Happy Birthday Ashlyn!

15 years have flown by since we had our precious girl. What a blessing she has been since the day we brought her home! To say she brings us joy is an understatement. There is a love of life in her that radiates to all around her. She is beautiful on the inside and out.






Some of my favorite things about Ashlyn are:

1. She is so kind-hearted.

2. She is so loving.

3. She is caring.

4. She is helpful.

5. She is silly.

6. She is so fun to be around.




7. She is forgiving.

8. She is a leader.

9. She is outgoing.

10. I love that she is such a people person. I love that she doesn't give up on others and she believes the best in those around her. I love that she enjoys life and laughing and being around those she loves.

Most of all I love that she is a Christian and not afraid to share her belief or stand up for things that are right. I pray for her daily. I pray she will continue to follow God and trust in his guidance and path that He has prepared for her. I pray for God's protection on her and that she won't lose her love of life and others because of people that chip away at those qualities in her. I pray she stands strong and remembers always who she is in Christ!




There are many things I can learn from her!

Thank you God for blessing me with this wonderful gift. May I be the mom to her that you intend for me!

What We've Been Up to Lately

Well, it has been a few months since I've been here. It's been a whirlwind of activity since my last post. Here are a few pics to update the last few months.



We enjoyed a great trip to Marble Falls with family.



Another fun trip to South Padre.



Our girl's first Homecoming.



We enjoyed watching Reece play Optimist football again this year.




Keith and I had a fantastic trip to Napa. I'll post more about that later. Maybe since it's my favorite time of year, I will be more inspired to post!

Wordless Wednesday

Missing her so much!! Especially this week before Mother's Day! I love you Mom!!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

I gave my last TAKS test this week!!

My son is finished with his TAKS tests!

My daughter has one more TAKS test and then finished! See the pattern: ENOUGH of the TAKS!!!!!

My daughter made the STARS (the dance team she tried out for)
I'm so thankful for all the support from family and friends through the "try out" process! (STRESS)

The weather has been gorgeous!

Great work team that supports each other through the stress of the TAKS test.

My students worked so hard!

The biggest thing I'm thankful for is this:


My little family!! Today is Keith's birthday and we are celebrating with dinner and his favorite cake!! This is a picture of us from last year at his 40th birthday. I love celebrating birthdays!! The kids have grown so much! Time is flying...I'm so thankful that God has shown me to slow down, enjoy the little moments!

I'm thankful God gave me the perfect man for me! Happy Birthday Keith!!!!



This is us in Colorado this past summer!




Any time I think of things I'm thankful for, these three are on top of the list!

What a HUGE blessing they are to me!!

Wordless Wednesday

Every time I see this, I smile...

Easter 2011

What a blessed day! It started out early with the kids looking at their Easter baskets...okay this year, it was actually bags: Bath and Body Works for Ashlyn and Abercrombie for Reece. It was filled with some of their favorite things! With the kids ages, this year was quite different than usual, but great!

We church hopped this morning to participate in several worship services and to see one of my friend's son get baptized. What a beautiful event on Easter.

One of the best reminders I heard today: What will I do with the "cross" tomorrow as I go about my regular day?

We spent Easter day at my nephew's house with lots of food, laughter, our annual egg hunt, egg toss, and relay race. It's always such a great day! I love watching all the kids race around for the eggs and hearing everyone scream when eggs bust open during the relay. It just makes me smile. The only down side...my sweet hubby had to work! I missed him! I missed my mom today too! She loved Easter too.

Here are a few pics from the day:




These two kids are such a blessing to me!! They keep our life so full and remind me how lucky I am to be their mom!



The trash bags to "protect" us during the egg toss was brilliant!! If only we would have stayed in the competition longer.






This one makes me laugh!! My sister got splattered when she caught the egg and it broke. I love the face she is making!

Marriage Monday

Here's a few things that are on my mind to share today:

I've been listening to my nephew teach the past Sundays on Ephesians and I love all God has been showing me. You know how you can hear or read the same scripture repeatedly and then one day God shows you something new or you finally "get it"? Well, that seems to be happening to me a lot over the past months. So, to do with marriage, this is what I've been focusing on and some points my nephew made:

1. We can show the world Christ and His church through our husband/wife relationship.

2. The Bible says: Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is also the head of the church. (Eph. 5:22-23) and later in vs. 33 it also says the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Many wives hear the word submit and think something negative. It sounds like an ugly word to some. That is not what it should be. Submitting to your husband does not mean being his slave, but rather remembering his role and putting him first. Remember he is the spiritual leader of the house.

Some times this is hard for me because of our personalities. Keith is passive and I'm more of a take charge person. I've had to let go of some of that and give Keith the chance to lead. Although I struggle with this at times, I know it is God's plan and I know Keith is capable of leading our family well. So, I try to slow down and intentionally pay attention to my comments or actions and make sure I give Keith his chance to lead. After all, he is more than capable! It makes such a big difference when I do this!

The Bible also says that we are to respect our husbands. There is a lot that can be said about this subject, but I will share something that is very important to me and in our marriage. I do not put my husband down to other people or in front of him to other people. I encourage him and I compliment him. Who doesn't like to receive a sincere compliment? What a difference this can make in your marriage ladies!

Love plays itself out daily in many different choices that we make throughout the day. Will I pick up the socks without griping? Will I ignore a certain comment? Will I compliment him even when I don't "feel" like it? Let's remember love is not a feeling. Love is action.

I've read this statement and thought about it many times over the years: What is it like to live with me? Hmmm, I would hope that most times it is pleasant. I want my husband to be in a hurry to get home to see us. I don't want him to have the desire to be away from home, but to look forward to arriving at home each day. It's made me look at how I greet him, how I act, what I say. Even though some days I am exhausted, I bite my tongue and don't "list out all I've done for the day!!" He works and does a lot around the house as well! I encourage you to make your house a fun, relaxing, peaceful place to be. Notice how you respond to your husband when he arrives at the end of the day. Is there something you need to adjust?

This is a picture of us out to dinner with some of our friends! I love the smile he has on his face. I typically drive him crazy taking pictures, but he's a good sport. I am blessed!

Things I'm learning

God has taught me so much over the past few months, but especially over the past few weeks! As I prepared for the retreat and all through the weekend God spoke to me through music, His Word, and other Christian ladies.

One of my friends wrote about her experience at the retreat and it inspired me to get on my blog and share some things going on in my life. Check her out at The Four of Us.

I love worship music and we had some wonderful worship music at the retreat. Some of my favorites played were: Our God, Jesus Messiah, How Great is Our God, and How Great Thou Art. In Our God it says, And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us and if our God is with us, than what could stand against?? That is some good stuff!!

We always have great speakers that God uses to share exactly what we need to hear, but this year, He could have tapped me on the back and said, "Jackie, this one is for you!" Our opening speaker was wonderful (as they all were) and shared with us our the importance of self worth and who we are in Christ. Emphasis on IN CHRIST! As women, we are so busy, and have so many things going on and we think we have to be great at all of them. I know I do!! I expect a lot out of myself and I get discouraged when one area is not going as well as I would like! I feel like I'm letting some one down if all areas of my life aren't going well. I feel like I've got to be everything to everybody: the best wife, mom of the year, the best sister, the best friend, the best small group leader, etc. It is overwhelming! God reminded me that I don't have to do all this! Lean on Him. And as he reminded me through several family members throughout the week and again at the retreat: God is enough! It's not all up to me! He is ENOUGH!

So what does God is Enough look like to me in my life? It means, when I'm stressed out as a mom and feeling the pressure, slow down, pray, seek God's wisdom. When our schedule is crazy and I don't feel like I'm being the best wife, again, slow down, pray, and seek God's wisdom. When comments hurt, when people lose touch, when relationships change, I remember these things don't define me. God defines me. When work is stressful, remember my priorities. When I can't fit everything in, I remember it's ok. I don't have to be everything to everybody!

What a freeing truth! Of course I still struggle with pleasing people and pray often throughout the day. Most of the prayers are simple prayers for God to just help me through a situation or help me with an emotion I'm struggling with.

I'm so thankful for all that He is teaching me and how He is growing me!

I hope you will take the time to find your true self in Christ, not in what others define you as, but what God created you to be.

Disneyworld

We had such a great time at Disneyworld! It's one of those places that I know it will be fun, but when we get there, it is even better than I imagine. This is the first time I have been to Disney and not been completely worn out when we got home. We went to the parks first thing in the morning to beat the crowd and would stay until after lunch and then go take a nap before returning for the evening. Since it was spring break, it was really crowded midday so it worked out nicely to leave for a while. My family is definitely crazy Disney fans so we don't want to miss anything. We have to do everything as many times as possible! Although I am forty years old, I become a kid again when I get to Disneyworld. I love Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom, Cinderella's Castle, and seeing all the characters. I can't help but smile when Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy walk by. I guess I have so many great memories at Disney that I can't help but smile!

Some of our family favorites are: Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom, Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, and Rockin' Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios. We rode these rides as many times as we could while we were there. We walked around the World Showcase at Epcot and enjoyed it, but Keith and I would like to spend more time at each country some time. We didn't want to bore the kids, they were good sports!

Fantasmic is a great night show at Hollywood and Illuminations at Epcot is wonderful. The firework show at the castle can't be beat. They had a special show at the castle that goes with their "Memories" theme this year and it is indescribable. That show definitely is on my list of favorite things to see in this lifetime!!

We were there at the same time some of our friends were there too so we hung out with them at different times throughout the week. That was just an added bonus! We took tons of pics, but here are just a few.



Breakfast at Tusker House at the Animal Kingdom. It was a delicious buffet!


The Garden Festival was going on at Epcot and the flowers were gorgeous! Each character topiary was unbelievable!


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We love Chef Mickey!

Ladies Retreat 2011

Amazing. Powerful. Life changing. Renewing. Blessing. Fun. Those are just a few of the words that come to me when I think about the retreat. I always enjoy the retreat and look forward to it each year, but this one really stands out! God blew me away again!

This was our 14th year to have the retreat and my third year to lead it. As the leader, I see the retreat through new eyes. God always shows himself to me, but the way He orchestrates everything for the retreat amazes me! He sends wonderful helpers to prepare and run the retreat. He sends speakers with the perfect messages for the ladies in attendance. He sends wonderful musicians to share their gifts through song. Although, I get somewhat anxious right before the retreat, God reminds me He is in control and He works it out perfectly for His glory.

I love to hear the ladies tell the stories of how God touched their lives and how He used the speakers to speak directly to people in the audience. It warms my heart!

I am so blessed to attend this retreat with my sisters, nieces, mother in law, and wonderful friends. That is just an added bonus to this retreat!! We always have such a special weekend full of laughter, crying, great discussions, and more laughing!

The ladies in attendance are such a blessing to me! Their kind words, encouragement, support, and love mean more to me than I can really express. They bless me and I am so honored to be a part of such amazing women.

God has taught me so much over the past few months. I'll share more soon!

Here are just a few pictures from the weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Well, it's Thursday and I couldn't let it pass without saying a few things I am especially thankful for this week.

I am so thankful for a wonderful trip to Disneyworld. It really was such a great time with my little family. The weather was wonderful and we had a so much fun! One moment that will stick with me forever is when all 4 of us were racing to Rocking Rollercoaster at the same time, dodging through the crowd, laughing and squealing about beating each other there and getting on the ride. As silly as it sounds to some, God reminded me in that moment how blessed I am!! It was such a treat to be at a place that I love and my family loves it just as much! We laughed so much and walked so much, but it is a trip that has left me with a ton of memories!





Secondly, I am extremely thankful for all the ladies who help prepare for our upcoming retreat. I could not do it without them!

Well, I'm exhausted. I'll share more of the retreat and Disneyworld next week.

Upcoming Ladies Retreat

Our 14th annual Ladies Retreat is coming up in two more days!! I am so excited! I am blessed with the opportunity of leading the retreat and it is so rewarding! I love the retreat for so many reasons, but the main one is to get away with my family and friends and grow closer to God and each other. Here are a few pictures from last year:






These are some of my favorite people that I get to spend time with while we are at the retreat! There are so many others attending this year as well that I really look forward to spending time with.

I am praying for God to move in an amazing way. I'm praying for lives to be changed and all of us to return home with a commitment to LIVE OUT LOUD for Christ. I'm praying that those who don't know Jesus Christ will come to know him this weekend! I know it is going to be the best retreat yet!!

Marriage Monday-Date Nights

As I think about our marriage and things that we do to improve it, this is one subject that comes to mind. Date nights. I love to go on date nights or date days. It is always something to look forward to. Years ago I heard a pastor talking and he said something that has stuck with me through the years. He said so many marriages fall apart when the kids are grown and move out because the husband and wife don't know each other anymore. The put so much into the kids, but not into their marriage. They look at each other and think, who are you? I remember hearing that and specifically thinking, "I never want that to be us!!" So, Keith and I have committed to taking time out for just the two of us. I would love to say that we make this weekly, but that just doesn't always work out. We do try to at least have a date night twice a month. We are blessed to have family around here for our children to stay with and now that they are older, it has gotten even easier. Our dates nights range from nice restaurants to movies or cheap eats at a place we love. The main thing is it is time with just the two of us and no interruptions. We take turns planning our evenings out and some times we plan it together. The place or activity we choose also depends on how much money we want to spend and how much time we have to go out. Here are some of our favorites:

Dinner at a favorite restaurant
Winery or wine bar
Our favorite ice cream shop
Sports event/with all the fattening food

Years ago we made a list of dates we would each like to go on. They range from expensive to free. (got this idea from a book I read years ago!) I still have it in one of my notebooks that I refer to for ideas.

For those times when we aren't able to get away, we find time at the end of the night when we've told the kids goodnight and gotten them off to bed. We drink a glass of wine and just spend time talking or watching a movie. Just something easy, but non interrupted and not distracted by the things in life.

I encourage you to make time for date nights. Remember it can be simple! Even if it is once a month. Make a plan and follow through on it. Don't make excuses. It does make for a stronger marriage. I know it is something we enjoy and look forward to.

Weekend Getaway

My husband just finished a turnaround a few weeks ago, which means he worked A LOT!! He has been on nights so I would catch a glimpse of him in the mornings or maybe 45 minutes before he left for work. Needless to say, it was a long 6 weeks! We survived though and decided to have a weekend getaway to celebrate it being over and enjoy time just the two of us! I missed him!! I'm thankful he doesn't have to do this often.

We love going to the hill country so I found a Bed and Breakfast that looked wonderful online. It was perfect and turned out exactly as I hoped. I'm one of these that has high expectations of things and can be somewhat disappointed when things don't turn out "just right." Well, no disappointment here. It was a perfect weekend! If you are ever looking for a nice getaway in the hill country, check out The Inn Above Onion Creek It is fantastic. The suite we stayed in was wonderful and the food was delicious. They not only had a hot meal each morning for breakfast, they also had a three course meal for dinner. This worked out great because we didn't have to go search for a great place for dinner in the evenings, but could relax and stay around the inn. We also visited a few of the wineries in the area and enjoyed lots of great wine throughout our stay. One of the best things was the couple's massage. It was so nice and relaxing. Every time I get a massage, I always say I should have one more often. I forget how great they are! Maybe this time I will follow through.

We had a great time just relaxing and hanging out together with no rushed schedule. Although we work hard at making time for just the two of us, some times we forget what that is like because of the busyness of life. I must say it is nice knowing that after so many years together, we still love hanging out together and having fun. So this is one weekend I won't soon forget.

If you looking for a great place to go, you should check it out!

Marriage Monday-Communication

Communication. I would say that is one area in our marriage that I have learned the most about through the years. I have wasted a lot of times being upset about something I thought Keith was "thinking" or what he meant when he didn't communicate. What a mistake!! Men and women think so differently which really is a blessing to a marriage, but sadly, I think too many assumptions are made that can lead to unnecessary tension. So, her are some things I've learned:

Never assume anything! Talk with your spouse about the situation. Ask him what his thought is on a subject. Don't assume you know what he is thinking.

Don't give hints. I've learned I have to tell Keith what I'm thinking or what I want. I can't hint around to him helping with things around the house or that we need a night out. I remember one day years ago, he said, "Babe, just tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it." Wow! That is simple enough and he means it. Who knew it could be so easy? : )

Timing and tone are everything. My tone can be bad because I get defensive when I am hurt or upset. God has shown me through the years to slow down and not overreact to situations. I would love to say it always works, but it doesn't. The times I do follow through though work out well.

Pray about the conversation ahead of time. This is huge and something I have gotten better at doing through the years. I pray for the right words, tone, and correct timing. I pray that God will help me communicate effectively. Conversations always go better when you pray about them first.

I've learned to keep Keith updated on what is going on in my life. With his work schedule, some times I think I've told him something and I've really talked about it with my girlfriends and forgotten to tell him. I work on keeping him informed.

It's important to let Keith know how crazy I am about him. I try to intentionally thank him for all he does for our family and for me. I think any husband would love to hear his wife give him praises for the great things he does for his family. I constantly tell him how much I love him and how much he means to me because this is one thing I never want him to question!

So, I've grown a lot through the years in communication, but I know I still have a lot to learn!

Marriage Monday

Well, I started to do Marriage Mondays about a year ago and I didn't stick to it. One of my friends has been doing it the past few weeks on her blog so it has inspired me to focus on it again. Besides God, my marriage is the most important thing in my life so I will share some things about it through the weeks on Marriage Mondays. Today I will start by telling you about my husband. A quick review (because I covered this in a previous blog) is we have known each other our whole lives. We grew up going to the same school and hanging out with the same friends. He really became one of my best friends after high school and I soon realized I would rather be with him than anyone else and the rest as they say is history. I will share some of his traits that I absolutely love!!




He is caring and kind.
He is fun loving and makes me laugh.
He is family oriented.
He is a Godly man and leader to our family.
He is loyal and dependable. I know that I can count on him for anything!
He is so cute and has a great smile!
He is a hard worker.
He is so helpful.
He is honest.
He is a fantastic father.
He is my best friend.
He is wise.
He has pretty eyes!
He is patient.
He is content. Keith never complains.
He balances me.
He is thoughtful. Keith pays attention to some details that I never notice or I've forgotten.
He takes good care of us.
He is crazy about me and the kids!

Thankful Thursday

Thankful for a productive week at work!! It feels great to get things accomplished.

So thankful for my husband that works so hard and he never complains. He has been a turnaorund for over a month and the guy just never gripes... I could learn from him.

Oh, and I am thankful the turnaround is almost OVER!!!

I am thankful for my wonderful job. Although education is cutting its budget tremendously, I am so grateful I have my job and love it!

I am especially thankful this week for the yard men who cleaned out my flower bed and put mulch in. That was money well spent!!

I am thankful for my sweet housekeeper that cleans my house and makes my life easier.

I am thankful this week for the small moments with my kids that God has reminded me to slow down and enjoy them. This can be tough when you feel pulled in so many directions!

I am thankful for my girls at school that make me laugh till I cry. (I laughed so hard yesterday I cried my eye make up off) To work with people you love and some of your best friends is absolutely the best!

I am thankful this week for my in laws are so willing to help me with crazy schedules.

I am thankful for the team of people helping prepare for the Ladies Retreat!

I am thankful Spring Break is 15 days away!!!

I hope you can find things in your life to be thankful for today!! Maybe take the time to remind someone you are thinking of them and are thankful they are in your life!!

Sunday Tidbits

I love Sundays! I love worship, learning more about God, and spending time with my small group! Here are a few tidbits God has shown me today:

I am reminded today the importance of spending time with my family learning scripture. Throughout the years I have learned a few scriptures, but where I am as a Christian, I should know so many more. I want my children to know scripture and have the truth to rely on in their time of need. I talked to my kids tonight about us learning scripture as a family and really helping each other follow through. I am excited to see what God will do with this. Our scriptures for this week are:

Deuteronomy 7:5-6 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.

Luke 6: 27-28 But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.


I have a small group that I have been meeting with for years so we have grown close over the years. It's a great group of people to encourage me, challenge me, learn from, laugh with and cry with. I am so blessed! We are currently reading, The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg. This weeks focus was on renewing our mind. This past week I have intentionally focused on my thoughts and what do I spend my time thinking about. Our mind is so powerful! Over the past months I have relied on scripture to help me when I worry or am feeling down and it has really helped so much! Of course I have times that I slip back to thinking about things I shouldn't or dwelling on thoughts I need to get over, but I am really working on renewing my mind and not conforming to the ways of this world. It is an everyday battle!!

Life Updates

This past week has been absolutely full of activity! (Actually the past month) One thing I've learned over the past two months and losing mom is to savor all the little moments. It's so easy to go through our everyday lives and not enjoy the small moments. It's like we are always living for a different stage of life or a different event. THIS is our life! Each day is a part of our journey. We only get one round!! My eyes have really been opened to live each life to the fullest!!! What are we waiting for??

So this week, I've enjoyed going with my daughter to her UIL awards and watching her win 3rd place in writing. I am so proud of her! I've taken my son to baseball practice and I can't help but smile watching him hit the ball and play out field! They really are both such a JOY to me! I've tried to intentionally enjoy all the moments and not get wrapped up in the craziness and become frustrated. (Like I can do on so many occasions) I've loved visiting with them, laughing at their stories, and just watching movies with them. I've known parenting was such an important job, but over the past few months I have really realized the huge impact I have on my kids and it is 24/7 job keeping my kids healthy mentally, physically, and spiritually! I'm committed to giving my kids the best of me I can!

My sweet hubby is working so many hours! I will be glad when we go back to our regular schedule. His crazy schedule has made me appreciate all our moments together very much. I'm so blessed he is not only my husband, but my best friend as well. We have planned a fantastic get away once work slows down. I can hardly wait for that!!!


Work has been so busy and challenging! Keeping these kids focused and following directions is often difficult! We had writing camp this week for my 4th graders and they absolutely loved it. We are reading the novel, Ramona and Her Father, in 3rd grade. It is great!

God continues to work in my life in amazing ways. He whispers gentle reminders to encourage my children and my husband, to love them, and enjoy them. He reminds me to speak up some times about the truth, speak gently on occasions, keep ideas to myself, and some times to just walk away. He often reminds me to ignore some statements and move on. That is often difficult for I will carry a statement or a jab with me often far too long. I read a question the other day that really hit me, "Why would I let his unhappiness dictate my attitude?" Too many times I analyze what someone meant by what they said, or "didn't say", (some times silence speaks volumes!) and I realized, I can't let other people influence my happiness and my attitude. Sadly most times I think they are unhappy with themselves or their life so they say things or remain silent because they are unhappy.

So, life is good! I hope I will continue to stay focused and intentionally live out each of my days.

I hope you can find things in each day to enjoy and savor. Don't rush through all the moments. Notice what blessings God has given you!

Valentine's Day Dinner

We are celebrating as a family and will be serving Chicken Cordon Bleu with honey mustard sauce.

You need:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts- pound to 1/4 thickness
8 thin slices deli ham
4 slices Swiss cheese
2 Tbsp flour
1 egg, beaten
1 cup panko bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
juice from 1/2 lemon
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp olive oil honey

Preheat oven to 450. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Lay two slices of ham and one slice of cheese across each breast, then roll width wise until you have a tight, jellyroll like package.

Place flour, egg, and bread crumbs in separate bowls. Take one roll up at a time and dip it first in the flour, then egg, and finally bread crumbs. Arrange the chicken on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is firm to touch and bread crumbs are crunchy.

While chicken bakes, stir together the lemon juice, mustard, honey, and mayo to make a smooth sauce. Drizzle over the top of the chicken.

Serve with salad and veggies.

We are also going to make chocolate covered strawberries! It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without them!!