Wind and Waves

We took an afternoon/evening trip to the beach around Spring Break. Once we found a non-party section, the kids got to play for a little bit until the cool evening wind became too much. Anna LOVED her first trip to the beach, and Caleb had fun playing, teaching, and protecting!

Bubbos!

Baff!

The kids' favorite time of the evening is often Baff-time. We use our garden tub in the master bathroom for this event, and it is also often known as a "boaf baff" (translation: both-bath) since, for now, they can still share a tub without conflict or modesty issues. They love bubbles, and our squeaky shark toy, amongst others. The highlight, however, is being wrapped up like a papoose when we dry them off...

Define "settled in"...

People ask us frequently if we're settled in to our new home. That depends...

If you're able to have people over, provided that they avoid the master bedroom and office due to the boxes and chaos,
...you might be settled in.

If your chest of drawers is still empty and you're wearing the same 6 or 7 outfits over and over, (but somehow your husband's wardrobe is unpacked)
...you might be settled in.

If your two car garage is full, but your cars are parked in the driveway,
...you might wish you were settled in.

If you're so busy that time at home is for quality family time with no time to spare for unpacking,
...you might not really be settled in,

unless settled in means you're loving where you are, loving the time with your sweet kiddos and wonderful husband, and you don't mind having people over because a home is more about a place to be together than a place that has to be spotless at all times (or completely unpacked). Maybe we are. :)

by the way, isn't that a cute cookie bouquet that my parents gave us when we moved in?

Still Here!

I've taken a break of sorts from posting, partly due to our crazy schedules, the disappearance (again!) of our camera-to-computer cord, and because I've spent a lot of time soaking up info and reading entries on other blogs.

What have I been perusing, you ask?

Here's a taste if you want to check it out:

Friends galore: The Hoover Household, The Bryces, Goose & Peanut, Watts Life, A Fool of Myself, True Story, Mayah Meili, and more!

Ministry Stuff: Rockin' Childrens Ministry, Exploring College Ministry, etc.

But mostly... A great conference was held in Louisville recently, and though we didn't get to attend Together For the Gospel, the clips are up in a variety of places, namely on Tim Challies' blog. I also spend a good amount of time on GirlTalk, CJ Mahaney's, and Justin Taylor's Between Two Worlds.

Thanks for the chance to take a break! Now prepare yourself for the onslaught of pictures! We've been busy snapping away!

Friday Funny

Signs can be hilarious sometimes...

Anna's Unabridged Dictionary, entry 4

Nonurk: (no nerk) n. A creamy dairy confection, usually with live active cultures. Available in children's varieties as well as adult's. Companies include Yoplait, Dannon, et al.

NahNahk: (naah naak) onomatopoeia Joking predecessor of "who's there?" common usage: repeated until noticed, then accompanied with gibberish, waits for "gibberish+who?" then absolutely no punch-line. polite laughter afterward is appreciated.

Good Friday Context!

I'm all about sharing good things that help me put some context on things I learn in the Bible, making the Scriptures more than just stories. That's why I love the "That the World May Know" bible study series.

It's also why I'm sharing this Easter-specific tool with you!!! Make the crucifixion and resurrection even more real to yourself by using a present-day Google Satellite Map of Jerusalem to trace the events! (Thanks to Between Two Worlds for this great post!)



View Larger Map

Friday Funny!

Keep your eyes peeled! The unexpected can happen anywhere!




my apologies for the less than genteel language that happens twice...nothing major, but my apologies, nonetheless.

Seen at the McDonaldspot

Dancing Queen

We had a fun night recently just turning up the IPod and being footloose and fancy free. That is, all of us but the serious and studious older child. (Hmm, sounds much like me growing up)

Happy Maundy Thursday

So I've seen that all over church billboards lately, and other than a really bad pun indicating you don't know which day it is, I had no idea what it meant.

Now I do!

I had the context skills to assume it has something to do with the Easter Holiday, but thanks to John Piper over at Desiring God ministries, I found an explanation:

Here's an excerpt, and you can click on the link above for the whole shebang.

Today is Maundy Thursday. The name comes from the Latin mandatum, the first word in the Latin rendering of John 13:34, “A new commandment (Mandatum novum) I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” This commandment was given by the Lord on the Thursday before his crucifixion. So Maundy Thursday is the “Thursday of the Commandment.”

I would say that Jesus did not replace or change the commandment, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” He filled it out and gave it clear illustration. He is saying,

Here is what I mean by “as yourself.” Watch me. I mean: Just as you would want someone to set you free from certain death, so you should set them free from certain death. That is how I am now loving you. My suffering and death is what I mean by ‘as yourself.’ You want life. Live to give others life. At any cost.

So John says, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16). Was Jesus loving us “as he loved himself”? Listen to Ephesians 5:29-30, “No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.”

In the horrors of his suffering Christ was sustained “by the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). And that joy was the everlasting gladness of his redeemed people, satisfied in the presence of the risen king.

Therefore, let us see the greatest love in action during these next 24 hours. “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). And let us be so moved by this love that it becomes our own. “He laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” This is the commandment. This is the Thursday.

Oh no! I've been tagged!

I realize that could mean many things: it could be (South TX style) that graffiti artists attacked some of our property... no, that's not it. It could be that Anna has learned a new playground game...no, that's not it either.

I've been blog-tagged. That just means that my dear friend Alisa posted a few notable facts on herself, and now it's my turn! While I did list a few recently, I'll try to come up with a few more.

Here's how it works:
-You have to tag 5 people (you can't tag the person that tagged you)
-You leave them a comment on their blog (‘you’re tagged’ and ‘why’)
-Direct them to your blog for instructions…when you get tagged, you post ten fun facts about yourself!


1. I like to do crafty things. Anything, really, including scrapbooking, building things, putting together furniture, painting, sewing, you name it.

2. I love March Madness. I watch Texas Aggie Basketball when I can, but only during March Madness do I love to watch any and every college game I can. I've got my bracket filled out. Do you?

3. I'm hooked on LOST (the tv show). It's probably not our all-time favorite, but we've never found another tv show that frustrates us so much, yet leaves us on the edge of our seats till the next week. We're convinced that any time a question is answered, two more new ones are asked.

4. I love to read, but time-wise, I don't get a lot accomplished. I have several books on my "to read" list, and several on the "not finished yet" list. I prefer spiritual growth and ministry-related books.

5. I use Google Reader to consolidate the blogs I like to read. I have several friends' blogs I enjoy, as well as several others, including The Resurgence, Church Matters (9Marks blog), Between Two Worlds, Together for the Gospel, and the Discerning Reader, which is (bytheway) an excellent site on measuring whether a book (especially Christianity-related) matches up to the Truth of Scripture.

6. I am consistently in awe of the two precious little ones God has blessed us with. I realize that simply being a parent does not make you a good one, so I have to humbly depend on the Lord for wisdom and discernment constantly. When I do, it makes a difference. When I don't, it's a disaster.

7. When I watch basketball, I wish I had the time and that I was still in good enough shape to constantly play real games. I still shoot around when I can, but I miss the full court, high-energy feel and excitement. Ok, I know it's not too late. Just trying to find the motivation and time!

8. One of the spiritual gifts I've been given is the desire to serve. I love to do anything I can to help, even if I get no credit for it later. On the flip side, sometimes it's difficult to say "no" and I overbook my schedule!!!

9. My "love language(s)" are Acts of Service (surprise surprise) and Quality Time. That means that I feel most loved when someone does even a little thing because they want to serve me, or if I get to spend quality time with someone. Sure, I still like gifts, affection, and affirmation, but the other two are tops on my list. Scott's are Words of Affirmation and Quality Time.

10. If I could have 5 tv stations only, they would probably be: Fox News, Discovery Channel, History Channel, ESPN, and Food Network.

That's it for my 10 facts! Now I tag Mandi, Brittany, Betsy, Cami, and Erin.

We miss you T!

My sister and her boyfriend got engaged in January. Travis is a spectacular guy, and we're excited for their October wedding.

He's a civilian contractor (aerospace engineering) for the Army, and a couple of weeks ago, he left for service in Iraq. He'll be there till July, and we miss him!

(Anna especially, as she flirts with him like crazy!...Don't know how to explain to her in toddler-speak that T is officially off the market)

Friday-was-yesterday Funnies

A real sign in Scott's parents' town...

Can You Name Them?

I must admit, it helps to know the "50 states song". (And it won't accept misspelled state names)

In 2m 30s

Click here to Play

Forget Starbucks

Coffee doesn't have to be purchased simply because of the "commercial experience" anymore, as we're finding out that Starbucks is re-examining their marketing. Did you hear they all closed down for 3 hours the other day to re-train their "baristas"?

Beverage cups featuring the logo of Starbucks Coffee.

Photograph: Stephen Chernin/Getty

That said, I'd like to encourage all of you coffee (and COCOA) lovers that you can drink a warm cup of roasted/chocolatey bliss while knowing that just by buying and drinking coffee you've aided some precious orphans and a sweet family we know!

Our dear friends Vince and Alisa are seeking to adopt a little girl from China (at least 2 years out) and can adopt a child from Ethiopia prior to that. They've teamed up with a coffee company (963 Coffee) that will donate 40% of the proceeds from every bag of coffee purchased through Vince and Alisa's personal blog site! (You can check out the coffee co's website if you wish, but it's easiest to purchase through the blog, because that logs Vince and Alisa as the beneficiaries)

Good things come to those who wait....

This is for you, Betsy!

I apologize to my dear friend who has been BEGGING me to get with the program and post some pictures from December! :)

Turns out that when we were in Canton visiting for the holidays, our wonderful friend Betsy was driving to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. We absolutely had to meet up halfway there. The mexican food might have been only so-so, but the time together was priceless!

Friday Funny

Have you ever seen a sign or billboard that was just a little "off"?

Little(r) did you know....

A little over a week ago, I posted some trivia about my sweet husband. As promised, I'm continuing the post with some trivia about yours truly.

Did you know?

• I was a multi-sport athlete in high school. (my thinner days) I played volleyball, basketball, ran cross-country, and participated in track and field: 100 and 350 m. hurdles (my favorite), 400 and 800m relay, 200m sprint (second favorite).
  
• Basketball was my hands-down favorite sport, and I was a shooting guard/point guard/forward. During my senior year in high school, my schedule of academic classes didn't allow me to take Girls' Athletics. However, I had an opening during 4th period, and after discussing it with the principal and guys' coach, I was allowed to take Guys' Athletics. (Obviously I used the Girls' Locker Room.) That was the best, most challenging sports experience I had.
  
• I love words and word games. In 7th grade, my class would play Boggle using an overhead projector. I didn't win all the time, but my teacher would send me on errands during the games because a couple of students complained if I ever won. :( I also cannot pass up a good pun. Scott would tease and say that only I think they're funny and I shouldn't say them, but he doesn't realize how many I don't voice! ;)
• Somewhere along the way I learned to say the alphabet backwards.
  
• I play piano and took lessons from age 4 till 18, BUT I don't play by ear or by memory very well. Give me some sheet music, however, and I'll be as pleased as punch. (whatever that means)
• I LOVE to be organized. If I ever buy something impulsively for myself, it's usually something for storage or organization. Putting it into practice, however, is not as easy as it would seem. Given the time to focus on it, I'll be organized. Otherwise, know "it's a work in progress."
• Music really affects me. The difference between crying/not crying in a movie with a sentimental scene depends on the music. My mom says simply hearing scary music on tv when I was little would affect me greatly.
• I've never had many really close friends. I'm somewhat introverted that way. In any given situation, I like being around people, but I'm reserved to a good extent. That's something I continue to try to balance out, because I value friendships and the people I've been blessed to know. Ministry life helps me monitor that! Scott pushes me to have that balance too, and I'm grateful.
• I have a peculiar habit when I eat barbecue. Sure, I could eat it normally, but when presented with the opportunity to eat brisket or sausage, etc., I prefer to take one slice of bread, slice a few pieces of meat, add a few pieces of pickle, some sauce, and perhaps some cheese or pinto beans, then fold it over for a sandwich. Mmmmm. I'm mocked by my family for this obsessive ritual, but I'm addicted to it. :)
• I LOVE computers, but technology changes so quickly that once I had kiddos, I couldn't keep track. If I had to pick a job at some point, I'd love to work with computers.
  
• I once had dreams of joining the FBI or CIA. I'd love to be an analyst or work with computers for them. However, relocating myself to Langley for training doesn't gel so well with being a full time mom and supporting my husband in ministry, which is my actual calling and is truly a joy. I wouldn't trade what I do now for anything!
  
• I like to go deer hunting. It's a tradition dating back to my infant days, and it means family time, time in the gorgeous outdoors, and roughing it (a little). I'm not trigger happy, and if we kill a deer, we eat it or give away the meat. The leases that my dad has taken us to have a biologist who manages the population for health and numbers by placing restrictions on what can be hunted. That being said, I have a nice 10 point shoulder-mount hanging in our home office.
  
• Last, but not least, I grew up a farmer's daughter. I drove tractors in the summer and worked the cotton module builders. Scott (the city boy) came to work for Dad one summer, which eventually led to us discussing dating and marriage. We left our wedding in a shiny green John Deere tractor (and drove to the limo that was waiting on the opposite end of the parking lot).