Happy Birthday, Son!

It is hard to believe but my baby boy turned 10 today. It seems like it was only yesterday that he was little, running around the house with a blanket tied like a cape so he could be a super hero. As I reflect back on the last ten years of his life, I remember all the questions, songs, games, and time that we have spent together. I was always a little nervous about having a son. I didn't know much about raising a son or what do little boys like to play. However, I wouldn't change it for anything. He is priceless (as well as his sisters are). Here is a look back at some of my favorite pictures of my boy - beginning with a picture I took in the hospital when he was 24 hours old, his first haircut, through the years, and ending with all three of my beautiful kids.

Birthday surprises

My birthday morning began a little different than we had originally planned. As some of you know, Paul had been admitted in the hospital on Friday night with epiglottitis. Our birthday plans were postponed and I woke up on Monday very tired from a long weekend. Paul was going to be released in the afternoon - YEAH! When I got to the school, I was greeted by some decorations on my door and my kindergarten team decided that it was "black day".

Around 9:00 pm our doorbell rang. Paul opened the door as I followed behind. I could quickly see my "Ya-Ya sisters" - aka Debbie, Tamara, and Janice - standing on the porch singing "Happy Birthday" and waving sparklers. We went out for ice cream. It was a great ending to a long weekend.

Happy 40th!

Today I turn 40 years old. It is hard to believe that I am starting a new decade in my life. There is something that I like to do when my anniversary or birthday hits that "0" year and that is to reflect on what God has done in the last few years.



Here are some things that God has done in my life or in my family over the last 10 years.

Six days after I turned 30, God blessed us with our last child, William. I have been blessed with three wonderful children and have been able to see them grow up. One of my favorite memories is that all three of them have asked Jesus to be their Savior and Lord of their lifes. I watched each one of them with tears in my eyes be baptized by the dad. I have learned all about soccer, football, theater/drama, and singing and have watched countless performances by all three. I received my teacher's certification and teach kindergarten. I love to teach kindergarteners. Paul has received his master's degree and began working as an administrator in schools. We have moved from Pflugerville to Cedar Park. The handbell quartet that I love was just beginning 10 years ago. We went to Disney World and to Washington DC for family vacations that are forever etched into my memory. We were able to see Nannie (Paul's grandmother) are our Walt Disney trip and celebrated her 100th birthday. Then we celebrated her life as she went home to heaven in April. I have been married to my best friend for the last 16 plus years. God has truly blessed my life and am excited about what is in store for me during the next 10 years.

Meeting the parents...

After our first date, Paul came and saw me in Austin on Thursday of that week. We went to Chili's on Burnet and 183 and had a great time. I was amazed everytime how we just clicked with everything. I was beginning to realize how well we complimented one another's personality. That fact was also a little scary. I had always heard "love at first sight" and "we knew right away we were right for one another", but now I was actually living it.

In my family, we have several birthdays close to one another. Everyone decided to get together to celebrate my granny's, my cousin's, my aunt's, and my birthday on Nov. 9 & 10. On Saturday, I was headed back to my aunt's house in Temple, where my parents and grandparents would be coming for the weekend. Of course this would be the perfect time for Paul to come and meet everyone. He came over on Saturday and we had a great time. My parents were excited to meet the person that I had begun to talk about. On Sunday, (my 23rd birthday) Paul came over after church for a family dinner. The afternoon went quickly and we enjoyed all being together. One of my favorite memories from that day was when Pa Bill (my grandfather) pulled me aside and said he wanted to give me some advise. His advise was that I needed to date Paul for 90 days and after 90 days then I could make a decision as to what I should do with our relationship. (Little did he know that we would have our wedding planned etc before the 90 days were up)
He also informed me that he had invited Paul to our thanksgiving family reunion. I love the fact that they approved of him.

We had a great time that weekend and it is a birthday that I will never forget.

Our first date...!

Paul and I went out on our first date seventeen years ago today. This is how it all began. After we met on Sunday morning, Paul came back to lead the worship service that night and realized that I had gone back to Austin. He asked my aunt for my number, but she wanted to make sure that it was OK with me. After asking for my number several times, he finally called me on Tuesday night about 11:00 pm (he had to wait to get back home after the Tuesday night service.). He called and asked me if I would like to go to the Amy Grant concert in Waco on Saturday night, Nov. 2. Before I could answer, he said that he was taking 15 students from his church with him. I said that I would love to go and we made arrangements for him to pick me up at my aunt's house in Temple. We talked one other time during the week. Finally Saturday arrived. I went to Temple to my aunt's house. Paul picked me up around 4 pm. We had to drive to Marlin where we were going to have dinner before meeting the kids at the church to go to Waco. Paul told me that he fixed dinner for us and as I walked through the door, I saw that he had a candle lit dinner prepared for us. He had asked some guys in his youth group to come over and light the candles and put the plates that were in the oven on the table. I was so impressed. I had never had anyone make dinner for me.

After dinner, we went to the church to meet the students and get in the church van to go to the concert. It was an interesting ride to the concert. Paul and I on our first date - trying to get to know one another and 15 students trying NOT to listen (ha, ha). We had a great time and after the concert, we drove back to Marlin and then had to drive back to Temple. On the way, Paul asked if I would like to stop to get something warm to drink. It was a very cold night and in a small town, the only place open was a convenience store. We pulled in and both got a hot chocolate to drink. (Looking back on it now, Paul was very smart. I hate the way coffee smells and Paul loves coffee. He picked the right drink for the night!)

Paul and I were finally getting a chance to get to know one another without anyone listening in. We were different in many ways. I am a small town girl from Texas. He was a city boy from Georgia. He was confident and a huge extrovert while I was quiet and reserve. But in many ways, we discovered that we were alike. Our core values and Christian beliefs were the same. We love music. He was in choir and I was in band. By the end of the night, I had realized that I had found someone who was very special. He was someone I wanted to spend more time with and we could talk and laugh about so many things. Our first date is something that we always remember.

Coming up next...."Meeting my family"