Fun Stuff!

Thought I'd update pictures, I've been slacking!
Halloween--Chase's 2nd favorite person at the Pumpkin Patch.

And, of course, Thomas was his favorite!

Here's Chase in his costume-check out his chin hair~!

My winged buddy, Allison the butterfly princess.

Chase found a train at the mall-very exciting!

Ice Skating!!

"Help Mommy!"

Clapping for daddy at DBU Graduation

Graduation Cake

The spread at the party!

Party

Craziness in Chase's room!

The YOUNGEST Party people-Jackson 10days, and Cole almost a month!

The only picture of the graduate and me from the entire weekend--I was super busy!

After the party, we decided that we needed to a)clean Chase's room, and b)set up one of his presents-a BIG BIG boy bed!! Dinosaurs!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I am Blessed...

...and I take it for granted more often than not. I can be boastful, and I sometimes gossip and belittle others without them knowing....I am a sinner, but I am redeemed by the eternal love that can only be given to me by the grace of the One True God. What a blessing, and I pray that I remember that the next time my sin tries to overtake me.

What?

Chase ran up to me last night and grabbed my shirt, then said the most absurd thing: "Mommy, you have a baby in your belly!". NO, No, and WHERE'D HE GET THAT???

Kids say the strangest things!, but I guess he must have overheard someone from our church say that(it is in the water at Cityview!)....question is: Who IS pregnant?!

Precious Memories...

The last few weeks have been full of mixed emotions, and some sleepless nights for me. I had been feeling stretched, trying to figure out when I could visit both my grandfather in his rehab facility, and when I could go visit his sister, Aunt Sister, in her nursing home across town. My sweet, outgoing Aunt Sister had been on my mind so much over the last few weeks, but my time had gone completely into seeing my grandfather, trying to give him motivation to complete his physical therapy so that he could come home. I feared for my grandmother, driving every day into downtown Fort Worth by herself to be with grandaddy. I worried about her, and still do, that she would still take care of herself while caring for him-as only she can. My grandmother is a strong, and loving person, one that I aspire to be; but still, I worried that her own health was not on her mind-how could it be!!!

On Friday, Aunt Sister went home to be with Jesus, and I know she is singing hymns with the angels at this very moment(and probably playing piano too)! She was 96, and had lived a long and amazing life. She had Alzheimers, and my grandfather was diagnosed with dementia not too long ago....so you can imagine my heart dropping, knowing that my grandmother would have to tell her husband (with dementia) that his older sister had passed...and I wonder how many times she will have to remind him of this in the future. This is the true meaning of wedding vows-in good times and bad, in sickness and in health. My heart is torn, because I know without a doubt that God has his arms wrapped so tightly around my grandparents during this time, and that they have no doubt that God's will has been served in Aunt Sister's life too; but I am still sad and worried.......for my grandfather and grandmother, for my family that is full of "the older crowd", and knowing that I am entering a season of loss in my life (though I am hopeful that it isn't all at once~!)----and I want to deal gracefully. I pray that these times are filled with precious memories of the time I get to ENJOY with my family.

Speaking of enjoying-On Saturday, we celebrated the joy of having my grandfather with us for 89years-what a gift!! Here's a pic--Chase sang Happy Birthday so loud to him!

A few weeks ago, Grandaddy got to meet his newest great grandson-Evan...another memory I will cherish!


Aunt Sister, I remember:

• Singing hymns while she played the piano effortlessly, and to perfection-her voice ringing higher than the keys.


• Knowing that, while I may be short, she would be there to hug my waist, and I could look her in the eye-heehee.


• Visiting her the last few times, and watching her face light up when she saw Chase--and him giving her precious kisses and hugs.

Precious Lord,

I know that You are in control, You are the ultimate planner, I could never design my life in Your perfect way--I pray that You continue to cradle my heart, and the hearts of my family, and that You continue to protect the lives of those that care so deeply for others. Give me grace and peace in your Will.

My First State Fair

This is my new friend, Big Tex.

I went with my poppa and nana, and my cousins.

We were required by law to get (and play with) funnel cake--that's what my mom told me anyway. It was fun, anyway--I attacked mommy with the powdered sugar!

There were some rides that I was too small to get on-bummer...

...but Allison LOVED the big 'ol rides!

Look how high she and cousin Chris got on this ride!

This was one of my faves :)

Mommy went on this ride with me-she thought it was way scarier than I did.

Some really big corny dogs, and some chocolate strawberries on a stick...

At the end of it all, I still didn't want to do the group pose...but believe me, I had FUN!!!

---posted by CHASE :)

Twisted Up

Over the last few weeks, I feel like I've been 100% confused with just about everything about my life!!! I know the causes, mainly selfishness and laziness-kinda like most people I guess. I have felt disconnected from my friends, lonely, bored, tied down to my schedule, and overall just depressed! But our Father knows just when to say, "HEY YOU, OVER HERE!" My pastor said a phrase that really cut deep today, "...don't allow your soul to shrink!". Wow, that is exactly what the enemy has been able to do to me over the last month. It is so sickening to realize that I have allowed my life to become so much about me that I almost completely took the best part of me away---I have done just what Rick said--and that makes me so sad...
This is my situation, my mini-testimony of how sly evil can be: I have recently taken an opportunity to minister to someone close to me and turned it into an inconvenience. So selfish of me, and heartbreaking to know what I have allowed to happen because I didn't have time to get into the Word. Opening my Bible to any book would have reminded me of the graciousness that Jesus showed to all who crossed his path, regardless of the time it may have taken away from his journey. All the thoughts of how my schedule has been rearranged by offering to help would have been replaced by happiness and peace in knowing that I was following in His footsteps of helping those in need. This inconvenience to me has been so much harder on my friend; for she would give anything to be where I am right now. I watch her child because she was forced to go back to work in order to provide insurance for her family. This is exactly why I wanted to watch her little one in the first place, to ease her anxiety about putting him in daycare, and to help with expenses on her end. This is my blessing, and should be my Christian duty to help my community, but instead I have allowed the enemy to warp my thinking. Rick's simple phrase today, God's words through him, spoke volumes to me...and I plan on doing alot of praying and reconciling--I value my closeness to my Gracious Savior far too much to spend another minute in my sin!
Psalm 25 speaks of humility, and past sins, and the unwaivering love Christ has for all of us. We all have little sin in our lives, and we will always struggle with them-but we can not afford to let them take over. Without Him, we can so easily fall into our old traps...our time in His word contains all the truth we need to be redeemed!!!
V. 15-22
My eyes are ever on the Lord, only he can release my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.
Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away my sins.
See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.
May integrity and uprightness protect me, for my hope is in You.
Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Labor Day Camping Trip!

We decided to go to Eisenhower State Park in Denison for the Labor Day weekend. It really was the perfect time to go, the weather was awesome-lows in the 50s and highs in the low 90s. We even had a nice north wind to enjoy!
The first day, I wanted to take Chase to see his first 'beach'...it was set in a perfectly protected cove, and was really beautiful.

He and Allison(his cousin) had a great time splashing, throwing rocks, and looking at dead fish that washed on the beach--one downside to a cove!

...He was way to excited to pose for a family pic. :)

It's not a camping trip until you get to roast marshmallows...

Chillin' by the campfire...

We went hiking, and with my ever-vigilant 'mom radar' I found this little bitty turtle stuck in the mud---Chase was brave, and held it. Then he and daddy took him back to the water.

We also found a great vantage point of Lake Texoma, it was a 30ft. cliff though (I was OVERLY protective of the kiddos here...)

On our last day, the kids took to the trees....great pics!

We really did have a great time, but I think next year will be even better....once Chase increases that attention span...and sees that being in the tent can be really fun. (we stayed in a screened shelter this time) More hiking, more fishing, more wondering of the beauty we are blessed to live in-I truly look forward to that! :)

Cancun!

Ah, vacation....vacation with good friends, even better than Ah...

We went with our friends (the nearly newlyweds of 2yrs) Heather and Bobby to relax and enjoy ourselves in good ole' Mexico a few weeks ago--it was a great and memorable time.
Of course, we hung by the pool..but we also went to see Chichen Itza, which I've always wanted to do! I was bummed, though, that you are no longer allowed to climb it since it's been named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. :( We also went to a cenote along the way, and underground cavern of water-cool.

I didn't forget my SUNSCREEN--heehehee!

We found a GIANT grasshopper on our tenth floor balcony, and I posed with it (it's through the window, don't worry!)

We had date night at a local churrascurra restaurant--we felt pretty!

We went only once to the beach b/c we had our own pool to ourselves-but the beach was beautiful!

We had a great time just hanging out in our condo though--here are a few pics, some funny-some not so funny (we got sick!)