I can't help it!

I'm excited, ya'll!

BW got FREE tickets to the Texans game this weekend and we are ALL going!!!! The kids all have cute Texans shirts (but the grown-ups don't). It is going to be so much fun! I was going to wait till I had pictures, and I'm not sure how many of you readers (all both of you) are going to care about this, but I am so excited that I had to blog about it RIGHT NOW!!!!

The Texans are my favorite NFL team, even though I never had a favorite team before we moved to the Houston area, and even though they are in last place.

But that's not the very best part about getting to go to the game! We're playing the Jaguars, and Matt Jones plays for the Jaguars! So I'll also get to see my all-time favorite Razorbacks player too!!!!!! I will be torn, so it will be an interesting game. I of course want the Texans to win, but how can I not want the best for Matt Jones? I can't wait to let you all know how it turns out!

More of the Best

The kids - Chicken Nugget, French Fry, and Noodle, the morning that everyone left. These pics are in reverse chronological order. :o)

Aunt Alligator. Sure was good to see her. She recently got porcelin veneers; doesn't she look great?
Before the storm - it was so windy and the breakers were some of the biggest I've seen at Galveston. It started raining the next morning and we've gotten little relief since.
Looking for seashells
I love this pic of French Fry running into the waves.
Brother and sister and Mamma. Crab Cake and I have almost the same hairdo.
Family fun.
Get ready for the cousins picture
Important conversation
That coy pond was the most fun. There were wooden boats to play with and everything!

The Best of the Family Reunion

Banana having some fun of his own in one of the coy ponds
playing around the coy pond
My mom (far right) beside her brother (Uncle Buck) and all the first cousins, except for my grandmother's last living sister, Aunt Theresa, in the red shirt
Barbecue Sauce and Noodle playing at the coy pond, Daddy behind them
Uncle Crab Cake and our little cousin, Barbecue Sauce
The beach is good for the soul
Chicken Nugget and French Fry - cousins and best friends
playing in the surf
the brother and sister pose
Chicken Nugget and Uncle Crab Cake
With the frog at the Rainforest Cafe, where we ate after our beach adventure
With the Tiki guard


With the gorilla












We had a family reunion this weekend.

When BW and I moved to Houston, I was coming back to my roots. My maternal grandmother was born and raised on Galveston Island; my grandmother and grandfather met in Galveston; my mother was born in Galveston; many of my family members on that side have remained in and around the Houston area.

The reunion was at the home of my mother's first cousin, but I have always called her "Aunt Phyllis," even though she's a cousin. Many, many people piled into Aunt Phyllis's (and Uncle Paul's!) home this weekend. I'd like to share some highlights:

*seeing lots of relatives that I haven't seen in a long time

*looking at pictures and hearing stories from days gone by

*being able to have Banana spend his first birthday in such a special way - he celebrated an October birthday with about four other relatives, and we had TWO birthday cakes!

*all the food! my, my . . . we had a MAJOR fish fry with all the fixins

*spending a quiet afternoon out in Aunt Phyllis's and Uncle Paul's lovely backyard, sitting by the coy pond with Daddy and Uncle Paul. There's just something about old men sipping coffee at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and having pleasant, peaceful chatter.

*time with my brother (let's call him Uncle Crab Cake, because that is what he ate when we went out yesterday) and taking him and the "big kids" (Chicken Nugget and her favorite cousin, French Fry) to Galveston

*watching all the little kids play and have fun

*discussing Arkansas sports highlights with BW, Crab Cake, Daddy, and Uncle Buck (my mom's brother - not his real name)

*just a relaxing time of laughter, fun, and yummy food - we don't get together near enough!

I'm not saying who . . .

But a certain little Banana turns one today! He's the sweetest little man, so cuddly and huggy. He deserves the best birthday that a one-year-old can have! He's a bit on the small side (5th percentile for height!) but small gifts can be the best. We love you, Banana!
Love,
Mamma, Daddy, Chicken Nugget, Noodle, and Grandma and Pappa who are here to help you celebrate!

Yes, you can.

When you are a soldier
I will be your shield
And I will go with you into the battlefield
And when the arrows start to fly
Take my hand and hold on tight
I will be your shield
Cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier

When you're tired from running
I will cheer you on
Look beside you and you'll see
You're not alone
And when your strength is all but gone
I'll carry you till your strong
Oh, I will be your shield
Cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier

I will be the one
You can cry your songs to
And my eyes will share your tears
And I'll be your friend
If you win or if you're defeated
If ever you need me
I will be here

When you're lost in darkness
I will hold the light
And I will help you find your way
Through the night
I'll remind you of the Truth
and keep the flame alive in you
Oh, I will be your shield
Cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier

When You are a Soldier by Steven Curtis Chapman

When I lived in Marin County, California, I used to go running with a friend. My friend was about 16 years old, a bit younger than me, a bit more energetic than me, and she had quite a bit more stamina than I did. She was a sweet friend, though, and went running with out-of-shape old-lady me anyway. We ran a beautiful trail in a place called Tennessee Valley, which is a series of hills that lead to a beach. I can remember one of our running excursions in particular. I was so tired, so winded, and really wanted to stop. Melissa, my running partner, said, "Let's just get to the top of that next hill and then we can walk." The top of the next hill! That is the hardest part! I was thinking to myself that I could never do it. I said to Melissa, "I can't."
She said, "Yes, you can," calm and steady, and you know what? I did it. I made it to the top of that hill.

I've been staring at the top of a hill recently, and have been thankful for faithful friends who have come alongside me and told me, "Yes, you can," when I insisted that I could not.

Never underestimate a gut instinct to encourage someone or pray for someone without knowing why. Chances are, if you feel that someone might need an encouraging word, you are correct. And anyway, how can it hurt for someone to hear, "I love you," "I'm praying for you," "You can do it," "Be encouraged."

So many have believed in me when I did not believe in myself, found me worthwhile when I found not much of anything worthwhile, and sent me encouragement and prayed for me at my lowest moments. May I only ever do the same for others.

Again With the Censorship

I guess it happens all the time.

Here's another piece of news about censorship that happened near our city.

My thoughts on censorship, which I have shared in the past:

Who sets the standard? Which set of censorship rules do we follow? Who is really right? At what point is the censorship stopped? What about conscience? Is censorship thought control?

If I do not want to watch or read something, I will turn off the tv or put down the offensive material. I don't think that I have to shout from the rooftops, "This is wrong! Don't watch it! Don't listen to it! In fact, let's REMOVE IT FROM SOCIETY ALTOGETHER!"

The young lady and her father that had the problem with the book had every right to say so, and the student was able to choose a different book. I respect that. But the book should not be removed from school curriculum. At least, I don't think so.

Well, it was on local news this week, so I was thinking about it. I've finally blogged about it! Hope ya'll find it interesting.

Progression

Just Because

Fun times in the yard!

Sometimes you just need to wear your goggles.

Practicing for the tightrope

All smiles!

Mohawk bath baby hairdo.

Bubble bath princess.

Sir Smiles-a-lot

Jungle mud baby

Pretty pose before sliding on the the slip-n-slide.

One night we made the biggest pancake in America!

Getting ready to brush her teeth.

More fun beach pics

Running into the waves!

At the Astros game!

Every Day With You

Every day with them
Is something new
something wonderful
when I feel there's no more reasons to go on
to get out of bed
to do the dishes . . .
I see their faces
and I know
that there's something worth it . . .
Every day with you
Is comforting and humbling
It has been the best experience
To watch you grow
from a baby
into the young lady
that you are becoming
Every day with you
Is about learning
Because you love to tell us
Everything
that you have learned that day -
from bats to lazy 8's to amphibians to four-digits
You want us to know
everything that you know
And I am so happy that you do.
And you tell me things from church -
last night it was the letters that your class wrote
to children of missionaries;
Twenty letters in all, you said!
Won't they be surprised when they open their mailbox!
It makes you happy
To make others happy
Every day with you
Is a lesson in love
You love your family,
Your sister and your brother,
your mom and dad
and you try so hard
to teach us all to be kind to one another
to love each other as a family
to pray for one another
My little first-born, seven-year-old,
You love the Lord
and you pray for your family
and your classmates
and you challenge me
to be better
Your love and forgiveness
amaze me,
when you have rights to so many things,
you lay them down, to save others from hurt,
even at age seven
Every day with you makes me so happy
That I can be your mom and your friend.

Every day with you
Is a wonderful surprise!
Your smile is contagious
As you wake up with a happy grin,
and announce to the world,
"I'm awake!"
You are learning so much
becoming a little girl
not even much of a toddler anymore
Every day with you
is happiness,
joy and energy
I try to keep up with you
But sometimes I can't!
We love to talk with you
To hear the funny things you say
To hear your ferocious growl as you say,
"Rrrrr! I'm a scary monster!"
And giggle as we mock surprise
We love to tickle you and hear you shriek,
"Stop! Stop!"
And when we stop, to hear you say,
"Tickle me more!"
You tell us that you are a princess
And that your big sister is the king
My heart is full of happiness as I see your joy
When sister comes home from school
And to hear you ask after her all day
You love her
And when your little brother is upset,
to hear you say,
"Boo-Boo ok?"
You care about your family
It also makes me happy when you sing songs,
The ones you are learning at Sunday school,
"Oh, I love God!"
"Jesus loves me!"
They're so true, my sweet girl
Every day with you and your big smile
Is absolute and pure joy.

Every day with you
Is something new
How I would miss
Your cuddles,
your hugs and sugars,
your ready smiles and giggles
If you were not part of our family.
Every day with you
Is full of love
as you love to hug us all
to snuggle up
to give us those winning smiles
You make us all feel so special
Every day with you
Is so much fun
You amaze us with
New words, new dances,
New expressions;
Your sisters amaze you
and we love to watch you
as you stare at their antics,
Planted in one spot on the floor,
Grinning big . . .
You are so happy
so easygoing
I love to sit with you in my lap
as you look at me intently
and we have important conversations
I can tell you are saying big things
Important things
And you're growing and growing
becoming a little boy
but still enough of a baby
for Mommy and Daddy to cuddle you
and cradle you . . .
Every day with you is wonderful.