Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
"The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." Mother Teresa
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Family Pictures
Last week we went and had our family pictures taken. Once a year we do this because I can never seem to capture a picture of the four of us that is up to my standards for framing. My dream is to one day own a nice camera and take a photography course so I can learn how to capture pictures.
I am happy to say that this photo taking session went really well, it was probably our best one to date. Usually I am a basket case, the kids are grumpy and we all end up in a horrible mood by the end. That morning I prayed that God would help us through this and that I would not lose my cool. The kids did great (I think bribing them with a lollipop helped) and I managed to keep my cool.
Here are a few of our favorites.
My favorite family picture will be coming to your mailbox soon on our Christmas cards.
I am happy to say that this photo taking session went really well, it was probably our best one to date. Usually I am a basket case, the kids are grumpy and we all end up in a horrible mood by the end. That morning I prayed that God would help us through this and that I would not lose my cool. The kids did great (I think bribing them with a lollipop helped) and I managed to keep my cool.
Here are a few of our favorites.
My favorite family picture will be coming to your mailbox soon on our Christmas cards.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thanksgiving Feasts
Today the kids had their Thanksgiving feasts at school. I was so thankful that Lantz could come because Hunter and Mias' feasts were both at noon. The menus consisted of chicken nuggets, tator tots, carrot sticks, cheese, rolls and dessert. It was fun watching both of our kids interact with their friends. Here are a few highlights.
Hunter's class made hats. Their teachers asked them to name things they were thankful for and they put those things on each feather. Hunter said, my mom, my dad, my grandparents and my animals. Notice he left out his sister, Lantz had a talk with him about that :)
I went to Hunter's lunch first and then went to Mia's class. When we got home today Mia told me that next time she did not want Lantz and I to switch rooms, she just wanted Daddy to come to her room.
Mia and Garrett, I love her grin in this picture.
Lantz and Hunter.
I think the highlight of Mia's day was getting to hold baby Grace (Garrett's sister).
Lantz, thank you for taking time to come to lunch with the kids, they loved having you there.
Hunter's class made hats. Their teachers asked them to name things they were thankful for and they put those things on each feather. Hunter said, my mom, my dad, my grandparents and my animals. Notice he left out his sister, Lantz had a talk with him about that :)
I went to Hunter's lunch first and then went to Mia's class. When we got home today Mia told me that next time she did not want Lantz and I to switch rooms, she just wanted Daddy to come to her room.
Mia and Garrett, I love her grin in this picture.
Lantz and Hunter.
I think the highlight of Mia's day was getting to hold baby Grace (Garrett's sister).
Lantz, thank you for taking time to come to lunch with the kids, they loved having you there.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Remembering November 13, 1991
18 years ago it was a misty, overcast Wednesday in Lubbock, TX. I was awakened by my sister who told me that I would not be going to school that day, instead, we were going to the hospital to see our mother. When we got to the hospital that morning, she was pretty much the same as the day before, just sleeping, unable to communicate with us. The morning passed uneventfully. My Uncle Joe took me and my sister to lunch at Copper Caboose near the Tech campus, while my dad and grandmother stayed with my mom.
Although I was only 15, I had my hardship license due to my mom's cancer rendering her unable to drive. I had just had basketball tryouts for the 9th grade team at Irons Jr. High over the previous two days and the results were to be announced that afternoon. Around 3 o'clock I selfishly began thinking about driving up to school to see if I had made the "A" team since there had been virtually no change in my mom's condition the entire day. Thankfully, I didn't leave.
Around 3:30 my mom began to stir in her bed. This caused us all to stand up and draw near to her. She opened her eyes and took time to look at each one of us. The cancer had robbed her of the ability to talk, but we were able to look her in the eyes and tell her how much we loved her. And then, she took her last breath and she was gone.
It's hard to believe that I have lived over half my life without my mother. There have been so many events that she was not able to share with me - graduations from high school and college, mine and Kelly's wedding, the birth of her grandchildren. Oh how I wish she could have experienced the joy of these moments with me. Although she knew her time here was short and that she would miss out on the life events every parent dreams of, she never got angry at God or never asked, "why me?", she just kept trusting in Him. Her faith in the midst of difficulty spoke volumes to me and was one of the greatest things she taught me in the 15 years we had together. Looking back on things, even though it is strange to say, I thank God for my mom's death, because without it, I don't know if my faith would have been strong as it is today.
While I miss my mom and am saddened that she was not able to meet my wife and her grandchildren, I am comforted in the knowledge that I will see her again in eternity because of our mutual faith in Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins that only He provides.
If, by chance, you are reading this note and do not have that assurance that you will spend eternity in heaven I can think of no better way to honor my mother's memory than to tell you about the Savior that sustained her through the suffering of cancer and continues to be her, and my, hope for eternity. So in closing, I encourage you to do two things:
1. Please contact me and let me tell you about the peace and joy that can only come through knowing God and being reconciled to Him.
2. Take time to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you and your love for them, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us.
To God Be The Glory,
Lantz
Although I was only 15, I had my hardship license due to my mom's cancer rendering her unable to drive. I had just had basketball tryouts for the 9th grade team at Irons Jr. High over the previous two days and the results were to be announced that afternoon. Around 3 o'clock I selfishly began thinking about driving up to school to see if I had made the "A" team since there had been virtually no change in my mom's condition the entire day. Thankfully, I didn't leave.
Around 3:30 my mom began to stir in her bed. This caused us all to stand up and draw near to her. She opened her eyes and took time to look at each one of us. The cancer had robbed her of the ability to talk, but we were able to look her in the eyes and tell her how much we loved her. And then, she took her last breath and she was gone.
It's hard to believe that I have lived over half my life without my mother. There have been so many events that she was not able to share with me - graduations from high school and college, mine and Kelly's wedding, the birth of her grandchildren. Oh how I wish she could have experienced the joy of these moments with me. Although she knew her time here was short and that she would miss out on the life events every parent dreams of, she never got angry at God or never asked, "why me?", she just kept trusting in Him. Her faith in the midst of difficulty spoke volumes to me and was one of the greatest things she taught me in the 15 years we had together. Looking back on things, even though it is strange to say, I thank God for my mom's death, because without it, I don't know if my faith would have been strong as it is today.
While I miss my mom and am saddened that she was not able to meet my wife and her grandchildren, I am comforted in the knowledge that I will see her again in eternity because of our mutual faith in Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins that only He provides.
If, by chance, you are reading this note and do not have that assurance that you will spend eternity in heaven I can think of no better way to honor my mother's memory than to tell you about the Savior that sustained her through the suffering of cancer and continues to be her, and my, hope for eternity. So in closing, I encourage you to do two things:
1. Please contact me and let me tell you about the peace and joy that can only come through knowing God and being reconciled to Him.
2. Take time to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you and your love for them, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us.
To God Be The Glory,
Lantz
Monday, November 9, 2009
Our little princess
I just sent this picture to Lantz at work. His reply was "We are going to be in trouble in another 14 years…if not sooner.
The Mighty Papercuts
The Mighty Papercuts season came to an end on Saturday. Hunter had a lot of fun playing soccer with his team. The season went by really fast and to be honest, neither Lantz or I could tell you whether or not the team had a winning or losing record. It is funny because even though you would like to keep score you find yourself too busy cheering for your child when they are on the field. Here are a few highlights from the season.
By the last game Mia thought that she was on the team. She enjoyed sitting on the bench with Hunter's team and she also loved to play goalie. On Saturday she told me "I am going to play goalie Mommy." Hunter did a great job playing goalie. One of Mia's favorite things to do was to stand by the goal with Lantz to cheer for Hunter. I loved Hunter's goalie stance.
This is Ryley, who was also on Hunter's team.
Action shot of Hunter kicking the ball.
Mia finding ways to entertain herself.
The Papercuts played one night game this season. This picture of Hunter and Carson is priceless.
On Monday night we had our team party at Clay's. All of the kids received a medal and a certificate. One of their coaches gave them all nicknames, which they put on the certificate. Hunter's was "turn it around Hunter" because Hunter always seemed to start out kicking the ball towards the other team's goal and we would all yell "turn it around!".
The highlight of the evening was when we asked the kids to go back inside the restaurant to get their medal (they had been outside playing). Hunter and about four of his teammates cut through an area where a coach was giving a speech thanking his youth football team. I tried to stop the kids, but I was too late, so I just apologized to the team and they all laughed.
T-ball starts in a couple of weeks. Looks like we are off to Academy to buy more sports gear this weekend.
By the last game Mia thought that she was on the team. She enjoyed sitting on the bench with Hunter's team and she also loved to play goalie. On Saturday she told me "I am going to play goalie Mommy." Hunter did a great job playing goalie. One of Mia's favorite things to do was to stand by the goal with Lantz to cheer for Hunter. I loved Hunter's goalie stance.
This is Ryley, who was also on Hunter's team.
Action shot of Hunter kicking the ball.
Mia finding ways to entertain herself.
The Papercuts played one night game this season. This picture of Hunter and Carson is priceless.
On Monday night we had our team party at Clay's. All of the kids received a medal and a certificate. One of their coaches gave them all nicknames, which they put on the certificate. Hunter's was "turn it around Hunter" because Hunter always seemed to start out kicking the ball towards the other team's goal and we would all yell "turn it around!".
The highlight of the evening was when we asked the kids to go back inside the restaurant to get their medal (they had been outside playing). Hunter and about four of his teammates cut through an area where a coach was giving a speech thanking his youth football team. I tried to stop the kids, but I was too late, so I just apologized to the team and they all laughed.
T-ball starts in a couple of weeks. Looks like we are off to Academy to buy more sports gear this weekend.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Halloween Highlights
On Friday night we headed over to our YMCA for trunk or treat. While we were eating dinner I asked Hunter if he wanted to wear his Curious George costume or if he just wanted to put on his football uniform. He thought for a minute and said he would rather wear the football uniform. Needless to say, Daddy was not pleased. I thought it was great because everyone was telling Hunter gig'em and go Aggies as he was getting candy. Lantz vowed to get Hunter into the Curious George costume on Halloween.
This was my favorite car at the YMCA. Some of the cars were rather scary and I almost wanted to complain. I am all for the fun aspects of dressing up for Halloween, but I do not like the skulls, etc. that frighten the kids. We thought that the Y would have been more sensitive to that.
Mia was very excited about all of her candy, she dumped it in her chair on the way home from the Y.
On Saturday Lantz took Hunter to a fall festival at a church near us. Hunter loved all the animals on this inflatable.
Saturday afternoon we hung out at our neighbors. Hunter played football with Andrew and had a blast. When we came home to put the kids' costumes on, you guessed it, Hunter wanted to be a football player again.
Mia loves our neighbors Audrey and Rachel. She had a great time playing with them before we went trick or treating.
Sarah is also one of our neighbors that Mia loves to play with.
I think next year we might save some money and just use costumes from our dress up clothes.
This was my favorite car at the YMCA. Some of the cars were rather scary and I almost wanted to complain. I am all for the fun aspects of dressing up for Halloween, but I do not like the skulls, etc. that frighten the kids. We thought that the Y would have been more sensitive to that.
Mia was very excited about all of her candy, she dumped it in her chair on the way home from the Y.
On Saturday Lantz took Hunter to a fall festival at a church near us. Hunter loved all the animals on this inflatable.
Saturday afternoon we hung out at our neighbors. Hunter played football with Andrew and had a blast. When we came home to put the kids' costumes on, you guessed it, Hunter wanted to be a football player again.
Mia loves our neighbors Audrey and Rachel. She had a great time playing with them before we went trick or treating.
Sarah is also one of our neighbors that Mia loves to play with.
I think next year we might save some money and just use costumes from our dress up clothes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
