Friday, August 25, 2006

An update


1. We had an incredible week of vacation last week. There is nothing like getting away from home with your family. To slow down enough to realize- I still laugh the hardest with my husband, there is great delight in watching our kids, we enjoy time together doing anything, to take time to see the Lord in all of these things...We came back greatly refreshed.

2. Back in March I realized I was drinking way too many diet cokes...the people at Sonic knew my name and whenever we pulled up Payton would roll down his window and yell, "I need a large diet coke, not a lot of ice and with a little vanilla and cherry." This and some other things in my life made me realize I was drinking too many. I quit cold turkey....and started drinking Starbucks. This past Monday I decided I would become a water girl (for at least a while)...All water, all the time...still going strong at this point, I'll keep you posted...

3. On Wednesday it was announced that one of my dearest friends, Nika, was the region 11 Teacher of the year. Out of over 20 districts she was chosen...I was so excited. Tonight she will be called out onto the field at the Ranger game to accept this honor. We will be there cheering! It is so fun to watch the Lord lift friends up. We have rejoiced over this gift straight from His hand.
Yesterday her brother Mark opened a brand new Starbucks (On Colleyville Blvd. right across from Market Street). Mark is the manager. Last night was friends and family night where we got to go and have free Starbucks before their big grand opening today. I picked a crummy week to commit to water. Its been fun to celebrate with the Maples this week.

4. The other night I was putting Benjamin to bed and Tony was in the living room reading. I told Payton, "Why don't you go and sit with your dad and I can be with you in a minute. " Payton walked in, sat down in the chair across from Tony and said, "Dad, Tell me about your problems."

5. Benjamin's favorite show at Sea World was the water-skiing show. At any given moment he will kick his legs up and start going through the whole routine. It makes us laugh everytime. He even makes the "overly- excited face" that the water skiers did at Sea World. A sight to behold...Ask him to show you his water-skiing next time you see him. It will not disappoint.

6. While in San Antonio we met up with our friends Koy, BJ and Reese. BJ and I roomed together in college. We used to talk about how we hoped our husbands would be friends and we would get the joy of watching our children play together. It was so great to spend 2 days with them. We loved every minute of it and left feeling so blessed to call them our friends.

7. I am not a nail biter. Selling stuff on Ebay makes me want to start.

8. Payton has always been an early riser. A couple of weeks ago Tony bought a digital clock and put electrical tape over the last 2 numbers (the minutes). He explained to Payton he could not off of his bed until the number turned to a 7. For the first few mornings he would crow like a rooster, "It's 7! It's 7!" Then he started sleeping past 7. This has blessed us and him greatly!

9. I love reading other peoples blogs. There is great joy in seeing old friends and new experience great joy in their life. I love reading about the good...I love having the opportunity to pray when there is something not good. My brother started this blog for me last year...Hence, if you go back to the original posts you will see some pictures and some posts that were written by Sam as if he were me. His words made me laugh then, they make me laugh now. He used the threat of continuing to post and comment as Becky on other peopes blogs as motivation for me to take over this one...Obviously, it worked. I am thankful he brought me into the blogging world. It has blessed me.

10. I am speaking next month at a Women's retreat in Fairfax. So much of what I will speak on comes from Matthew 11:28-30 (the Msg.) when Jesus says,

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I 'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely lightly."

I want to learn how to accept that invitation, how to point others to do the same, not with words, but with my life. I want to keep company with Him. In His grace He invites us to do just that. I am overwhelmed that, for each of us, the invitation still stands.

10 comments:

sj said...

Becky, I loved reading every word!!! But I do have ask...did you really post the blog at 4:16 AM??? I am amazed!

What a blessing you are to so many!

Wade said...

Hey Becky,

What great news about Nika! Tell her I said hello!

Crazy thing - I actually drove by the new Starbucks last night and wondered why there were so many people there - I didn't realize it was a grand opening. I knew that Mark was working for SB's but had no idea that he was getting his own store - that's wonderful! I'll have to stop by and say hello!

Lisa Renee said...

I have quit Diet cokes twice this year and am back on them. Its hard to do water out west unless you have a lot of bottled water.........I am pulling for you! Your boys are just precious, what a great picture! I wish I could attend the retreat you are speaking at, sounds like a wonderful topic. I know that God will use you to speak to the woment there.

tara said...

I prefer a large coke with extra ice, my mom is a route 44 diet coke with extra ice and lime, and Alsyon is a route 44 water with extra ice and lime. So since you have switched to water - I recommend the water with lime from Sonic, somehow they know how much lime to put in without it being gross.
Loved the blog - knock 'em dead in Fairfax!
Tara

Sam said...

hey Beck-

Ijujst thought that i would let you know that tonight I am at home alone (Emille and the girls left for small group)and I posted somepics on the new blog. I also went through your blog postings, from day one to the present. Skipped through some postings but came away truly encouraged ad missing you guys like nobody's business. Love you so much and am so proud of you.

Kristi said...

Hey glad to hear yall had a good vacation. I defintely need one. I absolutely love Starbucks too. well, got to jet, talk to you later. Love, Kristi

Kendra said...

Glad to see you back with a post (I've been checking and have missed you), and am so excited for you guys that you got to go to Sea World!!! We love it there, and the boys still talk about it all the time a year after our trip. I love everything there, but man, was it fun to see the joy it brought to my little guys, too! Makes it even better! I think I need to give up Diet Cokes (actually, Diet Dr. Peppers with vanilla from Sonic lately!) as well. Good move. Water is better. Take care, friend - I look forward to seeing you soon!

April Spicer said...

Good for you with the Diet Coke. I get in kicks where I won't drink much....and then the opposite will occur. Everything in moderation right???
I love your stories about the boys. I really do. I still can't believe we've never "played" together so I can see them in person. Let's schedule something soon. I'm off on Wednesdays and Fridays and just down the road.:)

Kelly Vaughn said...

Beck!
I love this post and picture of the boys. I have read it daily since you posted and Timo loves to see the pic of Payton and Benjamin...he says, Mom, I would really like to do that with them!....I told him this morning maybe he coud soon...depends on if the Texas heat sticks around until the end of September!
Love you Beck!
K

Unknown said...

First of all, thank you (and your mom) so much for taking such good care of Christine, Matt & Jack with dinner! What a treat that was for her!
I just love to read your blog. Sometimes, I just feel tired. And then I click over to Brooks Inc. and remember how very blessed we are to walk in this world, even for a short time, and share the goodness that God gives.
I was reading an interview the other day and the person was asked who they would love to sit down and chat with. The "celebrity" named other celebrities, meeting at their favorite bar, etc,etc,etc!
Three hours of insomnia later, I posed that question to myself...of course, one of my answers was (and has been all my life) Jesus. I can hardly WAIT to see Him face to face! When I tried to think of a few others, you were at the top of the list. I thought about how reading your blog is sometimes like sitting down and chatting with you. (Always makes me thirsty for a Sonic Diet Coke!) You bring smiles, hope, cackling laughter, and one of the most profound and beautiful descriptive pictures of what a relationship with the Lord should look like.
I just love you so!
Hugs!