family road trip // part one

We went on our first road trip this month last weekend... we left Thursday for Dallas to meet my sweet niece, Landry. She really is the most precious thing!! So sweet, so little... we were all smitten. Of course, having a one week old, I assume my house will be a disaster and I will look like someone recovering from labor/delivery/surgery... Laura looked like Carrie Underwood and her house was spotless. No sibling competition there or anything, ha! Joking aside, Laura looks healthy and happy, CJ has adjusted well so far and Landry is pretty perfect. We didn't get to see Uncle Colby since he was out of town for work, but based on stories and pictures, Landry has Daddy wrapped around her finger... just like it should be!

From Dallas we drove over to Tyler to celebrate our friends' wedding. Austin is our current worship leader and we've become friends with his fiancé (now wife!), Claire - or as my girls call her "big Claire". Emma and Claire were the flower girls and were very much looking forward to the wedding. It was a good practice run for when they are flower girls again for Aunt Jessica's wedding (which is very close!!). Traveling with two busy three year olds is tough work. Daniel and I need a vacation from our "vacation" - but at least we are lugging two pack-n-plays everywhere and they sleep well at night. They did such a great job walking down the aisle and listening to the directions given by the wedding coordinators. I teared up when they walked down the aisle then sweat my face off during the ceremony because they wouldn't stop talking - come on preacher's kids!! I think they are just too comfortable in a church (which, I guess, is a good thing). After the wedding we danced the night away and had a blast. Really, so much fun. My pregnant body didn't thank me for that the next morning, but it was totally worth it. 

Sunday we worshipped at Dayspring UMC in Tyler where our friend Matt is the pastor. His wife Margaret was our good friend at SMU and it was so wonderful to see their church and meet their kids - silly that it took so long for us to all get together, but it felt like our kids had known each other and they played so well together! It was a great way to end our trip. Now we are home for a little bit before we hit the road again for New Orleans. Can't wait!

Emma and Landry

Irving Family on the dance floor - light up glasses and all!!

The bride and flower girls - so sweet!

Landry - the most precious little girl!!

All in love with the newest member of our family!!

american idol :: one to watch

Last night was one of those moments where you just feel the upmost joy for someone you've known... Daniel and I are huge American Idol fans (love this season so far - Harry Connick, Jr. is everything! - you must watch!!) and while watching with the girls we see Bryan Watt on the television!! Daniel screams "It's Bryan Watt!" - and I, in a fit of pregnant hormonal emotion, just began to cry.

I knew Bryan from SMU - Daniel, Bryan and I led worship together with others for the Wesley Foundation every Wednesday night. He was only at SMU his freshman year before transferring to Baylor. Bryan actually won SMU's American Idol competition! He had a great audition last night, but let me tell you - this guy can sing... he held back last night but he has a booming voice. The best part?! He is the kindest, gentle, sweetest person you will ever meet. Daniel and I loved working with him... he loves the Lord so much and will be such a great witness on Idol (I hope he goes far!). Even though I only knew Bryan for that one year, he left an impression on us - clearly by the way we freaked out when we saw him last night on TV. I can't think of anyone more deserving. Tune in and watch Bryan on Idol - and if he makes it to the top 12 then you better vote for him! :)

Girls first trip to Brennan's!

After just eating at Brennan's for our first time (our anniversary back in June), the girls got to go on Friday! We all dressed up in our "princess clothes" and went to celebrate Pops' 70th birthday. We feasted on a lot of delicious food (I tried the shrimp and goat-cheese grits, omg!!) and the chef prepared a special steak and french fries meal for the girls. I think the girls really enjoyed watching our waiter prepare the banana's foster and seeing pops wear the silly birthday hat. The girls were SO well behaved. Daniel and I were holding our breath for the first thirty minutes, but honestly, they were great. I think they could tell the place we were at was really nice and they even sat still from 7-9:30pm! Can't wait to take them back!!

Hill Country Heaven

We've been out of town so much the past four weeks, which is definitely a blessing! We actually have spent the majority of our time in the Hill Country, which really is the best part of Texas... it's so refreshing out there - the water, the hills, sunsets and sunrises.... Daniel and I talked often of how nice it would just be to live out there. We totally get why so many of our friends have moved to Austin!

Daniel and I spent a week at a marriage retreat in Kyle, Texas at the Inn Above Onion Creek. Y'all... this place was incredible. If you are looking for a great Bed and Breakfast, book here. The service was great, the food was incredible and the grounds are stunning. It was such a nice retreat and we really were able to relax and restore. This past weekend we were at The Hideout on the Horseshoe for a wedding just outside of Gruene, Texas. The girls went with us and we had the most amazing suite right on the river. We got to eat at the Gristmill (girls first trip!) and danced the night away at the reception. Emma and Claire are total dance-machines. It was so fun... we also went to the wildlife nature preserve outside of San Antonio and got to see (and feed!) lots of animals. I think Daniel was the happiest of the bunch after feeding the zebras. 

Hideout of the Horseshoe (view from our porch)

Inn Above Onion Creek (view from our room)

happy birthday to emma & claire!

Emma and Claire turned THREE on Saturday - I can't believe it has already come and go. We had family (dad, stepmom, sister, nephew) in town since the third and everyone left on Sunday. We ate lots of delicious food, played with the kids, watched movies, celebrated the fourth and celebrated the girls. I had a small party here at the house on their bday - we did it at 9am and served breakfast foods: chick-fil-a chicken mini biscuits, donuts, fruit, quiche, ice coffee and hot coffee bar, juice, milk and cupcakes. I had done the tassels myself and hung pictures up of the girls all over the house... I bought the birthday sign from Paper Source. Every child that came to the party was a boy - so we went all out on the girly clothes for their birthday! Those outfits are made by Giggle Moon and I might have to buy another outfit set -just too cute!! The girls had a great time and I think smiled the entire day... they were so happy to have their birthday and to have their favorite people surrounding them! On Sunday we all went to church together - CJ wore the new smocked john-john I gave him (so cute!) and the girls wore their new dresses and boots from their bday. They looked adorable!

emma, me, dad, susie, cj, laura, claire and daniel

family road trip // part two

From Austin we traveled south to San Antonio on Monday. We drove to the Shelly's house and couldn't wait! We hadn't seen them since I was pregnant and we were all so excited to finally have our kids meet. I babysat Claire and Alice the summer Daniel and I got married (and lived in Alamo Heights)... eventually Dinah and Keith were pregnant again with a little boy, who the girls named Daniel! We love this family so much and had a blast playing and then eating lunch at our favorite Alamo Heights place, Order Up!

From there we drove all the way down to South Padre Island to stay with our other dear friends from Alamo Heights, the Vardimans. We lived with Tracy and Arnold the summer we were married. God is so good - they have been such wonderful friends and the summer we lived there they were in the midst of adopting a baby girl from China. We prayed for that baby girl and a year later they brought Phoebe home. Then, while I was pregnant, they were in the midst of adopting a baby boy from Ethiopia! Daniel and I had the honor of writing the reference letter for them. Claude-Duvall was brought home soon after my girls were born and they are all the same age! It's amazing to reflect on how God orchestrated our friendship since we are now raising children together and they are all such great friends. We had a ball at SPI - ate great food, soaked in the sun and enjoyed a lot of good, quality time with them.

Also, I had no expectations of SPI... just hoping it was better than Galveston. And it is! The water is clear and a beautiful dark blue... the sand isn't white, but it's still really nice beaches... no murky water, no seaweed, etc... plus, the island was empty! The condo we stayed in was super nice and the pool rarely had anyone there but us. I think SPI is still wild at spring break but during the summer it's very nice.

I think the funniest part of the trip was when we were heading back home on Thursday and we got stopped by border patrol about an hour north of SPI. We were asked if we were all US Citizens and as we were pulling away (with the window still down), Claire shouts "Just kidding!" - HA! We nearly died. That stinker!

family road trip // part one

We are back from our family road trip and honestly, it was one of the best vacations I've had in a very long time. The girls traveled so well and I got to see all of my favorite people in just eight days. Daniel and I actually felt relaxed... we were well taken care of, had long conversations with dear friends, got to hug on lots of kids and babies, ate very well and soaked up as much sun on the beach as possible. 

We headed up to Fort Worth on Thursday afternoon, making it to my Mom's house in time for dinner. We got stuck in horrible traffic so we took the back roads up to FW... it was a lonnnng drive up to FW but we couldn't help but laugh about the silliness of the situation. Friday we swam in the pool with Aunt KK, saw Monsters U (highly recommend!), played with our best friends, Robbie, Ashley and Liam, and checked out their fabulous new house, and then drove out to Midlothian for a family dinner with Laura, Colby, CJ, Dad, Susie and KK. It was jam-packed but so good! 

Saturday was CJ's FIRST birthday party!!! I cannot believe my sweet nephew is one! Laura went all out with the party. It was a "little monsters" theme party and she had the cutest monster cupcakes and smash cake... the kids had a blast swimming in the pool. Emma and Claire are in swim lessons and do well without the floaties, but they provide safety and sanity for mama... and plus, the girls just run and jump into the pool like wild-women! We saw my grandparents, Aunt Pam, Erin, Nick, Caden and baby Elle (Emma's favorite part of the day), plus lots of friends and family on Colby's side. CJ was so cute the whole party and did great! 

After CJ's party we drove to Dallas so I could meet Chelsey, Trey and London. It was so surreal. I felt like I was on a blind-date... ha! London is so itty-bitty and her bottom lip tucks in just like Claire's did. She had gotten her cardiac lines taken out that day so Trey and Chelsey got to hold her for the first time since her surgery. We caught up, learned a little bit more about each other and I prayed over them just like I said I would. I definitely left with my heart full.

Sunday Daniel went to church and saw our college friends who are pastors there and I got more quality time in with my Mom and KK. We drove to Austin after lunch and stayed with Jonathan and Kirby... and baby Shane! Emma was smitten - baby heaven! The girls destroyed their house in a matter of minutes and the four of us just caught up with one another. I am still amazed how God worked through our living arrangements freshman year of college... Kirby and I lived across the hall and Jonathan was our RA (and in small group with Daniel!). Incredible to think we are married with kids now. 

That was the first half of our trip - I'll blog about the second tomorrow! 

prayers, miracles and God's plan

This is Chelsey with her daughter, London, born June 5th. Isn't this picture precious? Before we get to this moment, we need to travel back more than a year ago...

So there is this thing called Pinterest (duh). Obviously, I'm obsessed and if you read this blog frequently enough, you know that to be true. There was a girl from Oklahoma City who was also obsessed with Pinterest. Enter Chelsey. I kept noticing on my emails that every day I was getting several likes and repins from Chelsey and she had started to follow my boards. Well, I did a little Pinterest stalking and realized I like everything on her board, so I started to follow her and repinned everything she had. Eventually, Chelsey found me on Facebook and messaged me. She had found my blog, read about my fertility struggle, wanted to reach out... and we became, what I like to call instant internet friends.

Chelsey and I shared over Facebook together God's plan and her desire to get pregnant. We both felt it was so amazing that God could use something as silly and superficial as Pinterest to bring two women together like He did with us. I offered encouragement and she helped remind me how God can use everything for His glory. After months of praying, God blessed Chelsey with a baby. I was so happy! Another miracle baby!

When Chelsey found out she was having a sweet baby girl, London Claire, she received news that London had a very serious heart condition: Tricuspid Artresia, Hypoplastic Right Heart, and a coarctation of the aorta. I can't imagine being pregnant, nesting and doing all of the wonderful things that come with it while trying to process such devastating news. So, our Facebook messages went back to prayers. Prayers that God would bless Chelsey and her husband Trey with wisdom and peace and strength. Prayers that London would grow and thrive and make it to 40 weeks. London continued to grow beautifully in the womb and Chelsey and Trey made arrangements to relocate to Dallas where London would receive the best care once she was born. You can find more information on Facebook under the group name of London's Heart.

Chelsey had a great pregnancy and gathered as much information as possible for London. Trey and Chelsey had a plan and all of the details worked out to a T... the week of London's birth, Chelsey sent out a message with specific prayer requests. My MOPS group had been praying for Chelsey for many months as had my church and church staff... And guess what? God answered them just as Chelsey had asked. It was amazing. London came into the world just as perfect as she could. Chelsey was able to hold her and I cried, okay - boo-hoo'd, when I saw the picture above.

The next morning we had a terrible update. Two doctors came in and told Trey that her pulmonary veins were too small to be life sustaining. She would look at needing a heart and lung transplant and they didn't do that. However, her stats were good and she wasn't going into any sort of heart failure. So two options were in front of us: Chelsey and Trey would be looking at end of life care for London or we were all witnessing a miracle of no explanation but healing. I was devastated. I can't imagine how Trey and Chelsey were feeling. I called Daniel sobbing, asked for prayer and then sent a plea via Facebook to my friends and prayer warriors.

And a miracle happened.

People always ask why God doesn't send a burning bush anymore. But that's not the case. God sent us London Claire - burning bush masked as a newborn baby.

The doctors found no evidence of heart or lung failure and she was no worse than when Chelsey was pregnant with her. The open heart surgery was back on and everything was back on track. I was stunned, shocked and absolutely overcome with tears. Our God is good!

London still needs your prayers. Her open heart surgery is set for Wednesday next week. Please pray for London - that she would have a really good next five days, that her surgery would go smoothly - that she would handle everything well, that the doctors would have steady hands and blessed with wisdom, and that she would receive nothing but the best care possible. Pray for Chelsey and Trey - for sleep, for strength and peace, for wisdom. And most of all, let us thank God for His grace, mercy and goodness. For revealing Himself in mighty ways through this precious family. Thank God for his miracles and help us to continue to trust in His plan.

I go to Dallas in a couple of weeks... I cannot wait to get up there, hug and meet Chelsey, and pray over sweet London.

a/way :: mdumc family camp

This past weekend we were at Camp Tejas in Gidding, Texas for our annual church camp... There were about 150 people who went on the camp and Daniel was the main leader/teacher. I had helped with the overall planning of the event and it all went so well. Emma and Claire were in family camp heaven! We had a handful of family friends go, so we had a lot of fun sharing meals together, being in workshops with one another and just enjoying time with our families. We went swimming, rode a hayride, walked the trails, worshipped... the girls had a few firsts, too: slept in twin beds for nap time, saw fireflies, made s'mores, stayed up until past 10PM each night (!!), drove our car through the camp and Emma jumped off the diving board. We got home on Sunday night and while we were all exhausted it was a good exhausted... we had a great time and feel very blessed (again and again!) to work and serve at MDUMC!

We had major dance parties with the kiddos during worship so fun!!
Totally stole this pic from Brandi but it's so cute - Claire is hugging Hunter and Emma is wanting to jump with me! :)

Claire's first driving lesson - ha!
She actually did great steering the car all by herself - hysterical. 

ARTreach :: Houston

Yesterday I had the privilege of going to ARTreach in downtown Houston with my MOPS group. I am blessed to work and attend a church that supports several nonprofits/ministries both financially and with volunteers... ARTreach is one of those partnerships. ARTreach is a ministry that takes teenagers off the streets who have been involved with graffiti and teaches them how to use their artistic talent for good. MOPS (since we are in charge of decorations for VBS) and our VBS coordinators decided to commission these young men to do our backdrops for our main VBS stage. Well, they were so excited about the task that they invited us to come and help! 

So, about 20 of us went to ARTreach, shared our vision for the backdrops and Mark went to drawing. Using a fat, black marker, he drew each of the backdrops in about 10 minutes. It was amazing to watch. We basically did a paint by number - ha! The entire project took about 1.5 hours and was so much fun.  I love painting so this was a great project for me. I am so proud we (MDUMC) work with ARTreach - what an amazing ministry! They have church on Sundays, Bible studies during the week, art lessons and a street-dance performance group. The street-dance performers are going to come to our VBS and teach our older kids some dance moves as a break-out session. I may or may not be joining in on that!

getting to work - that's me in the bottom right working on the tree trunk - very proud of our finished product!

emma and claire do easter

Emma & Claire at Good Friday service

*just because people ask: Target dresses and Saltwater Shoes

We had a very blessed Easter weekend. Friday afternoon we went to the Good Friday service for families and it was awesome - it was such a "kid-friendly" way of talking about Christ's death. Emma and Claire loved it and were so excited to see the donkey (the service actually covered Palm Sunday - Good Friday so the kids could see how the story unfolds). After the service, the girls went home with the Irvings and Daniel and I went to the traditional Good Friday service. Our orchestra and choir performed Dubois' Seven Last Words - I felt like I was at the Orchestra. It was amazing. Afterward we cheered our Blue Devils with our Duke friends. So fun!

Saturday morning was the Easter egg hunt up at church. Emma and Claire dominated the preschool playground... well actually, Emma took most of the pink eggs (she had told me that's all she wanted) and Claire just ran around like a crazy person (aka her dad!) picking up as many eggs as possible. We also dyed eggs that afternoon which is crazy with toddlers. Thank goodness I made them wear old tshirts!

Today was just a beautiful Easter day. We had record numbers at The Journey and Daniel did an awesome job preaching four different services. We feel beyond blessed to have such a great worship community. Emma and Claire looked like little angel dolls in their white dresses and we had a delicious brunch here at the house after the third service. While Duke didn't win the game today, we had fun all cheering on the couch together and stuffing ourselves with leftovers and candy. I hope you had a wonderful Easter and that we can all live in the truth that God has the final word above pain, death, hurt and disappointment! He is Risen!

Claire & Emma at the Egg Hunt - wearing Orient Expressed

Today after church: Claire wanted to pick flowers and Emma told me
that I "hurt her feelings" - this is real life with twins, people!! Ha!

spring break // galveston

We had a wonderful rest of spring break. I think the weather just got better and better (and hotter!). We spent Thursday with the Griffins playing at their house and eating Chick-fil-A for the ____ time that week (I can't say exactly because I lost count!). Emma and Claire wore their Mexican fiesta dresses from their 2nd birthday party. I love those dresses for spring and summer... they are so lightweight and just look precious. That evening we had to try on swimsuits to see what still fits for swim lessons. Well, that turned into a full on dress up party and the swimsuits were worn the rest of the night! 

Friday we took the girls to the Irving's house and we were bound for Galveston. Daniel and I haven't had a weekend away in a long time, so this was perfect timing. The added bonus was that Daniel was officiating a wedding for friends of ours, so we had our hotel room taken care of at the Galvez AND two of our best friends, Robbie and Ashley, were there for the wedding, too. It was a true blessing to just be with them for the weekend - sans children - catch up, laugh, tell stories and relax. Ashley and I had pedicure appointments Saturday morning and then spent the rest of the day at the pool. Daniel actually woke up super early on Saturday and ended up walking the beach and watching the sunrise (I slept in until... 7:45! Ha!). Overall, it was a dream weekend and the wedding was just beautiful. We danced the night away, ate breakfast in bed each morning and Daniel and I both felt so rested when we got home on Sunday afternoon. Emma and Claire greeted us with the BEST hugs and kisses. We are so blessed!

checking out the big kids at Chick-fil-A

swimsuit showdown 

view from our hotel room at the Galvez (I didn't go to the beach at all! Ha!) 

Ash and me at the Rehearsal Dinner (new top from Nordstrom and Kendra Scott earrings)

Daniel's sunrise shot from his walk on Saturday morning

hit the pool early before my pedicure

Sara and Craig - such a sweet and happy couple!

Peddlecart instead of a Photo Booth - so fun! I swear I only had one glass of wine!