Favorite Pics of the Year!

It would be such a HUGE task to try to sum up our past year in words. So much happened and we experienced so much joy as we lived out our first full year with our little boy. Watching him grow has been so fun! 

So, instead of writing a novel, I'll just do a quick review of some of my favorite photos for each month.

January

Beautiful family day in the park with Daddy.

February

"Mom, please."

March

Starting to take a few steps!

First pic in the bluebonnets on St. Patrick's Day.

Loves his Daddy.

April

Easter

Lovin' those blackberries.

May

June

First Freebirds with Daddy while Mommy's out of town.

This actually happens ALL the time. Like father, like son.

Hoogendoorn Family trip to Port O'Connor...wearing Daddy's fishin' hat. 

This is just up through June. I'll try to get the rest of the year up soon.

Happy New Year to you! May this be the best year yet!

Why I Actually Love Christmas Music

I know, I know.

Christmas Music.

You're probably already over it. Shoot, I am too. Way over it. Over it before it was even December. See, because when the radio stations start playing it NON-STOP (really? why?) it gets really old, really fast. Totally fun for the first day or so, but after that...come on already!

Side Note: I have a few simply brilliant (in my humble, modest opinion) solutions to this dilemma of the over-whelming amount of Christmas music. But no one listens to me. I guess, maybe I should suggest it to someone other than my darling husband.

Moving on.

So, besides the fun "Frosty the Snowman" (how do I still not know all the words to this one?!?!) and the sentimental "I'll be Home for Christmas" and the slightly comical, yet oh, so true "They Don't Have White Christmases in Houston" most everything else holds a moment of nostalgia wrapped up in the obnoxiousness of repetition.

But there are a few that just never seem to get old. Only a few that cause me to pause and close my eyes (unless I'm behind the wheel, of course) and move my heart and my spirit into a whirlwind of worship. There are a few Christmas songs that just seem to really articulate what it's all about.

Have you ever really stopped and listened to the words of "O Holy Night"?

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn (!!!!!!!!)
Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born
O night divine!
O night, O night divine!


Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord!





And what about "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen?"

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

This is some powerful stuff, y'all. And I don't know about you, but I desperately need the truth of these carols to permeate the very depths of my spirit and my attitude. (Especially when I'm in the car. Driving around in the ever-enjoyable Houston traffic. Who doesn't need an attitude adjustment after that?) 

There are several other songs that belong only in the Christmas season that just do something to me. (Have you ever been pregnant and full of wild hormones during the Christmas season and listened to "Breath of Heaven'? Not enough tissues in the house, okay?)

So, listen. I'm with you. If I hear "It's the Holiday Season" or "The Christmas Shoes" one more time, I may or may not lose it. But it's the classics, the hymns, full and bursting with truth like these that at lease attempt to give articulation to what we're really celebrating here. 

The fact that Jesus, the very and only Son of God, came to this miserable earth as a squirmy, wrinkly, utterly tiny babe. That He grew up sinless. That He revolutionized the Law. That He gave His life for us, as undeserving as we are. And that He rose again. He came first as a babe, but He's coming back as a Conquering King.

This is what we celebrate.

And this is why we sing.

Merry Christmas. God bless us, Every One.

A Little Saturday Honesty

Today, we're packing.

More out of a need for continued hope and faith than anything else.

I keep thinking of those 10 days after my due date with Josiah. Shouldn't he have already been here by now? Is today the day? What am I supposed to do with my life if it isn't today? Can I actually make any plans for tomorrow? What if he decides to come tomorrow? What if he doesn't ? Am I really even ready yet for him to come?

And the daily questions from sweet, thoughtful, well-meaning people remind me also of those terribly uncertain days before birth. Nobody likes to say, "I don't know." Everybody likes to have all the answers to all the questions.

Well, I don't have all the answers. And that's perfectly okay. Right?

And what answers I do have are so much more complicated and lengthy than what most people truly care to hear.

I've really had to let The Lord temper my attitude lately. I've really had to surrender my "right" to whine and complain and feel sorry for myself. And sadly, I do still whine and complain and feel oh, so sorry for myself way too often. Lord, help me.

If I remember correctly, those long, terribly uncertain 10 days before birth ended in some of the most joyous beauty I've ever experienced in my entire life. I won't lie. It was tough. It was even sometimes painful...kinda like now. But boy, did we celebrate.

And we will celebrate again. We'll celebrate the goodness and the faithfulness and the trustworthiness of God in our lives. And we'll thank Him for teaching us more about peace and patience and rest in Him. And we'll thank Him for, yet again, loving us enough to refine our character.

Just a little honesty from my heart today.

Fall Fun 2012

I LOVE, love, love the Fall!!! With the cooler weather, yummy treats, sweaters and scarves and the numerous opportunities for cute photo ops!

And Josiah is at such a fun age that he's really enjoying the season as well.

This last weekend, we began our Halloween celebrations (no, we do NOT celebrate evil, but we do celebrate cuteness and fun and costumes and memories) with our annual Chili Cook-Off and Costume Party with our Chi Alpha group on Friday night. This is always one of my very favorite events of the entire year and a super fun way for our friends to invite their friends to something fun and casual and not intimidating. Plus, who doesn't love to have an excuse to dress up in a creative costume and eat some yummy chili?

Here is our family costume:

2012

I always try to have a theme, if I can help it. Last year's costume kinda stunk because Josiah was sick and I had JUST started work that day. For comparison's sake, last year's "costume":

2011

But the year before that (2010) was, by far, the best costume year!

On Saturday, we just kind-of lazed around the house most of the day (because we all really, really needed to do just that.) But the weather was gorgeous and I knew the season of pumpkins was almost over, so we decided sorta last-minute to take Josiah out to Dewberry Farm. We (my parents, sister and I...Matt was gone somewhere) took Josiah last year and we all had fun, but it was significantly more fun for him this year. Still a little overwhelming with all the people and all the different things to do. But he had a blast! And I was even able to get a few really decent pictures out of it.

 

 

 

And again, pictures from last year at Dewberry Farm for comparison's sake: 

 I hope to be able to take him back there every year. I know he'll have more and more fun as the years go by.

Happy Fall to Y'all!

A Cute, Cop-Out Post

I need to write a new post. If for no other reason but to move that hideous lovely little image below to a less prominent spot. I realize I had just given birth and all, but I just can't agree that that's my best look.

I truly have a million different posts in my head that I could write, but very little energy to do the necessary work to accomplish that (good posts need appropriate pictures, right?). So instead, you're just gonna get a few flashback photos of my little boy when he was still...well...little.

Clean little ducky after his very first bath at home. (Darn thing won't rotate.)

Look at my big muscles!

"Yay! I'm even cuter now that I've learned to smile."

Happy little nakie boy.

Learning how to sit up all by myself.

Food is good.

I do have a few good posts in the works. Topics about what's been going on around here lately (A LOT of change), what I'm enjoying this summer, what Josiah's been enjoying this summer, things I found in my car. You know, hard-hitting, riveting material. You won't wanna miss it.

Mother's Day: Then and Now

Here is a picture of what my Mother's Day looked like last year:

I got my very first breakfast-in-bed on Mother's Day complete with some beautiful flowers (from the hospital and my in-laws).

So grateful for how time changes things and grows us. I was so naive and clueless in that first picture. I still kinda am, but OH! how much I've learned since then!

Last year on Mother's Day, we got to bring our little guy home from the hospital. I was so thrilled and anxious to be home with him and to start playing "house."  He, on the other hand, enjoyed my womb the hospital a little more than home at that point. Just getting everything together and organized to leave the hospital had been quite the production and by the time we actually got home, he was a screaming tyrant in the backseat. And pretty much stayed that way the whole day and wouldn't eat...at all. I had been so naive and so determined to breastfeed that I had not even registered for bottles. They send home tons of free formula from the hospital, but even if I had wanted to give it to him, (I absolutely did NOT want to give it to him) I had no vehicle for it. I remember my mom and my sister running to the nearest store to buy the cheapest bottle they could find.

And then after a few hours of helping us get settled and somewhat adjusted, they left. And it was just the 3 of us. At home. Alone. Our little family. I think Matt and I were both elated and terrified. And already horribly exhausted.

What a memorable first Mother's Day!

And here we are about a year later:

He's healthy and alive. And so am I. Thank the Lord! Ha!

I had such a sweet day with my boys! We went to church that morning and came home for a brief time because we were planning to meet with Matt's family a little later. (We had already celebrated Mother's Day with my family the day before, after celebrating Allison's graduation.) Josiah fell asleep in the car and Matt and I both accidentally fell assleep at home, but woke up to join his parents and Josh and Kimberly for lunch. Such a great time with them! I'm so grateful for such a wonderful family of in-laws.

We really had no plans for that evening which is quite odd for us for a Sunday evening, so we took a spontaneous trip to get some frozen yogurt. And of course, Josiah enjoyed some as well. I think we've created a little frozen yogurt monster.

I absolutely love being a Mommy and every day truly is Mother's Day with these guys, but it sure is nice to be honored a little extra.


Hope you all enjoyed a very sweet and memorable Mother's Day as well.

Congratulations Doesn't Even Begin To Cover It

This time of year is always such a bittersweet time when you work in college ministry. You have 3-5 years to build a relationship with someone; to allow your lives to be intertwined with theirs; to carry their burdens and celebrate their victories. You become family with them. Sometimes even closer than an actual family member.

All this time spent has the express purpose of helping them figure out who they are to become; in society and in Christ.

You encourage them to go to class and to study. And to make choices that are eternally invested. And it all leads up to the one day when they will graduate from college and be a member of the "Real World." (Not the atrocious show, but actual life.)

Yesterday and today marks this bittersweet time for several of my dear friends. Graduation day. And while I could easily devote an entire post to each of these and what their lives and friendships have meant to me, I only have time for a short explanation.

I'll start with Becca since I met her more recently. Here she is with my 6 day old son.

This girl is so near and dear to my heart. From the moment I met her, I knew deep in my heart that she was a rare breed of Godly Woman. She absolutely refuses to settle for mediocre and her every action exudes godliness. I'm so grateful for the specific ways the Lord has intertwined her life with mine. Her friendship means the world to me.


And her story isn't as bittersweet because she's staying with us for a little longer while she continues her education at UH!!!! Yay! Becca, we get to be sisters again!

Next is Emily.

I've told her this story before and I think it kinda freaked her out a little, but hopefully, looking back, she can see just how true it was.

I met Emily in the beginning of the Spring semester of 2010. The Fall semester had been a rough one for us. We had prayed the Summer before that the Lord would send us the people that no one else wanted or would love. And he did. We met many people that were a challenge for us. And the good news is that they all, though they were a little (or a lot) rough around the edges, met with the Lord and became beautiful people. But by the end of the Fall semester we were exhausted and hadn't yet seen the fruit of our tears and prayers and time spent.

We were sitting, talking about this and someone very wise spoke up and said, "This time, let's pray for a few who already love the Lord and will be an encouragement to us and will join us to fight along side us for these souls." So we did.

And then we met Emily. And we all knew immediately that she came to UH just at that moment in time to be a breath of fresh air and an encouragement. And she has been that and so much more to us. But to me, personally, she has been such a faithful friend. And I've watched her go from someone who, indeed, loves the Lord with all her heart, to someone who is committed to the growing of His Kingdom. Emily graduated yesterday and is leaving to continue her education as well. But there's always a home for her in my heart. From now on, anything that happens in Chi Alpha at UH will be directly because of her and her choice to honor the Lord with her time at school.

Emily, you did it! You didn't think you could, but you did. And you did it well! The Lord must be pleased by you.

And now, for someone I've known a lot longer than these others. And truly someone I could write a book full of stories and ways she's impacted my life. But I think she'd rather me show up to celebrate her graduation today than sit here all day writing about it. So, it'll have to be brief.

Allison, you have become to me what it really means to be a sister. I so much admire and respect you in the things of God. You have proven that the Lord has a firm and very specific call on your life to minister to those that many would write off as useless. You have the most tender heart of anyone I've ever known and He has used that quality to touch the hearts and lives of so many. But the most exciting and encouraging thing is that what you've accomplished for His Kingdom, is only a mere scratch. I truly believe you are making history. I absolutely believe it...with all my heart. You are changing lives and changing the way other people view those lives and it will change our world. You are such a big deal to me and I love what you have become.

There will be jokes for the next how-many-ever years about you being the first to continue your education and be the smartest in the family. But the truth will be that we're all profoundly proud and deeply honored to know you.

I love you, Sister. 

I love all of you. And I realize there are others who graduate this weekend and I'm probably leaving out some that do mean a lot to us. But these are on my heart this morning and I just wanted to honor them for their faithfulness and love to me.



Congratulations! Happy Graduation!