Reserve Your Christmas Advent Devotional TODAY!

Some of you may remember me talking about a Christmas Advent Devotional
that my friend wrote last year! Well…we are FINALLY getting our act together and are going to have it available for purchase by the end of October. (if not sooner!)

We are SO very excited and can promise that it will be something that you and your children will cherish doing together for YEARS to come!

If you purchase the devotional, {now titled A Meaningful Christmas} you will receive…
*A hostess guide (that includes ALL of the details to organize your own event)
*24 devotional books (with 24 daily devotionals in each)

And, if you’re interested, here’s what you need to do…
*Make sure you have 24 people willing to participate
*Contact me at aMeaningfulChristmas@yahoo.com
I can’t wait to hear about the huge impact that this has on your children this Christmas!

{Click here to see our “swapping party” from last year!}

1818 Jackson

When my mom turned 7 years old, she moved to 1818 Jackson. And, when she was 12, her Daddy built on to the house. When he did, she had her very own master suite. With her OWN peach colored bathroom and walk in closet.

And, when I was a little girl, my grandparents still lived at 1818 Jackson.
I went to that house countless times.
 
I remember sleeping in my mom’s old bedroom and getting ready in that same peach bathroom.

I remember reading stories in my Gackey’s lap.

I remember riding the donkey on my Papaw’s knee. (with perfect sounds included)

I remember eating an early lunch at the bar in the kitchen.

I remember watching Dallas with my Papaw. (Or hearing it on as I went to sleep.)
 
I remember Easter Egg hunts in the backyard…and always finding them in the clothes line poles.

I remember the smell of the basement…it smelled different that the rest of the house.
  
I remember hiding my Papaw’s cigarettes under the pillows in the front bedroom.

I remember the mustard yellow rotary telephone and thinking it was so cool.

I remember looking for Rugby, their raggedy cocker spanial, through the basement window.

And then going outside on the patio to play with him.



I remember Trick or Treating and the sound of the screen door.

I remember backing out of the driveway in my Papaws “pick up.”   
And, now, included with those fond memories of 1818 Jackson…
I see my big boy playing with his Mammer all over the vacant house.

I see my baby love trying to walk in the living room floor.

And, I thank God for the blessing that this house has now been to our family.

Thanks to the little house at 1818 Jackson, and the fact that my Papaw willed it to me, we were able to pay off SO much debt! In the midst of our crazy changes with Matt’s job and selling our house, we have been in the process of selling this little house too! Slickpaw has spent COUNTLESS hours working to make sure we were able to sell the home in Abilene. And, after all of his hard work, I can excitedly say that Baylor University is completely paid for! And, thanks to the selling of that little house, I am now the proud owner of fun furniture, unique dishes and more.  
   
1818 Jackson will always hold special memories for all of us! And, I can’t wait to see how the new owner fixes it up and sells it to the perfect family that will love it as much as it deserves to be loved.

Get ready…

…Cuz there are TONS of new posts! When your internet and cable are out for THREE days, you have some extra time to catch up! You’ll even have to click “older posts” to see all of them! So…enjoy! I’m ALMOST caught up now!

Blessed Assurance

When we went to our new church for the first time, I was a little shocked to find out that Quinn would be attending “big church” with us. Even though I grew up in a church that had this type of set up, we had never experienced it with our own children.

I must admit that I was a little freaked out and disheartened by the whole thought of it.
How would I listen?
What would I need to bring to keep him entertained?
What if he heard content that I wasn’t quite ready for him to hear?
And, goodness knows he would ask questions about EVERYTHING!!!

After a big of grumbling, I got his “big church bag” ready and we survived. Sadly, I wasn’t able to listen as intently as I would prefer…but, it was going to be ok!

Then, after the first week of this, we got word that Children’s Church was going to be starting on the 25th!! WOOOO hoooo! My problems were solved!

But, on Sunday the 18th, as we were worshiping together in “Big Church,” my heart grew even bigger for my sweet little man…and for my Jesus. 

During praise and worship, Quinn often likes to be held. And, because I’m in mad love with him, I rarely decline the request. As I held my gangly {almost} 4 1/2 year old, I cried as I listened to him BELT OUT the words to “Hosanna!”

“HOSANNA..HOSAaaaaNA…Hosanna in the HIGH WAAYYYYY!!”

He’d sing it over and over…so loud and with NO shame! He didn’t care who was listening…
or not listening…
He was just worshiping God in my arms!

I was blown away by his assurance and his boldness! 
And, right then and there, I prayed that he would NEVER loose it!

And, even though I am thankful for Children’s Church…that moment was priceless to me.

Puppy Love.

When Quinn is at school, sweet Kia gets some extra attention. Honestly I think that Nash is trying to ride her…but our sweet little old lady (she’s 10 1/2, if you can believe that!!!!) rarely turns away sweet love.

Celebrating 4 1/2

Those of  you that know me, know that a half birthday is TOTALLY worth celebrating! So, when Quinn’s 4 1/2 birthday approached, we made plans to make our first trip to Legoland.

After a week of counting down, we excitedly arrived at our destination. Q was ECSTATIC! His Lego obsession started at the end of school last year and quickly escalated! Over the Summer, Legos have OVERTAKEN our house!!! And, his creativity amazes me!

When we arrived at Legoland, we got Quinn’s annual pass purchased (assuming he was going to LOVE it) and waited until it was time to go in!

Weekdays are THE days to go to Legoland. NO ONE was there!!! But, for Q, there must be safety in numbers. … As the door opened and the “Lego scientist” emerged, Quinn was TERRIFIED! The first little “show” where he walked us through the Lego Factory was close to a nightmare. You would have thought that the VIP treatment(seriously, we were the ONLY ones there) would have made it super cool…but, it was quite the opposite!

{Here’s a little look at the face we saw the majority of the time during the “skit”…}Thankfully, he made it through…but, it took him  a while to recover. We had to sit down and have a talk about how “not scary” this all was!!! Bless him.

But, when he realized how happy and colorful and fun everything was, he had a blast!!!

We built in many different areas, climbed, looked at mini-Dallas, rode the fun rides, watched the 4D movie, ate in the Legoland café and ended our visit with a fun Half-Birthday sussy!

{See the steeple?! That’s our new church! :)}

 

 

Then, on Friday night, Mammer and Slickpaw came to visit. They brought the Tahoe so that we could take a big load of stuff to our “rent house”…and, in true Mammer fashion, she brought the perfect little cake for my sweet 1/2 birthday boy! He LOVED his Lego cake!!!

Nash’s First Tea Party

On Saturday, September 17th, Nash put on his best pink shirt to head over to celebrate his girlfriend’s very first birthday! The little priss was full of personality at her garden tea party…and, my little man had no problem playing with all of Everley's girly things…and lounging in her new pink chair! He’s a secure little guy…and loves his sweet friend very much!

Happy First Birthday, Ms. Everley! We love you!

{Rylie was PERFECT entertainment for Nasher during the party! She tried and tried to get him to walk…and, she gave him LOTS of really great practice time! It was precious and he loved her!}