LOVE

I can't believe it's been this LOOOONGG since I've posted...I 

meant to post this awhile ago.  Better late than never- 

1 Corinthians 13 

If I decorate my house perfectly with greenery, strands of twinkling lights and fancy gold balls, but do not show love to my family, 

I am just another (wannabe) decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies...preparing semi-gourmet meals and throwing together a beautifully adorned table at mealtime (along with the paper towels), but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I trim the tree with baubles and burlap, attend a myriad of holiday parties and buy and wrap a million gifts... 

...but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. 

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. 

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust...

...but giving the gift of love will endure :-)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and lots of love from our family to yours!

Pumpkin Farm

We had a little adventure out to the Celina's Pumpkin Farm on the Friday before Halloween with 2 extra kids.  My girlfriend Amy (who has 2 boys) and I took... my girls, one of her boys and a friend's 2 boys that would be 5 kids all under 4) to the pumpkin patch on a gorgeous Friday.
It was the PERFECT day to go...no crowds, sunny, 70's and the kids had a great time riding the hay ride, feeding the animals, having a picnic and running around from one pumpkin pile to another.  And No meltdowns!  I think I'm still sneezing from all the hay though:-)

 2 peas in a pod

GO Rangers!

We had a fun Mexican Casserole night for the Ranger's first game of the World Series!

Is it Fall yet?

Gosh I love FALL!   The only problem is...I live in Texas, where fall happens, but it usually happens in November for about a week.  I envy all those who are in the northeast this time of year...the cool crisp air, the changing of leaves...God's beautiful canvas displaying the changing of seasons.
All the Fall stuff is out right now and I can't help but crave the smell of pumpkin bread, apple butter and cinnamon sticks.   I can't stand candy corn but I love the way they look!
I'm going to have to somehow hide them from my monkey climbing daughter who will find ANYthing stack on to something else to get her close to ANYthing that looks like sugar.  Taylor LOVES baking and has been begging me to make cupcakes all week!  So after my 11 mile run Sat morning we baked our first batch of pumpkin muffins (cupcakes) with cream cheese frosting at 8:30 in the morning = happiness :-)

RAIN RAIN RAIN

Gotta love rainy days...well just ONE is okay with me.  I would never do well in Seattle or Ireland (poor Cameron) where it rains.ALL.THE.TIME.  The girls just thought is was awesome like they had never seen rain before in their lives, lol!  Took the opportunity while dinner was cooking to run out front and jump in the puddles....

Never too early....

Lately the girls have really enjoyed helping me with the chores around the house...I'm hoping this will never change (ha ha)  Sorry these pics are horrible, but i love how they are smiling while unloading the dishes:-)

It's fun!

Summer Swimming 2010

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