Facebook is like crack.

Okay, I have to confess...I am addicted to facebook. So I signed up and got an account about a year ago, but never really paid attention to it. People would send me friend requests and I would ignore them, etc. Well recently, I got on and thankfully remembered my password...and it has been downhill ever since. I have added like 60 friends in the past week (love that "people you may know" tool), talked with people I haven't talked to in years, checked out everyone's photos and profiles. So first the blackberry addiction, then the addiction to reading blogs, and now this!! What is a girl supposed to do. So if anyone knows a good counselor, send me their name and number. Till then, I am off to check profiles and update pictures. 

Girls Night

Last night we headed out for a little girls night to Triology. It was so fun! We ended up having 15+ people which was great. I think 4 of them were pregnant and two had just had a baby...seriously people it is in the water. I just love my girls! We ate great pizza, had a nice glass of wine, and fellowshiped with our friends. Good times all around!

Court and Raenette. 

Kim and I enjoying girls night. 

Sweet Stephanie and 6 week old Sophia Schindler

Court practicing for her little one who will arrive in April. 

Oh fun Meg and I. 

Aren't they cute.

I had to force Jen to take this picture with me...she fakes it pretty well right?

Michele and Meg about to enjoy their Margarita Pizza. 

I asked them to all look at me, but they were not listening well. 

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Our Move to the ER

Well, we made the move to the new building...the Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center. Since that is such a mouthful, we like to call it the ER. Not only because it is easier to say, but also because it represents who G-d has called us to be...a community where broken people are healed by the life changing power of Jesus. Tomorrow marks our 4th Sunday at the ER. It's hard to believe that we have almost made it a full month.  I will be honest, I was not very excited about the move to the new building, but I have learned so much in this process. I have learned about patience, obedience, trust, and delegation. I have learned that following G-d and being obedient doesn't always make sense or seem rational, but that His plan is larger than our understanding.  The ER is a place of healing and restoration, it is a place where G-d's kingdom comes, and His will is done. It is a place where community is strengthened and lives are changed. It is our new home, even if just for a season. And in that, we are truly blessed. 

The move has been positive on all fronts. It has prompted new people to volunteer  and serve in the community. It has encouraged a number of new families to visit our community. It has caused us to work together in unity. It has taught us to live by faith in obedience.

Apparently, Ben and Vickie were taking self-portraits. Aren't they cute. 

So what are we doing here exactly...asks the pastor?

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The bullpen as we like to call it...Joanie's holding the fort down. 

Lance looking like he's in charge. 

The view from the front. 

We had almost 600 people on our first Sunday. 

If worship was interesting enough, there is always a rock climbing wall in the front. 

Our children's pastors...Jamie (still preggers in this photo) and Raenette (with her handsome son, Zane). 

This is Ben forcing me to take a photo...this is the happiest I could look. Let's just say it was  a bit stressful at first. 

The Taylor boys are troopers. 

My New Floor

For a late Christmas present, my sweet husband installed new wood laminate flooring in one of our front rooms. It took us (I say us liberally, as I didn't help much) two days to get it all done. Fortunately, our good friend Lance Klein was available to assist in the process. You see we didn't really know it would involve so much work...cutting, measuring, cutting some more, snapping pieces together, recutting, etc. We also didn't realize you needed to leave about a 3/4 gap in order to put the transition pieces in. So Ben and Lance had the whole room floored when I came home from Home Depot with the transition pieces. Ben and I took them out of the package and quickly realized our mistake. We had only left maybe a 1/4 gap between the wood flooring and the tile...which was definitely not big enough to get the transition piece to work. So, I said, "guess we are going to have to pull up the floor and recut...after all they just snap together." Ben, on the other hand, said, "no way honey, I am not pulling up this floor, we will just have to figure out how to get it done otherwise." So about 6 hours and three chisels later, Ben had chiseled the wood laminate down enough for the transition pieces to fit in. Of course, I am silently thinking the whole time...wouldn't it have been easier just to pull up the floor and cut those pieces on a saw...but I tried not to say that out loud. But, of course, you know I can't keep anything to myself...so when the project was done about 10 hours later, I said, "wouldn't it have been simpler just to pull the floor up and cut it with a saw?" Ben simply gave me those eyes that say...."if you say one more word I will rip this floor right up, so zip it." And that is what I did...I zipped it.

All I have to say is...it might have helped had we read up on how to do the job before just starting...but hey we are go getters. Good news is we still have one more room to do, which means we can redeem ourselves from our do-it-yourself mistakes. Anywho, the floor looks great and it is so much cleaner than carpet. Thanks Honey for a job well done!!

The job halfway done.

Ben and Lance cutting one of the pieces. Look at that skill. 

Don't be blinded by the light shining off their beautifully bald heads...they make a good team don't they. 

My Handsome Nephew

Is he not the cutest thing you have ever seen. He is a little over three months old and is growing like a champ. He is already in 6-9 month clothing and is rolling over on his own. I am so proud of him. We, of course, miss seing little ER and Macy as they live way far away in Tulsa, OK. Fortunately, we have pictures to keep us in the loops and phone calls with exciting news every so often. Maybe we will get to see them during Spring Break. 

Just love that face!!

This little seat he is in is awesome...it vibrates so it keeps him happy or puts him right to sleep. 

Look at the big guy enjoying some tummy time...plus showing his folks how he can roll over on his own. 

He's a thumb sucker already...he wont take a pacifier...no way. 

A Great Week!

What a perfect ending to a great week....

1. Jamie and Don King's baby Elli Graylyn was born on Thursday, January 8th. Also the birthdate of Elvis Presley, which Don was really excited about. She is 7 lbs 3 ounces and 19.5 inches long. She is simply perfect!! It always amazes me how G-d knits His children together so beautifully. Congrats to Don, Jamie, Charis, and Grady for their new addition. (I didn't take my camera, but hopefully, I will get someone to send me some)

2. Matthew Josiah is officially a Garrison now!! That's right Brian and Courtney's adoption of Matthew was finalized yesterday. It has been almost two years since this process began and it is so nice to know officially that Matthew has found his "forever family" as the judge put it. We, of course, knew who his "forever family" was all along. Congrats to the Garrisons...plus they have one on the way!! 

G-d is good and His love endures forever!

Happy New Year & Happy Birthday ER!

Crashed out.

I am so good at putting him to sleep!! Actually putting him to sleep as i type one handed!

Ben is a natural

Macy got lots of presents!! She was so excited!

Look how little ER loves me!!

Little ER and Big ER

The little John Deere buddy! 

Two of my favorite boys. 

Ben and I are currently in the sprawling metropolis of Stratford, Texas...the Pheasant Capital of Texas!! We are here to celebrate Christmas with Ben's family and commemorate big ER's 80th birthday. ER turned 80 on Christmas Day, so we decided to have a party on New Years day to celebrate. You know I just love small towns because everybody knows everybody and they all love PawPaw ER. People stopped by all day long to eat and enjoy one another's company.

Of course, I got to spend some great time with little ER and marvelous Macy. Little ER is growing so fast. He has doubled his birth weight at 3 months (apparently, you are not supposed to do that until 6 months). I am, of course, his favorite aunt and he likes to take every opportunity to look at me and tell me. 

All around it was a wonderful time.