Friday, November 30, 2007

The Prosperity Gospel



A friend of mine showed this to me (thanks wes), and I figured I better put it on our blog to share with our friends in the blogosphere. Love it.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Huckabee 08

MikeHuckabee.com - I Like Mike!

Well, we are trying to do what we can for the 2008 election as it will be here before we know it. It seems like some people already know about Mike Huckabee, but others have no clue about him. He's a great guy who is moving up in the polls. He's a proven leader and if you watch him in the debates he is awesome. We agree with all of his views and really feel like we could trust him. You can learn more about him anytime on CNN or Fox. He seems to be catching lots of press and is actually becoming a leader. I also have followed him forever cause he was Governor of Arkansas for eight years. He spoke at my high school graduation. A random fact about him is that he has lost over 100 lbs. He used to be quite large and has now run a couple marathons. He's a very unique candidate. I don't know if he can get the nomination, but I think he will at least be the vice-presidential nominee. GO Mike!

Blessings and more....

Well, I thought about doing a "Thanksgiving" post, but it never happened. We have been gone to Arkansas for a few days and then to Lawrence, Kansas to visit Mike's family. We had such a great Thanksgiving and it was so nice to be away. We have so much to be thankful for this year and it has been on my mind so much the past couple of weeks. I am so thankful for our girls and their health. We have seen babies go to heaven this year and ones who are so sick. We have two very lively little girls who bring much joy to us each day in the midst of the toddler chaos. We are so thankful to be in Dallas at Watermark. It seems like the past couple of years have brought so much change and stress that I am feeling so content here. It is an amazing place to worship each week and Mike is loving his job so much. Our pastor's sermon on Sunday was all about gratitude and it really reminded me of how grateful we are to be at a church where Christ is truly the center. It would be an awesome sermon to listen to online. You can go to Watermark.org and then click on media.
I am so thankful that we are about to celebrate my 30th birthday and our 6th wedding anniversary. I cannot believe how fast time goes. It seems like we were just in high school or going on a date in Springfield, MO. I am thankful that each year has brought so much more and drawn me closer to Christ. Mike and I still have so much fun together. We cherish our time together so much more as life with kids has made everything a lot more busy!
I don't think I have blogged about this, but some of you know that I thought I was going to have a skin cancer removed. After, I had Anna a small place showed up on my face on top of my birthmark. It looked similar to a small zit (I know it is gross you may not want to keep reading). I left it there for a few months and then went to a dermatologist. They called it something I had never heard or and removed it with a razor blade. I thought I was going to pass out as they put a shot in my face and then used the razor blade to remove it. They did a biopsy on it to see if it was cancer. I am normally o.k. with pain, but the needle/razor blade thing was awful. They called me and said it was a form of skin cancer underneath my skin, but they weren't sure what it was. We found this out shortly after we moved. The derm. said I should go see a plastic surgeon since it was on my face. I met with a plastic surgeon and he sent me to a specific dermatologist who removed this kind of cancer where they cut a small circle on your face and then "scoop out" the cancer and then after he was done I would go back to the plastic surgeon who would finish the procedure. I was really dreading all of this and really didn't want a bandage on my face for 3 months especially during Christmas. Anyways, I met with the derm. here in TX and he wanted to look at my pathology slides again just to make sure exactly what he thought I would need to have done. He looked at them along with another pathologist and they said it was an "ingrown hair follicle"! I would not need the surgery! I cannot tell you how relieved I am and how thankful I am that I don't have to deal with all of this right now. I do urge any of you to go see the derm. if you are concerned about anything it will be worth it!
Anyways, that was a very random blog post, but it has been on my mind and I thank God for He is so good.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Sweep the Leg Johnny!!!

So I (mike) found this music video that is one of the best I've seen in a while. Incredibly creative, a band got the original cast from the Karate Kid together for an amazing video. If you've got 5 minutes to kill, buckle up and watch this...

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Possibly the best show of all time...


I found out today (possibly old news) that one of my favorite shows from the 80's is coming back with Mr. Hasselhoff himself. Knight Rider is back! The picture shows it all. I can recall many times I wished I had the follwoing things...
a watch I could talk to and tell Kitt to pull around back
an ejection seat in my car just in case
a silent mode button in case I ever needed a detective job on the side
a sweet red light on the front of my car
of course, the most important part, a bullet proof shell on my car in case I get shot at

Favorite Things....

Well, I just saw that Oprah's favorite things episode is on today. I love this episode and I think I've been able to watch it the past couple of years. I will never be able to purchase any of these things, but it does get me excited for a few Christmas presents. I will for sure be watching at 4:00 today while the kids are asleep and I'm sure millions of other SAHM will be joining me! If I could make a "wish list" of my own this year these would be a few items...I'd be curious to hear what would be on your list. It would be a blog topic if you are running out of them like me.
1.) A nice big purse (aka not from target)!
2.) New black and brown shoes. I tend to wear the same ones everyday and they are not in style I don't think. However, the ones that are in style (the ballerina slipper look) I'm not sure that I like them cause you don't wear socks with them and my feet are oh so white.
3.) Jewelry (once again not from Target) I love it, but never wear it cause it is so expensive to buy.
4.) House stuff
5.) A complete day off where it is all about me ha ha! I'm not selfish or anything.
Okay, better go both kids are now crying!

Monday, November 19, 2007

A great trip to Arkansas...


Anna and Reagan!

Cute Cousins!

Anna loving her roll from AQ Chicken! Yummm! Many Presidents have eaten here!

Ellie and Kayla
We had a great visit in Arkansas. It was so nice for us to see my grandparents and for them to meet Anna. Ellie was so kind and sweet to them. She sometimes is fearful of older people, but she warmed up fast to Meme and Pop. It might have been the candy, baby doll, etc.. that my grandpa had waiting for her. We got to stay with Kim and John Hurley. They have a beautiful new house and are adjusting well to Arkansas. I think they are going to attend the church that I attended all of high school. Ellie had a great time with her friends Jay and Kayla. Her and Kayla are best buds. They are about the same size and they both think the other one is hilarious. We enjoyed some yummy food at some of our favorite local restaurants and ventured to the mall for some play time. We ended up getting to see my parents as well since they got there a day early for Thanksgiving. My brother and sister-in-law were there as well. The girls got to play with their favorite cousins Reagan and Avery. They are such sweet girls who love to "baby" Ellie! It was a great time and now we are getting ready to fly out on Wednesday to go to Kansas. Mike is so excited to get his Kansas football shirt since they are now #2 in the country. It is so crazy that they are two wins away from playing in the national championship game! We are really excited to go see all our Shelton family in Lawrence. I hope you are all doing well. We have so much to thank God for this season. Blessings....

Christmas PJ's.....



I couldn't wait until the 25th to get the Christmas PJ's out this year. I wanted the girls to be able to wear them as much as possible since they look so cute in them!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Going Home....






I am so excited cause tomorrow we are going to Arkansas. I cannot believe we live within driving distance of where I spent the fist 21 years of my life! I grew up in Fayetteville/Springdale, Arkansas and it is where all my roots are from childhood etc...All of my family still lives there except for my parents. I try not to think about how nice it would be if they were within you know a 6 hour drive. Mike has some vacation days to use before January and this is the only weekend between now and Christmas that worked out. Our main reason for going is to visit my grandma and grandpa. My "Meme" is not doing very well and I really want her to meet Anna. She is now on hospice care and we don't know how long she has until she goes home to Heaven. She's a fun lady... I actually think Ellie has some of her spunk and strawberry blonde hair. I lived in the same town as my grandparents for 13 years of my life. My high school, church, dad's job, etc... were all across the street from their house. I went shopping with my meme all the time. She loved her "Dillards" Card. She gave me a love for books and laughter. They attended all my ball games, track meets, etc... I spent so many nights at their house I had my own room! I have so many good memories that I will never forget so I am really glad we are not in Carolina and we have this opportunity to go see them.
I also cannot wait to be in cool weather. Fayetteville is in the Ozark Mountains and it really is a beautiful place. I am so excited to be in a forecast that is not 84 degrees like it was here today. I hope to go to just one of my favorite restaurants and maybe take the girls to the Univ. of Arkansas campus. (I will always be a hog fan!) We are staying with our good friends Kim and John Hurley. We've known them all of seminary and this past year in Raleigh we lived in the same neighborhood. They just recently moved to Arkansas for a job transfer. We hope to maybe go on a double date with them. We don't really desire to go out with our four kids. There would be little opportunity for adult conversation. Anyways, we will come home on Sunday and I look forward to sharing some fun pictures. These are a few random ones I've taken the past couple of weeks. You can tell Anna is totally into snacks these days and is pulling up on everything. She also loves to find Ellie's sippy cup even though Ellie does not like it. Anna has already enjoyed juice, chocolate milk, and sprite. She's very sneaky.
Ellie's vocabulary is growing everyday. I plan on getting the video camera out soon. She loves to sing in the car and we have real conversations that are quite funny sometimes. Ellie has to say "sorry" quite often it seems like during the day. When she says "sorry" I always say I forgive you. Tonight, we are riding in the car and I told Ellie sorry about something and she said "I forgive you". It was so great and funny! She's very into having good manners lately and loves to say excuse me, sorry, please mommy (I hear this at least 50 times a day). Anyways, she's very fun right now and at the same time I'd say it is the most challenging time with Miss Ellie. Are any other mom's out there with 27 month olds going through some of the battles I'm going through everyday? However, I love her so much and thank God she's here with us everyday. Have a blessed day!

Friday, November 9, 2007

A Ballerina and a cat....


Sweet Sisters!


I love to dance!

Anna the Cat!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

"The Draw" Ranch Party



Here's a video I (mike) put together from our ranch party last weekend. It was a blast, and the kids loved it. After the video you'll see a bunch of ours at the bottom that you can scroll through to watch

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Do we look like Texans?

Every year the high school ministry does an event called "The Draw". It is a ranch party about an hour from Dallas. There is a family at Watermark that owns some land and has built a really neat "barn house" that they let us use. The night was really fun cause there were hayrides, smores, a mechanical bull, and lots of country dancing. I ended up taking the kids and they did really good. Ellie loved seeing all of the students and of course the country music. It was a great opportunity for the students to invite their friends to a really fun event!


What do you think of Mike's hat?

Anna's First Dance!

Ellie and Mike having some two step fun!

Friday, November 2, 2007

The Flood

Here's a fun video from when there was a "flood" a couple of weeks ago and the youth staff had some fun with it!