We're Still Here!

What a BAD blogger I've been these past few months! My list of life events to blog keeps getting longer and longer. Launching a church has been a little more time-consuming than I had planned, and now wedding/portrait season is about to be in full swing. I have to talk myself down from a mini panic attack every time I look at our calendar for April and May. "One day at a time... one day at a time..."

See April?

But look at those beautiful Mondays. Sweet Mondays. Ahh... I can breathe now.

Though busy, things have been good. Lots of cool stuff happening, and we all seem to be doing well! Here's a little update and (hopefully) down the road I'll do more specific posts as needed.

Abby
Now proudly walks around missing her two top teeth. She's adorable. She learned to ride her bike with no training wheels last month and now that's all she wants to do. That, and she LOVES playing with her friends -- Diana, Leslie & Bianca, Aria, and Michelle. She's a social little butterfly. She's also doing really well in school and with reading!

Carson
As energetic and cute as ever. We're in a season where we're really having to work through some tantrums, but overall he's doing great. He still loves playing with his cars, and now that it's spring, one of his favorite things to do is play baseball in the back yard with Daddy. And he's pretty good! He's also starting to be able to spell and read some words, which has totally taken me by surprise over the past couple of weeks.

Church
Things are going really well, and we're slowly starting to get into some sort of a rhythm. The big thing is that Aaron and I have just been absolutely blown away by our team. They are so amazingly encouraging and willing to do whatever it takes to help out. It's really humbling and cool to see a team of people so committed to God's work.

Other Stuff
- Got to go visit my sister and her family last weekend for my nephew's first birthday. It was a super fun weekend!
- Powerhouse Studios was published on a major wedding blog for the first time. Pretty cool!
- I've had the chance to spend time with a several great friends lately, and it's been really nice.
- We've planted a vegetable garden and two trees in the back yard. Also have been finishing out our deck. Our back yard has been a really great place to spend time this spring and the weather's been great!

We're heading out to enjoy our Monday afternoon before the week turns crazy, but I'll post more soon!

A Day at the Zoo

A few things I love...
- Mondays. A day of rest.
- Zoo Pass. So thankful my parents got this for us!
- Beautiful weather. Texas is amazing in the spring.

So yesterday, we headed out to the zoo with Jason, Nat, the kids, and Sandy. Everything was fun and beautiful, and the boys loved being together (as always). That is, until the fall. Just as we were getting ready to leave, Carson was running across a bunch of rocks going across the water, when he tripped and hit his face on one of the rocks. It was ugly. The zoo medical staff was dispatched. He screamed. We thought he broke his nose.

Fortunately, the amazing medical staff got him all doctored up, and by the time we left the zoo, he seemed to be fine. Turns out there was no broken nose. All he has are some ugly scrapes on his face. I think the rest of us are all scarred more than he is! Sweet Jackson even called last night to check on him. (What a sweet kid!)

Before

After

Happy Birthday, Andre!

This weekend we travelled to College Station to celebrate Andre's 1st birthday. I'd been looking forward to our visit for a long time, but the day before we left, both of the kids came down with strep throat in a major way. Fortunately, we were able to get them on medication just in time, and were still able to go. We drove to Bryan on Friday for the party and spent the night. My parents were there too and were thrilled to have all four grandkids together.

The birthday boy!

Lots of time with Mattie and Granddaddy!

A day at the park, playing and catching minnows.

Everybody played hard, and this is what I saw within 3 minutes of being on the road.

Lullaby

When the kids were babies, I remember singing to them as I rocked them to sleep. I'm not sure how I ever decided on the ones that became "regulars". Somehow they were always the first to come to mind. Lately, both of the kids have started asking for "lullabies" again before they go to sleep, and this seems to be their favorite. I find that it's calming and reassuring, even for me, to really let this truth sink in.

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Louisa M. R. Stead, 1882

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Other favorites:

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Godspeed (Dixie Chicks)

Funny moment: Tonight as I was getting ready to sing to Abby, I asked her to close her eyes, and she said (exasperated), "Mom, it usually goes like this: you sing and then the child just falls asleep on their own while you're singing." Well, now I know. I hadn't realized there was a particular protocol for lullabies.