Back To School!!

For everyone not keeping up with our life we are about to have 2 pretty significant things happen to us this week. The first one is tomorrow. I (Chris) am going back to school. I did not think I would ever say that again 8 1/2 years ago but tonight as I type this, I am so very excited. I can't wait actually. I know that may sound weird but I have been looking forward to this day since early March. I know it will be different and it will take some time to get used to it, but I look forward to the challenge. As a family, we are ready to take on a new kind of being busy (after 7 plus years of full time ministry). It will be a 2 year crazy journey, but it will be one we do together as a family.

And speaking of family, the second big event this week happens on Friday. Our little girl, Parker, comes into the world around 7:30 am Friday morning. And as excited as I am about starting school, it pales in comparison to the birth of our second child. But more on this later this week.

Me and Jana @ church last Sunday. We have our ACU Wildcat spirit going! Jana was one of my roomies during my incarceration (ha ha) at ACU! Her husband, Brandon, (one of Chris' former roomies) is teaching in the Graphic Design Dept at ACU. We are so happy to hang out with them again, and especially their kids! It's so fun to watch your friends as parents. We all grow up too fast!

We tried to get Cade and Jana's little girl together for a photo shoot for the ACU magazine, ACU Today. As you can see... Cade is afraid of girls! He loves Jana's little boy who is 4. He follows him around and tries to imitate him, but Skylar is a different story! For some reason EVERY time we got her near him he would FREAK out! I just kept telling him to get used to little girls, Buddy! There's one coming to our house very soon!!!

One week to go!

I didn't want to publish pictures of me, but many of you have asked! Don't laugh! I'm very sensitive and emotional right now!!!!!

Little Man

We took this picture a few days ago. It is one of the rare times Cade was actually asleep in the car. As you can see, he was really asleep!! It is hard to believe that he is getting so big. And even harder to believe he will soon be a big brother. We are very excited about that!! Lately Cade has been attempting to stand on his own. He does it more and more so we are hopeful he will start walking soon.

Who likes change?

And I'm not talking quarters, dimes or nickles! I have come to love change. In fact, I might be addicted. My friend, Erin, makes fun of me b/c I'm always getting a new haircut. I say, WHO CARES, it's just hair. It will grow back, right? You've heard the phrase "Change or die"? I'm not sure about the die part, but change can certainly liven up your life. Keep you on your toes. We have had so much change in our lives since 2008 began that I can't imagine another life. I can't imagine staying in one place and doing the same routine over and over for the rest of my life. Some people love that kind of life, but I have to say... I'm not one of you!
I just think life is too short to do the same ole thing over and over again. There are some people who are inspiring with their change in life: First, Chris' brother, Tony, has moved to Colorado for a year to work and live just because he can right now. I think getting a new perspective in another city or state is an awesome way to grow and learn more about yourself. Don't get me wrong, it is a challenge. I should know from previous experience, but SO worth it. When we first moved to VA I didn't want to drive on Highway 66 b/c of all the crazy traffic. I was so scared! Chris drove me almost every where for a few months! Then, I realized i had to do it on my own eventually. I also remembered the words of my Mom when we moved to Dallas (from Memphis, TN) when I was in high school, "If we keep driving and start seeing signs that we are leaving Texas then we are lost! Otherwise, we're not lost we'll just keep driving until we find our destination"! Believe it or not, that came in handy. We drove around so much discovering new places that when I was finally able to drive around Dallas/Ft Worth with friends I knew exactly where were going and didn't need a map! And I always found my way home. It was her attitude towards the change of scenery that I learned about during that time.

Other people who have inspired me- military families. WOW! They move a lot!! Besides all the packing and unpacking they have to learn new streets, new places to discover, new churches, new kinds of food specific to the area of the world they are living. The list goes on and on! I came to appreciate this way of life living so close to D.C. The spouses and children deserve medals to wear on their shoulders as well. The government might tell them where to live, but it's mom and dad who teach the kids about changing and growing to make life interesting.

So, from changing your hairstyle or moving to a new state I hope you have been inspired by this blog to get out of the same 'ol routine and do something new. Go crazy!

35 years...

Today (August 6) is my birthday (this is Mindy btw). I want to say thank you to all who sent cards and emails and phone calls. It really made my day. I've been having contractions and feeling blah since this past weekend. Nothing to worry about. It's just annoying. So, today was so special to get all the greetings. It truly did make my day special. Thank you!

I must brag on 2 very special people who really made this day wonderful. Chris and my sister, Missy. First, b/c I wasn't feeling up to mom duties today Chris did EVERYTHING around the house. He's done laundry, dishes, and all the household chores. He's also done EVERYTHING for Cade. He gets him up in the morning, gets him dressed, feeds him every meal, bathes him at night and puts him to bed. Besides playing with him, helping him to learn how to walk and talk, reading him books and so on and so on! Chris is seriously a great husband and father. I must embarrass him right now and tell all of you how awesome he is. I am really going to hate it when he starts school! I am spoiled rotten right now!!!
Missy was going to babysit for us so we could go to dinner, but since I wasn't feeling up to it she came over for dinner and ate with us. AND... she brought over a homemade Paula Dean 6 layer cake!!!!! Oh my goodness! It is yummy! She also played and played with Cade. He enjoyed that so much! He was "dancing" with her while they palyed on one of his musical toys. It was so adorable. I hate that I didn't get that on video for all of you to see; we'll have to have a reinactment. Missy also tried to get Cade back to sleep after we put him to bed and an hour later he woke up crying. He's still having trouble with that, but we think it's just one of those developmental phases again (we've been working hard on trying to get him to walk before P arrives). She was unable to get him back to sleep, but we appreciate her trying after we were exhausted from trying everything we know. Thanks Miss!
Today was a great day! Thank you to all who made this day wonderful and special for me! You guys ROCK!
Love to everyone! I'll keep you posted on any Parker news...
Mindy

Final Countdown

Well we are about 3 and half weeks from Parker's arrival. I am very excited but not nearly as excited as Mindy!!! (understatement of the year) We are putting the finishing touches on Parker's room this week. Also, we are getting a bag ready to head the hospital just in case she decides to pull a Cade and come early. Right now she is scheduled to arrive sometime the morning of August 29th. We actually have some ultra-sound pics from a couple of weeks ago but it is hard to tell from the scanned version what you are looking at so I didn't put them up. But believe me she is there and she is very active. We can only hope she looks like her mother!!!

This past weekend we went to church with my sister and her husband in Keller. I had been before but it was Mindy's first time. We put Cade in the nursery and he did pretty well. It was a great service and was the first time that Mindy and I were able to worship together without having to be in charge of something in some time. It was very nice. Most of the songs were unfamiliar but easy to pick up. We really enjoyed he worship time (I think Mindy enjoyed it most). It go me to thinking. I know, I know I won't go to deep here. I know I have another blog for that. But I guess I just was sitting there thinking of several things as we sang and prayed and listened. I have not thought much about what type of church I would like for our family to be a part of until recently. I know that sounds weird but its true. I know that Mindy has spent several weeks thinking about it and we have talked about it but I didn't really think much about it until the past couple of days. Even as we drove from Grapevine to Abilene this afternoon we discussed the need to find somewhere here that we feel comfortable and somewhere we can feel safe taking our kids. We had grand plans to visit several places and look around a lot but I am not sure that will happen in the end. I am not sure we have that kind of time or want to put that kind of time into it. Still don't know where we will end up but we will end up somewhere. This may sound very strange to some of you that have always gone to church the same place or have either grown up going the same kind of church all your life. But I haven't and up until recently we went to the place I was employed (which is not necessarily a bad thing). I guess what I am saying is we have more of a choice now and that is good sometimes. Lastly, I found myself seeing the importance of church as a PART of our children's development. But you can read more about that at b-chris.blogspot.com if you would like. I will be blogging about it tomorrow.

I will be putting up some pics and video from our summer travels in the next few days. Have a great week!!