We love you LeSleY!

My dear college roomate Lesley Roberts came in town this weekend from LA for her Texas Baby Shower. We had so much fun seeing her beautiful pregnant self and cannot wait to meet little Samuel Roberts!I have decided that she needs to be a Maternity Model, Pregnancy becomes her:) Congratulations Lesley and Jake!

The ladies of Midtown 1608F-Can't believe we graduated 6 years ago!!Such fun years:)


Lesley with Christi and Erin


Lesley, me, Ryann, and Ryann's future husband Sam (in utero)-Nothing wrong with a younger man;)

Happy MoThEr'S DaY!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms that read this blog! I hope your day was special.
To our moms...We LoVe you so much
We love you Grandma Lamb (Mark's mom)

We love you Lulu (Erin's mom)

Mother's Day 2008: Love being a mom!

Mother's Day 2007:Not sure what I think about being a mom- Spent the day in a fog from lack of sleep:)Oh, what a difference a year makes

Fun in JuNcTiOn

A couple of weeks ago, Mark, Ryann, and I joined my family down in Junction. My parents,along with some friends, just built a great house in the hill country. Our weekend included a 4 hour canoe trip, great food, quality time with my siblings, parents, and fabulous aunt Molly, and some much needed rest. We had a wonderful time. Thanks mom and dad for having us out!

A Label Destroyed

I hate labels.If a person can't read at a certain level by a certain age, "remedial" follows said person to graduation and many times beyond. Often people automatically assume that a person is "rich","poor","educated","ignorant","athletic","musically inclined" solely based on skin color or circumstance. It has become so second nature, that many times people are unaware that they even do it. I say I hate labels, but I am a hypocrite and have realized that I often label people. I have been challenged by the life of a new friend to start praying daily that this stops.
My friend "Maria" has obliterated her "label". I am going on my fourth year at the Pregnancy Center and never before have I connected so personally with a client as I have with "Maria" (can't share real name). Maria came in about 7 months ago,shy, scared,pregnant and not really knowing what to do. She was 14. Immediately I thought how in the world is a 14 year old pregnant?!? What kind of girl is she? Where were her parents?,What is with this generation? Does anyone have morals anymore? and so on and so on...Labels,Labels, Labels went through my head. About 5 minutes into our conversation, it was apparent that Maria had just made a wrong choice. Haven't we all. True, her choice has greater consequences than most choices, but a sin is a sin. We are all guilty.We are all depraved.
Maria was determined to keep her baby and become the "best mom she could possibly be" (her words). She decided to be a part of our Mentoring program, which included a weekly visit with me,a lesson, and homework assignment based on topics having to do with her pregnancy, parenting/life skills, and some Bible study. Maria never missed a week, she was early to all her appointments, and even had a notebook where she kept all her assignments. Determined to keep up with her studies (she is a Pre-AP honors student),Maria left her school and enrolled in a accelerated home-school Internet program. She chose to do this so her mother and father won't be "stuck with my responsibility" (her words).She is mature way beyond her years, Maria is now 15 and is on track to graduate a year early through this program. She has several books going at one time so she can stay ahead in her studies.She wants to be a nurse. I know she will be.
Maria called me this morning and told me that she just gave birth to the "most beautiful son ever." A serious crier, I immediately started crying, which probably scared her a little bit. I felt the emotions I felt when Ryann was born...so proud, so thankful. Life is going to be undoubtedly hard for Maria, but without a shadow of a doubt,I know she can and will do it well. Throughout our weeks together, the Lord has challenged my prideful,self-righteous self in ways I didn't know I even needed to be challenged. How often do I assume? judge? or label? Hopefully now it will be less.

Me and Maria's son

Happy Birthday to my BaByDaDdy!

In 10 minutes it will be April 27th and 28 years ago, Mark was born!! Happy Birthday!

ShOuT OuTs

In Addition to Mark's Birthday (4/27), we have several other reasons to celebrate this week. They are....

Happy Birthday to my bro. in law Scot (4/20)


Happy Birthday to my new bro. in law Jason(4/26)


Happy 2nd Anniversary to my sister in law Sarah and bro. in law John(4/28)


Happy Birthday to my brother Read (4/29)


And Most Importantly,Happy Half-Birthday to me(4/25)(we don't really celebrate this)

"I"

Got this from another blog and thought it was fun:)
"I"
i am: enjoying and hour and a half(fingers crossed) of freedom while Ryann is napping
i think:about what Ryann's personality will be like
i know: that I have been saved by GRACE
i want: Jason Castro to win American Idol
i have: a husband that is a perfect fit for me
i wish: that no child would go to bed hungry tonight
i hate: Spicy Cheetos,Fleetwood Mac, and Nicholas Cage (hate is a little strong here, I am sure the latter two are nice people)
i miss: My grandmother before Alzheimer's
i fear: being disobedient to God's will
i feel: happy that Ryann has given up on her "Nap" war today
i hear: Michael Buble's "Everything" playing on my itunes playlist
i smell: the pungent odor of the oven self-cleaning,gross.
i crave: the sand and sun of Mexico
i search: for easy recipes that are inexpensive
i wonder: why I could care less about politics
i regret: not investing more into the lives of my students last year
i love:my husband and Ryann's belly laugh
i ache: for my dear friend whose mother is very ill
i care: about urban ministry
i always: have a Sonic Happy Hour Dr. Pepper
i am not: good with little decisions
i believe: that everything happens for a reason, although I might not see it at first
i dance:the soul'ja boy dance with my niece Angie
i sing: wholeheartedly, with a terrible voice
i don’t always:get places on time,I actually rarely get places on time
i fight:the urge to always be a people pleaser
i write:type A to do lists
i win:nap war today
i lose:my patience in trying to achieve my pre-baby stomach
i never:miss an episode of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (season 4 starts in may)
i confuse:myself often
i listen:to Ryann's babbling all day long, my dad swears she speaks Chinese
i can usually be found:in my house...serious home-body
i am scared:of anything happening to Ryann
i need:open communication
i am happy about:summer
Would love any of my blog buddies to do this...any takers?