11/17/07

Just for Nan...

Such sweet kids, they look more like sibblings then cousins!

11/14/07

Twas' the night before Christmas...

Christmas is in the air! I love this time of year! Even though it stays in the 80's year round, there is a different feeling when Christmas season is here! I love to see the shops with Christmas decorations out and can't wait until the square downtown is filled with the most beautiful poinsettias! Here is a pic of the kids in their Christmas gear! We made them take pictures for about an hour, but we got some great shots!

11/4/07

Halloween...

Our kids always make out big during the Halloween Holiday. As a team, we always celebrate so that the kids get to dress up and have a "gringo" Halloween celebration on the 31st. Then, on the 1st, they celebrate "Dia de Muertos" (Day of the Dead) at school. And lastly, we had our yearly fall festival at church on the 2nd. So needless to say my kids are on a major sugar high!



Alison was a cat this year.



Christian wanted to go as Krypto: The Superdog, but he wouldn't wear ears or makeup, so you can't really tell that he is a dog!



Do you think that they have enough candy? I'm not sure that they do!



10/30/07

Playing and Updating!

Well, I have finally figured out how to edit my pictures so that I can put them on blogger quickly! So I thought I would update you with some picks of the kiddos! You notice some missing teeth and new haircuts! Otherwise they are pretty much the same kids from this summer! I also thought I would throw on a couple pics from the park! Enjoy the update!

Cute face!!!



Look at her go! She can do the whole thing by herself!




Enjoying the titter totter!

Starting School

This year Christian started school and Alison moved up to 1st grade. It is hard to believe that they are getting so BIG! School is going well. Alison is reading in both English and Spanish. She is weaker in English though. Spanish is easier to read and write, so I'm not surprised that she is doing well in this. She is also writing very well in cursive. We are very proud parents! Christian is doing well. He likes school and is beginning to speak in Spanish. The other day he told me, "my friend had dos(two) pencils". He just had tests and did excellent in both Spanish and English! Again, we are very proud of him!





Mini-Olympics

Earlier this month Alison and Christian participated in some mini-Olympics with their school. They marched in, carried a (very) fake torch around, and played in several different kinds of races. They played at the same time so Chris went with Christian and I went and watched Alison. We even got to play in several of the races with them!






Alison waiting to race.















Christian held his teacher's hand the whole time.
















Christian's English teacher, Ms. Myra

Christian was scared to participate...BIG TEAR!!














Racing with a balloon!

Potatoe sack race!














Someone else had to help with this race since I wasn't their!

10/3/07

Tag

I was tagged by my friend Toni. I have never actually done one of these, but since it was Toni...:)

Here are the rules. 1)Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. (2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose people to get tagged and list their names.


MY FACTS:

1) I'm addicted to talk radio. Yes, this is not normal, but true. Even though I am in Mexico I have found a way to have my talk radio. My favorite is Dr. Laura, but I also like Rush and Hanity and that finance guy with the real soothing voice. It's so bad that I can't clean the house unless I have it turned on.


2) I love Andrew Lloyd Weber. Almost anything of his is great. I especially like his latest called Whistle Down the Wind.


3) I always clean my house in the exact same order. I have tried to clean out of order and I find that it takes me longer and I will forget to do something. Maybe I'm a bit OCD, but at least the work gets done (as long as I have talk radio on)!


4) I LOVE when the weather changes. I have to admit, I miss the weather in Lubbock. I love this time of year when it cools down and the leaves change, then it gradually gets colder until it's freezing! Then, as you get sick of the cold it starts to warm up. Then summer comes and the days are long so you can play outside for sooo long! Love it!!!!!!!!

5) I can't sleep with socks on. It makes no difference how cold it gets, if they are on, I can't sleep.

6) My favorite time of day is at night. I love, after a long, busy day, to put the kids to bed, have the house already clean and sit. I like to watch TV with Chris, or read a good book.

7) I love reading my friends blogs. I feel like I have reconnected with so many "old" friends through the web. I have reconnected with almost my whole AIM team and other classmates. I love having Christian friends. It is nice to be able to keep in touch even though we are so far away.

8) I love my AIM girls more then they know. Working with AIM has been the most rewarding work I have ever been a part of. Their are a few I may encourage, but the reality is, they encourage me more then anything. They have brought me friendship and a since of excitement for God that I had been lacking. I treasure my time with them.

I will tag: April, Nancy, Susan and Lucy

9/27/07

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!!

So today will be the 10th birthday of yours that we will celebrate together. Our first was your 22nd birthday in Glasgow, Scotland. On that one we went ice skating, ate, watched a movie, and ate some more. This is your 4th birthday celebrated living in Mexico. It is funny to me that out of the 10 birthdays we have celeberted 5 of them have been outside of the US. Wow!

I thought for your birthday I would write 101 things I know about you (I totally stole the idea from Beau but I will write about my husband NOT myself! Ha Ha!)

1. You like to sleep in.

2. You like Superman.

3. You think you are too old for Superman.

4. You talk to yourself in the shower.

5. You like to buy my jewelery.

6. You love to read your Bible.

7. Working with AIM is your passion.

8. You would rather eat frozen burritos then tacos al pastor.

9. You have glasses.

10. You never wear your glasses.

11. You have to make sure the door is locked two times before we live the house.

12. You drive a Dodge Caravan.

13. You would rather drive a Mustang.

14. You love the Dallas Cowboys.

15. You love the fact that I love the Denver Broncos.

16. You are a great artist.

17. You would love to paint.

18. The thing you miss most about the states are the Saturdays you spent with Guy at the Caboose watching college football.

19. You are a lloyal friend.

20. Your friends mean more to you then anything.

21. You like being out of the house.

22. You love mac 'n' cheese.

23. You are a very picky eater.

24. You love to grill in cold weather.

25. You want to live near your family.

26. You have learned to love seafood.

27. You love your in-laws.

28. Your in-laws love you.

29. Your family loves you.

30. You love the GTO state fair.

31. You have lived in three countries.

32. You are 32 years old.

33. You have visted more then 10 countires.

34. You have green eyes.

35. Your kids have your green eyes.

36. You have 1 nephew and 2 nieces.

37. You love your kids.

38. You have taken up photography and want to put pictures up all over the house.

39. You took Christian to a Dallas game when he was 10 mos old.

40. You always try to do the right thing.

41. You seek wise counsel.

42. Learning more about God is a high priority.

43. You always seek for God's will in your life.

44. You have a guitar.

45. You sometimes play the guitar.

46. You sleep in the left side of the bed.

47. You are messy (I'm not complaining it's just a fact!).

48. You are allergic to cats.

49. Your son loves you more then anyone.

50. You like your icetea with sweet-n-low.

51. You are addicted to Arizona green tea.

52. You like to be outdoors.

53. You want to eat healthy.

54. You get upset when I try to cook healthy.

55. You are 6'1"

56. You were named after your Dad.

57. Our son is named after you.

58. You only buy Vans (tennis shoes).

59. You take our kids out for Daddy-daughter-son time.

60. You like to play ping-pong.

61. You have a 4.0 in grad school.

62. You like to grill hambugers, steak and sausage.

63. You like to travel.

64. You like to learn about places.

65. You are addicted to YouTube.

66. Billy Joel is your favorite singer.

67. You like Elton John songs sung by other peolpe.

68. Your favorite movie is Braveheart.

69. Your AIMers look up to you.

70. You cannot multitask.

71. You like to watch The Office and Smallville.

72. You will only eat Jif peanutbutter.

73. You take the trash out!

74. You will do about anything I ask.

75. I know you love me.

76. You say a prayer with the kids every morning before school.

77. You like to teach.

78. Your favorite fast food is Taco Villa.

79. Your favorite pizza is Papa John's.

80. You like Red Lobster.

81. When you are eating, you are wondering about your next meal.

82. You don't anger easy.

83. You love to watch movies.

84. You don't snack.

85. You carry around about 30 keys.

86. You would swim through shark infested water to bring me a lemonade.

87. You like 80's music.

88. You like to skate.

89. You don't play sports.

90. You prefere coke.

91. You like Carl's Jr

92. You like going to Chili's for their chips and salsa and icetea.

93. You like to eat out.

94. When you are stressed you like to spend money.

95. You like to do things as a family.

96. You have always worked hard so that I could stay home with our kids.

97. You want to protect our kids from the world.

98. You like politics.

99. You are a Republican.

100. You have never read a fiction book.

101. You are a man after God's own heart.


I just want you to know today that I love you soooooooo much!!

9/21/07

The dreaded conversation...

So, as Alison starts to grow up she has started asking the dreaded questions. For example, "where do babies come from"? So in our best she-is-only-7 way, we explained to her about the "birds and the bees" today. Her response, "I am NOT getting married!"

9/18/07

A good Daddy!

I have always thought of Chris as a good Daddy, but when he wanted frames for pictures of the kids as a birthday present, I knew he must be the best Daddy ever!!!!!

(I should also mention, there could be no better a husband out there!)

9/11/07

Can you remember where you were?

I know that today is the 6th anniversary of 9/11. I'm sure that that is what is on everyone's mind. But 9/11 means something different for me. It wasn't 9-11-01 but 9-11-02. On this day 5 years ago I sat, with my Mom, in the office of a surgeon. He explained to me that the tumor was on my left ovary. It was the size of a grapefruit, which was probably about the same size as my baby. I was five months pregnant when I found out I had to have surgery. I would have the surgery the next day, 9-12-02. The doctors pulled my womb outside of my body in order to get behind him, Christian, and remove the tumor as well as my left ovary. This night was one of the worst nights of my life. I was scared. I was scared that I would lose my baby. But I put the life of myself and my unborn son into Gods hands as he directed and gave the doctors the ability to accomplish this surgery and save the life of myself as well as my sweet boy.

Now Christian is going to school. He is a shy little boy who has to say a prayer every morning to go to school. When I get there in the afternoon to pick him up he is the only kid standing with his backpack on holding his lunch box. The other kids are all playing on the playground. He has a sweet nature. His best friend is his Daddy, but when he crawls into bed, on the rare occasion, it is me he cuddles with. I can tell that God has big plans for him. On this day five years ago God knew that I would be sitting here 5 years later watching my little one color. I pray that Chris and I are raising our children to love God above all else!

Hard Times.

I found this poem and it touched me. We have been going through such a hard time lately. This poem makes me think of my relationship with God during these "Hard Times".

THE HARD TIMES by Henry L. Hunt
It sometimes takes the hard times, to show how much I love you;
Just how much I need to always have you near.
And even though I know it, I still have to learn it.
The hard times help to teach me, just how much I care.
For when the hard times bring us back together
We are always closer than before
Then I realize I love you better, and I am
Thankful for the hard times, that make me love you more.
A lot of things can happen, if we go on together.
I can't know just what, the future has in store.
I'll love you in the glad times, the easy and the sad times.
And even in the hard times, I will love you more.
For when the hard times bring us back together
We are always closer than before
Then I realize I love you better, and I am
Thankful for the hard times, that make me love you more.

9/1/07

Watching the work blossom!!!

Thursday night we always go over to Patricia and Martin's house for our weekly small group. This family started coming to church about a year ago. I can't express what a great family they are. They have four children all of whom are wonderful. Martin and Patricia and they oldest daughter Evelyn have all given there lives to God. Chris and I started working with them about 6 months ago and this last Thursday I sat in awe of how they are growing. Martin lead the group in the discussion and I was challenged and amazed by his depth and insight. During that study time Patricia talked about how discouraging it can be when you are door knocking to invite people to small group and they won't even answer the door. Yes, she took it upon herself to go doorknocking in order to grow the small group bible study so that more people can learn about the power of God's word. Wow! I think I was even a little rebuked by her desires!

On another note, Martin and Patricia invited Chris and I out to a movie last night. We left our kids at their house and their daughter Evelyn watched all the kids, she is so brave!! Anyways, we had more fun then we have had in a long time! God is truly blessing us with some good friends!

8/21/07

Big Steps...

Well, yesterday the kids started school. Alison is in the first grade and changed schools from last year. She is actually going to the "same" school but moved out of the small kinder and into the BIG elementary school. She was very excited and has had a great first couple of days!

Christian went yesterday for his first day of school. It was awful. He was screaming for us as his teacher lead him away. When we picked him up his eyes were puffy and he started crying again when he saw us...However, today was great. He went into to school just fine and came out telling us all the fun things he did! I think he'll be fine! (And yes, I cried yesterday too!)

I will post some pics as soon as blogger cooperates!

8/10/07

University of Phoenix

Well I manged to get an A in my last class, Algebra II! I don't know how I did but I am excited! It was a very hard class. So far straight A's! So Mom & Dad, do I still get a couple dollars per A?

Happy 7th Birthday Sweetheart!!!!

Can anyone believe that my baby is 7!!! I can't believe it! What a precious jewel I have for a daughter! We had a lot of fun celebrating this year. We went and picked up four of her friends from church and had a blast! Her friends that came were Madison, Emma, Bela and Maria. First we went and had pizza, then we went to the mall and played in this really cool play area. After that we came back to the house for cake and ice cream! After the cake we played dress up! It was a fun and special day! Alison is just the greatest kid! Here are some pics!


Eating Pizza!!!


Maria on the big slide...

Christian having some fun!

All the girls wore their favorite princess crown!

The cake!

Blowing out candles...


The gifts!

It was a fun day!

7/1/07

1st day in Houston...

Well we made it to Houston on Friday evening without a problem! Yesterday (Saturday) we had fun going to the Kemeh Boardwalk! It was fun! Today we went to church and then the kids went swimming...in the bathtub because it was raining outside!!! Here are some pics from our first couple of days!

The kids stayed far away from the stingrays...

Aspen enjoyed them though!!!


Chris feeding a stingray...

The stingrays were amazing!!!

Swimming...in the bath!

Aspen LOVED the swim time!!!

6/25/07

My Girl...

Alison had a school play last week. She did a great job on her lines! I was a beaming momma! I just can't believe that I was so blessed with this little girl. After all my efforts to corrupt, she is still managing to become this beautiful creature with a heart of gold. She sometimes cries when thinking about people less furtunite, she likes to tuck her brother into bed and she wants to be a doctor when she grows up so that she can help people! She is amazing and teaches me so much about the person I ought to be. Did I mention that her best friend is God, and that she prays to him for EVERYTHING? I LOVE my little girl, my little-bit!!!!!!!!








6/18/07

A funny story...

Kids are so funny and I thought I would post about what Alison said yeaturday...

On the way to church a man nearly walked out in front of our car while we were driving. Fortunitly he realized this and turned around to get back up on the sidewalk. Then he prosided to scold his "imaginary" friend, I guess for almost letting him get run over by a car. Alison asked about his strange behavior so we decided to tell her about drinking alcohol and that this man was probably drunk and that's why he was talking to his imaginary friend. After the story she paused for a minute and then asked, "Do I drink that stuff because I have two imaginary friends?". Kids are great! I try to remember that every day!

We are really looking forward to our trip to the states!

5/20/07

A new chapter...

Today we had our first service at our "new" building. This building is a hugh step up from the last one. We now have 4, yes I said 4, stories. We have 4 bathrooms and a full kitchen. Last week we spent a lot of time moving in, and today we had over 80 people in attendance! God is doing big things here in Leon!


5/16/07

My Two Best Friends...

I thought these pictures were worth showing everyone! I friend of Nancy's took these photos. I think they both look so beautiful! I miss them so much! Guy and Nan and little Aspen will be moving to Houston in the next couple of weeks. They will be working as youth ministers in a church there. I am so proud and excited for them. Say a prayer as they deal with the stress of moving! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!





<

5/9/07

A visit to Guadalajara...

We had such a good time visiting our friends Kim and Tim Rush in Guadalajara. It was a time to be with friends and to be encouraged. I always enjoy my time with them!

Guys, we had a great time, thanks for all you do!

The kids did so much playing, they had sooo much fun!
Eating dinner with ALL the missionary families at one of our favorite hamburger joints "Buffalo Burger". It was a nice evening.

Can you see all 5 kids that were sleeping in 1 room?


4/30/07

Pics from our "Kids Day" celebration.

Here are a few pics from Friday night. I was a fun time!





Getting Better...

Someone needs to get out! This morning Alison decided that she wanted to go swimming in the bath! (Don't you love our baths in Mexico!) Alison had a really bad day yesturday. She couldn't eat or drink ANYTHING. But she is doing better this morning. She woke with a bad headache, so I gave her some food and she seems to be better. She didn't go to school today, tomarrow is a holiday and Friday will be a Holiday as well. So, she only will have school twice this week! Lucky girl!


4/29/07

Called home...

We received the news today that our dear friend and an elder from Sudan Church of Christ has passed away. If anyone has visited Sudan with us you will remember "Pudd" Wiseman. He was a very tall but gentle man. He made Chris and I feel so welcomed when we first started working out at Sudan. He was someone we could always count on. He loved God and served His church for many years. Please say a prayer for his wife, Kay, and his brother, Calvin. They are also people whom we love out at Sudan.

Pudd Wiseman


Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.