Love is in the Air: February

Here are some pictures from our February:

This is a picture of one of the really cool things I got a chance to do while at the pediatric clinic here in town. We had a very tall patient who was a young adult and had a serious spinal cord injury. We assisted in making a body cast so he could have some equipment made for him. He was very, very, very tall. This is a picture of his upper body and his legs...not including the hips. Did I mention he was very, very tall? (note: the  lady in the back does not usually wear a mask and she doesn't have a mustache. I needed to hide her identity for confidentiality purposes. The girl holding up the cast is about 5'3".)

Our own little patient had a very rough winter of allergies which aggravated his asthma. He really hates the mask and it kind of freaks him out so we took turns reading to him to distract him.

We started having official chores for Josie and this was her Valentine's Day gift. She loved it.

One of our dear friends got married this month! We are so excited for him and think his bride is absolutely fabulous!

Doesn't my man look handsome? He was a groomsman in the wedding.

Some of our other dear friends Brent and Kelly.

These guys laughed all evening. I can't even say how happy it made me to see my husband laugh so hard!

These guys have been friends for a very long time. What a great group of friends!

There was a photo booth there. We have a really funny story that goes along with this, but you'll have to ask me about it. :)

This is one of my very best friends in the whole world. We have been friends since 6th grade. I love her so much! 

If my sister sits still she falls asleep.

But she had better watch out if my kids are around!

We had lunch with Pubs. So sweet.

Caleb enjoying his sister's dust buster.

Josie was so excited when her class at school learned about India. She was able to contribute because she loves India! Wanna know why? Check out what our family did in March.

January

Happy New Year! Okay, I know it's May but I didn't get to tell you in January. Here's a quick overview of our month of the start to 2012. I hope yours was wonderful!

Trying to encourage more scripture memory. I find this verse very fitting for the start of a new year.

Tea Party birthday with the cousins.

I surprised Jo by picking her up from school early on a Friday and catching the matinee of Disney's Beauty and the Beast in 3D. I still remember going to see it in the theater when I was a kid. It was so wonderful getting to share this with my little girl! Not to mention Belle is my all time favorite Princess because (in my opinion) she is one of the only real heroines of the Disney Princesses.

Family picnic. Yes, it was January and yes, it got warm. It was a beautiful day!

January was also the beginning of my last semester of school. It started with a pediatric rotation at a local clinic. I absolutely LOVED it.

Praise to the God of new beginnings!

Not So Long Ago, In a Galaxy Not So Far Away

The kids turned 6 and 4 this year! I can't believe how fast it's going. They are growing into such amazing little people! We are incredibly blessed by these two munchkins!

Earlier this year the kids discovered Star Wars. So when they announced (in June) they had agreed that they wanted to have a Star Wars themed birthday party, I jumped on it. I mean, how often will they be able to agree on a theme--and especially one that works so well for a brother/sister party!?!

The time arrived and preparations began for their party. They dressed up as Luke and Leia Skywalker and along with our wonderful family, we celebrated their birthdays. Here are a few pictures from our fun day!

"Yoda Soda" was just Sprite with green food coloring.

We had the "Wookie Cookie Shop".

We imported "SunWater" from Tatooine, the home planet of Luke. His uncle Own Lars owns a moisture farm there. :) (I had fun coming up with that one.)

Yoda!!!

Teddy Grahams = Ewoks

Sandwiches at the Darth Vader Deli.

Luke and his Dad, Anakin Skywalker (before he turned into Darth Vader)

Queen Amidala with her daughter Princess Leia

The whole family!

 Uh oh! Party's over! Daddy needs a nap!

Thanks to Elizabeth and Lee Ann for the ideas and letting us borrow costumes!!!

A Fine Line

I have had a whirlwind of emotions during the last few months. I've experienced everything from excitement to apathy to embarrassment to elation. Why?

My torment has stemmed from the struggle between the schools of the Big XII and the surrounding sporting news.

Yes.

Shocking. I know.

My alma mater, Texas A&M decided to break a contract and leave the conference for the SEC. At first I was excited because we would be in a great conference playing against teams like Georgia, but as controversy exploded I became annoyed and decided not to care. I was then told by a friend that I should care because the destruction of the Big XII could have seriously negative repercussions on our city's economy. I saw his point and not long after heard some disturbing remarks made by the president of my beloved A&M. I found myself feeling embarrassed (repeatedly) by decisions and unprofessional-ism displayed by the leadership in College Station.

I found myself not simply slipping back into apathy toward the whole thing...I started despising the whole thing.

But then a bright spot.

My husband's school, Baylor University beat the University of Texas in a very exciting football game. This was followed by rumors of Robert Griffin III possibly being nominated for the Heisman Trophy. Soon, this was no longer a rumor but a fact. RG3 had been nominated for the renowned trophy.

Just like so many others in Waco, Wesley and I watched the awards ceremony on TV. We were so excited (but not surprised) to hear Robert Griffin's name announced. It was a thrilling moment for the Baylor community and I was so happy to be "married into the family".

Since then the city seems to have been painted in green and gold. The local paper and magazines have RG3 and his new award plastered all over. Restaurant signs congratulate the athlete and the university. Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites are full of excited fans exchanging comments about the news. Even the spires adorning most of Baylor's noble architecture seemed to stand a little bit taller. Needless to say, our town is ecstatic!

Although I love my Aggies and will always love them, I do have a very special place in my heart for Baylor. I grew up minutes from the campus. I went to sports camps there in the summers. In junior high and high school I spent countless hours cleaning the apartments my grandparents owned on campus, dreaming of the day I would be a Baylor Bear. As a teenager most of my spiritual mentors at church were Baylor students and I wanted to be just like them.

It literally took an act of God to change my heart to attend A&M because that was part of His wonderful plan for me. After marrying Wesley, we spent our first year of marriage living in the same apartments I had cleaned growing up...smack dab on Baylor's campus. In more recent years Wesley and I have been Bible study/Life Group leaders for Baylor students and have come to absolutely ADORE each and every one. I am up to my eyeballs in green and gold and I love it! So, I am very excited for Baylor's success in football and recognition they have received this year!

Our family attended the men's basketball game this past Wednesday when they presented RG3 and the Heisman to the community during half-time. All four of us (yes, me too) wore our Baylor shirts and were ready to see the new Baylor legend raise high his trophy.

The moment arrived. The press was lined up on the basketball court. A pedestal was placed upon the top of the 3-point line. The crowd stood and started chanting, "RG3! RG3!" He walked out and held the cast bronze man up in the air. Flashes and screams echoed through the Ferrell Center. My heart pounded. It was thrilling...

but...

I then understood first hand what I had read the day before in my Bible study. This is an excerpt from one girl's experience:

In that moment I understood the desire to worship statues and felt the urge to drop to my knees. She [the statue] was so tangible and beautiful and she made me feel small and less worthy. It was an odd feeling that scared me but also allowed me to understand some things more fully. I am not unlike the Israelites and have moments when I just want to worship something I can photograph. I also realize that if a statue built by humans can make me feel that way for even a second, I can't imagine what it will feel like to be in the full presence of the God who built creation. (From No Other Gods by Kelly Minter, LifeWay Publishers)

Honestly the day I read this I didn't really "get it". I still thought the girl's experience with the statue she saw was a little strange, but I didn't want to judge her so I reminded myself I wasn't immune to those feelings and might relate someday. That someday came way sooner than I ever thought it would.

Let me say one more thing. I am not pointing fingers anywhere but toward myself. I am NOT saying RG3, nor anyone else for that matter, is "worshiping" the trophy. I am simply trying to be totally real with you by observing the feelings in my own heart and ask you to do the same--not to burst your bubble or steal the excitement you feel about this event or any other, but to protect your heart from the temptation of bowing down before a 25 pound piece of bronze.

I hope Baylor continues to do well and that RG3 is successful in which ever route he chooses to take. I pray that he and all of us who love Baylor will walk in humility before the Almighty God who is God alone and give Him all praise and honor in success or failure.





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Thanksgiving 2011

Here are a few memories we made this year during Thanksgiving.

We kicked things off with a service project at school. Here is Jo with her BFF making baggies for The Salvation Army. We are so thankful for her school.

Then we had a recitation of Psalm 100 and a Thanksgiving Feast with all the kindergarten families at school.

We spent most of the week at the ranch with our cousins. Here are all the kiddos as we did our own little Thanksgiving program as a family. Caleb noticed one of his own toys was in the box of ranch toys. He was very distressed. Hmmm. I wonder if he's really getting the idea of Thanksgiving.

Caleb fell asleep with all of his cousins running, jumping, talking, and yelling around him.

Caleb and Auntie Jenna have a special relationship.

We are so thankful for the gifts of Josie's school and for our family!!!

More Idols

The Bible study my friend Kim and I have gone through together this semester has taken a little longer than expected. We should really be finished, but, alas, we are not. We are almost there! It has been painful and wonderful at the same time.

Painful because with every verse of scripture it is like God is taking a scalpel and removing a tumor that was taking over my heart. Wonderful because the peace that comes from knowing freedom and healing are coming as a result of that spiritual surgery.

The Bible is full of stories of how people in ancient times would create idols, serve them and bow down to them. We see God's anger as a result of that worship. He describes Himself as "jealous". At first glance this description may make God seem immature and petty, but that is what happens when we see scripture through our blurry and sinful eyes.

Is it wrong for a husband to be jealous when his wife is attracted to another man? No. He has every right to be angry and feel jealousy and to hold his wife accountable to it.

Praise God He is jealous because it is out of that passionate emotion He fights FOR us! He rescues us and restores us to a right relationship with Him!

You might be wondering, "What in the world are you talking about? I don't bow down to idols."

Yes, we all do.

John Calvin said, "The human heart is a factory of idols...every one of us..."

Timothy Keller challenges us to evaluate where our thoughts, money, and time naturally flow and this can be a good indication of our personal idols. This line of thinking may lead you to objects, careers, talents, or even people.

I'd encourage you to spend some time thinking about that.

I'd also encourage you to think about how faithful those idols have been to you. Do they disappoint you? Have you ever been dissatisfied or even betrayed by this idol? Are they freeing or do they bring a burden upon you?

There is only One true God who satisfies, brings freedom and whose name is "Faithful and True".

My friend Kim wrote a beautiful post on her blog about her struggles with perfection. You should go check it out: http://alifetransparent.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-idol-worship-ideal-me.html
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A little something extra...and very thought provoking.

Josie's First Ballet Recital

This fall Josie has been taking ballet from a ballet school in town from which the teachers hold classes in different locations--including Josie's school! This is wonderfully convenient! Here are a few pictures from her Christmas recital held at a local Holiday Fair in November.