Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009!

I would imagine lots of people have had the same idea this week...reviewing the past year, highs and lows, and planning, hoping, and preparing for what's to come in the next. I guess I'm not unique in that respect, and I'll spare you all the play-by-play. (If you're interested, I have manymanymany blog posts from 2008 that chronicle 'the goods and the bads' in detail.)

However, here are some of the hopes I have, and the changes I'm anticipating in the coming year, in no particular order:

1. No hospitalizations! (Obviously a hope and prayer.) No surgeries, no serious illnesses, etc.
2. The exception to #1 would be the birth of our new baby, expected July 22...I don't mind (and actually would prefer) being in the hospital for that. Yay! While intimidated and overwhelmed at times by the prospect of adding to our family (especially when I already struggle to keep up with what we have right now!), I can't wait to meet and get to know this new little person!
3. We're moving in April. I have a lot of emotions wrapped up in this one, but the thrill of the coming adventure and the knowledge that this is the next step in God's plan for our family far outweighs my sadness, fears, and reservations.
4. Scott will be putting on Tech. Sgt. I'm so proud of Scott's hard work over the past several years and excited that a part of that success is so tangible.
5. New schooling situation(s) for the kids in Wichita, KS...I'm not sure what lies ahead here. As always, we're open to most of the available options and weighing carefully what is in the best interest of our children and family as a whole. Although this area never ceases being somewhat intimidating (as I think it probably should, since it's a very real and great responsibility), it's also exciting and I'm confident that God will clearly show us what we need to do as well as equipping us for the task. Katy will be in kindergarten, and Emily will be in first grade.
6. Deployments: these may or may not actually begin in 2009 since Scott will have a lot of training to complete on a new airframe first, but either way, it's coming soon. I won't pretend to understand what this is really like, but we've had many circumstances over the past year that we feel will serve as good preparations for a separation of this nature. The thought of maintaining a household, school schedules (at the very least), and 4 children (one of which will be very small) on my own is daunting, but I know it will be doable...and more than just survivable.
7. Church involvement: We've been praying for quick and clear direction in finding the right church home even since before we knew where we would be going.
8. Community involvement: I've already found a few opportunities long-distance where I might be able to fit in and get busy. I know, I know...it's best not to take on too much at once, BUT it's also not good to feel displaced and alone for months or years. We (I) made that mistake here, waiting on opportunities and friendships to come to me, and it's not something I plan to repeat ever again.
9. In a few days (January 5), Scott and I will celebrate our 7th anniversary! Even though it's right at the beginning of the year, I'm still looking forward to it, and I'm excited to start year #8 with him. Hopefully I'll catch onto this wife-thing a little more this year than I did last year...an upward trend is a good thing.
10. Relationships with God: The first one demanding attention is, of course, my own. I've learned so much over the past year, and I'm discovering that the more I grow, the bigger God is (or seems.) That's just cool. Additionally, though, I'm also a responsible party in shepherding my children's hearts toward Him, and I'm excited to see how they grow and respond as they learn to listen to His voice. I'm so thankful and blessed to have already seen my two oldest, still so young, receive Jesus as their personal Savior. I'm also thankful for the little things I see that display the Holy Spirit working in them...working ON them...and shaping them into godly little girls. I love seeing them beginning to think of others first and beginning to obey, not just from necessity or duty, but out of love, respect, and the desire to do what is right. (Not always, mind you, but increasingly. I guess I could say the same of me and my obedience to Christ.) What a blessing these things are to my mommy-heart! AND how encouraging to see this despite my many (manymanymany) blunderings, mistakes, and bad examples. Ahh...grace...thank you, Lord, that your grace is always sufficient, your mercies are new every morning, and that you are always faithful!

Something I've taken away from this year that can really encompass almost everything is that priorities really are key. There are SOOOOOOOO many good things out there, but I must discipline myself to choose only the best things and to say no to the others that could so easily over-clutter my life (and my family's schedule).

I pray that You would be glorified, Father, in each choice, each thought, each action and activity; I pray that I would quickly repent when I fall and that I would learn the immediacy of true faithful obedience. I thank you that you are not only persistent and consistent, but tireless, Lord. Thank you for never giving up on me, even when I feel like giving up! Make my heart ever more in-sync with yours; make my eyes more like yours and help me to see clearly; quicken my steps toward you, and please give me courage to follow you, regardless of how much I can see on my own. Make me more like you! I love you, Lord...

New Mexican at Heart

Is it that I haven't been back to Los Alamos in a year and a half? Is it that Tex-Mex (though still yummy) is NOT the same as New Mex-Mex? (I just coined that term...there's probably a better one out there.) I don't know, but I miss "my" mountains, and I miss snow (well, any and all real seasonal changes, actually...), and I miss green chile!! (Ahhh...and the smell of roasting green chile lingering in the crisp air...)

It might also have something to do with the fact that my brother and sister and parents are all together right now and I miss them...and I haven't seen said bro and sis in over a year. :( *serious sniffle!*

The end.

Not really. This site has been one of my favorites for years (since marriage and not residing in NM anymore anyway) because it's a taste of "home." [Yes, yes...home is with my husband and family...work with me here, people!] Anyway, if you enjoy Mexican food, I'd highly recommend you check it out...the dip mixes and the soups are faves of mine (especially the green chile dip, fiesta dip, the salsa mix, and the Southwestern Pasta soup!!!!)

In conclusion, Texas is lacking in mountains (real ones, not the fake ones that are referred to as mountains around here), New Mex-Mex, seasons, and specifically snow...at least the sleddable/skate-able/snow-man-buildable kind. And, in agreement with a friend who made this point before I could, 78 degrees the day after Christmas is just wrong. Period.

Recent Discoveries (in no particular order)

1. The newer versions of holiday movies are CREEPY. (i.e. "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," "The Grinch," (Jim Carey version) and probably others which escape me at the moment...remember, my memory is flaky these days.)
2. Hot cider on cold evenings is a glorious thing.
3. Head-colds and morning sickness are a LOUSY combination.
4. It is, indeed, possible to have too many Christmas goodies. I'll have to scale back my baking next year.
5. Laundry elves are imaginary. For sure. It has been confirmed. Because they've had plenty of time to visit my house, and yet the laundry continues to pile up and spew forth from the dryer. (However, a husband helping out on his only day off while I'm sick is almost as great. :)
6. I'm probably also never going to find a housekeeper whose only wages is the satisfaction of a job well done.
7. Cold weather is not nearly as enjoyable at Christmastime without snow.
8. Children's behavior miraculously improves this time of year...yay for Santa! Oh wait, is that parental manipulation?
9. Christmas music is da bomb...and we should listen to it all year. In fact, I think I might.
10. People are apparently stealing stuff (like baby Jesus) from Nativity scenes. Um, HELLO? Whatupwhidat?! Pathetic.
11. I have lost my 8" (9"?) round cake pans. Hm...how does THAT happen? (Sorry, Jenn...)
12. I continue to have serious issues with lists not ending in round numbers (as in multiples of 5.) So, in order to prove a point to myself (as in, "I am not an obsessive-compulsive, control-freak"), I am intentionally ending this list at #12...and probaby never re-reading it again for fear I'd have to edit until I have either 10 or 15 items listed. And that would just be plain silly.

The End

Hm!

Not a very descriptive title, I know...but it's the best concise summary of all the things going through my head at the moment.

I've gotta confess that I've never felt dumber in my entire life. I'm not saying that to get sympathy or to guilt people into making me feel smart...it's just a simple statement, and I've made (or am making) my peace with it. :) For starters, my memory isn't worth ANYTHING! I can't keep track of anything involving more than 2 steps right now. I can't remember things people have told me. I can't remember things I've told other people! I can remember my own name. That's something, I guess. Some have attributed this to the pregnancy, and I've heard others make similar observations about their own "condition." Who knows? Maybe I'm just too busy and over-tired. Maybe I'm searching for reasons excuses to explain away my sudden Alzheimers-esque symptoms.

Secondly, I've been doing a lot of reading lately and I'm discovering, whether for related reasons to the problem mentioned above or not, that my powers of deduction and my comprehension skills are, um, lacking. In my quiet times, some encouraging things are happening as I read familiar passages and understand them anew. (Some of them, I've always read wrong...not sure how else to put that...but I've thought it meant one thing, and it's now clear that I was totally off base.) Conversely, I've been re-reading some passages (namely in the minor prophets) and find myself almost totally confused about what they're talking about. Are they still talking about God sending Israel into exile? If so, I must be missing something because the Bible doesn't just aimlessly repeat itself for 12 (and still counting) books in a row. Are they talking about Jesus? Are they talking about the end of the world? There are a few things that have stood out to me and spoken pretty loudly, but Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah...? I just think I'm missing the point. And Revelation? Some parts seem pretty clear, but for most chapters I begin by thinking "okaaaaaaaay..." and conclude with a gigantic "HUH?!" At least with that, Sunday School is helping to shed some light... I do okay if there's someone telling me what I'm supposed to see, but I'd feel better if I could figure more of it out on my own. It's supposed to be straight-forward, right? Let Scripture interpret Scripture; take it literally unless...you can't...SO WHY AM I HAVING SUCH A HARD TIME?! (That may or may not be a rhetorical question.)

Thirdly, I'm reading a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as mentioned in a previous post. It's VERY good (I'm not quite halfway because of all the crazy holiday hullabulloo and the fact that I can't muster enough focus to concentrate on what I'm reading if there's any other noise in the house, er, I keep choosing naps over reading), and some parts are very simple. Other parts I have to reread 47,000 times and I still have questions and bunny-trail-thoughts that I can't quite reconcile. With this one, I don't just feel clueless and dumb as much as just plain...? *insert Tim-the-toolman inquisitive grunt* This is what I like to consider just plain ol' good food for thought. There are concepts (or ways of looking at concepts) that I've never thought of before. I like that kind of thing.

Fourthly, and maybe the most dramatic of the impacts on my perception of how well I'm "getting" things, is the fact that I just feel like a general failure in so many basic areas of life. It DOES make me feel dumb when I keep making the same idiotic blunders multiple times daily with no sign of even slight improvement. Example: my tone of voice toward all these cotton-pickin' crazy little people my delightful children is horrendous by the end of the day. They make childish mistakes (because, go figure, they are CHILDREN), which undoubtedly require attention and discipline; they do NOT, however, require my stingingly rude and/or sarcastic commentary or the equivalent to a 28-year-old hissy fit, complete with stomping, muttering, and the bludgeoning of whatever type of meat we're having for dinner. Smoooooooth, Shannon. Way to set a great example! Tritely put, I am in a yucky rut. Poop.

I know things will look up. I also know that not everything is as frustrating as the few points mentioned here. (But since I must be a drama-queen-blogger, the downs in life get more word-coverage. Haha!) Such is the life of a wanna-be (?) perfectionist...I gravitate toward the things that need the most improvement. I'm still figuring out how work those things out, by God's grace, and bypass the guilt step. Hm. Hopefully one day...sooner rather than later would be nice.

AUGH!!!!

Apparently he can open doors now...guess I'll have to be more vigilant toward the end of naptime.

Faith

"Holy is the Lord" by Andrew Peterson
I did a little clicking around after I found "Matthews Begats" yesterday, and found the song below. (For a laugh, you can also check out this one.)

This song is based on the account from Genesis 22 where Abraham is obedient in offering Isaac. It's beautiful.


This convicts me in so many ways each time I read it. It illustrates why, despite Abraham's many short-comings, he is lauded as a man of such great faith.
"And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said,'My father!'
And he said,'Here I am, my son.'
And he said,'Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?'
And Abraham said, 'God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.'
So the two of them walked on together." (Gen. 22:7-8)

It wasn't enough for Abraham just to believe this, and I don't think he had any idea how God was going to provide. He just knew God's character and chose to believe His goodness. His faith was made complete in his obedience. This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately; I'm reading a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "The Cost of Discipleship," (yes, K, I'm still working on it!) and an entire chapter deals with this concept. Faith is two-fold. Bonhoeffer states:

"Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes."

The example he gives is Peter stepping out the of the boat onto the stormy sea. He saw Jesus, but dared not jump out until he was called, so he bade Christ to call him out of the boat. Jesus did. Peter had seen some incredible things and believed in his heart that Jesus could do anything. I'm confident of that...and he could clearly see Jesus walking across the water. However, believing alone would not have been enough in this situation. His faith had to be carried out through obedience. "...faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience."

Abraham was clearly called by God to take Isaac and offer him on a mountain of God's own choosing as a burnt offering. Peter was clearly called by Christ to step out of the boat. The callings in my life are much simpler, (seemingly) as a general rule, but oh...how many excuses I can make! What I am discovering is that the two, believing and obeying, are not chronologically related. One doesn't always come first...but neither is complete without the other. And confusion seems to be the result when obedience has not be an immediate response, but rather something I try to rationalize first. When I know what I must do and don't do it, it then becomes a matter where I can question whether my "faith" is strong enough, or if I've even heard the call correctly.

What if Peter had second-guessed? "Well, we're supposed to be responsible. People sink in stormy waters...the Lord wouldn't realistically call me out to my drowning. He must mean something else." If those hypothetical thoughts had been allowed into Peter's mind, he would have already been choosing disobedience...and he would have failed to believe that God would care for him. Rationale would have been the undoing of his faith.

What if Abraham had listened to his emotions regarding his son, his long-awaited-and-promised son, and decided that God's calling could not have possibly meant he should offer his son upon an alter? "And Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, 'Abraham! Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' And he said, Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'" (Gen. 22:10-12) And then, Abraham looked up and saw a ram. Not before. Not when his humanity was [probably] bursting within him, longing for another way.

Yes, God gave us brains so we can think. And there are plenty of situations that require serious thought, prayer, etc. The problem...MY problem...is when I allow my thoughts on a matter to usurp the authority of God's clear call. When I have clearly heard Him, yet still pause in the state of consideration. After a little while, it's not hard to find "reasons" why something else should be far more likely a calling. Really, though, it's an excuse to rely on myself instead of walking by faith. I wonder if maybe every situation is so clear and I've just become accustomed to not hearing His voice in all things...? That's entirely possible, seeing as how I can hear Him in more things now than I could a year ago...or five years ago...and knowing that I'm called to Christ-likeness, and that Christ was in constant communion with the Father, not doubting or delaying or second-guessing. Maybe the problem is using my brain to try to figure things out that are already figured out...

And with that lovely loose end and rambling "logic," I'm off to do something more productive with this Saturday. :) Happy weekend, everyone!

And, because I've decided I kinda like Andrew Peterson's stuff, here's "The Chasing Song."

"The Begats"

This is a neat way to learn (yes, I said learn...it IS memorizeable if one is so inclined) the geneology given at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew.

Home Alone

Things I've done while I'm on vacation the kids are out shopping with Scott:

1. Nothing
2. Laid on the couch in silence and looked at the Christmas lights
3. Listened to some music
4. Read until I dozed off
5. Searched for a Christmas-y blog background that I like better than the one I have...no luck (at least not one that will keep my widgets)
6. Debated doing more laundry
7. Decided against doing more laundry
8. Ate 157 Christmas cookies (that might be a slight exaggeration)
9. Looked at the clock and realized only 90 minutes have gone by since everyone left
10. Wondered when they would be home
11. Learned how to do the most amazing font trick in the history of the world make strikethroughs happen :)
12. Organized my highlighters
13. Fixed a leaking toilet
14. More nothing
15. Made this list

Sweet solitude is a grand thing...I just need to be better at taking advantage of it when it happens! This is my first time with no kids around since the beginning of October...I think I'll go have the best mocha in the world (thank you, Tracy!!) and do some more reading. *long relaxed sigh*

How Are You?

That's a LOADED question. So is "Are you ok?" Just so you know.

"Okay" is a completely relative term. Example: I am always okay. If you ask me, I will say yes...unless I believe myself to be dying. Even then, I probably believe myself to be "okay" in the technical sense, but pain has overruled my logic. (i.e. during childbirth...) My definition of "okay" is something like this: Possessing the knowledge that life will continue, regardless of how I feel at the moment. If life does not continue, then I will be dancing in the presence of the Lord, thus making me better than "okay."

And if you ask me how I am, and my answer is "I'm ok...," then it's probably because I know I cannot truthfully tell you that things are wonderful. :)

I do realize that this is not everyone's definition, however. Example: my husband is not "okay" if he is sick, tired, upset, or at work. (Love you, honey!) In reality, he's just as "okay" as I am in those moments, but his standards are higher. My okay-meter reaches to absolute zero, and his only goes down to "regular" zero...like the freezing point of water.

Asking how someone is is also a complicated question because each person's "state of being" encompasses multiple facets. Usually they can all be summed up into one answer, but sometimes it's tricky. Here's an example of how I would categorize "how I am" today:

• Physically--really good! I'm not sick, I found regular pants that I can still wear, and I'm staying warm and cozy in my house. No complaints.
• Emotionally--basically okay...the low side, if you must know. I've yelled at my kids all day, feeling like a total failure each time, but only after the words escaped my mouth. (Why, why, WHY can my brain not process consequences just a LITTLE bit faster?!) I'm grouchy that I'm the only one who knows where to put my dirty socks in this household. I want to be at a ladies-in-the-church function tonight, but it just couldn't work out. I'm sad and reeling from approximately 3 confrontations, all of which have left me feeling lonely, confused, and utterly misunderstood. I would like to lock myself in a private, sound-proof room, ugly-sob (the uncontrollable kind where snot flies out your nose) until I can't any more, and then break something. But, since privacy doesn't exist when you're a mom, I'll probably just have a nice "pretty" cry later in the shower.
• Spiritually--fantastic! Except where my self-pity is concerned. God's working on me there. I'm learning a TON lately, and I'm excited about it all. My studies have been fruitful, my prayer times are rich...my cup overflows. I know how blessed I am even in the present difficulties, and I'm so grateful for an Abba who never thinks I'm too old or too silly to crawl into His lap to let Him make everything okay. (And by "okay," I am referring to a much bigger thing than what my definition encompasses.) Of course, there is always room for improvement.
• Overall? Well, I guess that would average out to an "I'm pretty good, thank you!" (Because I never intentionally give emotion much value in determining how I am. I'm too fickle/hormonal/whatever.)
• Note: there are sometimes other factors besides these main ones that merrit a spot of their own...like the health of someone close to me, a relationship (either troubled or amazing), etc. All of those would be inappropriate for me to share here.

Still, it IS polite to ask. So, how are you?

Jonah

I read Jonah yesterday. You can bask in my brilliant reading skills. Not really...it's only a couple pages long. Anyway, I like Jonah. I like the whole book for several reasons, but I also just flat out like the guy. He's so human. I'm like Jonah...that's not necessarily a great thing because the book isn't very flattering to his character, but I'm being honest.

I like how transparent his actions are. He was a prophet. He heard and understood what God was saying. He knew the call placed on his life, and specifically, he understood what his mission to Ninevah was supposed to entail. And he didn't like it. Some people might've grumbled, but still gone. Some would've pleaded with God to either change His mind or to call someone else to the task. Jonah? He picked the point farthest away from where he was supposed to go, and ran away.

It didn't work out the way he probably had hoped it would. No...God has this thing where He just won't be ignored. Unfortunately, in order to get Jonah's attention, it had to involve a boatload of other people...literally. :) (In my life, the "boatload" is definitely figurative.) Something I find amazing is that the other dudes on the boat did not worship the living God...and it didn't take them long at ALL to see Who was really in charge. I love how God used Jonah's disobedience and rebellion to reach a bunch of other guys in the process.

Secondly, I like how the "boat guys" were fearful to follow through with what Jonah told them to do. I mean, imagine: here you are with a guy who's telling you that it's his God who is causing your very lives to be in jeopardy. And then he tells you to throw him overboard. Well, that would scare the beejeebies out of me! But they trusted Jonah after hearing what was going on, and they humbled themselves before the Lord, recognizing His authority.

Then, we hear about the fish sent to swallow Jonah. I wonder if Jonah was hoping he would just die...still wanting to avoid the appointed task. I wonder...and I find it [only slightly] humorous that, if that's the case, that God wasn't going to let him off even that easy! Seriously, what are the odds of being swallowed by a fish and surviving in there for three whole days? I don't know a lot about fish anatomy, but they do have digestive systems. And that must've been some projectile fish vomit (thrilling picture, right?) for this fish, that's big enough to swallow a guy whole, to get close enough to land to get Jonah there safely! I mean, again, what are the odds?! Fish probably throw up out in the middle of the sea, as a general rule. Just a guess.

So, now you have Jonah and he's WAY worse off than if he'd just gone in the first place. He doesn't have any belongings with him, and he probably smelled like fish puke...that's basically the worst smell I can imagine (having just been with a toddler with a stomach virus.) And Jonah finally realizes he's just not going to get out of this. He has to go and deliver God's message to Ninevah.

And here's the coolest part: Ninevah had a reputation for being an absolutely vile place. They were violent, bad people! It wasn't for nothing that Jonah didn't want to see them saved. Even as he was telling them how God would judge them if they continued in their wickedness, Jonah was inwardly hoping they would reject God's message. BUT...they didn't! They received God's word immediately! The king even made it so the animals in the land had to fast...he overlooked no detail in making the necessary abrupt changes. The people were grieved by their sin...they were repentant. And God was compassionate and merciful to them. A city of 120,000 people was saved...an entire city! It's hard to imagine that an entire city could exist and honestly have no idea that what they were doing was wrong...but that's what God says: these people were so lost and confused that they didn't know their right hand from their left. And when they heard the truth preached, they recognized it as truth...and they were obedient.

And Jonah? Well, after he delivered the message, he found a spot where he could see the whole city. Maybe he was waiting for God to zap the city and wanted a front row seat...I don't know. But it was hot, and God caused a plant to grow up and shade Jonah, purely for his comfort. Jonah was pleased. But then, God sent a worm...and the worm ate the plant (at least enough to kill it.) And Jonah was irate! He cursed his very life! Over a plant! Over his comfort!! And through this simple illustration, God was able to show Jonah the selfishness in his own heart; he cared more for his own comfort than he did for the souls of more than 120,000 people.

The book ends there, and I've heard it said that Jonah never did get it. I think those people are wrong, and this is why. I think Jonah is the author of the book. (I realize there is some debate about that, and it's highly possible I'm not well-enough informed to make that call.) I hope he's the author of the book. I think it was probably common for Israelites, knowing they were God's chosen people, to look down on the peoples around them...without compassion even. This doesn't make Jonah's attitude any less wrong, but it sheds some light on why/how he could be so calloused to the depravity of non-Israelites. If Jonah is the author, then I'm certain he eventually "got it" because of the way the book is written. If Jonah had not had change of heart, he would not have portrayed his rebellious actions in such a scathing way...he would've made them sound natural, even commendable. The manner in which the book reads indicates that the author understood the concepts of mercy and compassion and the need to reach confused people with Truth.

And I think, even if Jonah had strayed even further and never gone to Ninevah, God would have still ministered to those people. I wonder if God's consistency in following Jonah and ensuring His obedience was maybe more for Jonah's sake than for Ninevah. After all, God doesn't need Jonah...or me...or any person. God is God...we're the ones that need Him. It's always best when we submit to Him and are useful tools in His ministry, but our disobedience also isn't going to thwart God's plan.

So, despite my often selfish and sullen attitude, I hope God keeps working on me too, constantly bringing me back to where He wants me, even if I end up smelly, hot, and hating worms. (Figuratively speaking. :) I hope I will display His message not just with the right words, but with the right heart, and that I'll be sensitive when He's leading me to places I might not otherwise want to go. I hope I'll "get it." And I'm encouraged to see that, even when I fall and disobey, even then God will accomplish good things...both in me, and hopefully in the people nearby who can see His pursuit.

Tips for Holiday Eating

(I've gotten several versions of this via email, and it's made me chuckle every time!)

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under NO circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day? Pah.

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, seriously, have some standards!

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you have not been paying attention.
Reread tips, then start over. But hurry: January is just around the corner.

Katy's 1st School Field Trip

Katy took her very first school field trip this past Friday. They went to the public library, where they had a tour, story time, and a special look at the "secret" of the story room! (It doubles as a sort of planetarium when the lights are out...very cool.)

Katy is in the puffy purple coat in all these pics, just so that you can spot her a little easier. :)
Lots of other parents came along:Mrs. Rye is Katy's teacher...she's the first adult on the right:Story Time:

Ian was so proud to be a "big boy" too...even when they turned the lights off! (See him in the back? He sat all by himself...i.e. without me right next to him.)

Next, they loaded back onto the bus and went to the Wichita Theater for a movie. Katy was especially excited about having popcorn and a drink. :) (Katy is in the back row, kinda far away from the camera.)

Next, they loaded back up and went to Midwestern to see the "Fantasy Lights" display. Granted, the lights aren't so spectacular during the day, but there are still lots of fun things to see in the daytime. Here, they had a picnic lunch. Ian and I were only able to attend the library portion since he wasn't feeling tip-top yet. I sent my camera with another mom, so that I could still see some of what they got to do. (I hated to miss it!)

The Little Engine that Could Some of the kids with the engine(Left to Right) Lukus, Easton, Elijah (back), Kelvin, "mystery hood kid," Veronica, Jacob, Joshua(very back), Madeleine (back), Faryn (front), Dakari (back with fingers up), Jadyn, Faith, J.T., Mrs. Rye (also taking picture)

Three kids from the class are missing in this picture, including Katy, because of a potty break. :)

Squadron Skating Party

I didn't get to go on this trip because Ian was still sick-ish, so there aren't really any captions. Scott's squadron was having a free Christmas skating party, and the girls have been wanting to skate...so they went! Here are some pics:

Santa was there too:

Opinions

I guess I should start off by saying the events that precipitated my thoughts on each of these topics are not linked. I'm just putting it all in one post because, simply, I don't want to write two.

Opinions
Everyone has an opinion. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. Not everyone is permitted to express that opinion in any setting they choose if they wish to handle things well.

Completely fictional example: There once was a woman who needed to go shopping for some necessities. She, of course, had to take her small children along, but because one of them had been sick and she was exceedingly tired, she opted to let the youngest go in pajamas and she didn't fix anyone's hair...even her own. She knew their appearance would attract some stares and strange looks, but no matter; people could think whatever they wanted. What she was not prepared for was the couple who approached her at the store as her youngest (who was sick, remember) began for fuss and cry. The couple expressed that they were appalled that someone would take their children out in public in such a condition and that if she cared about doing things properly, she would discipline her [now approaching hysterical] youngest child (as the mother prayed fervently that said child would not throw up all over the store aisle.) The couple left, closing with "we'll pray you do the right thing."

Yes, this example is 100% fictional, but I've been thinking a lot about the way people (myself included) express opinions about things. Almost certainly, you can read that example and feel for that poor mom...maybe you've been in a similar situation. You know the details, so your opinion on the matter involves more complete information than the other outspoken couple. But realistically, we're not privy to all the details shaping other people's decisions. Sometimes sharing your opinion is still warranted, but not always.

Now imagine that same fictional scenario, but that there were other bystanders who either overheard the couple's rebuke and gained confidence of their own, or felt a similar "burden." After numerous other people approach the mother with all sorts of "good advice" for her, she gathers her few items, unkept children, and the remnants of her dignity, checks out and heads home as expediently as possible.

"But if those people had known..." you might say. Well, they didn't. She's not obligated to tell every stranger (or even acquaintances) why she makes every decision she makes. The fact is that each of those other people missed the mark entirely and missed an opportunity to minister to and encourage someone who could have really used some understanding and support.

Not all situations are that simple. Sometimes there's a reason involved in making a particular decision that is too personal to share (or too painful)...it really shouldn't matter. The onlooker is not always entitled to all the facts about someone else's life. And, just because whatever decision might appear questionable does NOT mean that it is.

The moral of this story: It is wise to consider your opinions carefully and to be sensitive in the manner in which you share them...IF, indeed, they should be shared at all.

(Second portion deleted.)

Baby Update

Well, I had my appointment this morning, and we are the proud parents of a little white blob!

We got to hear a nice solid heart beat (172 bpm), and he/she is doing a headstand. I know it's hard to tell in the picture, but on the actual monitor, you could see a little more clearly (but not much.) By all the measurements, it's also been determined that I'm about 8 weeks along, not the 9-ish we'd figured. Sooo...the due date we will be going by is July 22. And by the sonogram, Baby is a little less than 2 cm long.

To be fair to our cute little blob-baby, he/she is not actually a blob. Here's a picture I found showing what you might see if you could look closer. "He" has all the major organs, his own bloodtype, knees, elbows, hair follicles, and clear facial features...even the lens and retina have formed in the eyes, and he can move! Pretty incredible...

I go back in 4 weeks. Thanks for your prayers!

Neat Little Illustration

I found this in several places with minor differences in the way each version was told, so I'm not sure who deserves credit here. I did not write this. I did, however, take the picture. :) Here are some biblical references as well: Jn. 16:33, Rom. 5:3-5, Rom. 8:31-39, James 1:2-4, 1 Pet. 4:1

A Carrot, an Egg, and Some Coffee

A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he and turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her he asked. "Darling, what do you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.
She did and noted that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it.
After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee.
She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

She humbly asked, "What does it mean Father?"

He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting.
But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior.
But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique however.
After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you," he asked his daughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?
Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Decorating for Christmas

Well, we managed to get the tree up this morning! Something about decorating just makes you want to celebrate. So, barring any morning sickness issues, I have lots of baking to do, decorating to tweak, and touch-ups to finish.

For all the family reading this, I only have a couple of pictures to share so far.

Just Wondering...

Who exactly gave Barbara Walters exclusive rights to decide who the most fascinating people are each year?!

Seriously.

Like she's the authority on anything. Tough interviewer...pah. (And yet, apparently, tens of millions of Americans tuned in. Sheesh.)

More Than a Few Blessings

I know, I know...I've talked a lot about our blessing tree. :) The plan was to go through all the leaves on Thanksgiving, but since we weren't in town for Thanksgiving, we didn't get to do that. Instead, we took the tree down this morning before school, so that we'll have room to put up our Christmas tree tomorrow. I won't share all of the stuff we wrote down, but I wanted to share some of the things the kids put on there at least. (I did write down all of them for my own records, since I hope to reuse the same leaves next year and, thus, erased all of them.)

Emily:

1. That God made me and saved me
2. school
3. that I have a nice sister who cleaned the playroom for me
4. that we have enough clothes
5. all my friends
6. Mrs. Cannaday (her teacher)
7. our table and food
8. school movies
9. Mommy
10. that Mr. John (the custodian) helps us so much at school

Katy:

1. Daddy
2. Mrs. Rye (her teacher) and all my friends
3. my pumpkin
4. supper with my family
5. our slumber party
6. Grandma and Grampa's safe trip and good visit
7. for how much Mommy, Daddy, Emily, and Ian love me
8. that God made me and our family and that we can be together, for surprises, and for my friends, for Grandma and Grampa, and our babysitters like Miss Hannah, and that I can love my family and God. (note: this one required a large leaf)
9. having Daddy home!
10. that Jesus saved me!

Ian:

1. Pumpkins and books!

Pregnancy Update

Disclaimer: The blog-writer claims no responsibility for rising levels of discomfort in male readers. Proceed with caution.

A little over 6 years ago, when I was pregnant with Emily, I remember being SO impatient to get into maternity clothes. What was "worse" (seemingly, at the time), was that I couldn't even MAKE myself pooch out enough to pretend to have an excuse until I was nearly 17 weeks along! At that point, I could push out just enough pudge to pretend my normal clothes were too tight.

That sounds dumb to me now. I mean, come ON! The things I take for granted! So, here I am, healthy pregnancy #4, MAYBE 8 weeks along (at least within a few days of it), and I can't button my pants. :( *insert seriously pouty face* It doesn't look like baby yet...more like I've been eating too many Thanksgiving leftovers, honestly. Not cool. So, at least I'm thankful it's cold enough to wear sweats and other comfy pants with elastic waistbands...or that I can hold my jeans together with a rubber band underneath an oversized sweatshirt and no one else will know. Until now. So, there you have it. Apparently my abdominal muscles are not nearly as awesome as they were 6 years ago when I didn't care about them at all. That's life for ya.

In other news, I'm now experiencing a good healthy kick in the pants by morning sickness. This is actually a good thing. I'll explain. After I was SOOOO sick with Ian, I fervently prayed that God would protect me (and the family) from that if we ever had another baby. So, I wasn't really very sick this time...prayers answered, happy Shannon...only not really. The NOT being sick actually had me worried something was wrong. See, the doctor asked me at my first appointment if I felt pregnant. Well...I don't know! I'm tired. I have minimal other symptoms (any of which could easily be fabricated by the mind of someone hoping to be pregnant and knowing what they should be experiencing. That's happened before...) I had a positive blood test and a handful (yes, that's right...a handful...like 6) positive home tests. Hey...I was a little surprised. ANYWAY, so I started praying that God would let me feel pregnant and give me peace so I'd quit worrying. And there you have it: the reason I'm thankful to be spending increasing portions of the day (and night) laying on the bathroom floor wondering what death feels like. I am so fickle.

I go back to the doc next Wednesday for a repeat ultrasound. At my last one, by the date of my last cycle, I should have been exactly 6 weeks along. However, all we could see was a sac (but it was in the right place, which was the main point of the u/s), so the doctor thinks (big surprise) that I'm not real regular and that I'm actually a few days behind that. At 5-5 1/2 weeks, what we saw is pretty normal. Please pray with me, though, for continued peace. A blogger friend, who is a few weeks ahead of me in her second pregnancy, said that past miscarriages can really steal the joy from early pregnancy, even if it's healthy. Boy, is she right. I'm scared to go back and find...nothing. Or just an empty sac. Or something else wrong. You know the saying, "prepare for the worst, but hope for the best?" Well, I'm not sure that's really the right way to handle things, but there certainly is a pull to do just that...to try to protect oneself against fear and disappointment. I'm hoping to see a healthy little heartbeat next week. I'm scared I won't, so I keep trying (not really intentionally) to figure out how I'd respond to that devastation; of course, there's no way to plan for that. If that were to happen, it's going to be raw no matter what I do now. Worry is such a waste. Definitely my worst habit. Hmpf.

Anyhoo, that's the most I've got for an update. Reading over it, it kinda sounds depressing...and I'm not sure how to reword things to more accurately convey what I'm thinking and feeling, so I'm going to just leave it. I am SO excited. And I have bouts of complete confidence, and only sporadic moments of anxiety...the fears are not overpowering, so I'm hoping I didn't make it sound like they are. Also, I'm not sick-sick like I was with Ian...not even close. Most of the time...well, about half the time...I feel pretty okay. The rest is worth it.

And now I'm rambling, so I'll be done. :)

Tea

Many of you probably already know that I'm not talking about English Breakfast or Earl Grey. You know me so well! But for those of you who don't get the (sometimes frightening) inner workings of my mind (not necessarily a bad thing), I'll explain briefly. No, I'll quote an excerpt from a book.

Jim Berg in "Changed into His Image" says this: "Since the Fall of man in the Garden of Eden, man has attempted to blame someone or something for his trouble. Adam attempted to shift responsibility to Eve, and Eve pointed an accusing finger at the serpent. God's Word is clear, however, that our real problems are not the result of pressures from someone or something outside ourselves. We do not sin because of financial, social, medical, or circumstantial pressures. We sin because each of us has a sinful heart.

"We can illustrate this biblical truth this way. When we take a tea bag, place it in a cup, and fill the cup with hot water, the water activates the tea in the bag, unleashing its taste into the water around it. The hot water didn't create the taste; it merely revealed, or drew out what was already in the bag.

"This depicts what happens in the human heart. The pressures around us (the unfavorable circumstances, the temptations, and the commands of God to love Him and our neighbor) merely draw out of our heart what is already in it. We cannot blame the hot water for the taste in the cup. The contents of the tea bag determine the flavor of the tea. If we don't like that particular taste, we need to put into the water a bag containing a different kind of tea."

Tea has been on my mind a lot lately, since it's one of the few things I can pretty consistently keep on my stomach. I love the warmth when the house is a little chilly. I love the way it sooths my throat. I love the gentle smell. Oh, that my life would be a warm and pleasing aroma too!

I'm quick to make excuses for myself. I'm hormonal. Sometimes I'm really sick. I'm tired. Yada, yada, yada. All of those are probably true, but you know what? SO WHAT!? The fact is: my tea bag is full of nasty tea, and the [seemingly extra] hot water is letting it all steep out. My prayer is that whatever it takes to bring out the worst in me would continue until it's all out...and that, in the meantime, I'd let the Spirit replace it with good fruit (or tea...in keeping with the analogy.)

"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit." (Matthew 7:16-18) In that particular passage, Jesus is talking about false teachers and how to discern. I went ahead and included it, though, because it speaks about integrity and consistency.

There are also a few passages from James. I like James. I heard he used to be called "Old Camel Knees" because his knees had grown deformed from kneeling so often in prayer. Sadly, I don't think my knees are in any danger of that...yet. :( "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh.

"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom." (James 3:8-13)

I'm sad that my children have witnessed and suffered through such a rotten example of a servant's heart in me, though I am grateful for their loving acceptance of my apologies. I'm discouraged when I see them and feel like I'm looking in a mirror...I know who they're imitating. I think the weight of all this would absolutely crush me if I couldn't cling to grace! It's sobering to catch that glimpse of despair from time to time and to realize how many people out there don't have hope and remain trapped in that pit!

So, in a nutshell, I am not a fan of my own tea. It stinks and it tastes awful. But praise God I'm not stuck with it! HE can change it (and already is)...and with His help, maybe I won't go hatin' on my hot water so much. (I have to throw in some Texan jargon before I move to Kansas and lose the excuse!)

My (incomplete) tea bag:

A better flavor:

Yes, those are tea bags. And, since the cup is half full (as opposed to half empty), my lack of artistic talent is beneficial for your imagination. So there.

Momentous Occasion!

Ian has successfully gone three nights without his pacifier!! Ladies and gentlemen, I now believe it is safe to say he is paci-weaned. The first night, admittedly, was unpleasant for nearly 45 minutes, give or take a few, and including some breathers between crying sessions...("sier! sier!" *sob, sob* ...which means 'pacifier' for those of you who are not fluent in Ian-ese.) But after that? No problemo! We haven't thrown them all away just yet, and we did let him have one for a nap yesterday because we were at Nana and Papa's house (and it's harder to nap when one is away from home), BUT he's done a really great job!

Evidence:

Way to go, Ian!!! That's my big boy... :)

Alphabet Tag

A-Attached or Single: Attached
B-Best Friend: Scott
C-Cake or Pie: Pie
D-Day of Choice: Saturday
E-Essential Item: Vacuum cleaner (quit laughing at me)
F-Favorite Color: Blue
G-Greatest Accomplishment: So far, surviving everything that happened to our family in Wichita Falls
H-Hometown: I consider Los Alamos, NM to be my hometown, but I was born in IL.
I-Indulgences: time on the internet
J-January or July: January usually, but this time I have to choose July...we have a new baby coming then!
K-Kids: 2 girls, 1 boy, 2 in heaven, at least 1 on the way :)
L-Life is incomplete without: Christ
M-Marriage: almost 7 years!
N-Number of Siblings: 1 brother, 1 sister, 3 brothers-in-law, and 1 sister-in-law
O-Oranges or Apples: Mmmm...both!
P-Phobias or fears: germs...sort of.
Q-Quotes: I want my heart to be so hidden in Christ that a person must seek the Lord in order to find it.
R-Reason to Smile: Too many to name...why NOT smile?!
S-Season: Fall...REAL fall, not the fake Texas kind.
T-Tag Friends: anyone who wants to do this
U-Unknown facts about me: I had to wear head-gear with my braces. Yeah, laugh. Whatever.
V-Very favorite store: Any place that has what I'm looking for
W-Worst habit: worrying
X-X-ray or Ultrasound: usually ultrasounds
Y-Your favorite food: authentic, New Mexican, green chile, cheesy food. YUM! (I hope I can find green chile in Kansas!)
Z-Zodiac: Um...Libra??? Maybe?? It's all a crock anyway.

Happy Thanksgiving

Something I'm discovering (not something I've mastered) is that a good cure for anxiety is thankfulness. It's not a quick fix (most of the time), but it's part of the process of learning to take captive every thought. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."(Philippians 4:6-7)


So what do you think about? Things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and praiseworthy. (v. 8) This year, we've made a blessing tree to help us dwell on the ways we've seen God working in the past month. It's been really neat to have little physical reminders of God's goodness to us, and it's something we hope to continue each year.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Random Pictures of Ian Resting

Kitten Anyone???

**UPDATE** After a lovely day, I decided to take the kitten to the vet, just to make sure he wasn't diseased...and to make sure he was really a he. :) He is, in fact, a boy, and he did have ear mites. So, the vet put some drops on his skin to kill any worms, skin fungus, fleas/eggs, and the ear mites (should any of those other problems exist undetected.) It was estimated that he is between 8 and 10 weeks old and that he's been under-nourished for some time (by the looks of his poor muscle tone and lack of body fat.) We were finishing up and waiting in line to pay when I got the call: a little girl was looking for her lost kitten. SOOOO, $65 later, I was on my way to said little girl's house to return "Boaz" (which is what our family was calling him.) The girl was exceedingly happy, but her mother was not. It turns out, the mother intentionally put the kitten out, hoping he would disappear for good. :( I'm not altogether confident that things are going to bode well for Boaz from this point on, but he never really belonged to us, so I don't feel like I have much say. The girls are sad, but we told them from the beginning that we were just going to protect the kitten until we found his real family. They cried hard for about 20 minutes, but they're already moving on. Whew! (Although, Emily wanted to know if she could ask Santa for a new, real kitten...hm.) Anyway, I guess I'm glad we found his home and didn't pay to have him declawed. :)



ORIGINAL:
So, we have a kitten...but only temporarily. We REALLY want to find a home for him...and as an added bonus, we'll throw in his litter box and litter, a bag of food, his dish, and his carrier. WHAT A DEAL!! Merry Christmas a little bit early. :)

I think he's a boy...I didn't realize until yesterday how difficult it is to tell on cats!! He is VERY sweet and loves attention. He's already litter-trained (which is apparently not very difficult to do), and he even does great with baths (which is apparently NOT so normal for cats! He's already had two of them, only because I had an obsessive need to make SURE he was completely clean.)

Here are some pictures:

For some perspective on his size, here he is by Ian:

This is the best I could get for a face shot:

Seriously, if you or someone you know would like a very sweet, indoor, FREE kitten, just post a comment!!!

Weekend with Nana and Papa

First of all, SCOTT'S HOME! He's been gone for the past three weeks, so we're thankful to have him back. Secondly, things are BUSY. I won't bore you with the details, but it's a little nuts around here. Ok...more than a little.

Since things are nuts, I'm not going to write much. I do, however, want to post some pictures from our weekend. Nana shares a b-day with Emily, so we had some fun celebration time. :)

Nana set up for another princess party.

Each of the girls got a princess...Emily has Cinderella, and Katy has Belle.

They each got a game.

Daddy found special bell necklaces that really jingle, and some fun lip gloss.

The three birthday girls. We LOVE Nana!

The kids are following in percussionist Papa's (and Uncle Kevin's) footsteps.

We had a YUMMY ice cream cake!

Emily had a migraine, so this part wasn't as fun for her. :(She was feeling all better after a short nap, so she got to eat some of it then.

We had a FUN time. Thanks for having us, Papa and Nana!!

Happy 6th, Emily Lauren!!!

6 things I love about you, Emily:

1. You love the Lord and try to please Him. I love how hard you try to do what is right, and how honest you are when you're struggling against doing something wrong. You are developing good discipline in your devotions and asking so many great questions. You have grown so much in the last year, and I'm so excited to see how God will continue to direct your life!
2. You love your family. You take your role of biggest sister very seriously and try to be mindful of the example you set. You are protective of your sister and brother as well as being their biggest cheerleader and greatest fan. They adore you! You understand responsibility already, and you're willing to do big jobs to help out.
3. You're a good friend...you think about how other people are feeling, and you're mindful of ways you can help. You sieze opportunities to befriend kids who are less outgoing, and you make people feel special by the way you include them. I especially admire this strength in you because it's one I've never had and always wanted myself.
4. You work hard, even on tasks you don't want to do. You are learning about perseverance and diligence. Many adults have less stamina than you...I'm so proud of your determination to do your best, even when you don't really want to.
5. You find fun everywhere. You know how to turn almost anything into a game. You have an amazing imagination and a way of communicating that helps others to play along too. You have a magnetic smile and sense of humor, and you're good at making others laugh and smile along with you.
6. You are genuine. I love the depth in everything you do. You are confident enough to be honest about how you really feel, and it makes it easy to talk with you. And you're also caring enough to listen to someone else's thoughts on the matter and thoughtfully consider things. Transparency can be a difficult thing to learn, but you are already well on your way.

I love you, Emily! I'm so proud of who you are and who you are becoming. You make my life richer in so many ways. I pray that your boldness continues to grow and be shaped into a valuable tool, that your love for your Savior never wanes, and that you live in the fullness of what He has for you always.

Here are some pictures from our EARLY morning "party:"

Trick candles are confusing at 6 AM!

Everyone!

New Bible cover!

It matches Katy's

Happy birthday!!!