolled across the sky.

But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.

But the man did not see.

And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle." And, a life was born.

But, the man did not notice.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here."

Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

I found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted ... even in our electronic age.
So I would like to add one more:

The man cried, "God, I need your help!" And an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement.

But, the man deleted it and continued crying .

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

This was in an email I received this morning and thought it was good enough to share. So many times we ask for God to be present in our life and then don't notice that He's there because its not what we expect or the way we think he should appear.
I pray you notice God in every aspect of your day!

if you're gonna do, do it completely

2008-10-26T22:40:00.002-05:00

I know this is something that I haven't totally gotten over and need to...BUT just let me say...
... it bugs the FIRE out of me when someone judges someones behavior and at the same time laughs about it, and behaves in such a away that is not any better than the behavior that was criticized.

Tonight at church someone made a comment about the content on another person's shirt and appropriateness of that shirt at church. You really have to dig deep to find the obscenity in what was worn...REALLY DEEP. Then later, the person with a problem with the shirt was laughing about the content in which he thought was foul. There were other things going on that I won't get into.

I know that as Christians we are called to estimate behavior of one another and call each other on it. When there is behavior worth mentioning, it should be taken seriously and not jokingly, and should be an evident wrong, not something that is not there. (that would be injust condemnation, right) BUT if you are going to estimate behavior, then estimate ALL behavior, including your own!!

rested

2008-10-22T16:49:00.002-05:00

I have been so tired lately. A few weeks ago we spent most evenings out pretty late (9:45-10:30) and it was late getting to bed. The next few weeks and now even it seems that we are just busy ... a lot! And I can not seem to get into bed before 10:45 or 11:00, 10:00 would be great!!!! I am usually able to catch up with naps on the weekends, but that has happened recently either.
Monday we were home with no plans!!!!YEAH!!!! and I was ready for bed a little after 8:00. Mike and Jamie went to get a movie as I finished laundry and picked one that we all could watch...they wouldn't let me got to bed:( BUT i did enjoy the movie. Yesterday I was so so so tired at work and knowing that Bible Study would keep us busy for a while was all that I could think about.
I LOVE Bible Study and wouldn't want to miss it for the world, so skipping out was out of the questions AND sleeping wouldn't have been a good enough reason anyhow! Jamie and Kara were really sick yesterday and we decided to postpone the study as to not miss part of our group... Okay, this was a total bummer for me...It's Tuesday, we're suppose to be together!!!
But since we didn't have the study; We had supper, cleaned the kitchen, and then did everything I needed to do before getting ready for bed!!!! I was there at 8:30!!!! What I great feeling I had today!! plus a few laughs too, I woke up at 5 for a little while and that did not make my hunny happy:) Neither did being awake and ready to visit at 6:30!!! "we didn't all get to go to bed at 6:30 last night" is what he kept telling me!
I think I could like this going to bed early thing, I'll try to get there before 10:00 tonight, you know, just to keep it up!!!

just a little bump!!

2008-10-19T21:44:00.002-05:00

The ladies retreat was AWESOME!!! This blog does take place there but I will post about that a little later.

Yesterday, I was sitting on the floor at our campsite at the Ladies retreat and my little bundle of arms and legs was moving around inside of me. I had my hands over my belly and could swear that I felt her movements from the outside. But it is so hard to judge, because I could feel her on the inside. So I didn't say anything to anybody and just carried on about the evening.

I got home this afternoon and was cuddling up with Mike (this was our first weekend apart). I could feel her moving around so i told him to put his hand where mine were, and she quit moving! (already acting like her stubborn mommy) He kept his hand there and after a few minutes I felt her move, just a little and I looked at Mike. He didn't say anything and I was about to be sad; I REALLY want him to be able to feel her too!!! When he saw me look at him, he smiled. He said, "did you tighten your stomach?" HE FELT HER! HE FELT HER!!! I am a happy momma:) He's kinda excited too!!!

what a great weekend!!!!

ug!

2008-10-15T09:24:00.002-05:00

I should have already left the office... i don;t want to work today, i didn't want to yesterday either... I just want to go to bed, and stay there all day!!!
nothing's wrong, i am just tired and it seems that i have no time to go to bed early:) oh well, yesterday turned out pretty good; bible study was GREAT, and it started the same way as today feels, so there's a good chance that once I get started, it will get better! and I need to finish today so i will be 1 day closer to the ladies re-treat!!!!
so here i go, praying for goodness for us all!

isn't God cool...

2008-10-02T08:47:00.004-05:00

Wow! God is so cool and His timing is so awesome!
I'm not going in to details but some of you will know and the details aren't the important part of the work taking place in my heart.

God places things in on my heart and then so wonderfully starts His plan. We've been discussing in Tuesday night Bible Study how to get over people that have wronged you and building or re-building relationships. So for a few months now a few particular things have been in the process of being worked out within me and this week, God has laid ground work for the next stage. WOW! and Okay, God, I get it, I'm moving on it.
He is so great to not only lay these plans on plain sight, but to give us friends and family that know us well enough to know how to help us through the things we need to work out. Maybe its just that God knows I'm stubborn and a little slow at things, this time I have a very close example of getting through this. My dear Jackie is taking God's lead to get past hurt and build relationships because she "gets to" and can see how things are better now. She's following God and I will follow suit.

I know God well enough to know that he was magnificent plans for our lives and that coincidences don't happen. I know there is a reason things happen "when" they happen, in my case!

great men

2008-09-22T20:47:00.004-05:00

I was sitting at my Grandma B's funeral on Saturday and found myself in a truly great place! To my right was my Paw-paw, at my left was my hubby, Jamie was next to him, My uncle Bubba and on my lap was my nephew Broc! I am so very blessed!
and that's just a few of them :)

just a thought...?

2008-09-16T17:59:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago in our Sunday morning class, we were talking about praying for people and doing things for them. The main topic of discuss was "how do we know when someone needs us?" We talked a lot about how we think about certain people and then call them or visit or do something for that person. and usually the results make a remarkable impact on that person that was thought about.

Jackie blogged about an small thing I did for her last week and how great it made her feel. and while I did know that she wanted that picture and I do know some about her. ME doing that little act (i don't think) had anything to do with me or me knowing her.

I think that those thoughts are much more than thoughts...I think its God reminding you that there is someone who may need an encouraging word or a kind deed. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and It guides us and moves us.
When we act upon those "thoughts" that pop into our head, great things happen and emotions are stirred... Because we are allowing God to move through us and He is glorified because His work is being accomplished!

so is it just a thought, just a little action, OR much much more?

singing praises

2008-09-15T21:15:00.002-05:00

I love singing church songs and camp/devo songs, especially when I'm not singing them by myself. It always fills my heart to really get into a song about God or Christ!

This Saturday evening we went to Mike's parents to visit. On the way home, we were listening to a praise cd mike had made me some time ago. I was really enjoying it and singing my heart out, then I could hear Mike singing too (usually he sings loud to be funny or he makes up his own words... to be funny) but this night he was singing. And even though I have heard him singing praises before, this for some reason, it just absolutely touched me. My heart was full and it spilled out over my face.

I also like to sing at church, and it makes me smile when I hear certain voices; Jamie, Jackie, Amy, Howard Bellotte, and any child. This Sunday was my Paw-paw's birthday and we worshiped with him at the baptist church. I was so bummed when I found out Jamie was leading singing:( because that uplifts me so so much. But we went, and I was not disappointed by the singing. We sat with my paw and uncle and aunts and cousin and mom was there too. And hearing the voices of my family lifting up songs of worship to our Father made my heart happy. I was really into singing and worshiping God in the song service.

Then last night we were back where we belong...being led by Jamie. AND I was close enough to hear Jackie's voice! Man what a great weekend of praising our Lord!!!

a night on the town

2008-09-13T10:23:00.004-05:00

it has been A LLLLOOOONNNNGGG TIME since we hung in San Antonio with friends and I have really missed it!

Kara's birthday was Thursday and in honor of her, we went out last night. Kare, Ajane, Jamie, Caleb, Daniel, and Mike and I. We had a blast just getting up there... lots of laughter, the radio blaring...A FUN RIDE!!!! We ended up at Joe's Crab Shack where the laughter, good conversation and music continued with yummy yummy food added into the mix:) We told them that it was Kara's birthday; they wrapped paper towel around her like a beauty queen and as we sang to her, she paraded around waving!!! GREAT FUN and a great video caught on camera:)
From Joe's we walked our full tummies to Amy's for delicious ice cream. We all got something different and it was all lip smackin good, but Kara's oatmeal raisin cookie was the best!!
After that Caleb and Kara and I went to Borders while the others made it to the arcade, where we all ended up later! It was almost midnight when we left and we were all pretty tired. We got back to Caleb's to get in our cars and head home. I laid down in the back seat and got very still...Mikenna was still fired up! I think she had a good time too and enjoyed me being loud and wild...singing, dancing, laughing! Or she didn't like it and was protesting ( i think the first) She moved and kicked and turned or whatever until after I went to bed!

I'm glad that we still have a great group of friends that still like to go out and have fun! and I'm really glad Kara gave us a reason to go out!!! What a good time we had! While we were thinking of our friends and family in Ike's path (Dana, Erin, Gregg, Carl, Lisa, Brian, Julie, Bear...) It was good to hear from some of them and about some of them this morning.

sugar & spice...

2008-09-01T22:18:00.004-05:00

we have a name!!!
Okay, well we've had a name since before there was a baby!:) but now that we know its a girl we've been thinking about the name and variations of it. We both like this one (that means mike said yes) =P And this weekend we talked about spelling and decided on the way we like it written. Our Baby Girl...
Mikenna Rose Maxwell

a little preview

2008-09-01T11:00:00.004-05:00

Saturday night we had birthday dinner at my Paw's house. Aunt Patty fixed a feast for us in honor of Jessica, Mike and Mom. Jessica's family came. Her and Jon and the kids; Manuel, Bradly and Gabby. Bradly turned four in May and has exhibited a delay in many areas of his development. While living in New Mexico, he was seeing a speech therapist and has gone from 20 unintelligible words to speaking in 2 and 3 word phrases.
Well, the Speech therapist in me (who likes to play) couldn't miss an opportunity to play and use the skills that have been packed away this summer. I sat down to play with this cute little man and started asking questions. He answered!!! or if he didn't know I would answer and he would repeat it to me! This guy has come such a long way. And then they brought out the play dough and the real "speech" if you will, began.
Brad would give me the container and say "stuck, it's stuck", "what do you want me to do?" I'd asked. and he'd tell me it's stuck again. I would say "open it please" and brad would say"open it please" and i would open the lid a little so he could take it off! this went on for 2 or 3 interactions each time he switched colors. Each time he would tell me its stuck, I would ask him what he wanted me to do, then I would model "open it please" and he would repeat it. The 4th time, he handed the play dough container to me and said "it's stuck" I asked what I needed to do, and without a prompt he told me to "open it please". YES!!! The next time Bradly switched colors, he handed it to me and said "open it please"!!!!!! In the little time that he played, his phrases went from 2 word phrases to 4 and a few 5!
This guy has surely made a lot of success. and as i dread starting my week seeing kids this next week, he has reminded me how much I love my job and rewarding it is to celebrate the little successes that my guys celebrate each week!

I am officially ready for speech to begin!!! Thanks Bradly:)

Faitful Perseverance

2008-08-28T08:42:00.002-05:00

a faithful women once told me her story...

She got married at 16 and all she wanted next was to have babies. They tried and tried and then about 10 years later they adopted a son. This women constantly talked to God and knew in her heart that He would bless her with pregnancy and children of her own. After waiting 14 years and all those days talking to God and trusting in His promises this women became pregnant with a child of her own. She thanked God and continued to pray and believe in Him.
During the pregnancy, this women became really sick and the doctors became very concerned. Their advice was to abort the pregnancy and care for the woman's health. The faithful women would hear nothing of it! She had asked God for a child and was not going to say no thank you after receiving the the blessing of pregnancy. The doctors continued to warn her of the effects on her health and the consequences that could occur during labor and on the child after birth. this women knew God would bless her and her children; she hushed the doctor's and continued with the promise God extended to her.

After 9 months of pregnancy, my mother in law gave birth to the most healthy baby boy. And today I will help my husband celebrate his 32nd birthday! God is so good and very faithful!

my hubby is the best!!!

2008-08-25T21:06:00.004-05:00

well, we went to the doctor today and had a sonogram:) the technician was really great; she explained everything that she was looking at and said that everything looked good! The heart rate was 158bpm. and the baby is about 8 ounces.
okay, so then we get to the good part, and for some reason this child is bit stubborn... the technician said that it was a guess. My doctor said that the techs are really good and will never say that they are 100% but are generally correct.

the guess was a girl!!!

ok, so mike didn't get the news he was hoping for but was such a good sport about it. We went to Baby Depot at Burlington Coat Factory, to look at bedding. I had seen some REALLY cute girl bedding. Mike doesn't like pink and would prefer to not have a room full of it but said that it is about the baby and not about him! He is so great!! I think that must have been the moment that he became okay with being a daddy to a girl:) We looked at the clothes and "daddy" picked out the most adorable PINK outfit!!! he's the best daddy ever!!!

exceptional news AND a great reminder of how blessed i am!

not quite a flutter...

2008-08-24T23:20:00.003-05:00

Okay, i'm pretty sure i felt the baby move this weekend. But it didn't feel like what everyone described it as or like the books say... yesterday i felt this little tug, like a pulling muscle below my belly butt'n. and i felt it again this morning right where i thought i could feel the baby was...in the shower i turned the water to the massage setting and let it hit that spot on my belly and then i really felt that little tug!!! i THINK it was my baby, but either way, it made me smile!!!

...AND...
in less than 15 hours we get to see what flavor it is:)

here's to you, chickie

2008-08-23T21:39:00.004-05:00

I LOVE, i mean LOVE l-o-v-e LOVE Jackie Hutton!!!!!
We didn't get off the the best start all those years ago, but God had something so amazing planned for me. So He used her as a way to work on my heart. And boy have I been blessed through that work. She is one of my best friends, I look up to her in so many ways and draw strength from her so often.
And, Jackie I miss you so much! She's only been gone a little while but my heart is sad to know that I won't be able to see her face, hug her neck or hear her voice tomorrow morning. I know she is with her babies, but she is sorely missed!

No big stories to tell about her or our relationship; just that I LOVE HER so dearly and thank God for blessing me with her!

around the kitchen sink

2008-08-19T22:51:00.002-05:00

Some of my favorite memories of growing up have taken place in the kitchen. Specifically, my Granny's kitchen and usually during holidays. Still to this day the best times with my family, or the women in my family have been shared in the kitchen. It doesn't matter whose house we are at or what's going on. Either preparing a meal or cleaning up after a meal, there has been and is still a group of us in there. We are visiting, sharing in our days and important details of our lives or just silly things that have happened recently all while we are helping one another and taking part in the collaborative task at hand. There is not one moment i can remember or one picture i have seen that is of 1 person in the kitchen alone!
When we bought this house, my biggest concern was that the kitchen is not very big and a bit closed off from the rest of that part of the house. I want and need a kitchen that can carry lots of hands, lots of laughter and lots of hugs...
Tonight before, but especially after Bible study I realized how i love a crowded kitchen and how my family has grown. These women that shared their lives and love and load tonight are wonderful and I can't imagine a time when they were not a part of my family. A time before we knew each other and before we talked to each other, before we had anything in common and before they meant so much to me does not even exist in my heart! A woman who is usually a follower, lead us in to do the dinner dishes together. A new woman to the group jumped into the room and conversation like she has always been with us. A previously awkward and immature woman offered very knowledgeable input to the conversation. And a generally independent woman who would rather do it herself than think about putting someone else out not only let us help clean her kitchen but began to ask for our help.
We may not solve the world's problems in that kitchen BUT we did clear the sink and we did form accountability toward each other and for others in our family. And the prayers that go up in that room...WOW!!! God is amazing and works is great ways, even in the place originally held for servants...and that in itself is lesson!

a "jump" to something different

2008-08-18T20:47:00.003-05:00

ok, i was so totally planning to write about the first day back at school but as i was waiting for the page to load, the trampoline event came on...BOUNCE...

WOW!!! ok, i haven't seen this event before and was disgusted when i first heard about it. I mean oh my word, why is jumping and flipping an Olympic event, GIVE ME A BREAK!

statement retracted, words eaten!!!! this is amazing!!!! these girls get so high and the acrobatic elements come so quickly one right after another.

...and the girl from Russia, WOW!!! she was so right in the middle until the very end...i can't wait to watch the others compete!!!

getting ready...i think

2008-08-14T14:59:00.003-05:00

ook, so just a one more day and the weekend and its back to work!!! i THINK i'm ready. i went to the office for a little while to check email. and i spoke to the counselor at one of my schools and she was so cheerful, it made me feel ready to get going!!! my district assignments are the same as last year, Poteet and Jourdanton but all ages at both schools.

So this afternoon JT and Coop are hanging out with me and then a get together this evening with the folks at work.
Tomorrow we leave for Teague!!! my brother is getting married on Saturday and we are going to celebrate them and... their celebration. AND we get to visit with friends and family. I have a new friend in Teague, Stephanie (janina's new sister in law) and hopefully we get to spend some time together:) We will head back sometime Sunday afternoon and then it's BACK TO WORK!!

oh oh, today i went to a few daycare centers to check out their infant rooms...it made me sad:( i have a few more to visit tomorrow.

ok, i know, that was random...AND i have a new hair cut...its short!!! Sorry:)

very random

2008-08-13T00:37:00.004-05:00

...
Jamie, dude, i miss reading your thoughts!!!
Jackie, you have been in my heart and on my mind all day... I SO missed you guys VERY badly tonight!
Jaci, i agree with you about the gymnastic scoring and the craziness in allowing judges to review the events in slow motion...and the girls made me sad tonight:(

oh yeah, we re-arranged the living room tonight before Bible Study, it's not really that big of a difference, but...I SO TOTALLY LOVE IT!!! and it worked so well for communication AND for watching our new BIG t.v. (thanks my dear friends) without having to move things around a lot!and it does a nice job separating the living and dining areas:) NOW i think i'm ready to put pictures on the wall, i just need current photos printed out:P

Ok, that is all!

feeling better

2008-08-11T17:41:00.004-05:00

okay so sorry for the graphic details about the house of yuck! we are both feeling better today!!!! I went to the office for a little while this afternoon, i needed to get 1 thing done and visit with Jo, but mostly I had to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! i just am tired of being in bed or sitting in the chair or laying on the couch. i hope we have seen the end of this cruddy stuff because i don't think we can just lie around and feel bad anymore. if only we could "will" our way better! sorry to be so whiny! was trying to be positive, i just really want to be better!!!! ok, going to spray Lysol around the house now:)

YUCK!!!

2008-08-10T21:02:00.003-05:00

Warning, we are SICK...

so this Friday I took a short nap at my mom's house and woke up around 4pm with really hard cramps in my lower back and low abdomon... OUCH and uh-oh, what's this mean?!? I talked to mom on the phone about an hour later and she wasn't really worried, we went to the beach the day before (FUN FUN FUN) and maybe i was sore from the waves and the stairs. a little after that i picked Mike up from work, he had had a tummy ache since about 4:( went home for a second and then had to throw-up we were both in the rest room, for different reasons ;p well it only got worse for me... about 8 i had a stressed muscle (it was from moving something---i know, i shouldn't have done that--- then i got chills. Continued with a stomache virus and flu stuff all night, not fun, mike took good care of me when he was available:) end 1 BAD night, begin 1 BAD day. On Saturday, i had less cramps and more flu. called the doctor, he agreed with the flue diagnosis and told me what to do, not too concerned. Mike was gone most of the afternoon but felt the same as Friday:( I had chills REAL BAD that night then felt better around 7, no more vomit, no more chills. a better night! a better morning! until middle of worship, lunch i ate a little, Mike was able to eat. We got home and gpt worse:( No go to services. talk to doctor again, this time my dr was on call :) :) :) i now also have direah... he told me what i could take and so the 2 sickies headed to the store...fun trip!!! now just waiting to get over it.

you know I love doing things with my husband just as well as the next gal, but this is ridiculous!!! hope your weekend was full of joy and health! Happy Monday!!!

random stuff and some TOTALLY GOOD NEWS

2008-08-04T16:42:00.005-05:00

We got a kitty a couple of weeks ago! she came up to the house one afternoon and bonded with us and then didn't leave! She's a very pretty calico, her name is Machiato which means spotted in Italian.

JT and Cooper are here for a few weeks! they've been with Mike and I since Mom and I picked them up on Thursday night:) Friday evening we went to a missions game with folks from church, had a good time. Saturday we went to Schlitterbaun with the boys and friends of ours visiting from Houston! Sunday they spent the afternoon with mom and then came home with us after supper! Today we kept Gabby, my cousins 5 month old. We went to Caleb's shop and then to the park, that was a fun time! We're still enjoying Gabby being here and just hanging at the house!!!

I called Janina (my step-mom) this afternoon to tell her about last night, she and dad were having a bad day. They have been keeping Kevin (almost 3 years old) since he was 10 weeks old; and he has been their child... His mother comes to get him a few days a week but mostly he stays with Janina and dad. well his mom has been working on getting custody of an older son and things are looking good for her, she thinks she ready to take care of Kevin full time now. Which means Janina and dad no longer need to. This is so sad for them, and it breaks my heart. please keep them in your prayers.

Last night Mike and I went forward after services to officially place membership as a family, announce the pregnancy and all that good stuff. Well, Mike told Robert that he wanted to be baptized:) I knew that Mike was thinking about it and I have been praying about it. He was baptized as a child but couldn't remember the reason he did it, he wanted to be sure it was for the right reason and that he was ok. So he did!!!! I'm so thrilled at that decision, it was really cool to have such a part in a decision so big!!!

So far, it's a great week, and it's only Monday!!!

it sounds like a washing machine!

2008-07-28T23:57:00.002-05:00

I had an appointment with my OB today and got to hear the heart beat! It was so amazing!!! The dr says that the baby has a good strong beat! My cell phone has an audio recorder so i recorded it so "daddy" could hear too, he wasn't able to come with me. when i got home and let Mike listen to the heart beat he smiled and said, "it sounds like a washing machine"! He was excited to hear it too. Mike will go with me to the next appointment, in 4 weeks, we will find out if the baby is "pink" or "blue"!!!
after the appointment i went shopping, all my pants are too tight and i have to wear them unbuttoned. so i got a few pair of maternity pants and shorts...MUCH BETTER!!! :)
Can't wait to see him or her!

The House!!!

2008-07-22T11:57:00.002-05:00

I know this has been a lllooonnnggg time coming, but i couldn't figure it out! I have put together slideshows of the house in three stages... UGLY, work in process, and its ours! When it's all decorated we, I get it decorated, there will be another, Our home! But lets do this one first...

UGLY...
When we bought the house the walls were pink, not a cute pink. The first time I saw it, we immediately started thining about our colors for the house.

A Work in Progress...
We had some AMAZING friends that helped us in the process of transfering this from someone elses house to our house!!! Thanks to all that helped and those that offered conversation and support!

It's Ours...
Well, after 2 evenings and half a day of painting, another FANTASTC group of friends helped us move in! I told Dana before we finshed painting on Friday that I felt like a hired painter instead of a homeowner. But after the move on Saturday, I felt like a home owner and this is definately OUR HOUSE!!! not quite done, mind you; I have no idea what I will put on which wall!:) so here are pictures of the painted walls and placed furniture!

We love our home and all the things we have already begin to do in this house that God provided for us! Thanks to all those that have helped us put it together and all those that have come and shared in it with us so far. We look forward having many more shared moments here!

and now it's Monday

2008-07-14T12:08:00.003-05:00

~ok, WOW, this one is lllooonnnggg!
We had such a great weekend!!! I thought about posting on Saturday about the wonderful Friday evening that we had but I decided to wait on how the rest of the weekend went; and I'm glad I did!

Friday evening I picked Mike up from work and he started mowing the grass. We haven't mowed since we've had the house (3 weeks) and it rained 8 days straight since then, so our grass was PRETTY tall! The mower we used has a bag on it which was good, so we can begin to get rid of the lovely stickers we have been blessed with, but with the grass so tall we had to empty the bag every few minutes. So while I was trying to get dinner ready, I would go outside and help Mike empty the cut grass into trash bags. I finally got to a stopping point in the kitchen and was able to sit on the back porch while he cut. There was such a nice breeze that evening and working together (although my work was minimal) was so nice! We had 7 bags of grass!!! Then I finished dinner, we ate and used fancy napkins:) then cleaned the kitchen together and sat on the couch for a few hours. No TV, just us! IT was so so so good!

Saturday was very nice as well; I cooked a BIG breakfast that we shared together then we were lazy for a little while. Jessica and I went to get pedicures and then shopped some! That was fun, I'm glad she's back in town! We were together a couple of hours and then it was back to being lazy at home. Mom and her friend Chris came later to pick me up and we all went to the park. There was a benefit for some girls in town and we picked up plates for dinner and some dessert! They had a great turn out and a lot of things to do and see. We came back to the house, Don came over then and we all ate together. Don connected the water to the freezer so our ice maker and water works now! we all had a good visit. Mike finished the yard work and then cleaned leaves off the roof! I went for a walk around the neighborhood and Jamie was here when I got back! Great day #2!!!

Sunday morning I woke up early (highly unusual for me) and decided I would go to Wal-Mart and get the things on my list! When I got back home, Mike was dressed and cooking breakfast!! YUMMY! We cleaned the kitchen and headed for church. Our really dear friends, the Rutlands, (who we've been trying to get to come to class) were in class when we got there!!! Church was very good! We ate lunch at Aunt Pat-pat's; Jessica made the best lasagna ever!!! the Rutlands joined us and went with us to Charlotte to get the riding mower, for their yard and then back at home we put up a few things on the walls. After evening service, some of our best friends came over and Mike grilled fajitas. Food was GOOD and the company was even better! the last few friends left at around 11:30 and we closed the book on a fabulous weekend!

It was so nice to have 3 very busy days that didn't seem very busy at all! but very full of family and friends! I needed that!!! Can't wait til everyone is here on Tuesday!!! I LOVE having room to have people over!

el chaparral

2008-06-30T09:35:00.003-05:00

...is our new home!!! we signed on the house last Monday! we began painting on Tuesday, with the help of some pretty amazing people! most of them and a couple more came back on Thursday with a few new additions, and Mike and i finished up on Friday. We still need 1 more coat in the baby's room, but that was not needed to start moving in! Friday Dana asked if i felt like a home-owner, i felt like a hired painter. NOW i feel like a home owner. We had more pretty amazing people out on Saturday loading and moving and unloading in the new house! it looks like we belong here!!!
We learned something this week. We are very blessed! We have wonderful friends and family that each have a servant's heart. many of those that came to help had been working all day, some even brought work to finish and then began serving as soon as that was completed! and oh my soul, my mom is a WORK HORSE, i knew she was a determined hard worker, but WOW!!! she did so much! We deifnately have a lot to be thankful for and no room to complain. God is good for sitting us among such wonderful people!

*i'll post pictures soon, i have to find the cord first:)

7w3d

2008-06-17T21:27:00.003-05:00

Well, we had our first Dr. appointment today! Yesterday I was very nervous, scared almost; but i'm not sure why. I think the appointment makes it very REAL and i'm nervous about the pregnancy, while I am excited about it! Maybe i was nevrous about he appointment because 2 men, very close to me, think its funny to tease about the "twins" or the "triplets"! Anyway, it all went fine!
We saw the heartbeat (singular, 1, solotary, alone)it was soo fast and just flickering on the screen! COOL!!! I got a lot of information to read over and gave lab work. We go back in 2 weeks. The sonogram showed that I am 7 weeks, 3 days along and everything is in its right place, doing what it should! My due date is Jan. 27th!!!
YEAH YEAH YEAH!!!! now we can decide on a theme for the nursery and bedding and such!

*And... we close on the house on Monday, the 23rd!!! We'll start painting next week and will hopefully be moved in by the end of the month!

We're back!!!

2008-06-15T22:21:00.003-05:00

...and i'm TIRED!!!
just a short update, will write more with pictures later. We left this morning just after 11, mike and i stayed to eat then took a detour through Bandina to say hi. and then home!
we had a WONDERFUL time! all of us kids were there with spouses (and almost spouse) and ALL mom and don's grankids! there were 20 of us all together in 2 cabins!
the river was low this year so we didn't float and i wouldn't have even if the others did:P but we still had lots of fun swimming, chillin and jumping off rocks (not me though) at the swimming hole and chillin at the cabins!

i will write more later! i'm off to bed now!

Frio River, HERE WE COME!!!!

2008-06-12T08:46:00.003-05:00

well, my car is all loaded up and ready to go! I'll go later to get the truck and help load mom and Don's stuff! We won't be leaving until 1:30 0r 2:00 BUT we will be ready!!!

this weekend is our annual Jones-Bridwell river trip!!! 10 years ago mom and don got married in Port Aransas and each summer since then we have celebrated their marriage and our ties as family at the Frio River one weekend in June (originally the 1st weekend because it was aroung their anniversary) we rent cabins at neal's and just hang. we go to the swimming hole and other parts of the river, walk, read, play games, just relax and be with one another! usually we will take the float trip(s) on Saturday! and this will be Mike's first time to go with us! i'm so excited that he gets to be apart of this well anticipated trip!

we have heard that the river is very low this summer, so i seriously doubt that i will do the tubing thing this year...i don't wanna walk the river. the level and speed of the river will not, however, dampen the enjoyment that we will get out of this time spent together!! i thin wanna tie up under a tree and just chill! i will do my best to do that (chill) as best and as often as i can this weekend!

wish you could join us, it will be AMAZING!!! and i'm off to be a river rat!

it's all about what?

2008-06-09T09:59:00.006-05:00

...RELATIONSHIPS!!!
yeah, WOW!!! For what seems like years our Sunday morning class has been connecting everything we do in a our christian walk back to relationships. Our relationship with God, yes. But also, our relationship with each other and how the two intermingle with the other person's relationship with God. One can not be accomplished with out the other two. All three make an individual complete. I know sometimes I am a slow learner because I am stubborn. I have known for years that to be right with God you have to be right with his children; when you are not right with his children, you can not be right with him. OR when you are not right with him, you can not be right with his children.

This is something that I have been struggling with for about 15 months. And really the past six month have been the most difficult for me. Recently Jackie and Darla blogged about the desk toys that we use to see in a doctor's office with the barings; you would release the one on the end to crash into the next and it would set the whole contraption into motion. Well, my second baring has been crashed into this weekend, a few times. And I moved!!!! I was not stubborn to God's efforts, I did not stand in my anger and hurt feelings (that should have been given to God a long time ago), I did not turn and run from it. I gave in to my submission to God and it was good! Atleast twice in the last few weeks my barings have been set into motion and I lowered my wall to let them move, it feels great! Then last night i tried my hand at setting the barings in motion, it was like we were in sync. Like we didn't have lost time between us. I thought that this would be like the beginning of the healling process since I am just now allowing God to work on my heart, but it was more like the healling is already complete. I have realize that God has been working on me, I just needed to get out of the "shop" and "on the road"!

Wow, God! thanks for showing yourself to me in such a remarkable way. And thank you for the relationships that we have, continue to be in the center of them and all we do. Thanks you for your unending, powerful presence in our lives!

Laminin

2008-06-05T11:33:00.004-05:00

this is something that i received a few weeks ago and is just amazing to me. it's a little over 8 minutes long, and is so cool!

Isn't God amzing?

it can now be news!

2008-05-28T22:46:00.003-05:00

just wanted all to know that Mike and I are in the process of buying a house!!! It's on Chaparral in Pleasanton and has just seemed to have been calling to us. Since March we have driven by this house atleast once a week and talked about it almost everyday. Mike saw it in febuary and really liked it! just a few weeks ago we decided it was the right time to get hooked on a house that we were able think about buying now. I saw it not too long ago and just fell in love and the ball started rolling!!!

We have been apporved and contract has been signed; inspection has been complete (thanks Robert) and now we just wait. Our mortage broker is lining up all other things necesary and searching for a lender with the best rate! Our closing date is at the end of June!

AND then...
we didn't know this at the time that "almost news-worthy" was posted last week, but when we move into the house and start painting rooms we will need to paint and set up the nursery too!!!! i have a doctor's appointment in the middle of June, but we're guessing i'm a couple to 4 weeks along!!!! will keep you all updated as we are updated!

is it Tuesday yet?

2008-05-21T18:09:00.002-05:00

i just need to say 1 thing; I LOVE BIBLE STUDY! for those of you who don't know, we are in a bible study with the huttons, jamie, and kara; sometimes ajane' and stacy join the discussion. i think karen f is going to become a regular and last night brad and misty were there! it is such a great study and we have such a dinamic miss of personalities that it's like we have all always been doing things together our entire lives, it's so great!! The huttons lead us and have a general idea of where we are going, but each night is usually self-directed. we discuss how we feel about scriptures/docrtine as well as why; with scripture to back it up and we chase rabbit trails when the need arises. We began our study in October and have really come such a long way with, of course, such a long way to go. Our topic is Christianity 101 (the study robert and jackie took when they were first baptized) and is teaching us to use our Bible as a source and tool. I know, duh, right? but yeah, DUH! the scriptures and sections studied are broken down into groups and meomory verses are taken apart for understanding and easier explaination useful when studying with others.
robert just began this study for our sunday morning class! yeah! i know some will think that this is a lot offered and may be overwhelmed, but i think we all were when we we first started. i'm excited to have a refresher and reinforcement of what i am learning and am really looking forward to this class.

is it summer yet?

2008-05-19T20:30:00.004-05:00

oh just 2 or 3 more weeks left!!!! i know i have to be at work some or a few days the week after kids get out, but i haven't looked yet, i'm not quite sure when i'm done. ~i'm kinda scared to look, it may be all week~ i'm finishing up the last week with the kids i see (YEAH!) and then will begin my end of the year paper work. I definately do not envy you precious population that are in the class room all day for the next few weeks; i have been so totally married since right before spring break! it has been a long semester! i can't wait to be off and at the river!!!
Good luck, prayers and blessings to you as you finish up the school year in any capacity you may be in!

almost news-worthy

2008-05-19T20:27:00.002-05:00

just a little sneak peak, maybe a mean peak, but not intentially mean. Good news on our horizon. i'm not quiet ready to let it out cause it's not a done deal; be looking for news within the next few weeks!

no hiding spot

2008-05-12T16:46:00.004-05:00

I've been meaning to blog this for at least a week, just haven't found time.

my favorite verse at the moment is Psalm 139:1-18 (especially the first 13 verses)
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as
light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know
that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was
woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still
with you.
I have really liked that verse for some time now, i was in a Bible study that discussed that verse one lesson and how there is nothing that you can do to make God stop chasing after you (kinda like Jonah)
A couple of monthes ago i saw Rush of Fools in concert and Really feel in love with their song "Can't get away"
v.1 I am an arrow, I am a rocket I am a river and nothing can stop it Cause You are the target and You are the atmosphere You are the ocean that keeps pulling me, You're pulling me here
*chorus*And I, can't get away, can't get awayCan't get away, can't get awayI can't get away, can't get away...I keep running into You(repeat)
v.2 I am a beggar, You are the tableI am so helpless, God You are so ableAnd when I get turned around You change my direction You're so perfect, I'm so broken, here You come with arms wide open Chasing after me down every road You're always waiting there
*chorus*
bridge:Even when I close my eyes, I can't help but see There's no place that I can hide, You're such a part of meI can't get away cause I keep running into YouI can't get away...
*chorus*
One morning a couple of weeks ago, i heard this song on my way to work and it hit me as to how the song and the Psalm go together. It stayed with me for a while as a very happy thought, how God is always there, waiting for me to decide everyday to be HIS and he's fulfilling every need and every space in my life.
Well, it hit me yesterday in Class that even though, He is there waiting to take care of me and I can't get away from His care, and protection and power, He is also there waiting on me to mature and be the Christian i need to be and i can't get away from His awesome commands. and He's waiting, and even if i decide to be like Jonah and run away from Him; Psalm 139: 7-13 tells me that He is still there, even on the other side of the ocean. DUH!
okay i knew this but the last few weeks in Sunday morning class and Tuesday night class, God has kinda been trying to knock it into my head (ypu know like the "should've had a V8" moments!

getting it off my chest

2008-04-30T14:07:00.003-05:00

have you ever been mad at yourself but you shift the anger and blame to someone else. you are mad at yourself or the cause of your anger, you have to make a change so you will no longer feel this way. But. if you can push it to someone else (usually someone close to you that has done nothing wrong) it is now their responsibility and you no longer have to change, it is now that person's problem. RIGHT! WRONG! Okay, so you're already mad at yourself for something, then shirk it off on to someone very dear to your heart. Now you're mad, mad more AND in the wrong. You have to appologize, and that is hard too. The longer you wait the more difficult it is, and the more mad you get at yourself and at the other person (for no realistic reasoning).

i was so there! followed by a gloomy day in my world

can you tell?

2008-04-22T15:30:00.002-05:00

there are not very many people who work in the schools that would not be able to tell you what the moon will look like tonight and what the weather-man will say about the pressure.

It is definately the time of the month for a full moon. if you didn't see the magnificent display of it on saturday night, just walk abround the halls of the school for a little while. I don't know what it is about a full mon and the pull of the tide, but man it sure does do a number on the kiddos, especially the ones that we see at work!

My office mate came in this afternoon wound up and worn out! she is usually very calm, cool and collective, the one who calms me down when i'm crazy; but oh boy not today! she saw WILD kids today and whiney teachers and she is ready to scream:) things that usually don't bother her are driving her up the wall!
it's kinda funny to me that for a change our rolls are switched in our office and i'm the sounding board---it's difinately her time!
so bless you this week for dealing with kids, teachers and anyone or anything else that is effected by the moon and barometric pressure!

a wish list

2008-04-21T13:28:00.002-05:00

I have wanted to blog for several days now but can not think of anything to write about. I've been thinking of where i am in my life and the things that i would like to happen in the very near future and some things that should have happened already but didn't because i have no energy any more. This is just my little wish list... some things are desired more than others, some are not that very important. things i would like to have and things i need to do

i would like..
*the clutter in my living room and spare room put away
*space to put things away so it will not be cluttel
*time and energy simultaneously so i can throw away old stuff no longer needed on wanted
(clutter)
*a house, with room for lots of clutter (okay enough with the clutter)
*a book shelf- i have lots of new frames and figurines and albums but no where to put them...
~i need to get that shelf from my dad~
*i would like to have all my frames needed to redo and move the collage of pictures already on
a wall (my family) AND to make a new one (mike and i and wedding stuff)
*motherhood
*more time i need to set aside to pray and study; by myself and with mike
*summer -- i am so ready!!!
*a rivier trip
*a day at six flags

okay, i'm feeling a bit greedy, but these would make me happy! most of it though aquires me to get up and take action for it to be acclompished. i guess i need to not sit so much. i think i'll work on that this week!

hope you have a day of things that make you happy!

dreams

2008-04-15T22:25:00.002-05:00

have you ever had a dream so real that you are afraid to go back to sleep? it will just continue to play out ... and then... it may happen!

ok, i KNOW that it wouldn't happen but last night i had one of thos dreams, that it COULD happen. so you sit up, awake at 3am doing all that you can do to make those thoughts go away; in bed because you're too afraid to get out of bed, the bad people in the dream just might be in the other room of your house.

ok i know that's kinda morbid and i'm kinda dorky, but i seriously thought this morning (at 3am) I need to blog about this! so i did!

jackie, i know that was random, but you're on board with that, right (being random that is)

5th Sunday

2007-09-30T22:25:00.000-05:00

Okay i love being with my church family and at worship service any time there's a chance. I love to sing ALL the time! But i would have to say that my overall favorite time (next to summer camp of course) would have to be a with Sunday Worship or 5th Wednesday. I love the variety of all the men that lead songs and the different verses and prayers that are all combined to make a beautiful arrangement! Don't get me wrong i love hearing sermons but there is just something about that kind of calloration that just gets to me! and then the fellowship afterwords; WOW!
I am truely so blessed♥

a light at the end of the tunnel

2007-08-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

though my life is far from being dark and grey, sad and desolate, it is not complete. i have known for quite a while that there is something that i wanted to have in my world but the time and circumstances have not been right and i have been told to wait. i am not good at waitning... i have never been good at waiting if i know you have a present for my birthday BEFORE my birthday i want it now, if i have a Christmas present for you Before Christmas i want you to have it now and to open it now and share your expression with me now... I DO NOT LIKE TO WAIT!!! but i do when i have to AND I HAVE TO! the saying, "there is light at the end of the tunnel" comes to mind as my waiting draws to a new type of waiting.
When i was a young teen we drove to Florida and somewhere between here and there we drove through a very long tunnel. i liked going through the tunnel at first and then got tired of being closed up...and was ready to be out of the tunnel and to our destination. As we neared the end of the tunnel and i could see the light of the outside world, i wanted my dad to drive faster to JUST get there. we finally were out of the tunnel, but we were still far from the end of our journey.
in my personal life, i can see the ligth at the end of the tunnel, but am not to it yet. i want to speed up and be there already but know i will miss important parts of life and relationships by speeding through it and i know mistakes are more easily made at higher speeds. i am also aware that even when i am out of the tunnel of this part of my life and i have more freedoms in what i want and what i am doing, the journey is far from being over. i need prayers that i will not try to speed up the process of being out of the tunnel before i am fully in the light; for the journey is still far from being over.

moving around and making a mess

2007-08-14T19:02:00.000-05:00

well, now that summer is almost over, i am finally motivated to get things done at my house that i keep sying "i'll do it on a break from work" :) well in 3 years of living here and atleast 9 breaks from work i have finally begun cleaning out my spare room.
i have used this room as a storage (and will continue to but with organization) and if you have ever seen it, you will understand. I now can see a floor in there!!! and for 1 day it looked really nice.
my parents are getting a bed from my step-brother so they are sending one of theirs to me, and i need a place for it. but that's doesn't have a time limit and since i need limits and boundaries and dealines; i didn't clean for the bed. But i knew i was getting internet installed and he would need room to walk because i wanted it hooked up in that room. THAT got me to clean it. and it lookint NICE in there.
the next day i decided to move a bookshelf from my entry way to that room and here comes a new mess. i got stuck in the doorway and had to empty the shelf to get it over the carpet but i couldn't get out of the room. so i just started throwing things in the floor.
but i can't clean it becaue i'm not for sure if i want to keep the shelf where it is! i procrastinate that way. i guess i need to get the bed in there so i will begin to see how i want to set up the room and then start moving stuff. i know it will be a nice room someday soon, but it is such a pig pen now!

ok i know that was random but i wanted to blog and couldn't think of anything else and this is JUST MY THOUGHTS!!:)

now online!!!

2007-08-10T09:20:00.000-05:00

hello all! i know it's been a VERY LONG TIME but i now have internet at my house, YEAH!!!!!! and it is a lot easier to be online and go to all the sites that the schools secured network won't let me get to :) so i will be blogging now!!! but don't hold your breath, i know it won't be an everyday occurance or anything! looking forward to getting back into it and back into your business :) hahaha!!!!
will blog soon, i promise

hitting my knees

2007-02-26T13:02:00.000-06:00

i am not afraid of very many things but i am afarid of being hurt. And while i am not too keen on emotional pain, i am most afraid of physical pain. i don't want to have scrapes and bruises and drying scaps that pull away and cause itching and extra pain. And when i think about physical pain of anticipate hurt i always direct those thoughs and images to my knees. I'm not sure why i do this, but i have since i was a little girl. If i think about falling, my knees hurts; if i think about a car crash, my knees are the main focus.

and as i am still unsure of the reasoning for this and have embraced never knowing the why i will attribute it to God and my relationship to him. When i put myself into perspective with God, my knees are reverent in the since of relation. God is my master, there for i bow before Him. i am humbled in His presence, i am on my knees. When i talk to him; even though i am not physically doing this, i refer to prayer as hitting my knees.
i don't "hit my knees" as often as i should and maybe the ache in my knees is from the absence my heart feels from not building that relationship with God.

now with that being said. I am asking for prayers, please. Prayers on my behalf to continue making my relationship with God as it should be, therefore turning my relationships with others into what THEY also should be. Also without naming specifics my brother and his family need MANY prayers right now; the situation may not be changed but the effects of the situation can be lessened with prayer as well as strength and comfort be provided to help them all get through it.

dancing

2007-02-22T13:40:00.001-06:00

inspried by andy who was inspired my darla who was commenting to jaci:) sorry, you know i have to be silly!:)

wow! darla's comment about old women dancing in the moolight put such a vibrant picture in my mind and then Andy's blog added a new light to it, a twist with many emaotions attached to the dancing i invisioned. He put experiances to it that made me think of striking out on a new adventure or endeavor without fear... wow! what an inspiration that brings to me.

i can begin new things pretty easily and usually they start out with ease and the void of fear. But as i get just inside something new and begin to think that it is something great~as the song begins to play iand i get the urge to 'dance with life'~; my anxiousness and panic sets in and i begin to fear this new wonderful thing coming to an end. And i get so tied up in the ending of the song and the thoughts of "when is it going to end?" "how will it finish?" and "how badly will i hurt, for how long?" that (that more times than so doesn't even end badly) that i forget to dance while the music is playing. that my total existance in the 'right now' is hendered by the possibility if a crashing hault (which more times than so doesn't even occur)

i wish that i had as much contentment as Paul did to rejoice in the right now. He rejoiced in the unpleasantries of right now, i can't find it difficult to have peace and enjoy the moments. ~as a disclaimer, i am not always this way but the uncertainties of the physical future do scare me sometimes!

i hope that you can find contentment and joy in your right now!

don't forget to laugh

2007-02-13T10:14:00.000-06:00

this was posted at the end of an email with pictures and stories about the crazy life parents with boys may have...

Laughter...

enhances respiration and circulation,

oxygenates the blood,

suppresses the stress-related hormaones in the brain,

activiates the immune system,

stimulate practically all the large organs in the body,

and relesaes endorphins, the body's natural pain reliever

which also produces a feeling of well being.

I have heard before that laughter is the best medicine and i have also heard that i laugh too much, BUT i haven't been a general physician since i moved to atascosa county...almost 7 years ago! :) i think that there is no such thing as too much laughter!

May you have a life full of wonderful things to make you laugh!

yippy!

2007-01-31T12:47:00.000-06:00

during a few spare moments this morning, i was on the internet here at school. I was checking my email and just kinda looking around. I haven't been able to get on blogger for quite some time now because the site has been blocked:( today i thought i would try, just to see what would happen and OH MY GOODNESS, it let me on!!!!:) who knows how long it will be on and available, but i will take advantage while i can!

today has been a slow day and i have been a bit tired. i was out Monday and Tuesday this week for a workshop in San Antonio. The workshop was good and interesting and useful, but it alwasys makes me tired to sit all day listening to lecture and not be moving around with my kiddos, enjoying my schedule. It IS nice to be back today!:)

i am also tired b/c i got in later last night than i usually would like, but the reason was exceptional! Lin and I met Dana in San Marcos and went out for birthday dinner!!!! Everything is better when in the company of my girls! we had a really good time eating, and talking, laughing and JUST BEING SILLY; that is however the best way to be!!!

I gotta go, it's time for my kiddos to come see me! maybe i'll have something to talk about later this week! I'll see most of you tonight and will hopefully be back on soon! hugs and kisses

life's cycle

2007-01-03T21:21:00.000-06:00

i have always found it interesting how the lives of creatures and aspects in nature circle each other. how one thing uses another and at the same time, helps something different. and how the sun is the life of most things; things that use and help other things.
Being in the light of the SON gives us life and allows us to be helped by one friend and at the same time help someone else. i experiance that a lot but am fully aware of that wonder today. i think God is so awesome and am just dumbfounded that some find it hard to believe in Him, i find it impossible to believe that He's NOT here and working so powerfully in my life. i have been allowed by God to help 2 friends this afternoon, 2 of my greatest friends, 2 friends that have wiped my tears so many times, 2 friends that show their love in boundless ways, 2 friends that i owe many smiles to.
Christ's love compells us to love. we love him because He has first loved us. We love each other because He has taught us how to love by His example. And we continue loving each other because of the way they react to our love. ( i know that is not always the case and that we love some regargless of how they feel about us) but it sure is a lot easier for me to love those who treat me so much better than they should, much better than i deserve ~hum, sounds like grace~
do unto others as you would have them do to you; you want love, show it, you will recieve so much more than you give, but give it unselfishly, it is given unselfishly on your behalf everyday!
~may you be blessed with the love that i have been blessed with today! inspired by dana's blog:)

"Is he really real?"

2006-12-25T09:43:00.000-06:00

my middle nephew cooper is 8 and on the verge of fully knowing about santa. this christmas would make or break the dream held my all children for so many years.

on saturday we had dinner and gift exchange at grandma-B's (don's mom) and santa visited. Cooper knew without a doubt that it was just uncle cam dressed in a beard and red suit. and when confronted by the inquiring young mind, cam wowwed cooper with his honest admittance. Cam assured coop that Santa would be here Sunday night and they could stay up to see him.

Secretly the wonderful santa helping uncle arranged for santa to be at the house to take care of the yearly duties! i awoke, but not to the clatter on the lawn; just the door opening and was able to snap a picture of santa as he finished the cookies and placed the gifts and stockings under the tree.

for the first time in 8 years, cooper didn't have to be coaxed awake, he rose at 7am and stood in wonder at the stokings and gifts under the tree. He was so delighted to see the picture, he could tell by the round belly that it wasn't uncle cam but santa, indeed. Everyone was awaken by the joy-filled boy, surprised by santa's visit! the house was full of the joy that just can't be described!

Hope your day is as great as the beginning of mine has been! Love to all!

purposefully random

2006-12-23T18:35:00.000-06:00

okay i know that i am random ALL THE TIME...but today i will be on purpose! ~that hardly ever happens!~ but there are more than a few thoughts on my mind...

~WOW, i love my boss!!!! this year we have a new director at the co-op where i work and can i just say "aww!!" it is so refreshing and relaxing to have a director that is more like a mother than a boss. Every pay day we get a note from her telling us how much we are appreciated. and we get e-cards at holidays. I just got one for Christmas, we all did...25 of us!!!! she's just so neat to work for!
~yeah! a cold Christmas!! 2 years in a row!! and i love that it's raining. i could do with out the mud and cleaning my glasses but all in all it's awesome! Thanks Lord, we needed it.
~i LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!! i like the husstle and bustle about the house, no room for everyone so we all sit real close and everyone is all lovey. i love the food!!!(and will work out real hard come January) i just like being with everyone and at this point i have 5 down (counting work and the ladies thing) and at least 2 to go. I LOVE IT!!!!
~i love my friends! :) we got together lastnight and yippy that Lin made it! we walked on the riverwalk, ate a yummy dinner and ran through the mall to get to J.R.'s truck so we could retrieve lin and stuff! then we opened presents and went back to the river! it was a GREAT TIME! thanks for the good times! -Jamie i missed you!

okay that's all for now! Merry Christmas to all! make wonderfull memories with your loved ones, love you

now is a good time...

2006-12-22T10:46:00.000-06:00

okay so it has been way too long! i know, and i have had oppurtunities but no ideas or then i would have ideas but not be at the right place. i feel displaced sometimes and not in the way as to feel out of place or not belonging; that's not the porblem. i feel like i'm hiding from myself out of self preservation. wow i don't like being introspective and don't know how to handle it when it all comes bursting through like a damn that has held up against the pressure for so long that it powerfully floods at the first sign of a small leak.
i had no intentions of writing today, but darla's comment and got to thinking... for some reason i let other's opinions or even thoughts that i think they will have rule over me. it may not even be a thought that even occurs in the other person's head but i let my insecurities take over and flood me with doubt and disapproval (that's most often not even there) and i am not who i am. Well, i am on the outside and in crowds, but not where it counts.
truthfully, that is more than likeley the real reason i haven't been here lately, sorry for the excuses and facade. i will get back to enjoying the simple things and being content with who i am and what i have, which are both tremendous gifts and quite abundant!

jackie, it still is hard for me to blog, being that i can't do it at school anymore, so don't expect one eveyday, but i will try to come on at least weekly...we'll see!

hear them singing?

2006-11-19T15:19:00.000-06:00

okay i know Jamie posted something not too long ago about children singing and how beautiful it is...but i will too!! i have to brag...:)

okay my nephews are in town this weekend (my step brother got married)

We went to class with our congregation this morning and then came to Jourdanton to worship with my Paw-paw at the baptist church. One man sang a special, "One Day at a Time" and it was very pretty, real nice. Cooper was sitting between Mom and I and he was singing right along side Mike, in his cute sweet little voise. Made my heart smile!

i remember when J.T. was little (less than 2, coop wasn't born yet) he LOVED to sing church sonegs. Praise ye the Lord was his favorite, and he would sing it his all his might...and he didn't have his /l/ sound yet...it was too cute!

AND then at lunch today, Alex my cousin's little girl was singing songs from her bible class! it was just so precious! and i cried, in my plate!:)