Joshua

Joshua and Hartlee...she loves him!

Joshua playing the basketball game

All the gang at Bass Pro Shop

Our sweet friends came in this weekend from Bryan! Words cannot even express how much we love them and how thankful we are that God brought them into our life. I met Joshua when he was 8 years old...I was a student at Texas A&M and I would meet up with him and tutor him in reading. I got to know his mom (Kim) and brother (Jacob) along the way and a new friendship began! Joshua is now 17 and about to graduate high school next year...amazing. What a gift they are to us! Kim recently got remarried to Anthony and we really enjoyed getting to know him more this weekend...what a kind spirit he has. We took them all to the Bass Pro Shop on Saturday, then we had a BBQ with some of my community friends. They enjoyed playing on Cannon's basketball game...lots of good competition :) What a fun weekend!

Surprise!

We are having another baby!...and we couldn't be more thrilled and excited about the good news :) I found out on Friday morning by taking a pregnancy test...okay, I took 2 of them just to be sure...and then I decided to surprise Shane. This is how he found out...


I told him to look at what Cannon wrote on Hartlee's diaper...and I just so happened to get it on video! :) He was very excited. Make no mistake...God has done this. This is definitely the work of the Lord's hands and we are so grateful. Cannon thinks it's going to be a boy...we'll see! Thank you, Lord, for your infinite love and your amazing grace!

Naked Drums

Ok, I have no explanation for this picture...just thought it was hilarious! This is how I found Cannon after he had taken a bath the other night and I just started laughing histerically...what a goofball!!!

Basketball time for Cannon

Cannon started his first day of basketball today! I have to say that I am super proud of him for even joining in with the others :) My little shy guy did a great job and listened well to his coach. Of course we stood close by taking a million pictures!! So fun!

Shane

Okay, without having this cheezy little write up about how cute and sweet my husband is, can I just tell you guys that I really really like him. There are numerous characteristics I could point out about what makes him so amazing, but there are 2 reasons that stand out that really set him apart...humility and a deep love for others. I can't tell you how many times and in how many ways I have learned from him in both these areas. I am so grateful.
I went to a SOZO prayer today (means Saved, Healed, and Delivered) and had this incredible encounter with God that sort of leaves me speechless. How do you explain it when the Spirit completely transforms and molds you for 3 hours...just speechless. So, one thing sticks out that I wanted to share with everyone. I have struggled in my life with an absent father, as I know many of my friends have as well. Undoubtedly this has left me with wounds in my heart that every now and then manifest themselves in my life and relationships in the craziest ways. But, I can't even express how the Lord has healed my heart and continues to heal my heart through my relationship with my husband and also through his interaction with my daughter. Totally brings me to tears even thinking about it. This morning when I was getting dressed, Shane came in and asked me if he could wake Hartlee up because he wanted to see her before he left for work. I looked at him like he was crazy and begged him to let her sleep, but he was persistent and went in to get her. I took in the moment of watching her cuddle up into his arms, so peaceful, so protected, so loved....it was like the picture stood still in time. Later on, when I was asked in my prayer time to get alone with Father God and allow Him to hold me, that same moment of Shane holding Hartlee popped into my head and I was so moved at how the Lord showed me a picture of His love for me, his daughter, through Shane and Hartlee's relationship...priceless. And even more so, how desperately Shane wanted to wake her up and hold her is such a sweet portrait of how our Heavenly Father longs to hold us and be with us...just because. Amazing.

Matthew Josiah Garrison

Happy Adoption Day to one of our favorite little people, Matthew Garrison! We love you, Matty, and we are so grateful that you are a part of our family! Hope you enjoyed the donuts :)

Books, Snuggies, and Spurs

The kids absolutely LOVE going to Barnes and Noble...they think it's such a big treat :) Cannon got a giftcard for Christmas (thanks to coach and grammy) so we headed over there today and he picked out some great books and games. Of course, they really just like playing with the train the most.

Cannon enjoyed watching the College Football National Campionship (Texas VS Alabama) with his daddy....all wrapped up in his snuggie :) Thanks to Aunt Kelsey!

My sweet friend Kristi invited me to the Spurs game against Detroit and I had such a fun time! Thanks, Kristi! The seats were fabulous...row 9!! And...the Spurs won :)

Something New

I am just really really excited about what I feel like God is doing in my life. Okay, so I know I'm terrible about putting things into words, but I'll try my best....

There are 2 things that God has been pressing into my heart over and over again in the past couple of weeks...1. Prayer 2. The Holy Spirit

So...I've sought out some wise counsel and I feel like the God is moving me forward on a new and fun ride...I can't even explain how fired up I am!! On top of that, I have started reading Forgotten God by Francis Chan (which is an incredible book) about reversing our tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit. Love this quote, "The Christian's life in all its aspects - intellectual and ethical, devotional and relational, upsurging in worship and outgoing in witness - is supernatural; only the Spirit can initiate and sustain it. So apart from Him, not honly will there be no lively believers and no lively congregations, there will be no believers and no congregations at all." -JJ Packer. What is alive is us as Believers?? What is alive in me? What does the world see in me that is different?

Have to posts these pics...Shane and I took the kids to Fiesta Texas on Sunday after church...so much fun being outside in the beautiful weather with the kids...what a joy they are to us!

Welcome 2010!

We spent a relaxing New Years at Grammy and Coach's house, catching up with an old friend. I always think it's so refreshing to welcome in a new year...I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for 2010. I desire to be more intentional with my time alone in God's Word, so I picked up a new devotional to help keep me on track...The Tender Words of God, by Ann Spangler...already so encouraged on day 2! The author talks about taking one month and acting as though God really loves you...then put the full force of your mind into believing that God loves you. It seems as though it's so easy to say "God loves me", but to truly believe it in the depths of your soul and to walk out in that extreme love has to be radically life-changing. Shane said he desires to "take care of the small things"...I'll keep you updated :)

We took the kids to the Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center in Spring Branch today and they had so much fun...I think Daddy had just as much fun! Happy New Year my friends!