Happy 29 Sissy

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Big Sister.
If you do not have a sister, especially a big sister, I am sorry.  You have missed out on a true blessing!  Well, at least I think so.  This may be because I am partial and believe I have the best big sister ever.
Today she is 29!  I am so thankful God gave me a big sister...here are 29 reasons why(in no order)

1. I needed someone to look up to
2. Who else would have stood up for me and protected me in high school?
3. I needed a best friend growing up
4. She'll ALWAYS be there for me
5. I needed someone to have babies to be my babies cousins
6. So she could do things first and try them out and let me know how to REALLY do it
7. I needed someone to annoy when I was little (and prob some now too)
8.  An example
9. I need someone to help me take care of mom and dad later on
10. I need someone to call any day or night
11. I needed company on drives back and forth to Tyler
12. I need someone to cry to when babies are wearing me out
13. I needed a big fan while I was in high school
14. I needed someone to teach me to be a Horned Frog
15. I needed a shoulder to cry on and room to run to when I was a baby horned frog
16. I needed someone to move away from TX, survive, and return safely
17. I needed someone to introduce me to
18. I needed someone to play school with
19. I needed someone to love my babies like only an aunt can

20. I need someone to show me how to be a woman of God

21. I needed someone to go through the whole wedding/marriage thing first

22. I needed someone to help me make it through my teens

23. I need someone who forgives me

24. I need someone who is a therapist ;)

25. I needed someones footsteps to follow in...we all know I am not a born leader (like Courtney)

26. I needed someone to share a room with! and push the twin beds together with and have Dad fall asleep in the crack!

27. I needed someone to make memories with!

28. I needed someone to love me!

29.  I needed someone to turn 30 before me!


Sissy, thanks for being there for me! I love you!  Wish we could've been there to help you celebrate!
XOXO,
Mana

Some More Match Day Photos

Just had to reshow this photo because I am proud of myself for making my dress and necklace...and because I love my little family

 Darryl and the boys getting his envelope...

 WOHOO...now we just have to wait to open it!

 Caleb and Madison don't seem to understand the anticipation!

 OPEN IT ALREADY!

 Darryl attempting to let Caleb open it...

 OK OK...just let daddy open it

 OMG! We are moving to Kansas City!

 MWAH! I love you! I'll go anywhere with you!

 Somehow Becca skipped out on a photo shoot

Kansas City

(don't know why this post disappeared, but here it is again! and no, match day was not yesterday, it was March 16)
Match day was yesterday. We found out we will be moving to Kansas city! We are so excited! This will be quite an adventure seeing as I haven't lived outside of a small radius in Texas my entire life! From what ive heard kc is nice. 500,000, with lots to do (key with 2 little boys!). Darryl seems excited about the program and getting to work with the kc royals etc.
I'd be lying if I said wasn't a little scared/nervous (see previous comment). I was sad yesterday when I started looking at houses and typed in a city then put comma, tx. :( but I'm more excited than scared. I know god knows what he's doing and he's holding our little family in his hands.
I really was prepared to go anywhere on this journey...so kc - here we come!
I'm so proud of Darryl!
Blessings,
M

cleansed

Last night was our church's lenten penance service.  I love my faith!  I love confession.  I love forgiveness.  I love mercy.  I love peace. 
I am so unworthy of all of these, yet God loves me as his daughter and showers me with all of the above.  You cannot beat that overwhelming feeling of peace that you get after being absolved.  A huge sigh of relief, burdens lifted off your shoulders, a big embrace from God, our father.
We have the best babysitter/friends/neighbors ever (seriously, I will miss them in KC) who stayed with the boys so we could go to dinner and confession.  The wait was LONG, but we enjoyed being baby free, the silence, just listening to God and running to him like a child. 

I had my first meltdown about moving.  We ran into our Dr. there and I love her!  She came and gave us a hug and told me how much she would miss us.  I burst into tears.  I have been so blessed here.  Our church is wonderful.  So many families who are such examples to me, so many friends who I love and who love on me and my boys.  I am so excited about moving, this new adventure, but I will miss the comfort, the friends, the love that is here in Temple. 

In the confessional the priest spoke with me about seeing God throughout the day, making time for him, even if just a few minutes.  Great to hear, because for some reason I feel like I need 30 min or something to be able to spend time with him.  But no, just a few minutes is fine!  And he said that if I do this will see that God is truly with me, I don't have to do it alone. Phew, thank god! 

Enjoying this rainy day!
Blessings,

m

Change

Why are we such creatures of habit?
Why is change so difficult?
How do I get stuck in my ways so easily?
Perhaps it is gods way of saying "hey you! You're not in control here. Count on me. I am with you always."
So as my mind spins with all this newness and change I am trying to rest in him. Don't get me wrong. It's not that I am not excited. It's that I am uncertain of the future. I am not in control. That is what scares me.

We've got to be convinced that God is always near us. We live as though he were far away, in the heavens high above, and we forget that he is also continually by our side. He is there like a loving Father.

Amen!
So with excitement and peace I accept you, change. Bring it on! I am one strong girl! :)

Blessings,
M

He/we matched!

What a gorgeous day to find out, Yes. It's true. I believed in him all along, but it is reassuring to know that yes indeed Darryl will be starting orthopedic residency this summer. I am so proud of him and all of his hard work. God is so good!
We will find out where Friday.
Here are a few pic from the weekend. Just the ones on my phone because I haven't uploaded my camera yet.
Liams party was a blast! He's so Stinkin cute and Courtney did a fantastic job! Caleb enjoyed fresh picked carrots from "pooh's" garden.

I wish I could explain how excited I am about match day! One week away! More excited than Christmas! I can't wait to see where god is taking us/leaving us!
In the mean time we get to go celebrate our nephew&godsons FIRST birthday this weekend! I can't believe it's been a year! Wow! Time flies!
So Caleb ended up having an ear infection. Don't I feel like a terrible mom/nurse. Seriously!? He never tugged at his ears or anything! Poor guy! Thank god for antibiotics!
Happy almost weekend!!
Blessings,
M

Sad. Sick. Baby.

Poor Caleb is not feeling well today. :( he has a fever and is super fussy. Although, other than that hrs fine! He's still running around the house etc. Gotta love him
I have also enjoyed a few extra cuddles from him today!!
How do I know he is sick? We made peanut butter play dough and he didn't eat any!!
Super easy, not messy, and you prob have the ingredients in your pantry!
1 c. PB
2 c. Powdered sugar
1/2 c. Honey
Mix and enjoy the fun!

I can't believe Jonah is 8 months old today! And we are 10 days our from match day!
Blessings,
M

Weekend

Seriously. What. A. Beautiful. Weekend. We spent most of it outdoors! Darryl and I ran 10 miles with the boys on Saturday morning. Jonah slept. Caleb watched bob on the phone. Darryl and I caught up. Perfect morning.
Sunday morning we worked on the yard. Mostly Darryl. It looks amazing and ready for spring! I enjoyed talking to Caleb about the trees and flowers blooming and signs if spring and gods love for us. I think the only thing he took away from it was the pear tree in the backyard is his...that daddy and pops planted for him. :) we enjoyed having sweet friends over for dinner and games.
Great weekend
Blessings,
M

Enjoying Beautiful Weather

We have been loving this beautiful weather God has blessed us with!  We went to the zoo, we go to the park almost every day, and one day we went to the museum with some sweet friends.  Caleb LOVES their oldest daughter!  We are almost 2 weeks out from match day!  WOHOO!  The next two weeks will be plenty busy, but we are looking forward to our weekend with NOTHING to do!
I love the weather, the flowers blooming, the trees budding etc...things may be a little confused as it is still only March 1 (and still Lent) but I love it none the less...
I have not missed facebook ONE bit!  I have enjoyed my babies and my hubby more and updating our blog.
Life is good.  I cannot complain one bit.  And when I start to, all I have to do is look at my smiling, giggling, dancing, handsome boys!
Blessings,
M