Caden's First Opera

We took Caden to his first opera today. We went to a children's opera at Scott Theatre and saw The Three Little Pigs. I was so excited about taking Caden to the opera that Collin even took off half the afternoon to join us! It was a lot of fun. The actual show was only about 30 minutes, which was a great length for someone new to the opera. The actors engaged the children well. They had questions and answers after the show and let the kids get their picture taken with the cast. The cost was great too, only $5 a ticket. I know Caden doesn't look too happy in the picture with the cast, however, he did say he had fun and wants to see the other show tomorrow. I hope we see many more operas in our future.



Before the show began - silly face!

There was even sword fighting, so fun for a little boy to watch!

He really did enjoy it.  :)

Pursued Weekend

This past weekend I was able to go on a "retreat" with some women from church called Pursued.  Very little was revealed beforehand.  We were taken to a beautiful lodge in the country about 1.5 hours away.

 

Since some of my friends have not been on Pursued I'm not going to go into many details about it.  But I will say that it was fantastic!  A truly life-changing experience.  My relationships with these women really grew.  My toolbox to defeat Satan is now full.  I barely slept even though I honestly had one of the most comfortable beds that is not mine to sleep in while I was there.

 

All women need to have a Pursued weekend experience.  Going through this I have grown so much.  I finally truly feel set free and full of life.  It's amazing how a weekend away with God can change you. 

 

I have the best husband in the world.  Collin took such great care of Caden while I was gone.  This was the first time in my life I went a day without talking to Caden.  That was hard but I needed to spend that time with God.  No phones or computers were allowed.  When I returned my guys met me with two roses, a red one and a while one.  It was so sweet.  I'm such a blessed wife and mother.  Maybe someday when the right words come, I'll share some of my story with you and a little more about what I learned and how I changed from this weekend.  One of my favorite things I was reminded of this weekend is how women are the grand finale of creation.  We were created for a specific purpose and God has an awesome plan for all of us.  If you're ever able to go to Pursued, go.  You will be so glad you did.

Collin's Birthday

Friday was Collin's birthday.  I know I've said this before but I am truly the most blessed woman in the world.  Collin is absolutely the best husband and dad.  He is incredibly smart and kind.  He strives to please God and lead our family in the way of the Lord.  He's funny and humble.  He's also a great provider, loving, and defender of our family.  There is so much more I could say.  He's truly the best!

 

For Collin's birthday, he wanted to have my parents and any siblings of mine that could come over for a lobster dinner.  He always tells me he likes my cooking better than any restaurant we could go to.  I felt very honored to cook his birthday dinner.  I went ahead asked my dad to help with the lobster.  I cooked it last week by myself but wanted to learn from the master lobster cooker.  My step-mother offered to steam the asparagus so really I only provided the lobsters and cooked the potatoes and cake.  My parents and sister and her husband came over and we had a nice evening. 

 

Caden and I bought some flowers and balloons for Collin to surprise him.  Caden loved picking out balloons at the store and has enjoyed playing with them daily since.  We made a Texas Sheet Cake per Collin's request.  Dinner and dessert turned out great.  We enjoyed spending Collin's birthday with some of my family.  I wish his parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews lived closer so they could have joined us.  Happy birthday Collin!

Father and Son playing with the cool balloons

Our feast is ready!

My Dad taught me how to fan the tail of the lobster

Cake time!

 

 

Caden loved helping his dad blow out the candles

Michelle and Kyle

Cathy and Dad

 

Friends, Parties, and Garden

It seems like every week and weekend fills up fast with activities.  Since returning to Texas last year, I don't always do as good of job blogging about these things so I'm going to try and get better. 

 

Friday, Caden and I were able to meet up with my friend Jocelyn and her two boys, Levi and Joel.  Caden and Levi are the same age and it's always fun to get together and let them play.  We ended up going to the museum because it was kind of cold.  The kids had a good time.

 

Friday night Collin and I went to a Love and Logic class and originally the second half was going to be on Saturday morning.  However, so many people were not going to be able to make it Saturday morning that we changed it to another night.  That being said, we missed Caden's friend's Naomi's birthday party because we had already planned on going to the parenting class.  Instead we had a relaxing morning at home.  Caden's friend, Nash, from church, had a hunting birthday party at 3pm for his 4th birthday.  It was really cute.  Not too long before we needed to leave for the party my friend, Kylee, called.  She wanted to talk and hang out so we invited her family over for a last minute dinner.  She has two boys who are not too much older than Caden.  Caden had a blast playing with them.  This was really the first time they've been able to hang out.  He loves older kids and especially playing with big boys.  Sometimes last minute plans work out well.

 

Sunday we went to church and small group.  Nothing too much to report, just a nice day in general.

 

Today (Monday) Collin was off for President's Day.  We thought Caden didn't have school so we all went out to breakfast (not something we do often) and then to Calloway's to get some plants and look at their trees.  We're planting a garden and in the planning stages.  While at Calloway's my friend texted me to let me know Caden had school after all.  I asked him if he wanted to go and he did so we dropped him off after we bought our garden supplies.  This gave Collin and I time to fill our pots and plant our crops.  We're going to move our fence and build a garden on the side of our house.  We actually have a pretty decent size yard.  We want to plant a peach tree or two, probably two so they can cross-pollinate and a pear tree.  We'd like to also plant a large shade tree.  Caden wants a lemon or lime tree.  We'll see.

Here are some pictures from our weekend.

Caden on a bed of nails!

Levi's turn!

Giant light bright

Caden and Quentin at Nash's birthday party

This was a hunting party and they got to shoot things

 

They learned about gun safety

Played pin the ears on the deer. Very cute party.

 

Saturday night- Caden, Kylee, Caiden, Casey, and Andy

So many cute and sweet kids at small group

First crops of the year - kale, tomatoes, broccoli, and strawberries

Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day.  It also marks the 19th anniversary of my mother's passing.  For the past 19 years, Valentine's Day has been a day of mourning for my family.  Not only did my mother pass away, my step-mother's first husband died a year before my mom on this day.

 

In the past, I really didn't do a lot of "Valentine's Day" activities.  Yes, Collin and I would buy each other a card and he'd sometimes get me a little gift.  But we didn't really celebrate it like some do.  This year I wanted to change that.  A friend from MOPS invited Caden and I over to decorate Valentine's Day cookies on Monday.  I said, "yes," and we went.  Caden had fun, especially licking the icing off the cookies.  I bought Valentine's Day cards for his friends at preschool.  He handed them out yesterday.  Today we are going to a Valentine's Day homeschool party on our side of town.  Since I am interested in homeschooling Caden, I joined a homeschool group on our side of town.  By the way, I never imagined I'd even consider homeschooling until we lived in Germany.  As I'm considering homeschooling verses private school, I want to get to know other families who homeschool.  I've never been able to make any of their meet-ups until today.  There are going to be 27 kids at this party, none of whom either of us have met.  It should be fun.  Tonight Collin and I are going on a date.  We were blessed for find a less expensive babysitter from church.  Her family is also a homeschooling family.  I actually don't know the girl just her parents.  She's 13 and I'm sure Caden will love her.

 

Pictures from the cookie decorating party on Monday:

 

 

 

My mother was such an inspiration to me and many others.  She loved Valentine's Day and made an effort every year to make it special for us.  In fact, the morning of the day she died, 19 years ago, I got up early with her to bake cookies for my teachers.  I never would have dreamed that that morning would have been my last morning with her.  She was a wonderful Christian woman who constantly thought of others and I hope to carry on her legacy.  She would not want me to not celebrate a holiday because she's not here to celebrate it with us.  After having Caden I have realized even more how important it is to make family traditions and do fun things on different holidays.  I will never forget my mother's love and friendship.  I miss her everyday and wish she was still here with us.

 

The Bible passage that described my mother best and was spoken at her funeral was 1 Corinthians 13. I hope I live in such a way, that this is the same passage my family and friends remember me as being.

1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

 

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Caden had fun at the Valentine's Day party.  It was neat meeting other homeschoolers in the area.  I loved the house the party was at.  They had 4 cows and I think a few other animals, two dogs at least.  Caden was excited to see the cows.  The kids were all sweet.  Here's a picture from the Valentine's Day party of all the kids.

 

Caden's loot from the party. He also got a lot at preschool the other day.

 

 

Visit to New Mexico

A week ago we got back from a nice 6 day trip to New Mexico to visit and help Collin's parents.  They moved to Las Cruces last Thanksgiving to be near his oldest brother and sister-in-law (Jim and Viola).  His dad got pneumonia in early January and was put in the hospital.  It was pretty serious and they weren't sure if he would make it or not.  We booked our plane tickets as soon as we could and by the time we got there his dad was recovering nicely in the rehab center.  His mom on the otherhand got sick with worry and it was really good we could be there and see them.  Collin spent two nights with his dad in rehab, Caden and I spent three nights with his mom and two nights with Jim and Viola at their beautiful new house.  I spent one afternoon/evening with Collin's dad and it was nice to catch up.  The three of us ate lunch and dinner with him several times as well but spent most of our time with his Mom.  Thankfully his dad is now home with his mom.

 

We love Collin's parents so much and wish we lived closer to them.  I'm just thankful we were able to visit them.  His dad celebrated his 87th birthday yesterday and tomorrow they celebrate 60 years of marriage.  They are both such a wonderful inspiration to us and others.  His mom is one of the most generous people I know.  It was hard seeing her sick and not her usual self.  However, these things happen and we love them no matter what.  This wasn't an easy visit and we really didn't do much besides help and be with his parents.  The last two days I was finally able to take Caden to the park for a little bit and he loved it.  The weather was so nice.  I'm also glad Caden got to see his grandparents and spend some time with them as did we.  We also loved getting to visit Jim, Viola, Jayce, Cindy, and Pat.

Collin and his dad going to the dinning hall

Visiting Granddad Jim at the rehab center

I got to see Jim do his rehab while I was there. He did great!

Sharing a meal with Jim

View from Jim and Viola's house, beautiful!

Caden and NeeNee

Collin and Caden played the piano and sang at the rehab.
Everyone loved it!

3 generations!

9 Years of Marital Bliss

Collin and I celebrated our 9th anniversary last week.  We hired a babysitter for Thursday night so we could see the movie, Les Miserables, which was excellent.  Friday my sister watched Caden and we got to see the Dead Sea Scrolls that are only in town for a short while and go to dinner.  We had a wonderful anniversary and overall have had a great marriage.

We both have changed and grown since getting married 9 years ago.  As a couple we have been through a lot together.  We have lived in a foreign country, had a baby, had 4 miscarriages, and ups and downs just like everyone else does.  However, I think what has really helped us stick it out is having a relationship with God.  We both strive to be imitators of Christ.  Neither one of us is perfect, I especially still have a ways to go, but we are trying and growing daily.  We have made it a priority to never go to bed angry and we have had some late nights while talking things over.  We trust but also are not afraid to question the other if we have a bad feeling about something.  We are also each others best friend.  If Collin needs something I hope I'm always the first one he calls.  If I need something, he's always the first one I call.  We also work as a team and as much as possible try and parent together.  We also strive to stay as debt free as possible.

Every year we try and give a gift from the modern or traditional list.  When we celebrated our first anniversary, 9 years ago, the gift was paper.  We didn't have any money so we made each other a card and I made him a coupon book with free date ideas.  Last year we gave each other Polish Pottery and these year the traditional gift is pottery, which we did last year, so we decided to go with the modern gift of leather and give each other a joint gift.  We spent more than we ever did on this year's gift and bought new leather couches.  The last time we gave something leather was for our 3rd anniversary where I gave Collin a leather bookmark.  Once our couches are delivered I'll post some pictures.  We are so excited and have always wanted leather couches.  I pray we have over 50 more anniversaries together.  I love you, Collin!  Thank you for making my life so wonderful.