Hey, there's someone in the oven--and he looks a lot like me!

The months are going by so quickly!! It's hard to believe it will soon be September--and Patrick will then be 9 months old! (If you'd like to see more pics of Patrick, check out his blog www.life-with-patrick.blogspot.com)

Lots to think about these days.....child training issues, daily issues, and big issues like why do I believe what I believe?

On a schedule today :) Got up at 5:44 -- and I'm supposed to be done bloging 1 minute ago!!! :) So goodbye!!!

Please pray!!!

My friend Analiese (holding the baby) was in a car accident on Tuesday. She needs much prayer, as her injuries are very serious. Please also pray for the family of the other driver-who was killed.

Analiese's two small children were in the accident as well. Both came out of it amazingly well. 1 month old Kyle has a broken leg. 1 1/2 year old Natalie was kept at the hospital for a day or so, but is now with her relatives and recovering.

Newborn Kyle (July)The Lord was truly gracious to Analiese and her children, and I praise Him for that!

If you would like to receive prayer updates, let me know by leaving a comment!

This is the man

who holds the key to my heart

-This is the man I love.

We met nearly 14 years ago, in a little "brown Church in the vale." I was really just a child then, but of course I didn't know it. Almost 11 was as old as I'd ever been, and I couldn't realize that there was to be a long road ahead to "adulthood"--a long road, that when looking back, went by amazingly fast.

I liked boys a lot, and my dear, darling now-husband was no exception ;) He was a tall skinny boy of 15 with black hair and a nose he had yet to grow into.

He had (as he still does now!) a tender heart and a passion for God and music. I honestly cannot remember what drew me to him in the beginning. Perhaps it was just because I "liked boys"--but perhaps it was God's hand, drawing me towards His will, even then.

The years went by, as they always do--only they took longer back then. We were both caught up in the lessons and joys of our youthful season. We have many precious memories from those years.....sunday night games of tag in the little "side yard," Monday orchestra practices, roller blades and foursquare, suburbans and vans, matching dresses and braids.....so many things.

Then there was a change. The boy I had such a crush on began to feel the Lord directing him towards ME! And thus was the beginning of a whole new chapter of our lives. Oh, it was such a seemingly long chapter-and such a difficult one. Difficult and wonderful to live through-and difficult and wonderful to look back on. Yet it is a part of who and what we are today-and it will play a part in what we become in the future, I'm sure.

There are happy memories--glimpses of happy little pink primroses--picked with love from a field by the road. Trips to art lessons, jaunts to the grocery store and restaurants--ordinary events which gave me much happiness--drawings and stories of times yet-to-be, music.....

That journey of our life changed as we moved from more than a friendship to something official--and went through yet another change when we finally became engaged.

but the most important change occured on July 3rd, 2004, when after more than 11 and a half years of knowning each other; 2 years 1 month and 3 weeks of courtship and a day short of a 5 month engagement--that skinny black haired boy and I vowed to each other for the rest of our lives.

It was a day we had dreamed of for many, many years--and it was the beginning of a wonderful adventure called marriage. Since that day 2 years ago, many things have changed-for the better. My love is stronger now for my husband than it was on the day I married him. We knew a lot about each other on the day we became husband and wife--but we know even more now! Some of them are things we couldn't of even known then--because we had yet to live them and become them-together.

Each day my husband and I awake to-just that-another day-that the Lord has so graciously given us. Sometimes our days go well and other times they don't. Sometimes we feel happy and in love, others we don't. Sometimes we make each other mad--but other times we live in our own little house in much peace and happiness. I love the feeling at the end of the day, when my house is clean and our baby is asleep. I love when we eat our dinner or snack or whatever it might be in our room, as we talk or read the paper or watch a movie together.

I know that I have such a treasure and a gift in my husband. He is so patient and kind to me. He loves me so much. His love for me is and has been so constant and true--his care for me is that too. He works so hard to provide a wonderful life and living for our little family--even when he has to do things that are less than enjoyable in order to do so. He works very hard to make me happy, and sacrifices his own wants/wishes many times so that he can fufill my dreams and desires.

A few days ago, we watched a movie together. It actually was not a very good movie--but it did an amazing thing for us. Things had not been very good between us that day--and perhaps some other times througout that week--but that movie touched us both, and did something for our marriage. The story was so much like us--the couple was so much like us--yet after years of married life, they were getting a divorce. (Thankfully by the end of the movie things are looking hopeful for them.) That movie reminded us of days gone by--what we were like and what we were/are/can be to each other--it also showed us what we could end up like, if we didn't work really hard at (and by God's grace of course!) maintaing and building a strong marriage/relationship. Life and Love are wonderful, fragile things. I praise God for giving both to us, and Lord we need You! Thank you for dealing with us so patiently and lovingly!

Hello again! We have been quite busy lately. The last full week of July we were house sitting for a family we know. They live in the country and have a POOL! What fun that was. James, Patrick and I would swim almost everyday--sometimes twice. Patrick did really well in the water, which I'm happy about. James' family and my parents got to come over (each twice) while we were there. I also had a pool party with some girlfriends from Church. What a fun time.....AND the people had the hallmark channel, so that was fun too! I got to watch Little House and other things too!

Patrick after a swim

Patrick and a little friend, Natalie

After house-sitting, we were home for one day, then we were off to Austin. James was conducting/teaching at the String Camp put on by Hannah and Rachel Malone. This time P andI got to tag along :) The Malones were most gracious, and had a cozy room set up for us-complete with a table for doing things at during the day and a crib for Patrick! String Camp went well. I love to see James doing that--and he really enjoyed it as well.

Patrick is just growing like a weed! Today he is 8 months old. AMAZING! He started getting around the house last month, in his own little way (army crawling) and yesterday he pulled up! He loves to stand up now, and grins so big! He is an absolute joy! Such a happy little fella! :) Now when he goes to take a nap or go to bed, he likes to stand up in his crib--but he isn't so good at getting back down! Poor little guy.

This evening I was making him some peas for his dinner, and sat him on the kitchen floor to play with tupperware while I did so. What fun! You always hear about moms doing that--and there I was, doing it myself! What fun indeed :) :) :)

well, I tried to upload some other photos, but it isn't working, and I'm tired of doing it, so those two will have to do for this time!