Paci Time

He loves his pacifier. We've gotten down to just using it at night, and to be honest, it is about time to get rid of it entirely. But for now...he loves it. He gets so excited when he finds one during the day and can sneak a minute or two with it before mom finds out. He also especially loves it when he finds multiple, and then he sees how many he can fit in his mouth...

Hilarious...

Brayden is constantly moving around when he sleeps. We have many moments of cracking up when we go into his room to check on him, only to find him in a crazy position while sleeping. Tonight would have to be on the top of the list. Seems like he's been dreaming of Kung Fu fighting!

God First

This year, I'm doing a Women's Bible study called Bible Study Fellowship. We're studying the book of Isaiah this year, and it has proven to be an amazing challenge and time of growth in God's Word after just the first three weeks!

Today, after BSF, we got home and were eating lunch. I was talking to Brayden about what we learned today. (They have an amazing children's program of BSF during my Bible study, and they learn the same thing the adults are learning. It is wonderful!) I had made his lunch and put it on the table. He had already started eating, while I was finishing making my lunch. When I sat down, we continued to eat and forgot to pray. Anyway, I was telling Brayden how we learned today to put God first in our lives. Without hesitating, he said, "Mommy...pray." So there, in the middle of our lunch, we prayed and thanked God for our food and asked Him to help us put Him first in our lives. He gets it. I love it that my 2-year-old is learning this truth to put God first. He knows that we usually pray before each meal, and he knew that it was something that we needed to do. It's amazing that even he can teach me and remind me to keep God first in our lives.

Fall Riot 2010

WOW...what a night! Wednesday night, we had Fall Riot for our HS & JHigh. It was a high energy night with over 1900 students and leaders packed into our Worship Center. The night began with an incredible dance crew, cheer squad, KHS drum line, and illusionist. But that wasn't what we were really there for. The night concluded with my incredible hubby Jonathan bringing a message that challenged the hearts of students. He shared how we all have a gap in our lives that we can't cross apart from the grace and forgiveness that comes through Christ.

God truly blew us away with His abundant grace when 337 students responded and made a decision for Christ. WOW! I am blown away! It is so exciting each and every time when He draws people to Himself. We ended the night with a baptism service and 89 of those students chose to follow Christ's example in baptism. What an amazing time to see students putting up their flag for Christ and showing they are on His team. SO EXCITING!!!

I believe God is doing a work in our community, and I am so excited for every student in that room who now belongs to Christ! I can't wait to see the ripple effect of that, and we believe that many more will come to Christ because of that night and the life changes that happened!

THANK YOU, LORD!!!

Dance crew - AMAZING!

Jonathan speaking.

The Worship Center as Jonathan was speaking...INCREDIBLE!

What a Great Weekend!

This weekend was so great! Let me just start with that. I am so blessed.

When we moved to Houston 6 years ago, we knew we were moving away from family. We knew we were beginning our life as a newly married couple and essentially starting our own family. Each time we get to see our families, it is cherished. This weekend, we were so lucky that my mom came into town. It was special, because she came to take care of Brayden so that Jonathan and I could attend our church's marriage conference - Love & Respect.

It was great to see my mom and get to spend some moments with her. But one of the other reasons it was so great, is that it allowed Jonathan and I to grow in our marriage this weekend. I love it that both Jonathan and my parents constantly urge us to grow toward Christ on our own and together as a couple. They are an inspiration to us of walking with Jesus, and we hope that we can grow into a team - loving each other and parenting - like they do.

This weekend at the conference, it was full of moments that taught us how to know each other more - to pay attention to the needs of the other. I learned that respecting my husband is his greatest need...and I DO greatly respect him, and I'm definitely learning how to show that more. It was so unique learning the differences, how a wife needs love the most and a husband needs respect. When we learn to give that to each other, God abundantly honors and blesses the marriage. I highly urge anyone who can attend this conference to go...it will radically change your thinking and your marriage.

...and thanks so much, Mom, for coming and spending the weekend here with us! Brayden LOVED playing catch for hours with his Mimi!

Pic of the Day

We're busy hanging out with Mimi while she is here. We're so lucky to have my mom in town this weekend. She came down this weekend so she could hang out with Brayden while Jonathan and I are at our church's marriage conference - Love and Respect. We're so thankful for her coming down, and we're excited to see all God does this weekend to teach us and grow us in our marriage!

A Budding Artist

We entered the world of finger paint this last week. This picture was in response to my statement, "You can use your hands and fingers to paint with." He was so confused at first, because he always sees me painting with a brush. He kept saying, "Mommy, brush!" So, I obliged and he painted with a brush...for awhile...

"I can really use my fingers to paint with?!"

My cautious one.

Much more comfortable with a brush...

...Even if it was to paint his hands with the brush!

"I can paint myself too!"

"Do you want some paint too, Mommy?!"

"All done!"

Labor Day Fun

For Labor Day, we headed down to Hermann Park. The entire city of Houston was surrounded in torrential rain, and we just knew once we got down there, we would have to find an indoor activity at one of the museums. However, it seemed that we headed to the one area of Houston that was spared from the rain. It was a beautiful and sunny day, and it was an amazing place to spend the afternoon.

We took a ride on the train around the park.

I guess they were intently looking at

something on the train ride. Looks interesting...

I Want to Be a 'Tree' Like This...

Lately, in my time with the Lord, I've been studying through the book of Jeremiah. Today, I was reading in Jeremiah 17, and God challenged me in an incredible way! I just had to share...it was just too good. In verses 8, it talks about a tree. I want to be like this tree. WOW...what a challenge it was.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 - "Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."

First off, I want to plant myself near the river - God is my nourishment, and I must sink my roots deep into Him. He is my strength, my stronghold, my nourishment, my life.

Such trees that are planted here are not bothered by the heat. When the 'heat' of life hits, when the enemy puts 'heat' on me in life with temptation, when tough times come...I don't want to be bothered...for I am planted by the river, and the Lord is my Source and Strength of life.

Such trees that are planted here are also not worried by long months of drought. When I feel like I'm alone, when I don't get the answers I want, when I feel hopeless...I will not worry. I tend to be a worrier, but when I put my roots down deep into the Lord, and I trust in Him...I need not worry. He is my nourishment and my life...He will fill me. It is a promise. (John 4:13)

Such trees have leaves that stay green when these times hit. Jesus says, "I came that they may have LIFE and have it ABUNDANTLY." (John 10:10) Life can stay abundant, even when it seems that everything around is dried up and dead.

Such trees also never stop producing fruit. He has filled me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I want to overflow that in all times. I also desire that in every stage of life, that I would be a witness to those around me of God's unfailing love and goodness and salvation. He is my Source of Life, and I want to plant myself and dig my roots down deep into Him.

I want to be that kind of tree.

My Dancin' Man

The boy loves to dance.

Any time music comes on, he starts dancing...

wherever we are...in a store, at home, in the car. I love it!

He also loves to dump out my purse (as can be seen by all objects he is holding and that are around his neck). Don't worry, I quickly confiscated the Dreft stain removal pen

when I saw he had pulled that out!