Catch Up! Our trip to Dallas!

Our trip to Dallas was so much FUN! Justin and the rest of Sun Machine had a show in FORT WORTH at the AARDVARK... it is not in Dallas... It is in FORT WORTH!! J/ K with ya Corey! Anyway, before the show we got to spend a little time with Robyn, Corey and Jaxson. We had a fabulous time! I have to say as I have said before, Corey and Robyn are awesome parents! They are always on the go, doing things with their little one. Exposing him to life around him. It is amazing to see how much he has grown, and how much they have influenced his little life. This family is an inspiration to Justin and me. We want to have a family with kids that are good where ever they go, and we always want to find the beauty and joy in the things around us... just the way this family does! God has blessed their lives and touched all of our hearts in the process. Thank you so much to Robyn and Corey and little Jax for opening your house to us, and sharing a very important lesson with me! Life happens so quickly! You can't blink, you can't hold your breath... You just have to live life for every minute, enjoy the beauty that's in your own backyard... You don't have to spend a lot of money, you don't have to travel anywhere exotic... No... It's all a matter of hopping on the train and enjoying the ride!  All Aboard!!

AUNT T, PUT THE CAMERA DOWN AND NO BODY GETS HURT!
Daddy, Can I lick the bowl?
It's time to go to the ZOO TRAIN!!! Come on!!!
Cool Kid...

Cool Shoes!

Just a Walk in the Park

Peek a Boo with Uncle J

Now U C the stick...
and now U don't...

Here it comes!

Here it is!!!!

To the right you will see... a big painted kitty cat... really random!

The best part... and what's really cool... he knew it was coming up!!!
Long Day, Loving "Momma pillow"
Hey!!! Haven't we been thru this before??? And, I fell for it again!
We are Family!

Riding the Choo Choo!!

How Great is Our God!

"I don't know where we got the concept that nothing "bad" ever happens to "good" people. The floods, the fires, the storms fall on the righteous and unrighteous alike. God is not a vending machine. You don't get sick, out in a prayer and are immediately healed. If that were true, the world would become believers just for the "magical" cures they would receive, not for the love of Jesus Christ."

- excerpt from the foreword of How Great is Our God by Steve Moore and David T. Clydesdale

Every year, and sometimes 2 or 3 times a year, our church choir puts on a cantata. This is a musical sermon. Most of them are powerful messages that we do around Easter or Christmas. This year was special and unique in that we did a cantata just because. When you read the passage above, I wonder if you did the same thing I did when I first heard it? I nodded my head and half chuckled, thinking, "I think I have done that a time or two... I know I have had a problem and prayed to God to PLEASE come NOW and fix the problem right away!" And then you sit back and wait... and sometimes you wait and wait...

It is hard to imagine that even as believers, we still think God is going to jump and fix the so- called problems the way we want Him to.... and its hard to imagine that He may not do anything that we had in mind! What a concept!! I know for me, it is hard to give my life to God... I can't imagine that someone else has a better vision for my life than I do... I struggle daily. Then I sit back and think... WHAT THE HELL AM I COMPLAINING ABOUT???

God has provided me everything I need... He fulfills His promise every day... He NEVER says that it will come easy or that I will never go through trials or tribulations... He promises if we love him it does NOT matter WHO WE ARE, but only what HE does, and it is through Christ Jesus that we are saved... no matter what... it brings tears to my eyes to think of all the sin I have committed, and I am loved just the same... How truly GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!

The Choir

This cantata was even more special to me because Lessie...

Jimmy...

And I got to sing together, and pretty much stand next to each other!!!

And here is a little bit of the song that Hadley and I sang... The song is called "Who Am I," and Casting Crowns does a great version for those of you who want to download it! I put this on here for my husband... I guess its pay back for the entry of him singing... oh well!

Boys will be boys

Do you remember the feeling of the Spring semester in school... it is beautiful outside, and you are just dying for school to be OVER and summer to be here? Well, the boys in our neighborhood could not wait... literally! The pool was glistening in the sun, and it was 80* outside. Most of us were loving the weather, and just sitting outside was a treat! We decided to sit out there, and dream about the day to come when the temperature would be 96* and the pool would be 90*, and feel terrific when you jump in!! Then the ruckus began... Water splashing, and boys screaming like little girls!! It was great to see them having a memorable time... Here is the story with pictures...

On your marks, get set.... FREEZE!!!

The cutest boy on the block... and the boys enjoying the HOT TUB... imagine that!

The pool was only 76*.... WHAT were they thinking??

SHARK!!!

And then there's TJ... he is such a blessing to our family, and I think this picture shows it all... The light of the good and gracious Lord shines through him always! He doesn't fall to the pressures of being a teenager... he fights the good fight... he learns and remembers, and he loves school... he impresses me every day... He is a beautiful child, both inside and out... TJ brought our family so very close together, and I am so happy that I will be raising children with TJ as a role model! Look at the light in his radiant face, and you will see the blessings he gives our family! We love you, Buddy!

Time for school!

So it is official! Monday morning I start school nursing! I begin my new journey in Fort Bend ISD at Ridgegate Elementary. It is far away from my house, but the hope is within the next year I will get an inter district transfer to a school closer to home. The trick was getting a school nurse job; now that I have it, everything else should be great! I went to an art sale today that was put on by a local Middle School (Sartartia... where momma works), and bought a cute little step stool and a little kid desk that looks like its "old school" and painted really cute colors! I am very excited to meet my students and faculty, and I am ready to educate! Healthy minds, bodies, and souls is my motto! I want to make my own banner that says that so I can hang it in my office. That's the other cool thing... over the summer they are completely redoing my clinic... so with the start of the school year, it will officially be MY clinic! I am very excited!!!! We will see how it goes! Hope everyone has a great and blessed weekend! The weather is beautiful! 

Also, for those loyal Sun Machine followers: There is a show next Friday @ 10pm @ Fitzgerald's off of I- 10 and Washington in H- town... AND a show in Dallas the following week on Saturday at the AARDVARK. Exciting stuff! Check out their website!

You are so beautiful to me...

She is so beautiful! And we love her so much! She is our baby, and Justin felt it necessary to serenade her... it is great! And she loved it!

Shell Houston Open

Thursday was a great day! My terrific mother-in-law gave Justin and me Shell Houston Open Tickets! We had enough to invite my dad! It was great to have something to do with my dad that he really appreciated! We got to follow Adam Scott, who shot a 63 for the day and made a record... he was also the winner last year. We also got to follow Mickelson, who didn't play as well, but he is second in the nation, and we got to see him hit the pin and almost a hole- in- one on a par 3. It was sweet! Mickelson is my dad's favorite, so it was cool to sit there with him and watch! Never mind the blisters on our feet and the horrific sunburn, we had a great time!

What Could It be??

What in the world could this be?

It looks like cloth...

It looks like googly eyes...

Before you scroll, try to make a guess!

It will really surprise you!

Truly, I can't believe how it turned out, and 

I thank the people at puppetsnstuff.com for

the helpful videos!

                                                                                                               

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That's right! I made a puppet... This is Sunny, not Elmo!

It is very important to realize this, as I do not have a deal with Sesame Street to borrow Elmo!

Sunny was a great surprise and as you can see his friends were not so lucky as he, Their necks were too skinny to complete... so they are not going to make any appearances!

The kids in my children's choir at church loved Sunny, and they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Sunny's friends... They are in the works at the moment!

It was so much fun to make and meet Sunny, and their little faces lit up!!

I seriously think that this is the most captivated I have EVER had them! As you can see there are quite a few of them and we were still missing 4 kiddos! Keeping 20 3, 4, and 5 year old's attention can be tricky sometimes! But thanks to Sunny, Wednesday was a breeze!

A weekend at Aunt T's and Uncle J's... with a trip to the ZOO!!!

Okay, so Joey's momma, Sandra, had her second son on Wednesday, March 26th. His name is Jason, and he is so cute! We are blessed to have the new addition! Caroline, Justin's step mom, has been taking care of Joey, and Justin and I decided to give her a break over the weekend. WOW!! While he is so cute and most of the time an angel, Joey is a true to form 1 year old. Very busy and very opinionated, Joey moves and goes all the time! Poor baby had a cold and he is teething, so all you parents out there understand what his mood was. We decided that he needed a special trip to expend some energy, so we took him to the zoo. So much fun to see his little face discover the animals, and probably next year, he will be vocal and want to ride the choo- choo train! Justin and I enjoyed our experience, and cannot wait to do it again! However, I called my momma and told her that I thought taking care of a baby was easier than a 1 year old that doesn't feel good! A great practice session for Justin and I, and we honestly loved the time with him! We can't wait to do it again!

"I'm a little stinker! Okay, a big one sometimes... so big we have to stop at Target and get NEW pants!"

Precious Smile!

Justin's FIRST poopy diaper... He did an excellent job, and did not get one golden shower!!

Just Chillin' with Uncle J

Aunt T and baby Joey

The Meerkats were his favorite animal at the zoo! Look at the concentration to figure out what he is looking at!

Dory and Nemo!!!!

Monkey See...

Monkey do!

Learning with Aunt T...

and Uncle J!

"Hey... is this how we cook breakfast? If not, can you please hop to it, I am starving!"

Old school meets New school!

(**Yes that is the Smurfs! and right before that it was the Snorks!)

Peek- a- boo!

Bath time is so much fun!

Thank you to Caroline and Sandra for sharing him with us! We hope we helped you out!!

Happy Easter!

After a phenomenal church service, Justin and I went egg hunting with TJ (which they both got 15 dollars! Whoo Hoo!!), ate a great dinner, and finished with a dessert that will make you smile!

He Arose, He Arose, Hallelujah, Christ Arose!

Rabbit Cake... Momma did great!

Happy Easter from the Sutherland Family!

Lady gets her Hair DID!