random things from the weekend

*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!!

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

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...

...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

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

...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!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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!!

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!

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...

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

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...?

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

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

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...

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