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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Making a List...

Well, Kamdyn's team has wrapped up basketball. They finished with a loss, but it's over none the less. She has fought her way through and we already have an appointment with the orthopedic next week. The shot she got in her knee didn't last long and now they need to get to the bottom of whatever has aggravated the knee and causes her pain!


I was thinking I didn't have alot to share tonight so I'd just list a few things that have gotten my attention here lately:

*This is a blog I follow and I wanted to share this one post with ya'll -

http://lisajobaker.com/2013/01/easy-fashion-for-busy-moms/

I have seen this fashion shopper on another website and I could kind of relate to Lisa's wardrobe issues! Anyways, it was just something I thought I might share with ya'll here. She writes an awesome blog and it is very encouraging so check it out if you have time.

*On my IPhone I have been using my podcast app. I don't know if you have an IPhone or if you use that app, but it is so much fun! You can also get on ITunes U and get free downloads to college classes. I have to admit I have done that too and I love it!!

One of the podcast I subscribe to is Passion City Church. This is the church Koby visited back in December when he was in Atlanta. I love to hear Louie Giglio preach and if you subscribe to this podcast you can hear him and others deliver powerful sermons that will encourage you plus IT IS FREE. So, if you have an IPhone, check this out!

*The Super Bowl is this weekend so I am searching the internet for some good recipes to try something new. I haven't found that one thing that I think will really WOW our our friends who are coming over! How about you? Southern Living did email me this week with some great suggestions so I am thinking those over. One thing I know we will have in some form or fashion is cheese dip. I know I have shared this recipe with ya'll before but it's one of our favorites so I am sharing it again:

1 pound of velveeta (which right now my favorite is the white velveeta!!)
2 pkgs of Cream Cheese (to make me feel less guilty about eating this dip I buy the 1/3less fat cream cheese!)
1 pound of sausage, browned and drained
1 can of rotel

Melt your cheeses and add to that the browned sausage and rotel. Cook on low in the crock pot. Serve with Fritos or my new favorite Whole Grain Tostito Scoops!!

*The military continues to keep Brian and I guessing about any kind of plans we could make past tomorrow! So, I continue to be reminded of Deuteronomy 31:9, "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged." This has become one of my favorite verses!

*Tonight I watched the Cosby show. I grew up on the Cosby show and I forgot how much I loved it!! I remember tuning in every Thursday night. I may be watching these reruns more and more often because other than my favorite show Nashville, not much else is on. However, in case you were wondering Duck Dynasty will be back the last Wednesday of Feb. so I am counting down to that!!!!

*Keep praying for my dad and my mother, too. His knee replacement surgery went well and that is a praise! However, recovery will be long and so join me in praying for his strength as he rehabs. So far, so good!!

Well, that's about all from my cold little spot in Mississippi!! Hope you've enjoyed my list...

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Life and Such...

As I mentioned in my last post, life has picked back up to its breakneck pace around here. Wasn't I just relishing in the days of Christmas break, with no make up and elastic waist sweat pants every day? (Some of you know the excitement of that combination! Don't judge me!!)

Anyways, Brian and I took Kamdyn and a friend to an Aggie girls game Thursday night and it was fun for alot of reasons! First of all, who knew girls basketball was such a cheap form of entertainment? Kamdyn and her friend got in free and someone gave us an extra ticket for Brian so our admission to the game cost us exactly $5 which was the price of my ticket. Not bad at all!!

It was also fun because we sat right behind the team and got to be up close to the girls and the coaching staff. It was exciting to see Coach Blair in his championship ring!!! And finally, the Aggie girls won so you can't ask for more fun than that!


Thursday was also a big day for Brendan, and one of those days for me as a mom that made me reach down for the brake pedal on life. He and his classmates got their class rings delivered at school. I vividly recall the day I got my class ring and how proud I was to display my loyalty to Brownsboro High School. That ring sits in my jewelry box now beside Brian's, but when I look at it I am reminded of the innocence of high school and the friends that I shared that time of my life with. Sometimes I am also reminded that the price of gold is sky high right now, but nostalgia always wins out!

I was lucky enough to be in the classroom when Brendan got his ring and he was so proud. I took this picture of him and his girlfriend after they put their rings on...


Unfortunately he picked my bad habit of biting his nails, but other than that this is a picture that made me realize life is blowing by at full speed. As he continues to talk about what college to go to and what career path to take, I keep looking for that brake pedal knowing that I have to be prepared to let him go the way God intended. There is so much I want to cram into the next 18 months of his life.

I am reminded that God gave our children to us for a brief time so that we could train them up to follow where He leads.

Let me take a moment to dry my eyes....

On another note, our boys have had a rough go on the basketball court the last two weeks. This is a long season and this time of year it gets down to the do or die time for district seeding and tournament play. So after a really bad game Friday night, Brian and I decided on a Saturday morning surprise for the boys!


I have told you before how our kids, well to be honest our family, loves food and Saturday morning breakfast is one of the favorite meals! The kids especially love homemade donuts.

Please, don't be too impressed. I use can biscuits for goodness sake! But, Brian does make a to-die-for icing that goes over the donut and these donuts can just make anything better.

The boys were so thankful for the breakfast surprise and let's just say these 30 donuts didn't last long! Kamdyn spent the night with a friend and missed out so we will try to repeat this meal sometime in the near future!

A few weeks ago, our preacher gave a message about choosing joy. It was a great sermon and the text came from James, one of my favorite books of the Bible. I soaked it in and spent some time studying my notes the days after.

I had no idea that I would need those verses and that sermon the very next week as the Air Force surprised Brian and I with some news we were not expecting. God always amazes me with His timing, working all things for my good. I want to encourage you this week to choose joy, no matter what life is throwing your way. Looking at life through the filter of joy has made a difference for me and I trust that it will for you as well.

More basketball is in store for us this week as we come to the end of January! My hope is to post in a more dependable and regular fashion once I am out of the bleachers. Hope your week is a good one....

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Basketball, basketball..

Some of you may think I have sworn off of blogging but things around here have revved back up to their usual warp-speed pace. We have played lots of basketball in the last week, some good and some not so much! Brian is finally back on his feet after being sick and has gone back to work and the dog's are readjusting to life at home all day with us gone. They are probably happier about that than I am!

The kids are wrapping up their district games and getting ready for the play offs. Kamdyn's team has still been a bit questionable for the district tournament, but it seems as though they are going to get their big chance after all. The learning experience that this season has been for her has probably not been an answered prayer, but I think in the end it will make her stronger. Here are a few pictures of her from the games...

 
I always tell her that she is our #1 ball player!
 

This is what playing with her brothers has taught her to do! No fear!! 

The boys are wrapping up their season as well. They still have one more final district game and then they will be getting ready for the playoffs. Their team is struggling a bit going down the home stretch, which makes for entertaining converstaion here at home. To see both of them on the court together makes me laugh because I know that one is always telling the other what to do and where to be! (you can guess which is which!!)



It is so hard tobelieve the season is almost over! We live for basketball season around here and now we are picking it up on TV with college ball. This week we will be getting to see the Aggie girls in town against the Lady Bulldogs and then the Aggie boys will play over this way next week!!

So that's what we are up to over here in our little neck of the woods. I hope things are going good wherever you are. I plan to do better keeping the posts more regular now that we getting back into our routine. Talk with you soon...

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Snow Day 2013...

Today has been an unexpected surprise! Our family is home from school and work today enjoying a snow day and there is just something about that unexpected day off along with the snow that makes for a fun day!



When you don't live in the area of our country that consistently experiences snow then you scramble to find appropriate snow clothes! For the boys it is usually pretty simple - they just put on their coveralls. Kamdyn layered up and the whole crew headed outside after a big warm breakfast.



She was ready and waiting on the boys to come on out!
 
 
Brian and the boys started up a snowball fight pretty much right away!
 
 
And the kids wasted no time in building a snowman! Truth be told Kamdyn did most of the work and Koby came in at the end to help get him all fixed up. They kept working even as the snow kept falling!
 
 
This was their finished product!
 
The dogs enjoyed playing in the snow today as well. Johnny spent lots of time running around and playing, chasing the kids as they ran throwing snowballs. After a while, he finally wore out and was ready to come in and dry off just like the kids.
 
 
This morning I was up early waiting to see if school would be totally canceled or if we would just go in late. I went ahead and read through my morning devotion while watching the snow fall out the window. This morning my book pointed me to Psalm 118 where I read the verse "this is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." I guess because today was no ordinary day that verse really resonated with me! I have read it and seen it a thousand times in my life but today, it just pricked my heart.
 
I wish I was more mindful of this verse every day. God makes each day special and sometimes I get so distracted in the busyness of the day and the on-the-go life we live that I forget to just stop and thank the Lord for the day He has made! Maybe you do that, too. This morning I decided that I would be more mindful of thanking God for each day and for the special way he created each day.
 
What if we treated every day with the excitement of a snow day? What if we as Christians were so excited about what the Lord gives us each day just like we were excited about the snow he sent our way today?
 
So, as I spend the afternoon wiping up melted snow on my floors and making "snowcream" for Koby and hot chocolate for the others I'll be thinking of this challenge from our snow day of 2013. I'm praying that the Holy Spirit will keep this conviction fresh on my heart. And if you have time today, stop and remember that no matter how your day is going or what circumstances you will face today, THIS is the day our Lord has made! Happy snow day 2013~

Friday, January 11, 2013

Victory is Sweet!

I have shared with ya'll how hard Kamdyn's basketball season has been, not because she doesn't love her teammates or her coaches but because her team just has not won a game. That competitive nature she has in her can't get passed the "learning experience" of a loosing season. Well, since the season has started back up this week, her team has won TWO games!

I know!! You are as excited as we are!!

They won last night in double overtime thanks to a great deal of hustle and determination. Tonight they won their second game, beating a team that beat them by 10 points earlier in the season. Here is some of her team after their game tonight...


I know sports is about more than winning, but I also know winning is sometimes the spark for a team to have the determination and confidence to keep playing.

Brian is definitely beating his illness, thank goodness!! He is pretty much back to his normal self and should be back to work on Monday. We are thankful he is back on his feet and the dogs will be in for a long day Monday without him here to curl up with.

In all of the craziness this week I have not been able to post a few pictures of our Fighting Texas Aggie win at the Cotton Bowl. Brian sent this picture after they got to their seats...


These two have been to lots of games over the years but I think this was one of the most fun for them!!

And here is what I sent to Brian of us at home before the game started...


As you can tell the boys were Aggied out!!

And because I know if the boys read this and I fail to mention their basketball team I will never hear the end of it I also want to tell you they have been winning too. They have had a couple of close games this week but came out with wins both times! Here are a few pictures of them from my new camera...


This is Brendan driving it in the lane
 
 
And Koby putting up a three!
 
 
 That's a wrap of how our week ended following that rough start. We are looking forward to the weekend!!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Yes, we have headed back to school! But, it turns out I am getting a little bit longer of a break. It just didn't happen exactly like I might have thought.

Brian has been sick, and I don't mean the kind that is like "oh, you're fine take some NyQuil" sick. (I know that because I tried to say that!) By Monday morning, I knew he was SICK and so off to the doctor he went. To make a long story short here and to keep from boring you of medical words that I don't even know I could spell correctly, they admitted him to the hospital by Monday afternoon. He was very dehydrated, had the flu and also pleurisy - basically some fluid in his lung. So, he was given lots of fluids, some pain medicine that was also anti inflammatory medicine and stayed on oxygen for his stay. We saw three different doctors and a host of nurses but at least they got to the bottom of the problem!

We got home Tuesday evening and I think he was thrilled to be back in his own bed/couch/recliner, with the dogs and a fire going. Something about being woke up at 2:45 in the morning for blood work just didn't sit well with him. I stayed home with him today just to be sure he stayed hydrated and didn't run any fever and so far so good! I also enjoyed one more day of watching Kelly and Michael, Hota and Kathie Lee and Property Brothers. A huge thanks to our family and friends for checking on us and keeping us in your prayers!

Our kids have done great and I have been so thankful for Brendan being able to drive, which I never thought I would say. Thankfully they have adjusted well to being back in school, other than waking up early. We don't have basketball games until the end of the week so that has also been a blessing.

Several times over the last few days I have remembered my verse for this month:

 "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you..." Deut. 31:8

From the doctor on call in the ER to the way our kids have fallen so easily back into their school schedule, the LORD has gone before us to make things that would've been crazy and stressful easier to handle over the last few days.

Hope all is well with each of you!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

And time is up...

Seems like I was just writing about my big plans for our Christmas break! I had big ideas for sure - Hallmark movies, pajama days and cleaning out some closets. Good thing I am used to never checking off all the items on my to-do list! Besides, isn't it Spring Cleaning not Christmas break cleaning?!

We truly have enjoyed our two weeks out of school! It was great to spend time with our family and we enjoyed a visit from our Texas family, too. We couldn't let time pass without playing basketball and so we even enjoyed that over our break as well. But sadly, the party is about to end! On Monday we head back to the hustle of school and work and life.

I can't tell you how many times I have thanked God for rest over these last few days. I have thanked Him for late nights and sleeping in! I have thanked Him over and over for blessing us with such a great family and friends and place to live. All in all, I have to say I have enjoyed our Christmas vacation. As we speak, or as I type, I am already looking forward to Spring Break and a big family trip to the beach this summer!

Time does march on! I can't believe football season is over, or it is for my Aggies anyway. If you missed our appearance in the Cotton Bowl, it truly was your loss. We had an amazing game! Brian was able to head home to cheer the Aggies on, but the rest of us watched them from our couch with friends. When Brian sent me the pictures early on of the stadium and their seats I was jealous I will admit. But, Jerry Jones is proud of his place and those tickets were more than Santa could pull off this year. Plus, I had all those plans for my break you know. I will be holding out for National Championship tickets next year!!!

I had some great pictures from our Cotton Bowl night and how we celebrated and what great seats Brian had but for whatever reason I can't upload them tonight. Apparently google is not such an Aggie fan. I'll include them in my next post so don't worry! I know you'll be excited to check them out.

Keep our family in your prayers as we get ready to gear up for another semester, the rest of basketball season and anxiously wait to see what the Air Force has in store for us. It seems as though our time of rest is up!





Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy 2013!

HAPPY 2013 TO ALL OF YOU!!


I hope each of you have welcomed in 2013 in grand fashion. We had a house full last night and lots of fun with friends, food and fireworks!


As kids were coming and going, I was thankful that everyone made it to midnight with no loss of body part or eye sight! Just looking at this group you can only imagine that just maybe fireworks got a little crazy. Thankfully we had an extra set of eyes to help keep everyone in line!


Kamdyn was the first one to light a sparkler!
 
 
We finally convinced Ellie that she didn't have to duck for cover with each loud boom or sparkle! She even shot her own Roman Candle after we made sure she pointed it high in the air.


And Kamdyn and Grace stayed clear of the boys and their "firework show", keeping with their sparklers and staying safe!

We all made it see New York welcome the new year and after that one by one we drifted off to dreams of 2013. It is hard to know what a new year will bring us. After all, 2012 gave our family lots of surprises sprinkled over 12 months of life. This new day of a new year causes most people to stop and think about life, about changes that need to be made or new plans that need to be chosen.

In Sunday School this past Sunday, I talked with the girls about having a verse for the year. I encouraged them to pray about a verse they could memorize and hold on to as they faced the ups and downs of life through 2013. There were ten verses on my list as a starter group of verses but I really encouraged them to spend some time in prayer and in reading their Bible to find the one the Holy Spirit would lead them to.

I thought today I might share some of those verses here with all of you and encourage you to join us as we find a verse for 2013.

Philippians 2:3-5 Live in 2013 with JOY (Jesus, Others then Yourself)
James 3:6  Speak wisely in 2013
James 4:14  Live for Christ each day of 2013
Psalms 73:26  God is with you every day of 2013
Jeremiah 29:13  Be committed to God in 2013
Joshua 1:9  Be bold for God in 2013
2 Timothy 3:16,17  Be in the Word in 2013
Hebrews 4:16  Make prayer a priority in 2013
Matthew 22:37-39 Live a Cross Centered Life in 2013

This list contains my verse for 2013. I will be claiming Jeremiah 29:13 as my verse for this year. Some of these verses above have been verses I have had in the past and some of these verses above are verses I have memorized and use on a daily basis. But I encouraged the girls most of all to remember that Jesus used scripture when fighting off temptation and that we can do the very same thing!

I've been so pleased to see some of the girls already sharing their verse on Social Media! If you have a verse, share it here in the comment section as a way to encourage others.

I am off to finish our "Do Nothing Day" by watching another movie with my family. It has rained here since the new year came calling and we have enjoyed our rainy day by watching football and movies and eating pretty much whatever junk food or left overs that could be found in the kitchen. Happy New Year to you all!!