What to Post...Hmmm?

Duran Duran Concert last night.

Not the best picture, but you can get a glimpse of two Duranies preparing to rock out to "A View to a Kill" and "Wild Boys". I think the best two songs of the night were "Reach Out for the Sunrise" and "Rio". Well, "The Reflex" and their newer "Falling Down" were pretty good too. You should have seen all the screaming forty year-olds. We had such a blast! Simon LeBon sounded amazing. He was definitely the best vocally that I've ever heard him. I think this was my fifth time to see , but the closest to the stage. We were about three feet from the stage, and I think John Taylor definitely winked at me twice. Ha Ha, just kidding. It was so hysterical after the concert. We went to Whataburger for taquitos and fries, and our whole group was walking around like 80 year olds. My feet were killing me, Skip's hip, our friend Bard's knees, and Skip's brother's back. Too funny! Skip has a short clip from the concert on his blog. One thing I realized last night is that our generation does not have trouble worshipping, but they do have trouble knowing who it is we should worship. My friend Mollie shouted over the noisy crowd last night, "Boy, do we live in a bubble." Sadly, I could not have agreed more. We have some major kingdom work to do people.

Tree is Finally Up!

I don't have much room for a tree this year, no staircase to spread out the garland and lights, and no mantle for the stockings, but I think everything turned out beautiful just the same.

I waited so late this year to get my tree up because I had to go back to Corpus and climb in my attic to retrieve our pre-lit tree. My legs are so sore from carrying boxes and tubs down the stairs. I think my muscles are in shock right now. Annie helped me with the ornaments while we listened to Michael W. Smith's Christmas CD. It reminds me more of a Nutcracker ballet type sound, but I love it nonetheless. Annie wasn't happy with that type of sound, so after 4 or 5 songs, I had to put on last year's Aly and AJ. It is one of my favorite Christmas CD's.

I had a huge Christmas wish answered today that I couldn't wait to share with all my blogging friends. My mom's husband Bobby had surgery to put in a stint in his aorta this week and he was able to go home in less than 24 hours. Praise God! But that wasn't the answer to prayer. We have been praying for him for years that he will come to know Christ as his personal Saviour. Well, today was a huge start. HE CAME TO OUR CHURCH! Our interim pastor shared a beautiful message and hopefully my stepfather was able to hear the voice of God calling to him. I could not be more thrilled. You know with all the house woes, and uncertainty that comes with that, this was a perfect gift to rejoice in. It is a wonderful start. I am so thankful for Bobby's heart being willing to step out and give it a try.

We have so much on our to do list this week, and I haven't bought a single gift. Can you imagine? Skip is having dental work tomorrow so please pray for little pain and a quick recovery. I am also having my mother's side of the family's Christmas party at my house this Saturday, so home schooling is going to involve a lot of Christmas music and cleaning. I'm still trying to figure out how to fit anywhere from 30 to 50 people in my home. I think we will have to spill out onto the back deck. Anyway, I hope you are all taking time this season to love your hubby, your family members and remember to show some Jesus love to everyone you come across. Blessings!

My Boys

Seth finally had his first hunting adventure yesterday. He and Skip went with some friends who have a ranch less than an hour from our home. They didn't shoot anything, but they had such a great time bonding and hanging out together in the deer blind. Seth and Skip captured a large buck on film. If you want to check it out, go by Skip's blog to take a look. You need to click on the word "here" when you get there. We laughed at our preppy boy dressed in camo with a Gap hat. Too funny!

Keeping a Secret Life

My Angela Thomas's bible study is simply incredible! I have done A Beautiful Offering before, but I am at a completely different place this time I am doing it. This week's study is called "Keeping a Secret Life" and it is all about having a secret relationship with our heavenly father. We are focusing on the private life of spending time with God, that in turn, results in a beautiful public life that people cannot help but see our precious God.

Sadly over the last six months or so, my private time with God has been pretty laxed and minimal and I keep wondering why I'm not able to SEE what God is doing more in my life. Every example when I talk to my ladies in bible study is past tense. Such as "Two years ago when God told me...." or "Last year I saw God miraculously...". I felt so frustrated that I wasn't able to give them current examples that are usually happening all around me. I think God is showing me this week, through this study, that I need to get back to him first. Quit focusing on the negatives! Quit worrying about the future! Quit wondering if I am doing my kids a disservice to home school them! Quit thinking all together for a minute and just sit! I need to sit at the feet of Christ and just adore him. I need to acknowledge that my public life isn't so great because my private time with him isn't either. For this week, I am going to strive to seek that private time with God.

Angela talks about three beautiful pieces of our lives that really get the attention of God when offered in private. The act of giving in secret, praying in secret, and fasting in secret are ones I really need to put into practice this holiday season. May each of you find that special time with our Saviour as well this Christmas, so that others who do not know Him will certainly WANT TO. God bless!

Pictures Galore!

Since Skip and I both have our fortieth birthdays within one month of each other, we decided to have a celebration together this year. His b-day was last month and mine is the day after Christmas. We met at a cute little restaurant downtown with family and some friends for dinner, and then we walked a block to my cousin's gorgeous coffee shop for dessert and karaoke. It was so fun to hang out and visit with those we love so much. If you are ever in the Victoria area, you need to go have the BEST coffee in the world. Delicious! I must say that my favorite part of the party was hearing my sweet daughter Ashley say the prayer before dinner, and laughing my head off at Skip's friends singing Duran Duran "Wild Boys" for him. My sis and my brother did "Summer Nights" from Grease. I had no idea they were such hams. Kirby and Skip did "Safety Dance", and our friend Bard did Johny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue". Too funny!

Various pictures from the party.

Blogger and I do not get along when it comes to pictures. I tried my best, but I can't get it right.



























On the left is me with my sweet daughter Ashley and my niece Stephanie.








I love this picture of my sister Debbie and my brother Billy with me in the middle. This is our age order too. My sister looks so young, but she's two years older than me. My baby bro is only 5 years younger than me but he looks like he's twenty-five. Lucky guy!

Kim and Kay

Laura and Erik and little Lucas

My Daddy is on the left with his wife Carolyn.
Skip's parents Linda and Otto are on the right.














Skip and my brother singing Neil Diamond's "Love on the Rocks".

My mom and I posing for the camera. I will try to forgive her for the burnt orange sweater.

My sweet baby and me posing together on our special night.

Skip, Ashley, me and Annie singing "Livin' La Vida Loca". Not a pretty sight, but it was so much fun.

Could It Be?

I hesitate to type this because I don't want to jinx anything. However, I also know that we serve a God that isn't in the business of jinxing. So here it is...someone is interested in renting our house. They love the house, but aren't ready to buy. They have an application in hand. Oh my goodness, I am so excited. I am also trying not to put all my hope in this one potential renter. I want to put my trust in my one, true God. I prayed so much this week about knowing God's direction about our house situation. Could this be it? Anyway, guess who the potential renter is? Another pastor! How about that. Even though we are renting for several hundred less than our mortgage payment, it would be so great to get most of our payment and to help another pastor out in some small way. Please join me again today in this huge positive step forward.

Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."

Thankful Thursday

There are so many wonderful things I have to be thankful for, and today I am going to focus on some that are closest to my heart.

1. I am thankful for friends that call at just the right moment, or email you out of the blue just to encourage you. I am so blessed to have friends that pour Jesus into my life and remind me who I am in Christ. Thank you friends for not letting me dwell on present struggles, but point me to the many miracles and wonders I have witnessed.

2. I am thankful for my husband and his desire to have excellence in his ministry and his family. We so often fall short as a family, but he keeps dreaming for God.

3. I am thankful for my three children. They crack me up at the things they do and say.

4. I am thankful for sweet parents who helped shape me into the woman I am today. I am thankful that both of them are only 5 minutes away from me this Christmas.

5. I am thankful for this award that Julie gave to me this past week. I don't feel like I've been very encouraging lately, but this award makes me what to bless others and encourage even more.

If you would like to join in on Thankful Thursday, please go and place your link at Laurel Wreath's site.

A Little Sharing, A Little Whining...It Happens Sometimes

I had two dear friends ask me this week how they could pray for me, and I had another dear relative offer to clean my house for me. My set response is always, "I'm fine, please don't worry about me. Help someone who really needs it." Who am I kidding? I need prayer and I need some help every once in a while. I don't know why I think God doesn't send His help in the form of other Christians to give us a hand when we need. Not only do I need the occasional maid, I need some prayer warriors to join with me on a few things.

*First, my house has now been on the market for one year. Skip and I are trying to rent it now-very cheap, and I would love to have that happen before my next house payment is due.
*Second, I would love to be able to think of Christmas without a pit in my stomach of how I'm going to buy gifts while paying two mortgages.
*Third, I would love for Skip's upcoming dental work to go well, and not be an astronomical price and no infections would surface.
*Fourth, I would love to be able to lay all of the three previous things on the altar, and believe God for everything without hesitation. I have seen God work in such amazing ways in my life, but I am feeling very weak at the moment, yet still trying to hope and have joy. And for once, I cannot blame my emotional state on PMS. It's just little ole human ME. Thanks for letting me vent(0:

Almost 40 and Feeling It

Whether I like it or not, my fortieth b-day is quickly approaching. I now have less than one month to say I'm in my thirties. Skip has already hit the big 40 so I know I can make it through too. Even though I still feel 20 at times, some things have definitely started to change. Just want to share some of the "changes" with you, just in case some of you youngens out there want to be prepared for the road ahead.

1. I can't see all of a sudden. I haven't been to an eye doctor yet, but I'm pretty sure my previous 20/20 vision is history. I have been caught holding books, labels, and medicine further away than normal. My dad tells me that is part of old age. Did you hear that? Old age?

2. My knees crack and pop when I get up in the mornings. What is up with that? I can still do a killer cartwheel and flips on the trampoline, but my body now lets me know that I shouldn't.

3. I would rather have chocolate for a meal. I never thought I would be one of "those" women who would get so excited about a new dessert recipe, but I am.

4. My memory is fading. Just today, I completely missed the turn to my street. I kept driving, and didn't realize I had missed the street until I.........what was I talking about? See, there you go.

5. Every time someone comes by to visit I have to make a pot of coffee, and offer cookies and snacks. My grandmother has always done this, and now I'm doing it. I guess my friends are getting old too because they always accept.

*On the bright side, my hips are slimmer, my wrinkles have miraculously disappeared, and I always get 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. HA! I wish!

Enchanted is Enchanting!

After two Thanksgiving dinners, a nap, watching the Cowboys dominate, and eating way too much pecan pie, my sister treated myself and the kiddos to the movie Enchanted. It was precious! I loved the actors they chose for the roles. They were perfect! If you have very small children, it does have a somewhat scary part near the end with a wicked stepmother, but what fairytale movie doesn't. I hope you put this on your list of holiday movies to see. Oh, and guess what? There is only 32 more shopping days until Christmas.

*Oh my goodness, I just finished Home to Holly Springs this morning while all the house was sound asleep. Sitting with a delicious cup of coffee, I read the last few chapters. I laughed out loud several times, and as I read the last page, I teared up with a huge smile. If you are a Mitford Series fan, you will know exactly what I'm talking about.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I feel so blessed this Thanksgiving. Here are a few reasons why:

1. God is in control.

2. I have a wonderful family and amazing friends.

3. We don't have to travel far this Thanksgiving. Everyone we are seeing this week is 20 minutes or less away.

4. We decided not to homeschool this week. At all. For my sanity.

5. I signed up to get the new Michael W. Smith cd after hearing about it on Bigmama's blog. Go here for more info.

6. Skip got tickets for us to see Duran Duran in Austin in December! I think it will be my 4th time to see my high school heart throbs. Who cares that they move a bit slower, and sing a little lower. Skip and I have a sick obsession with this band. Oh, the memories of singing to the top of our lungs in his jeep to "Wild boys! Wild boys! Wild boys!" I even did a drill team dance to "The Reflex". Come on, you know you want to sing along.

7. We are adding baked mac and cheese to our Thanksgiving menu this year. Yummy!

8. My sister Debbie who had a birthday on the 20th, and my friend Laura who is having her birthday on Thanksgiving Day. Happy birthday girls!

9. Skip and I are dreaming and setting some goals I will share with you soon. Please pray that we seek God 100 percent in the process.

10. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 I never get tired of that verse. It is everything to me as a Christian.

Happy Birthday Skip!

Cool Pic, huh?

My sweet man is turning 40, and I would love to wish him a very Happy Birthday. Could you stop on by his blog to wish him a very Happy Birthday? He is such a great guy for so many reasons, and I am so proud to be his wife. He is smart, funny, talented, loving, and well, just plain cute. Help me wish him a special day.

Five of my Favs at the Moment

1. I love the author Jan Karon. It's been many years since I last read the Mitford series, but I jumped right in with this one. I love, love, love Father Tim. Don't you?

2.White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Creamer from International Delight. Yummy! But I haven't forgotten my one true love which is ...

3. This wonderful barbeque restaurant in Victoria makes the best fountain drinks EVER! If you love adding cherry or vanilla to your soda, this drink will blow you away with deliciousness(is that a word). I get the Vanilla coke(yes real coke), and it is heavenly. I love me some Sonic, but these drinks are about 1000 times better. I kid you not. Try one if you are in the area.

4. Watching my husband prepare for the upcoming Christmas program at church. I may have mentioned before that they are doing an all out live radio performance of It's A Wonderful Life. There will be six identical services over three days, and I cannot wait. I have been to a rehearsal and I'm so excited to see how awesome it is going to be. There will be live foley artists for the sound effects, advertisements, live music, and so much more. I am helping in finding costumes that would be comparable to the 1940's dress. Help!!! I'm thinking that most of the guys will be in suits and hats, and the ladies will be wearing dresses and hats too. Our whole atrium and auditorium will be like you stepped back in time. I can't wait.

5. This blog is so addictive. Not only is the Pioneer Woman an excellent cook and professional photographer, she also is writing a true life romance novel about how she and her husband met and fell in love. I fell for the story hook, line, and sinker. I look for a new installment each day to her continuous love story. If you want to see for yourself, start here. After you are hooked like me, you can go to her archives and catch up. I'm not alone in this adoration of this story, she has a bazillion other readers who are more addicted than me.

Now, if you get a chance, share some of your "Five Favs of the Moment" too.

I'm Listening

Over the last week or so I've heard some amazing quotes and scriptures that have really spoken to me, and I thought they were definitely worth sharing.

* "Focus on your giants, and you will stumble. Focus on God, and your giants will tumble." Michael Smalley (our new interim pastor) I hope I said that right, but I'm sure you get the idea.

* "The devil may have gotten his foot in the door, but God will never allow him to take residence. Praise God." My dear friend Liana

* "I think we're dreaming too small, honey. I think God is allowing some huge trials to happen to redirect our attention to His plans. " Skip

* Shortly after praying as a family about the previous discussion, God led me to this verse and I am committing this to Him: "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently before him. " Psalm 37:3-7 As an extra insight, I have shared that a passion of ours is to one day have land here, and do you see in this verse that God mentions "enjoy safe pasture". I may be reading into things, but it was just like God to give me a specific gift in scripture like that.

* "A path without obstacles is a path without challenges. When you prepare for the unexpected you're prepared for everything. " Rev Run

* "Where God guides; He provides." Bil Cornelius

* "I believe the Lord asked me to take this unnatural, uncomfortable step so that my dependence would be on Him alone, and not my own abilities." Julie

Thankful Thursday

My Thankful Thursday List is all about Family.

These pictures show exactly what I am most thankful for today!

Here is Pirate Annie, cousin Princess Taylor, Life size Barbie Ashley, Aggie Football Player Seth, and Snow White cousin Samantha

My sweet boys! Seth realized what an Aggie town Victoria is because he received extra candy at a few stops due to the maroon and white he was wearing. Whoop!

I thought this was too sweet! Annie and Taylor are only about 6 months apart. My normally princess child wanted to be a pirate this year. I love it!

Lastly, my baby! I just love this man to pieces!

If you would like to join in on a Thankful Thursday list too, just go by Crystal's at God is In Control Not Me and leave a link to your post.