Thoughts on new beginnings.....

According to the clock on the computer in my grandparents' house, it is 11:29 pm. Central Standard Time, December 31, 2008. We have about a half an hour until the new year begins. Let's see....2009....one big thing coming up this year for me is a biggie birthday....40! Laura will turn 5 and start kindergarten and Kevin and I will celebrate seven years of marriage.

I love to look ahead but know that there are no guarantees to any of those things. If the Lord wills and we live we will be blessed to share those joys and their excitement. I've heard a lot of talk on the news today especially about "new beginnings" and how the beginning of a new year wipes the slate clean and we get to start over. What I love about living in faith is that each day brings the new mercies of our Lord and Father. We get to wipe the slate clean, one day at a time with His mercy and grace, each day. He puts our sins and shortcomings behind Him and remembers them no more. Every day. As far as the east is from the west. Wow. I am reminded that we only have today, and that tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. I am humbled to think that God loves me enough to take care of each need and concern each day.....all I have to do is ask! So, as I begin this new year, I will say that my "resolution" will be to live each day, one day at a time, in the care and love of my God. And trust Him with all my tomorrows. I pray you will see His love and mercy with each new day this year.

New Pictures!

Why is it that when I finally post pictures they come out in reverse order? Anyway, I thought I'd update the blog with some pictures of the season with family members and friends. Here is the empty tree at Kevin's mom and dad's place after the presents were all opened. It was supposed to be the last one for some dramatic visual effect, but anyway.....

Okay, now here is the fully loaded tree before Laura got her hands on the presents.

It may be hard to see this one, but she was still long enough to capture it. This is her first bat, ball, and glove set. Princesses and all.

Here is Lindy Grace with her "big" present of the night, but she was far and away more interested in the wrapping paper. She sampled each type of paper before the night was through. I never could guess which was her favorite. This is the "blue snowman" variety of paper...



Here is the "red Santa" type.

Lindy is trying to open her first gift after she had already chewed on it, of course.

Getting ready to open.....

This was a shot of the girls in one set of their matching pjs. I found some really cute sets on sale and grabbed them up!

Lindy and her prunes......

Einstein hair after a bath. This is the only age where a bad hair day is cute!
Lord willing we leave on the morning of Christmas Eve to spend some time in Houston. To say the least we are looking forward to time with family there. I'll post more pictures there. It is good to be in touch again! :)

Wouldn't you know....

Just when we were getting into a good routine and looking forward to traveling to see friends and family in Knoxville.......we all got SICK! It started with Kevin's dad, who passed his cold on to Laura, so we were in the doctor's office twice with her last week.....then Lindy started with a fever of 102 last Sunday morning, more doctor visits and medicine for her.....and then finally, the typical "another one bites the dust" I managed to get it, too. My doctor listened to me Monday and told me my lungs sounded crusty. Not sure how that sounds, but not so good. I think of Jack Nicholson as crusty, you know? Anyway, here we are a week later and we are starting to feel better. The girls are almost completely well now. I'm not quite there but definitely on the mend. We spent most of all last week with Kevin's parents because he was out of town and then I was so sick I just couldn't have taken care of the girls properly without help. I've got some new-ish pictures to post but just don't feel like doing it right now. Kevin has the girls at church and I'm supposed to be asleep. If everyone is well, Lord willing, we'll travel to Knoxville this Thursday to do Lindy's six month pictures. How can she be six months old already???? I'll have to get a video of her new skill: rolling. She rolls everywhere! Our lives have officially changed forever now. The baby is mobile! I write this hoping that you are all keeping well and are not sick like we have been lately.....Happy Sunday!

A Rich Heritage

We traveled this past weekend to Harding University in Searcy, AR, for the annual homecoming celebration. It was wonderful to be there with family we only see once a year. Both sets of my grandparents graduated and married out of Harding, so you could say that our family started there. I loved getting to see my grandparents visit with dear ones they've known for more than 60 years, and couldn't help reflect on the wonderful heritage I have. When I went to Harding to do my Master's work in 1997 I became the third generation Harding student for both sides of my family. I would love it if our girls chose to study there, too. We went to the Homecoming football game and I got to see people I have known since I started teaching in Austin in 1991! I am grateful for the friendship and family ties, and for the role Harding has played in them.

Here we are as a family of four on a Harding swing. Not Christmas card worthy, but the best we could get with two tired children!

Here are four generations sitting on a swing like the one where my grandparents courted 67 years ago!

The weather couldn't have been more beautiful. It was a perfect fall day to get a sweet picture of Laura and Lindy.

Mamama and Lindy after chapel Friday morning.

This is the archway into the campus that has stood in place for many decades.

Ten Promises

Ten Promises No Matter Who Wins The Election:

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings on His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

ISN'T IT GOOD TO KNOW WHO IS STILL IN CONTROL?

I'm not sure who wrote that but I received it as an email last week, and as the election draws closer and closer I just felt the need to be reminded that Jesus, by His mercy and grace, still has the world in His precious blood-stained hands.

Seven Years Ago Today.....

I went to church with my friends in Knoxville and met the most wonderful man in the world, my sweet husband, Kevin. It was a movie moment, really, for me....I looked across the crowded Bible class and saw him sitting there and thought he was the cutest thing I'd ever seen. When I went upstairs after class and saw him talking to my friends I just knew he was the one for me. By the way, I still think he's the cutest thing I've ever seen. And there is so much more to him. He loves God, he loves his family, he takes care of his mom and dad, he is a fabulous amazing friend, he is so very good at what he does in his career. I couldn't have more gratitude for the blessing of sharing my life with him than I do every October. In a way I remember this day better than our anniversary.....because this was the day everything changed in my life!

So, sweet husband and friend, after seven years, five houses, three cities, and two children, I'm so grateful to share it all with you. God truly blessed the broken road that led me straight to you. I love you so dearly! Thank you for sharing your life with me!

Lindy Eating Cereal

Here is the video I wanted to post last night. Hope you enjoy watching our little doll baby eating her first meal!