Congratulations Chad and Mel!

Juliana Piper Mondragon

was born this morning at 12:09am.

Chad (pastor at our church) and Melody are her proud parents.

She was5 lbs 15 oz and 19 inches long...a peanut!

Isn't she just adorable?!!!

Love him more.

Ah Monday. Here we are again.

Last week was a long one. Once Friday hit though, I was happy. Justin golfed in the morning, we had dinner with friends, and Saturday was spent watching college football. Relaxing, yeah, that's what it was. Very relaxing. Sunday we went to church, had a nice lunch, watched some more football and went to our Community training at church Sunday night. It was a refreshing time, and I spent some good time in the word.

During the week, like most people, I am busy, keeping up with laundry, cleaning the house, cleaning up after a three year old and one year old, playing with a three year old and one year old, and various other things like running errands and cooking. These things seem to take precedence over my time with God too often.
I was hoping to start off Monday with a bang! Ready to go. It started with a bang alright, a banging, throbbing headache.
Oh boy.
I am tempted to go into complain mode, and list off all the things I really do not want to do this week, but instead this week I find myself wanting to be in the word. To focus on Christ and his goodness. To nip that bad attitude before it starts, to be ready for whatever life throws my way because I have spent time with God, in his splendor, glorifying his goodness and can glorify him amidst whatever is going on in my life.
Isn't it so easy to cry out to God when we are sad, hurting, and needy? I find that it is most times for me. Times when I am really down, feeling lost, feeling hopeless I then cry out to God and ask, beg for his mercy, his help his guidance.
Um, Hello?
Does anyone else see the problem here?
I am ashamed (as I should be) to admit that lately I have been tending to ignore God until I need him. Well, how in the world can I expect to grow, to encourage others, to be encouraged, to give him the glory he deserves, to be happy? No matter what there will be ups and downs in life, but we need to love God and get to know him more ALL the time. Not just when we need him to comfort us.
In life we look for happiness in all the wrong places, we all do it, in different ways. Whether in things, in our homes, in our beautiful gardens, in our rockin' car, in our husband, in our children, in our work, in whatever it may be when the ONLY thing that can truly satisfy us in every way is Christ. I mean that should be so obvious. None of those other things are perfect. Our homes come with it's problems, perhaps a leaking roof or broken kitchen drawer, in our gardens sometimes all our plants do not always flourish, our cars get a flat tire, or in a fender-bender, our husband and our children will disappoint us, but Christ, Christ will NEVER disappoint. He is perfect! The only perfection we can have in our lives.
I came across this quote awhile back and I think it is very encouraging.

"I cannot bear it—that we should love Jesus little. It seems to me horrible. Not to have your heart all on fire for Christ—this is execrable! Let us love him to the utmost. Let us ask him to give us larger hearts, and to fire them with the flame that is his own, that we may love him to the utmost possibilities of affection."- Charles Spurgeon.

I encourage you today to be in his word, to be thinking and mediating on him so that you may be satisfied in him and more importantly that he may be glorified no matter what.

church home.

Finally, we have found a church home (and no that is not the building, this one is in the United Kingdom)! We have been going for about a month and we like the preaching, the pastors, and the people. In fact, the church is a church plant, so there are only about 30 people who currently attend, but that's okay too! We are excited to finally feel more settled in somewhere where Gods word is preached, and maybe we can finally make some friends here in Kentucky! We have joined a small group and soon they will be launching a class on Sunday nights where we will be going through the church values.

Thank you all for your prayers.

I don't want to assume, but in my experience...

Silk soy milk is the only soy milk worth drinking.

The more homeless the person looks who is taking your blood or administering your shot, the better.

If a photographer has pictures of cats dressed up in their store front window, you do not want them taking your family portrait.

A coffee a day keeps the headache away.

Dusting is overrated.

Driving through a college campus will make you want to roll your windows down and blast some great music...or npr.

Cottage cheese and pineapples is an incredible snack. It also reminds me of my Grandfather.

Winnie the Pooh is so over, for nurseries anyway. I am so sick of that silly ol' bear.

Oranges are way better than apples, but let's be frank apples are easier to eat.

A good high-calorie burger is well worth it every once in awhile.

Pretty dish towels inspire cooking.

Labor Day at the Louisville Zoo

polar bear having an apple for lunch.

lazy rhinos.

break time.

Lucky boy.

Happy, as usual.

on the zoo train...

When we pulled up to the Zoo parking lot, we looked at each other with an "uh-oh" in our eyes. Once inside the park however, it was not as bad as we thought. It was busy, but the park is so big that it was grand day at the zoo!

The latest thing to hit the dance scene...

the "ej".

it happened...

I am not sure who did this to my wall, but I am pretty sure it was someone who often is caught in this corner of the kitchen, and there were teeth marks in the orange crayon. Let's just say his name starts with an E and ends in van.

yumster!

It may still be 98 degrees here, but it is fall to me. The Pumpkin Spice latte is back baby!

Kentucky Horse Park.

Home of the 2010 Equestrian Games.

Max got to sit in a rescue helicopter, he thought that was pretty awesome.

This past weekend we had a chance to go the Kentucky Horse Park ( free admission day!) full of fun festivities. The highlight was the Grand Prix jumping competition. It was really great to watch, and Maxwell got really into it. Whenever a horse would fault by knocking a pole down, he would join the crowd in moans, and say;
"He broke the stick."
Even though it was about 100 degrees outside we still had a fabulous time.

quote of note.

"This is a strange world we live in: there are not many things that make us happy. Yet somehow we forget the very thing that could give us happiness, and we keep our eyes on the frivolous cares and teasing troubles, which distract us...let us [instead] be as happy as we can. Trials and troubles will come; do not expect to be free from them." -Charles Spurgeon

3.

Maxwell Jared,
Three years old today! The old saying is really true; time really does fly. You are growing into quite the little boy. You are no longer a baby, but it is so fun to watch you grow.

You are at the age of discovery and imagination. You love to do new things and then once you have established you like it, you want to continue it. Like Play-doh for instance. You LOVE play-doh. You love to have me make different animals (although I must admit I am not that great at it, but you buy it...your imagination is that good) and then want beds and chairs for them to use.

Another thing you love is your toy cars. You line them up on the fireplace. You make up stories as you go along, it is fun to watch you play. You have equal love for your trains, you love to have someone build you a track on your train table and then run the trains on the track. Usually by the end of the day however, you have bundled the tracks into a large pile to be redone tomorrow.

Your newest love is a superman figurine you acquired. You have never seen anything to do with Superman but you sure love to play with him! You have him walk around and ride in around in anything he will fit in. It is so fun to watch your imagination at work.

Your little brother Evan loves you, he loves to follow you and do whatever you are doing. Sometimes you get annoyed because you want to do your own thing, but most of the time you are very good at sharing or at least getting him interested in something else. The sweetest thing though is your concern for him. If he is upset or gets hurt you are right there by his side making sure he is okay and consoling him.

You are usually well behaved, asking nicely, saying please and thank you. You do have your moments but they are usually short lived and few and far between. You are a sweet boy with a tender heart.

You still go between calling your Daddy and I between our first names and "Mommy" and "Daddy". I don't mind when you call me Anne, but I think in public people must think I am your nanny or something. Someone once asked if it broke my heart that you called me by my first name instead of "Mama" but I don't mind, and about 90% of the time it is "Mama".
You are a VERY picky eater! When you do eat, you take your time and do not usually eat that much. You love yogurt (sometimes with a little granola) in the mornings, or a waffle with bananas. You LOVE bananas. Otherwise you stick with Whole Wheat Mac and Cheese, Boca Nuggets, or grilled cheese. You pretty much only like broccoli and carrots, and besides bananas you only really will eat strawberries.

When I tuck you into bed at night you always ask for a hug,then always say goodnight and I love you. You love to pray as well, although you are hard to understand as you do so but this is much better than about 6 months ago when you used cry whenever someone said amen.

Your best quality is your tenderness and concern for others. If we are out and you hear a baby cry you always ask if he or she is okay. You always help me out at home, love to help me sweep, love to lend a hand in most anything I am doing, and I love this. I cherish these moments with you. I love when you come up comepletely unexpectedly and ask for a hug, a kiss, and an I love you.

We do love you sweet boy, so, so much. Happy 3rd Birthday!

adoration.

I worship you alone.

The one, true, living King.
May my eyes be fixed upon you.

Praise be to you Father;
Praise be to you.
You are great and worthy to be praised.

There is none other that is admirable as you.
You are priceless, precious, perfect, divine.
I give myself over to you.

Help me in my hour of need,
save me from my sinful heart.
Help me when all is well,
that I might be reminded of my need for you.

In good and bad you remain the same,
you are flawless, spendid, beyond compare.
From now until my last breath on this earth;
I pray I may bring glory to you.

You are and forever will be,

I lift my voice to worship you.

a few party pictures.

1.

Evan,
Today is your first birthday! Our first year with you has flown by, but it has been so amazing to watch you develop and grow. You cut your first tooth at about 5 months, crawled at 7 months and are nearly walking. You will take a few steps but then your remember you can crawl really fast. Lightning speed!
You, like most children LOVE to go outside. Once out there, you are off into everthing, and I am constantly taking dirt out of your hands. You are definately all boy. You even eat dirt! I am sure in no time you will be bringing me little critters you have discovered. Your big brown eyes are so beautiful, so full of life, I just love them. You have a some curls on the back of your hair, they are so adorable and I am nervous to cut you hair in fear of losing them. Don't worry though, your Daddy will make me cut it before you begin looking like a little girl.

You are so different than your brother Maxwell. Almost complete opposites. He never put objects in his mouth, you shovel in as much as you can. He was good about staying out of things and you are into it all. He is a little apprehensive about getting too deep in the water at the pool and you would crawl to the deep end. You do adore your brother though. You want so badly to do everything he does, and you try so hard. He loves playing with his cars and you are always there next to him trying to play too. It frustrates him but it has also taught him to share. Your brother loves books, and of course you do too, you will even let him "read" to you.Your favorite is a Curious George book that has a mirror at the end. You giggle and giggle when you know it is coming. The best thing about you is your pure joy. It is rare that you really cry, but your laugh is always ready to emerge. If anyone lets out so much as a chuckle you are right there with them. You can make anyone feel like a million bucks with your smile. You love people and will talk and smile to anyone.

Most mornings I sit in the kitchen in our breakfast nook reading, paying bills, or catching up on e-mails while you and your brother play in the living room. Almost every morning, after you have had your fill of scattering toys around you make your way under the table and I feel a little hand and then two on my leg wanting to be picked up and hang out with your mama. I love it.
You have brought us so much joy, I know as you grow you will bring us disobedience but one thing is for sure, we will always love you. Happy Birthday little one. We love you so, so much.

Happy Birthday Martha and Tony.

Today Martha Stewart turns 66 and Tony Bennett turns 80...Oh yeah and it is my Birthday too. It kind of snuck up on me ...with all the "events" going on these last few weeks it is not that surprising. I do like birthdays, I really don't mind getting a year older, I like feeling more mature, more wise...or something like that. I think what I like most is just looking where I am at. We try to picture where we will be at certian ages, and while this year is no real milestone (just another year closer to the big 3-0) I never thought I would be where I am. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining I just did not think I would ever live in Kentucky, have two kids, and not have a clue what is next. I always knew I wanted to get married, have kids, and stay home with them, but I guess, kind of like my birthday, it all snuck up on me. I never wanted a high profile career, sure at times I have a fervor for such things, but when I have time to pause (which is rare) and reflect on my life I am amazed at where I am, who I have become, what I have learned, and how much I still have to learn.

little warriors.

um...can we say guilty as charged?

(and yes I know I need bookshevles)

Maxo.

Evan....eating crayons...again.