My Birthday~Vacay

First day!

There's NOTHING, and I mean nothing Josh could have given me that I would have loved more for my birthday. There's this little place. Close to my heart. Just a little down I-10 West. My family went the summer it opened, and yes, I felt really old seeing how much it had changed. But some things hadn't changed.

The lazy river.

The amazing breakfast.

The front porch beckoning coffee drinkers and newspaper readers.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I'm talking about the Hill Country Hyatt. Just take the Sea World exit and, well, let's just say -my family will never make it to Sea World.

What beats poolside nuggets and bbq sauce?

An added bonus....my birthday buddy was having his party that weekend, so we stopped by the par-tay and invited a few guests to the hotel pool the next day...it's a toss up who liked it more...Christy or Mr. Hill :)

On the way home (see below) ...Couldn't even prop his head after trying! :) Too much fun!

Thank you, Josh

Jack

As I stood by my grandfather's side on Sunday, holding his hand, I could not wall up the memories.

These were the hands that held me in his lap.

These were the hands that baptized me in November 1991.

The hands that held the steering wheel and took my sister and me cross-country on vacation.

The hands that prayed for me.

The hands that shook Josh's hand and welcomed him into our family.

The hands that held the fishing rod right next to me.

The hands that signed our wedding portrait collage -- and included, yes a verse, but wrote "Blue Bell" in parentheses under he and Mamps' name. I think he didn't want me to forget that all of the stories he would tell me and Kayla growing up --no matter the genre-- they all ended in someone getting run over by a Blue Bell truck. He made me laugh more than almost anyone I know.

Consequently, the hands that gave Hunter some of his first Blue Bell. Hunter had only had rice cereal and milk at this point in his life. Jack asked me how much he could have. I said "one..." Before I could say tablespoon, he said, "One bowl, coming right up."

The hands that knocked on doors to bring the gospel.

The hands that made me many of breakfasts. He dearly loved breakfast. Breakfast was not cereal. Breakfast was eggs, toast with butter to each corner, at least 2 types of jelly and crispy bacon.

The hands that held a stone of Baylor pride all the days I knew him.

Those hands that worked so hard.

He would not have liked for us to see him laying in bed. But as I watched him on Tuesday, his last day with us, I did not see a weak man at all. All I could picture was his hands around a baseball bat. A teenager, strong, full head of hair, at youth camp. Attracting a young woman named Dolores Smith.

The Bible says "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him." I kept thinking---just like Jack has no idea what he is about to enter--he could not have imagined what God would do through he and Mamps as he stepped up to bat at that baseball diamond those many years ago. No idea. Oh, what the widespread love of Christ has done. They birthed a family in the Lord. And grew the family of God through his heart.

Let us live it out all of our days. May it be everything he can imagine for us now from his new vantage point.

Actually, This IS my First Rodeo!!!

We took Hunt to the Rodeo last week, and it's a toss up who had the best time. Pan over to catch a shot of Josh eating a funnel cake, Hunter on the light rail, and then over to me singing "Down in Georgia...Pickin' Them Peaches...." It was just all good stuff. But the highlights for Hunter (as evidenced by his excited leg bouncing) were the chuck wagon races, Tim McGraw's intro number and the gatorade from the kids meal. For a boy who has only had water and milk--that was a big deal. Plus, it was blue--so what boy would not love that?!?!

But the Great American Pony Ride picture...was not so great in his opinion. This was worse than Santa.

Hunter on his first light rail......he loved going so fast! Tim McGraw wristband in hand!

Hunter in the Petting Zoo. He enjoyed pointing at each animal and telling what sound it made.

Giddy up, Hunter!

The Last Sermon- Jack Carr

Today marked the fourth retirement in which I have participated.

For the same person.

My grandfather, Jack T. Carr Sr., preached his last sermon today. As a family, we've filled the pews a few times for this occasion. I guess you just can't give it up that easily when you have been sharing the gospel publicly since age 15. I jokingly told Josh today I was most sad during the "first- last" sermon he gave because I thought it was for real.

The decision came more suddenly this time. For a while, although Jack suffered through health problems, he did what he always did--kept doing what he loved--preaching for a body of people he had grown to dearly care for. But after several rounds of more recent hospital visits, the doctors determined although not cancer, he does have a lung disease. He's going through a procedure this week. At this juncture, my grandparents reluctantly decided it was time. So this morning, they resigned from their most recent church--Hawthorne Baptist Church.

Before the sermon:

Jack gave a great sermon on the doctrines that anchor us from John 3:16-- God, salvation, assurance and security. Jack, if you are reading this, this is proof that not everyone falls asleep during church! I've been proud of you every time I have heard you from the pulpit. I was proud the day you baptized me at Houston's First Baptist Church. I was proud at First Baptist South Houston when all of the other kids would think it was so cool I was with you. I was proud at every one of your retirements. But I'm also proud every time I see you just because of who you are.

As a side note: there's an important memory I forgot to include in my Christmas post. One of the things I look forward to about Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter...is hearing my grandfather give the family blessing before we eat. I love his genuine, tender voice. A voice that seems to gather us all in one room for a few special moments. This Christmas was one of the most special prayers to me. While Jack prayed, another voice began to quietly babble in harmony with his--Hunter's. The sound of their voices together was very, very sweet.

Below: a pic of Jack and Hunter this Thanksgiving~

After Jack gave his resignation to the congregation, Josh leaned over to me and asked me if I heard all of the sniffling going on in the sanctuary. There was a lot of sniffling going on behind us. As if that wasn't bad enough, Jack had to request we sing his favorite song to end the sermon-- "When We All Get to Heaven." I guess that is supposed to be a happy song? I couldn't sing a word of it because I was crying. But I knew God knew my heart---a happy song it is--but I just couldn't audibly make out the words this morning.

A beautiful scene followed. Jack walked down the aisle and took the hand of his gorgeous bride of 58- almost 59 years. They continued to walk down the aisle towards the back of the church so they could greet their church family. I caught a glimpse of their backs as they walked to the door. Just as they did every Sunday. One more time. What a testimony to all of us--even in the sorrow of the decision--you could even tell from behind--they were determined to serve joyfully to the finish.

At the back door greeting--a pic of the "Fearsome Foursome" as I call it. Mamps and Jack and their close, close friends, Barbara and Harlen.

Hunter helping Jack greet :)

For some comic relief, Jack asked my brother in law to close in prayer after the hymn. I don't think he knew it was going to be comic relief, but John Travis got up there and began to thank the Lord for "Jack...and ... and Mamps' service to the church." Of course, no one in our family knows my grandmother by any other name!!! We all started laughing hysterically.

Jack always says He has two favorite things in this world: breakfast and Christmas. I think he never put preaching on the list because it was a given.

Love you, Mamps and Jack!

Christmas 2010....

Twas the night before Christmas....

..and a little hand thought it fair

...for Santa to share

Daddy and Hunter watching Santa Claus is Comin' to Town on Christmas Eve

Santa's Goodies for Hunter

Christmas Fun at Gigi and Pappy's House

Guys, this year, I'm SOOOOO big!

Hunt LOVED the Jiminy Kayla got him :)

Matching pjs for all the kiddos....Sam and Jane got from the Disney Store in Times Square!

the joy of seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child.

"For unto us a Child is born..."

good 'til the last drop...

Well, last night was the last night of Mommy milk. It was a sweet time. Not so much bittersweet because I think I've been grieving for the past few days. Josh was unexpectedly home last night...it was a calm night with just the three of us before the holiday fun with family. It seemed God made the perfect time for this to take place. This time last year, I had already decided I wanted to have me and Hunter's last meal by "candlelight." I told this to my friend Amanda over Labor Day, and she giggled a little. I told her I was serious and she said "I know you are-- I know you, Courtney!" Ha ha. Gotta love good friends.

Thoughts went through my mind last night of our year together. Sweet pictures are in my head that can never be erased, just like with any mom, whether nursing or not. And then, my thoughts drifted. After a year of hungering for any food to keep up with a hungry boy, I started hungering for heaven. You see, I'm such a sucker for the origin of things. On family vacations, I had to visit where scenes took place in LA, where this was started or thought of. Where Walt Disney first drew Mickey. I marveled at where the Cabbage Patch babies were born. So here in this moment with Hunter, I longed for the place where this sweet milk was thought up. Heaven. What a great place it must be.

It was a great year with my son, but now we decided we would be a little more inclusive. Since it's not such a private party anymore, we had a tray set aside in his room. When we were done, we surprised and called in Daddy.

We had fun, Hunter loved his first bite of Oreo! Even with the extra sugar, he went right to sleep.

Then my thoughts went to not-so-spiritual things like how much more time I'll have in the evenings. But--oh. Bummer. I just remembered I have not had to do dishes in a year.

Thanks, Josh. I had it pretty good. :)

stationery loves

So, I thought I was the world's best pen pal. My mom always joked about me loving to do my "morning correspondence." Well, if you think you're the "World's Best" anything...God just might humble you. Next thing I know, I meet someone who became a dear friend--someone who loved stationery and writing letters as much as I did--or more. Hello, Ashley Park. She so has me beat now in the pen pal world. But we do both love to buy and use stationery, for personal correspondence and party invitations. One of the best gifts I got from our wedding was a book of stamps. Does this tell you anything?

This time of year, it's time for Winter/Christmas correspondence. After some shopping, I'd like to highlight some of the new products I've found from Shutterfly. First of all, I've always liked the Christmas letter that accompanies a picture card--when I have time to do so. This year, they are offering a picture card that INCLUDES a colorful list on the sidebar, titled: "Reasons we loved 2010." Busy moms, how great is that?

Agree with me? Click here.

Something else I love---monogramming. So, this card is also on my "top list" because it combines the two worlds--monogrammed stationery.

If you're a true connoisseur, your love goes beyond the Christmas season (and you'd love to receive "regular" or "off season" stationery for a gift!) And when I say stationery, it includes party invitations! Here's one I can definitely see using:

Funny thing is that I think Hunter's hair will actually be this curly!

Shutterfly is definitely on my "go-to" list of merchants this year. Now, only if Santa could get the memo and put some stamps in my stocking...