Friday Night Campout

Matt & I were not up for a full blown camping weekend, so we decided to make a tent in William's room and let the kids camp out on the floor. They had a blast. What imaginations!

Here is my favorite picture. Matt is such a good dad! You can view a few other pics by clicking here.

Proud to be the momma in this family! AT

Friday Night Football

Matt has wanted to take the kids to a High School football game for the last two years, but we just never "got around to it". He, as well as both of his sisters, graduated from LD Bell in Hurst, TX (right next to where we currently live in North Richland Hills), so we looked into going this year. It happened that last Friday was going to be our best night and it was Homecoming! After looking into the price of horse pins...oh excuse me, what Texans consider appropriate mums....we decided to simply go wearing the school colors as best we could. We did buy two large blue bells at Michael's, pom poms for Grace and blow-up "banger things" for William, so that we were sure to have school spirit and the right cheering equipment.


We initially thought that we would leave the game after the half time show, but we were all having so much fun we stayed to the very end. In true form to their personalities: William constantly asked QUESTIONS. He soaked up the rules for football; was fascinated by the precision of the marching band; and loved the running commentary of the announcer. Grace was a blast of ENTHUSIASM. She hit everyone around us at least once with the pom poms; danced around kicking like the "glittery girls"; and in general was quite an entertaining show herself.


View a few pics from the game by clicking here.


Loving Family Time,
AT

New Camera - Clip of Grace's 2nd Tooth

We are blessed to now have a digital camera/camcorder. I have a great clip of the kids washing the car today with their dad, but we discovered it is too large (2min. 17 sec.) to load onto the blog....so, when Grace lost her tooth tonight we tried a short clip!

This is tooth #2 for Miss Grace. Matt slipped it right out of her mouth. She was surprised when she saw it in her daddy's hand. Hope the tooth fairy brings something nice!

AT

PS: You can check-out car wash pics. by clicking on "Car Wash" in the Family Pictures section of our blog.

Where were you?

I suppose every generation has major world events that stand as mile markers of change. Some of the major events in mine have to be the falling of the Berlin wall, the explosion of the Challenger and of course, the events of 911.

Where was I on September 11, 2001?

I was almost 8 months pregnant with my son, and my Mam-maw was staying with me; otherwise, I might not have had on the television. I stood in my living room in shock as I watched the replay of the first events over and over. I was preparing to leave the house to go to a check-up. Thankfully, God gave me the car ride to pray and seek His wisdom because when I walked into the waiting room all occupants were in the same state I was in at home. Names were being called to go back to see the doctor and no one would move from the lobby television. It was at that time the towers began to fall and people started to weep. I did the only thing I knew to do - Pray. The next thing I knew women were around me doing the same thing. Then my name was being called and eyes were staring at me for reassurance I wasn't sure how to give. I am NOT a public speaker, but somehow God gave me words and scripture to share. I would give you the verses or words now, but truthfully, I don't remember. It was for that time and for those women.

I have found that God is often like that. He gives us what we need at the exact time we need it. Today, as I remember the events of that day. I am reminded that He is sovereign. He never leaves us. His ways are not our ways. He desires a personal relationship with each of us.

This life is fleeting. What choices will I make today that will last for eternity?

AT

Below are pictures from a business trip to NY that I tagged along on in 2007:

Ground Zero; Cards on the Fence; Liberty St. Sign (I find that an interesting name for the street. Was that changed after 911?)

Matt & Amy in Central Park; Work sign on gate to the reconstruction

Thankfulness

My in-laws are annoying……WAIT, WAIT….before someone grabs the phone and calls Tyler, let me explain.

One of the first things I noticed about the Travis family was their insistence on giving God thanks. Not just when situations were good, that was a given, but to thank God when times were tough…that was challenging to me.

I remember as a young adult and new believer it was quite annoying to have my FIL stop me in the middle of a story (well really stop my complaining/pity party) and ask me if I had thanked God. He did not ask me if I had asked God for help; asked God to fix my situation; asked God to etc. etc. He simply asked me if I had thanked Him.

WOW! What a concept, and YES, I confess it was quite annoying to have to answer that question…mostly, because my answer was, “NO”…and my heart answer was, “and I don’t really want to”! I would rather complain; or ask for relief of my situation; ask God to fix the situation; ask God to hurry up my situation; etc. etc. To thank God in all things assumes that I am able to fully surrender my will and my way to His perfect care and plan for my life. (i.e. give Him control & allow Him to sit on the throne of my life!)

I have truly had to let this practice grow in me and speak to me for years now. What I am learning is that a thankful heart is not something that I am going to be able to simply obtain. It has to be developed. The heart is a muscle, and because of that I have to actively practice thanking God every day in every situation at all times if I truly want to have a thankful heart pumping inside of me.

It has helped me that Matt grew up with this principle, and has faithfully modeled thankfulness as the leader of our family. I confess many times I have begrudgingly knelt beside my husband and began the process of thanking God. I also confess that when I look back at those instances of surrender….wow, what a time of getting a kingdom perspective on my life and purpose.

Of course as a parent, I would like for my children to learn lessons faster than I have. I know that life is the best lesson, so we naturally pray for situations where our kids have to give God thanks…difficult and easy times. I think it is also helpful to create times when the kids have to “practice” giving thanks. (exercise that muscle!) The past few weeks in our homeschool studies we have focused on thankfulness. One of our curriculum activities was suppose to be an “All About Me” poster. I decided to have the kids make posters that featured special things “all about them”, but the twist was that they had to thank God for those things. Instead of the top saying, “William David Travis”, it said, “William is Thankful for…”. The poster still pointed out things about him (good with piano, likes animals, etc.) It just put the focus where it should be…on the Creator.

It must have made some impact on the kids because Grace had quite a talk the other day with her Leapster puzzle game. In the game, she has to resolve how to make all of the “faces” on the screen “happy”. One may want a red hat that is tall, the other wants one the same color as the first, etc., etc. The puzzle is solved when they all have the correct hats. Grace was having quite a time solving the puzzle and the “faces” kept frowning at her. In her frustration, she very boldly said, “You just need to get thankful for what you are given. I am in charge and I do (what’s) best!”

Again, I am amazed at what God is teaching me through my children. They must get it from my annoying in-laws & husband …..good Travis genes! I just need to get thankful and make it a practice to continually give thanks. HE alone knows what is best!

Yes, I confess it is “annoying” when someone points out a flaw in my life, whether that is my in-laws, husband or the Holy Spirit working though my children, but I think I can truly say that I would like to be annoyed if it means deepening my relationship with the Father.

Thankful to have an annoying family...Growing in Him each day,
AT

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

First Day at Homeschool Co-op!

The kids had a blast yesterday beginning their new semester at homeschool co-op. We love the opportunity to have academic enrichment, special electives and fellowship with friends. We have moved piano lessons to Fridays as well, so the kids are excited to get to pack a lunch each week and have a fun day out. William said his favorite part of the day was P.E. He played "octopus tag". Evidently, if you were tagged, you became "seaweed". Grace...well, who knows what was her favorite part. 24 hours later she is still talking about her new friends and favorite things!

Grateful for the Opportunity,

AT

The English language is almost NOT teachable...

Well, we are in our 4th week of our Fall semester and the kids are having a blast, but the momma is somewhat miffed! I keep asking myself each day how in the world I ever learned to read, spell (well, I still struggle with that), write, etc. The English language is IMPOSSIBLE! I guess I never really considered how difficult it is until now....NOW, when I am trying to teach it to two kids, ages 5 & 6! William's first grade phonics curriculum has covered a different grammatical rule everyday now for 3 weeks. What stock can you put in a rule that says, "sneaky 'e' makes the first vowel say its name". Well, not in the word 'have'! or the rule, "that when 2 vowels are together the first one says its name". Again, not in the words 'said' or 'thief'.....

Over the weekend, I complained to Matt many times about my need for some steadfast rules! Then today as I was reading a friend's blog, she had this posted: LOL!

Let's face it English is a stupid language.
There is no egg in the eggplant
No ham in the hamburger
And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England
French fries were not invented in France.
We sometimes take English for granted
But if we examine its paradoxes we find that Quicksand takes you down slowly
Boxing rings are square
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
If writers write, how come fingers don't fing.
If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth
If the teacher taught,Why didn't the preacher praught.
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, What the heck does a humanitarian eat!?
Why do people recite at a play Yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways and Drive on parkways
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy Of a language where a house can burn up as It burns down
And in which you fill in a form By filling it out
And a bell is only heard once it goes!
English was invented by people, not computers
And it reflects the creativity of the human race (Which of course isn't a race at all)
That is why, When the stars are out they are visible, But when the lights are out they are invisible
And why it is that when I wind up my watch, It starts
But when I wind up this observation, It ends.

I certainly hope the foreign language we are trying to learn has fewer exceptions in language! I think I am TOO old to learn a language like English! Let's pray that my kids are MUCH smarter than me....

Confessions of a crazy English speaker,
AT