adventures in babysitting

here's why i am praying for brunette little babies. recognise the one on the right? best little flower girl ever

GIDDY UP!

So smart :)

What's more fun than watching popcorn pop??

A popcorn party!! Nemo and all :)

behind on blogging part 2

MEAN GREAN

it was UNT's homecoming so the family piled in the car to visit Scott in all his glory. he and a few roommates are cramed into a house college boy style. they have a great back yard with a Great Big tree...

the girls


the boys


and crazy brother in law


of course Jerry and Scott couldn't be shown up

i will vouch for Stephen that he had an energy drink on the drive up... no excusses for the others.

behind on blogging... feel over whelmed!! :)

RED REV
Well Bex's page has most the details and Dawn's page has even more but i will tell you it was a great weekend. road tripping with Bex was everything you'd think it would be and getting some QT with Dawn made me a happy little bee. blessed to call them both my friends
STAFF RETREAT
what can i even say! i am am so blessed to be apart of this crazy group of people we call the Village staff. the retreat was restful, encouraging and FUN! gosh what to even write!!!?? we started off our trip amidst a massive rain poor waiting for the buses that were running a "little late". but there must be something bonding about being cold, wet and stuck in the Martin building because it really was fun and i wouldn't have changed anything



once we got to the beautiful open aired camp we ate lunch and kicked off the Krapu football tournament. i must say, the Kaizen way paid off, i caught a touch down pass and led our flag football team to win the Championship! ok we all know that's code for "i got lucky on a 'pity pass' and spent the rest of the game trying to keep out of the way haha! i was proud of myself though considering all my action in the first game consisted of me trying to get my belt on right but whatever! really it was a miracle that no one died. seriously.
photo by bex... laughing hysterically at me.
here's a pic of a few of my roommates for the week. look how cosy we are!! i love these two girls! so fun! (yes we are total nerds and completely ok with that.)

being together with out work to do you get to learn every one's quirky habits and hidden talents. here are a few: seriously funny Mafia narrating abilities, seriously good Mafia straight face abilities, fabulous hair cutting, gifted (and not so gifted, ahem JP) worship leaders, death defying enzone catches, the best flag football trash talkers, eagle-eyed referees, get-a-bloody-nose-and-keep-going girl foot ball player, marathon sleepers, awesome Aerosmith impressionist, sweet servants and coffee re-heaters, and the list goes on. who knew we were so talented?!
wish we could have stayed longer.

Welcome HUDSON!!

Baby Hudson, nephew number 2 on Jerry's side was born happliy and healthily on October 14th! Welcome little Huddie! You are loved!

(check out sarah's page to see more adorable photos!)

the kaizen way

So Jerry has been reading a new book called “The Kaizen Way; One Small Step can Change Your Life." The gist of it is that large feats are accomplished by a series of small steps.

Side note:
As true as that statement is it’s slightly infuriating! Almost as bad as when I was a child and didn’t want to go to sleep. I would tell my dad I wasn’t tired and he used to tell me, “Lauren, do you know how God made little children? When they are still and quite they will fall asleep.” True as that was as the time it wasn’t what a little 5 year old wanted to hear.

Anyway, so taking this on Jerry decided that “every night we should commit to picking up our apartment for 3min”. haha! Yes 3 min! But to be honest I thought his goal was not bad- sweet actually considering I am the more uptight with the status of the place.
Here’s the deal with living in an apartment, it takes about two things out of place to make it feel like we are living in a disaster zone, at least in my opinion. Jerry thinks I am loco. Don’t ask if we have ever fought about this… So the point is I am really excited about our new Kaizen way of living.

We are also using this approach in my football training. I got a wild hair and volunteered myself to be apart of our staff retreat football tournament. What was I thinking? I really don’t know anything about football- which Jerry can not believe considering I was on the field for 4 years. I can’t believe it either to tell you the truth. I thought something would have sunk in?? But rather than recant my commitment to the team Jerry has decided I must submit myself to his vigorous training.
We just had our first “practice” and can I just say I have really improved! I learned to hike the ball and even run out and catch it! And I only got hit in the face once.

the morning

today i had one of those mornings where i woke up feeling Self more than God's presence, ten to one. there was no real reason for me to feel this way cause it was just a morning like any other but i just couldn't seem to shake that blah feeling (the kind where you'd rather be anywhere else than in your own skin... maybe i am alone in this feeling?)
anyway, the night before i was reminded of one of my favorite songs that i hadn't heard in a while and so this morning i sat down, popped in my ipod and listened. the song is called In Christ Alone (it's actually the one that i had sweet dawntoya sing in our wedding- I think there are a few versions but my favorite is the live one by Rita Springer, something about that raspy voice gets me every time).
if i were really high tech i'd post a link to the song but alas you all know that's beyond my skill level- but what i can do is post the lyrics. they are so full of Gospel and fill me with joy and hope. enjoy

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

BOOMER SOONER!!!