Game Days

One thing we both miss.......Fightin Texas Aggie Football Game Days. I don't think there is anything more exciting in Aggieland than spending the whole day at Kyle Field watching Aggie football. From step off to the very last quarter, it makes for a fantastic day. We can't wait to take Reagan when she is old enough to enjoy it! For now, while she is little she will be reduced to watching games on TV....but one day....we will take her to that good old town of College Station, eat at Chicken Oil, buy her an Aggie jersey, and show her the Century tree....no way are we letting her walk under it though!

this one is my favorite.

This one is my favorite.

Don't we look ready to be parents?? We are handling Reagan's cousins so well......cough cough.

Is anybody ever really "ready" to be parents?

I doubt it.

Happy Birthday Ty... I can't believe you are four!

Hope you have a great party today.

We love you.

Friday

Back in Crispy Texas.

Craving steak, tea, and all things spicy.

HEB you rock my world little country girl.

Dear Reagan-
Mommy and Daddy love you so much. We can't wait to meet you in approximately 68 days! Your room is almost ready for you. Mommy still has to wash your clothes and sheets...but I promise to put you in clean clothes. We can't wait to bring you home and have you with us. We also can't wait for you to meet all the family and friends who are already in love with you. You are cracking me up these days....the past three weeks you have been the most active as far as I can tell. You kick me all day except for when you are taking your short naps. I wonder when you will decide to flip around because it still feels like you are on your side. I know you will decide to on your own time. The doctor says you are doing great and is predicting that you will be as active when you arrive as you were in the womb....if that is true we sure are in for a wild ride! We love you little angel. --Mom and Dad

B I N G O

Well, we did it.

We went to our first BINGO Hall with our old neighbors. They had been before, but not in this town. I am glad they were with us because they coached us on board placement, and introduced us to predotting the "free spaces" in order to keep up with multiple boards in the amazingly fast paced world that is BINGO.

This was not your average game of Easter BINGO...this was real, heavy duty BINGO with the professionals. The caller was quick and didn't waste time, and nobody really talked during each game. We are talking electronic game boards, "lucky" charms, food, books and books of boards, BINGO seat cushions, and dotter carriers.

Boy, were we in for it.

I can now say if I were rich enough, I would be there every week. I found the whole experience exciting and the time flew by as we played seven games with some pretty intense people. I am talking about the hard core BINGO crowd that exists in every community. I couldn't stop watching some of these people in between games...they were in their BINGO zone. No "HI how ya doing", no "...is this your first time"? You just had to melt into the crowd and pretend you were an experienced BINGOER.

I think my favorite part was when you heard someone yell BINGO and everyone else sighed in unison and grumbled to themselves, as they tore off another game board in their book. Ha ha, the first time I heard it, I giggled. I did, it's the truth. The second time I found myself sighing along with the best of them....haha. So weird, but true.

I share this becuase if you have never visited a BINGO hall, I think you should go at least once (before dark falls and in a group please).

Although Eric and I didn't win, we both got incredibly close....so close I could already taste my sweet victory. Sigh.

Until next time BINGO, my friend.

Surrendering All.

I love the lyrics in the hymn I Surrender All. I also find it one of the hardest songs to sing wholeheartedly.

Why you ask?

Well have you ever just taken a step back and read the lyrics? Take away the awesome singer, beautiful melody, and church worship-in-the-moment atmosphere. Just read. The lyrics of that song are HARD for humans to act upon!

I would love to truly surrender all....everything. Every last bit of worry, frustration, pain, and every last unknown moment that we so often encounter in life. I just know that in all of the backs of our minds we are thinking, sure Lord...I have surrendered all....just not my marriage, our finances, or our future decisions......but everything else I give You! Now I am not saying He won't take those pieces, He will. But friends, He wants more. Sometimes, it's like we give Him the easy stuff....so we can still subconsciously credit ourselves for have given Him our "all"....or rather we have given Him pieces we think He will do okay with, or in other words the parts we feel comfortable giving him. (My, my. We sure do think highly of ourselves don't we?)

What tiny faith we have!

And what about the pieces we carry around in secret? The pieces that weigh us down and burden our hearts? The pieces we shove way back in the dark corners of our hearts, shut the door on, and eagerly apply the do not disturb sign on? (Yes, we have all been there!)

Don't shake your head at me and think...not me Christen, you are such a sucker. How could you be so weak and unchristian to write this blog! I dooooooooooo give Him my all...just look around me. I am perpetually blessed and live a good life! Otherwise, my life would't be this great! I have got this giving all thing DOWN baby. IF you are one of those people, I challenge you to look a little closer at your heart, examine that dark corners, wise up, and remove the huge awkward chip off your shoulder. Be honest with yourself and tell Him about it. Yes, it is HARD to do....and we all have a long ways to go, but we have to be honest.

That's why I believe the lyrics say "fill me with thy love and power".....because He already knows that's what we need in order to "surrender all" in the first place. It's my prayer. We need His power to go there. That way, when the time comes, we will be strong and able to release the burden that is ALL. After all, that is what He wants. He deserves to hear us . He is waiting and listening patiently.

Even for the most stubborn of hearts.

"All to Jesus I surrender
Lord I give myself to thee
So fill me with thy love and power
Let thy blessing fall on me"