Time at the Arboretum!

Yesterday afternoon my brother called me up and asked if Patrick and I would like to go to the arboretum with him and Rachel, as well as some mutual friends, the Babb family. James was off to Lewisville for a concert, so I accepted! It sounded like a much nicer way to spend my afternoon than I was planning!

The flowers were even more beautiful than last Saturday when I was there with my parents. I love to take Patrick there! It's so fun to take his picture with such lovely backgrounds, plus I love to see him run in the fresh green grass! I put him down in it barefoot, and he really objected! I thought it would be so cute to see him (and photograph him!) barefoot in the grass--but he much preferred to wear his sandals!

Here's the Babb's. They are such a sweet family! Chris was in Jedidiah and Rachel's wedding, and the rest of the family worked very, very hard helping to prepare and clean up! They really have a servants heart!

Here's my wonderful brother and sister-in-law! How I love them both! I'm so happy to have a new sister. Rachel is a sweet and wonderful girl, and the perfect wife for Jedidiah!

Patrick got to go inside a tepee!

He enjoyed watching everything going on at the Arboretum....

...and he also absolutely LOVED having the Babb kids to play with! I took a lot of pictures of Jedidiah and Rachel!

The Newlyweds! Soon they will celebrate 3 months of marriage!

Forever and ever! Life is so much nicer with someone to walk by your side!

...and share your work! :)

Peek-a-Boo!

Of course they just had to have a picture with the toad ;)

I'm so glad they invited us! I had such a nice time! There are more pictures from our time yesterday here!

The Waltmans Going Away Party

Our dear friends The Waltmans will be moving soon. Last night my mother hosted a party to bid them farewell. We love you, Waltmans, and will miss you so much!!

A Visit to The Brother and Sister-in-laws!

Saturday we drove over to Bowie! We got to visit with my brother and his wife, as well as my parents and some other people!

It was really nice to get away and have some fun!

So many "different" things in this picture.....The Texas flag, pictures of Rachel's family in Wisconsin, Jedidiah's picture from Mongolia, Rachel's Muslim things and Jedidiah's Guatemala blanket !

signs of two full lives blended into one!

Patrick loved looking at everything!

Our wonderful hostess (and Esther!) fixing lunch! We were fed delicious meals!!

After awhile, we all headed to the skating rink!

The newlyweds ~ married for over 2 months now!

A jolly time was had by all! ;)

After skating we came back to the school and put Patrick to bed. After that, some of the things we enjoyed were: root beer floats, fellowship, dinner and a game of catch phrase!

It was a wonderful trip! For more photos, please visit Patrick's Blog

Remember When

Ecclesiastes 3

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

a time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."

~~~

My dear Smith friends, as well as my brother and my future husband ~ 1996? I'm not sure

Sometime in the 90's
The Roberts girls, The Hall kids, Jedidiah, James and Hope
April 1997, just a few weeks before my mother went into the hospital.

James 19, Hope 15, Jedidiah 17

James' 21st birthday ~ July 1998

Thanksgiving 2000 or 2001

2002 or 2003

Bluebonnets, April 2003

The night we got engaged! February 14th, 2004

about a week after engagement, with Uno the lamb :)

On our Honeymoon, in Oregon.

Opening wedding gifts! July 2004

Our first camping trip! August 2004

Our First Christmas! 2004

1 year anniversary of Engagement!

1st Wedding Anniversary ~ and nearing 5 months pregnant!

A week before Patrick arrived! December 2005

Our Son is Born! ~ December 8th, 2005

....and all of a sudden life is changed forever!!! (a wonderful change!)

Christmas Eve, 2005

Patrick at my 24th birthday breakfast, 6 weeks old ~ Jan. 19th, 2006

April 2006 ~ Spending a few days away at a cabin with my family

May 2006 ~ getting so big!

Already 5 months old!

Trip to CA in June '06

September 2006

December 2006 March 2007
Isaiah 41:10

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."