Pumpkin Patch 2009

This week, we went to our local pumpkin patch to pick out a couple 'punkins.' Brayden loved going around and trying to pick up (and throw) the pumpkins...I was just praying that one wouldn't bust all over the ground. We had a good time being out in the fall weather - yes, it is FINALLY feeling like fall here in Houston! It was also fun looking back at pics from last year's trip to the Pumpkin Patch...wow, how our little guy has grown.

Our happy little guy

Brayden, the Mummy

'Which one should I pick?'

'I like this one!'

'I like this one...and it's the perfect size (like a ball)!'

Our punkin' - 15 months old

Laughs with Mommy

This is one of the pics from last year's trip...

he was just 3 months old!

...Look at this year's pic (on the SAME bench!)

He sure has grown!

Mommy's Little Helper

These days, Brayden LOVES to help out around the house. (I hope it lasts as he gets older!) He loves to follow me around as I do the laundry and help put it in the washer & dryer. He loves to help push the vacuum around (or start the Roomba...our automatic vacuum).

He is also beginning to grab the fork or spoon that I am feeding him with and help put his food in his mouth. I'm amazed at how he is developing and growing to acquire these new skills.

Being a mom is something I have always desired, but I never realized how amazing it would be to watch your little one grow and experience the joys of life. I pray that as Brayden grows, that he, like Jesus, would "grow in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:42)

Clipboard Frames

In our living room, we have a very long wall that I have never been sure how to decorate it. I have thought about it long and hard, and one day while strolling through Anthropologie, I had an idea! I just love their displays and feature walls...whoever thinks up these abstract pieces is genius! They had a giant painted canvas with different sizes of clipboards attached at varying depths with sketches attached. I am always changing out Brayden's pictures and have SO many that I would love to display in a non-tacky way...so my mind started spinning. After many drafts in my head...and a couple trips to IKEA and Hobby Lobby, I came up with this...

I have a long shelf that I leaned a 30x40" frame on. I got various sizes of clipboards (which make easily interchangeable 'picture frames,' and I painted them all black to make it all look cohesive. The vertical clipboards are all simply hung on a nail, and the horizontal ones are hung on a nail and have a secondary nail through on the other end for support.

My inspiration piece in Anthropologie

I laid the clipboards out on the floor before hanging (and took a picture), so I could reference it as I hung them.

My long living room wall...now nicely decorated!

I hung another shelf and leaned a picture frame up against it to frame out the cross hung on the wall.

I hung picture frames directly on the wall (without backing so the wall color shows through) to showcase the cross and 'HOPE' hanging.

Clipboard frames

I LOVE being able to change the pictures out so easily!

Etsy Art - Acacia Custom Art is back!

Well, after awhile of 'burnout' and of course the busyness of having an infant, I am back at it with my art. I am excited and am enjoying this creative outlet of painting yet again. I started out with a few pieces in our home and have broadened it to include some pieces I am selling on an amazing site for handmade items: Etsy. Here's a couple pieces that I've made for our home and for sale. You can check out my shop here.

Here is the piece of my favorite verse - John 10:10. I did this for our home, but I also have a smaller version on Etsy.

Joshua 24:15 - I love this verse!

Abide in Christ!!!

Love this verse...

A mixed media canvas collage similar to one

I've done for our home. This one is on Etsy.

Jumpin' Joey's

Recently, one of Brayden's friends had her 1st birthday party. It was at a local place called Jumpin' Joey's. It is an indoor 'park' of giant inflatable toys. We took Brayden down slides and jumped in bounce houses. He wasn't so sure what to think of it all at first, but then began to laugh and have fun sliding.

Check out Brayden's face...

he wasn't so sure about it at first. Ha!

Jonathan jumping with Brayden...

rather, double-bouncing Brayden!

Olivia Harris jumping w/ Brayden.

Fall Riot 2009!!!

I've always said, "Dream a dream so big that only God could do it." I truly believe in this, but when you see a dream that is bigger and greater than you could ever even imagine actually come into focus with your own two eyes, it is a whole different thing! This past Wednesday, we had an event called Fall Riot that we put on within our JHigh & High School ministries. For months - planning, preparation, and promotion has gone on. Schools have been blitzed with fliers, promo cards, and car paint. We've been on our knees believing that God was going to draw students to hear about His amazing love. Our hope was that 600 students would come - which is much more than we have ever had for an event.

When the night came, students began pouring in and filling up the Worship Center. Chairs were quickly put out to add to the 700 already out to help give seats to those that came. When the count was done, there were 1,599 people in the Worship Center - which we guess that about 1,450 of those were students. WOW!!! Now, I'm not a numbers person. I don't like emphasizing that, but when I talk about numbers, I am talking about people...lives...potential world changers and influencers...lives that Jesus seeks to save and worlds that need to be rocked.

It was an amazing night. One that won't be forgotten. One in which 150 students responded to make a decision for Christ - over 50 of those being first time decisions to follow Christ. I am so excited. I can't wait to see the change that is going to take place in schools and in our community - a Riot has been started. A shift has begun. I truly believe a revival is beginning. It is something that our dreams didn't even reach, but it is definitely something that only God could have done.

Students filling up the lobby before Fall Riot begins

The Worship Center was completely packed out.

It was AMAZING!

Brayden had a fun night too.

We even got him his very own Fall Riot shirt made.

Mimi & Papa's Visit

This past weekend, my parents came into town from Oklahoma. We always love it when family gets to come visit! Brayden had so much fun with his Mimi & Papa. He showed off his new skill of walking, and he was quite the entertainer! While they were here, we played in the park, went garage-saleing (me & Mom's 'thing'), and played golf (obviously, the guys' 'thing'). Thanks for visiting, Mimi & Papa!

Driving...at the park

Brayden & Papa...what handsome guys!

Hi-fives with Mimi

Watching Papa shave...he is quite intrigued!

He loves his electric toothbrush!

It's great when he's teething and also to

get him to brush his toofers!

Bathtime!