Ice Storm

Today in Denton, our schools are closed as we get ready for an ice storm. This only happens in North Texas about once a year, so we look forward to a day when schools are closed and everyone stays off the roads due to ice. I am looking forward to a day with Austin and James - playing cars, watching movies, and eating whatever we can find in our kitchen pantry.

Winter reminds me of one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Isaiah 55

Isaiah 55:9-11 (New International Version)

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

So, I pray that today would be a day full of God's word in our hearts and coming out of our mouths to Austin. Just as the snow comes down and makes the earth bud and flourish, I pray that our times with Austin on these icy days will also accomplish the purposes that the Lord has for us as a family!

In Honor

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

We Love our Lovies!

When I was a little girl, I had a lovie (a blanket that I absolutely loved). It was soft on one side and silky on the other. I would rub it between my fingers and carried it with me everywhere I went. I especially needed my blankie at night to go to sleep.

There was something so comforting about having my blankie. My blankie was rather large, however, so as I started to attend preschool, my mom would cut a tiny square off of blankie everyday and sew it up. I would take the small square with me to preschool and every day at nap time, I would pull out my little blankie squre to comfort me.

When Austin was born, I received a beautiful lamb lovie for him with his name embroidered on the soft white fabric. Austin loved "Lambert" and carried him everywhere we went. Unfortunately, on a mission trip when he was six months old, we dropped Lambert in Mexico slum.
We never found him.

I called my mom crying, "Mom, I lost Lambert!"
(Yes, mothers are much more attached to their childrens' blankies at this age than the child, but I was a first time mom!)

Immediately my mom ran to the store, but no more lambs were in stock. She bought an alternate... a small, yellow duck and overnighted it to our apartment in Denton.

And so, "Quack Quack" was born.

Austin meeting "quack quack" for the first time.

Austin sleeping with "quack quack"

Austin with a lovie on his first day of school.

Perhaps it is because I had my own special blankie as a child. Perhaps I understand how intimidating the world can be at times. Perhaps I still want to rub silk through my fingers at moments for the calming effect. Despite my reasons, Austin can keep his "Quack Quack" as long as he wants.
This Christmas, however, I accidentally left this precious friend in Gainesville when we went back to my parents.
"Where is quack quack?" Austin asked about an hour into our drive.
"Oh, sweetheart," I explained, "I left him at Granny's house. We will get him in a couple of days."
Tears welled up in my son's eyes.
"I just want quack quack," he cried.

A few days later when we reconnected with Granny, I left Quack Quack on Austin's car seat for him to find.
"Oh, Quack Quack," he said, "There you are! I have missed you so much."

Oh, Comfort!

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you. Isaiah 66:13

Lord, I pray that as Austin grows he will find the comfort that comes only from you. Comfort in your arms. Comfort in the shadow of your wings.

Christmas in Florida!

Some of my favorite Christmas moments this year...


This first picture is right before Austin started decorating his gingerbread house. I don't know if he was trying to concentrate...
"Okay, how can I make this the best gingerbread house ever?"
or if he was praying...
"Lord, thank you for the candy I see before me. Bless it to our bodies."
or if he was pleading with the Lord...
"Please let mom let me eat this candy. Please hide her eyes to what I am about to shove in my mouth.

Despite Austin's silent prayers, we had a wonderful time decorating gingerbread houses with my new sister in law, Sharon. The extended time at home allowed me to get to know this precious woman so much better. Sharon has such a passion for teaching and children. Austin is so blessed to have such great aunts and uncles!

Aunt Sharon and Andrew (3) working on his gingerbread house.

Our sweet neighbor next door made a sweater for Austin to wear on Christmas day. What 2 year old doesn't look absolutely adorable in a red Christmas sweater???

On Christmas Eve, we attended the worship service at Westside Baptist Church in Gainesville, FL. Westside holds such precious memories to us: we met at this church, James was my Sunday school teacher here (ladies, one of the benefits of attending SS), we were married here, and James was ordained by this church body. We love this church family!

and the weather was absolutely beautiful!

Five WEEKS!!! REALLY?

Has it really been five weeks since I last wrote? These have been the shortest and longest five weeks. I have not given up on you, my precious blogspot. I have not retreated to my diary to record my days... no instead, I have fallen into bed exhausted at 8:00 pm most evenings.

Shortly after my last post, I received word that my grandma, my "mama" had a stroke. I quickly found tickets for Austin and I to travel to Florida to say our goodbyes. What was expected to be a short hospital stay for mama, turned into a three week Hospice watch at my parents' home. The three weeks included precious family time, celebrations of Christmas, and even a car accident (everyone is fine); but the most tender moments were simply sitting by my mama's side.

We said goodbye to Mama on January 2nd in the early hours of the morning. Her funeral in South Carolina was a beautiful tribute to her life. I am honored to be her granddaughter.

And so, I hope that I am back... but then again, it might be another 5 weeks.

Everyday Unwrapped

Emily over at chatting at the sky is hosting a party today. It is called Everyday Unwrapped - noticing the little things that happen everyday. Noticing...


your son walking out of your bathroom wearing your shoes.
noticing... the future rock stars might be in your four year old class.

noticing bright pink lipstick created by frosting...

noticing... the way a two year old loves his blankie...

noticing... the way your son's eyes stare at the world trying to take it all in.

Lord, do you notice?

1 Praise the LORD. ^[a]
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.

2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,

6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.

9 He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.

You have to stoop, but Lord you do! You do look... you notice all things!

Come Visit my Christmas Tree

From college through my first five years of marriage, all of my Christmas decorations fit into this small tupperware box!

Last year, the day after Christmas, mom and I hit Walmart and bought everything we could find at 75% off! This year, I was ready to begin my Christmas decorating!

Until I unpacked my new Christmas tree and started laughing out loud!

After a little fluffing (and all of our personal ornaments) our Charlie Brown Christmas tree looked just perfect in our study.

For my birthday, James bought me my first ever REAL Christmas tree! But, unfortunately, I had used all my ornaments on our Charlie Brown tree. Below, I will show you how I decorated our new 7 foot tree for less than $20!

I bought lots of wooden stars and letters (J, E, A, and Q - for our family) and went to town spray painting in my garage.

Then I modge podged some of our favorite family pictures onto small wooden plaques ($.99 for four at Hobby Lobby) for some new ornaments.

Then I filled in all the gaps on the tree with floral that I bought at Hobby Lobby! Here is the trick. Don't buy the Christmas decorations. Buy the fall decorations! They are 90% off!!!

And our tree was done - all for less than $20!!!

Don't worry, I went crazy on my garlands as well. As I stuffed things into my garland, I kept thinking, "girl, you have lost your mind. This is too much! But you know what? I love it!"

Berries? oh, yes! Feathers? You bet!

Is that an empty area in my garland?

It is... I have a huge gap...

oh, don't you worry. There is stuff laying around my house just waiting to be used as Christmas decorations.

After all, just look at my stairwell...

the wreath... well, I left the wreath a little bare...

but there are three of them.

I love Christmas! Thank you for coming to my Christmas open house!