I see trees of green.....

I see green everywhere compared to the browntown I came from! We are having an absolute blast with Pop and Cita! We went swimming the first day and Ty did good kicking and blowing bubbles! He did not want to come out of the pool for lunch and rest time! Olivia, not so wild about it but we are working on her! Ty has also enjoyed the tire swing that looks lilke a horse that Pop hung out under a big tree as well as the turtle sandbox they got him. He is not going to want to go home!!!!

I of course have already gone to my favorite Arlington spot, Boo Boo's with Holly and Granny and then shopping at Brownstone Village just down the street! I am really missing living in this place right now. We have spent a lot of time out on the backporch just visiting. My parents have a beautiful backyard with all kinds of fun stuff in it. While we sit Ty loads his dumptruck over and over and plays with cars. Liv just rolls around and crawls, yes crawls all over. She started that for the first time last Saturday while I was at Larry and Nell's doing laundry! Heath says he taught her to do so! Our dryer went out and my Suberban had a lot work done on it all in the same week so we are here trying to forget all about the money and stress that went along with that. Well me and the kids anyway.

Trent on the other hand has been playing 52 HOLES A DAY!!!! Do you think he misses me???? He says he does but I kind of wonder! He is preparing for several tournaments.

Today I am going to meet my friend Jay from highschool. He lives in FL now so we don't get to see him just real often. I am still very close to my highschool group of friends and the majority of them still live in the area, with the exception of Jay, Maria in Virginia Beach, and Joel in Houston. Jay has a new, well as of 6 months, girlfriend that we will be meeting whom he says her has never felt the same way about anyone else. I am too excited to hug his neck and to meet this sweet girl. She has to be wonderful if Jay loves her.

Well ta-ta for now. I will post pictures of all our fun later!

Thursday Thirteen for Thelma

This is what I called my great aunt, originally named Thelma Emma Phillips but after marrying her husband Joe, Thelma P. Ater. She was my Nana's sister. My nana, whom I was VERY close to, passed away six months after having a stroke when I was just in sixth grade. My "AA" kind of stepped in and resumed the role of my grandmother until she passed away this past Saturday on June 10th. She was 91 and lived a full life but many were still not ready to lose her. She was not your typical elderly lady. I have so many wonderful memories of her and visits to her house growing up. She lived the last half of her life in Alamogordo, New Mexico. It was always a fun time with her and Joe. They were quite the active and humorous little couple. He passed a few years ago and she just hasn't been the same since. Her health declined but she continued to be active. She got to where she needed some assistance and was able to move in with her grand-daughter Linda who lived just up the mountain in Cloudcroft. They had a very special relationship since Linda was young and I know she is probably going to miss her the most. She has been so blessed to have Thelma on a daily basis. My Dad looked to her as a second mother and is deeply saddened as well. We traveled for the visitation and funeral this week and returned last night. It was so strange going to that town and not being able to visit with her. All the "could've, should've (s) went through my mind. Trent and I kept wanting to plan a trip out there to see her and then he took on more and more responsibility with Sprint and began to travel extensively and it just never happened. I think the last time I actually saw her in person was at my wedding 6 years ago. She was listed in the program as my grandmother. I have talked to her on the phone several times since but wish I could have spent more time in person with her. I dedicate this Thursday Thirteen to her:

Thirteen Wonderful Memories of Thelma Emma Phillips Ater

January 4, 1915- June 10, 2006

1. Her love for The Lord

2. Her love for ALL of her family

3. Always saw the positive in people

4. Her fun and wonderful sense of humor

5. She had such a grace about her.

6. Reuben Sandwhiches

7. The way she loved to watch the hummingbirds drink from the nectar on her back porch.

8. The way she liked turquoise jewelry and wore a beautiful ring on her hand.

9. She nicknamed my Nana, "Doty" because of her being the youngest sister and how their father would "dote" on her.

10. She lost a son to cancer that she never let leave her heart. He continued to always be the most important part of her life other than her Lord. She loved his wife as a daughter and was such an incredible example of a Godly woman.

11. Never missed a birthday or Christmas my whole life, with a super sweet card and always gave me a check with the amount of the year I was turning.

12. Her spoon collection from all the places that she traveled to.

13. Her voice, I can still hear her.

I know that not many of you knew this sweet lady but I hope that I could give you a little glimpse of wonderful she really was. I hope that I can be the type of woman, wife, and mother that she was in many many ways.

Kissable Little Cook!

Liv is now enjoying just about every vegetable, here sweet potatoes in a highchair that was originally mine. She also enjoys kisses from dog !

Thankfully Murray is GREAT with both the kids and loves to 'love on them and snuggle up to them! That Furry Murray is a good dog, most of the time!




The two of them can really ham it up for some pics for Dad! We like to think that Ty is being the "Daddy cook here! He LOVES being the "Took"! He likes to pretend to make things in the kitchen for all of us. Funny, all the little boys in my class would rather play with the dishes and food than the blocks or cars anyday! Such a fun age! I can't wait to be able to make cookies together and let him help for real!


Well two summer projects down and three to go. As you can see, I got the little kitchen painted. I still have the details to do but its 'playable'! I also got the curtains for the bedroom done a few weeks ago with my grandmother-in-law, is that a word? Its Trent's grandmother that I have stolen as my own! Her name is Etie and she and I have lots of fun together! She taught me to sew last year and helped me make the bumper for Olivia's bed, sew on ball fringe to the gingham bedskirt that was Ty's, and I worked my way up to making her curtains for her room on my own. She made my kitchen curtains and the ones in Ty's room before I knew how. She also has made some of the best swaddling blankets for both kids. I am so excited to be able to do that now. We also enjoy bi-monthly dates to Furr's together! One of my favorite places that not too many people will go with me! She is fun to be with and a busy little grandmother. She is has social engagements almost everyday of the week and they travel as a couple quite a bit, I want to be like her when I am her age for so many reasons! Ty calls her granmom and is nuts about her and 'DD'. He is where the Phillips humor all began! They crack me up. He still tries to trick me all the time, the more time I spend with them the more I understand my husband!

13 Favorite Eats

Thirteen Things I like to EAT 1. All time favorite meal, Pot Roast, yes with cooked carrots 2. California and Coppell Rolls 3. Marble Slab- Amaretto Ice Cream with Rasberries and almonds mixed in 4. Chicken Enchiladas with queso, green sauce an Durangos (local) 5. Cheese sticks at Spanky's (local ) 6. Cracker Barrell breakfasts- anything! 7. Meme's buttermilk pies 8. Mom's meatloaf 9. Mom's chicken salad 10. Grandmother's coconut cream pie 11. Kemp's Butter Pecan Ice Cream 12. Sonic Jalepeno Poppers 13. DQ Pecan mudslide

Counting My Blessings

All's well in Phillipsville. A start to a new week and getting in a routine! We had a REAL lazy week last week, but I figure we are due for one after the past year we have had! Have I mentioned how glad I am to have Trent home???? We have so enjoyed each other these last few weeks. We have been bringing Ty in with us when he gets up at 6:15, most of the time-not all, he will fall back asleep as he drinks his morning milk and one of us will get some snuggles in on him. I made curtains for our room with more fun Ballard fabrics, I will post pics later, and it makes it so dark in there when we shut our bathroom doors. We all slept until at least 9 or so everyday last week. We would then go in and wake up Olivia (thank GOD we have at least one sleeping child!) and drink our morning coffee while Ty will play on the back porch or watch the Wiggles. Trent rented five movies last week and we watched one every day! Trent's sister Tina was in town with Shanon and Heath to look for a house so we got to see Heath a bunch! Ty LOVES him and they had a good time together. We even caught a real flick at the theatre. Trent had already taken Ty but he didn't mind seeing it again and I quite enjoyed "Over The Hedge" myself as well as my sister-in-law Emmy!

Speaking of Em, I have a prayer request. She and Tim have been trying to have a baby for two years now. They are now getting help at the fertility specialist we went to and have undergone their second attempt of Artificial Insemination (sp?) a week ago and will find out Tuesday if she is pregnant or not. There are no real complications as to why they should not be able to. Em has had cysts in the past but that is taken care of this time. Its so hard to understand how it happens so easily for some and not for others who want one so bad like this sweet couple. They will be incredible parents and I SO want this for them. If it has taken you a while you know what it feels like to have a bunch of pregnant friends and be sincerely happy for them, but wonder why it is not happening for you. I remember that feeling and did not go near what they have gone through at this point. Could you stop and say a quick prayer for them, it would be greatly appreciated.

I also have a praise. As you know, a couple of weeks ago I had mastitis. It cleared up quickly but not something I want to go through again. Anyhoo.. a few days later I felt a HUGE lump in my opposite breast. Not like any of the blocked ducts I had had in the past. I got them a lot while nursing Ty. It also was not going away with the typical treatment of hot compress and pumping. I had decided if it had not gone down by Sunday I was going in today. I got scared and thought maybe its not a blocked duct at all but could be a lump! If you know me well you know I am a worrier, not my favorite characteristic about me, and I of course started thinking of the worst. I had asked one friend to pray about it and as of this morning it completely dissapeared! Not slowly went away but dissappeared! Amazing. Praise God.

I have another praise as well. My friend Linnea, whom I grew up with and have been friends with since first grade, delivered her second child last Wednesday. His name is Parker Tate Oxley and he weighed 7lbs. 11oz. and is 19-1/2" long! He is perfect and healthy! Can't wait to meet the little miracle later this month. Praise God.

I have a small commercial too. The same friend I asked to pray for me gave me a book for Mother's Day entitled, To Know Him, by Gloria Copeland. Its the highlight of my day to read and I reccommend it to everyone. Short readings that just get you pumped about your relationship with The Lord. Thanks April.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the new week. May God bring many blessings to your lives as well and shine through you in all that you do.

Thirteen Thrilling Things About June

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



1. My husband is home!!

2. Sunny Days at the golf course

3. Movies in the Middle of the Day with Trent and kids

4. Swimming at Meme and G's

5. Going home for two weeks at the end of June

6. Golf Tournament in Marshall with Brian, Amy, and Cale Davis ! WOOHOO!

7. Get to go to Boo Boo's in Arlington! Along with all of my other favorite restraunts in the Ft. Worth Area

8. I get to meet Parker Oxley and Heather's little girl who has yet to be born but will be by the time I get there!

9. Sitting out on the backporch in the evenings and the mornings with family in the wonderful dry heat of where we live! The main thing I love about it.

10. Starting summer projects, painting the little wooden kitchen for kids, hanging pictures, painting little table for my bathroom.

11. Giving fun shower for my wonderful friend Suzanne and her little boy, who will be here in July, Ryder.

12. The arrival of Elise King!!!

13. Tank Tops and Flip Flops from now on baby!!!!!!

Thursday Thirteen

Okay I am a little new at this entering links thing so if it didn't work I won't be real suprised. Thirteen Crazy Things That Happened This Past Week: 1. My husband survived and returned from a boys fishing trip with Todd and the Jons AND caught a stingray as well as several sun rays on his newly buzzed head! 2. My in-laws kept Ty Sunday night and enabled me to make 35 diaper cut-out invitations for a baby shower I am hosting later in June- actually got them in the mail too! 3. Had our last 'Teacher' day at Bright Horizons Monday 4. Had our last Ladies Bible Class Tuesday and revealing of our Secret Sisters, thank you Ruth Williams for all of your neat gifts and encouraging words. I am now a collector of Willow Tree! 5. Managed to get Mastitis (sp?) that same day (Tuesday) 6. Trent took over with kids while I was in bed all achey and feverish with the boob issues! Did a great job too! 7. Managed to rent AND WATCH two movies this past week: Fun With Dick and Jane (I laughed outloud several times!) and Cassenova 8. Baby is gaining weight eating peas and apple sauce as well as rice cereal three times a day. (probably the reason I got masititis) 9. Sister has started making Mamamama sounds that sounds like Mama to me! 10. My car would not start Monday so thankfully since Trent was gone fishing his car was available and I switched over kiddoes and we still made it to the work day. 11. Found out my roomate in college and post-college Amy (Dickey) Smith is pregnant with twins and due in January, probably more like December !!!!! They will be her third and fourth children. Pray for Amy as she has Diabetes as well. 12. Found out my sister-in-law Tina and her family are moving back here! Yea! 13. Ty is improving on his speech and singing songs! Thank you ECI, Lee Bremer!

Family Television???

Does it exist anymore? Everything that comes on past six O'Clock has the "Viewer Discretion Advised" before it. We used to watch CSI, Law and Order, and other stuff like that when we are actually home to watch television, Ty sits there and watches it too and its pretty disturbing to a two and a half year old. I thought he couldn't possibly understand what was going on at his age but the scenes are pretty graphic now days with all the dead bodies and all.

So the other evening, home just me and kids trying to cook dinner, found "Stewart Little" on ABC Family channel. Yea, something clean! I thought I have found a solution for something Ty can watch. Tried it again last night while doing laundry, nope.... "Big Daddy" with Adam Sandler was on. Is this now what they consider "Family" television???

So..... flipping around found a "Goofy" movie on Disney. Thought, that is good. Can't go wrong with Mickey Mouse! Well at the end the good guy wins but the bad guys are fighting and one says to the other, "Put me down you big fat JERK!". I also heard them call each other stupid. Things I am trying to teach Ty are 'bad' words! I am finding that a lot of cartoons now have mean words in them too like idiot, jerk, and things like suck and crap!

What the crap? HA- just kidding. Trent and I use this term (not in front of Ty of course!) occassionally reminiscing about Jason Donoho. Along with a thumbs down and spitting... but back on to the subject... Can kids watch anything besides Elmo and Wiggles DVDs anymore? Not that we watch THAT much T.V. but there is an appropriate time for it and not a lot of options.

For the last two days, other than the morning Wiggles, I have had the television completely off. This has been a little easier to do with Trent out of town (Boys Weekend), otherwise we would have to have it on for the PGA and ESPN! Ty picks up the remote all the time and says, "Daddy's" HOW SAD IS THAT!!!!! Also easier with it being so pretty outside, however its been real hot out here so we have limited that time to the mornings and late afternoon.

I think we rely too much on television as a culture. Some t.v. is okay but all day? No wonder so many children are obese now! Let's get back to what used to work, outdoors, indoor 'activities', etc. Its hard to do and get things done around the house as well, but I have started to try and include Ty in these activities too, as much as you can someone his age! I think its Dr. Phil that said in his Family First book that there age appropriate jobs for every age and its good to start at a young age not only to help out but to teach some resposibility. He picks up his toys each time we leave the house or when we are done in the bathtub or even outside. He can bring me his shoes and put them up and bring me his plate when he is done. I never fill a cup unless one is brought back to me!

Okay, I am off my soap box on the television issue but would like to hear thoughts from others.

Highlights From This Past Week

Sister is sitting up on her own! We actually captured it on film the moment it happened which was last Saturday afternoon. We also started peas a week ago mixed in with the rice cereal and now fruit as well. She had her six month well check yesterday and is real underweight so we are adding formula to the rice cereal. She did grow another inch and is now 26-1/2 inches long but only weighs 12.5!!!!

Later that afternoon we went to our friend Evan's 2nd birthday party and Ty had lots of fun in the bounce house in her backyard. We had my Bright Horizons Faculty dinner that evening at the church and later got to spend time with friends. We sat outside all evening and it was the perfect night for it. We got to see our friend Justin and his fun wife Jenny who we have not seen in two years and celebrated Aaron's 30th birthday. I have also included the picture that I promised earlier of both my 'buzz boys'! Ty is still waking up here after his nap before we went to the dinner.

This past Wednesday was also my last day with kids at Bright Horizons. I wish I could figure out how to post these pictures in order but I am just not that techno-savvy (is that even a word?) The last pictures I put on are showing up first. I need a blogging lesson! I am enclosing a picture of our little class. Not the best picture of me but please overlook that! I was having issues with my shirt creeping up and itchy eyes so the glasses are on.

Well Ty's speech therapist is going to be here any minute so we gots to get going. He is doing really well and about caught up, well he is, he is just plain stubborn! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Olivia Lane Phillips is 6 months old!

Six months ago yesterday I gave birth to this precious girl! I can still remember every detail ! As most of you know I was induced a week early and she only took three hours to get here. My epideral did not work and I felt absolutely everything but she was well worth it! I can't believe it has been six months and in this same amount of time that has happened in a flash she will be a year old! She has been a very easy baby but starting to go through lots of changes.

1. As you can see she loves to play in the exersaucer, or as I call "working on the f arm" Thanks to our sweet friends the Binkley's she is able to do so. Ty brings her animals from his little people farm all the time and she likes to chew on them.

2. She has been teething for about three months but still no teeth. She drools a lot more than her brother did.

3. She grabs at EVERYTHING and has quite a grip for her dainty little self! She likes to go for cups and pulls them to her mouth for a drink. She has already had some of Meme's tea and Grandmom's water!

4. She loves to hang out on a blanket on the floor and flips and rolls all around.

5. She is already enthralled by Baby Einstein and thanks to her brother "The Wiggles". Its like her 'off button' when turning them on. She watches them when the rest of us are at the dinner table so she will have something to do!

6. She smiles everytime her brother talks to her and has started laughing a lot. He gives her plenty of reasons to do so!

7. She would rather stand than sit and bounces while bending those little legs.

8. She is such a little priss! She shifts her weight and sticks that little hiney out when people talk to her!

9. She has been enjoying her rice cereal for the past month and has showen a definate interest in food. We will be starting the vegetables as soon as I can remember to do it! Thanks to Meme we have a nice start!

10. She has the most kissable little cheeks ever! She is in 3-6 month sleepers but because of her tiney little body still in 0-3 two piece outfits! I didn't think it possible but she is even smaller than Ty! I guess these two don't have a chance but to be long and lanky!

Okay I will stop at 10 but I could write a book on how in love with this little girl I am. Her little personality is so laid back. I just can't get enough of her. I feel so blessed to have her in my life and cannot wait to experience so many things with her. At the same time I want to keep her so small and snuggable forever! Well I will always snuggle her but I her whole body will not always fit in my arms. We have our six month well visit next week and I will post the physical changes at that point. Hopefully no more ear infections like her brother. We just went through a double ear infection with her two weeks ago. Just like Ty, she showed no typical signs. She had a 'smoker's' cough so I decided to take her in. She got a shot because she does not keep down medicine and healed quickly! She was a trooper and hardly even cried, did not even turn red!!!! She is much less of a baby than me even at six months!

Trent has been bugging me to get his and Ty's hair buzzed for months, since his Alamosa gig has ended. He will be wearing a hat everyday for the summer because he will be outside and thought it would be so much easier. He had his hair like this when we were first married and I found a picture of him and Chad Hackler from when we went to Depeche Mode, reminded me that it didn't look all that bad. I also saw Matt Jacobs and their little boy Brady who had just done the same and thought they looked precious so I decided to give in. Yesterday morning over coffee I mentioned I thought it would be okay now... .before I finished my sentence he was in the bathroom getting his clippers and yelling to Ty to get outside.............

Blessings

Well I promised more to come and believe me they just keep coming. One of which we turned down for other blessings. Last week Sprint officially offered Trent the Director of Business Operations (his same job at Alamosa) in Kansas City. I won't write the actual amount because its just depressing to see in writing what we are giving up but I will say it was an obscene amount of money for just his salary and that was not counting bonuses which they guarentee. They said travel would be less to about 50% of the time and were willing to work with him in order to get him there. We know the travel would end up being more than that and the three of us left behind would be alone with no family or friends to help us.

He has been the golf coach at LCU full time for the past three months and I have never seen him happier. The salary is almost laughable but we are making it thanks to his incredible severance and stocks to invest. The biggest perk as I have mentioned before, will be the time we have as a family. School has been out the past week and already we are seeing the benefits of him being around. Golf is his absolute passion and he is so good at it. He won his first tournament this past weekend. That was just him not the school, but talking about the school.... its looking like the girls will be going to Nationals! Pretty neat this being his first year and all.

I am just glad that we are not packing up right now and so excited to be together. Our school will be out in another week and we will then all be out at the course every day. Come home for lunch and naps and then to the park at sundown. Trent and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning last week talking about the traditions we want to start in our family before our kids will remember the difference. We plan on being in The Word together every night after baths and kids are in bed. Its hard not to be greedy on the money end, especially since we now have a second child! But I would rather be greedy on the time issue. I have not enjoyed being a single parent and its just priceless to have a Dad around.

WARNING.........THIS IS PERSONAL..AND LONG!

I have been so blessed with various friendships in my life. Many people whom I have come in contact with and developed friendships with I still have in my life today. My oldest friend, Linnea I have known since first grade. I still talk to the core group of my highschool friends fairly often and usually get together with when home. I still talk to every roomate I have had in college and since graduation. God blessed me with many many people at my church Prestoncrest in Dallas while in the singles group there as well as in the Searchers class and later the Young Married and Growing Together class. Several of which I still keep in close contact with. I found it so hard to leave all these people in moving out west, but God has blessed me again with an incredible girls group and all the wonderful people in my new church home here at Greenlawn.

I came to sort of a sad realization today after discussing several spiritual issues with a friend, she is one of the few people out of all these that I have mentioned that I have had these discussions with. Why is that. I think I feel guarded in some situations and just fun in others that its not just appropriate to get real deep. Maybe I am not as deep as I should be when it comes to my faith or I would be talking about it much more amongst my chatter.

People from early on probably could write my testimony for me. Through all this I feel convicted to share both my factual and spiritual testimony with those who might feel inclined to read. I was born to parents with a Methodist background, or at least that is what they agreed upon as a couple. My dad's parents had a methodist background. My mother's mother was raised Baptist and her father was raised Catholic, how they ended up at a Methodist church I am not real sure of. I know as a teenager that my maternal grandparents attended the Baptist church and do not have a memory of my paternal grandparents ever being involved at a church. Later though my paternal grandfather changed to Jehovah's Witness- another story for another time, which by the way I will definately share, its very interesting.

I remember attending the Methodist Church as a child and my parents being very involved with the youth there. My Dad taught highschool for several years and I think that came very natural to him. For some reason I have memories of being in VBS and Christmas pageants there, as well as the ceremony of palms on Palm Sunday but no real knowledge of Bible stories other than that of the birth and death of Jesus. Not to say it wasn't taught, I just don't remember it. We quit going to that church I think around the time I was in third grade or so. I think it was because for some reason or another the pastor left and my parents were not real keen on the new one. We did not go anywhere for several years after that. We visited a few places but never placed membership or got real involved anywhere else for any extended period of time.

I grew up in the same house from when I was 2-18 which just happened to be accross the street from the parsonage of the preacher at the Baptist Church across the field from our house. I played outside a lot, mostly by myself but also 'rode bikes' with kids from down in the addition of our street. This preacher's little boy was outside a lot too. He was about 8 years younger than me and also an 'only child'. I thought he was such a cute little kid and saw him out and talked to him quite a bit. Through all this I got to know his parents too (Bobby and Judy Bridges) and when I was in 5th grade they invited me to go to a children's camp in Glenrose. It was there that I got real interested in Jesus' life and the sacrifice that he had made for me. It was there that I 'asked Jesus into my heart' and prayed to know him. When we got back from camp, there was a lady named Dottie Eastman who offered to study the Bible with me. We did so for quite a while. My mom would drive me to her house across town and she would explain things to me. It was about 3 years later I asked to study with the Preacher and what Baptism was about. We did so for several weeks and my parents came to those meetings with me. We all decided to be Baptised and were together on the same night after an evening service.

I remember being so shocked that Jesus would go through all that just so I would know Him, God, and be forgiven. I would write poems about it and was so incredibly touched. Then I became a junior high little brat. It scares me to think of what I could have done or what could have happened to me had I not had the support of an awesome youth group and some real encouraging people in my life. I remained very active in the youth group throughout highschool and sort of made it my mission to see how many people I could get to come to church 'Lock-ins" and jump on my bandwagon for the Lord.

Young Life also played a big role in my walk with The Lord. This is a non-profit, non-denominational organization aimed at bringing young people to The Lord. I had some incrdible leaders and very insightful study in highschool. All of my friends went and I think that is the core of what brought our little group together and that has held us together after all these years. It was during this time that I met my friend and person I consider to be my sister, Holly. We have been through so much together. She came to church camp in Falls Creek Oklahoma my senior year of highschool and she later introduced me to Abilene Christian University.

I can truly say that it was there at ACU in my college years that most of my sprituality was formed. Holly had a close family friend that went to ACU on a football scholarship. I had already planned on attending North Texas University but accepted an invitation to go with her on a highschool weekend there to help her check it out! Well needless to say I was totally taken by the fact that they cared whether or not I went there and thought how neat it would be to have an incredible Christian environment while studying in college. I had no idea that it was a 'Church of Christ' school until the last day of welcome week when attending Baker Heights in Abilene with my 'Energy Group'. I thought it was odd that everyone had been asking me specifically which church I had gone to previously and that so many people happened to already know each other through various camps and such! Okay, I was an idiot! It was not until that night when a thirteen year-old boy was speaking to the congregation on Women's Roles in THE church, which was very very VERY different to the role I had seen at Woods Chapel Baptist Church in Arlington! I really had thought that ACU was equivalent to TCU, and was so confused. I remember going back to my dorm room that night and talking with Holly and people on my hall all the doctrinal issues of COC and not feeling real good about it.

I went to my University Professor and had very lengthy discussions about it and decided that other than style of worship, it was not all that different from what I had believed and been taught previously. It was at that time that I decided I would never claim a denomination again and try to decifer on my own what I believe. That has been a real struggle for me and I am still working on it in a lot of ways.

Upon graduating I went to the Dallas area and attended Prestoncrest COC . I visited with my friends Bethany and Mandy and later became very involved in the Singles group there and met my husband Trent. He has been the most influential person on my faith of everyone. He did not come from a real strong COC background either. His mother was raised Baptist and his father was raised very conservative COC but Trent was not real seriously involved in church until about highschool age. Together we have been trying to figure out things ever since. He has so much more knowledge than I do. He taught a lot of classes when we were in the singles group and has since and has done a lot more in depth study through that.

I am learning that a lot of my faith has been based on 'blind faith'. I was required to take several Bible classes in college that because of the amount of information in a short period of time I ended up cramming and not really learning. It has not been until later in life that I am truly learning. I am trying as a mother now especially to get that knowledge in order to teach my children what God expects of all of us and trying to live up to that as well. Its a hard road at times and I don't want to take what others say as fact, I want to know it for myself and not believe something because someone tell me to. I want to beleive what I believe b/c God tells me to. I believe that He inspired The Word and I want my children to come to that belief as well, but I want them to question their beliefs and decide for themselves what the truth is so that it is THEIRS and NOT MINE.

Thanks to so many people in my life I have a lot of spiritual encouragement and accountability and I thank these people for letting God use them in this way. I can thank specifically my friend April today for inspiring me to get in The Word more often and acquire that knowledge for myself that I want so bad. I am not Baptist. I am not Church of Christ, although I attend one. I am first and foremost a sinner, and because of Christ, a Christian. I am secondly a wife, and thirdly a mother. I have got to get this first part right in order for the latter two to be successful. I feel that it is important in having relationships for people to know this personal part about me and my background. I want to know that from everyone else too and hope that this encourage other people to share their testimony as well.

My friend Denise gave me the idea to write my testimony in my children's baby books instead of the general, 'About Mom' stuff. I think it really is more important for them to know than where I worked and such so that they can know 'where I am coming from' all around. Especially if something happens to me before I can tell them myself.

Some incredible things God has done in my life:

1. Shown me TRUE love in the examples of people he has placed in my life such as friends, professors, family, my husband, my children.

2. Shown me that true happiness comes in Him and not in material things or in people. He has shown me this through taking people and posssesions out of my life. I thoutht that if I was to get married and have children, that then I would find true happiness. Both have brought me happiness but also pain and neither are perfect.......only He is.

3. Shown me that people are not perfect and if I rely on any one person I will always be dissappointed but if I rely soley on Him alone that I will always be successful- this got me through being laid off and the fact that I put my Design Director on a pedestal. Also true in a marriage. We are only human.

4. I can see Him and feel his love and comfort throuth the acts of kindness, encouragement, and support of others.

5. He provided me with a Christian Education and through this prepared me for the obstacles I would face in my first job, being the youngest by 10 years and only Christian.

6. He has given me a glimpse of what is like when hurts for us and his incredible indescribable love for us by letting me borrow two beautiful children.

This is a short list of the many many things that knowing God and there are just too many to write in a blog but I have journal upon journal of the rest of the ways knowing God has blessed me. Stay tuned for more.............

Happy Days

Here is a picture of our cousin Haylee to the left at our family egg hunt the day before Easter. Ty has found some eggs too and Olivia is just enjoying gripping the basket! Ty LOVES driving his 'big red car' and apparently eating dirt! Rock on little dude!


This is the absolute last tournament until next season, unless they make nationals-which is highly possible depending on how the girls do this weekend in Oklahoma. He has a great team and I am so thrilled for Trent. We will soon be reaping the benefits of time together after taking a new job with lots of changes.

We discussed buying a 'safari wagon' to take the kids out to the course everday this summer and walk 18. Yea, maybe I can get some sun so I won't look like a ghost next to my mexican husband! I am so excited to have the time together as a family. We are also enrolling Ty in swimming lessons out at Lakeridge so we will be spending quite a bit of time there. I may even do a mom and water babies class with Liv.

We did some running around yesterday and I got plants for my back porch and we got it cleaned up out there. I love going out there to drink my coffee in the morning while Ty plays with his golf set, drives the 'big red car' or digs in the dirt. My goal over the next week is to get my back flower bed in order. I will have to do some before and after pics! I love this weather and this time of year when the dirt has settled and the air is crisp.

I am sorry to say I did not getting any dig-pics of the fam at Easter. I have one with Ty, Olivia, Kaytee and Kelsee but its on the throw-away camera. It was quite a busy day starting at midnight the night before. We had to get Daddy packed and sent off, he left after early service so I was on my own after that and it just did not happen. Bad Mommy. Olivia will be taking her six month pic in her Easter dress so I will get some of those up when it happens.

That girl is just a growin and changin! She LOVES her big bro and is drawn to his little voice as well as Daddy's. She laughs and smiles at Ty constantly. I am always on alert thinking he might be bothering her but when I look she has got the biggest grin! She loves touching people's faces when they talk and holding a finger. She is fascinated by G's watch and figures out a way to get everything in her mouth! She is doing great with Rice Cereal and we are almost ready to move on to veggies. I made all my own stuff with Ty- so much cheaper!!!! I just got frozen bags at Wal-mart and cooked, blended and froze them on Sunday afternoons. Those little glad storage bowls, the little ones, are perfect! I guess I need to start stocking up again! I cannot believe she will be 6 months on May 11!!!!!! In this same amount of time, that seems like one month, we will be having her first birthday!!!!! I am getting sad! I am so excited about the times to come and watching her grow but I just want to hold on to each moment as long as I can. Say a little prayer for her, she is REAL congested and has what sounds like a horrible smoker's cough!!! She is on medicine but is sensitive to it and throws it up every last time. This is the only throwing up she is doing these days. I am calling tomorrow to see what else we can do to get her over this junk. So sad to hear her.

Tommorow is the start to a new week and its dress up day, "What I want to be when I grow up!" Now what in the world is that............I am kind of already it! I also have no idea what I am going to put Ty in. Any suggestions for a toddler who's favorite things are the Wiggles and Elmo? He loves trains too but I don't have any overalls for him. Hope everyone has a wonderful start to a new week!

Well its the middle of another week and we have already experienced all four seasons weather wise! Summer yesterday, winter and spring today... well we have not actually had fall yet. Anyhoo.... the birthday went great. Trent shot a 30, YES A 30 on the back 9 at LCC and had the time of his life playing with his dad. Surely with playing everyday this summer he will be winning some tournaments! The cake was a hit and Trent was thrilled. We also had a little egg hunt in our front yard with the Everitt cousins. So fun.

We had a little family day Saturday and after early service Trent left for Dallas, so Easter was not really any different from any other Sunday. Although he and the kids were decked out in their finest and were absolutely precious. Trent had record highs to deal with in Dallas with no wind so I think he was pretty thrilled about returning home and did so in time for dinner last night. It was nice to be able to all sit at the table. Well Olivia was in the carrier but ya know.

I had a wonderful time at Ladies Bible Class yesterday, always the highlight of my week. I absolutely love hearing the wisdom from the mature women and now that our 'younger' crowd has grown a little, I have really enjoyed that fellowship! They have a little program, "Tuesdays for Tots," for the kids and will also keep them an extra hour after class. I used to always use this time for my Wal-mart run, and occassionally still do if I absolutely have to. Now I try to go to lunch with the girls. Its SO nice to sit and have a guilt-free lunch. The people keeping our kids are getting paid to do so, not by us, and are not at all put out by it. We get to just visit and eat. A real treat these days. We went to this fun, not just super new but new to me, place called Moe's. I had the most delicious really different nachos ever! So tasty.

One of the girls in our group, Alicia is pregnant and so we were discussing all those baby stories and comparing and talking about names, etc. Made me think about some deciding factors in the names of our children and how it needed to be stated for a reason I won't go all into, but some of you know why. Ty got his name for a couple of reasons. First of all, I always thought it might be Tanner but Trent knew someone by that name in highschool that he was just not real fond of. We kind of wanted him to have the same initials as his daddy and I liked the name Ty ever since the singer Ty Hearnden became somewhat popular. We liked the simplicity of it and so he was called Michael Ty. Being the designer that I am, I used to love the show Designing Women. I still like the re-runs. Do you remember Charlene? She had a baby later in the series that she named Olivia. I think I was in Junior High at the time. I thought it was so beautiful and sweet. It has since become more popular and I have heard it a lot and others have used it and wanted to since before I was pregnant with a girl. But, it was my all time favorite and one of the few that Trent agreed upon. Her middle name is Lane which has also been a long time favorite of mine and come to find out the maiden name of my great-grandmother. Plus it just sounds good with Olivia and phonetically correct, important to my mother :)

Isn't it amazing how people just kind of become their name. Both of their names were picked before they were born and they look like their name! Does that make sense?! I can't imagine them as any other. I hope they like their names as they get older. It seems like now days a lot of people go for the wierder the better so I figure the might actually stand out being classic and all!

Well I am off to take food to some new parents, to eat with the in-laws and onto Wednesday night service! Trent and I have been going to a fun Passages of Marriage class. Nice to be able to go together for the first time in a year. We had better enjoy it while we can because when he will actually be here this summer I will be teaching again in Cradle Roll. They have hit me up again and there are just not enough people willing to do it to say no. Not that I am willing or capable of singing but I just can't say no!

Happy 31st Birthday Trent

Today is MTPs 31st birthday! Here is my card he has yet to read because he is still in what my aunt Linda would call, noo noo- asleep and his favorite blueberry muffins are cooking in the overn. I am letting him sleep as long as possible and then he is out to the course to play himself! I am taking him to Cagle's tonight for dinner and his family will join us coffee and cake tomorrow. Because of his love for peanut butter and chocolate, I am attempting Paula Deen's Peanut Butter cake, hope I can pull it off!

31 Reasons I Love
Trent

1. His love for The Lord
2. He shares his love for The Lord
3. He is very thoughtful
4. A romantic at heart
5. Has great taste in women
6. Made our first date a dinner with his family
7. A wonderful father to Ty & Olivia
8. He disciplines his children with love
9. He will talk to Ty on the phone any time,
Anywhere
10. He is openly affectionate
11. Blue 42, he runs at me yelling this and then tackles me, been doing it since we started

dating
12. He smiles first thing in the morning
13. Breaks into song describing everyday tasks, ex.) I need some food food food, I need some...
14. Opened my eyes to tuna n’mac, and sushi
15. Can stay in pajamas all day and watch
movies
16. Loves the Grease soundrack
17. Dances to Footloose
18. His passion for golf and the integrity of the game
19. Wisdom in Finance
20. Love for elderly people
21. Always cheers for the underdog
22. Making sure Mark Fitch gets to play, fellow team mate in Flagfootball in Dallas who had a

huge heart for the game but not a lot of ability. Trent always made him feel good about

himself- a gift he receives from his mother.
23. Changes tires for strangers
24. Taught me to change one
25. Can do a great 2-step and swing
26. Mamma’s boy
27. Crosses legs and chats with the girls
28. Athletic Abilities
29. Healthy, physically, mentally, and spiritually
30. Great encourager
31. Giving me the gift of being married to the love of my life for the past 6 years!

Egg Hunt

Obviously, we had our Egg hunt at school today. I was able to trade places with a teacher and go watch Ty's class. Trent and KayEllen were there also so Ty was in hog heaven! He found a lot of eggs and had a great time. I think I was as much excited as all the kids. We colored eggs in our 3's class, which I had not done since I was a child with my mother. They did really well and there were surprisingly enough, no big messes! They also got some fun cookies to eat after their lunch that their teacher, and my sweet friend, Ms. Courtney brought. It was a fun day had by all!
This past weekend was fun. Trent and I were so excited to just have a day together. We had the morning and ate breakfast and went to Steinmart, where we got his and Ty's Easter attire and some fun glass canisters for my kitchen. We then met his sister Tamara, our nieces Hannah, Haylee, and friend, Trent's brother Tim and wife Em, Mom and grandmother, at one of my favorite places to eat, Furr's. We then went to the mall and roamed around and then to see Ice Age the Melt Down. It was okay, but I was not impressed with the fact that the words crap and damn were used in a 'funny' way. Cute movie for adults though!
Trent then left at the crack again for OK on Sunday and his parents ended up keeping Ty that night and Monday night. It was a nice little break but I still missed the little guy! He did great and I was able to get a shower and sleep a little later Tuesday morning. KayEllen, Trent's mom, picked us up at school Monday and we went out to Seminole to Hayden's game. Ty LOVED playing in the dirt under the stands and it was a great night to be at a ball game. G had the pleasure of bathing him in all his filth!
It actually was not windy but I still ended up with a sore throat, worst one since I had my tonsils out. It actually feels like I still have them, sort of looks like it too which is wierd. My doctor is out of town and the nurse prescribed me pennicillin which I do not feel good about taking with nursing! I told her that but oh, well! There is no time to be sick when your a mom and stay at home! Hopefully it won't last long.

We started Rice Cereal TODAY!!!! She did great and actually was going for more! She has been a little fussy for her today so I think its shocked her little digestive system! I e-mailed these pics and info to as many of you as I had your addresses so some of you may be seeing this for the second time. We had her 4 month appt. and immunizations Tuesday. She is now 11 pounds 9 ounces and 25 inches long!!!

Okay, this came from Ashley Nelson, perfect for me aye?! I will just keep it at five because you don't have time to read them all! You all can probably think of more, especially if you have lived with me!

5 Quirks

1. I wash my feet, yes just the feet even after I have had a shower, every single night before I get in my clean bed. There is just something gross to me about walking around where you have walked in your shoes and putting them in your bed! I also put lotion on them.

2. Another bed time ritual, for some reason I feel that my pajama tops must match my pajama bottoms even if they are not a set. The color of the t-shirt or cami that I wear must be in the lounge pants or boxers. Not much on lingerie these days. That would be whole nother laundering issue that I just can't deal with right now.

3. I absolutely love a diet coke and a cookie. Yes I realize that it defeats the purpose but I am no longer doing it for diet purposes. I got addicted to diet coke after gaining 70 plus pounds with Ty and now the regular ones are too sweet to me and nothing tastes better with a cookie!

4. Nothing can help me more when I am mad, sad, or exhausted than a REAL hot bath or shower where I LOVE to rub a hot wash cloth as hard as I can on my eyes!

5. I have really odd names for the people I love and use them more than their actual names. For example Trent has been Weasel since we were dating, Ty is munchcrat love, Olivia is Livvie Lou, Sister, and monklet, the dog has too many to list but most often I call him little bitty black bear or furry Murray. Holly is Holy One, I think that is her actual meaning, Bethany is Beeper or Beep Beep drives a Jeep, My mom has been Cita since highschool. I have never called Jodi by just her first name or married name, she is always Jodi Jane Bain to me! A lot of you actually have theme songs and you know them. Such as Amy, Amy Dickey, Woman of the wild frontier..........or ......Don Don Don Don DOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNN..............Or Ohhh Mandy... you know the rest. Ty has lots of theme songs but we don't even want to go there for now.

I can't believe I am blogging two days in a row but.... I had to tell you about the miracle this morning. I went in and got Ty when he woke up at his usual time but put him in my bed, and are you sitting down?, he went back to sleep!!!! He let me snuggle him and I was in between he and baby and we all slept until almost 9 O'clock!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER happens. Also, as it turns out we will not be going to Arlington for Easter :( Trent has to take the team on that Sunday so it just won't work. Too bad :(

Another start to a new week

This past weekend was wonderful. I have had a stressful time leading up to it with Trent being so in the thick of things with his teams. Anyhoo... my parents came in Friday and brought all the fun goodies with the exception of the plants but I will be getting those when I go home in a couple of weeks for Easter. Turns out Trent has a tournament in Dallas so we are going to make a trip of it as well. My parents always go to this wonderful Easter lunch in Irving and we have missed the last couple so I am looking forward to it. The table looks great and I can't wait to get the fabric in to put on the seats of the chairs. The fabric it has now is not bad but the new will give it a real updated look and tie the living room and dining room together. They are kind of open to one another.
I had a wonderful visit with my parents and they were such a huge help while they were here. I barely changed a diaper and my mom got me caught up on laundry. They also allowed Trent and I to go out on what I call a half date, a movie! A full date being dinner and a movie, but until Olivia is on solids that is probably not going to happen. We saw "V is for Vendetta". Neither one of us knew anything about it and it seems I always enjoy movies more that way. Had I had an inkling I may not have seen it but let me just tell you, all of you need to go see it. It has all kinds of symbolism, parallels, and would make for some great discussion. Whoever wrote it is beyond creative. We did not eat dinner that night and instead ate a LARGE popcorn, never ordered that before, and all kinds of candy. We both literally made ourselves sick! It was nice to go out though and when we got home we stayed up late getting him packed and he was off again at 4 in the morning. Because of the late night and early morning and time change, we did not make it to church in the morning. Mom, Dad and I rented "The Geisha"- very different but very beautiful sets. I took them to Rudy's for all their help and we of course made pigs of ourselves!
Today was a good start to a new week. It was nice to have them here this morning so I could take a guilt free shower! I had plenty of time b/c they also helped me get Ty ready and it was much more relaxed for me than a typical Monday! All was smooth and the day went by fast! We are already discussing our "End of the Year" teacher dinner and program. This year is already about over!!! I can't believe it! I am already missing the little boogers in my class and getting sad thinking they will be in someone else's next year!
Tomorrow we have Olivia's 4 month well visit, although she will be 5 months on the 11th! It was the soonest they could get me in. The only time they have available was that day and at 11 which means I will miss Ladies Class and our once a year in-home luncheon. I am pretty bummed about that. I live for Tuesdays for Ladies Class. It is the absolute highlight of my week. I love our studies and hearing from the more mature crowd! Its nice to have an hour without the kiddoes too. Not that I don't love being with them, but ya gotta stay sane ya know?!
Well here we go with another week! Hope everyone's month is starting out well! YEA ITS SPRING!!!!