Lake Weekend with the Hameedi's

The last weekend in June Justin's sister Cambrey and her family came to visit and since we were going to be gone for the 4th of July we decided we would spend the weekend at the lake with them. It was great! We went up Saturday morning, the whole family came out, we played in the pool, we rode the kids 4wheeler in the front yard, grilled out and just enjoyed each others company. We hadn't all been together since I was pregnant with Ascher!! I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Gigi & KDan with the newest baby, Hannah

Aunt Ragan & Ascher

KDan loves his babies

Where we spend most of the time at the lake...the kitchen

Ascher & Emerson

Grayson & Hannah (LOL!!!)

Eric doing sit ups in the pantry

Me & Hannah

After eating we attempted a WHOLE family photo (minus Joe). After probably close to an hour we finally had everyone sitting down, smiling, and semi looking at the camera. We then proceeded to take 800 more photos. : ) 

The WHOLE family (minus Joe) 

The Knight 5 (Taylor, Cambrey, Justin, Ragan & Kason)

All the girls (plus Pip- he refused to get out)

hanging out on the hill

we couldn't help but laugh at this goober

We stayed put as long as we could. All our children were being tended too and we were gonna enjoy that moment as long as they would let us.

K-Dan & Gigi with all their grandkids

Justin and Brad were matching. Like literally had on the same shorts.

This was funny because they were discussing about why is Justin always in the middle and Justin was like I AM THE MIDDLE! (he is the middle kid) It was funny. They always stand oldest to youngest.

We then went to the front yard and rode the kid 4wheeler. LOL- Even KDan got on with Hannah (we all were freaking out he was gonna crash with her in his arms)

We all hung out until late when everyone headed back home. We stayed overnight so we could get some time with Cambrey since we would be gone the rest of their trip. Sunday we got up and played some more. I didn't use my camera as much on Sunday. I think Ginger took some photos of us all in the pool but I didn't get any. Ascher loved being in the pool with Aunt Cambrey. He kicked his feet and swam back and forth in her arms. I played with the boys and they splashed me while I pretended I was going to give them 1000's of kisses while they screamed and swam away. Before long on Sunday we had to head back home. It wasn't goodbye though...we had plans for the Waco Zoo on Tuesday!! 

It was a fabulous weekend!!

Freedom for the Unglued

I hope yall enjoyed Grace for the Unglued from Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst Here are my notes on Chapter One: An Invitation to Imperfect Progress along with a recap of the video from Session 2. 

Video Recap:

Lysa talks about visiting Michelangelos David and how there are sculptures along the way that are called “prisoners” which were never finished. How much could those sculptures be just like us? A prisoner locked away in hard places. Those are the places we need to be chiseled. And oh how beautiful it is when the Master chisels. Instead of saying “I’m a mess.” Say: “Let God chisel.” We are Gods workmanship. She goes on to talk about Peter (Matthew 14, John 18:10). Jesus set a true scene of grace later in Peters life when he asks him 3 times does he love him- just like Peter denied Christ 3 times. (John 21:15-17) Her main point was to LET GOD CHISEL. He is releasing us from our hard places so we can do good works- but we have to let him chisel.

Our discussion:

This week we just discussed each chapter and different things that stuck out to us. First, we talked about how Lysa suggests taking some data about yourself. Write down the person you come “unglued” on. What was your psychical/emotional state BEFORE the event? (Were you tired? Frustrated? Hungry?), What happened that prompted my raw reactions? How did I react? –Tedious but may give some helpful insight to a pattern and a look into yourselves.

Chapter 1: An Invitation to Imperfect Progress

“What kept me from making changes was the feeling that I wouldn’t do it perfectly. I knew I’d still mess up and the changes wouldn’t come instantly. Sometimes we girls think if we don’t make instant progress, then real change isn’t coming (14).”

“Take baby steps, but at least take steps that keep you from being stuck (14-15).”

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2^nd Corinthians 3:18

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Depends on your vantage point (the egg shell story)- We shared examples of times when our vantage point might have been different and then the outcome where God used the hard times to better and grow us. Just like Lysa says, “Might the same be true for our hard places? Might all this struggle with our raw emotions and unglued feelings have the exact same potential for new life and new strength (16).” 

We have to transform our minds, which lead us into chapter 2.

Fathers Day 2013

I know I am  more than a little late in getting this post up but better late than never. This Fathers Day we were on the road. BOO! We had been in Fredricksburg for Lauren's wedding the night before so we got up and drove back to College Station. We were planning on eating lunch with my parents, who were watching Ascher, but we woke up too late and didn't get home till well past lunch time. So instead we gave Dad his Duck Dynasty shirt and took some pictures in the front yard. 

Ascher and Dad have on matching seersucker pants : ) Melt my heart. So thankful for my Daddy bear!

For Justin, Ascher and I made a sign that says I love you this much and I laid Ascher out and traced around his hands. It was cute. It was the first time I let Ascher use markers/crayons and put stickers all over it. He loved it. It was like this. I should have taken a picture of it. Maybe I'll make Justin get it out and pose with it. : ) 

Happy Belated Father's Day Justin!! 

You are very important and special in Ascher and my life. 

We love you infinity times infinity. 

15 months 6-29-13

Ascher

15 months

June 29, 2013

So I am a little late in writing this so it may be a short one. I wasn't very good the month of June keeping track of things but I'll see what I have written down and what the photos from the month might trigger in my memory.

• still 22 lbs, size 4 diapers, mostly 18 month clothes but still fits fine into 12 month clothes
• at his 15 month check up he has lost 8 ounces since his year visit. She didn't seem to be worried about it. 
• SEVEN teethers!! Woohoo!! 
• straight sippy cup, only Soy milk - still dilute juice
• still 2 naps a day (10am and 2 or 3 pm)
• had his first sleepover with Grammy & Grandpa while we were in Vegas
• loves reading books- brings them to me every morning and we read the same books over and over and over (mostly ones about animals and trucks...go figure)

• still LOVES being outside- loves his blow up pool

• talks nonstop. He says A LOT of words. Even the doctor was impressed with how much he talks.
• thinks he is big kid and plays with remote & sits on couch to watch TV & drink milk 

•  loves peanut butter & strawberries
• turned his car seat to face the front ( I know there is lots of controversy about this- but he was not having facing backwards anymore and my SIL and friends all have their babies this age facing front...not a battle I choose to fight. Its what works for us) 

• plays hide and seek 
• plays in and with his trucks non-stop. I am pretty sure that if he only had truck toys he would be perfectly content. Maybe throw a ball in one of the trucks and that little boy would be in heaven!!

Can't believe my little boy is 15 months old!! Time really does fly. I love his little personality that I see emerging and can't wait to see more of it as the time goes by!! 

Grace for the Unglued

This summer I have been doing Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst  We meet every Tuesday morning and I absolutely look forward to this time with my church ladies where we fellowship, watch the video and then discuss the video/chapters we read. I was asked to be the secretary for my group. My job entails sending email each week of prayer request, announcements and a summary. However, I am not very good at one paragraph summaries so my group gets 3-4 pages of summary each week. : ) I always say I am going to come home and type up my notes but never actually get around too it but being the secretary has made me do it and I am so thankful for this. The extra time I spend going back over it always blesses me again. Since I write so much I think for the blogs sake I will just do one chapter at a time. Here is my notes from Unglued: Session One (the video).

Session 1: Grace for the Unglued

Youtube video of the first video if you missed it: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0vPgdKWkyQ

Some of the highlights from the video that we discussed were “that feelings should be indicators, not dictators.” We talked about how we are not ruled by our flesh but that as women sometimes we give ourselves false permission to be “emotional” and a lot of times we hide our raw emotions from people we want to impress but spew on those we love the most.

Something we really talked about was “imperfect progress” and how a lot of times when we fail we want to give up because we weren't perfect but God doesn't want perfect from us- he wants us to make progress…imperfect progress.

          In the video it talked about Joshua and whose side was he on? We have to ask ourselves the same question. And we asked each other, “What does a woman who is on His side look like?” Some of our answers were:

·       calm and collect (A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger Proverbs 15:1)

·       Emotions should be ruled but what God feels- what hurts him

·       Women think it is our right to share feelings and talk about problems/life situations with other women. *Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve talked about it?*

·       We really have to fight to live with Godly emotions. Let it go, put it down and don’t pick it back up as difficult as it may be. (And sometimes we may fail- but tomorrow will be better- imperfect progress)

·       Being on God’s side doesn’t mean we are going to have all the answers

·       In order to speak truth, you must know truth

How does Jesus handle emotions? We never see Jesus having highs and lows. He is always constant. In the garden for example, he had taught his disciples and he really needed them that night and he was hurt they were sleeping but he reacted calmly.

So how can we remain on God’s side?

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer” So…what words are you using about this person? What thoughts are you having about this person? To stay on God’s side we must use

1.    Truth

2.    Self-control: You can’t control other people

3.    Prayer: Be thankful for that person

Mondays with Mom: Episode 3

I have been a terrible blogger. We have been crazy busy and I have so much to catch up on. Mom, however has been awesome. She has already written next weeks as well! She's great. I thought I would give you some random facts about my mom before I let her tell you her story about matinee movies.

Karen:

• taught school 24 years , retired 3 years ago
• is one of four girls- Jenny, Ruby, Karen & Janice
• lived in Virginia her whole life, until she met my Dad
• is a born again Christian and walks her faith daily
• was the editor of her high school yearbook
• was homecoming queen
• was pigeon toed when she was a little girl
• has been married to my dad 34 years

Without further ado...Monday with Mom.

Lavender & Icy Hot

Matinees are great ideas, No phones going off, no giggling from all the preteens, and no long lines... that's on the surface. The first time i went to a matinee I was with a friend. We went to a new, small neighborhood theater ..there was no real, live person to take our money...we had to use the automated machine! Neither of us had purchased tickets in this manner, and my friend only brought cash, so together we had to figure the new automated -system out. We DID SO, AND FELT QUITE EMPOWERED...

The experience wasn't as quiet as I had expected, as there were about a dozen or so older women in our theater. They all felt free to laugh loudly, and get up and leave in the middle of the movie to run to the bathroom. Some of us even texted quietly or checked Facebook pages since there were no large crowds to bother.

After the movie, my friend and I critiqued our experience.  I stated that I really thought matinees would be the way to go from now on.  I said that I really like the experience, except that I really thought the theater smelled like old  people...I kept smelling Bengay and lavender.
  

As we drove to our next destination, I kept thinking about the smells we had left behind, and began to realize something...the smells were in the car with us. I had used an icy hot patch to mask the pain in my knee, and when I mentioned it to my friend, she started laughing. She remembered that she put on some lavender lotion that was in the theater restroom, near the sink...and she could still smell that! I smelled us...we WERE the old people smell! We couldn't stop laughing. And ...Yes, we might have been the two women that held up the traffic when the light turned green:)

  Stay tuned next week for, "There's no glitter in this line"

Mondays with Mom: Episode 2

Wow. I have a lot to catch up on. Last week was crazy and then we left to go out of town for one of my best friends wedding. So here is what you can look forward too over the next couple days/week. 

Fathers Day

Ascher's 15 month

Unglued Notes

The Hameedi's Visit

Our visit to the zoo

Utah Trip

Until then though...here is a Monday with Mom. This is a poem she wrote for Hadley, my niece. Say a prayer for my mom if you will. She hasn't been feeling very well. 

Baby's First Gummy Smile

Smile for your mommy...
Smile for your daddy...
Good baby!

New parents enamored with their newborn
So enthralled with the new gift of life
that has been entrusted to them.
Kisses, assurances, soothing songs
All heard frequently those first few weeks.
Then reality sets in, and while the new parents
are still totally in love with their newbie...
they are exhausted.
And just as they question whether they can exist on a three hour sleep night again..
it happens...
       

 The smile..
God knew just when to send it
The most wonderful thing you've ever been a part of,
 that new baby giving you all that smile,
 that perfect, gummy smile that says...
Thanks mommy and daddy. And...
Stay tuned after this smile there's more to come...
Giggles,laughter,vocabulary.
I'll be entertaining you for now on...
And you're going to love it!!