We're One Fruity Couple

...better than a flowery, silky or nylon-y couple (the other traditional gifts for four years of marriage).

Four years ago today I made the best decision of my life - I married Jonathan and made "my" life into "our" life. And in that time our lives have grown, developed, and intertwined in such a fashion that I can now hardly imagine what life would be like without Jonathan. Truly God knew he would be a perfect match for me. He is a wonderfully caring, thoughtful and protective husband!

I love memories of our wedding day as much as memories of our dating. March 27, 2004 was a dreary, cold day up in Illinois where we were married. However, the excitement of uniting our lives and sharing that excitement with all our family and wonderful friends was sufficient to brighten our attitudes.

Our ceremony was a little backwards ... in that we had Jonathan's Uncle Tom who married us stand at the bottom of the altar with his back to the congregation. This resulted in us looking down at him and the audience as the ceremony was preformed. We also had both sets of our parents pronounce a blessing over us. This was meaningful and significant to us because we so value our parents' loving guidance and example and intercession to the Heavenly Father on our behalf.

The reception was a whirlwind of faces - all offering their congratulations and well-wishes. On the way up to Chicago afterwards, I began to cry (probably from exhaustion) and commented how many of our wonderful friends had gone to such effort to attend our wedding and how little time we were able to spend with each of them. Jonathan still teases me saying I was crying because it had set in that I had married him!

We then honeymooned in Maui and had a fabulous time. It was my first time in Hawaii, and we've gone back twice since. I guess you could say I/we like it!

Thanks for letting me reminisce! And thank you Babe for being the best husband I could ever ask for and giving me the best four years of my life!

The New Michael Jackson

Yeah, so David Cook is my choice for the next American Idol. He totally changed and yet rocked Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean." It's not on YouTube yet, but I'm sure it will be as soon as some tech nerd can get it done. Totally worth checking out ... as well as his last few weeks' performances.

Kristi Lee Cook has to go! She's sneaky though in that she sang "I'm Proud To Be An American." I mean really you'd have to be a terrorist to vote someone off who sings that song, right? Also on my "blah" list are SaYESha and Ramiele. The Aggie and the Aussie aren't doing it for me either. I'd trade any of them to have Rocker Chick back.

Oh yeah, and David Cook looks like my friend Brian Jones so maybe that's another reason I'm rooting for him. I'll see if I can get a good comparison photo. Brian's wife, my good friend Kristi, thinks I'm on crack though she admits a slight resemblance. Just imagine David Cook as a lawyer who grew up in Waco, Texas.....

3/26 Postscript: Tech Nerds unite! Here's the YouTube video:



I'd like to say he's the "white" Michael Jackson, but well ... you know the problem there.

The Easter Effect

It's funny how Easter and Christmas bring non-church-going people into church. Is it to please family, maintain some sort of tradition, because they understand that but-for Jesus neither holiday would exist or because they somehow feel guilty or convicted into going? Regardless the rationale, I'm glad they go. I just hope that whether or not they believe the stories about Jesus' birth, death and resurrection they see the hope and peace that those around them who do believe experience and desire that for themselves.

I was reading the newspaper yesterday and came across an editorial by Garrison Keillor. In case you don't know who he is, Keillor is best known for his radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" in which he tells very down-home, folksy tales of fictitious Midwestern town Lake Wobegon. You may be more familiar with the movie knock-off of his radio show that came out a few years ago. Anyway, I can't say I'm a Keillor fan, but the editorial's title, "Keillor: A pagan's thoughts on Easter", intrigued me. However, the title was not nearly so intriguing as Keillor's statements within the article. Here are some I found insightful and thought-provoking:

Holy Week is a good time to face up to the question: Do we really believe in that story or do we just like to hang out with nice people and listen to organ music? There are advantages, after all, to being in the neighborhood of people who love their neighbors. If your car won't start on a cold morning, you've got friends. (So true. Ask anyone in my small group...)

I don't doubt God's existence - there He is - but I doubt His interest in us right now and I haven't the faintest idea what He wants from me.
(I think A LOT of people feel this way - that God is real, but far off and uninvolved in "my" life.)

[Peter] repented. I would too, but not quite yet.

Skepticism is a stimulant, not to be repressed. It is an antidote to smugness and the great glow of satisfaction one gains from being right. You know the self-righteous - I've been one myself - the little extra topspin they put on the truth, their ostentatious modesty, the pleasure they take in being beautifully modulated and cool and correct when others are falling apart. Jesus was rougher on those people than He was on the adulterers and prostitutes.
(I'm still not sure where he was going with this chain of logic though I feel like he's trying to justify his unbelief.)

So I will sit in the doubter's chair for a while and see what is to be learned back there.

And that dismal statement is the tenor which Keillor's article ends on. I find this sad because it means Keillor has not understood or experienced what life in Christ is truly like. However, while he is a self-proclaimed "doubter", I find it encouraging that he isn't sitting still in his doubt. For example, in this same article, he talks about reading the Gospels in order to better understand the whole God thing. I pray he and all who truly seek find what they are looking for.

Any thoughts - either way?

Here are a few pics from our Easter weekend spent at the ranch with JD's parents and grandparents:

Our sweet bunny

Morgan loved the steering wheel of the big John Deere tractor

That's right, we're all wearing John Deere hats on a John Deere tractor :)

Morgan's first ride on the tractor

Morgan's Six Month Pictures

We had these taken yesterday at Portrait Innovations, and I thought I'd share them with you. I really wanted one of her sitting up on her own, but she was happiest and therefore the most smiley in the ones laying on her stomach so this is what we ended up with! I also wanted the pictures to capture her two new bottom teeth which they kind of did. If you look at the actual pictures in the larger sizes, you can see them :)

Her Main Pose to Be Mass-Distributed to the Public At-Large

One of Dad's Favorites -
If you look close, you can see his hand under her right arm :)

How Quickly Life Changes

Morgan is six months old today! It's hard to believe; it has gone so fast. As you can see from the photos below, she has grown, changed, and developed so much in her life so far. Accordingly, our lives have changed in tremendous ways as well.

Morgan is such a blessing to us. Her sweet disposition and smile just melt our hearts. And, of late, it seems she has had one "first" after another - first teeth, first time sitting up on her own, first solid food, first cold. It's such fun to see what each new day will hold. However, I sometimes find myself thinking, "Don't grow up so quickly! I don't want to lose my baby."

I feel so fortunate that God chose us to be this beautiful little girl's parents. All the adjustments to our lives have been worth it for the joy she brings us. I mean really how could you not love this face...

Her "Birth" Day

Month 1

Month 2

Month 3

Month 4

Month 5

Month 6

Today is Your Birthday...

Today is (or was) Jonathan's birthday. We didn't celebrate in any over-the-top way though we spent the afternoon with his parents and had dinner last night with his Aggie buddies. Both events were a lot of fun! Here's a pic of 'the buds' and all our kids:


I love the way Morgan and Anthony (Mike and Christi's son born a week after Morgan) are checking each other out. There are four families of Aggie kids represented here (Melony is behind the camera taking this picture). I had to chuckle as we all corralled our kids while trying to eat our dinners and catch up on each other's lives. It was such a stark contrast to our child-free buddy gatherings of a few years ago. I think we would all agree it's a good change though!

Also, what do you think of my new hair cut? It's basically the same style just shorter. I liked it at first, but now I think it may make me look my age (almost 30) and be a mom cut ... both things I am trying hard to avoid.

Anyway, I digress.

Happy Birthday Babe! I'm still as crazy in love with you as the day I met you. You are the best husband I've ever had :) Everyday I have with you is a gift. I pray God's blessings and protections over your life each day ... but especially today as we celebrate the years God has given you and look forward to many upcoming years together!

Stereotypical Voter

Here are just of few of the curious things that caught my attention while early-voting last week as I surveyed the other voters around me:

Jaguar, Minivan, Farm truck.
Christian fish emblem, yellow ribbon magnet, cattle guard.
Hispanic, African-American, White.
"The next generation", Generation X, Baby Boomers, and those so old they don't even have a moniker.
Complainers, contemplators, changers.
Cowboy hats, khaki pants, post office uniform.
Aggie, Longhorn, Cowboy. (This is definitely the Texas primary!)
Military crew cut, blue hair, weave.
Baby stroller, walker, school bag.

As I noted each of these characteristics, I tried to contemplate what it said about who these people would be voting for for President. However, it occurred to me that those characteristics I couldn't see speak as loudly as those I could. For example, I don't know these people's family histories, health issues, financial portfolios, or religious affiliations. I don't know if they have loved ones serving in our military or have suffered some sort of loss at the hands of our government. While I enjoyed my experience people-watching, I was challenged about the detriment of stereotyping and how my "false read" could affect how I treat and relate to people.

However, I had to wonder what the lady in front of me in line was thinking about me when she offered to get me a sample ballot and brought back the Democratic one. When I look at myself, I see someone who is nearly 30 years old, white, a lifelong Christian, stay at home mom, lawyer by training, married to another lawyer who works for a big firm. But how do others see me?