Summer and School Update

I can't believe summer is over and the new school year has begun. We had a great summer, I posted some pictures on the sidebar... We had a couple of swim parties, including a 4th of July party and Maddox's Beach Birthday Party. We got to see my grandparents on both sides, we also went to Lake Texhoma and the kids all had swimming lessons. Mason learned the butterfly stroke, Myla worked on her breathing and her front to back turn, and Maddox swam under water for 5 seconds. It was fun. The biggest lesson I learned this summer was that "I'm bored" turns into great fun if you can just wait out the whining, haha.

We are very excited about the school year. Mason is in second grade and his excitement about school has not waned. He starts gymnastics and boy scouts this month. Myla started a new preschool, it's sort of a Montessori school with less structure and more emphasis on imagination and play. Myla is my creative one, so I'm hoping this will be a good way to encourage her learning style. The pictures of the park are of her playground. It is amazing, it has many fun, different play structures and a real bunny! She starts ballet this month also. Maddox will be home with me this year. I'm looking forward to the days I get him alone. Be sure to look for the impressive "cereal mountain" he made with his cereal one morning. That's all I have for now!

Happy Birthday Maddox!

Happy Birthday Maddox! You're the coolest 2 year old I know! My baby is growin' up!

Stitches

First of the kids to get stitches. Myla just slipped on the floor and busted her chin, nothing too exciting. She was so brave at the hospital and we are so proud of her. She put up a good fight during the ten minutes that it took to stitch her up, but that was it. And all it took was a red popsicle make everything better.

She had to have Marlee in the picture. Check out my new fence and hibiscus!

Just Thinking...

This is my third entry this week; I think that’s a record!

I have been thinking lately about how beautiful it must be to the Lord when we stumble awkwardly to follow His will…

You know the time you nervously handed your troubled co worker a Bible…

Or that silly confession you told even though you thought you might get laughed at or berated…

Like the time you walked all the way down from the balcony to the front of the church just to receive prayer…

Or when you sweat through a prayer for your friend even though you hate to pray out loud…

Feelings do not determine holiness. And you know looking back, the times when the Lord has actually been pulling me closer have been the times when I have had the most questions about my efforts to follow Him and know Him.

“Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.” James 4:10

Happy Birthday Myla!

Four years ago today cried out "it's a girl" for everyone to hear. What a blessing she has been. My girl loves to be outside, she's independent, shy at first, but loves people, and has a sweet tender heart. I love you Myla!

Wise Whispers

Happy Monday! Yesterday I had such an overwhelming experience at church. It was almost as if God spoke directly to me as Matt preached. The last two weeks came together as God’s route to repentance in my heart. It was so beautiful and kind of Him. I was thinking about my blog friends and how grateful I am that they have found church homes that they love also. It is truly a blessing to leave the world for an hour or so to worship and be vulnerable with God’s people.

And to top it off last night ended with a great lesson from the Dog Whisperer! I know there have got to be other Ceasar Millan fans out there, right? He trains dogs, but seriously his patience and lessons about being assertive really speak to me. Last night he had to work with three unruly dogs. After being bit twice which actually ripped his shirt and broke skin; then dealing with too crazy hyper dogs for hours he actually lost his cool! His closing remark was… (sounds even better if read with an accent) “I’m exhausted! I feel like I went here from Mexico and came back. I’m not going to question why God send me the challenge, I’m just going to thank Him for it.”

Lord, I have once again tried to take your place in my life. I grow weary of punishing myself for unmet standards you do not ask me to keep. Help me to take this day or even just this moment not as I think it should be but as you would have it. Flood my heart with gratefulness and praise for You and your grace, Lord help me return to you. Amen.

Another "M"

Kip came home with this adorable little puppy on Valentines Day. She is a 10 week old Shih Tzu named Marlee. Myla has not put her done since we got her. We had to put her in the crate to go to church Sunday and Myla cried so hard as we got into the car. I thought we got her calmed down and then I looked in the backseat and she was starring out the window with big alligator tears and her lipped turned out. I love her tender heart. We were strong together and held hands the rest of the way to church. Marlee on the other hand loves her crate. She actually goes in there by herself when she needs a rest. Kip and I have decided we want to be crate trained too.

25 Things...

My friend Stacy did this and I heard It was going around Facebook so I thought I would join the fun. Here are 25 things you might not know about me…

1. I’ve picked up the bottle again, that is Dr Pepper. I love the stuff, but stopped drinking it for diet concerns. We have recently renewed our love affair but with just sips we’re not to the gulping stage as of yet.

2. When I grow up I want to be like Mason. He gets along with everyone (even bullies), his focus is amazing (builds entire lego sets in just hours) and is open to trying all kinds of new things. He has a wide array of interests at night he rotates from reading Captain Underpants and the Bible.

3. I still love the quote on my blog banner, but I will say I’m not intimidated by my shaky voice anymore. A few weeks ago I stood up in front of 50 people and testified about my own weaknesses and my voice didn’t bother me. When Christ invades hearts and strengthens souls it is amazing what changes.

4. I am currently obsessing over a dog. I look at petfinder everyday to check out the new mutts. Stacy call if you find a young medium sized female dog, that doesn’t shed much, loves kids and is potty trained…

5. Most of my 2 friends that read this know this already, but my youth group pastor was Joe Simpson. He even counseled me for almost a year. When Jessica first got popular she talked about the stories her dad would tell her about the girls he counseled apparently that helped her stay on the right track in life. Ha ha, glad I could help.

6. Facebook is super intimidating to me, I’m not on yet but I sneak on Kip’s every now and then. Shhhh, don’t tell.

7. Another secret I hold close is that Maddox my little trouble maker actually cracks me up with all his schnanagins. Where does and 18 month old get all that will power?

8. One of Kip and I’s favorite things to do is drive. Even when we were in college we would take long drives with the windows down listening to good music. Back then it was Dave Wilcox…

9. When I was 2 I got my tooth knocked out when I hit it on a slide. The permanent tooth grew in with a discolored spot which still shows even though I’ve had it fixed. Annoying

10. I think honesty is totally under rated. Whenever I hear someone who is cutthroat honest about their life it always takes me back for a minute. I want to “help” them by saying it’s not that bad or even fix them. What a blessing to be able to sit still and take in someone else’s life without judging and what faith it takes to trust them in the arms of Jesus and not in your own. Honesty is just another word for integrity.

11. Whenever I’m not being honest about something in my life the house seems extra dirty and I always think if I can somehow get it clean, then I will feel better (which never works). Either that or I start blaming Kip for everything.

12. I’m getting better at listening, but still have a long way to go in that department.

13. Someday Kip and I want to buy a lake house so we can get away with friends and family on the weekends.

14. I loved vacations as a kid. Seemed like one of few times when we all relaxed and nothing was an issue. We always went to Port Isabel and South Padre to visit my grandparents and camping in Colorado.

15. One of my biggest fears for Myla is that she will grow up to be absolutely beautiful and she’ll think that’s all she is… Bikini Girl on American Idol made my stomach churn, poor girl and mom.
16. I like to sing really loud at church even though I can’t carry a single note. I don’t want to hear any comments from Tarrah or Kip on that one!

17. I LOVE my church, I do miss the small, quaint, family feel and close distance of our previous one though. But, the wisdom and depth The Village brings is unmatched.

18. I always dreamed of having 3 kids, the two book ends would be one sex and the middle one would be the opposite. That way there would be no middle child syndrome and everyone would feel special. Sounds like a plan, now how did everything get so complicated?

19. There are chapters in the Bible that really scare me. I really don’t like Matthew, mostly for his version of the Parable of the Sower. Makes me nervous just thinking about it…

20. I have many journals full of writings trying to understand and work out some of Jesus teachings. There are so many things I long to understand…

21. My favorite fast food is a Burger Street chicken sandwich, tator tots and a DP.

22. I hate shopping, well actually I hate deciding what to buy. I could look all day I can just never decide on anything.

23. I have a very good friend that calls me a deep sea fish she says that’s why I have Kip so he can remind me to come up to the surface and breathe, what insight she has.

24. My favorite color is orange… I have loved having an orange dining room in my past homes. We have a yellow/gold/orange entry way here and an orange stripe in Maddox’s room.

25. Man, this has been tough! I think you know everything about me now! I hope you will share too!

Tagged...

I have been tagged by my friend Amy:)

Here are the rules:
1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer.
2) Select the 4th picture in the folder.
3) Explain the picture.
4) Tag 4 people to do the same. No cheating (cropping, editing, etc.)

And here it is!




This was taken in 2004 at a Christmas party. I'm obviously pregnant with Myla and Kip is lookin' pretty yummy! Sweet Mason is about to turn 3, what a cutie in his sweater vest.

I'm tagging Kristen Sunna, Sammi Ferguson, Julie Hart, and Andi Stubblefield

Happy Birthday Mason!

My baby is 7! We love you MASON!