Merry Christmas Derek! Finally!!

WHAT??!!! Yep, that's right. One of a high schooler's coveted accomplishments and treasures is the letter jacket. This fall Derek joined the bowling team for Marshall High School. He made the JV team however, was able to move up to varsity several times because of his high scores! Highest being a 205! I can bearly get to 80! Yikes:/. Way to Go! Because he moved up he was eligible for a letter jacket. He wanted it soo bad. We agreed to get it for him but it would be his Christmas present because those things are expensive! He was absolutely thrilled. When we ordered it we found out it would take 9 weeks to come in. It was ordered in November.Needless to say, his Christmas was kinda quiet. Finally, it came in!! Unfortunately, we are mostly done with the colder weather but I'm sure he will sport it anyway!

The pride on his face was a moment we will treasure. He didn't stop smiling or staring at it for quite awhile...lol. This led Aaron to get out his and encouraged me to get out mine. It of course, brought out the pride that we too once had for our letter jackets. (Mine didn't fit quite like it used to, but that is okay:)) It was dusty from sitting in the closet for a few years. Derek told me to put my hands in my pocket like he was. What did he find? A scrunchy from almost 10 yrs ago. Yuck. I guess it could have been worse..heehee.

We all put on our jackets and strutted our stuff for a photo...how fun;)
We are proud of you Derek!!!

The House That Built Me

Miranda Lambert has an amazing song out named, "The House that Built Me". I love that song! Every time I hear it and sing along I think about that house and how much it meant to whoever wrote it. I think about the kinds of memories I have that built me. My Mom and Dad moved often. I have memories that are dear to me even in those temporary homes.

I would have to say the house that I am truly emotionally attached to is my grandparents house. That home was a constant in my life as I grew up. I remember their old dog George that would jump on the bed to help my grandma wake me up, who later ran away.(the dog, not my grandma) I remember the goldfish in the back bedroom that seemed to live forever. I remember how the carpet felt on my toes. I remember the toys we played with that were unlike any other toys. I know all my cousins remember playing with hairspray caps, vitamin bottles, Christmas cards, tether ball, and toys that I am positive were from my mother's time...a rocking chair that still sits waiting for a little one to enjoy and big ones to see if they still fit. In the coat closet you could find the special toys that required permission. Lincoln Logs in the original can, pick up sticks, and many others that made more of a mess. I remember trying to fall asleep in the big living room knowing Santa would soon be there. At every sink to this day is Dial soap. In the bathroom are some perfume jars that I still wonder....what is in there. They have been there for at least 30 years! My cousins and I all ate from the same colored plastic trays and cups with our names on them.

I got lots of hugs and kisses. Many birthday parties and Christmas get togethers to this day are held there. The same curtains still hang where so many pictures have been taken of importance. (graduations and birthdays) I remember the tense evening I told my grandparents I would soon be a mother myself. Though it was a unexpected change in life, days later they brought me the crib that nursed so many babies in their home. Now, mine would be introduced to that love and care. This house is where my oldest son sat on the counter for his first haircut. And, like I did, loved to lay down at the top of the hill in the backyard and roll down till he was dizzy.

Miranda Lambert says in her song, if she could just touch this place the brokenness inside her just might start healing. My healing came and still comes from Jesus Christ. As my life began to take shape and God's path for me began to be more clear I began to cling to God for security instead of this house. However, I am still comforted every time I step on the porch, that this feels like the home I grew up in. These are just a few of the memories I have of the house that built me. I know that the Lord is who really built me. But, I am thankful for the blessings like these that help shape me and my children.

I love the soft hands you have Grandma when you scratch my back! Grandma, I love the memory we both have of our invisible dog. I love how your hearing aid whistles at us when we hug you Grandpa! And, how you always say, "come back to see us" even if we are not at your house! heehee! I love you Grandma and Grandpa!

Be My Valentine

I was asked not to long ago if I would be his Valentine! Oh, the invite made my day. In love all over again! My husband, the love of my heart, prince on a white horse, best friend...after all these years took the time to think of me and ask me to be his Valentine. Of course, I said, "yes!".

He worked on Valentine's Day, we had to make our date on a different day. We learned long ago to do this on a different day altogether because it is just plain easier. Restaurants aren't nearly as crowded.

We enjoyed a wonderful evening without children (perks of a teenage son)and people watching. We went to dinner at a delicious restaurant and indulged in lobster, shrimp, and fajitas. To top it off we had chocolate covered strawberries and wine! AND he stayed up to watch the grammys with me! I had that on the calendar weeks before we settled on our date night.

I fell in love with his loving, handsome, sweet man 12 years ago and we knew very quickly that we were made for each other. Only he could handle my wacky, dingy, and spontaneous personality. We balance each other out. God had and still has a wonderful plan for us. I love that God picked him out for me.

I love you, Aaron. I couldn't imagine a life without you. Thank you for being the tool God uses to keep me in check, love me for me, and being my best friend. I love you mostest;).

Hugs, kisses, and squeezes,
me

Daddy Date

"Daddy, PLEEEASSSE!!!???" Georgia begged her Daddy to go to Build-A-Bear for a Valentine Bear. JD decided he wanted to do it too. Daddy date it was.

Aaron took them to Build-A-Bear Workshop today for an early Valentine present. Aaron is, well it seems like every year, working on Valentine's Day. So, today was a good day to go. Georgia already has all the basic bears, so she chose a bunny with a heart that really beats and a rock'n hoodie t-shirt. Her birth certificate has her name as Katty! JD chose a basic bear but got to dress him up as Darthvader. His name is Darthbexar! Daddy had fun spoiling them a little!

They really look forward to special times with Dad. Stop a take your kids out on a date, they will always remember it.

I know I posted this on Facebook but I know some of my readers do not have a Facebook. On Super Bowl Sunday we had guests over. Georgia got Carley, our guinea pig, to show the children. We discovered that she matched very perfectly the colors of our new living room rug. Molly, our cocker spaniel, is chocolate brown. Our couch is also chocolate brown. Rita doesn't really match anything. They are all our lovable furry friends whether they match our furnishings or not:) Can you find Carley in this picture? How about Molly? Ha, she is just with me, BUT can see how she matches my couch? -Well, I guess that you would have had already seen my couch.:)

Snow Day

Well, to our surprise we actually had a snow day! Every year at least once, the weather reporters forecast snow and then it never really happens. (not that it's their fault..heehee) This year we were beginning to wonder if it really would snow and if it would be enough to stick. We woke up at 4:30am and checked. Sure enough there was lots of snow. Just a dusting according to those who are from the north. It didn't matter! It was snow!! We bundled up over our jammies and went outside to see it and touch it. After about 15 minutes Aaron promised it would still be there in a few hours. We all needed to go back to bed. So we did.

About 7:30 Ian called to announce that the snow had arrived! I couldn't sleep any longer. I jumped out of bed and made everyone get up. "come play in the snow with me!", I shouted. Everyone slowly got up and dressed. JD and Derek promptly made snowballs. Georgia layed down to make her snow angel. Aaron and I were busy taking pictures. - Of all mornings, my batteries died in the camera. I used my phone to take as many as I could.

Then we all decided to go to the neighborhood park for the kids to play. All of the kids' friends were up and outside playing in it too. A dad went and brought out a board for the kids to slide down a street. (Aaron took a ride too:))They had so much fun. BUT, poor JD got a bloody nose from a snowball fight. After that, he came in to warm up and rest for quite awhile.

Aaron and I went home to warm up. Aaron had to work on his paper. I sat and watched the news coverage. The whole city was shut down. All I could say was,WOW!

Thank You God

Artic Blast-Texas Style

So what do south-texans do when the temperatures drop below freezing? Ummm...freak out! Power outages, close schools, cancel indoor activities so we don't have to go out into the "cold". I took JD and Georgia to basketball practice-in a gym- to find out they cancelled practice due to weather! Really? I found it odd, as did many other south-texans, that on the same day that it was 20 degrees and we were layered up from our socks to our chins, that I was doing laundry and washing Derek and Aaron's shorts from the day before. Derek doesn't even own a coat, not because we won't buy one but he is too cool to wear one. (I'm sure that will change when he gets his letter jacket) Georgia's bike was on the front sidewalk from the day before yet, yesterday it was definitely too cold to go out to play. Yesterday, before Aaron took Derek to school he turned on the sprinkler in the backyard so that it would make icicles drip from the tree house. The dogs' water bowl was frozen solid. The dogs slept and spent the last 2 days inside. Thankfully it wasn't wet outside and San Antonio wasn't really dealing with ice on the roads. Lots of people dealt with power outages and frozen pipes. We were very thankful that we didn't have those problems.

We enjoyed the warmth of our home. We kept a fire going. Georgia and JD weren't amused that I didn't call off school because of weather. They did enjoy the warmth of a fire while they did their schooling. That is the beauty of homeschooling! JD became very good at helping with the fire. I wouldn't really believe a child is an expert with a fire, but he was pretty good. If you have ever seen him by a fire you would agree his is a pyromaniac. But he was being very safe and supervised.

We are very much hoping and praying for snow. Since we got to play in the snow a few weeks ago we very much look forward to it again. We loved it! We will see....