Monday, March 31, 2008

Stay Far Far Away


With her permission, Faylinn Habermehl has allowed me to post this picture of her poor eye. She was hit by a steel door by one of her students on accident and she acquired 5 stiches. I think I might have a dark cloud hovering over me and who ever chooses to come near might get rained on!
(Sorry Faylinn!)

This is another pic of how lovely the bruising around my eye got. It is all gone, but can you believe it that I still have a knot on my head that hurts? 4 weeks later people! In case you are wondering, you can read the story here.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

God Goes Before Us

One of the coolest things about moving out into this area of town is that God provided two friends, Merry Lynn and Tara, who are exactly in the in this stage of life that I am in. While walking one morning shortly after we moved in our house, I ran into Merry Lynn who was strolling her little girl Campbell. She was also pregnant with her baby boy Travis and we found out that we were due within a month of one another. Campbell and Keegan are three weeks apart as well. We then continued to walk until Jack prevented me from walking long distances, but we have been a good support system for each other! We are so very sad that we did not get a picture of us pregnant with our strollers but the first picture will have to do. Hopefully soon we will have a picture of us strolling our oldest with the youngest in our baby bjorns. (that is a funny sight to see!)

Merry Lynn's baby shower for Travis. (obviously she is the pregnant one besides me!)

Keegan and Campbell before Jack and Travis. (they had no idea what was coming!)

Babysitting Campbell while her brother was very ill and at the hospital.


Travis and Jack at the park snoozing.

Campbell and Keegan enjoying very much being out of the house and loving their toddler freedom!



Another neat relationship that I have encountered is my friend Tara. I met her at Houston Northwest and soon found that were in the same boat as well. Her oldest Cade is just a few days older than Keegan, and Reid her youngest is 7 weeks younger than Jack. So, as you can probably guess, we will have lots to talk about and share with two boys this close together. We had our first playdate on Friday and it was so fun to watch these two boys become friends. We managed to take all four boys to McDonalds and they had a blast together and actually Reid and Jack cooperated and slept! We were quite surprised how well it went!

Copy-Cats

Keegan not really interested in a photo-op.

Cade trying to figure out why Keegan is going up the slide.


God has really enriched my life with these two ladies and other friends as well. What is even better is that I have made more friends with girls at HNW that have kids around Keegans age too! (I am sure there will be pics to come!) I have prayed for his whole first year of life that God would bring friends into Keegan's life that were his age and He blessed us richly. He certainly hears our prayers and goes before us.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Birthdays, Bubbles, Boo Boos, and Easter "Balls"

This was a very EVENT-ful weekend which equals lots of pictures. :) So, bear with me, skip this post, or maybe do a fast skim! There are several relatives (okay, grandparents in Mansfield) that would like to see what happens in Houston. :)

On Friday night we had a get together with friends and we decided to be "Eastery" and make these. They were supposed to be eggs on green grass, but looks a little like something else. :) You be the judge. To our amazement they were a huge hit. Just add chopped up butterfinger nestle eggs to your brownie mix and make some brownie cupcakes.

On Saturday afternoon, we had Brianna's 1st Birthday party. Brianna had the yummiest cake any one year old has every had for her birthday. ANYTIME her mama Mae and Cousin Lesly are in charge of food you are in for a treat. Brianna is super at army crawling, learning all sorts of baby signs and wears only a size 2 shoe! Tiny and Precious!

Aunt Mae brought some chicks to the party. Luckily they went home with the other cousins! :)

Mama Sproule was a hit with Jack!

Laura learned to never wear a flower on your head in front of a blogger.

Keegan meets Mr. Cat then gets clawed by Mr. Cat.
Keegan still likes Cats.


I love when your Canon Rebel makes you look like an amazing photographer.

Two of Keegan's favorite things..suckers and bubbles.


Easter completed our weekend. WOW, I feel like and adult, now that I am the one putting together the baskets.

The Easter Outfits. Keegan found his pockets just in time!




I coordinated their outfits in hopes of good brother picture. First, Jack drenched his new shirt with spit up, so we put it in the dryer and then put it back on him. (gross, I know). Second, we put Keegan on the couch and he wanted to go "bye bye". So, needless to say, this is the only brothers pic.

Easter "Ball" Hunting. Not and egg...a ball. The cheerios inside the eggs were a big hit.



Mr. GQ all the way.

PHHEEEW! What a weekend..and what a post! It would be easy to get caught up with all the holiday celebrations and not recognize the awesome gift of the Holy Spirit that God has given us. What is even better is that no matter what decisions we make, what ever rough road we choose to go down, whatever mistakes we have made...God still loves us. He went through all the pain and suffering on the cross so that we could be free. Free from the past and the guilt that accompanies it. Free from any condemnation that the enemy throws our way. If only we could learn to walk in that freedom. I have this awesome painting in my kitchen that my sweet friend Christine painted for me and gave me at Christmas. On it is painted, "I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. BUT we who are being saved recognize the message as the very power of God" 1 Corinthians 1:18." If you learn to accept the truth, your life will never be the same. My life will be forever marked by my Savior and it is never too late for you to experience the very same freedom...no matter what you have done. God can make the ugly...beautiful. That is the power of God.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Sticker-Phobia

I'd rather wear a drum on my head
than...


decorate eggs with stickers! I found out today that he is not too fond of stickers because they stick to him and it drives him crazy! So after he sent an egg airborne I realized that I did not boil them long enough and my kitchen still smells rotten. Lucky me. Oh well..he decorated one egg and I did the rest.


tired boy + having a cold + sticker-phobia =

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Take My Life

This season of our life is for sure throwing us for a spin. I finally found out how to manage one child and then number two enters the world and throws our universe off. As Jerrell Altic put it best, "I bet it feels like you are refereeing". All day I bounce from feedings, to Doodlebops, to poopy diapers, to nap time for one, nap time for the other, to cleaning sippie cups and bottles, to tummy time, to reading time, to dinner, to laundry of soiled burp cloths and then to sleep. Then it starts all over the next day. To be honest there are days that I want to escape and then others that all day Keegan and Jack melt my heart and I retract any stupid thoughts I had previously. God reminds me once again that it is not about Michelle and He is humbling me everyday.

Where does God fit into the mix of all of this? How do I have the time to spend with the Creator of the universe that is choosing to spin my universe like this? I have managed to draw closer to Him through song, to silent prayer throughout the day, and verses that pop into my mind for me to dwell on. I know He leads us into these times so that we may draw closer to Him and those moments that we actually get to sit down and spend with Him are so incredibly sweet.

Another part of our story right now is our church. We have joined Houston Northwest Church on the corner of Cypresswood and 249. We feel very drawn to that church but can not for one reason or another find our nitch there. I have met some awesome girls there that I talk to weekly and spend time with, but as a couple on Sunday mornings it has been frustrating. It is not that we don't like the ss classes, but there is not a peace. Jonathan and I went to brunch Sunday morning after SS and had a deep conversation about where God is leading us. We had in our mind for a good while what we wanted to find and even though we have kinda found it, it does not feel right. We also did not want to be in ministry for a while because we longed to be in Sunday school together. (This has not happened yet in our marriage because of my girls minister position at HFBC.) Of course, we want things our way and I think that is where we find the problem. We left Panera Bread with a resolution that we were going to let God show us where he wants us even if it takes months...even if it is serving again on Sunday morning in some capacity. Jonathan remarked, "I feel as if our marriage has grown in the last hour". I agreed. If feels good when you are on the same page and surrendered to our Savior.

I had the opportunity to sing at Jane Ann Bridgewater and Wes Williams's wedding in the company of amazing musicians last Saturday and one of the songs was Take My Life off of the Passion Hymns CD. It happens to be one of my favorite but the words rang true this week as I rehearsed and prepared it. Here are the lyrics, may you find them as refreshing as I have this past week. Even if you know it...take time to read it again.

Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use every power as You choose.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord I pour at Your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Nuthin' Surprises You at the Rodeo

Last year, the gals, Christine, Kay, Amanda and myself, waded through the rainstorm in our cute country attire to see Rascall Flatts, aka, "Flascall Rats", only to find out that the lead singer had laryngitis and was unable to perform. We were then sorely disappointed with the replacement of Jack Ingram, another nobody,and Clint Black. To top it off it was my birthday and a little bit of a bummer.

Jonathan has tons of luck in his office winning drawings and winning competitions. So, he decided to put our name in the hat for 4 tickets to see Rascall Flatts and ended up scoring on those too! Since he won them, it was strongly encouraged that he needed to go (since they were hot tickets) and so we coupled up with Christine and Zach to go to the RODEO! (Ladies, next year....we are back on!)

Some observations of this years rodeo:
*If you get a free parking pass for the yellow lot, kindly say, thanks but no thanks, because it is million miles away from the arena. Christine's feet agree, but heck...it is good way to break in those boots.

*The people. It does not matter who you are or what you wear, the rodeo will gladly accept you. (others may not).

-The people who try to hard:
I am guessing that for Rascall Flatts you don't get all the hoochie's like Pat Green might aquire, but for goodness sakes...there were tons of Jessica Simpson wanna bees in the daisy dukes and tied up white shirts. Also, upon entering the arena, there were ladies serving up beer whose cleavage looked like their bottom (kid-friendly word) was on their chest. Disgusting.

-The people who don't try at all:
On the other end of the spectrum, you had the "way back in the sticks" people. I am not sure I have ever seen a family like we witnessed walking in front of us in person. (maybe only on wife swap). I laughed so hard that I cried and I could barely walk straight. Another woman was in front of them that was a really tall, big boned woman that had this gigantic green knit poncho on, tall black boots and from behind looked a little bit, as Zach coined this term, "Shreck in Boots".

-The people who need to get a room:
As the concert was going, the "slow dance" song came on and a couple in front of us stood up and started dancing and almost making out for all of us to witness. We think maybe he proposed because she was crying, but no one seemed to care because they were blocking our view to the show we were really there to see.

-The people that look and act like their teenagers:
Our first encounter was this mom with her two teen daughters. She had a gold sequin shirt on with a short blue jean skirt and ug boots. It was hard for us us to tell who was the mom.
The second encounter was the beloved drunk mother in the parking lot who was asking other teen boys (in other cars) if they were "good" and getting their phone numbers for her teen daughter and friends. All the while, the husband was driving not caring a bit while the purity of these girls was tainted and his wife was making a complete fool of herself.

*Lastly, my final observation. When you decide to be apart of the calf scramble, wear some sturdy jeans. This calf ripped two young ladies jeans in very inappropriate places and was blasted on the jumbotron. Bless their hearts!

Blackmail picture #1

Blakckmail picture #2 (I am sending this on into KISS, in case they ever need a replacement.)

The cute pic (minus the black eye)

Zach vicariously living through the bull rider and Jonathan laughing at their misfortune. (totally posed pic of course)

Our tired feet.

The poor girl who held her own with the ripped jeans.

Finally, we were able to be blessed by the Flatts!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Life Happens Fast

How does a year come and go so fast? Last weekend we went to Mansfield and celebrated my niece Jacey's 1st Birthday. It seems like yesterday that she was born and Keegan was still crawling and in his adorable helmet.


Fast forward a year...

Jacey REALLY enjoyed her cake. She is a big girl walking around, carrying around her baby doll and eating whole grilled cheese sandwiches. Although she has only two teeth, she somehow can pack it in!


Keegan learned the art of football from his new friend Nolan.




and oh yes...let's not forget Jack. wow... A LOT can happen a year.
(Jack with his G-Bob and Great Jack)

Monday, March 10, 2008

The 17 month old that can READ!

If you missed this little girl on the Today show this morning...check THIS out!
Can she say the word...prodigy?

Thursday, March 6, 2008

My "Shiner"


(I am laughing right along with you!)