All Sorts of Things and a Traveling Rocker Baby

To answer your question:
Yes, I'm still blogging!!
If you can't read the WHOLE post, AT LEAST look the pictures!!
Pay special attention to the fam pics by Brandon & Bethan!

Jude in his rocker baby do!

He looks like a different kid doesn't he?!
We've come to find that moving is the theme of Jude's life. His little body is always going, even when he's sleeping he's all over the bed!! He's also been on 6 round-trip flights and by the time we move he will have taken 8!!! This little one is a trooper!

He's using lots of words now and beginning to sign really well. Although it is quite common that he learns the word before he learns the sign! What good is that?? He now uses signs for eat, momma, thank you, please, fish, and water. He attempts to sign cracker and diaper as well.

He's constantly singing or making music with anything he can turn into a musical instrument! He's fallen in love with guitars. Somehow he knows to hit the strings and not the body...he pays more attention to things than we think! He's also recently learned not just to bang, but to strum with his fingers!

He's mastered a quick walk that's sure to turn into a run in no time. As always, he LOVES to play chase with Daddy. He giggles so hard as he walks that it makes him fall!

Here's a recent development...Rocker Baby.

We spent a great two weeks in Colorado at PILAT, a how-to-learn-language school...meaning we didn't actually learn our target language. I know this is confusing...it was to us before we went! But we were so thankful for it! It focused on a learner-driven style and taught us how to prepare best for using a language tutor. We were also surrounded by gorgeous scenery and new friends! I was so excited that we got to hike!Sunrise Picture!!
Gorgeous Colorado Sunrise! PTL!

Our new friends Consuelo & Aaron with precious Malachi & Sonora!
(Give us a break, it's hard to get 3 kids to look at the camera!)
(for the record, Jude is blowing a kiss to the camera!)
My friend Becky and I on Pike's Peak
(okay so we didn't exactly make it to the Peak...)

So in a 24-hr turnaround we headed to College Station to connect with our WONDERFUL friends there! We were so thrilled to be back at LH! We got share at Hope Groups and meet some new friends! Thanks so much to the Royers, Supers, and Amanda who let us crash their places! Here's a fun video of Jude and Josiah! I just caught the tail-end of Jude laughing at Mrs. Rachel!




Here are Thomas & Rachel! Our sweet, sweet friends who willingly host us EVERY time we come to College Station! We are so thankful for their wonderful hearts! The Father is really working among us!
(who knows why my eyebrows are clear up to heaven in this picture!
I was happy, what can I say?)

So in another whirlwind 24hr turn around, we headed to be with our friends Brandon & Bethan in KY for 6 days!! We SO enjoyed our time with them and I, personally, gained so much from this godly woman! Just being in her presence is good for my soul! We got to talk through a lot of things that really gave me a lot of perspective! I am so thankful for their place in our lives!
But can you believe that the WHOLE time we were there we did not get ONE picture of the four of us!??! TRAGIC!!!
However, they did take some fun pics of us!! They are so talented!
Sweet Kisses!!
May He make our path straight...
Precious Jude!!Finally! Couple Pictures! These are our first since our engagement!


Want to hire them? They're professional photographers! And they're willing to travel!!

And AFTER THAT...in a 5 hr turn around, my sister Kaye and niece Gracie (who live in FL) surprised us in Houston!! Soon followed my sister Mary and niece Chloe (who live in San Antonio)!! And of course wonderful Amy was already here in Houston! It was so fun to be all together again! I definitely didn't think this was going to happen for AWHILE!
This a pic my mom caught of me cuddling Grace when they surprised me!
I was so thrilled to see her!! You can connect emotionally with adults over the phone or Skype...but babies are so different, you just have to be there to touch them! And I thought I wasn't going to get to hold Grace for several YEARS!

Okay, that's enough uploading of pictures!! I'm just going to have to do the pictures of Jude, Grace, & Chloe later!!

Hope you made it through the whole ENTIRE post!

Hayden's Brain

So now that I haven't posted in 146 days, or close to that, I figured that it would be appropriate to reopen this whole blogging adventure with letting someone else write for me so I can delay writing a real post.

Now people, don't even be tempted to think that I'd pass on a lame story to you. I really need you to go to this link and read this story.


Do it.

Now.

I'm not kidding.

Go read it.

I FEAR raising a boy because of the stories this woman produces about her children, namely Hayden. But in the same breath I must say that I CANNOT wait to see what Jude comes up with. I just don't think Heather's life could be any funnier. Without this child, her life (and mine for that matter) just might be void of all humor. And the greatest thing about it is...

It all comes from Hayden's brain.

No one wrote him a script.

No one has to pay money or turn on the TV to see this kid.

Wonderful!

I hope you laughed as hard as I did.

And I just have to say, Heather wonders where this child gets his strange brain and hilarious humor from????

Look in the mirror sista. He's your boy clone!

Happy 1st Birthday Jude!!!

It's amazing the transformation!!

Our sweet little boy celebrated ONE YEAR yesterday!
(We were out of town and couldn't blog about it, sorry!)

We could never put into words our love for this child!
We discover new things we love about you everyday!
What a joy you have been!
Our short time with you so far has taught us so much about the character of God. His goodness to us is unending and his love for us is immovable. You are a pure example of His goodness!

Pics of the celebration to come!!

30 Years!!!

Today, August 13th, was 30 YEARS for these two.

Woohoo!!

Last night we went out to dinner and they shared stories of their wedding day with us.
Who knew by thirty years they'd have
4 daughters
3 son-in-laws
and 3 1/2 grandbabies!?!

I am so thankful for parents who are STILL married. I am so thankful that our kids will have generations of examples of healthy marriages!
You've given us a RICH heritage!

We receive the blessing of your commitment to your covenant before the Lord!!
We cherish your faithfulness!

We love you Mom & Dad!!
We hope that in 27 1/2 years we're still enjoying each other like you are!

P.s. Happy Birthday Jenny Isaminger!! I love you and you are sweet treasure to me!! I wish I could have been with you to celebrate your wonderful day!

Lessons on being a Good Friend

(my girlfriends)

Um.
I once was a REALLY great friend.
I made my friends feel special and made sure that they NEVER doubted how much I adored them.
Why don't I still do that?
Read here for a lesson on being a good friend. (ha!)

I love my friends.
This Love
...takes risks.
...pursues.
...wets it's pants.
...puts itself out on the line.
...listens when it wants to give advice.
...forgives.
...waits.
...keeps on forgiving.

...laughs.(my sisters)

.
..sits in the driveway and cries.
...tells you when you have a boogie or a pantyline.
...talks on the phone for hours.
...blesses just because.
...blesses beyond offense.
...doesn't just listen, but hears.
...keeps no record of wrong.
...laughs until it tinkles a little.
...throws a party.
...drives to College Station, Louisiana, Houston, San Antonio.

...flies to Orlando, Montana and Kentucky (Some day soon Jo and Bethan!)(my Bethan...

This was the cutest picture I had.
Too bad I'm 7 1/2 month prego in it!! Bethan, we need more pictures together!!!)

...admits its faults.
...calls just to tell a funny story.
...falls apart and relies on others to help her pick up the pieces.

This love enjoys.
I enjoy you girls.
I love you.

Just thought I'd leave you with this one. I never thought I'd post a picture of my booty on my blog. Now, you tell me, who's who???