Missing Rich

His music career began in 1983 when Amy Grant recorded his song, "Sing Your Praise to the Lord".

He went on to create nine original albums.

In 1995, after the seventh album, he took off to go to an Indian Reservation in Arizona to teach music to children.

He always performed barefoot. That was his way.

He was greatly impacted by "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning, and his band was "The Ragamuffin Band."

He had a simple faith, a simple life.

His passion and his calling from God was music. Creating it, singing it, teaching it, sharing it, all for His glory alone. I once heard that he was reluctant in the early days to record his own music because he had such a rough voice, but then felt that God's name would be praised and who was he not to be a part of that. So he sang.

He was so humble, such a servant and very uncomfortable in any kind of spotlight. I heard a story that he was at an awards dinner and after only being there a few minutes, he was spotted in a waiter's jacket serving dinner and drinks to all of the attendees.

He wasn't flashy, not all that good-looking. Wore everyday, unremarkable clothes, just to be covered and comfortable. He was natural.

He wrote an article for Release magazine for six years. They introduced his column like this: "He's a poet, a scholar, a gentleman, and yes, just a little bit off-center. But that's why we like him..."

He was very profound.

"The will of man will not ultimately prevail against the will of God. It is the will of God that we should know Him as He has revealed Himself and that will has not only survived the arrogant attacks of scientific and "enlightened" men, it has (even more miraculously) thrived in spite of our best intended, though sadly misguided, attempts at "rightly dividing" that seamless robe of revelation.

So let us press on with no faith in our own understanding and nothing but faithe in the Truth that is too great to be diminished by our feeble minds and too great to not transform us."

And here's another: "When we were kids we sang for the joy of singing, we colored and cut and pasted for the fun of doing it. We ran for the love of running and laughed and got scared and saw the world as a real place full of real dangers and real beauty and real rights and wrongs.

And if the cross is more than a symbol (and it is), and grace is more than sentiment (and, thank God, it is), if Jesus Christ is really God's revelation of Himself and not the product of human imagination (and He is), then we will become the children we once were and must become again. Stables will be temples, stars will be guarantees, 'the trees of the fields will clap their hands and the mountains and the hills will break forth in singing...' We will pray and run and work and give ourselves over to faith. And God will be our Father and His Kingdom will be our home, for we will be those children we once were, and 'of such is the Kingdom of Heaven'."

His songs moved me. They still do. "The stuff of Earth competes for the allegiance/I owe only to the Giver of all good things. So if I stand let me stand on the promise/ that You will pull me through/ and if I can't, let me fall on the grace/ that first brought me to You./ And if I sing let me sing for the joy/ that has born in me these songs./ and if I weep let it be as a man/ who is longing for his home." ("If I Stand" on Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth)

I had the opportunity to meet him once. He was so humble and unassuming. Some of my friends asked him to sign their tapes (yep, it was looooong ago, kids) and he signed each one simply, "Be His".

I admired him so much. His simplicity, his ease, his way of communicating. His way of highlighting the things in the world that point to Him. He was amazing, as were his songs. Truly inspired, I believe.

He died ten years ago on September 19. He was 41.

I heard the news and wept. There were four memorial services held in his honor. One in Nashville, one in Wichita (where he lived for many years), one on the reservation in Arizona, and one at Compassion International Headquarters. I had my own little memorial service, too.

The words to one of his later songs, "Elijah" still make me tear up. "When I leave I wanna go out like Elijah/ with the whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire./ and when I look back on the stars/ well, it'll be like a candle light in Central Park./ and it won't break my heart/ to say goodbye."

I still miss him. I still listen to his music and delight to hear it on the radio (sometimes KSBJ playing ancient music is a good thing!).

I look forward to meeting him again.

P.S. I found a great little story about him here.

And this one is an absolute classic. Rich and his band doing "Screen Door" (a great song in it's own right) a capella using cups for rythym. Ya gotta see it!

Just a Quick Funny Story...

before I forget it...
So, tonight, MaryEvyn is eating her peas (one of the few veggies she'll still eat). All she had on was a diaper because she was waiting for her prized Dora pajamas to come out of the dryer. Since it wasn't an official 'family meal' and she was the only one eating, we had just dumped out and nuked half of a can of peas and she was eating that with her ravioli when somehow some of the juice from the peas sloshed out and onto her. This is what we hear:
"AHHHHHH - MommyDaddy - I spilled the pea water!!!!!! Get it OFF!!!! PEA WATER!!"
Very funny indeed. (Unless you're the one sloshed in pea water, I guess!)

Can Anyone Explain Houston Weather to Me?

Really, now. I have experienced a lot of things living in Houston all of my life. I have seen flags on a pole go from blowing like mad in one direction only to change and go the complete opposite direction all while sitting and eating lunch.
I have entered a building in short sleeves and departed a few hours later only to be met by freezing cold.
I have endured hurricanes...and I've fled from them, too (Rita, anyone?) I remember Alicia as one of the worst, by the way.
I do understand how our weather changes at the drop of a hat. But can anyone, anyone explain yesterday's "tropical storm"? I put it in quotes because I'm not convinced there ever was one!
I watched the news and listened to the weather yesterday at about 9am. Nothing. Then I get a call from a leader telling me there's a tropical storm that's headed for us that evening! So I turn on the news and sure enough, the telltale red, yellow and green swirls on the radar right off of Galveston. Schools are closing and Frank is telling us how it's going to dump all of this rain. Okay, okay, I think, I'll cancel student community group, for pete's sake!
Did we get a drop of rain? No. I even understood that it was supposed to linger for days: "Expect rain all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday..." I heard. I awoke this morning to a blue sky, a few puffy white clouds and not a hint of rain.
That was a first. How did a tropical storm hit only a few miles from my home, skid across Houston, even, and leave me dry? If anyone knows Frank personally, I'd like a word...
I'm not complaining, really, just befuddled. That's a new one in my book!

Reed comes home tomorrow, so do Phil and Cynthia - YEA!!
Have a great weekend, everyone!

Can a Three Year Old Learn to Serve?

So, my mom has this kind of "secret" ministry. It's something she chooses to do, simply on her own, to serve. She doesn't talk about it much because she enjoys doing it just for God, just for those she serves. Great idea and I'm so proud of her. She goes to a retirement home and helps the sweet little old ladies (and a couple of men) play Bingo. It's great - except those days when I ask her how it's going and one of those sweet ladies will be coming to Bingo no more. She has become their friend. If a regular doesn't show, she'll visit them. Many times they don't show because their health has taken a turn for the worse or they have lost a friend themselves. She has prayed with and for them, attended funerals, and even just stopped to visit a friend's relative (unbeknowst to them) because she heard that they were there. It's really beautiful.
Well, with Reed being gone this week, I usually visit my parents for one evening. Sometimes I spend the night. I've made a lot of plans for this week (to keep me busy while he's gone) so tonight was the only night I could make it, but that's her ministry night. Then it hit me. We could come along! They would LOVE it! Evy would LOVE it! My mom would LOVE it! I would LOVE getting to talk with them and share my little girl's sweet smile with them! Mom agreed it was a great idea, so we were off.
It was truly a fun time. The ladies were so sweet! Funny Wilma who says that she just can't seem to hold on to those little Bingo chips in her hands and so they fall all over the floor. She jokes that she should just play on the floor since that's where all her chips are! She was so glad to have Evy as her little picker upper! Sweet Jane with her long white hair falling around her shoulders who told me at least 15 times over the hour, "You sure do have a cute girl there!" Same words, same inflection. "Thank you," I said 15 times!
They have their own grandchildren and great-grandchildren but they live far away most of them, so they don't see them much at all. Evyn was more than happy to be their "stand in" for the night! She joyously covered her Bingo card with chips, crawled all over the chair, ate pink yogurt that a floor nurse gave her, picked up stray Bingo chips and said, "Thank you," to all their compliments over and over again!
It really was great!
It got me thinking. I would love to continue doing something like this. I mean, there's a retirement community just down the street from us. I love that she could learn to serve. Learn a respect and love for the elderly. Appreciate what they have to offer and not take her own great-grandmother for granted (which she doesn't, but, y'know...) So, I'm just wondering tonight what that could look like. I don't know if she could play Bingo for an hour every week, but surely there's something else. Taking pictures, artwork, maybe just visiting...I don't know.
Any ideas? Would you like to join in?

This Time It's For Real!

Well, like it or not, this is really it.

I know, I know...I already wrote about getting rid of her nummies. How she was big enough and I was confident that not only was she ready for it, but I was too. Well, then there was strep...and a host of other reasons. I think one of the big reasons was that we still actually posessed the nummies and she knew it. This time, there's no playin'. It's for real.

She was down to two nummies. One, the pink one with the butterfly, was her favorite. Only last week it finally succumbed to her little teeth and created a hole. We told her that that meant that it was now unsafe and she couldn't have that one anymore. We got rid of it and she never even complained about it. "Hmmm....," I thought.

Now today, we went to Brenham to see Steph and B and had a great time. We took all of the necessary napping acoutrements, of course. As we were leaving, I scooped them all up off the bed, into the bag and we were off. I pulled into a gas station in Katy because A. She was squealing about needing a potty (though when I actually pulled over, got out, and started to unbuckle her, realized she had already gone potty, apparently unbeknowst to her, I guess - very glad for that change of clothes I've been toting around in that silly bag for months thinking it was unnecessary!), B. I needed to go to the potty, and C. I needed gas in the car. We take care of all of the mentioned items and as we're taking off she begins asking for the nummy. I, as always, tell her it's only for naptime so she can't have it now. Even as the words are coming out of my mouth, I am beginning to wrack my brain to remember if I grabbed it. I searched her bags and things. Nope. I debated telling her now or later. Decision: get it over with. She seemed to take it okay, actually. "Hmmmm....," I thought again. "We'll see how tonight goes."

Here's another "Hmmm...": at school she sleeps perfectly fine without it...AND tonight we had to go straight to community group from Brenham and when I went to pick her up, all of the girls had been put to bed, including Evy...without the nummy!

So, here it is 10:30pm and I've barely heard a peep. She complained a little about it but we talked about it, I prayed for her and so far, so good. She has yet to shed a tear about it.
More of that bittersweetness. Yea...no more nummy! :-) Awww...no more nummy. :-( No more cute little sucking noises and the unmistakable way she talks with it in her mouth. Yet more of the baby gone. Can anyone tell me when I will get used to these steps?!!!

What "Lonely" Means These Days

Have you ever heard that little factoid about the Inuits (or someone like that) having, like, 50+ words for "snow"? Why? Because it is their life. It is such a part of every day and can be experienced and, therefore, described in so many ways. For me, personally, I have really no knowledge of snow, so snow is just snow.
Now, I'm a word person anyway. I like writing, I enjoy good, descriptive writing (like Catherine Newman down there in my link list - she's awesome!). I like the idea of being able to say what I mean succinctly because there are exact words for it. It irks me that we use the word "love" to describe so many truly different emotions. The love I have for pizza does not rival that of Vargo's chocolate mousse. And even that does not rival the love I have for my husband, and that is even different from the love I have for my little one. But this sorry little language of ours is lacking in this sense.
Another one: lonely.
As in, "My hubby is away and I am lonely." The typical response is, "Well, come on over!" "Let's have dinner." "Call me anytime!" While I really do appreciate these invitations for the sincerity and thoughtfulness with which they are delivered, they do not solve the problem of loneliness. Not this kind, anyway. It is not a lack of friends. It's not really boredom, either (though that comes into play at times). This loneliness is the result of my heart's soul mate being away. Not only is he not present, he is mostly unreachable. He is 7 hours ahead of us and that gives us maybe one uninterrupted, quality phone conversation per day. And usually either I am exhausted or he is.
He is my one. He knows me and shares my life with me. We are intertwined and interdependent (whether he says so or not!). He is the only one who knows our financial struggles and woes in actual amounts. He is the only one who revels in a good, funny Evy story like me because he is the only other one who loves her as I do. He is the one who "gets" my vision of student ministry. He is the one who gets me off of the couch and going to community group when I don't want to. He is the one who really knows why I don't want to go and gets that, too. He is the one I want by my side at school orientations, birthday parties, family dinners, and the first A & M game of the season. Because he gets it.
I want to tell him about the movie I saw, the fabric I love, the annoying thing Evy did, the beautiful way she suddenly whispered, "I love you, Mommy" in my ear today. Yes, I can still tell him these things, but he's not here to experience it with me. He's not here to kiss me, smile and say with his sweet brown eyes, "I know."
I know you know these things when you offer to have us for dinner, to stay at your house or to go out or to call. I know you know what it's like to be surrounded by people, friends even, yet still feel alone.
I miss my hubby.
And to think, God gave him to me as a shabby foreshadow and hint of the love He has for me and the soul mate that He is for my heart. This is my main reassurance that I am not alone. I have gone to sleep before with my Bible just to have a physical knowledge of His presence. I need Him even more than my hubby. I know this is one possible lesson in all of this travelling. That I would not become independent or fully capable without my hubby, but that I would become more dependent upon Him. That's my prayer.
I love you, Puppy, and I can't wait for this to be over. I am praying for you and longing for the day we are together again. Talk to you soon.

More Catching Up

Well, it's another year for my independent little girl. She's off to school and she loves it. Never looked back! She gives me a sweet kiss and hug and says genuinely, "Bye, Mama, I love you!" and skitters off to paint! (The painting is her favorite!)

We love her school, love her teachers. She's having a grand time and comes home with new wonderful favorites all the time!

Here's one for you Crossbridgers out there: we were recently at the intersection of 99 and 59 where the new Hermann Hospital is and there's that terrific Life Flight helicopter parked in perfect view. (We were on our way to Chick-fil-a, of course). So I point out the amazing aircraft to my astute daughter as she says, ever so excitedly, "Is it going to drop eggs!!!!"

Sweet toddlerhood!

Catching Up

Well, hello, Friends!
I know it's been a long, unannounced hiatus from Blogville for me. Let's reacquaint ourselves, shall we?
So...I actually started a while back with so many post ideas that I was overwhelmed. Then, I got stuck. Dry. Desert, really. Student ministry and a travelling hubby left me exhausted and stuck.
Then I got a project. I got the idea in my head to paint. Paint the family room, no less...the very nerve center of our home. I methodically started emptying the room of non-essentials (all but couch and tv) while hubby was gone, then sent Evy off to the grandparents Fri. night so I could A. have a girls' night with Steph, and B. begin prepping the room. When I started, I consulted a handyman magazine which advised painting in this order: trim, ceiling, walls. "What?!" thought I, who certainly knows more than this mere professional. "I just want a new color on my walls, not trim and certainly not the ceiling! That must be for new home buyers." So I began taping everything off. Steph and Casey arrived and dutifully picked up tape and rollers and brushes and dear Casey and Reed got that paint up faster than corn through a goose!
Soon, though, too soon, MaryEvyn was returned to us and it came to a screeching halt. I've been disappointed before in putting one too few coats of paint on a wall because I listened to others (probably the ones doing the painting, justifiably enough!). So, I really wanted another coat. So, my amazing hubby got another coat on there on Sunday. It looked great. But, wait, what's that? The trim looks awful! Really awful now. (It was only bad before, but NOW...) Enter sandpaper and trim paint thankfully left by former owners. So a very sore back and neck later, beautiful trim. All that was left was a little morning (now Tuesday, mind you) touch ups to fix the yellow on the ceiling and it's done.
Wait.
What's that?
There is clearly a defined line of new ceiling paint and old. Crap. (excuse me!)
So, we spent Tuesday night repainting the silly ceiling. Really, did I tell you my hubby is AH-MAY-ZING?!
Well, finally, my family room is back in working order. It's not the way I want it yet (will it ever be?). But I am in love with this color! The picture of course does not do it justice. A beautiful butter creamy yellow. With gorgeous ;-) white trim and ceiling!
Oh, and the lesson? Yes, the professional painter actually does know what he's talking about!!!

We Miss You, Daddy!

Okay, I know I haven't made a real post in a while, but things have been crazy over here at the our house and Reed's been out of town, so this one's for him!

Hi, Brad and Christy, I really wish I could've been there to see you two and say hi in person, but we have adventures here in Sugar Land that are calling. I would love to see pics of your not-so-little-anymore one! I hear you have more late night happiness coming your way! We are very happy for you! Hope to see you soon, though.

And here's our girl giving a message to her daddy:

Found a few gems!

Remember the blog about joy and sorrow over Evy's 3rd birthday? I added some pictures that I just found on those hidden recesses of our computer of my little newborn. If you're interested...

Just for Fun

I found this website a little while ago and I think it's so fun and I've never seen anything like it. Have fun creating!
www.jacksonpollock.org
Then if you want to know more about it, try visiting www.jacksonpollock.com.
Have a good day!

Two Are Better Than One - Part 2

I'm not sure that I said exactly what I wanted to say in my first comments on this. Allow me to further expound on this subject.
Our church lives and breathes by its community groups. Some call them small groups. We value genuine community at our church and this is where it comes closer to happening. I say "closer" because it still is lacking. It is a great first step, but generally you will find that it's not enough. You will want deeper study and you will want deeper friendships. I have been led to both of these through attending my community group. But it doesn't come without a fair amount of prayer and intentionality. What I referred to in my eariler post was "iron friends", my "accountability group" as some would refer to it. They are the ones who sharpen me as iron sharpens iron, like it says in Proverbs 27:17. I met Stephanie when I attended a community group led by Chuck, our pastor, specifically for newlyweds. Wow, that was about 4 or 5 years ago. Anyway, she was this funny, quirky, young redhead who attended most of the time without her husband who travelled, but I could tell she had a genuine relationship with God. It still took a while, but after several more meetings and other chances to talk, we became good friends, well on the way to being great friends. We quickly realized that we both had the same need: a friend who would tell it like it is, call sin sin, pray with and for me, encourage me, and grow with me. We started meeting weekly and I now can't imagine life without her. We soon included little Ms. Cynthia into our fold because, well, she had just married a good friend of ours and we knew enough about this focused girl to know that she needed the same thing.

I tell this story mainly to tell how I got to this great place of having such wonderful friends who help me grow. But please note, they do not create the growth, nor are they the reason for the growth, they simply help me see areas and situations where I have not applied the saving work of God to my life.

What easily happens is that we get off track from our purpose. We found ourselves getting together with the best of intentions but we would drink our coffee, talk about the circumstances in our lives, our calendars, our husbands, children, whatever, but never get to what God was doing. What was He teaching us? How was He transforming us? There was still some encouragement happening, but not the real stuff. What was our heart chasing after?

We have since recognized this, apologized for it and are making a return to the real questions and honest answers. It is a blessing to have these kinds of friends and, again, I pray that you will find them, too.

Big Youth Event Moved Due To Erin

Okay, so we had a big, anticipated Crossbridge youth event planned for tonight...outside. A movie, entertainment, banana splits...the works. I just want you to know, friends, that this big, much anticipated event that has been talked about word of mouth, now must be moved!
Rain.
Not just rain...a tropical storm!
The best part...it's name is Erin.
Yup.

Two Are Better Than One

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I use the book, Search the Scriptures, very often in my personal Bible study times and one of the questions for this passage asked: "What are the blessings of friendship described [here]? How does this apply in the spiritual life?" Great questions and the more I have thought about it and heard it preached, I may just be beginning to really believe it. Here's a few thoughts I've had.
We're not made to be alone. God is not and was not ever alone. We're made in His image, therefore, we are not made to be alone. When I work with my friends, more gets done. There were a million things going on this Sunday at church between meeting new students, passing out fliers, activities with elementary kids, and taking care of items needed for an event this weekend...I never could've done it all. Thank goodness for my leadership team. They were awesome. The students helped pass out fliers and talk to new students, Kristin has a party for our graduating seniors ready to go, Chris took care of packing up stuff for our event and I handled the elementary gym (with my totally unpredictable jr. highers!). When I work with my friends, our vision is bigger, our creativity sparks, my perspective is enlarged. Not only that, but when I share my work with others, I am not the only one who benefits from seeing God move...they do, too! God gets even more glory and more work gets done!
I need my friends because when I screw up and fall down off the right path, I can tell them and they help me make it right and pick me up. They can tell me when I have screwed up (if I am blissfully unaware). They can tell me, "Hey, um, Erin, that doesn't seem right. Are you sure that was showing the love of Christ there?" "Let's talk about whether or not that is truly the best use of your resources." That's what my true friends do.
They also help me stay warm in the encouraging light of pressing on towards the goal set before me. It can pretty cold out there in my world. Fighting a constantly nagging toddler, a husband whose control I desire (ooh, ugly!), pride, female porn (that's Pottery Barn, for those of you who don't know), bored students....the list continues. But when I am with my "iron friends", I am surrounded by the greater glow of the flame of God's Kingdom. I am reminded of what's better. I am encouraged to continue the fight and I hear God's call on my life louder and the din of my circumstances becomes quieter. But without my friends, the righteous path can get awfully dim and I lose my way ever so much easier.
Finally, I have a defense against the attacks of the Enemy. When I need to, I pick up the phone and call them and they pray. We are there for each other and now, Satan must defeat us both, which is not so easy. We know each other's weaknesses and are there to stand in when needed. I am not alone.
Not only that but that third strand, that ultimate Stronghold and Fortress, is standing firm around us, too. How now can I fall?
So, props to my girls. My friends who know me and call me and ask me and pray for me and allow me to pray for them. My friends who are real, honest, and straight. Who love me enough to tell me what they really see.
Share your life with someone. They'll share with you. And the cord of three strands will not be quickly broken.

The party results are in - crazy, but wonderful!

Well, the tags have been cut, toys have found a home, dishes washed, floor scrubbed (let's hear it for tile floors!!), trash is out (lots of it!). We had a fantastic time! More importantly, Evy had a fantastic time! She was so excited to see all of her friends and, especially, Ms. Phyllis! She had to be the one to open the door for Ms. Phyllis! She orchestrated a wonderful little "band" of rythym sticks, then egg shakers and scarves that danced high and low. We sang and danced and there were squeals of laughter and delight!

Evy's grandmother, Reed's mom, made an absolutely adorable outfit for MaryEvyn, all out of material she had on hand. My outfit, believe it or not, was comprised of items I had already in my closet. One mom proclaimed as she came in, "Look! It's Dora's mom!" Reed found a Mexican wedding shirt at the last minute! It was great.

We served homemade quesadillas with chicken Reed had grilled, and plain cheese for the kids, fruit, and plenty to drink. We had cupcakes iced in red, white, and green for the Mexican flag. Then we opened gifts and thanked all our friends and finally went outside to beat up a pinata (Thank you, Morgan, for the donation!!). Difficult to say what may have been Evyn's favorite part...between Ms. Phyllis, gifts, cupcakes and the pinata! From her perspective, it was a homerun! From my perspective, she was shown love.

A Third Birthday - Sorrow and Joy

Birthdays are so different when you are the celebrated one's mother. So many delights, concerns, and, yes, a little sorrow.
The concerns: is it too much? did we invite too many people? did I go overboard on the gifts? on the party? can she handle all of these gifts and still be grateful, appreciative? how much is too much? how do I make everyone happy? does she know how very loved and special she is?
The delights: blue eyes wide with surprise and joy as she opens a pink guitar she asked for, pink lips from licking wonderful icing off of a cupcake, blowing out her candles without being told what to do, the "thank you" hugs she gives, the next day as she plays with her new toys and is still saying, "thank you so much for my _____, Mommy!", her little fingers proudly displaying her new age
The sorrow: I sat down with Evy yesterday (her actual birthday) and showed her pictures of when Mommy was pregnant with her and then the day she was born and other baby pictures. While she understands that that is somehow a picture of her, I don't think she relates to it well. I mean, who can remember being a baby. There is the one of me in a hideous denim shortall (what was I thinking!!) with a huge belly. Several of me in the hospital before she was born (it was a long day, and she was born that night). Her first picture ever as they held her up, just as the dr. extracted her from me (she was a C-section) and pronounced to our anxious ears, "It's a girl!" The picture of the first time after that that I saw her was as they wheeled me back to my room past the nursery where they were washing her already thick, dark hair. Then the first one of the three of us as a family - for that's when you really feel like a family. We had to get the nurse to take it, because all of our family had left (and I hadn't even held her yet!). But my all time favorite is the one of her first nursing. Her little chubby fingers are all curled up and her sweet face looks just like an angel. Her eyes are closed and she looks so cozy and just made to be right there. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. My baby. I miss those days. She is such a big, bright, beautiful, intelligent, articulate little girl now and I love that, but, oh, to have a little snuggling baby's sweet breath on your neck, playing absently with your hair, cuddling on your lap. Nothing beats it. And I want it again something awful. Never thought I'd say that.
It's going so fast and as much as I try to slow every day down, it just keeps going on without a thought to how fleeting that sweet breath is, and how cute her little voice sounds, and how funny her little phrases are.
But to every thing there is a season. As I've been reading Ecclesiastes, God has been lovingly coaching me on how to enjoy my sweet girl and not to take the responsibility He's given me in raising her lightly. How to leave the times up to Him, He knows. He will make "everything beautiful in its time." "I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him."
So, maybe we're pregnant this month, maybe not, but God knows and I like it that way. I rejoice in His way. Even as time marches on.

Evy's party

Okay, so I have a partial victory! I was able to embed the video below but not able to include text with it. Grrr....

Anyway, that's my family singing to Evy for her birthday. Peyton is the oldest, holding MaryEvyn. She starts middle school this year and none of us can believe it! Then there's Kyle next to her, and Bailey sitting in Kelley's lap. Kevin, my brother, is in the foreground and I just noticed that you can see Reed, my dad taking pictures and even me in the mirror over Evy's head. Cool, eh?
Anyway, it was a great "cake" that Mom made out of a grouping of various flavors/colors of icing to make a butterfly. Evy loved it!!

This is Evy displaying her new "butterfly" wings and her wand. She doesn't want to take them off!


And this is the big hit - a pink guitar! Yes, she's a rock star/butterfly/fairy! She loves it!
Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Evy's 3rd Birthday Party #1 - Family

A Day at the Beach!

We spent this Saturday at Galveston. I took a bunch of students from Crossbridge with some leaders to a great little pocket park and it was great! Though it rained in the city, we saw very few little clouds and it was sunny all day! The waves were very gentle which was perfect for Evy's first trip in the ocean. She wore a little life jacket but didn't like to go too far. She loved building a sand castle and put shells on top for "flags". She also loved playing with a beach ball in the shallow water and throwing it to all of her "friends" (Kris, Priscilla, Joe, Daddy, anyone else who would catch it!). She let me pull her on a boogie board in the shallows, too.

We ate lunch on the deck and then arrived down on the beach. The guys were starting a game of ultimate frisbee (I think that's what they're playing) and Reed joined in. He was not the same after that. We thought he just needed to rest and drink some water which is what he did. But then he said that just the water was making him nauseous. He thought he was going to lose it many times that day (probably wished he could), but didn't. He was able to manage getting in the water a few times and to play with Evy. It wasn't until we got home that we realized he very well could have had heat exhaustion. Bad call on the ultimate game... oh, well. He's fine now!

Anyway, after little cold showers to rinse off, we headed to LaKing's on the Strand for some old-fashioned candy and ice cream goodness. Fantastic. If you've never been, I consider it a must for every G-town trip. There was a man making taffy and he would throw some out in the crowd. Everyone got one and MaryEvyn was delighted! The ice cream was the perfect end. Evy actually tasted a few and ended up choosing French Vanilla, isn't that funny? She ate every bite.

We got home about 6:30 (Reed finally made it home by about 7:15). Super fun day (well, if you weren't Reed, that is!). ;-) Good memories!

Tag: 10 Random Things You May Not Know

I've been tagged by Mel, a wonderful mom-friend from Crossbridge, to give 10 random things you may not know. So, here you go. Let me know what surprised you, okay?

1. This is what I'm wearing right now (and some variation every morning). Pajama pants and an old (2001) camp t-shirt and fuzzy slippers (my feet are always cold)

2. Yes, about my feet and cold. I'm almost NEVER barefoot for many reasons. I have sensitive feet probably because I'm never barefoot but I think it also makes my feet pretty and soft. Besides, I hate getting little pieces of dirt or crumbs or whatever stuck to bare feet - drives me crazy. I'm almost always cold (unless I'm outside) so I just like having things on my feet. There.

3. I have a tattoo. I took a somewhat embarassing picture of it for you. It is on the center of my lower back. I was 26 and it mortified my mother. I just really like stars, especially this one. It was supposed to be a little smaller, but I still like it. No, I don't regret it.

4. I really don't like to cook. I hate making dinner. Though I do love the satisfied, fulfilled feeling of setting a great, homemade, healthy meal on the table for my family to sit and eat. But I hate making it. Don't get me wrong, I still do it because I/we highly value that family time and I think it helps us maintain healthier eating habits, but I hate doing it. Love baking sweets: pies, cupcakes, cakes, cookies, pudding...

5. I like to sew. I finally sat down on Sunday and finished several projects. It was great. I fixed the straps on a cute floral backpack I used to use as Evy's diaper bag. I sewed up a hole in one of her shorts and I finished a sweet little curtain for Steph's new bathroom. That was very satisfying and I can't wait to see it all hung! Next: pillows!

6. I'm a Francophile. I just learned that that is the term for my admiration and desire for all things French. Holly got me a learn to speak French CD/book combo and I want to learn some of the phrases and words and pronunciation. I LOVE country French decorating and am moving my home in that direction. Love the warm yellow, mellow, soft woods. Love red and blue and all of the fabric crafts that come with country French. That's all on that.

7. I'm not a gardener at all. I can't grow a single thing. I have tried and cannot even get an ivy to cooperate. I have just about completely lost some Mexican heather that was in our yard in a few spots that was reportedly, "impervious". So much for that. Apparently, watering is still a necessity. Oh, right, watering... I'd love to grow some herbs, and I have great ambitions for an azalea bush in our back yard. We'll see.

8. Before VeggieTales Cd's invaded my car, I used to love to listen to Metallica's black album, the Gypsy Kings, Matchbox 20, and FooFighters to name a few. If I'm alone in the car and one of these comes on the radio I turn it up VERY loudly and have my own little concert. Back in the day I was a serious Duranie. (If you don't know what that is, just ask a child of the 80's)

9. Y'know Monica on Friends? We are one. Remember the episode where they teased her about having to eat cookies over the sink (so the crumbs don't go all over the floor?) - totally what I do (and love it when others do, too). I clean constantly, especially the floor (see #2 about bare feet). The only thing I don't enjoy cleaning is the tub and toilet. I do like laundry, actually. Not that it's a favorite pastime, but I don't dread it. My best friends are my floormate and dustbuster. I've been known to follow after Reed with it...

10. Ummm...I don't know how to dive. Like into a pool. I'm a terrible swimmer.

That's all.