Party planning is not my thing, its His!

I can't believe I'm hoping for an early exit from the fire when I can't even get this one down- I might as well pull up a chair. Hope it doesn't burn my butt.

My first little birthday party to plan for my first child. Scary.

You would have thought from the way that I was approaching his first birthday party that I was helping to plan Obama's inauguration or something. Seriously. I brainstormed and researched and had all of options lined out.

After much deliberation I came up with an idea. Isaac LOVES books I thought we could go to the Barbara Bush Library in Houston.

I was talking to my dad a couple of weeks before the party and he was asking where we were having it at. He said, "THE LIBRARY!?! what are we going to do at the library? Are we going to whisper when we sing him Happy Birthday? Are we going to hang out in the history section? Did you tell Joe this idea?" He went on for close to 10 minutes with his antics. He had me crying and laughing so hard I couldn't breathe.

So I went back to the drawing board and solicited some advice. Unfortunately, I didn't solicit the best advice.

Fast forward to the day of the party. All day long I couldn't shake this nagging feeling in my stomach. We all met at the park and we were going to have lunch and play. It was 80 degrees the day before the party but Saturday morning it was a f-r-i-g-i-d 50s. Too cold for little man to play. The only thing that frigid weather is good for in Houton is that it keep the humidity at arms length and prevents your hair from being one massively large frizz ball. After our family stood around for 30 minutes freezing, we decided to move the party to my dad's house. My favorite part was having our family there to celebrate with us.

Then, yesterday morning, I was praying and I asked Him what was going on with the party. And then it hit me. I didn't include HIM! All of that time planning without including the Creator of my baby boy and the One who invented birthday parties. Forgive me Lord for not including you in the things that I think I have to do and miss out on the fun of You being right in the middle of it all!

To my little Isaac, I hope that next year mom will remember that- "Apart for Me, you can do nothing" (including birthday parties :)

Now for some pictures:

(J.J.)

(G-mama)

(My in-laws came and surprised us and brought our nice, Hannah. We are so excited they were there too! Here they are playing before the party- doesn't he look like a little toddler!?! Yikes!)

My sis, Steph.

His cute cousin, Thomas.

I love this picture of my dad and him.

Wish I could have gotten more pictures but after we moved locations, it threw off my picture taking groove.

Angel Baby

Isaac, my "angel baby" as I call you. I can't think of two pictures that sum up the heart that I see in you.

You are strong, passionate, full of zeal and able to wield your sword.

You are also kind, love people, compassionate, and my sweet snuggler. When you look at people, you are discerning and you see who they really are.

I can't believe that you are one. I've had so much fun with you this last year. I know we have many more fun adventures ahead of us and can't wait for every single one of them.

Your dad and I are crazy about you. I hope you never doubt that for one second.

The Wilda-Desert

I have a sweet friend who is a walking miracle...literally. She was paralyzed and God HEALED her. I have tried to encourage her to write on her blog about that season and about all the things God taught her through that (really, because I think I need to glean a thing or two from her). Then, I sense the sweet voice of the Holy Spirit whisper to me. "Why are you not sharing?"

Because the fire is HOT! I have liked to think of this here blog as a "happy place." Not the "lament because its hot in the fire" place. Plus, I feel guilty even sharing my struggles out loud because they are so minor compared to so countless others who have lost children or are in financial peril or have been betrayed by those you love or living in a foreign country serving their guts out for God. Whenever I sit down to write or put this season on paper, I find myself comparing my situations to this person or that. The bottom line is that God knows what it takes to pry our hands off of those things which we cling so desperately to. ..."the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain" (Heb. 12:26).

Even now, I want to cut and run. Not share. Cower in silence and not give a voice to the "wilda-desert" (as I call it).

When Joe first suggested that we pray about moving to Nowwhere-gee (Normangee), I honestly thought he was joking. I think I may have even given him a little giggle with a nudge. Then, the stark reality that he was serious about our family moving to a town of 700 people--My graduating class was more than that. I know, It could be so worse and how trivial this sounds, but it is where I have been. So...

As we continued to sense the Lord's direction pointing towards that sweet little town in the middle of nowhere, the mourning began. I mourned for weeks like someone I dearly loved had died. Then, I a dear friend whispered, "Its time for the mourning to stop. You have to believe that joy comes in the morning."

Spending the previous year with 5 amazing women day to day and then being blessed with the lives of hundreds of other women just made the thought of isolation that much more bleek. When you are a new mom, the feelings of loneliness are only magnified when you look out your window and down the street to only find lots and lots of horses.

In my quiet time one morning, I was reading in the Amplified Bible and there are several references that use "wilderness" and "desert" synonymously, which surprised me. To me, the wilderness is a place where you're not sure where God is leading you because of all the "trees" - maybe even a place of confusion or uncertain destination. The desert on the other hand is more of a place of spiritual dryness and barreness. This season would fall in both categories, but it was comforting to know that to God, its all the same thing. Here is what He said to me...

"And now, here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to start all over again. I'm taking her back out into the wilderness, where we had our first date and I'll court her. I'll give her bouquets of roses. I'll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She'll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt. " (Hosea 2)

So, welcome to my wilda-desert. I will be at times turning up the temperatures on my blog a little because I feel that I'm supposed to write about the view from the furnace. So, more to come on another day.

I will leave you with this. This one thing I know for sure, that our God cannot be shaken and he is unscathed in the midst of the fire.

Matching is So Overrated

Isaac said, "Mom, matching is so 1996." Good thing he's up to date with the trends :)

From Culture to Colt

Little "I" says," So much fun, I don't know what to do!"

We are the novice, naive parents that think you can take your child everywhere with you.

Since Isaac has been born, Joe has said countless times how he can't wait to take him to the symphony. Joe loves the symphony, so for Christmas I got him tickets. I had called and asked if there was an age minimum. They said, "NO!" Yea! We were excited. I thought they would too. We are helping to raise the next generation of symphony goers; you would think they would appreciate that, right? Wrong.

Well, the big day was this last weekend. We got many of stares and especially the look of, "You better keep him quiet, I don't want him disturbing my afternoon." The mister was more interested in it than we thought he would be but that didn't last too long. We were there for the first hour and then we headed home :)

Here is him listening. (Got to bust out the passy, just to make sure we dont' have any excited outbursts of joy)


Here is him beforehand in front of the musicians.

Joe decided that he wanted our little cowboy to have a horse that he could look after and be responsible for. There are a couple of quarter horses here (which are better and more tame for the novice rider than thoroughbreds.) One of the quarter horses is having a baby and that was going to be "Isaac's horse."

I have been telling our ranch foreman that I want to see a foal being born and I asked him to call me. The mares have horses in the middle of the night so they are not disturbed :) He called me one time at 3:30 and I didn't hear my cell phone ring- dang!

This last week we got a call at 7:40 p.m. to let us know that a little foal was about to be born. Then we realized it was Isaac's horse!! Only God could orchestrate such a wonderful little mid-week gift just for me :) It was fascinating to watch and they come out looking a lot more helpless than you think. Then, within two hours they look vibrant and are walking around the stall! The little muffin is a "premie" and so perfect for our little guy.

Wednesday Tradition

So we started a new tradition a few weeks ago that I LOVE!

On Wednesdays, I head off to town (Madisonville, that is). It has about 15, 000 people and a few stores. Including what I call "Nastimart" for the worst Walmart that I have ever been in my life. If Louisiana is the arm pit of the U.S., then this Walmart is the arm pit of all Walmarts. I piddle around for an hour or so and then head over to my Women's bible study. Spending time in the Word and with other women....it is a good combination.

While I'm doing that...

The boys go out for a daddy date. They go play at Barnes n Noble (in college station), play in the play land at Chick fil a, go to Home Depot...whatever activities feeds their man needs.

Oh Happy Day!

Laura: Queen of good surprises and fun gifts!

Let me back up and give you a little history here.

Summer 1999. I was trying out for Rangerettes and when it came to Sunday I didn't know of any good churches in the area. I had Bible study in my dorm room and invited anyone who was interested. In came Tandra, she asked for prayer for God's will for her life. It has been a God-given friendship ever since.

We have waged many a battles against the enemy together, laughed, plucked, waxed, dreamed and believed God for one another. Not only have we lived together, but we have SHARED a room and a bed three times. If it wasn't for her, Joe and I would have never met. We got married a month apart and had babies close together as well. Just one of those friendships that only God could orchestrate.

FAST FORWARD x 3 (you know how it does that on DVR). Three weeks ago, Laura and I talked about her coming to visit. I was really excited.

FAST FORWARD x 1. Last Thursday, Isaac and I headed to Kindermusik and then Laura was coming at one o'clock. When she pulls up, I see someone else in the car. I thought she brought Davan (her friend from work). I thought, "oh fun!" THEN OUT COMES TANDRA!!! I am freaking out! Wait a second, where is her baby!?! IN THE BACK SEAT! We have not just one visitor but THREE! yahoo!

Oh, how I love surprises! I love the kind that you have no idea about (no even a iota of an idea that it is coming) THEN BAM! Tandra and I haven't spent consecutive days with one another since we got married. Oh glory, I was so excited!

Here is Tandra freaked out about the horses :)


This is Laura's dog, Bailey.

Sweet Rachel checking out the horses with Lomama!

Trying to be cool like my A -LO!

He loves music and loved his first official piano lesson!

Me with the cute little nuggets!

Us rolling in "THE BEAST!" Yes, we ventured to College Station with both kiddos for a day on the town :)

Stephen, thank you for sacrificing your time with your girls so I could be blessed with TWO WHOLE DAYS!! What a treat!

I love you girls and thank you for blessing me more than you know...