Stream of Consciousness

 I am making a pact with myself to not let this Advent Season get us in a tizzy.  I want to say no to things, enjoy my family, and not make the fellas get this deer in headlights look:

That was my ever patient fellas last minute sweating profusely in my neighbor's front yard while trying to grab a quick Christmas photo.  I have been in denial that I needed to do that, much less edit any photo whatsoever.  I'm so over it.

The other day Justin looked at Derek and said, "Daddy, I really love you."

Derek gave him a hug and said thank you.

And then Justin says, "But I love Mommy more."  Yes he did.  We laugh about it every time we talk about it.

Justin also told me that the devil told him I was a different person when I wore a ponytail.  The child has never liked his mommy in a ponytail, which is what I wear every day for our morning walks.  Lucky for him I don't wear them much when "out on the town".

I came home the other night from a Sunday School Women's Dinner and when the garage door opened Roxy ran out the door.  Yes, my dog had been locked up in the garage for a few hours, forgotten by the boys.  She doesn't bark when things like this happen, so I have also tried to find her for 30 minutes only to find her locked in a closet. 

We went to Stomping Grounds last Tuesday for our fun day with a last minute addition of Luke Pine.  We met triplets there with the same birthday and as as Justin.  They all bonded immediately and wanted to play together again soon.  After checking with their nanny, we decided the August 31st kiddos needed to stick together.


Last week we had two last minute sleepovers.  We went to Grace Wilson's championship soccer game which Derek commented that their were as many people present as there were when he played sports in high school.  I don't think we are ready for Houston competitive sports, though they await us.  Derek also commented that Dawn reminded him of his mother at these games as she yelled at Grace to get the ball.  What surprised us the most was the way Justin was whooping and hollering as well.  Even I got into it, and my child wasn't playing.  Oh my word - I am going to be THAT mom.

Anyways, the game went late, we brought Luke and Lily home with us and I decided we were all going to bed.  And imagine that they went to sleep without their lovies, their night lights, etc.  And to top off the blessing, Justin woke up at 6:50am noticed everyone was still asleep, and went back to bed until everyone woke up.  We should hire friends to come sleepover with us!

Then on Friday night we went to dinner with Leslie and her kids.  Derek said Luke (the other Luke) should spend the night.  Bonus for a solo child.  Once again, we had a later-than-6:30 wake up call.  The boys wanted to be triplets (I explained they could only be twins) and decided to go get kolaches wearing this:

Um, yes, I had them do cheek-to-cheek.  Yes, both fathers said that needs to stop.  Grin.

I am now officially 49 days into this monthly cycle.  I have only done one round of fertility shots since my body is very abnormal right now.  I view it as a blessing from the Lord - I wasn't ready to shoot up again. 

My heart is heavy for the orphan.  I was reading this post and am torn between wanting to grab those babies and sending money to help feed this poor mother.  Such need, and I have a house ready to love on someone.  Lord, make me obedient to what you are calling us to do as a family.

Go download the song Actions Speak Louder.  Not only did I listen to it 20 times yesterday, but every download helps build an orphanage in Sudan.  We are His hands, His feet.  99 cents people - be obedient.

I was just made aware of Yellowstone Academy in Houston.   You can shepherd a child and spend time with them once a month.   Take an underprivileged child to something as basic as Chick-fil-A.  To bless them in ways their parents don't have the means to.  So much need - how does the Lord stomach it?  I can't feign ignorance anymore since the Lord has opened my eyes, my heart, my wallet to the hurting.

That's all I got right now.  So behind on posts, without much heart in the blog right now.  If this post shows up on Google Reader, my cousin's wedding post is here.  For reason it never showed up.  Like I said, passion for the blog is being removed form my life right now.  Until next time...

Ginger's Wedding

The day had finally come for the wedding of my cousin, Ginger.  It was a weekend that was full of excitement, a whirlwind of activities, and such a wonderful memory of a new union of believers.  If only there were more marriages that started off with such a passion for the Lord!

My parents, Aaron & Elise, Derek, Shane and I all boarded up on a plane on Saturday morning to fly into Phoenix.  The boys raced off to the golf course while the ladies went to the house we were staying at to drop off our gear, change clothes, and 25 minutes later be in the car to drive down south for the bridesmaid luncheon at Arcadia Farms.

Ginger with her grandmothers

Ginger with her mom and now mother-in-law

All the lovely bridesmaids: David's sister, Lauren, Val & Gingi, Megan, who is single and has adopted a little boy, Whitney, who I have known forever, and Becca, who is single and also looking to adopt. 

Blown away by these single friends of Ginger's that either have already adopted or thinking about it.  Without a husband, without the means to stay at home leisurely.  Man these ladies challenge me in a serious way.

Some of the lovely ladies included in the weekend, including Joy, the longest friend I have known of the bunch and Annie, the newest friend of the bunch.  So new that Ginger and Annie had just met for the first time...at the wedding...

Morby cousins

The hostesses - my mom, Ginger's aunt Linda, Pam & Joannie

Ginger gave a speech about everyone there - I am impressed she made it through the whole way.  Lots of tears.

And plenty of laughter

Of course saving momma for the end.   Kerry was a beautiful mother of the bride the entire weekend.

We finished up our fun, went home for a couple hours, then headed back down way south for the rehearsal dinner. 

The couple of the hour

Me and my beloved Ginger

I love these "action" shots - all the cousins minus Aaron

A more perfected outcome

Such a great idea - nametags with everyone's choice of how to identify themselves.  This was Shane's choice:

Linda was teaching everyone how to take a better neck photo.  You look at the sky...

...and then on "three" you look at the camera.  You apparently don't have as much of a droop in your appearance then way.  Try it.

Lots of matchiness going on for the evening.  The uncles

...with their tasseled shoes. 

The Millers and Dave's mom with their red shoes.

Three fellas keeping on the outskirts.  Did I mention that it was almost 80 degrees?

Then the time came for the toasts.  The best of the evening was Uncle Steve's ballad that he wrote for the happy couple.  He sang multiple stanzas that he wrote himself.  Never a dull moment with the Morbys continually up to their antics.

The only photo I managed to get of the two of us.  For as many photos as I took of the weekend there were so many I failed to capture.  Next event.

Our crew all stumbled home still on central time and slept hard.  The next morning Derek & Shane played another round of golf, my parents went hiking, and I stayed at the house with Aaron & Elise.

Derek's coworker has a sister with a second home in Scottsdale.  Though it was a lot farther north from all the weekend festivities, it was a vacation all on its own.  Our only regret is that we didn't stay an extra day just to enjoy the house, the pool, the area, the weather.

The natural landscaping is still something I have to get used to.  Where would my dog go to the bathroom?  Still so fascinating all the wonderful climates the Lord has allowed everyone to enjoy.

We went and ate Rubios Fish Tacos  for lunch.  Then the rest of the group went home, and Elise & I met up with Hilary & Joannie at H&M.  I somehow manage to travel to a place once a year where an H&M is located.  Now that it is coming to Dallas (where is the Houston love?), the visits might be more frequent.

We went home for an hour, then got back in the car to travel to the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain.  Here are some of the family photos I managed to capture (without trying to micromanage the issue):

Um, didn't know photos were over.

Finally figured it out

The Millers & Steve Morbys

Me and my only living grandmother

It's so fun to see everyone all dolled up

Waiting for the big event

Gorgeous backdrop for the wedding

Waiting, waiting, waiting

Sweet Grandpa looking all spiffy

The beautiful bride

Joy gave an amazing excerpt from a book that both Ginger and David talked about on their first date - Severe Mercy.   I was on the edge of my seat as Joy had the entire audience captured with her story telling.

Mr. & Mrs.

The entertainment of the night was the photo booth.  Some of us snuck in early during the cocktail hour to take our photos and our videos.

There was some character role playing.

Lots of silliness going on.

Clayboy

The Morby/Smith younger men

Plus Derek.  Guess we need David in here to make it complete.

My first dance - seems so long ago

There was a dance off for all the married couples in the room

My great Aunt Kathryn and Uncle Dan were one of the last three couples standing for the longest duration of marriage represented for the evening.

My lovely Grandparents won the prize for the most years of marriage - almost 62 years (in December)!

In lieu of a cake, they served gelato instead.  Brilliant!

Then it was time for everyone to go home.

Cheers to the bride and groom to their new married life.  May it filled with joy, laughter, and a fierce richness that only a marriage rooted in the Lord could experience.

Peace out, Blogger, I am so over you....