Weekend of Family

Since John graduated on Friday morning from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity, we had several family members come visit for the big event. We were all so proud of him!

First, Grammy (John's Mom) came to hang out with us and love on Noah. Here is a sweet pic of them reading since Noah kept bringing her every book he owned!

After graduation, the family came to our house for a little bit. It was fun to see Noah play with his two nieces. Grammy was so proud to have them all together! I love how Noah is just looking at Grammy with great delight!

Noah is a little funny about playing in his sandbox. He does OK if another child is playing with him but I don't think he likes to get his hands all dirty. Grammy said that his Daddy was that way also. When Noah falls, he likes me to get all the dirt and leaves off his hands. How funny! He is all boy...but a clean one at that!

Saturday after John's graduation, we went to The Great Wolf Lodge. John's sister and her family were staying there for the week end. It is a really neat place. The water park is so neat and toddler friendly too! This is a picture of them at the arcade having fun. Noah even found a wolf stuffed animal on the ground that howls. Bonus!

He is really into cars, trucks, buses, etc. One of his favorite past times is to stand on our front window ledge and call out each vehicle name. It is so fun to see him learn new things and take a joy in knowing the name of them!

That's all folks!

Our sweet boy

Here is our sweet Noah getting a good nights sleep. He is a great sleeper and I am thankful! He sleeps 11 hours at night and two for a nap in the afternoon. Although he is a joy and I cannot think of him without smiling, I am thankful for his naps and bedtime so that I can sit and rest. He is the best! I am contemplating on when to put a pillow and blanket in his crib...when do they start sleeping with those and actually keep their head on the pillow at night??? He is all over the place. I can check on him every 15 minutes and he seems to be on the other side of the crib. We will see...


He will rest a little during the day but it usually only lasts about 10 seconds and then he is off again. He found a great place to rest here near the back door. You think he is trying to give me a hint that he wants to go outside and swing???

He is so curious about the dog door. He often looks and and even tries to climb out. He has tried backing into and even just climbing out face first...hasn't worked yet and he isn't getting any smaller.

Here is another picture of Noah climbing through the kitchen chairs. Since he loves climbing so much, we bought him picnic table (maybe someday he will actually sit at it) at his very first time to Toys 'R Us Friday (he didn't even go there in the womb!). I think Daddy and Mommy were more excited to take him there than he even knew. But he quickly realized the excitement of the place when we got there. He was pumped! That was pretty much the first time we bought him new toys...haven't had to thanks to generous family and friends and thrift stores.

We also got him a sandbox for about $25 with a top! It is a turtle!

“A Tribute to My Wife, Emily, on Her Birthday” – An Adaptation of Proverbs 31:10-31

10 - I have found an excellent wife who is second only to Jesus Christ in my life. No money, fame, relationship, or reputation is better than her.
11 - Even in my most vulnerable moments I trust her, and she makes me a better follower of Christ while serving our family well.
12 - I never fear a disrespectful or contentious attitude—even when I am not present. I take delight in her and look forward to doing so for the rest of our life together.
13 - Her handiwork is growing in creativity and she desires to minister to others through it (see previous blog posts).
14 - I am continually amazed at her frugal spirit and at how she prepares meals for our family.
15 - Her heart turns quickly to the needs of others as she allows the LORD to provide for them.
16 - She focuses on maximizing our income and stretching every penny to its limit.
17 - Her strength and worth comes from a deep understanding of who she is in Christ—in spite of the fact she is smart, intelligent, and very beautiful. And her desire is for me and works diligently on working out her body for that purpose.
18 - She recognizes the Holy Spirit’s gifts in her life in order to be a blessing to others, and many profit from her willingness.
19 - I enjoy seeing her take care of the needs of our home and I delight to assist her tasks.
20 - She realizes that we do not own anything in this world—we only steward it from the LORD—so she is ready to give wherever God leads.
21 - Her care and concern for her family is ever present.
22 - Her beauty comes from her identity in Christ yet it radiates throughout her.
23 - She honors me as second only to Christ for her and supports God’s hand leading our lives.
24 - She looks for new sources of income for our family so we can be more generous.
25 - Her trust is not in a system but in a Person, so regardless of what the future may bring she stands firm in Him.
26 - She is a deep wellspring of wisdom where many turn for counsel and instruction.
27 - She works diligently to ensure the way of her household is right and true.
28 - Her son looks to her as a blessing and I praise Christ for what He is doing through her.
29 - She is not perfect, but I could not ask for anyone better with whom to do life together. There is no other for me.
30 - “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”
31 - I love you, my dear wife. May your birthday be filled with the fruit of your hands—those who have received benefit from who God made you to be. I look forward to many more birthdays together.

John

More adventures for Noah...

Here is a pic of Noah using his golf clubs. He loves playing with the golf clubs, totting around his golf bag, and trying to hit the golf balls with his clubs. I guess you could say we are starting him early.He also loves all the different tastes of food. Recently he discovered ketchup. He loves dipping everything in ketchup and is already a pro at it!Last Friday Azi came over to play for a while and volunteered to pull Noah in the wagon...what a great idea! Less work for me!Here is another great pic of John and Noah wrestling. Noah just laughs and laughs the whole time and is so sad when it is over!

Emily :)

Toddler Towels

Here are some toddler towels that I have made recently. It is just a way to make a little money on the side and I enjoy doing it! Let me know if you want one of these or would like me to make you a different animal or design.

~Emily~

Easter Celebration

Last week end we went to Mesquite to spend some time with my side of the family. We celebrated my Dad's birthday and went to Sunnyvale Baptist Church's (my sister, Anna's church) Easter celebration. Noah had a lot of fun!

Before the Easter egg hunt, we had some time to spare so Makenna (Anna's daughter) and Noah played inside the children's area. They found a bench just their size. How cute are they!

They had an Easter egg hunt and Noah did really well. He filled his monkey basket and actually put the eggs in there without taking them out!

They also sang some worship songs and Noah got right up there with the other kids to watch their cool hand motions.

He also had his first experience with a sand box. He wasn't too interested. He played for less than a minute and went back to the playground. He loved walking up and down the planked incline.

He also had tons of fun at the bounce house. If you knew Noah at all when he was younger you know he loves bouncing. He actually wouldn't even stand with his legs straight without bouncing until 7 months old or so. My arms always got a pretty good workout trying to hold him on my lap. He loved his Johnny jump up and now he gets to bounce on his own. I imagine we will invest in a trampoline someday.

They also had pony rides, a petting zoo, fire truck for the kids to check out, crafts, face painting, and other fun activities. Needless to say, he had tons of fun and was worn out!

Can't wait to travel to Oklahoma this week end to celebrate Easter with John's side of the family.

~Emily~

The Joy of our Son

Noah is such a joy and blessing. Over and over we are reminded of what a blessing he is. He loves life and seeks to learn more and more each day. He is so expressive and excited about everything. I cannot even imagine having another child (although we want to someday) because I cannot think of a neater kid to hang with all day. He laughs when you laugh (or hears the garbage disposal or ice maker???), he loves the tastes of food (sucking the flavor out of everything), and is absolutely the happiest kid around while outside. Sometimes he'll even drag his very heavy and huge swing to me in the house telling me of his desire to go out. He waves at everyone he sees, even Dora on his yogurt cup. And everyone knows he is the cutest around! Here are some of his adventures lately...

Here is a pictures of him playing outside with the dogs. He loves to play fetch with the dogs and chase them around. He laughs like crazy when they try to play tug of war with him.

One of his new tricks is finding cool sticks around the yard!

He also loves getting into boxes so he can travel around...even into ones we don't think he would ever fit in...

One of his favorite things is eating ice cream with Daddy after dinner. I normally make either butterfinger or cookies 'n cream homemade ice cream. They love it! When Dad asks if Noah wants to eat ice cream, Noah goes to climb onto the 'ice cream eating couch.' It only took him two or three times for him to learn this...they learn pretty quick (don't let them try to fool you into thinking they don't understand discipline also...they do!!!)...

He loves playing guitar with Daddy and even plays with the case when he is at work!

That is only a short look into our blessed life with Noah. We are so grateful to have him!

~Emily~

Random times with Noah

Noah is growing and enjoying life everyday. I am just having a blast with him and love seeing him learn new things. I bought him some flip flops for the spring and summer at the JBF (Just Between Friends-A huge consignment sale)sale. I wasn't sure if he would wear them but he did really well with them. He is so used to the soft sole shoes that he has never desired to wear anything else. I guess he is over that now.

Noah also got his first hair cut from his loving Mommy. He really did not need much of a cut. I just cut his mullet off. It looks much better now!

Noah loves when Daddy gets home. It is so cute to see him so excited to see Daddy and then wait by Daddy's side until Mommy gets a hug and kiss from Dad. After we say our Hellos, Noah grabs onto John's legs until he gets a hug and kiss. At 14 months, he is already learning so many important things...like Daddy and Mommy's relationship being important. This was a precious lesson I learned from my parents. They showed us this through their actions and now Noah has already learned it in a way. So many parents put their kids before their relationship and find they do not know each other while their kids are still at home and when they have an empty house again...or they just get divorced. It is hard to keep a marriage relationship strong with kids but we try to be intentional. I still get the the butterflies around John and love him so much. I look forward to the rest of our years...anyway, here is Daddy and Noah reading after they say their hellos.Yesterday, we had a play date with Jesika. Her Mommy took their third child to her newborn checkup so I watched Jesika while she went. They had lots of fun together playing in the 'ball pit,' riding in the wagon, reading, and playing with other various toys.

Noah is already practicing being a gentlemen. How cute!Tomorrow we hope to go to the zoo. We haven't been in a while and hope the rain can hold off for a bit.

~Emily~

My adventures of 2010

2010 has been an interesting year so far. I started the year in the hospital with a 7mm kidney stone (5mm is the biggest a person can pass). I had surgery to break the stone up and take it out. I found out a had a ton more stones on my right and my left kidney. Yippee was my response I am sure! After the surgery I went home and was able to celebrate Christmas with John's side of the family. What a blessed time although I was highly drugged. Around 2am or so I couldn't take the pain any longer even being highly drugged so I headed back to the emergency room. I found out my kidneys were really swollen. After about a week of constant pain medicine and lots of sleeping, I had another surgery to put a stint in my uritor tube. After that surgery, I was told that all my kidney stones had been passed all that last week on both sides while I was in the hospital. Praise God! Can I say that again...PRAISE GOD!

I thought they saved my kidney stones so that I could have them analyzed and try to avoid this again but unfortunately there was a miss-communication. Not sure how EVERYONE in the hospital and doctors office were on the same page but wrong page...but it happened. I sifted my pee all week and was even told a couple times that the stones were sent to Oklahoma and would be back in a week...to only find out they never had any. Needless to say, I was a little upset. Hopefully, there will not be a next time or I can get the analyzed so it doesn't happen a third time. I may just carry it to Oklahoma myself!

I had to have others watch Noah while I was in the hospital and up to 2 weeks after my second surgery because I was unable to lift more than five pounds. No fun! It reminded my of my 10 weeks of bed rest while pregnant with Noah. I felt helpless. But, God continued to teach me to rely on others and the support of family and Church body. I couldn't have been more blessed in both of those events!

After 2 1/2 weeks, more pain meds and meds for infections, I realized I was still having issues after getting my stint out a few days earlier. I gave my first ever stool sample and found out I got a bacterial infection from my second surgery...or could have them the first I guess. I took 10 days of meds and realized that it got better...but not all the way better. I had a little side effects from that med but kept taking it determined to get better. After another couple weeks realized it never went afway and came back strong. I gave another wonderful sample and sure enough I was right. I started the same meds for 14 days but after taking one day of three pills, I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a car. I had just about every side effect the meds say you can get, fevor, chills, flu like symptoms, swollen throat, red throat, white patches on each side of my throat...not fun. I did not take any more pills and 'the poison' slowly left my body and I started felling better. I took about a week for my throat to be healed. I've never dealt with side effects or been allergic before so it was quite an interesting event. Went to the doctor on Monday after waking up on Saturday from that and the doc thought my throat was about the worst she had seen. She even tested my for both types of strep and it was negative...it really was side effects. So, now I am currently taking 4 weeks of meds to get rid of this bacterial infections. Apparently the infection gets stronger as you fight it so I imagine it is pretty strong now into my third month and third medicine for it. I cannot say this medicine is helping but I certainly have hope! I am thankful for doctors, medicine (without side effects), and my wonderful family who takes care of me and Noah when I am not able.

Thankfully I do feel healthy currently even though I am going through this. I think March was the first day I felt well in 2010 and I am grateful for health! I'm normally very healthy not even getting sick when John is and I kiss him. I didn't even get sick while I was pregnant. Not even a little cold. So, this last year and 1/2 has been eventful with becoming pregnant for the first time (what a blessing from God) to 10 weeks of bed rest (because I was rear ended in the car and had about 6 contractions or more for 10 weeks) to a miscarriage a couple days before I was 13 weeks pregnant to tons of kidney stones.

But through it all God was faithful. He did not give me more than I could bare (although I was pretty unsure of that during labor, surviving a newborn, and tons of kidney stones). I am so grateful He is in charge and loves me deeply. I am blessed to have a health insurance, a supportive family, church family, and friends. I couldn't ask for more! God is good all the time!

So, I hope to get back to blogging now that I feel like things are settling down again. I look forward to walking through 2010 with my loved ones and feel blessed to be giving another day. I desire to spend eternity in Heaven but grateful for the joys I have left on this earth. For they are more than I could ask for or imagine! Thank you Jesus!

Update on Emily

Emily has been in the hospital for a few days, due to a large kidney stone stuck in her ureter. They went in and took it out and opened up the ureter a little bit because it had some narrowings in it. So the surgery was successful but due to it that kidney swelled and the surgery caused much pain. At this point (Sunday night after pain started Wednesday morning) it looks like at least another day in the hospital until Emily can keep food down and the pain is manageable. Thanks for praying for her in this time as she heals and recovers. God is good, all the time!

John