Christmas 2008

We have a family tradition of having a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve, so this year Emily, Evan, and few of the other chldren who attend the party, got to play a part in telling the story. Emily played the part of Mary, Evan played the part of Joseph. Easton and Andrew were shepherds, and Joseph narrated the story of Jesus birth. It was very cute! After the story was finished the music started and we listened to "Happy birthday, jesus" sung by the Brooklyn Tab. Choir. It really was so precious!! Andrew played the part of a shepherd extrememly well! Every time there was an action verb, he made sure to act it out -- my favorite was when the shepherds were "frightened" he made sure to faint!!

Eric's dad, Maw Maw, and his friend Nancy all joined us for Christmas, so that was fun as well!

Thanksgiving Week!

We had a fun Thanksgiving Week! We had friends and family over before Turkey Day, and then Eric kidnapped me and the kids and took us to the Gaylord Texan, and we stayed there for four days!! One the first might we were there we ate at one of our favortie steak places, the Old Hickory, and Evan and emily were so well behaved! I was very proud and greatful for Eric's iphone!! On thanksgiving day we went to the zoo, which we had almost to ourselves, and the animals were very happy to see us! They were so cute! We ate dinner at Ama Lur where we had the best turkey ever!! We spent the other days, swimming, shopping at Build a Bear, and enjoying each other! The decorations were georgeous at the Gaylord! Our room was the size of our house, and it overlooked all the beautiful lights inside the Gaylord! It was great! Eric and I took turns enjoying the amenities at the spa, and we all enjoyed ordering pizza and watching movies in the room! It was wonderful!

Confessions from Cat

No matter what choices I make in life, whether it be good decisions or bad, every decision I make causes a wake. A ripple in the lives of those around me. Sometimes it's easy for me to forget that, and I just want to do my own thing rather than rememebering that God is actually in charge of every single choice I make, not me. But we serve a precious God who is full of grace, who also allows me to fall on my face HARD so that I can see that I can't do it alone. I love and hate that all at the same time...
I have been dealing with alot lately, in ways that I never dreamed I would struggle, and it's been one of the most difficult things I have had to face since my eating disorder. It's funny how quickly and easily sin can creep in and make itself at home, and you don't realize it until everything in life is unraveling. The hardest part is when you realize that you've not only hurt yourself, but the ones you love the most, and your relationship with the Lord isn't as close because you've chosen other things over him. It doesn't take long for that to happen!
I am so blessed to have a husband, kids, and family that love me and point me to Christ when I am not looking to Him. I know that I am not the only person on the earth that struggles with things, so I think that you can relate in your own personal way. Going through the desert is so hard and painful, but remember you are not alone.

Next Week...In a funk.

So next week is CRAZY for me! Can't wait for it to be over. I am decorating this weekend, and the guy that I was totally depending on to help me went to a different country for the holidays... SO, I get to do it alone for the most part. Oh well, I can handle that, but I am already in a major funk, and don't need to add more stress on top of "the crazies."
Sunday, I won't even go there, is going to be difficult for me due to some strange things going on... Monday and Tuesday I am going to be the best mom I can be, but come Wednesday, I will be invisible to everyone. I am cooking for a tea that I am hosting for 200+ people, making the decorations, and taking care of all the specifics, etc. Thursday is the tea, but Friday is when I am singing at DBU for their homecoming. I am sooooo nervous about it. I haven't sang -- like show tunes and stuff -- in 7 years. I'm only singing one song, so in a way that makes it even worse because I can't mentally work through the whole nervous issue. I have to fake it and be perfect. UUUGGGG! I am also having a full orchestra behind me (if only I was singing a song I loved... oh well). If any of you guys want to come, it's completely free. It's at DBU in the Burg, starting at 8pm on Friday. Get there early. It will be packed.
BUT, I am VERY greatful that Thanksgiving week is coming and I have several days where I can get my head straight and hopefully enjoy doing nothing.
For those of you who read this to find out about my mom, she is doing MUCH better! The only complications she has now are the fact that she will be in pain for a very long time. She is going to work (she couldn't stay away if she tried...) and she is being super woman yet again. The whole "pack" is in San Diego this week, but will be back soon -- maybe tomorrow!!
Evan and Emily are growing up too fast, and they are the best kids in the world!! Eric is so ready to be home and finally be a family again. We've all missed that. It's been so long it seems.

(Sorry girls! I FINALY got around to getting these up!)
These are the pics of a bunch of us carving pumpkins in the back yard (obviously), and Halloween, and one pic of Tony Bennett (when I saw him a few weeks ago!). Sorry I not wordy for once!

This is an old pic that I found on Eric's computer. I am in "Carosel." I thought it was funny to come across this picture because I am singing Rogers and Hammerstein songs -- including the one I am singing in this picture -- for DBU's homecoming in a few weeks.

We are playing legos today. I am having a hard time slowing down so I am forcing myself to do nothing but play. I hate that I have a hard time playing. That didn't use to be the case. You guys know me, I am the one that's getting out the shaving cream and water balloons and making a ness of the place in honor of FUN, but lately all I can think of is the fact that I don't have time to clean things up. We are ON PURPOSE trashing the place today, and i am letting go of this rediculous notion that I "don't have time." I don't have time NOT to get messy and knee deep in legos and My Little Ponies. (I will confess that I am playing the blog rather than cleaning while the kids watch a movie...) It's lunch time, and we are still in our PJ's. AHHH! We whipped out the silly string and have had one war, but war 2 will be on after lunch!! (Poor Dollie usually gets brunt of the silly string, but it's still fun!) I didn't go to work today because Emily keeps having throw-up sessions and tummy issues (I think that they are over), but we still needed to have a "get perfectly well" day.
I know this sounds ridiculous, but I have to start decorating our house for Christmas before I start doing everyone elses otherwise I won't want to do it, so I should be doing that today -- but I'm not right now! Well, Tom and Jerry is over! I'm off to play!

The Most Important Thing...

Last week, while I was doing stuff around the house, Evan (5 years old) walked in and said, "Mommy, God just called out to me, and asked if he could come into my heart?"
My response was, "Really?" "What did you say back?"

Then he said with the biggest smile you have ever seen,
"YES! I have plenty of room!"

We then had a long discussion about sin, and Jesus dying on the cross, and him raising from the dead, but the coolest part about it was that Evan pretty much told ME everything! I just asked questions, like, "What is sin?" and "Why did Jesus die on the cross?" But, Evan knew and gave me examples! WOW! I can't even put into words what that is like!

THE Star Wars Party!!

EVAN TURNED 5!!!

We have had a blast celebrating his 5th birthday this weekend! I am worn out!
Friday night, my mom wanted to make him his birthday dinner, so she did, and WHAT A FEAST!! She and my dad made his cake! Evan wanted Spder-man, so that's what they made!! We then opened presents, and EVERYONE had fun playing with EVAN'S birthday presents! (You'll see what I mean in the pictures below!!)
On Saturday, we played video games at "Grammy's" and then we (Eric, Emily, Evan, and I) all went to see the "Star Wars: Clone Wars" movie that is in the theater right now. Evan LOVED IT! Emily didn't like it, so we went to the bathroom about 6 times... Oh well! Then we spent the remainder fo teh day getting ready for Sunday! (Sunday was his party with FRIENDS!!)

Several months ago, Evan told me that for his birthday party everyone was going to come and they were all going to put on a show of "Star Wars." He was always talking about it, and telling me who was going to be what character, etc. So, I decided to make his idea reality...
I called up my sweet friend, Ian, whom I used to be in shows with long ago, and asked him if he could be Obi One Can obi. He said yes, but we really needed to practice to make sure everything went okay and no one got hurt. So, we had rehearsal. (I have never heard of a rehearsal for a birthday party, but we did, and had FUN!!) Ryan ended up agreeing to be Darth Vader, and we had everything in place. I bought costumes online, found the "Imperial March" in "funk" style, and we were good to go! I made light sabers out of pipe insulation by wrapping them in neon colored duct tape, and then spray painting them with neon paint, so that they would glow under a black light. I had a strobe light, lots of black light setups, and a fog machine. We were ready to go!
We had the party at Pump it Up! Everyone got there (we were late as usual!), and played in the bounce houses, climbed up the 9 or 10 foot slide, and then trickled down, and ran till they could run no more. The last 15 minutes of our time in the bounce rooms was spent with Obi One giving Jedi lessons to the kids there, and then for the finale, told the children that they were going to get to see a fight!
So, the music started, the lights went out (black lights on), the door opened, and Darth Vader marched in and had a mighty duo with Obi One. After a long and tedious fight, and Vader chasing Obi One up the slide, and Obi One crashing to the bottom, we needed reinforcements, so here came YODA (also known as EVAN!!), and he fought a courageous battle against Darth Vader, and Vader was defeated!!!
Then, after several photo opps, we all went into the party room and ate cake! (Which I forgot, but thankfully, my dad ran to the store to pick up!! I also forgot all the plates, and decorations... BUT I DIDN'T forget the party favors or the stuff for the "show!!" Heather had to go to my house and get everything I forgot! --You're awesome, my friend!)
Our sweet friends Glen and Lydia came with their son, Drew, and they filmed the whole thing!!! I am sooo glad they were there!! I thought that my mom wasn't going to get to come, but she was very brave and MADE IT!! I was shocked to see her! But, I am still glad that we have this whole fiasco recorded!!
Due to the fact that I didn't take into account that the bounce rooms had skylights, so the whole BLACK LIGHT thing wouldn't work... We ended up plugging in the black lights in the party room, and the kids could see their light sabers "glow!"
Everyone left with their light saber and a bag of candy!! As all the children were leaving, my dad had a Clone Trooper helmet on, and poked the kids with a light saber before leaving! (Evan told him to do that...)
I have already described myself as ridiculous, but Evan got the party he dreamed up in his head, and that's what matters most!

Eric's BIRTHDAY!!

Today was Eric's Birthday! Don't ask me how old he is because I always get it wrong.
We had a fun day! The kids and I all went to the office and took him a big balloon that sang about having a "Rockin' Birthday...Shoop Shoop Di Doop!" We also gave him one of his presents at the office. From my mom and dad he got a custom tailored suit that he looks great in!! So, we gave him a new black belt...(we are boring).
Then, the office had a breakfast party for him!!
After a long, hard day of work for everyone, we all settled down and went to the Harbor in Rockwall, and went on a sunset sail around the lake, and then ate dinner on the patio at Gloria's!! It was perfect! We had a great time!

Funny story, if you have your sound on right now, you could be listening to the song, "Love Boat." Well, a few years ago I was autioning to be in the cast of a show here in Dallas, and after I did my thing, the guys holding the audtions saw Eric sitting there and asked him shy HE wasn't auditioning. He gave several lame answers, and then without any preparation at all stood up and sang "The Love Boat." He had everyone, the producer, director, accompianist, EVERYONE laughing histarically (mainly because he is a huge HAM...)
Well, he was cast in a LEAD ROLE, while I was left to be the "town floosie and chorus girl." Need I say more? Now every time we hear that song, it brings back those bitter-sweet memories of how I got "out cast" by my own husband! (We love laughing about it!

Here are the pictures!

ON THE HUNT!

Why didn't anyone ever tell me that buying things like cars is CRAZY!! The last car that I sort of bought was in 1997, and my parents bought it for me, so that doesn't really count.
We have been shopping for a car for over 40 hours this weekend... We have had a babysitter for 25 of those hours... I need a vacation with my kids!!! I am so tired of test driving. We think that we may have narrowed our search down to an Infiniti FX35, Honda Accord, Honda Pilot, Buick, BMW, Ford Explorer, or a helicopter. Hopefully by January we will be able to let my mom have her car back, and have our OWN car!
On an honest note, we aren't trying to rush this whole process. We really want the car that the Lord has for us, but in the process, Eric is making me research every single car that has been made since 2005. I have learned SO MUCH! And, I think that I may have test driven one of each car that has been made since 2005. My next job is going to be a car salesperson. (I have worked in a dealership before, but I worked the free prize counter...) If you go with us to the State Fair of Texas this year, we may end up selling YOU your NEXT CAR! Well, I'd better get back to the research. Eric thinks that I am still "doing my homework..."

Today was a great day for mom!! She has worried all week about today because she was scheduled to get her hair cut and nails done. She hasn't been able to do that in over a month...
She also started some kind of medicine, but I can't remember what kind. She said that she feels like a new person. Her face still hurts, but she has been able to handle the pain so much better today!!
I think that she looks alot better too!
Please continue to pray over her complete healing!

Eric and I car shopped ALL DAY LONG. We still haven't bought a car. It would be so helpful if we knew what we wanted. We are going to continue the search tomorrow and Monday. Kristen and Kate Bernard were so gracious and babysat Evan and Emily all day long (10 hours)! They went to the Science Place and Chick fil a, and had a blast!

A glimps at my heart...

TODAY: Emily and I went to mom's house tonight for "girl's night!" We watched "Air Bud!" The guys all went to a Rough Rider's game with the boys from Evan's school.
My mom is still hurting and getting very tired of it. I can't imagine being sick this long!! The doctor called and told her that she does have swelling in the top and lower part of her brain (on the left side). She said that luckliy the pain is mainly there as well. (Better than being EVERYWHERE!) They wanted to do a spinal tap of some kind to see about infection, but mom said no -- no yet. She thinks that it will go away. Please continue to pray for swift and complete healing!

Dollie (our dog) we think got wacked by our new electric fence, and we thought that she had a broken shoulder, but found out (after spending many hours and dollars at the dog hospital) that she just spranged it pretty bad...

Eric and I are going car shopping tomorrow, and are in the process of closing on our house... crazy times! Pray that we get the car the Lord wants us to have!

A GLIMPS:
There is so much more going on that I would love to write down. God is so good and is doing great things! You know how you can walk through life, and -- when you are looking for God's finger prints, you can see them? I am so encouraged about what my mom is learning through all of this mess. Knowing WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST is something that you will never fully understand, or maybe even fully grasp, but when you can come to "grips" with that fact that you are HIS, it is so freeing. We are HIS -- GOD'S! There is nothing you can do to change that perfect little fact! I love that, if you have accepted the precious, free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, that no matter how easy, perfect, happy, tough, painful life may get, that we don't have to ask why, or when, or what for. We just have to say, "Father, I am yours, and I trust you no matter how easy, perfect, happy, difficult, tough, and painful each chapter of my life may be. I TRUST YOU!" Never let go of WHO you ARE! Don't forget of the POWER OF GOD IS IN YOU! Never forget that YOU ARE NEVER ALONE, no matter how alone you may feel, or how hopeless a situation may be. Remember that it is not YOU who are in control, and you really need to be greatful for that fact.
I often forget the truth of who I am in christ. It is so easy to forget. Especially with the distractions we have around us.
A question that has been beating in my head lately is, what is your "Kingdom" work? What am I doing to further the Kingdom of God? (Some of my friends are going to think that I have gone off my rocker...) My first calling is to point my children and my husband towards HIM. And, to encourage them so see who they are in Christ. I don't want to live the way I used to -- living up to the expectations of what I thought others had of me. I struggle with that, but I really prefer to be who God naturally made me to be. It scares me to think of who could be without him.
The second thing that the Lord really presses me and pushes me to do (and honestly scares me to death for some reason...) is WORSHIP. Living a life of prayer and worship of our precious Savior. Prayer is easier for me than worship. Worship requires me to surrender something more of myself deep within, and say, "Yes, Lord! YOU are LORD!" I don't really know how to describe how heavily God has placed worship in my heart. Worship is something that happens when you enter HIS HOLY PLACE. Returning to that holy place where it is just you and the Lord. You acknowleging who he is, and him speaking diectly to your heart in a way that is indescribable.

The results are in on Eric's MRI, and he has a minor bulging disc...ouch, but fixable. He needs to exercise, and not sit at his desk all the time.
As far as my mom goes, I personally think that her doctor is SLOW! She should FINALLY hear something tomorrow...Friday.
She is hurting alot, but looks much better. She is SO SICK OF BEING SICK! She's moving around alot, and doing what she can. Pray over her head aches, neck aches, and eyes. Her face still feels like it's on fire.

MRI Day

Eric and mom had MRIs scheduled for Monday at 4 pm. Eric was getting one for his back, and mom on her head. I don't have any updates as far as the outcome. Once I hear something, I will update the blog.
I haven't talked to my mom since Sunday, so I really don't know how she is. I've called, but haven't heard back yet.