Just the way you are... because you're mine!

Kate needed some Pointe shoes from a store in Austin and all of our guys went to the Baylor Bowl game, so today became a girl day! So exciting! Today after Caroline got done at the gym the girls and I headed to Austin for an afternoon/evening of shopping and being together.

I love girl times. My girls and I just laugh and enjoy each other so much. My girls are really close. They have separate rooms, but sleep together every night. They sit up laughing and talking together. They rarely fight, and I think they truly are each other's best friend. How that blesses me!

When we're together, we have great conversations in the car about relationships, friends, Jesus. We share stories that we've heard and the girls have a great opportunity to ask me things that they would just never ask me sitting at home or surrounded by their brothers. It's just precious priceless time.

They've even gotten a little better about asking for things in the stores. I now make sure they both have their own money, and for the most part.. we seem to get along just fine with the "Not todays... and the well, if you want to spend your own money". Tonight was one of those times. I just needed a great relaxing time with kids that love me just because I'm me. That's what I can always count on with my kids. There's something about the feeling of being loved and accepted just as I am. They don't care if my roots are showing, if my thighs look fat, if my outfit looks silly... they love me just because I'm theirs and they are mine. There's so much comfort in that. Just being loved unconditionally and unjudged. Now, I'm not going to say that my teenager is not occasionally embarrassed by her mother. That would just be unusual if she wasn't, but for the most part.. there's nothing like being together with my kids who love me just because I'm me. In the same way, God loves us just because we are His. How precious to know that our Father enjoys the same time and relationship with us that we enjoy with our kids. WOW!

I know these times won't always be. My girls... and my boys... will grow up, fall in love and have their own families to be with and to grow. But, I will cherish these times while I have them and do what I can to keep them up as long as I live. There's nothing like that unconditional love!

A Tribute to Shannon

Well, today is a sad day for me! The moving truck is here. My precious friend, Shannon, is moving all the way to California. I still can't believe it and I feel numb to it. I guess I knew it was coming, and I even sold her house... but, it still doesnt seem real.

About 11 years ago I was in the nursing room at Highland with my baby, Caroline. In walks this pretty blonde lady that was so bouncy and full of energy. She immediately started talking to me, complimented my baby, and that was the first day of a beautiful friendship. She and Steve watched our girls grow up and walked with us through the boys' pregnancies and births. Shannon was even planning to be present when Clayton was born, except that she got sick and couldnt come :(

We cried with each other through the loss of babies, the arrival of babies, the loss of jobs, the hard times financially, the great times financially, and I think she probably knows every fight Chad and I have ever had. And sometimes she even took his side... rightfully :)

Thank you, Shannon for the Best friend you have been to me. The gift of you is something I would have never imagined. It proves to me that God plants people in your life for a reason and for good. Your family has been a tremendous gift to our family. We will miss you in Waco, but will be happily supporting your life in Cali. Go be a California Girl... but don't forget us.. Love you.

He promised me Good

Well, this is a difficult topic for me, but I think I'm ready to talk about it in hopes that someone else may benefit from it. I realize I write this mostly for me and my family, so it may not even get out, but it's on my heart.

For the past 3-4 months I've been dealing with terrible depression and anxiety. I know... we say.. how can a Christian mom who seems to have it all on the ball be depressed? Well, I dont know either... but I know that it's real and that it has hurt like nothing I have ever experienced before. I know that I can look into the eyes of my gorgeous husband and my precious kids and cry just because. I can walk around the house and see a mess and cry just because. I can drop my daughter off at school and cry just because. It makes no sense, but it's real.

So several months ago I noticed my normally outgoing friendly personality start to be still... just quiet inside. I started missing my workouts, not eating, dreading shopping... now this is NOT me. I lost 12 pounds and started wearing my 13 year old's jeans. The whole time I'm looking around at other people feeling like I'm on the outside looking in. Just wishing some days that I could be that happy smiling big lady, or that friendly looking old person. I just started feeling like I didn't measure up as a mom, a wife, a friend, and especially as a Christian. I started wishing for the day I could just meet my Lord and be free in Him.

I immediately started seeking the Lord. Just asking Him to heal my heart and also insisting out loud that Satan flee from me. I just felt like Satan was sitting on my shoulder speaking lies to me all day... like he was a fog hanging over my head. Clearly I know this feeling is not from the Lord, so it must be spiritual warfare going on all around me. So, I started diving into the Word and pouring Christian music over my heart all day. I dealt with this internally for about 2 months not wanting my sweet Chad to know that I was not his perfect wife. That my heart was vulnerable and I am weak. Finally, I could no longer hide it. He, as well as my friends, noticed and immediately started praying and supporting me.

I will just say, there is nothing like the prayers of your spouse over you. One morning my husband prayed thanking God that he was chosen to walk with me through this and help me out of it. What a true blessing! It has brought us closer than ever and is a precious feeling of support and love here. He has taken over some things that I have been unable to do... cooking, kids homework, just some smaller things. He even handled the family Christmas card this year. Baby... you rock:)

So, I guess as I'm sharing this I am just wanting to say that I know that the Lord has promised good to me. He has promised me peace and love. He has reminded me that I am created in HIS image. He has reminded me that He is entralled with my beauty... the beauty that I do not see. He is my beholder.... my strong tower. It has amazed me to hear Him speak to me through other people who don't even know my hurt. The times he reminds me He's there holding me are incomprehendable.

I'm continuing to work through my sadness and every day feel better. I am confident that the Lord is healing my heart and will use me to His glory to speak to other Christian and non Christian women out there who need a touch. As I'm healing, I'm already praying for divine opportunities to serve His precious daughters. Thank you Lord for promising me Good! May I remember to count it all joy.

Happy 15 Years!

Well .... today marks 15 years married to my best friend. I just thought it would be fun to share some wedding pictures and rather than buy a card, write a card :)

I understand that not everyone has a marriage that absolutely makes their life. I recently heard someone say that no man can ever complete a woman.. that's just a line from a movie. I have to say I completely disagree. I guess not everyone finds someone who makes them feel complete, but I did and I'm so thankful.

I've been spending some time looking back at old pictures and remembering all we've been through. You know, pictures seem to always show the smiles and the laughs and the posed moments, but we both can look through the picture and remember the not so happy moments and the times when things weren't just great. The things that only you and I know. The moments that pulled us together and brought us to this place. I'm so thankful that when we had those moments and when we have more of those moments, we'll be together to fight through them as a team.

I had no idea 18 years ago when we met how much that precious moment would impact the rest of my life. I'm so glad I didn't because the surprises along the way have been so much fun.

Thank you for being an awesome best friend, for always supporting and defending me, for forgiving me when needed, for providing for me, for standing next to me and holding me when things hurt, for loving me unconditionally and for having mercy on me:). I love you with all my heart. Happy 15th.. Here's to many more.

Mother/Daughter Weekend

So as the boys were gone camping, the girls and I enjoyed a weekend home together. It was quiet and clean and a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of soccer and football games.



We did lots of shopping, spent too much, and saw a Chick Flick with the sweet Durands. Kate danced at the fair with her dance company, so I thought I'd share some pictures. Caroline tumbles tomorrow night at the fair, so I'll just upload a picture of her then :)

Father/Son Camping Trip

So this weekend was the annual Father/Son Camping Trip that Chad takes the boys on. I thought I'd share some pictures. I don't know that I can write much since I wasn't there, but I understand that they had a great time and truly enjoyed being out together.

They went to Mineral Wells, Tx about 2.5 hrs away. Another Dad brought a huge grill, so they ate in style all weekend. Homeade everything right out in the wilderness. With tents and sleeping bags and all. Chad says the campfire was the favorite.



They also went rock climbing and saw some gorgeous views from very high. The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to going again next year.

It's the One on One time

So I'm sitting here writing.. the house is quiet... all except for one little girl sitting behind me in her zebra snuggie reading her library book and eating a spoonful of cookie dough.. I know. It's 10:15pm, but who cares. She's skinny, I've only spent 2 hours in her presence today, and I just don't care if she's up late eating cookie dough. I'm just enjoying being with her.


It's just a reminder to me that the small moments of one on one time are so precious. As a mother of four and the youngest of four,I feel like I am qualified to discuss the signifigance of one on one time in large families.

I can remember times that my mother spent with me away from the others. Time that was JUST the two of us. No fighting for her attention while my sister was yaking or my brother cutting up.. just us. Once I remember my mom rocking me while she watched MASH. I was much too old to be rocked, but I remember loving it and hoping it wouldn't end. I also remember a time or two that she checked me out of school for a dentist appointment. My favorite thing was our lunchtime afterward. Just us!

With four semi little kids, I try so hard to savor those moments. Last week I stole Cort after school and took him to Starbucks. At first he kinda looked at me like I was crazy, but once he got his Chocolate Chippity Frappucino and got involved in talking to me, he was pretty happy with the choice.

Clayton gets his mommy time every Monday and Friday. He's enjoying his last year as a Preschooler. And Kate, well, she kinda gets it often because she comes and finds me and is old enough to enjoy whatever I'm doing. Usually it's an hour of "Say Yes to the Dress". And Caroline, well, we have to work on it. She lives a crazy life with her gym, but somehow we manage to find the time.

Now, I'm not going to lie. There are plenty of moments when I hear "Mommy.. will you read my book... Or Mommy, will you lay with me... Or Mommy will you go for a bike ride" that I just shutter and say "not now"... and I usually regret it later because I know it was important to that child. But, I'm doing my best and pray that they see that.

And last but not least, Daddy gets his one on one time too! It usually is a little harder for him with four needy kids, but we make it all work. All I can do is thank God for the time he multiplies for me and the precious moments as they come.