Valentine's 2012

I love Valentine's Day!  I love being able to spoil the ones I love with little gifts and extra hugs and kisses on that day, for no other reason except that I love them!  I got Troy and Teague each a new cup and a sucker and a little stuffed animal monkey, which they loved, surprisingly enough!!  They have both taken them everywhere, including school, for the last 4 days!  Soooo cute!!!  I had also stashed away some gifts for Kelby, Koby and Baylee at Richard's house prior to Valentine's Day so he was able to surprised them with a few little things that I thought they would enjoy!  I didn't get an pictures of them opening their gifts, but I did get a sweet card from Koby!

They had the best time giving their monkeys piggy back rides!

 Here is the card Koby made me at school.

 Since Valentine's fell on a weekday, Richard and I decided to celebrate on Friday night.  We went to an Italian restaurant and to get ice cream with some friends and then after that we exchanged gifts.  I had told him a couple of months back that I wanted us to make our gifts...build something, bake something, write something, make something, etc...just something home-made and from the heart.  I made him a deck of cards that read like a book with 52 things I loved about him.  I saw this idea and knew I had to do it!!  It turned out really cute and I think he really appreciated it!

He wrote me the sweetest love letter!  I was surprised and I loved reading it!!  And still love reading it over and over!  There is just something so special about heart felt words penned on paper by the one you love!!  It was perfect!!

Laughter

God will let you laugh again; you'll raise the roof with shouts of joy

Job 8:21 MSG

I recently read this scripture in one of my devotionals and it really resonated with me.  It was not so long ago that I remember crying out to God in such pain and confusion about the direction my life had taken.  I wondered if I would ever be happy again.  As I read that scripture, I smiled and thought "He is faithful!"  I find myself laughing, enjoying each day and looking forward to the future again.   

As I continually filter my thoughts and actions through the word CRAVE, I have found myself growing closer to Him, but in a different way because I am now sharing that with Richard.  It's neat to share my prayer requests with him and vice versa and then to pray about it individually and come back together and share what God has shown us and for it to be similar.  I've never experienced that before and I think it's so cool!! As I continually try to crave Him daily, I am surprised at the places I find Him when I am looking...a child's hug at school, 'I love you' in sign language on a bumper sticker,  a perfect song played at the perfect time, the sunset...

...and through it all I hear Him whisper 'I love you'!  I feel so blessed for the laughter He has put back into my life and for the ways He still pursues me and shows His love.

D-Now

Richard's friend Charles asked us a few months back if we would be interested in helping out at his Disciple Now weekend.  Of course, we said yes and have been so excited for this weekend to come.  We spent most of the weekend at a camp ground site in cabins. There was good music, good preaching and a lot of fun!! Richard spoke Friday night and I really enjoyed hearing him. It was the first time I have really heard him preach to a group and I was amazed at how easy he made it look. He has a great sense of humor and a strong foundation in scripture and both of those are evident when he speaks. It's hard to put into words, but seeing him up there, teaching scripture and being so passionate about God and His Kingdom made me fall in love with him just a little more. 

On Saturday, we left the camp grounds for a little while to catch the Baylor women's basketball game. It was a great game and it was fun to spend some time with his family. Then it was back to camp for the final worship service and small groups. I don't know why, but I am always taken aback when God uses me.  It is a very humbling experience and I am thankful He chooses me to help Him with His work.  The whole weekend was a lot of fun and seeing God move through the lives of those teenagers was the best part!!


Last minute preparations

Sic 'em Bears!

A Wicked weekend

Another busy weekend!!  We started Saturday at Koby's basketball game.  Richard's dad brought suckers for the boys, which kept them entertained for a good portion of the game, so that was helpful!

Richard is not the coach, but assists where he can so that was fun to watch him interact with the team.

Koby plays great basketball!!  He is fast and aggressive and scores many of the team's points!  It's always fun to watch him play.

Then it was time for a quick nap before we headed out to watch Baylee play!! 

Baylee did great, as well!  She is very aggressive on the court too and really is an asset to her team!  Richard has done well in raising good athletes that also value sportsmanship.

Immediately after Baylee's game she and I headed back to my house to get ready for Wicked! We met the girls at Baby A's for dinner and then it was off to the show!  We had such a good time and I think Baylee really enjoyed the theater!!  But how could you not LOVE Wicked!!!