Adventure?!?

So I don't know if I would classify this under one of the first adventures of 2011 or under super scary??

Today I had a work meeting in between work and me teaching aerobics, so I didn't think much about leaving McKenna outside, because that is what I do everyday, but I guess since I didn't return home until after dark she got scared or nervous and dug out. The boys and I returned home around 7pm and I could see the hole when I drove up. I was hoping she hadn't really been able to fit through there but she did. I loaded the boys back into the car and we rolled down the windows and started yelling 'MCKENNA' as I drove up and down streets for an hour. This part might be classified as the adventure part with Troy screaming McKenna as loud as he could and Teague yelling 'Tenna' right there with Troy! I finally gave up and decided to get the boys in bed. Troy was so sad and asked if he should cry, lol!! I told him that we needed to pray to God for her safety and for her to find her way home, so we did.

She had her tags on so I kept thinking that when someone found her they would call, but no one ever called. Of course, then I started to think the worst; did someone find her and decide just to keep her, was she just roaming the streets cold and hungry, or did she get hit? I even left the porch light on for her.

At about 2:30am an owl hooting woke me up and I once again checked the front yard and again, nothing. I got back in bed and prayed again. It seemed silly to be praying for my dog to come home, but I was convicted that nothing is silly to God, and if it matters to me, it matters to Him. He brought Philippians 4:6 to mind...worry about nothing, pray about everything...so I did. And about that time I heard the neighbor dog howl and then another dog bark. I swore it sounded like McKenna so I jumped out of bed and opened the back door and there she was!!! I was so happy and just thanking God over and over!! She was a little muddy and had quite a few cactus quills in her but once I cleaned her up she got a drink of water and went straight to her bed.

In the morning, Troy came downstairs and saw her and just started yelling, "mom, look, McKenna came home!!" I think he was more excited to see her than he was when Santa came!! We then talked about our prayer the night before and how God answered that prayer and we should thank Him. He told me he gave her a big hug because he missed her and I told him he should tell her 'never run away again!' (in a mean voice) and he told, "mom, don't be mean to her, we missed her" LOL!! He is so cute!!!

I am so thankful that she was smart enough to find her way home and that I was able to use this experience as another opportunity to teach Troy about God.

2011

This year instead of making a New Year's resolution I decided I would participate in the One Word challenge. I had been thinking and praying about what my one word would be and thought I had an idea, but it seemed very much out of my character. So I asked God to make it clear to me if that is what my one word should be. Funny how you ask God to make something clear to you He will. I heard the word on the radio, on the TV and then again on one of the movies Troy was watching. So my word is...

ADVENTURE

The One Word challenge hopes that the word you choose will be the lens you use all year long to help you get to the change you want to see in yourself. I have been working on becoming the person God created me to be and in some of my reading I realize you can be in God's will and still not be who God created you to be. I think this will be a life long journey and lesson for me, but being more adventurous is something I desperately want in all aspects of my life. With two boys, I want to be the mom that goes along with the boys on their adventures and for them to be proud to have me come along for the experience. With my future spouse, I want to be less meticulous and more spontaneous, able to go and do on a moments notice and have fun no matter what we are doing. With my God, I want to be willing to go wherever He leads. I want my faith to be daring and bold and be able to confidently know that if He has called me to do it, then He will pave the way ahead, no matter how scary it may seem.

So here's to an adventurous 2011!! Happy New Year!!

Christmas

Here are some pictures of Christmas. The boys got WAY too many gifts and we had to leave some of them at my parent's house because everything would not fit in my car to take home.






While in the Metroplex, we went the the ICE exhibit. Everything in the pictures is made from ice and to keep it all from melting they have to keep it super cold, so they give you parkas to wear while you go through. At the end, we enjoyed hot chocolate and meeting Snoopy. It was a lot of fun!!

One day changes everything

Yesterday was an overwhelming day. I was finally getting the boys back after a week of them being gone and my best friend, Tanna was scheduled to deliver her sweet baby girl. I was driving to Waco with my family to get the boys while my sister checked Facebook to check on Tanna's progress. I then get a voice mail from a friend in Lubbock telling me to check Facebook concerning Brie and Eric Gomez, another friend of ours who used to live in Lubbock. In a moment I find out Brie and Eric were in a car accident. They rushed them to the hospital along with their two girls. The two girls and Eric were released with just a few injuries, but Brie had severe head trauma. The doctors were able to deliver and stabilize their 30 week old baby boy, Curran Blaec, but Brie passed away.

In a moment, life is different.

I was excited to see my boys again, happy that Tanna's delivery went well and Cerly was healthy, and saddened when I thought of Eric and those children. I wonder if God gives an angel and takes an angel? As baby Cerly entered the world, we were all rejoicing and loving on her and just staring at her in all her little baby perfection. I wonder if Jesus and the angels were doing the same in Heaven when Brie entered into the Kingdom?

Brie was the model Christian woman, wife, mother and friend. She would daily send me verses and check on me and send me books to read while I struggled through divorce. She would always give you a straight answer and you could trust it was said with a lot of thought, prayer behind it, and only out of love. The legacy she left was indescribable, but attainable only for those who truly chase God as she did. Her blog always talked about beauty out of chaos and as much as my heart breaks for the family she left behind, I know God will bring beauty out of it all, in time. Please join me in praying for Eric, Mali, 6, Eleri, 1, and Curran, preemie. God draws near to the broken hearted and I have no doubt His glory will be seen through their healing and Brie's work here on earth. If you knew Brie and want to help the family, a fund has been set up:
Happy State Bank (806) 373-2265
https://www.happybank.com/
Eric Gomez and the Curran Blaec Gomez fund

One day can change everything; could be a happy change, could be a sad change,but either way God can always be glorified, if you continue to trust Him.

MBR

My Boyfriend Rocks...

because he has a great sense of humor. He loves to joke around and is very witty. This is not in my innate personality but I really enjoy this part of Chris' personality and he is bringing me out of my shell. He has the ability to make a stiff situation light and can always make me smile with just a word or two, which works well in his favor if we are arguing ;) I've heard that one of the greatest qualities for a good relationship is humor and as long as Chris is around I have no doubt that I will always have laughter in my life.

My sister

I am so lucky to have Amber as my sister. Last weekend, me and the boys were able to attend her graduation. She is now a Doctor of Physical Therapy. It was so much fun to see where she went to all her classes and to meet her professors. She and her group of friends all looked beautiful and all were so happy to have come to the end of this part of their lives together. Troy was really into watching her as she entered the auditorium and then going with my dad towards the front to get a picture as she walked across the stage and was hooded. It was weird hearing that my baby sister is now Dr. Amber Pippen?!!? How is that possible?? But, I know it's all of her hard work and dedication and I am so proud of her!

CONGRATS AMBER!!

Spa Day

Finally our girls spa day arrived!! Tanna, Laura and I all spent Saturday at the spa. We started with a massage and then moved to lunch and then our pedicures. It was nice to be able to just walk around in our robes all day and not really rush to be anywhere. We would come back to this living room type area in between each service and just talk and it was such a nice atmosphere. We always try to get together at a restaurant or someone's house and it was just nice for it to be quiet and secluded and have no kids or time schedule. I think we sat in those chairs just talking for over an hour on several occasions!! I think we all agree this will be an annual event for us, it was just what we all needed!!

MBR

My boyfriend rocks...




because he is great with the boys. It's one thing to be a great dad with your own kids, but to play and get involved with other kids is something completely different. He loves to play and be physical with the kids. He also takes the time to explain things that they encounter, which I think is important in teaching them about the world we live in. And he listens to their thoughts and actively participates in conversations with them. I am so lucky to have Chris in my life...and so are my boys!

Superpalooza

This weekend we had our annual youth retreat called Superpalooza. It's a weekend long retreat with scavenger hunts, service projects, lessons, and a lot of fun!! I love these kids like they were my own!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Birthday Fun

My birthday was so much fun this year!! As my birthday gift to myself I decided I wanted to go back and visit Lubbock. So the boys and I took off early Friday morning and headed to Abilene. Grandma had a huge birthday lunch with cake and ice cream and we stayed the night there. Then off to Lubbock on Saturday morning.


We had lunch with Rachel and Leann and their families. I love how we can all get together after 3 years and still talk like no time passed by at all. We all stayed with Rachel and Scott and their two girls. Troy and Teague loved playing with Reece and Rynn and they were so sweet to share their room and their toys.



It was Homecoming weekend so we wandered around campus and took some pictures and bought t-shirts and I got to show Chris why I love Lubbock and Tech so much.




On Sunday I went back to my old church and felt so blessed to still have a church family there even though I am so far away, and it made me miss Lubbock even more because of the friendships I still have there.


I got a ton of great things for my birthday; a necklace from Grandma, boots from mom and lotion from the boys. Chris had gotten me a purse a few weeks back that I fell in love with so I thought I had already received my gift from him but then he and Tanna surprised me with a spa day with the girls in a few weeks so I will be getting a massage, lunch with Tanna and Laura and then a manicure, but then on top of that he showed up with this huge Victoria's Secret bag. I didn't know whether to be happy because I am spoiled or mad because he did WAY too much for me!!

Inside the bag was this suit and top along with more workout clothes. Chris was so funny as I was going through all the things inside he would tell me why he chose it, either it went with my eyes or it looked comfortable or it was practical or it was my favorite color. I told you he was a GREAT gift giver!! This birthday was so special for so many reasons and I am glad I could share it with so many people I love.

Halloween

We had so many Halloween festivities this year!! Troy and I both got to dress up for school parties. Daniel came and participated in Pumpkin carving with Dads at school and Troy really enjoyed that, although he didn't help much. We also had a costume contest at church and then we all went trick or treating that evening. Troy and Teague both looked so cute in their costumes and this was the first year I really got into dressing up and had a lot of fun with it!!



Troy and his teacher Mrs. Katha




Thing 1 and a vampiress

My youth girls!!

Iron Man and a Pirate (Cade and Troy)

Smile

Over the last 6 months or so I have received a ton of compliments on my smile. It has been weird and it has been so often that it got me to thinking. My first thought was why now? Am I too old and nothing but my smile looks good anymore? Chris told me it was just men hitting on me, but I noticed woman made the same compliment. I wondered if it was because of Chris, but I have been in love before and my smile didn't seem to catch people's attention...so what is different about me now?

And then it hit me...

I am more of who God created me to be at this moment than ever before.

I have been in love. I have been happy. I have been content. I have been satisfied. I have been fulfilled. But never before have I been so in tune to God and His plans and how I fit into that as I am now. And what people are seeing isn't me, but Christ within me making me beautiful. Funny how just a smile can draw people in.