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!!

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!"

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!)

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.

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!