South Texas Weather Report

Just to let those of you who are tired of cold, wintry weather, that is was 99degrees here today in the sunny Rio Grande Valley. YUCK. I like summer-like weather, but to have temperatures that hot in February...Yuck. Can you imagine what summer will be like? Looks like I'm going back to the mountains for summer this year! Just Kidding, although I would love to go to NC for the summer. Anyway, it's supposed to be back to the 80's tomorrow. I guess we'll have to wait and see if weather.com is right.

100th post

After this, I only have 2 more entries to reach my 100th post. I've heard that you are supposed to do something cool for your 100th entry, so i'm looking for some creative ideas. Please help me out. Thanks...

More Cheese, Please!

I told Andrew this story was blog worthy so I guess I should share it.

He is reading a book for school, I'm not even sure what the title is, but in the book the main character was apparently having supper: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, broccoli and cheese, and apple salad. So Andrew comes to me and says that sounds good can we have this for supper. "Sure!" I said. I really didn't have anything planned. He likes to help me cook so together we made the meatloaf, peeled and cooked potatoes for mashing, steamed the broccoli, and concocted a cheese sauce out of Borden's American cheese slices and milk (I wasn't sure it would work, but it was actually pretty good). Now, normally when i fix broccoli I only steam it with a little butter so to have cheese was a treat for the boys. Needless to say it was a big hit, I mean what kid doesn't like cheese? They ate all the broccoli we prepared and Andrew even fixed more. The two of them a lot of broccoli that night. Andrew even wanted to take some for lunch the next day but there is no way for him to heat it up to melt the cheese. Anyway, for a mom who is always looking for a way to get her kids to eat more vegetables, you would think I would have thought of cheese sooner. I guess we're never too old to learn.

"Knees to the Earth"

I heard this song this morning and was very uplifted by it so I wanted to share it with all of you. Music has always been an inspirtation for me and I hope it is for you as well. Please scroll on down to the bottom of my blog to the music player, scroll to the bottom of the list of songs click on "knees to the earth" if its not already playing, close your eyes and be lifted. Enjoy. Here are the lyrics:

Wonderful Savior

My heart belongs to Thee

I will remember always the blood You shed for me

Wonderful Savior

My heart will know Your worth

So I will embrace You always as I walk this earth

Chorus:

Be blessed, be loved, be lifted high

Be treasured here

Be glorified

I owe my life to You my Lord

Here I am....

Beautiful Jesus

How may I bless Your heart?

Knees to the earth

I bow down to everything You are

Beautiful Jesus

You are my only worth

So let me embrace You always

as I walk this earth

Chorus

Rhuematoid Arthritis Update

I had a routine follow-up appointment today and my RA is still in remission! Yeah!! God is so good! Just wanted to let everyone know...

Yeah!!! WE WON!!!

WOOHOOO!!!!! You should've seen it. The Bulls were on fire tonight! The Celtics, not so much. The little fellas just played their hearts out and it payed off. Andrew even drew a foul and had to make foul shots. He's tried so hard to avoid getting fouled because he's not that great at the free-throws, however, he went to the line, planted his feet and tried his hardest. He stilled missed both shots but he was very close to making them. I think it helped his ego a little that he came as close as he did, not to mention what the win did for the entire team. Thanks again for saying prayers for them.

Happy Valentine's Day

He loves me...he loves me not...HE LOVES ME!!!

I hope everyone had a great and happy Valentine's day. It's been pretty uneventful in the way of romantic things (we've been busy with basketball and Richard had to work today), but my husband did get me an awesome display of flowers. My two favorite flowers are white Roses and Rubrim or Day Lilies and that exactly what the arrangement is made up of! Those are the two flowers that made up my wedding bouquet, unbeknownst to him. Of course he said he had planned it, but I think he's lying. Now let me tell you a little about this wonderful arrangement. It is the tallest one I've ever received. It stands 36 inches from bottom to top of the tallest rose. The vase itself is 16 inches tall. WOW! It is beautiful. Nonetheless, I was very excited to wake up to such a wonderful and thoughtful gift. He does love me and I do love him.

The boys received Valentine's from a number of people, including their grandparents. Mamo (Richard's Mom) included a red ballon in each card. I was happy to blow them up and tie them off for each kid and then Andrew started decorateing his. Well, you know what ever big brother does, little brother has to do as well. So, Andrew and I both helped Aaron decorate his balloon. They have been playing with them all day. Who would've known a little red balloon could make two little boys so very happy. Thank you, Mamo!

...and the Suns win it in Overtime!

Yep, yep, yep. The Suns beat the Bulls in Overtime. Wow, what a game!!! With the tension of the game and the cheering coming from the crowd, one would have thought we were at the Dean Dome in an overtime game between the Tarheels and the Blue Devils (that's University of NC and Duke University. BTW, did anyone happen to see the Tarheels BEAT the Blue Devils last night? I DID!!! Thank God for ESPN!)! The score was in double digits...10 to 10 and the game clocked ended sending us into overtime! The Bulls played theire little hearts out and tried every chance they had to make the basket, but it all came down to a lucky shot for the Suns. The crowd went wild, for the other team, that is. The Bulls sideline sat down with an, "AWWWW." The final score...10 to 12. I just wanted to thank everyone for saying a little prayer for our Bulls. They are really starting to come together as a team and it's starting to show. Keep your fingers crossed that next Tuesday's game will be the winning game for them.

Bulls VS. Spurs

I know there are at least some grandparents out there that want to see Andrew play basketball. This is the game he had on 2/10 against the Spurs. His team is the Bulls!!! He's number 6, and of course one of the only anglo kids on the team. We haven't won a game yet, but it's not about winning at this point. The kids are still learning the basic foundations for the game. However, it would boost them greatly to win at least one game so please say a little prayer that tomorrow's game will go well. The game tomorrow is at 8:00 central time. In the meantime, enjoy the video clips of the Bulls and the Spurs in action.

Be Encouraged

I've been trying to bring you words of encouragement from Women of Faith, but today I found encouragement in the music Ministers corner of the church bulletin. Here's what he had to say:

Have you ever wondered why we "enter His gates with thanksgiving" when we come together to worship? Probably not, but it's an interesting question. Why start with thanksgiving? Why not start with praise (affirming the characteristics of God), or with confession, or petition? Why thanksgiving? I believe it's because God meets us where we are. To begin worship with praise would assume we all come into worship with an awareness of God's presence, His characteristics, etc. But the truth is, many times we're running on fumes, not particularly tuned to God's channel. Thanksgiving is "earthy". It is God meeting us where we are. It generally centers around physical provision... the ways God cares for us in this world. To me, it's like God is saying, "So, you're not aware of Me in your life right now? Your eyes are on the bills, food, shelter, the kids, your to-do lists? That's okay. We'll start there. See me in the midst of your physical needs. See that I am with you through it all." God meets us where we are in thanksgiving and as we become aware of Him, we move naturally into praise, confession, petition, and true adoration. As you come into worship..., look at your life and see God there...and thank Him.

~Pastor Mark Richardson

I hope you are encoraged by this as I was. I pray that each of you have a blessed week.

The One-Socked Bandit Strikes Again

For some unknown reason, Aaron likes to wear one sock, and one sock only. I haven't quite figured out why yet, but he is usually running around the house with no pants (underwear and t-shirt a must) and one sock. Why one sock? To his long list of nicknames, we've added "The One-socked Bandit!" Sounds scary and quite fierce, huh? He is harmless, you know. Well, until he strikes again, TA-TA for now!

My How Time Flies

I keep meaning to get on here and post something, but time just seems to get away from me. This new year has brought many new things for me to try to juggle, but more importantly, balance between Richard's ever changing schedule and the kids.
Last week was the first week of the new Beth Moore Bible study on "Esther: It's tough being a woman"(Ain't that the truth) that I started. Plus, I was asked to be a small group leader at MOPS this semester,plus basketball started for Andrew (more on that later) so practices are on Wednesday evenings and games are on Tuesday's and Thursday's, and Richard and I signed up to take Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University study at church. Needless, to say Wednesday's are gonna be very busy for me and we didn't make it to Financial Peace U tonight due to basketball practice and homework. Whew! I'm tired! I feel like God wanted me to be busy so I'll thank Him for all of it and trust that he'll get me through. I really don't know how some of you moms do it with more than 2 kids, but just know that you are an encouragement to me!