I was up early getting ready for class (college)...

Ten years ago this morning. I was on the West coast so it was 6:30am when the madness started for me. Only I never realized it it was madness. I was the ignorant one who was actually watching the news when the 2nd plane hit and thought "Huh...that's weird...two planes now? Someones in trouble working for air traffic control."

And then I proceeded to get ready and show up at class. Only when I got to class, the building was vacant and there was a note that read "Class canceled because of attacks."

Huh???

So I ran back to my on-campus apartment to find a crowd had now gathered in our living room, and learned about the gravity of what was happening.

Honestly, at that time, I didn't even know what "terrorist attack" meant...who was a terrorist?

Obviously times have changed.

I also realized this morning on the way to church that I had, just one month prior to 9/11 gotten my first cell phone. I wonder what that day would have been like with social media and smart phones going strong...and that thought makes it seem like forever ago. It's the only thought that makes it seem like forever ago, because every other time I think of that day, I feel like it couldn't have been longer than a few years ago.

Ten years.

I still will randomly cry when I think about that day...anytime a documentary is on regarding that day, I watch it...and I cry again.

This morning I felt somewhat somber as I watched the memorial on TV. Lincoln and came and sat with me on the couch and asked me what I was watching. And for the first time, I shared with my kids what happened that day. That was somewhat surreal for me because when I watch it, I still feel like I am 21...a kid myself.

This morning in church, we sang a song that has currently been my favorite for the past month or so. And I found it perfectly fitting in the midst of terror and heartbreak we experience as a world, a country, a town, a family, individually...

"My foes are many, they rise against me
But I will hold my ground
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always

Troubles surround me, chaos abounding
My soul will rest in You
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always

I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord"

BIG News!! (Humor Me)

OCTOBER 24 is a BIG day, people. A really big one (as Lincoln would say).

It is 5 days before my big boy turns 3 years old, and the day our ears get to be graced with this sweetness:

Coldplay's new album.

I'm pretty confident Lincoln is going to want this for his birthday. :)

(The even crazier exciting part is it won't be long before I get to see them live again!)

The Big 3-0

This year (December), I turn thirty. *it doesn't look as old when you write it, in my opinion.
In less than 2 months, Lincoln turns 3! So let's focus on that one for the time being. :)

Just a few things...

* Every time we ask him what he wants, he exclaims, "A pirate hat!!!"

* I asked him yesterday who he wanted to invite to his party. He said his list of usual friends/family, then added Benny & Bruce, and then, lastly, requested that the Razorback football team be there. I told him he will have to ask daddy about that one.

* For the past week or so, he has personally invite a handful of strangers...some he walks up to in Walmart, others at the park, and a few at church. I know this because they all then come tell me "your son just invited me to his birthday!"

* He wants a Hog Razorback Football cake. No ice cream.

* His birthday is the day before Halloween (or "dress-up day as I refer to it), and I asked him today what he wanted to dress up as. HE thought for a minute, then yelled "Joshua and battle of Jericho!!!!!"
Excellent choice.
Then I asked him what Noah and some others in the family should dress up as.
Not so excellent choices, but here it is for good humor:

Noah: The Hulk (the major thing wrong with this one is how incredibly tiny Noah is)
Daddy: "He should dress in a big boy dress!"
Mama: "You should dress as girls" (the plural could be tricky)
Tucker: Spiderman - totally reasonable
Aunt Amy: "She should be girls like you."
Uncle Na-Na: "Mickey Mouse!!!!!!!!" (He was excited about this one...I'm sure Nathan will be, too).

So there you have it (you know - in case you were wondering).

Poppyseed Chicken...with a Kick

All right ya'll. Here's a comfort dish done a tad differently, and  - in my opinion - makes all the difference. I've always thought the basic recipe to be somewhat bland and slow to impress, but allow me to help you dress up this popular dish.
Actually, this was not my idea, but my sweet neighbor Melanie passed along this secret to me last year and our family LOVES it.

I would link to her blog or something of the sort, but she doesn't have one, so can I link to her Pinterest account???
I'm gonna do it anyway. Thanks Melanie for the spicing up my recipe stack!!! :)

Alright, so on to the good stuff:

Ingredients:
16oz. Low-fat Sour Cream
2 Can Cream of Chicken
Cubed or chunked cooked Chicken (I usually boil about 4 frozen breasts)
Poppyseeds
2 Tubes of Ritz Crackers (crushed)
1 Stick Butter (I use low-fat here, too)
And the Secret Ingredients:

- Now, mix the cream of chickens and sour cream thoroughly in a big bowl.
- Sprinkle in the poppyseeds (I use a TON...about half a smaller-sized bottle).
- Sprinkle in a very generous amount of the above pictured seasonings (again, I go crazy here...I      always taste it and keep sprinkling until it's pretty flavorful).

Then add the cubed/chunked/thick-shredded chicken.

Pour into a casserole dish:

Crush up 2 tubes of Ritz Crackers (I do this in a freezer bag):

Sprinkle the crushed crackers on top of the casserole, then pour stick of melted butter on top:

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes:

I made this for a neighbor tonight who just had surgery. I also sent over some veggies and
 my chocolate chip cookies. So I got some pictures of those, too. :)

Improvising

Today was gorgeous, so we opened up all the windows and the back door, set up some veggie tales worship (at Noah's request), and enjoyed the amazing temperatures.

Our backyard is pretty boring...we have 2 dogs and that's the extent of the play equipment. We're on the hunt for a trampoline for Lincoln's birthday. Our neighbor has one and the kids love it.

But for now, we have to make-shift some outside fun today.

Enter: Shaving Cream.

Oh yes.

It's That Time Again

Last night we went to eat at Mad Pizza (kids eat free buffet? Yes please).
While we were eating - the boys their gluten-laden goodness and me the GF salad bar (you know you're jealous), we overheard the next table's loud conversation that consisted of words such as: 7A football...quarterback sneaks...we're gonna surprise people...blitzing...yadiyda.

I looked at Jason and smiled and said, "It's that time again."

There's two things that come around every year - without fail - but, again, without fail - when they finally come around, everyone goes crazy like it hasn't happened in 20 years. Those 2 things are:
1. Christmas
2. Football

At least here in the south, anyway.

This year seems especially crazy spirited (I think it's possible I say that every year though)...maybe because football means relief to our hottest summer on record? Maybe because a major sports writer predicted us to win a national championship?

And we're right there with them....

Lincoln and little Noah have been calling the Hogs about 20x's a day for the past 5 days (today it's been non-stop)...Lincoln's been asking for the past 2 days when he gets to eat a Razorback cake (hope there is one at our tailgaiting party)...and I'm pretty sure Lincoln would just prefer the Razorback Store to Disney World at the moment - you should have seen him in there yesterday!

We let him get some cheap decals that he put all over his bedroom door, and this morning, he ran into our room and woke us up with his Razorback hat on - ready to go.

Jason's family has season passes to the games, and usually all the men + me go, while the women (minus me) take the kids shopping. But tonight Jason's family couldn't come, so we have all the tickets, and are making a brave attempt at taking both kids to the game - yeah. I'll let you know how that one goes.

Excited for the season. Excited for cooler weather. Excited for basketball season, also right around the corner...love this time of year!!!!

He's Coming Back

Okay. I feel like last year I got grounded and reminded through several circumstances that we are not promised tomorrow and that our kids are not our own, but gifts from God. In fact, I wrote a post similar to this one, discussing these thoughts almost a year ago to the date.

And here I am again...

Because last night I went to bed late, due to being consumed with such thoughts, spending time in prayer, and being in my kid's rooms praying over them while they sleep.

Last night, a BHS girl lost her life in a car accident here in town. She is the third high school girl we know to die this way in the past year...praise the Lord she was a Believer (like the other 2) and had her destiny sealed in Heaven the day she proclaimed faith in Christ and became a follower of Him.

Here's what I struggle with:
My initial reaction to these things is sheer fear and terror and an urgent need to enclose my kids in a tight bubble of security (or my own fear, perhaps???)...to not let them go on a road trip with their grandparents in a few weeks...for me not to get in a car and drive to Dallas soon by myself...to not get out much and avoid busy highways...

But then I remember Jesus demands us to not live in fear...to not worry...not not be anxious about ANYTHING.

And so I pray...for forgiveness, and proclaim that God's will - whatever that may look like - is always - ALWAYS - better than mine. Always. Even if it involves tragedy.

So last night, I went into my kids rooms while they were asleep, and I prayed for them. I prayed what is the hardest prayer I have ever found to pray for my kids:
That God use them in mighty ways. That His will be done in their lives - whatever that may look like - to bring Glory to His name...That my desire for them is protection and long lives, but that I submit to whatever the Lord has in store for their lives, because His plans are always greater. But then my fervent prayer (as is always with Jason and I) is that they come to know the Lord...that they don't merely know of Him, but that they know Him.
There is a massive difference between the 2 which determine eternal blessing with Jesus, or eternal condemnation apart from Jesus.

And then, last night, I was reminded we have a job to do. In the midst of our earthly responsibilities, our greatest responsibility is to make sure people know the difference between knowing of Christ and knowing Him...we have that responsibility to instill this in our kids everyday, but also the rest of the World.

I was reading in 2 Peter 3 this morning about God's patience with Jesus returning and how God is patient so that all may come to know Him. I'm not one of those that wish Jesus would just come back. I used to be, but I feel convicted now every time I have that mind frame, because there are so many people that would perish in eternal condemnation if He came now. I'm thankful God was patient and waited on me.

So then later, I was reading this:
^"Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and

 believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into

 judgement but passes from life to death. "(John 5:24)

So I know most of you reading this know of Him...but do you know Him?????