Katy Mom

Celebrating Mother's Day!

What a weekend! Matt swept me away to the Hill Country all. weekend. long. If you know us, and/or you know what it is like to pastor a church plant, then you know this is a BIG DEAL! God has gathered some wonderful people, and He has named this group The Crossings. I am loving that over the past several years, The Crossings has become a church. I now that sounds so obvious, but for a long time I felt like it was still this thing that Matt was putting together. Now, it is a church-a gathering of God's people. It does not rise and fall around an earthly pastor. Amazing. They had a great Sunday without us! Mark did a great job preaching, Amy handed out goody bags for the kids, my mom prepared roses for all the ladies, Godfrey led worship, and there are so many others that make every Sunday possible--the church!

Back to our getaway ~ Of course our first stop in San Marcos was Freebirds. We spent Friday evening walking around downtown Austin, and woke up to a Cafe On the Square breakfast Saturday morning. We drove around to all the different places we lived in San Marcos, wandered around on the texas State campus, and shopped the campus bookstores. We lunched overlooking the river at the River Pub. We had a great time in Gruene! Of course we walked through the shops, the General Store (have to order a root beer and a creme soda), and heard some great country music at Gruene Hall. We had to revisit our first-date-place, the Gristmill! Seriously, the grilled chicken tastes like steak. Really. It was so hard to come back to reality, so when we got back to Katy we went to see Star Trek-loved it!!

I have to admit that I was itching to hug my babies! I came home to smiles, "I missed you"s, and even a new snow cone maker. I am so blessed to be a mother, and I am so blessed by my mothers! Mine and Matt's mom watched the kids all weekend for us. My step-mom is an incredible blessing in my life. I love my Mema-what a spitfire! Mothering is an area of my life where the Lord has chosen to bless me like crazy. Thank you Lord!

Home, kids

Easter

You are invited to The Crossings, this Easter Sunday, 10:30 AM. Come and respond to what He did on the cross so many years ago. He is alive today!

http://www.thecrossings.cc

religion

Look who's one!

My precious little man turns one today! If you know him, you know what I mean by precious. Taylor is always full of smiles, and quick to get a joke~and make up a joke. Everything is funny to him-what a joy! He is completely consumed by his dad, and knows to make a fast brake to his office as soon as he hears the doors opening. Taylor is SO good at mimicking sounds, and you will often hear he and daddy grunting back and forth...man talk. The girls call him T-Dawg, Tater-tot, and Bubba, and he would answer to anything from them~he adores them. I was so happy when he began to recognize his G' parents because you can see the anticipation of fun on his face. Same goes for his Aunt and Uncles-all fun! He is still a bit petite, but not like he was at birth ( a mere 5.1 lbs). I'll just say it, he loves me a lot, and craves my snuggles. Taylor still wakes up in the night, but as soon as I see that little face I don't mind being up so much. Taylor will pick up any object and hold it to his ear and say "Hiaahhhh." He waves hello and goodbye from the wrist, which I love. My little man plays a mean game of peek-a-boo, and is mesmerized by patty-cake. Tay has been called speed racer because he can crawl SO fast, and I'm sure will walk soon! He is an overacheiver when it comes to teeth~he likes to get two-four at a time, an is miserable through it. He is completely addictive, and I miss him even while he is asleep in the other room.

Everything about Taylor was a surprise, especially his birth! I remember being SO shocked when I first found out he was coming, and I remember wondering "What in the world, Lord?" I am completely thankful that God makes the plans, and I don't. Matthew Taylor Powell, Jr is an amazing blessing, and I am honored to be his mama. I cannot imagine my life without him~what a gift!

Meeting my new love

2 weeks

4 months

6 months

7 months, 2 teeth

10 months

We love you little man!

baby, Home, kids

Celebrating Avery Faith!

Today is my precious Avery Faith's 3rd birthday! I cannot describe wait a gift she is in our lives. She is easily the funniest, most expressive, and dainty little "free" year old I know. She is constantly making these hilarious facial expressions that are hard to describe, but if you know her you know exactly what I mean. She is a blessing to everyone she meets and has the most infectious smile! She loves her big sister and misses her the minute she leaves for school. She loves her little brother and is so happy every time he laughs at her. She has great taste in shoes, and will try on every pair at the store. Lately she has been loving on her baby "Monica" and likes to take her along. Avery has a vivid imagination-just made up a song about the potty this morning! We got a Dr.'s kit for Sunday school this weekend and she now prefers to be called "Dr. Avery". She is loving gymnastics and is so limber, and her pig tails are cute enough to make you weep. Avery eats like a bird, and wouldn't mind if we skipped some meals altogether. She likes to watch Max and Ruby, Elmo, and Imagination Movers. We also like to snuggle on the couch with Bethany and watch America's Funniest Videos.   

She is a complete gift to Matt and I and we could never imagine our life without her. I love this girly girl!

  

kids

Celebrate Your Loves Today!

Home, kids

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year '09! You are invited to Christmas Eve at The Crossings, 5pm, Kilpatrick Elementary. Joy to the world!

kids, religion

Friday Favorites!

Friday Favorites

Today is my birthday, so here it is. I want to know...

What is your most memorable birthday surprise?

It could be a present-good or bad!-or really just a fun memory.

I LOVE any kind of note, or card ~ especially from my family. Matt and I have this ongoing tradition. On special occasions, we put a card or note under each other's pillow before bed. I know it isn't technically a surprise anymore...well, maybe it is ;) ...but it is one of my favorites things.

Be sure to link up below, so we can visit you too! Visit Aloha Friday for another fun question!

Here was another fun bday surprise ~ "Aunt" Emily came to visit! She is a precious lifelong friend, and my life is has been forever enriched for knowing her. My girls love her too-she is so special to them, and I can't wait for the little man to know her and love her back. I give her serious credit for making sure I knew Jesus when we were young. I love you Em!

Friday Favorites

Happy Birthday, my Deer!

Today is my sweet man's birthday! He is my best friend and the most amazing father. He is a wonderful husband, son, brother, friend, and pastor. He is crazy intelligent ~ halfway through his Doctorate! He is a church planter-this means he is faithful to the not-always-so-easy call that God has placed on his life. He is funny and has a great sense of humor-I love to hear him laugh out loud. He is supportive of anything I feel that God leads me in, and wants the best for me and our family. He dates me every chance he gets and pays special attention to my needs. He has two serious daddy's girls, and his son already knows him at 10 weeks. Most of all, he is captivated by the one true God that created heaven and earth, and makes sure that his number one goal is to figure out how to give Him the most glory every day.

I am completely blessed in you and I love you deer!

Home

Summer home

Yippee-Bethany is home for the summer! Here are Bethany and Avery saying a joyful goodbye-for the last day of school...

We are so glad to have Bethany home, ad so proud of the way she finished the First Grade so strong!

Bethany's empty desk ;)

Friday night Avery stayed at Nana Z's house, so the girls had a sweet reunion Saturday morning-you would have thought Avery had been gone for a week. Needlessly to say, I think they will become soul sisters over the summer.

So glad to be together!

kids

Everyday is Bethany's brithday!

Not really, but I wanted to show a little of the celebration. It was a sweet afternoon and evening, beginning with a daddy-and-Betha bicycle ride, and ending at her favorite restaurant-La Finca. That's my girl-we love us some mexican food! I am pretty sure she went to bed with a sweet, seven year old smile on her face.

Here she is on her new wheels-so proud! She only fell a couple of times and handled herself so well!

The staff at La Finca brought her a sopapilla smothered in whip cream, and dabbed some on her nose, or face, whatever...and she turned as blushing red as her blouse. That's no sunburn!

You can tell Avery was confused...

She wanted to make sure her Nana was there.

She got a special delivery from her Paw Paw and Nana!

food, kids