Woo Pig Sooie {A little late!}

I wish you could all understand the LOVE for the Razorbacks around NWA.  And I mean LOVE!  Everything literally stops on game days (it is by far the best time to grocery shop). Everywhere you look you see cars with decals, multiple flags and old ladies wearing hogs from their ears.  As you walk around town it is not abnormal to hear people shouting "Woo Pig" and if you don't have on red well then you have on something sporting the HOG!  NWA is devoted and loyal to the HOGS and well, we as a family are too!

 We were able to get tickets and decided to take Aubrielle to her very first Arkansas Razorback Football game.  She was SO excited and couldn't wait for Saturday to come.  There is probably nothing more heart warming for a parent than to see pure awe in your child's face & for the first 15 minutes of being in the stadium that is what she was radiating.  Pure awe.  

Aubrie getting ready to call the HOGS!

It was a perfect day for a game & although the HOGS didn't pull out the win in the end we made such great memories!

Woo Pig Soo-zzzzzzzzz.

Just Breathe & Stack Stones

Whew...the days since Friday night have been a whirlwind!  They have been filled with Motrin, Tylenol, slings and sponge baths.  Aubrielle got her hard cast on yesterday and I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.  She really has been SO brave through this whole ordeal.  She rarely complained of pain only asked for medicine once and would only gripe when we bent her arm.   Which makes sense now because we found out yesterday after new x-rays that her elbow was involved in the break and her temporary splint didn't quite go high enough to keep that stabilized.  She is back to her old self~running, jumping, swinging and begging to go to the park!  (I just cannot do that just yet...need a mental break from parks for awhile!:)

I have been so thankful for God's hand on our family during this time.  There were so many little things that Bferg and I kept recalling over the weekend that showed us God was in control and among us.  In the Old Testament God commanded the Israelites to stack stones so that they would remember the works of the Lord...we have done that so many times in the past 5 days.  So thankful to our God, so thankful for His provisions on our lives and so thankful that He heals our bodies!


Well, my girly girl picked ~PINK~ for her cast color...she didn't even have to look at the color wheel.  She had her mind made up.  "Pink is my favorite!  Everyone will love my pink cast!"  You are right Aub...we all LOVE the pink and we love you!  Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes!  She is doing great and will be getting her cast off in 4 weeks...just in time for Halloween!

Enjoy your Wednesday and remember to look for the "stones" when God sends you an unexpected something into your life.

Rachel

Song of the "Ouch"

Friday night.  We were welcoming the weekend with wide open arms!  Changing plans we decided to preserve our girls early bedtimes by just doing pizza and a movie night.  At dinner we decided to change plans one more time by mixing in a little play area time and then home by bedtime.

My two sweet girls having so much fun!  Aubrie was quickly befriending other kids and Lily was having a ball practicing her climbing skills.   So, you know that feeling as a Mom that something is about to go wrong?  I had that feeling the whole time we were playing...Aubrie fell and we (Bferg & I) both knew instantly that she broke her arm.

There was never any panic, I just scooped her up and we drove across the street to the Emergency Room.  Aubrie was amazing!  She really only cried when she was unsure of what was going on...ie the x-ray and the wrapping of her arm.  I think our calm, reassuring and quiet reaction really helped her stay calm as well.  We called Uncle Justin & Aunt Lindsey to come take Lily home because we wanted at least one kid to get to bed on time.  (We totally owe them dinner because they had just sat down to order when we called!)

 She is in a soft cast right now and we will find out today if she will be put in a hard cast or just stay splinted.  I was so worried about her growth plate being involved but thankfully it looks like its just her forearm.  She slept really good and first thing out of her mouth today was, "Can we go to the park again today?  I promise I won't break my arm again!"

Rachel

~Tasty Tuesday~

Cheesecake.  Just say the word and I am there!   I have been majorly craving cheesecake recently.  Seriously, I just LOVE it!  This recipe was passed to me from a friend who made it for one of our small group parties.  Neither one of us can take full credit though...it comes from the real Queen of the South, Paula Deen.  I modified it slightly for my liking and trust me; it is worth every step and calorie!

Paula Deen's Cheesecake
Crust: 1 1/2 Cups Crushed Graham Cracker Crumbs
            4 Tbs Sugar
            1/4 Cup Melted Butter
Filling: 3 Packages of Cream Cheese, Softened
           1 Cup Sugar
           5 Eggs
           1 Tbs Vanilla
Topping: 1 1/2 Cups Sour Cream
            4 Tbs Sugar
            1 tsp Vanilla

Mix crust and pat into 9" spring form pan.  Mix filling & pour into crust and bake for one hour at 350.
Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes.  Mix topping and pour over the baked cheesecake.  Return to oven for 4 minutes.  Let cake cool (completely) at room temperature.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

When I made this for Bferg's birthday I had a topping bar of crushed oreos, strawberries, chocolate & caramel sauce.  Any combination works and it is even amazing plain.  
Enjoy!
Rachel

Monday Mourning

This is Bferg's "lucky Broncos shirt."  It is close to a decade old, rarely gets washed (except for the occasional spill of queso, chili or wing sauce) and gets worn every Broncos game.  Every game.  Bferg is passionate and loyal (two reasons I fell in love with him) and when the Broncos lose then his week is ruined.  He falls into a Bronco-induced depression.  A depression so deep that it lasts only until he reads the Denver based papers that can always find a glimmer of hope and give reassurance that next week will be different.

The Broncos lost yesterday.  24-17 against Jacksonville.  Bferg rushed home from church, donned the "lucky shirt" and quickly paused the DVR (even though it was recording) so that he wouldn't miss a minute of the action.  Statistically, the Broncos out played Jacksonville in every area except for special teams.  The Broncos turned out to be their own worst enemies...fumbling in the red zone and dumb penalties resulting in major yards given to Jacksonville.  In the end, the Broncos lost and  Bferg was depressed.  But, loyal (remember his two endearing qualities) so next week the same passion and exuberance will be given to his team!

But, I think while he's not looking I will wash the shirt.  Maybe that will help change the luck of it all...a clean slate! 

Rachel

First Day of School!

I have been looking forward to this day since it was announced in April that my church was going to start a K.D.O. preschool program...I have been counting down the weeks all summer knowing that September 9 was going to help me regain sanity...I, just last week, had the thought "this time next week"....  And, I found myself crying this morning!  (To make matters worse it was pouring down rain this morning so I couldn't even hide behind sunglasses!  :)  But don't worry...it was short lived and I was over it by drop off time!

Aubrielle ready to go and trying her hardest to hide her excitement.  A new backpack and matching lunch box is really cool to a 3 year old!

L

Lily and her lunch box...she was upset that she didn't have a "packpack" (backpack) but was just happy to hold her own lunch.

T

This isn't the best picture but it does show the *PINK* shoes!  Every  little girl needs a little bit of pink in their outfit!

I am beyond blessed by my church.  I am so thankful that I can drop my kids off for the day & know they are among people who love them & care for them like their own.  All too soon I will be posting pictures of the first day of real school...in which case I might need support that day!  The time really does go by too fast!


Rachel

{Sisters}

*Top Ten*

College football is back!  What a great weekend to welcome back my favorite sport!  Crisp fall air, the roar of the crowd and game day gear everywhere...it seriously doesn't get any better.  

Here is my Top Ten for the week:
10. Coffee + Kirk & Lee + A Mascot Head = Perfection.
 9.  ECU vs Tulsa (two no names) but one great 'Hail Mary' to end the game.
 8.  TCU: I think I like the new uniforms...I think, not 100% sure & I reserve the right to change my mind.
 7.  Ole Miss loses to Jacksonville state...ouch.  Embarrassing.
 6.  I disagree with Collin Cowherd...Florida does not have the most talent overall.
 5.  Navy: Hard call...The Tie vs The Win.
 4.  Beavers vs Horned Frogs: Possibly the worst mascot match-up all season.
 3.  Boise State: I will watch tonight since you are on the road...the Blue field makes me dizzy.
 2.  Mizzou beats Illinois.  (You can take the girl out of the Big 12 but not the Big 12 out of the girl.)
 1.  HOGS WIN!!!   Woo Pig Sooie.

 

ekklesia

When I was trying to come up with a creative name for this blog Bferg suggested the Greek word for peace which is "eirene."  Living the life of a stay at home mom with two toddlers..."eirene" got considered but then taken off the radar screen pretty quickly.  Peace isn't something that I associate with my life except that I am trying to keep it!  

Ekklesia- The greek word meaning, "the called out ones."  A body of believers who are called together by one who is employed by God in the work of proclaiming salvation.  The church.

Now, I don't pretend to be smart.  (In fact you should see the stack of books on my lap right now...one of the benefits of having pastors and seminary students in your family...we have resources and commentaries in the guest bedroom library!)  But this greek word has me excited today because with salvation we become children of God (John 1:12)  And as children of God we, as fellow Christ-followers, become family.  "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."  Matthew 12:50  And, God uses family to advance His Kingdom!

I am continually amazed at how God works and His ability to intertwine all aspects of my life.  My Bible Study for the semester is The Family God Uses and our Small Group at church is going through the Gospel of John.  My God made them all fit together for me this morning.  

This post may be a little "churchy" but this blog is about my life and all aspects of it.  I am so thankful that Christ has allowed me the blessing of salvation and while I am not perfect I am pledging to be obedient.  God laid this all on my lap this morning (pretty much literally!) and as I told Bferg last night my prayer as a believer is to be obedient.


Enjoy your Thursday and I hope you take pleasure in the fact that we are family!
Rachel