Good Friends

So, a few months ago I made a new friend in Rachel. She used to teach with my mom in Taylor and she and I hit off right away. We have been hanging out and texting often (except this week since school started...she's ignoring me :P). Anyways she was kind enough to give me this:

Well today, I got a wonderful surprise package in the mail from my friend Wendi. When we were younger (11 years ago) her and her husband, and me and Gabe would hang out and do some fun stuff together. We lost touch when we moved to Dallas and they moved to Seattle. Then about 6 years ago we found them in a Home Depot in Lewisville....go figure that one out all GOD. We got to hang out again, but then lost touch a little bit again when they moved to Sugarland. But now that we are in Round Rock, and we have gotten to see them 3 times in about 4 months...I know we are very special!!! In fact, this last time Wendi and the kids got to spend about 8 hours with us. So we had 6 children UNDER the age of 5 in my tiny little apartment. All the kids did great and we even took them swimming. It took me until Thursday to get the apt back together, but that's only because I just ignored the mess...heehee.

Well, Wendi surprised me today with a package in the mail. In fact, I was so surprised that we even had a package I opened it in the apartment office. Look what I found inside:

I know...what your thinking...why am I so excited to get this stuff!?! Well, first of all...it's fun new stuff to play with and to help make my card business better!!! Second, because it is such a sweet thank you from an old friend that I wish I was able to be closer with!! I think my favorite part of the whole box is in the lower left portion of the picture...it's a fun little digital picture sphere....I am just sad that I don't think I have any triple a batteries...oh well...i will get it to work soon....maybe even before taco night tomorrow!!!

Please pray for Abby!

Does everyone follow the Riggs family blog? If you are not familiar with this amazing family.... check out their blog. They are a diverse family and full of love. They have 4 biological children, 2 children from Guatemala, and a beautiful daughter from Ethiopia. One of their Guatemalan children, Abby, was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. Bless her little heart. She is precious!

Abby has some pretty intensive chemo treatments 1-4 times per week for the next 5 MONTHS.... This means lots of time at the hospital, lots of time needing to be spent helping Abby.... a lot less time for making meals and cleaning houses, etc...

You can read more about what is going on at the Rigg's blog.

So many of us who do not live in the area have wanted to help but haven't known what we could do. WELL HERE WE GO! Some sweet friends of mine who live in the area ( Amy B and Carol B- Lauren's mom) are putting together plans for how to serve this family during this difficult time. Part of this will be providing lots of meals for them to relieve some of the stress. We want these precious parents to be able to focus on their children as much as possible. Let's help them do that!

If you are interested in sending or giving money for meals, that is welcomed. Either contact Amy to send the payment, or pay via paypal. (Directions on how to do this below) A few of these friends in OKC area are going to be making frozen meals at Supper Thyme to give to the family. (One meal to serve 7 is approximately $25) If you live local and are interested in delivering a frozen or refrigerated meal to them at the hospital, either message Amy at amyde63@hotmail.com or leave a comment at her blog.

Directions to give via paypal: Once you are logged into your account, click Send Money. In the "To" box, type in my email address - amyde63@hotmail.com Type in the amount, and then click services/other, and then click continue. Wah lah.

Would you also consider posting this on your blog to help us spread the word??? THANK YOU SO MUCH! This is what we are supposed to be for one another.... let's stop long enough to care.

Our weekend at the Ranch

So, I've been extremely busy with my little card business over the last few week. Please go check it out and see what all I've been up to, hence why I've not blogged much. But here it goes for our fun weekend.

Gabe was on call on Saturday and worked on Sunday, so he couldn't go with us. The children and I loaded up and road to Burnet with my parents. It's about a 30-45 min trip from our apartment in Round Rock. We got there just in time to change clothes and head over to the wedding. The wedding was supposed to start at 7pm, but we had a small 10-15 min rain delay!!

Once the shower passed, we were able to dry our seats and the wedding got under way. There was only one other small delay in that we were waiting on Jessica, but the rain was still over the barn where she and the wagon were. The rain sure did make for a memorable wedding!!!

After the wedding we headed to the Fair Barn for the reception. Perryn and Teagan were up 4 hours PASSED their bedtime, which made for a hard Sunday. (On a side note: most children who go to bed TOO late, sleep late right? Not mine...they were up at 7 AM and had both been up once during the night too!!!!) We went had brunch with the family at Highlanders, then back up to the ranch to help feed the horses and get a chance to ride one. Perryn got to go first which made for a nice fit from Teagan. But he was excited to be distracted with picking up rocks!!??!!

We got to each lunch with Uncle Mo, Annie Bell, and Glenna Bell. Jessica and Kyle came for a short visit and then we left at about 3. Teagan was asleep before we had the truck packed to come back and Perryn was asleep before we were out of town!! We were ALL asleep by 9pm that night!!!

Here are my favorite pictures from the weekend and then there are more in the slideshow to the right. I also put in some of our other summer fun in the slide show too. Enjoy!!

Teagan soaking wet after the rain delay!!!
Perryn worried about more rain!!

Big Daddy and Teagan talking to Cody.

Perryn and Cody

Teagan and Cody

Cody and Jessica

Crashed on the way back to Round Rock.

Can't get the video to upload...maybe another day!!!

Our New Family Theme Song

Yours by Steven Curtis Chapman

Our weekend part 1

Ok, so I have some really good pictures and stories to tell about our trip to the family ranch in Burnet, but I have NO TIME to post right now. My dad; however, has just started a blog...not sure where the world is going when my parents join face book and now my dad has a blog....Anyways, go check out his bl0g to see some teaser pictures. I promise as soon as I get this announcment order finished and before I start my next order I will post about the great wedding out at the ranch.

Til then....

God says no for a reason

I found this on my friend Amy's blog. This can speak to so many parts of our lives. For me, it's showing me how to live life even in the midst of everything going on in our lives right now. Thanks Amy!!

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

Teagan.....too funny!

Ok, so Teagan has started talking A LOT these days. It is so funny to hear all the funny words that come out of his mouth. I just had to share him saying 'firetruck', 'ambulance', 'motorcycle', and 'i love you'. Enjoy!!

Paul's bday cake

So my brother-in-law, Paul turned 30 last week and we had a surprise party for him. I felt very honored that my sister trusted me to make the save the dates, the invitations, and the cake. She was able to come over the Friday before the party and help with this scrabble board. We decoupaged the scrabble board with pictures and old letter tiles. Cynthia hot glued the letters on and then also used the 4 tile holders to make words that described Paul as well. Enjoy.

You will have to make it over my website to see the invitations and the save the date postcards....

The top
(yes, I put the actual scrabble board onto the cake itself!!)

here are the sides