Mondays with Mom: Episode 5

Is He Real? 

Recently, Lauren took Ascher to the zoo, and she took a photo that is amazing; Ascher leaning in to the glass partition at the cheetah habitat, and kissing the cheetah!

The photo made me remember a notebook I kept of wonderful events from my years of teaching...
There were a few years when I taught gifted students, and English , second language students. (Such a combination of teaching skills here!) During that time, I had an office in the front of our school, not a classroom; therefore, I got to hear many conversations in the hallway when people did not realize I was in my office. Here's one of my favorites.

He was about three years old, and he was all boy - from his baseball cap on the top of his head down to his Nike-clad feet.  He walked right up there, with no fear, and on the edges of his tippy toes he leaned in.
"Is it real?"
"Is it real?"
I'm sure his mom didn't know the proper way to answer that question.
You see; that small, wide-eyed little boy was  staring at a stuffed raccoon in the school's trophy case in the front hallway of the school. Our school mascot was a raccoon, and years ago, a local taxidermist had donated the raccoon to his children's school.  He even has a name, Woody, and he's walking on a limb. It was easy to see why Woody's realism would cause some questioning!
"He's real," I heard his sweet mom answer. Probably not wanting to go any further with this discussion, she followed by saying, "We've got to go."
The young boy didn't budge. Being a smart mom, she said, "I'll wait right over there by the door. Tell the raccoon God bless you and then let's go."
Being an obedient three year old, I watched as he did just that. He walked over to the trophy case, leaned in once again, kissed the glass dividing them and whispered, "Little raccoon...I'll get you out of there tomorrow when we bring my sister to school. It'll be ok ...oh...and...God bless you!"

Utah: Jordan & Austin's Wedding: Getting Ready

We woke up and headed to Starbucks for coffee & breakfast before we went to the St. Regis and did yoga. Who wants to do yoga the morning of their wedding!? Jordan is crazy but we had so much fun. We took it easy, laughed and talked the majority of the time. 

Jordan's Bridesmaids & Me : ) 

After yoga, the hair and make up people arrived and I got to taking pictures. Her photographer wasn't arriving until 1 so I had the honor of taking pictures while they got their hair and makeup done along with everyone just enjoying the morning. I'll let the pictures tell the story of the morning. 

Around lunch time I drove back to the condo so Justin and I could go to lunch. We walked down to Main Street and had lunch at a cute restaurant called Zoom. After awhile it was time to get ready for the main event....the wedding. That shall be tomorrow...its bed time. 

Utah: Thursday the 4th of July

Thursday we woke up and discussed our plan of action for the day. We decided the boys would go get us McDonald's for breakfast while we figured out what we would be doing. We ate breakfast and then decided we would go hiking. Chelsea, Garrett, Justin and I drove to the trail (the others walked- they are crazy) and began hiking. Phew. I am not used to high altitude and long hikes. (Lets be real here guys...I'm not known to work out...like ever.) However, it was beautiful and Justin and I enjoyed our time together---laughing and making fun of the fact I was out of breath. We got some beautiful photos while up on the mountain though. 

 We were the slow ones. 

Chelsea ended up turning around not too far in because she didn't feel well and is supposed to take it easy. 

 Me and my man

 Ashley, Megan, Kimberly, Block & Me

 Beautiful

 the trail we did

This baby moose was in the front yard of a house we passed on the way back to our house. Crazy!!

After our hike Kimberly, Megan & Chelsea got ready for the rehearsal while we took it easy for a little while. It was so much fun to actually take my time to get dressed and ready and do my hair and makeup. I feel like I always just throw my make up on in the car and just blow dry my hair...but for the 4th I went all out. : ) Justin even helped me curl my hair. 

girls before they left for rehearsal

Before we left

Dinner @ Canyon Lodge

Megan & Rine

Block, Me, & Chelsea

The Fabulous Bunce Twins

Slice & Me

Chelsea giving her speech-- she was so nervous

NANNNY doing our ritual fireplace photo

the girls

loving on baby self

The Bride & Me

I love Kelly! She is Jordans friend from Florida. I met her at her bachelorette party and we had such fun together!

I thought my scarf looked cool as a headband. No one else thought so. HMPH. 

Kisses!! 

Tomorrow would be the BIG day for Jordan & Austin!!! WOOT WOOT!!

Utah: Wednesday the 3rd

Warning: I'm about to blow up with posts because I am determined to get all the way caught up before the end of July so I can start fresh in August. : )

On Wednesday July 3rd Justin and I headed to Park City, Utah for one of my best friends, Jordan's, wedding. I could hardly wait! I was so excited! We stayed in a beautiful condo with Chelsea & Garrett, Kimberly & Jeremy, Block & Rein, and Ashley & Megan (Twins). It was great! The only downfall to the condo was the main floor didn't have AC-- just heat. Well it was in the high 90's during the day. Woooheeee...it cooled off at night though and we cranked the AC on the 2nd floor down real low in hopes it would flow down...it did.

Anyways- we got there on Wednesday and walked over to Main Street where we ate dinner at a little pizzeria. Chelsea turned 12 weeks pregnant on Friday so we took bump photos and just chilled around the condo the rest of the evening. We were all pretty pooped from the long day of travel. Plus the time change had us all sleepy and ready for bed pretty early.

before dinner

Chelsea bump & me

view from porch

Baby Self

Slice & Me on porch after dinner

Freedom for the Unglued: Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Prisoners

“The chiseling process is about subtraction rather than addition. To grow in holiness and grace, we stand in God’s loving presence and agree to let go of anything He wants to chip away (60- Participant’s Guide).”  So many times we try to add something in our lives to either replace or fix something but really it’s about subtraction so we need to agree to him and let go and let him chisel.

We need to have the ability to see beyond what is to what can be. Will we let a label that someone or something has given us to define us forever?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15QuHygLwFU

Max Lucado’s  You are Special --- WATCH IT!! (8 minutes long)

“Labels only stick if you let them…Those labels start out as little threads of self-dissatisfaction but ultimately weave together into a straight jacket of self-condemnation (33).”

“I was an inmate in a prison of my own design, locked behind the many, many labels I’d put on myself over the years…some prisons don’t require bars to keep people locked inside. All it takes is their perception that they belong there. A soul who believes she can’t leave…doesn’t (34).”

“A messy closet does not make a me a mess. It makes me a child of God who has a messy closet (40).”

“God is chiseling us, making us new… so we can do good works… Works that God has prepared for us, which means he knows best how to prepare in us the character we need to fulfill our calling…oh that we might hear the purposeful clink of the Master’s chisel and call it grace(39).”

Freedom for the Unglued: Chapter 2

Chapter 2: I’m not a Freak Out Woman

We read through some verses that can help us to not become “unglued.”

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (ESV)

2^nd Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (ESV)

(Our battle isn’t against people/flesh)

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (NIV)

Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (NIV) (Your attitude)

Colossians 3:25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (NIV) (Our mind should be on things above)

We then just went through the chapter and talked about some things that stuck out to us such as…

Perspective- how crucial your perspective is. We need to change our “perspective is a key to not coming unglued…perspective doesn't just help me see the current circumstance I’m facing from a new vantage point—it also helps me process future things I face in a calmer, more grounded way…It’s actually the way God wired us(22).”

“We can actually capture our thoughts and allow the power of Christ’s truth to change them. (2^nd Corinthians 10:5) We need to pray for God to show us a better perspective to help us see good even when we don’t feel good.

“I can face things that are out of my control and not act out of control (23).”

“I realized when I get in a tizzy about it fixed nothing. It just added more stress and anxiety to my already tense situation...I can loosen my grip on control…and rest on the fact that God is in control. So it is a hard lesson to learn. But a crucial one (24).”

“We can’t always fix our circumstances, but we can fix our minds on God. 
We can do that (28).”

Lets erase the word impossible from our vocabulary. Just like the song- impossible is not a word, it’s just a reason not to try!

Mondays with Mom: Episode 4

Mom told us last week about being the "old people" in the maintee movies. This week she is talking about going to the movies with my Dad. Oh the adventures I have to look forward too. Haha! Too bad Justin won't go to the movies with me. 

There is no glitter in this line.

My hubby loves Bond movies. Since he is like most men, and doesn't have guy friends to go to the movies that only guys want to see, I always go with him. That's why I know all the Star Wars, Star Trek, Super Hero, and Action movie plots!! Naturally, the last Bond film fell on his birthday weekend, and since he doesn't particularly like matinees, we went to the eight pm showing, where we had to wait in long lines to get tickets, to get popcorn, and to be seated. 

This was opening weekend and the roped off line was long and crooked, which as a past teacher, I hated! We, the rule following people in line, asked one particularly knowledgeable man (you know the type, someone must be in charge of you people, and it will be me.) if we were in the correct line for the Bond  movie. He said he felt sure all of us were and he said he knew this because there was no glitter in the line (The Twilight movie was also having its opening weekend and was showing at the next numbered theater down. There was lots of glittery shirts in that line.) Turns out, he was right!


As we sat down, there were people that were trying to get situated, talking loudly to each other, and I realized that we were old people tonight too. I started  laughing to myself.  In front of us I hear a man comment about the beginning song in the movie, "I ''m glad that is over. It was too loud." Then a woman to my left, " What did that man say.?" A few minutes later the man in front asks his wife," Did you eat all the popcorn?" She has the bag in an upside down position in the air...YES! Then my husband leans to me and says, " That did not make sense. Bond would not have done that!" I answer, "I know. That was poor."  and again, I realize, we are the old people!


As I sit quietly through the movie, I was reminded of the first time I realized I had become my parents....It was about a year ago.  My husband and I were invited  to a dinner at the end of a conference.  In looking around the the room upon our arrival, I sweetly said to my husband, " I hope we aren't going to stay here long, there are only old people here." We took our seats and as we began to eat our salads, we began to hear the 70's music of the band, and watch the few bold people dance on the small dance floor.

...Yeah, my husband agrees, everybody here is our age!!!!

If you missed the first 3 weeks here they are: 
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3

Doctor Visits & The Zoo

June came and went (and now July has too) but the beginning of July we were BUSY! Ascher had his 15 month doctor visit on the 1st. He was a champ. He weighs 22 pounds and took his two shots like such a big boy. I just hate that scream when they realize the needle has punctured them!! OUCH! He only cried for a second and then just snubbed a little. 

He loved that the chair spun.

Monday we took it easy during the day because he was fussy from his shots. Around dinner time, Ragan and the girls arrived to spend the night so they wouldn't have to drive from Houston to Waco on Tuesday morning. We were going to the zoo for Ella's 6th Birthday. I can't believe she is going into 1st grade!! WHAT!?! 

We drove to the zoo and had a fun day walking around looking at the animals. Ascher wanted to be like his big cousins and walk...not ride. Not very fun for this mama who was either chasing him or telling him to come on because he wanted to stare at everything for hours! I finally convinced him (with a hot dog, animal crackers and Gatorade) to get back in the stroller. : ) 

how cute

yikes- he is kissing the cheetah

All the kids

Waco zoo is smaller but nice for kids because we were able to do the whole zoo in one day and not feel rushed or like we missed anything plus it was NOT crowded at all. The Houston zoo is FABULOUS but its HUGE and last time we tried to go we couldn't get in because they had no parking it was so crowded. The only thing I didn't like about the Waco zoo was that since it is smaller the animals are in much smaller habitats, most of them alone. It was sad to watch so many animals pace back and forth in their little habitat. 

Happy Birthday Ella Reed!! We Love you!!