While we try to teach our children all about life,Our children teach us what life is all about.~Angela Schwindt

Fall is coming!

This is my favorite time of year. I open the door to let Harley out in the morning and a little chill comes into house. I can open the windows and let the fresh air in. I can wear shorts, pants, short sleeves, long sleeves. I love it. It still gets pretty warm in the afternoon, but the mornings and evening are amazing.
We spent some of Saturday with our great friends Derek, Holly, and Ryan Brown. We love spending time with them and Kylie loves to entertain "baby Ryan". I think she'll make a great big sister someday! She gets a bit concerned when her toys are chewed on, but overall, she is so great with babies. She loves to help dad and I in the nursery at church. It is precious to see how sweet and gentle she is with little ones.
We didn't get any of the havoc that Ike brought on to Houston and Galveston. I bought waters and some extra food just in case and it barely rained! I know it's been crazy in Houston, so I'm thinking about you Houston friends! I hope things can get back to normal soon!
Not much else going on. Work is crazy right now as I prepare to launch my Camp 2009 program. It's my largest project of the year and takes so much time and work. Cheer is also busy as we prepare for our big pep rally next week. I think I get more nervous than the girls do! I'll post pictures of them from the pep rally after we have it. They are too cute.
Well, I'll write more soon....

Cole Turned Three!

It's hard to believe Cole is already three years old! We had a great time in Keller at the D'Amura's house to celebrate Cole's birthday. Baby Lucy is just adorable and her smile lights up the room! The party was a circus theme with fun activities for the kiddos. They seemed to like the big inflatable the best, of course. I had the job of painting faces, but it turns out the kids had more fun drawing all over me! I'm really glad we were there for the party. Kylie loves to hang out with her cousins. We have to break up some "disagreements" every now and then, but at the end of the day, they all really love each other. Happy Birthday Cole!

In Max Lucado's Words...

"My child’s feelings are hurt. I tell her she’s special. My child is injured. I do whatever it takes to make her feel better.
My child is afraid. I won’t go to sleep until she is secure.
I’m not a hero. I’m not a superstar. I’m not unusual. I’m a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.
And after I help, I don’t charge a fee. I don’t ask for a favor in return. When my child cries, I don’t tell her to buck up, act tough, and keep a stiff upper lip. Nor do I consult a list and ask her why she is still scraping the same elbow or waking me up again.
I’m not a prophet, nor the son of one, but something tells me that in the whole scheme of things the tender moments described above are infinitely more valuable than anything I do in front of a computer screen or congregation. Something tells me that the moments of comfort I give my child are a small price to pay for the joy of someday seeing my daughter do for her daughter what her dad did for her.
Moments of comfort from a parent. As a father, I can tell you they are the sweetest moments in my day. They come naturally. They come willingly. They come joyfully.
If all of that is true, if I know that one of the privileges of fatherhood is to comfort a child, then why am I so reluctant to let my heavenly Father comfort me?
Why do I think he wouldn’t want to hear about my problems? (“They are puny compared to people starving in India.”)
Why do I think he is too busy for me? (“He’s got a whole universe to worry about.”)
Why do I think he’s tired of hearing the same old stuff?
Why do I think he groans when he sees me coming?
Why do I think he consults his list when I ask for forgiveness and asks, “Don’t you think you’re going to the well a few too many times on this one?”
Why do I think I have to speak a holy language around him that I don’t speak with anyone else?
Why do I not take him seriously when he questions, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)
Why don’t I let my Father do for me what I am more than willing to do for my own children?
I’m learning, though. Being a parent is better than a course on theology. Being a father is teaching me that when I am criticized, injured, or afraid, there is a Father who is ready to comfort me. There is a Father who will hold me until I’m better, help me until I can live with the hurt, and who won’t go to sleep when I’m afraid of waking up and seeing the dark.
Ever. And that’s enough."

Well, we've survived summer! I mean that in the best way, of course. I love what summer brings: sunny days, pool time, camps, lake fun, etc. But, summer is also a time where our schedule seems to be anything but. During the school year, everything seems to fall into place and the schedule doesn't change much from week-to-week. During the summer, trying to juggle work, fun for Kylie, cheer practices, and being a wife and mom can be extremely challenging! So, we are still enjoying summer fun with a little bit more organization.
Kylie got to see her class and meet her teachers on Wednesday. I think she is going to have a great year this year. Her classroom is big and full of activities and her good friends Lainie and Webb are in her class this year!
Kylie is still doing gymnastics and really loves to go to cheerleading events. She wants to be right in the middle of it!
On a more serious note, Adam and I are really trying to focus on our faith and our patience. We feel as though God is really working with us on so many things right now, some of them good and some not so good. We had a great sermon a few weeks ago in which our pastor, Kie said "You're either living in faith or in fear...one does not go with the other." He also said we are all facing some sort of crisis, have just gotten out of one, or are headed for one. This seems a little scary (that's the fear talking), but by having to face these challenges or crisis is the only way we grow. If things are in a continuous state of "hunky dorey" than we start to think maybe we can do this all by ourselves and we stray from what it is that God wants from us most - our faith.
So, pray for us as we continue to be faithful and not fearful. For those of you who know me all too well know that I am a true worrier and this poses quite a challenge!