March Mission Month

I sure am proud of this little guy. Just gotta brag a little. At our church, March was designated as Missions Month. The church chose the people of Haiti as the focus of their outreach. The students were taught about the devastating earthquake there and the high needs they are still experiencing. Then the students decorated boxes in which to collect coins throughout the month of March. At the end of the month, they were to bring their filled boxes back to church for collection.

I had often wondered how we'd teach Little Man about saving/spending/giving. It can prove to be a precarious topic for an adult, much less a 4 year old. He's just starting to understand the concept of money and that it can buy you things. He likes to save his quarters to get candy at a local restaurant and just the other day he asked if he had enough moneys (that how he puts it) to buy a house. I opted to divert his attention to something more age appropriate like...ice cream perhaps?

Back to Haiti...

He was super excited to have a new piggy bank/box to collect coins. We questioned him on his level of understanding and where the coins would be going. He nailed it. He knew kids in Haiti needed a school and homes. And he knew he had to find some coins. Stat.

So for the month of March, LM became a coin hunter. We checked under the couch cushions, raided the coin jar in the pantry, cleaned out the cars and double checked Daddy's pockets. Slowly but surely the coins were adding up. Occasionally, I'd have him "help" me with laundry or cleaning up his toys and I'd give him some money. He was always eager to help the kids in Haiti get a school "just like his."

As the month came to a close, he proudly took his near-filled box to church. I was proud to see him take the coins and add them to the already growing collection. He beamed as he did his work for God. He knew he was a part of something bigger than the community here. I can't explain it, but Little Man knew.

And it made my heart melt. Sometimes it's the little people that teach us the biggest lessons.

Spring Break Getaway

Yeah - I know, Spring Break was like several weeks ago. But it's been crazy busy since we've gone back to school. I thought I'd take a few moments give you all the rundown on our fabulous Spring Break.

Thank goodness Coach is in "off season" right now and we can travel and make all kinds of plans with no worries about practices, etc. So off we went! After dropping the Little Man off with the GParents, we hit the road to the Hill Country. We spent two nights in this fabulous little golf resort just outside Boerne.

We hiked.

We golfed.

We sat by George Strait's fav fire pit. Sad to say he never showed and I was quickly reminded I am allergic to cedar. Like bad.

We soaked in some beautiful scenary and just plain relaxed.

How many weeks is it til Summer Break?

Weekend Wrap Up

A little view of our weekend...picture style.

Spent a little time at the school prepping to spoil the ladies this week. Fun times!
Nothing like Blue Bell ice cream. Nothing at all.

Taught some little ones this morning about March Missions Month. We made boxes to collect funds to send to Haiti to those in need.

Happy (and relieved) to see the crepe myrtle coming back to life. It was touch and go last spring.

Impromptu picnic at the park after church today. Don't judge - we had McDonald's.

Imaginary Home Office

When I was home yesterday with Little Man, I decided to stir the creative juices in the Home Decor department. I've been wanting like crazy to redo some things in our home, but haven't gotten the "thumbs up" from Coach yet. Nor have I had the time, but that's another story.

One our mini road trip to Corpus on Sunday afternoon, we perused the long-lost World Market. I truly miss city shopping. ** sigh ** But alas, I found the most fab desk! Hopefully I'll be buying this baby it the future. Until then, I had to settle for creating an imaginary new home office.

Monday Musings....

Today is a rarity...I'm home with the Little Man because the stomach bug has struck. I must say, things are on the up and up and he's feeling much better. =)

Sooooo, random thoughts while I'm under house arrest:

* There are no more closets to clean. The very few we have are reorganized and spotless.

* I really like putting things in garbage bags and decluttering the house. Maybe a little too much.

* I rearranged the living room. Then Little Man insisted I "range" his room too. So we did.

* The toys have overtaken my house!

* I really need to own a cottage on a beach somewhere. Preferably a Caribbean beach.

* Is it Spring Break yet?

* I want to cook like Giada and have an outdoor eating area like hers too. In Italy.

* Coach was home for the weekend and we took a mini road trip to Corpus....I regret not taking some pics to post. Next time friends.

* I read an entire book on Saturday. It's been years since I've done that.

* I need to go shopping. In the worst way possible. (Sorry Coach!)

Valentine's Day as a Coach's Wife

Happy Valentine's Day ya'll!

I must admit I am enjoying my quiet time here in the house tonight while Coach is away at a game. However, it's been an hour since Little Man went to bed and I'm still watching Yo Gabba Gabba. Must remedy that.

As I sit in the peace, my thoughts drift to the other coach's wives who are alone this evening - or quite possibly attending an event cheering on their husband's team instead of enjoying a candlelit dinner date. Valentine's has always fallen towards the end of basketball season for us. Some years we are able to go grab a bite to eat or have a special night. Other years it's a game night and we're making other arrangements. Such as the life of a coach's wife.

This year Coach is out of town at the final regular season game. It's too far for me to travel with Little Man so we came home for some of our own festivities. Get ready to get jealous - we played with his new playdough set. Autobots playdough to be exact.

And it was a perfect night.

In a coaching family, you have to make allowances for things. Last night while Coach was out scouting, LM and I blew up a bunch of balloons and I wrote on them all the reasons why we love Coach. We hid them in the playroom til this morning. In the wee hours of the morning, LM bounced out of bed and personally carried each balloon into our bedroom while Coach slept. Then we woke him and showed him our balloon Valentine message. Little Man was beaming the whole time. He was able to give his gift to Daddy and it meant the world to him. Later this evening, Coach called with some explicit instructions for LM to look under his bed. He had come home earlier today and hid my Valentine's cards there. It was LM's job to make sure I got them. Again, he beamed as I opened my cards. He loved being a part of Daddy's special plan.

At times, the holidays aren't ideal, but it's what we make of them that counts the most.

With Valentine's coming during a season, Little Man and I are able to have some fun making memories together.

Making homemade Valentine Cards. It was a multi-step process!
Breaking out the paint!

Adoption: Waiting on the Lord

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I just love a very powerful, strong song full of meaningful lyrics. I came across this song a few weeks ago and it hit my heart in so many ways. We are all longing for something in our lives...for something to change...for something to be added....or relieved. Each of us has a walk, a journey. At times it might be a difficult path but we must keep walking and taking steps in obedience and faith.

I've gotten quite a few questions lately about our second adoption. Well, the above song sums it pretty nicely. We are waiting. Obediently, faithfully, running the race, worhsipping. Only God knows our steps of our path and where and how it will turn out.

Next month will mark a year of waiting to get on the list. It's been a good year. A very solid year. Coach and I have both grown so much in our walk with Christ - as has Little Man as well. We've learned a lot about ourselves and the meaning of family. (Shout out to our families in the north - we miss you!) For whatever the reasoning, we are still waiting. I try not to speculate the whys and why nots, but rest in the faith of God that His time is not our time.

We hold fast to promises.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Prov 16:9

You need to perservere so that when you have done the will of God, you will recieve what has been promised. Heb 10:36

I will surely bless you and give you many descendants. Heb 6:14

For those who wonder, our hearts are not aching nor unfulfilled. We have the joyous love of Little Man who completes us in so many ways. His laugh brings us joy, his smile makes my heart smile and his playful banter keeps me young at heart. When and if it is God's will to add to our family, it will be a day of rejoicing and dancing.

Until then, we run the race.