June Pictures

Lisa, "Austin" and Katie
In Port Aransas at some chanel to the bay with Uncle Gary, Aunt Becky,
 "Austin" and "Addison"



Lisa wanted to fish soooo bad.  They caught some (and kept cool while fishing)
The dogs LOVED to fish also--it was a challenge to throw the line in the water without the dogs going after it.
The tide was up, so where the fishing bucket is sitting, normally that is a beachy area.





Arianna.  We met the Goff family at the beach on Friday evening.
We grilled out on the beach, did some fishing, swimming, made some smores
visited and had a great time.  It was such a relaxing evening. 




Brandon, Marissa, Candy Goff and our Lisa
(Brandon is married to a Lisa--and I was so blessed to get time to talk to her!)



Our spot on the beach.  It had been high tide and we risked it.
But it was worth it.  We had an awesome time and nobody came and parked next to us.
The place where everybody else was parked was trashy and loud.  I was a tad disappointed at first,
but then we found this little spot down the beach a ways.  Thank you Lord.



"We" grilled veggies, steak, hot dogs and sausage. 
You can see who did the actual grilling :)




Earlier this month Binxy got attacked by a coyote.  It was very traumatic for the girls.
He made a miraculous recovery without the vet.  Just two nurses and two
girls who did research on caring for an injured cat.




Father's Day at the Hover's. 
Here is Katie helping Jillian fill her cup up.
Jillian then used her newly learned skill and filled up all the plastic cups
to the brim and overflowing while we were outside eating.  She even lined them up in a row.
Good Times!





I had surgery and could not do yard work for 6 weeks.  Lisa mowed the lawn.
Just for the record, I made her stop and go put other shoes on. 





Aunt Helen and Grandmother Wells in D'Hanis at the little reunion
Grandmother hosted at little John's place.  Relatives from the Plano area
came down for the weekend and we got to visit.



Enough

I have had those mommy days  when right out of the gate the girls are fighting and I didn't get a chance to have my quiet time and the filling of the Holy Spirit was not evident in my words at that moment.  It isn't bad words that flow freely from my mouth, just the tone and maybe the amplitude (i.e. yelling).

I hate when I do that. 

My mom used to yell at me and Cindy (and the neighbor kids or cousins).  It wasn't necessarily the loudness of her voice, but the mean tone.  I can yell to get over the volume of the kids and the tone is friendly or I can yell when I am impatient and losing it.  I always felt like my mom was impatient.

Devotion 2 from Out of the Spin Cycle by Jen Hatmaker is titled My Kids Are Headed to Therapy. 

Matt 10:25 "It is enough for the student to be like his teacher," Jesus said.

Will I ever be enough as a mom?  When the student becomes like her teacher, our failures and omissions as moms recede as the sweet spirit of Jesus covers our humanity.....It is enough for me to show patience when I want to stick my fingers in my ears and scream like a toddler. It is enough to choose mercy when they've made the same mistake yet again.  It is enough to imitate my Christ, who never jumped through conventional hoops but transformed the trajectory of history through grace and sacrifice....You are enough as a mother when you act like your Redeemer...when you talk like he talked, love like he loved, forgive like he forgave, and teach like he taught.   pg 18-19.

Question:  As a mom, does the goal of becoming like your teacher feel like enough?

Why yes it does, because it seems like a simple goal, but yet it is unattainable if I am not filled with my Teacher.  How I pray to be filled with Him.  I don't want to be a bad mom.  I don't want to make the same mistakes my parents did (I can make new ones :-).  Oh how I pray for my legacy to be one my girls want to imitate. 

Psalm 19:14  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Authenticity

I am reading a light devotional that I think will allow me to journal here on the blog.  It is by Jen Hatmaker and the title is Out of the Spin Cycle.  I recently read her book Seven: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess and it has changed my thinking in so many areas. 

I ran across this devotional and bought it for one of my good friends Jenni.  I read some of it before I gave it to her and thought how fun this would be to do with her.  She has 6 year old twins and a 2 year old firecracker.  Her husband is really good friends with Mike and they are so fun to hang out with.  I have been learning lately how important it is to surround myself with girlfriends who have the same values that I do.  God has definitely blessed me with some really neat ladies in my life. 

There is a marriage crisis going on in friends life-- this couple used to be in our marriage small group and I reached out to her and she basically said no thanks.  Which is fine, but she is saying "no thanks" to all of the people in her life who are giving her biblical advice (pastors, counselor).  She wants to throw her marriage down the drain for selfish reasons.  She is surrounding herself with people who tell her she should live for herself.  She is not thinking of her three young children.  It is breaking mine and Mike's heart.  This friend is pretty close to Jenni and Jenni has been seeking my counsel as she gently maneuvers this situation.

Which finally brings me to getting this devotional--to not shut ourselves off from the godly friends in our lives.  To walk this walk together.  We need each other.  Not to take the place of our spouses, but to grow and laugh and live life together as women who want to be godly wives and mothers and friends.
I was so happy to find this devotional that made me laugh.  It is so real.

Day 1:  I'm Perfect and My Kids Never Fight 

 Matthew 23:5-7

 5“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

Jen writes:  When we operate from the central concern of being seen a certain way, we can't develop healthy relationships in the messy soil of reality--the only place they'll grow.  Presenting a perfect, fake life to others generates fear in our own hearts and intimidation in everyone else's, and creates nice, fake relationships--with our friends, with our family members, even with our own children.  pg 15


Authenticity.  Transparency.  It is vital in our relationships.  The friend whose marriage is falling apart has everything the world sees as success.  She is a doctor, has a beautiful home, 3 healthy children, has a nanny and maid, is involved in MOPS, her husband is involved at church and wants their marriage to work.  She had this front for all of us to see but says she has been unhappy for two years.  It was all about appearances to her.  Her life was falling apart, but she gave the appearance that she had it all together.  I pray for her to be fulfilled by the One who is meant to fill the void she is filling with worldly values, for her heart to soften towards her husband and Jesus.  I also pray for us to be authentic, truthful, transparent, real, to be the same person on the outside that we are on the inside.  To allow Jesus to redeem and transform us.

Jen's questions from the devotional:

Do you have a struggle, doubt, temptation, or crisis no one knows about--big or small?
What is the primary reason you haven't told anyone?

   Mike knows what I struggle with.  As do a couple of my closest friends.  Insecurity.  I am a people pleaser at heart.  I get my feelings hurt easy.  Working on it, working on it!!

Surgery, Car Seats and Birthday, Oh My!

                                                             Mother's Day 2012
                                                             I love these people!!

                                                     Lisa Micheal Ryan, 12 years old

I cannot believe that we have a 12 year old.  She can now sit in the front seat of a vehicle.  It seems like yesterday we were securing her into a car seat, then she could secure herself, then we didn't need a car seat or booster seat and now she can sit in the front. 
So funny how I compared her life to that of the use of the car seat.
But let me say this:  She is way more excited for the privilege to sit in the front seat than I ever remember being.  Probably because we didn't have these safety laws back when I was growing up.  She sat in the front seat on the way to school and it was strange to look over and see her sitting there, looking mature and pretty.  Then all I could think about was car accidents and is the front really very safe for her yet.  She does meet the height (as she is almost as tall as me) and weight (she is 84 pounds).  Just a mama thing I suppose.

Mike graduated with his BSN.  Going to start NP school in August at University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP).  I had a surprise graduation party for him and he was surprised.  I wanted to let him in on it many times, but so glad I didn't--him too--he told me we would have canceled it if he would have found out about it.  It was so neat to see him surrounded by the people who mean the most to him.  But he wanted to make sure that everybody knew that it wasn't him, but God who got him here.  For Sure!!

I had a total hysterectomy on May 22.  It was supposed to be laparscopic with 3 little incisions, but ended up with an abdominal incision.  We had been praying about this surgery and to be kept safe throughout the procedure.  My surgery was originally scheduled to be at 7am then they pushed it back to 9am.  I showed up promptly at 7, got all ready for my lap. hysterectomy.  My doctor finally came in at 10:10 and apologized for the first case taking so long.  No problem!  They finally came for me at 10:30.  That is all I remember.   I woke up at 5 pm in pain and freezing cold.  When my doctor got in she saw that my bladder was totally adhered to my uterus and that she was going to have issues.  She needed a urologist.  Well there "just happened to be one" available at that moment at the board in the department.  This doctor came in and worked on me for one hour to separate the bladder from the uterine wall, but they had to open me up. I am not having any bladder issues--praise the Lord for His mercies and His timing.  My surgery lasted 3 hours.  Mike said they probably didn't have a bear hugger on me to keep me warm in the OR, thinking it was going to be a quick procedure, and my core temp dropped.
I am so thankful that my friend Kathy who works at NCB was able to be with me in the recovery room and be my advocate--so thankful for my husband who knows what questions to ask and is not afraid to ask!  Most of all I am thankful for the protection of our Lord and Savior, for His healing hand and His love shown to me through the kindness of our family and friends.

A Slump and Seven

I have been in a little slump lately.  One of my co-workers took his life 2 weeks ago and leaves behind his beautiful wife and 3 little children ages 8, 6 and 4.  We have known them for over 15 years and I am just shocked.  There is so much to this story that runs deep, but what I have learned is that what you see on the outside as the "perfect" life can be completely broken on the inside. 

I  read a book "7-an experimental mutiny against excess" by Jen Hatmaker.  I must say I am convicted on many levels.  She did her own experiment of embarking on a journey of less--less food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending and stress.  She takes seven months, seven areas and reduces to 7 simple choices.  Seven food items, 7 clothing items, donates 7 things each day that month, ect.

It has made me very aware of all of the waste that my family and I do.  I went into my closet and looked at it full of clothes--many of which I wear the same items over and over and the rest is not touched.  But yet, I will continue to buy more because I want to.  It is definitely not a need--same with Lisa and Katie and Mike.  Something must change---and it has to be me.

I looked at our pantry.  Full of food.  We never go to bed hungry or wonder where our next meal is coming from ( unless we are going out to eat:-)  We are indeed blessed and take for granted all that we do have, while there are children going to bed hungry here in my own city...not to mention those little ones starving on the other side of the world.  I can't just say "we sponsor 3 children and give to Kiva and Food for the Poor and Samaritan's Purse".  I don't know what I am supposed to do right now, but God is stirring in me something.  One thing I have done is use up more of our pantry stuff and food in the freezer before going to the store--except for milk and fresh fruits and veggies.  We are really good at eating left-overs.  I love left-overs since it means I don't have to cook--"It's left-overs tonight!!!"

It has made me ponder on what to cut out or cut back on.  I want to live more simply and fill the excess with Jesus.  I am praying about what I will do.  For food, and I have done this before, I will cut out white products,processed foods and sweets.  I did this for 2 months back in the fall and I had so much more energy and felt great.  I am not sure if I could eat only 7 foods like Jen did.  However, her foods were very doable.  They were eggs, chicken, avocado, whole-wheat bread, spinach, sweet potatoes and apples and only water to drink, salt and pepper and olive oil.


Switching gears.

I wanted to share something from The Truth Project blog that has inspired me.  Dr Del Tacket was writing in response to the recent death of Chuck Colson, a leader and Christ follower.  He said that many people were talking about how we are losing all of the great Christian leaders.  But are we to sit around and wait for another leader to arise and tell us what to do, are we incapable of action.  He said at Pentecost, God's Spirit fell on all of the believers, not just the leaders.

You have everything you need to fulfill the call of God in your life. Be excellent in your vocational call. Be fruitful in your ministerial call. Be a great Dad. Be a great Mom. Be a great son or daughter, sister, brother. Love God. Love one another. Love you neighbor. Walk blamelessly before God and men. Live in such a way that your neighbor asks you why you have such hope. Prepare yourself to answer that question. Be light in a dark world. Be salt in a sick culture.



So let's see how this goes. 

I want less of me and my wants and more of Jesus.

One of my favorite Bible Stories

One of my favorite Bible lessons is from Luke 24:13-35. 

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.


I am in such awe of Him and love Him so.
I love how much Jesus shared in their walk down that road to Emmaus.  He came along side of them and was interested in their lives.  They had just experienced life changing events and told Jesus about them--even though He knew EVERY detail.  Then He told them about himself through scripture and then joined them for dinner--He stepped into their lives.  I love how they say in verse 32 "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

 Does my heart burn?  Oh how I pray for that burn!

Spring Break

Spring is in the air--except for this rainy cold snap that came in, but it has given us the opportunity to use our fireplace again!

 Spring break starts today!!!  We are in need of a break from the hustle and bustle of our schedules and just enjoy one another for a whole week.

Today we are going to visit a friend in Kenedy who had back surgery yesterday.  We are going to take her and her husband chicken soup/bread and brownies.
 
On Tuesday we are heading to Port A for a couple of days of beach fun.  Evie (Lisa's best friend) is going to go with us.  This is her first time to go on a vacation without her family and our first time to take somebody who is not related with us.  The last time we brought somebody with us it was my mom and she fell and broke her hip.  Needless to say, I have been having all kinds of "worse case scenarios" in my mind and have had to pray hard to keep the enemy from attacking and stealing my joy.  This decision to take Evie has been prayed over by us and her family.  The girls are SO EXCITED.

I had a job offer just kind of pop up.  I had my first interview with the CEO of a company called Health By Design.  I am going back for my second interview with 2 of the physicians sometime soon.  I don't know exactly what I will be doing, but this is the most unique place I have had the opportunity to work.  They are a faith-based organization, God first, family second, job third.  We ended the interview in prayer seeking Gods will.  I looked at my schedule for the ER in April and I am only scheduled for 2 shifts.  Hmm.  The ER has offered me a FT position when the next facility opens in late summer/early fall.  In the meantime......we will see how God's hand is working :-)

Mike is working hard in school and his job.  He will finish in less than 2 months, but the road from here to there is kind of a steep.  Algebra is almost over, then he has US History and  American Literature and a capstone class.  I am so proud of him and am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for him and for us in the future.  Nurse Practitioner?  God knows!  Either way, he will have his BSN.  I cannot remember what our life was like before he started school--and that was not even a year ago.  He will have earned his BSN in less than a year.  At this point if he gets into NP school, that is fine, but if he doesn't that if fine also.

Lisa started track.  We had our first track meet this past Thursday.  It was a looonnnggg day.  We got to the SACS field at 1130 and didn't leave on 7pm.  Lisa ran the 2400m and the 1600m.  The 2400 is 6 laps around the track.  It was kind of a re-play of what happened her first cross country meet.  She ran fast and didn't pace herself and ran out of juice.  She cried and was embarrassed and said she didn't want to run track and hated running and blah, blah, blah.  I felt so bad for her, my heart was just breaking.  But we are not in this to just win.  I  listened to her and let her feel it.  Then we had to get over it and march on.  A windy cold front blew in before her 2nd event (the 1600m which is 4 laps around the track).  Poor little thing, having to run in a thin little track outfit.  She paced herself and ran all 4 laps and came in 4th out of 6.  We are so proud of her.  I am reminded that she has her races to run in life and as parents we are standing by encouraging, coaching, teaching, but feeling it too.  I want so much to make it smooth and always go her way, but it will not always and that is not the best for her anyway.

Katie's basketball team came in 2nd place for their division this year.  The championship game was hard.  They lost by only 2 points.  Katie is starting to understand basketball.  Her position was point guard and she knew what she was supposed to do.  It was so fun to watch--especially because I really had no clue what the "plays" were, but to see the players yell out something and everybody run to their spot--is just so cute.