Go Aggies!

Today my husband got tickets to the Aggie basketball game. Let me clarify...the Aggie game of the season and did I mention that the tickets were for absolutely amazing seats. You know the kind of seats where you see the actual sweat beads on the players faces? Oh, and they were free.

When Scott called me this afternoon he asked if I wanted to go. But, he wasn't really asking me. I knew that deep down Scott has been dreaming of the day when he could take his son to events like this. Sam has been watching football and basketball with Scott at home for awhile, but they haven't been to a college game together. Besides the logistics of finding a sitter at the last minute, I really wanted Sam to go. Ok, maybe a small piece of me wanted to go. :)

I think one of the best parts of parenting is watching your spouses relationship with the kids. I really enjoy watching the pleasure that Scott gets from spending time with Sam. They watch sports or practice duck calls together. It's sweet and it's special.

So, here I am. Watching the game on television not because I'm interested in who wins, but trying to catch a glimpse of my boys cheering for the Ags together.

Birthday Fun

Never a dull moment...

From the bathroom....

Sam: Mom! Come look at my poop.

Me: Samuel, please just flush the toilet. I don't need to see it.

Sam: But Mom, it's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! (Emphasis on the amazing part)

Hmmm....

I need to do an update. I have lots to write about and nothing to write about at the same time.

It's cold in Texas. We're all freezing, but it could be worse. My parents just went almost a week without electricty.

I'm listening to my washing machine die. Literally die right now as I type this. I don't think it is suppose to sound like a 747 taking off in our house. We need to buy a new one. But we are in super saver mode...that's code for "we ain't spending no money right now." We may have to break down and buy one. Confession...I want a red one and, if possible, I'm going to get one.

Sam turns 3 this week. I don't want him to turn 3. That means he's not a baby. Time goes too fast. Tonight at dinner he said "so Dad, how was your day?" He's getting so big.

Reagan has started climbing. CLIMBING!!!! Sam told me the other day that I need to come to the kitchen. So...I went. Reagan was on top of the table. Dear God...I died for a second with fear. She lived though and now has become my constant shadow. I can't let her out of my sight for a second.

Scott is busy. He's got the annual DU banquet this week and huge project for the city starting. The Lord's favor has been on our business. We have work which is such a good, good thing.

I am offcially in private practice. Whew...that's a big thought. My colleague and I are offering several groups. One is going to be an infertility support group. I can't believe that this dream is actually becoming a reality. And I'm writing a book. A book about the church. Unbelievably fun and frustrating at the same time.

Until next time blog world....

Best Super Bowl Party EVER!!!

Reagan woke up sick this morning. The worst kind of sick...the throw up and other yucky stuff kind of sick.

We had plans to go to a Super Bowl party tonight. I was really excited because this is with a new group of friends and I'm just getting to know them. Anyway, I was looking forward to it.

But, then Reagan is sick.

So, Scott went and I stayed home with the kids. Sam and I just decided that we would have our own party.

We made a fun dinner and cheered for the Colts and the Saints depending on who had the ball. I know about as much about football as Sam does.

Reagan danced to the halftime show. Who were those performers? I have no idea. I couldn't really understand the words, which might have been a good thing.

Anyway...best super bowl party I've ever been to!

I should be sleeping...

...but I'm awake.

The kids went to bed on time tonight. I had a million things (okay 10) on my to-do list. But instead I turned on the fireplace (because that's how we roll in the Kenley Casa) and opened my laptop. I started reading.

I should have a read a good book. I should have surfed the latest drama surrounding Jay Leno. I could have even listened to the state of the union speech last night. All of those things (except maybe the union address) would have left me with less heartburn right now and probably even put me to sleep.

Instead I read about theology and baptist doctrine. I read the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message and compared it to the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. I read different views on the idea of covering. I listened to two sermons by Paige Patterson - one of which included a serious directive regarding whether or not we should carry a bible in book form or electronic form to church. The end message of that discussion was somehow you are more serious about Jesus if you actually carry a traditional bible to church. Interesting...I wonder what that means for the dyslexic who can't read the bible they are carrying. I'm not sure, but I think this is certainly worthy of debate among serious Christians. Not.

I have to stop this. I have to stop caring about these things. But I can't seem to help myself. I have this overwhelming need to sift through the density of these debates trying to find where Jesus is. Sometimes I get so lost, which if baffling to me because these are my people. I grew up in a traditional southern baptist church. I came out of my mothers womb asking questions and that didn't stop during my church education. And because of those traits and good teachers I learned scripture. Never enough...it's never enough...I want to know more, but I'm grateful for those people who helped me learn the Word.

And ideas like reformed movements, fundamentalism, patriachy, complementarians and so on....well...it's hard to work through these ideas. Each leader is teaching from the bible....using the same scriptures...and defining inerrant in multiple ways. What is legalism and where is it in church today? It's too much for my mind to absorb. I feel like I'm drowning and can't catch a breath of air.

And then...

I read that a friend has cancer.

And my world stops for a moment. It stops long enough for the words of Jesus to come to my mind.

Matthew 22:37-40
37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Love.

Love God and love others. That is what Jesus said is worthy of our time.

These debates and discussions might be useful, but love is more important. These debates are devisive to the people of God. Rather than edifying each position seems bent in some ways to wound the opposite view. Washington DC has nothing on the kind of politics that I have read tonight.

I'm not going to stop reading. I believe that God may be using all this energy I have in this area for something. I'm preparing for something that I can't even describe right now. I'm confident of that.

But just when I needed it...God sent some perspective.

My friend is one story. There are so many more. People who sit in our churches. People who are hurting because of the laws we have created to earn righteousness. We've missed the point.

I need to love. I need to love by asking the questions and telling the stories. I need to love by remembering Christ's ultimate love for us in that while we were still sinners he laid down His life.

Perspective.

Sam's version of John 3:16

In the fall we began doing scripture memory as a family. During the day I talk to Sam about our verse and we practice at dinner time. We've been amazed at how quickly he can learn the verses. It helps, I think, that we come up with hand motions and little songs to help him. It can be really funny to watch us doing them, but he's getting the idea and that's what matters.

Anyway...we are working on John 3:16 right now.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only son. Whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

I think I like Sam's version better:

"God so loves the world Him give Him only son. Whoever believes in Him...Him not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16