Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

What a great Christmas with just the right amount of snow! I love when snow and ice falls, forcing you to stay home and curl up with a cup of hot chocolate...but I enjoy it for about a day...then I need some sunshine! How great that the boys got to play in the snow, build a snow man, enjoy bundling up and all that goes with it, and still play outside in the warm sun the very next day. Only in Texas!

My Heart is Yours

I believe that the word suffering means something different to each of us. Each of us has "suffered" in different ways than those around us at different times in our lives. This has been quite a year for me...and there were moments that I wasn't sure God was listening anymore. The picture below is a picture of two of my newest friends, Lori & Haven. God has used both of them in such tremendous ways in my life already. I love how the Lord waits so patiently for us to turn to Him...and give Him everything, not just part of it...everything...and then pours out His love in ways you could never have imagined. I was reminded recently of
1 Peter 5:6-7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." A verse I've heard so many times, and yet I still need to hear it over and over again.
God knew just the right time to send these two women into my life. We are now a group called "Sistaworth"...a trio that sings songs of encouragement to women reminding them of God's love and how much we are "worth" to our precious Lord! I joined the group because of my desire to encourage women...and yet I have already been so encouraged by these two precious ladies. I am so thankful for God's timing and that He won't relent until He has all of me...
Oh, the picture looks like we're on a wild roller coaster or something...but nope, that wild ride is a golf cart after a Ce Ce concert! Such fun times already and we're just getting started...

A Marshmallow Christmas...

What a fun Christmas we have had already! The highlight of going to mom's this year...MARSHMALLOW SHOOTERS! Landry, Logan, Jonah, & Caleb got some guns from Papa John & Mama Gina that pump up and shoot marshmallows a surprisingly long way. Caleb discovered very quickly how fun it was to shoot the marshmallows on top of the house. Hee, hee. By the end of the marshmallow war, the bigger boys (Jason & Adam) were in on the fun...

Caleb's motto: Eat one, shoot one, eat one, shoot one...

Logan and I went with 1st grade on a field trip to Mainstay Farms this month. It was so cold, but we had a blast! The Christmas trees were beautiful, we roasted marshmallows by the fire, and even went on a hay ride. I had such a fun time making memories with my sweet Logan that day.

Christmas 2009 with Santa...the boys took their lists with them this time so they wouldn't forget to tell him anything...Logan was so excited to see Santa this year.

Logan's 7th Birthday Party

Logan's 7th birthday party was at Peter Piper Pizza! He had such a fun time with all the kids! I think that was the most exciting part to watch was when each 1st grader from his class came into the restaurant and they all were amazed that their friends were somewhere with them besides school! It was so cute.

This picture is from the first day of 1st and 3rd grade! I am overwhelmed with emotion when I look at these two grown-up boys...

We recently went on a trip to Grapeland, TX...we met Pappa & Annie V. at the Bluegrass Festival! We had a great time...though it was a little hot at first! After about an hour or so of listening to music Landry said, "Mom, I think this is a place for mom's & dad's!" So, Jason took the boys on a little adventure around the park to play on the playground and they ended up at this "jail" so Logan could check to see if there were any "angry guys" in it. Logan is holding up Landry with an umbrella in this picture! : ) It is so good to spend time with family...I loved having the time to just sit and enjoy each other for a while.

How Great Thou Art

This morning's sermon was about who we are and what we have in Christ. I was reminded about the blessings we have...simply because we know Jesus and because He loves us so much. A much needed reminder for me. At the end of the service we sang How Great Thou Art, one of my favorite hymns. I began to think of our journey over the years with Logan, and how special he is to our family. I know sometimes it is easy for me to get down and dwell on the difficulties in life...we call it "poor me" moments in our family. : ) I've had a lot of poor me moments this past year...feeling like it's not fair to have all the testing for Logan to deal with and wondering what to do about everything for that special child on a daily basis. Changing everything in my life to try to do what's best for the boys...and having lots of poor me moments because of it. I am so thankful for today's reminder of who God is, and that life is not about me...it's about Him. I was reminded to look at everything that I do...and do it all for the glory of God. If what I am doing is not glorifying God, then perhaps I need to evaluate what it is I am doing...
And most of all, I am thankful for a God who is so patient with me. I am blessed to know Him, and I am blessed because I know Him!
...then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee...how great Thou art...how great Thou art!!

Landry's 9th Birthday Party!

Landry had some friends over for his 9th birthday party...a custom Lego Party designed by the one and only, Lan Brazel. : ) We had a lego car building contest, a lego car racing contest, a lego tower building contest, and lots of sword fights in the back yard! It was super fun!

This is when the boys were racing the lego cars down the homemade race track (with a ramp at the end!)...

The lego tower building contest...

I am beginning to wonder if this is the start of a future band...

Happy Birthday Landry!!





Oh, Jason will be so happy I posted this one! This is all the kids trying to get Jason...who happens to have the hat of invincibility on...hee, hee.

Random pictures...

I can't believe that Landry is going to be in 3rd grade this year...what a big kid he is now! I can't wait to watch all that he will learn over the next months and how much fun he will get to have. What a blessing to have children! This picture is me & Landry on promotion Sunday to 3rd grade...

OK, Katie I'm sorry for this one...but I just had to put it on my blog! I caught Katie at just the right time at the wedding shower (which was beautiful and so much fun, by the way)...or I guess, the wrong time! She was obviously kidding around with someone, but I don't know...I call this one "Look out Jerod"! : )

Logan and Landry got crazy straws that look like glasses for their birthdays...thanks Jonah, Caleb & Hannah! We have had a blast since the party...and have been drinking a lot of water!

Aaaaaah...Jason & Hannah's nap time. Priceless. : )

Only Trust Him

This morning I read Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you."
I used to read the story of the Israelites and wonder how they could see so many amazing answers to prayer and still not trust the Lord with all of their hearts. It just didn't make any sense that God would reveal Himself so miraculously over and over, and still the people doubted and complained. But really who am I so different from the Israelites? God has not only given me a way to be saved and know Him personally, but He leads me daily in this life and is always with me through every trial I face. Still I doubt Him and complain. Even after He promises and proves to me that He is with me.
Recently we were praying with the boys and Logan's prayer was, "Dear God, You are so awesome. You make me happy and I love you." So simple...but I am thankful for that. I love how God continues to use children to remind me that I don't have to figure everything out. He is in control. I should just love him and thank Him for being so awesome!

More summer stuff...

This picture is from Jerod & Katie's wedding shower. It's so fun to watch the number of girls in this family quietly grow and take over. Ha! We're gaining on you guys! I made the picture black & white because I am so pale standing next to Katie's extreme tan and Elizabeth had a bad sunburn! So, it was a little less distracting this way. : ) I am so thankful for these ladies!

The most beautiful baby girl in the world...sweet little Hannah. I can't go too many posts without a picture of her!

Landry & Logan had a lemonade stand recently that also featured original comic books by Landry! What a fun day...and very hot. : )

My sweet boys...such good brothers.

Summer Stuff

We had a great trip with Papa John, Mama Gina, Mandy & kids, & Myka this week! All the kids got new shoes for school...and somehow Hannah & Myka picked out the same pink ones! I had forgotten how much fun grandparents can cram into one week! The kids had a blast...and now the adults need another vacation. : )





This is me & Mandy at the Dallas Aquarium. There were so many things to look at...and much more than just fish! Monkeys, penguins, and even a jaguar! Crazy.

I love this picture because it is Logan and Jonah playing a game at Incredible Pizza. But this is no ordinary game...it is ironic that these two chose this game to play together because the object of the game is to shoot the bad peanuts! Ha! I loved it!

Incredible Pizza turned out to be pretty incredible! The kids had a blast! What a fun trip!

The More I Seek Him...

This picture is from my birthday...it was such a great day. But it's strange to face the reality of your age when you don't feel as though that could possibly be the correct number! : )

As I get older though, I am finding that God continues to not only bless me in so many ways, but also continues to stretch my faith and challenge me in areas I never anticipated. The trick is to be thankful not only for the blessings, but also for the challenges. I have found that the song you are listening to right now on this blog, The More I Seek You, just brings to life the song in my heart. I'm not even sure who wrote this amazing chorus, but what a powerful message that Kari Jobe brings to us. A song to the Lord...

"The more I seek You, the more I find you

The more I find You, the more I love you..."

The song continues with such a beautiful picture of what our desire should be with the Lord. The verse that God has placed on my heart for the past few months is Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Catching up...

Well, I've missed a lot of blogging over the past few months. But so much has happened and I am determined to catch up...yet again. : ) The boys have finally finished school and are already having a fun summer. We've made a couple of trips to NRH2O already and Logan thinks we're supposed to go every day! Guess that's what I get for purchasing season passes! This is a picture of me with Mandy's sweet Hannah...what a doll! She has the sweet personality to match, too. The picture is from Hannah's baby dedication day...




This one is from the Easter Pageant...I had the opportunity to sing "East to West" as a duet and this picture turned out so cool! The background for the Pageant was amazing...and the songs had powerful words. It was so much fun to be a part of.

I couldn't resist this picture of Caleb...Mandy's middle child...it just shows his personality so much!

Me and Hannah again...at Mom's this time. As you can see, I frequently win the battle of "who gets to hold Hannah". : ) Sorry Mom!!!

Jason & Landry recently got to got to a Ranger's game thanks to some great friends who gave us their tickets for free! Landry is now hooked and had so much fun on his "date" with Dad.

The Graduate

Well, I thought I'd start catching up on my blog with pictures of Logan's Kindergarten graduation. It was such a fun evening and Logan did a great job posing for the pictures! As you can see, he was very proud to wear the cap & gown!

Ready for 1st grade!

Accepting his diploma...

And brotherly love.

Landry running out before an Upward basketball game...he was so excited to have everyone at this game...even Uncle Justin got to see him make 3 baskets! Keep it up Landry!

This morning we came home from school early because Logan was burned on his forearm. I am so thankful that he is OK! He has a large burn from hot gravy in the lunchroom and it started to blister on the way home. I was so sad that he was burned by his favorite cafeteria meal...he said on the way home, "No more chicken and gravy!!" Well, anyone who knows Logan at all knows how long that will last. : ) About as long as his mom saying no more chocolate! I'm amazed at how tough he was during the whole thing...there were tears, but he tried so hard the whole way home. It's always interesting how we are just going along in life and something like this happens to remind us how precious life really is. It doesn't even seem "major" looking back, but certainly the moment you look on the face of your hurting child, you get a jolt inside of you like no other. I was reminded in this moment of Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." I am thankful that the Lord is with me wherever I go...but I am even more thankful to the Lord that He is with Landry and Logan wherever they go. A "wise, old man" (sorry dad! : ) ) recently reminded me that there is nothing more important in life than knowing Christ and loving Him. If only we would remember that every day.

Thank God for kids

It seems like the month of January just flew by! The holiday season is always so much fun. Sometimes it's so difficult going back to work and real life. But the sappy person in me is so thankful that God gave us kids...sometimes I think to get us through the hard days. Those little people are such precious reminders every day that life is not about me! Since I've been working at Landry & Logan's school, I have found that kids can also be so very honest. I was helping get kids where they need to go one morning this week and one of my students (a 3rd grade boy) came in, stopped in front of me and said in the most blunt and calm way, "Bad hair day Mrs. B?" I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. I told him I hadn't realized it but I appreciated his honesty! Nothing like a child to put everything back in perspective for you. I watch my own children going through this world learning so much every day and with such an innocence about all the difficulties in life. Yet their innocence brings back a perspective that we "less innocent" adult people have long forgotten. It's easy to get frustrated with all that life brings. And it seems that the "straight forward comments" might get you down sometimes, but they are almost always followed by a precious song written by a Kindergarten girl named Annie...it goes like this: "Miss, Miss, Miss, B, B, B...I love you!" Yes, written and performed by Annie. So, in the words of Dale Hanson, thank God for kids!

We've been spending a lot of time with basketball lately...Landry is having a good time talking to...hmmm...not exactly sure. Perhaps he's singing? I love the kid to his left yawning...oh, good times in 1st & 2nd grade basketball! Landry made a basket last week during the game...way to go Landry!!

My sweet boys...

Fun with friends...this is quite a crew when you get them all together! Look out world!

Just home from work to hang out with my buddy Caleb! Aunt Shell loves you, Caleb!