OK, I'm hooked!

I definitely love to read. I especially love to read Christian Romance Novels. I am one of those kind of readers that totally gets sucked in, can't put it down till it's the last page, breathe and dream with every character, tears streaming down my face - you get the idea! My world has a tendency to totally stop until the book is finished. Laundry? Cook supper? Change a diaper? I have 3 children? What?!? I have not reached a point where I have picked back up on my reading since Bankston Hays was born (it seems as though my babies have been about 18 months before I have been able to do so). However, with Kris and I heading out of town for the weekend, I made a run by the library and checked out two books just on the off chance I might get an opportunity to read. I went not knowing what I would select but knew my friend, Erin, has been talking and blogging about one of her new obsessions over the last few months...Karen Kingsbury. So, I checked out "Even Now" by her and the infamous "Twilight" by Stehphenie Meyer. With as much buzz that is going around about "Twilight", I couldn't resist checking it out when I saw it by the counter. But, when I had the time to read, I couldn't bring myself to go there...just can't get past the idea of vampires for some reason. I still have the book for another 2 1/2 weeks so I might...we'll see. Anyone want to convince me on way or the other? However, I did find the time to read "Even Now". Beginning to end. Good thing Karen Kingsbury has authored over 40 novels! I'm hooked!

Christmas Recap

I realize I am late in getting pictures posted from Christmas. Over the course of the last week I have seen a few friends post about their holiday and so I don't feel too guilty! HA! But, I did want to get a few pictures up of the great times we had. I have seen the photo collages done before but am not sure how they are done. I put this one together using Photoshop. We'll see if it does what I mean for it to!

After celebrating Christmas with Kris' family, we headed to my mom's house for a few days. My sister and I took the five kiddos to Chuck E. Cheese to get out of the house and expend some energy on Christmas Eve. As a family we went to the Candlelight Service at my home church and followed it with our tradition of finger foods and Christmas goodies at my mom's with family and childhood friends. Once the night was winding down the kiddos got to open their matching Christmas pj's and off to bed they went! On Christmas morning they woke up to find all the loot Santa brought. Then my sister and her family and my brother and his wife came over and we opened presents. Fun! Fun! Then we got dressed and headed to my great aunt's house to spend the day with cousins eating a big breakfast in the afternoon.

Probably my largest memory of the Christmas came from the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at my home church. This would have been Wes' 5th time to go so he is used to the routine. I was a little stressed with all the events of the day and what we had coming that night and all the fire around me and watching two little ones HAVE to hold their own candles. Well, once all the candles were lit, the sanctuary was a glow, and we were beginning to sing the first verse of "Silent Night", Wes looked up at me with bright, big eyes and with all the excitement he could muster into a whisper he said, "Mommy, this is my most favorite part!!!" It made it all worth it. The memories being made from these traditions and being passed on to another generation are priceless.

Good Times, Good Folks, Good Opportunities

We got back from Baltimore Sunday night and I had every intention of posting about our quick trip. However, the camera got taken to work with Kris and I just couldn't post about our weekend trip without a few pictures, right?!?

We got in to Baltimore around 1 and made our way to check in at the hotel. Once we settled in, we got in touch with the missionaries we were meeting. We headed to New Hope Community Church and met up with the Pastor's wife, Shannon, and their daughter, Hannah. Shannon serves as the Children's Minister, does a good bit of graphic design for the church, and is a writer for their Baptist newspaper (I think I have all this right). After showing us around the church we decided to head down to the inner harbor for some sight-seeing and supper. I loved seeing the sights of the city, hearing a little bit of history, and seeing areas that are very dear to her heart. The inner harbor was really beautiful. We just walked the docks taking in the icy cold water (mostly frozen), the cruise boats and yachts, and the different restaurants and shopping areas.

As the sun was going down we decided on grabbing a bite to eat at a really nice restaurant on the water, McCormick and Schmick's. I had a dish called Atlantic Salmon that was de-lish and the crab dip appetizer was the best around! We had a very nice time getting to know each other and finding out more about their needs. To put an even nicer spin on such a nice dinner...a former BSU'er, now interning at a theatre in the area, contacted Kris as we were touring the harbor. He was getting off for "lunch" and was able to meet up with us. It was lots of fun catching up with him and our visit seemed to really lift his spirits! After finishing supper we went to an area of the city known as Federal Hill. We parked and walked around the small neighborhood park. The park sits up on a hill over the inner harbor. From there we could see the Ravens' stadium, Camden Yards, and the lights of the inner harbor and skyline.

It was really a special experience - especially for me. Last year, Kris brought a team to work with a church right down the street from Federal Hill. He would walk to the park and call me from there most nights. It was neat for me to see where he had been last year and see the skyline and monuments that he had described to me just a year ago! After praying over the city and taking it all in, we called it a night and headed back to the hotel with BIG plans for the next day!

We awoke with plans to meet at our hotel mid- morning and tour the site of their church plant. New Hope has been reaching out to an underprivileged area of the city just a few miles from their church. They are getting to know the residents of this community through servant evangelism, feeding programs, camps, and small groups. At the beginning of the year they started having church services at the local community recreation center.

This area of the city is known as Curtis Bay. The people are really struggling with depression, all sorts of addictions, being homeless, etc. Kris and the team will be focusing their time among them. They will be doing mission projects in the mornings and sports camps for the kids in the afternoons. Touring the area, visiting the rec center, and seeing the needs helped tremendously! Now, Kris knows the details to share with the team to better prepare them for what lies ahead. After we had seen the area, it was time for a little fun...we headed to the Polar Bear Plunge! Talk about exciting! When Shannon mentioned the possibility of going we never looked back! Of course, neither Kris nor I had ever experienced anything like it (being from such warm temperatures!). After picking up a friend from church, we took the short drive to a parking area, boarded a shuttle, and started taking in the sites of a true plunge! We were amazed with the thousands of people preparing to commit such an insane act! There were people everywhere! If you can imagine a huge festival near the beach of a State Park, tents, sand sculptures, food vendors, games, a stage, music, unusually weird art, a large group of people doing the Hokey Pokey, running into a few normal people in bathrobes and swimming shoes and a few not-so-normal people on stilts, in batman capes, or even Santa Claus himself - you'll get the picture!



We had the best time taking it all in, eating a HUGE hot dog with all the fixings and a funnel cake, and getting a good spot to watch the plunge. We even got to see the Governor, Mrs. Maryland, and several Baltimore Ravens football players - including Joe Flacco!!!

Soon after the declaration, "Take the plunge!", the beach began to empty as thousands of people stripped to swim trunks, bikinis, and speedos and entered the icy waters. A friend from the church was one of the participants. He said the water was definitely frigid but he was surprised at how warm he was when he got out. He said the wind blowing felt so warm (we guess because the water had been SO cold!) What a sight - definitely an experience we will never forget! After braving the cold temperatures (low 30's) and wind off the water for the afternoon we went back to the hotel for a short rest. We met back up for New Hope's weekly church service that night. It was a great time of worship and preaching. The church members were so welcoming. After the service a few of us went over to the Pastor's house. We ordered pizza and discussed more details for the Spring Break trip. It had been a long day, we were ready to see the hotel bed for sure!

Our last morning there we went to the community rec center in Curtis Bay for the new church service. They generally do the same worship songs, sermon, and children's activities as the night before. It was really great to see some faces from the community that has so much hurt! Visiting with a few of the residents was really eye-opening. And, I don't even know them. We hung around to help break down the lights, chairs, TVs, etc. and wrapped up our trip by eating lunch with Pastor Larry and Shannon and going over details that each of them have to work on.

This weekend was so nice. The time alone with Kris was so nice. The accommodations were so nice. The people were so nice. The sights and sounds were so nice. The fun was so nice. But most of all, it was nice to be so close to the front lines of missions. Not the missions of our backyards, not the missions of the Bible Belt, but missions involving people who have never heard! While being on this trip I came to realize that it has been since before Wes was born that I have actively participated in a mission trip. And, while on this trip I was reminded how much mission trips have meant to me...how much I have missed them...how much I enjoy the work. No, Robin, I am not packing for Zimbabwe :) . Home Missionaries and International Missionaries alike are special people. They are called for a special work at a special time to touch the lives of special people. I am glad I have had the opportunities to be a part of it!

Quick Trip

Kris and I are headed out of town early tomorrow morning. We are flying to Baltimore for the weekend for what I guess you could call a "vision" tour. The BSU will be taking a group of 15 students Spring Break and we are hoping this weekend will give Kris a better idea of what the needs are of the missionary, church, and neighborhood. We will be spending most of our time with the missionary showing us around, getting a feel for the area, and attending their church services. We are pretty excited because it will really help Kris better prepare the students for Spring Break! It will be a quick trip as we will be home Sunday night.

I want to give a shout out to my sweet, sweet sister!
This is Holly. She is a terrific sister, a beautiful wife, and an awesome mom...

and she is keeping our children (plus hers) this weekend! I would not have been able to travel with Kris if she had not been willing to help us out with childcare. I really appreciate her generosity!!! We took turns keeping all 5 last summer when we took our trip to New York and when she and Neal took a trip to Las Vegas. We were both surprised at how smoothly it went! All 5 can be busy at times, but she can handle it! Look at these precious faces - wouldn't you keep all of them for your sister to go out of town!?!

I am pretty excited about this little trip! Getting to see a new place AND a weekend away with Kris?!?! Works for me!

Yummy, Yummy!

Last night for supper we had this yummy dish!

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
1 can chicken broth
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded cheese of your choice
1 cup shredded cooked chicken
Optional ingredients: 7 oz chopped green chilies (drained), 1/2 cup diced pimientos, Ro-tel
6-8 flour tortillas
cilantro
salsa

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13x9 baking dish with Pam.
Melt butter in medium pan over medium heat.
Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is tender.
Add flour, cook and stir 1 minute.
Gradually whisk in chicken broth; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Add cream cheese; stir until melted.
Stir in 1/2 - 1 cup cheese, chicken, chilies, pimientos, rotel.
Spoon about 1/4 -1/3 cup mixture onto each tortillas.
Roll up and place, seam side down, in the baking dish.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake 20 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.
Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with salsa if desired.


I just had to share the recipe! A family in our Sunday School class brought us these enchiladas after Bankston Hays was born. I thought they were delicious and have thought about wanting the recipe often. Well, a few weeks ago I ran into her at church and told her I wanted to know how she made them. (A funny story-that same day another girl asked her for the recipe and she had taken them the same enchiladas after their child was born! Beware, they are a love for postpartum women!) She later e-mailed me the recipe. Try them! They do not disappoint!

Esther

Ever wonder what Esther, the book of the Bible, really has to say?

I must admit I was never really curious about Esther (I really love her name - it was Kris' fraternal grandmother's name and I would have loved to figure out a form of it to use for one of our children). I knew the book was there, had read a verse or two from time to time, but had never really developed an interest. I felt like the Veggie Tales video had given me a pretty good idea of the main happening in her life - just being honest! Well, after the first of the year I read that the Ladies' Bible Study at church was going to be doing Beth Moore's Esther.


I had a strong desire to join this study and not really sure why. But the desire did. not. let. up. I knew it had been years since I was involved in a group Bible Study and that I had never participated in one of Beth Moore's studies. What I did know was that it was intimidating - the study would involve a weekly meeting and homework. I really thought I might be crazy. But, I stuck with it, got the information, and went to my first class last Tuesday. I can't say I was really excited about going, nor that I was really into it once there and the video started. The morning had been a rough one (getting us all dressed and out the door with backpacks, lunches, etc) by 9 is no small feat for this stay-at-homer (and I forgot my Bible - HELLO!)! But, I was glad that Wes would be enjoying his day at Kindergarten, Ann Elise would be having fun at Preschool, and Bankston Hays would be busy pulling toys and books and tupperware and toilet paper off the rolls and fill-in-the-blank somewhere else for the next 2-3 hours in a place other than my home (again, just being honest)! Once the introductions of all the precious ladies in attendance were made, a small cup of coffee with creamer was in front of me, and the introduction video was playing - everything started to pull back. I was glad. I was glad. I was glad. This study is for a reason. The timing is for a reason. The ladies are for a reason. And the effort is for a reason. Not sure what all the reasons are, but even so, I am proud to say that I have completed all five homework lessons with joy and greatly anticipate rising early tomorrow morning and getting us all out the door for the next video. So far, Esther has really got my attention!

Little blogging hiatus

but not on purpose!

Things around our house have picked up a little since returning from the holidays. Besides the usual "getting back into the routine" our little Bankston Hays has become quite the adventurous little boy! Now that he has pretty much mastered the stairs (going up...not coming down) he is on to more fun adventures...

Like scooting the microwave over and climbing into its cubby

Like deciding he is ready to eat NOW and helping me by taking the black eyed peas out of the microwave and feeding himself

And, like helping himself up on my desk to do a little mouse-clicking


All of these events have occurred with me less than 3 feet away. I am very aware of where he is at all times (for the very reasons these pictures show). I am not so surprised that he is this adventurous (the other two were) and I am not so surprised that it is happening at this age. I am surprised that it has caught me so off guard! Is it because he is my third? Is it because my attention is split three ways? Is it because I have a "been here" done that" mentality? Or, is it because I am older this time? J./Lorrie, Haley, Jessica, Kerri, and any other moms/dads of three children with me here? :) --As the pictures tell I am much more laid back...I grabbed the camera before anything else!--

Well, I hear a precious little boy waking up from his nap. As I press save I am hoping to get our blog back off the ground and keeping my little boy's feet on it!

Sticking with the topic of great gifts

Since I have been writing about one of the great gifts I received, I thought I would throw in another one for good measure. This gift actually came via my stocking. I happen to be a big fan of the stocking! Our stockings usually contain practical, sometimes unusual, yet hands down perfect little gifts. This year amongst my pulling out came a yellow Kuhn Rikon pairing knife.

I have not been on the hunt for a new, sleeker, wow-colored pairing knife...but I should have!!! This knife is awesome! I used it last night to cube some potatoes for mashing and oh my! I have been missing out! It sliced so smooth, so fast, and so non-sticky. And to make it even better, I think my mom found it at TJ Maxx!

See what I have been up to?

I have really loved playing around with Photoshop. I am coming along pretty well with Ann Elise's birthday invitations, but I have gotten side tracked playing around with a new blog header. What do you think? Not bad for a first timer (I think)!

I found a really good online tutorial that has helped me alot. If you are trying to get off your feet with Photoshop, I highly recommend School of Photoshop. I started with Pre-School and have been working my way up (I am no where near being through all the grades). I love that they have you open Photoshop and actually "do" what the tutorial is teaching. They explain the simplest things (like what buttons mean) on up to some ideas and concepts way over my head.

What a wonderful gift!

Truly, my family outdid themselves! Kris pulled together my family and they pitched in to give me...


(drumroll, please...)



Photoshop!!!!!
I have been playing around with it, reading through online tutorials and working out my first project - Ann Elise's birthday invitations. I am in awe!

Thank you, thank you!

Project complete!

I was so excited to get this wall put together a few weeks ago! At each child's first birthday party I have had a mat available for the guests to sign and write a little note to the birthday boy/girl (this idea came from a good friend). I have had them framed and hanging in the kitchen but did not want to commit to a more permanent display until after Bankston Hays' was framed. After he turned one in November, I came up with this arrangement. They now grace a wall in my kitchen I had never decorated and I love it! Now I can see their sweet baby faces digging into that first cake all the time!

(sorry for the glare on Bankston Hays' picture)