I’m having one of those mornings. Annabeth is determined not to take a nap for the second day in a row. I forgot that the pest control man was coming this morning and when he arrived, we were all in our pajamas and the house was a mess. We still have all the party decorations up and it must have looked like a freak show. Jackson and I both woke up feeling very strong-willed. Earlier I told him to go play with his trains and he looked at me and yelled “FINE!” Is there a space in the baby book for that?

Thankfully, today is no reflection on how wonderful Annabeth’s birthday was!

As I was driving to the church for Bible study on Tuesday afternoon, I passed my OB’s office and realized that at that exact moment a year ago, I was getting the news that I was in the early stages of labor and that my baby would be coming soon. That was such a great moment to relive. I had been so happily shocked.

I came home from Bible study pretty late and began getting the house set up for Annabeth’s party. Right after midnight I went up to her room and plucked the sleeping princess out of her crib. We spent the next few minutes snuggling in her soft pink rocking chair as I whispered my happy birthday wishes. She slept right through it.

The next morning, Curtis, Jackson and I went into Annabeth’s room together to get her up for the day. Jackson ran in and yelled, “It’s your birfday, Annabeff! It’s your birfday!” He was so excited for her. We sang and clapped and she loved it.

Then we took some quick pictures with the Big Pink Bear. I was still half asleep and didn’t notice that her shirt was wonky. My bad.

I told her to give the bear a kiss.

Twelve months later, she gets out of the chair herself. It’s boggles my mind how much they change in a year!

The rest of the morning was spent getting ready for her little party. All of Annabeth’s LPM aunties were coming over at noon to celebrate with us. In hindsight, I should have cooked the night before, but I was too tired after Bible study. Mom and Nancy came over early to help. I would not have been ready on time if they hadn’t come! In the midst of the pre-party choas, Nancy asked me what time Annabeth was born. I answered 11:38 and looked at my watch. Unbelievably, it was 11:38 right at that moment! We all stopped and I got to give Annabeth some kisses and take it in.

“The Village,” as we like to call ourselves, arrived at noon and the fun began. We had enchiladas and a great salad that my mom made. I served sparkling blackberry and sparkling pomegranate Izze’s because they went with my color scheme. Then we had birthday cake and frozen cappuccino punch and opened presents. I’ll let the pictures fill in the rest of the details.

Memaw brought a present for the big brother, too. So thoughtful!

Annabeth with Auntie Nancy. This was before she rejected her bow.

Memaw, me, Mom, and Annabeth – four generations of “Moore” girls.

Mom making her salad.

Very little evidence exists that I know how to use my oven, but here you go.

Auntie Kimberly McMahon/KMac helping me with the punch.

My grandma let me borrow her beautiful punch bowl and that gave me so much joy.

I imagined this looking cuter. The water bottles ruined it.

Auntie Kimberly Meyer showing the candy bracelet napkin rings.

Curtis and I simultaneously spilled our red drinks all over the table cloth. I nearly died but it just beaded up instead of soaking in! We just wiped it away! Is that not crazy?

My handsome man.

Kristy, KMac, Jenn, and Michelle.

Linda, Sabrina, Susan, Memaw, Nancy, and Kimberly

Annabeth with Auntie Sabrina

Second only to the guest of honor – the cake!

Bring it on, people!

Contrary to how this looks, she could not reach the candle.

Annabeth loves to throw her head back.

Warming up to it.

Meanwhile, Jackson was downing a piece.

Mom and Nancy did such a good job slicing it. The first few pieces were as big as our heads, but at least they were generous.

I put a photo book of Annabeth’s first year in my office for everyone to see. Curtis gave it to me for Christmas.

Icing’s pretty good, y’all!

Making very good progress on the smash cake.

The invitation specifically said, “No gifts please,” but do you think anyone listened? I told them they were lucky they didn’t have to sit on the time out step. Annabeth was blessed with some adorable spring outfits from her aunties and a few little toys, which we will definitely enjoy.

She was very interested in what she was getting.

Annabeth wanted to share some cake with KMac.

Auntie Michelle, Mom, Nancy, and AB.

Playing with some new toys after the party was over.

These are the beautiful roses that Aunt Melissa and Uncle Colin sent. Her dress was actually their Christmas present to her. We missed them but they were with us in presents if not presence!

These things were so fun! I would have left them up for days but they started falling down that night.

I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to eat all of these.

The perfect use for a silver bowl, don’t you think?

These little pennants came with the banners I had made.

The banners say, “Happy Birthday Annabeth.” I love them and plan on hanging them up every year.

This was right before the birthday nap. She had a hard time falling asleep after all that sugar.

The night before her first birthday I finally got the nursery like I wanted it. So here are some pictures.

Happy birthday, sweet Annabeth! The last twelve months have been amazing. I love you so much!

Frozen Cappuccino Punch
(Thank you Annalee!)

1/2 C sugar
1/4 C instant coffee granules
1 C boiling water
8 C milk
1 qt vanilla ice cream, softened
1 qt chocolate ice cream, softened

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and coffee. Stir in boiling water until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Just before serving, pour coffee mixture into a 1 gallon punch bowl. Stir in milk. Add scoops of ice cream. Stir until melted.

I love February. I love walking into just about any store and seeing pink and red decorations. I love all the balloons and glittery, red heart stickers. I love seeing Valentine’s candy and racks of Hallmark cards. I love all the festive melamine plates at Target. These things make me smile, but perhaps not for the obvious reason. All of these things mean February and, for me, February means babies! In this month is buried a treasure chest of my most precious memories and emotions, namely anticipation, desperation, excitement, fear, pain, longings fulfilled, relief, insecurity, overwhelming love, exhaustion, and joy.

Both of my children will celebrate their birthdays this month. Annabeth turns one THIS WEDNESDAY. *Tear* And Jackson will turn four on the 17th. He can hardly wait. I told him this morning that it’s his birthday month and I totally confused him. He keeps asking me if his birthday is here yet and wondering where his presents are!

Jackson has changed so much over the last few months. I’m loving the stage we’re in and I think age four is going to be a blast. Age two was a huge struggle. Age three was better but still pretty challenging. As we approach age four I’m enjoying motherhood more than ever.

There were many times in the last two years that I wondered why on earth I ever thought I had what it takes to be a mom. I loved my kids but felt totally inadequate for the job. I could cry thinking about it. Those difficult times when I felt like I did nothing but discipline Jackson all day long are starting to pay off. Those times aren’t fun for anyone. No one has kids because they want to boss them around all day long, do they? But I kept hearing that consistency bears fruit. In this moment we’re getting to enjoy some of that fruit. I’m not trying to give parenting advice, but I do want to encourage moms who are feeling like I did. This sounds so trite and it didn’t help much when people said this to me either, but hang in there and know that it gets better!

I got on here to talk about February and I obviously got a little off course!

Tell me, Siestas, what is your favorite month and why?

I’m making my friend Sunni’s wonderful enchiladas for Annabeth’s birthday party. I thought you might like to have the recipe.

Sunni’s Cheesy Enchiladas

Ingredients:
(I always half this recipe)
24 flour tortillas
2 lbs. ground beef
2 lbs. Velveeta, cubed
2 cans Rotel tomatoes
4 (8-oz.) cartons sour cream
¼ cup butter
2 med. onions, chopped
1 dash garlic salt
Salt & pepper to taste

Brown meat with one chopped onion. Add garlic salt and salt and pepper. Drain. Coat large sauce pan with non-stick spray. Add sour cream and tomatoes, mix well. Add butter and heat on medium heat. Add Velveeta, stirring constantly. Add the remaining chopped onion. Turn heat to low and simmer for about 5 min. The cheese/butter should be melted by this point. Add a portion of the sauce to meat. Spoon meat mixture into tortillas. Lay in casserole dish, seam down. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas. Cover and bake for 15 min. at 350 degrees.

*I like to save a little bit of the cheese sauce to have with tortilla chips. Yum!
-AJ

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

Conclusion

Hey, Siestas!
Several of you asked this week about the upcoming schedule for our Siesta So Long Insecurity discussion group. All of a sudden I realized that it was just days away and I’d better hop on it! I’ve had the shelf date continually in my mind but my priority attentions to it have been shoved behind the SMT Celebration and the launch of Tuesday night Bible study. My blond brain can only sufficiently handle one thing at a time and it’s finally time for this to be the one thing.

For those of you who aren’t up to speed on the subject, this blog community was my biggest resource and, hands down, my most valuable one for the new book, So Long Insecurity. I thought it would be so appropriate and insightful (and fun) to go through it together when it comes out. Well, it’s coming out on Tuesday so we better get this big ball rolling! I’ll put the information in the form of an FAQ for those of you who find that kind of layout most helpful. So here goes:

What’s the plan?
To go through the book together here on the blog over the course of nine weeks. It will conclude the week prior to the SLI simulcast (on April 24th) and I’m anticipating God using our discussions here to add insight into the messages I’ll share that day. He’s used you so many times in this ministry.

How will it work?
Every week I’ll give you a reading assignment (roughly two chapters a week) along with one or two questions based on that material. Those who want to respond will do so through posting comments.

Who should participate?
Anyone with two X chromosomes! Everybody’s welcome! Some of the things we do together on this blog – like summer Bible study and Scripture memory – are over the heads or outside the interests of many of our female coworkers, neighbors, siblings, or friends. Not this time. This subject matter was purposely written to be relevant for any woman trying to survive this culture with a little dignity. My prayer is that, in the pursuit of dignity, they will discover real Security. (Proverbs 3:26 NLT) I give you my word it is not a trap. It is what I believe from the marrow of my bones to be the Truth. If you’re unsure you want to risk asking someone outside the Christian community to join us, grab hold of the book quickly, read it for yourself and see if you think a few of your friends might be open to going through it. No pressure. It’s entirely up to you. God alone has the power to draw people to His Son.

When will we start?
So Long Insecurity hits the stands this coming Tuesday, February 2nd. I will give everyone who wants to participate one week to get your hands on a copy (bookstores, Amazon, etc.). Then, on Tuesday, February 9th, I’ll do a “roll call” (First name and city) to see who’s going to participate. That’s always a ton of fun. In an outreach setting like this one, it will be a blast to see brand new names. On Thursday, February 11th, we’ll start our reading assignments and our first week’s discussion questions. Each Thursday for the next nine weeks I’ll pitch another set of assignments and questions on the blog until we reach the conclusion. (For those who are afraid that one week might not be long enough to get a copy of the book in your hands, keep in mind that, even if you get yours late into the second week, the reading goes quickly enough to put you right on schedule.)

What if I don’t want to take nine whole weeks to read the book?
I just knew somebody was going to ask that question. I’m laughing but I’d be the same way. You can read the book as fast as you’d like then look back on it chapter by chapter as we slow down and do it together as a group.

But what if I don’t want to participate?
Then don’t! I’ll love you so much anyway and meet with you plenty of other times on the blog.

WOW. This is about to be a reality. I just have one last thing to say, Siestas. If you hate it, you helped me write it. SHARE MY PAIN!

I love you.

*Update*
You can sign up for the SLI DG on the roll call post.*

Hey, Darling Things! How are you? I have been in a whirlwind of activity for the last ten days and, since I’m still not quite my back to my normal abnormal, everything on the periphery has had to bow to the urgent. Out of respect to you wonderful Siestas who were not here with us in Houston last weekend, I will refrain from saying as much as I’d like. AJ penned such a fabulous recap so I’ll leave my comments at this: I’ve never had a better time with a group in 25 years of speaking. I’m not even kidding. I wish I had the opportunity to interact like that all the time. I will never forget it. My gratitude to God overflows.

I really had an epiphany about our whole blog community while 507 of us were together last weekend at the SMT celebration. I marveled at the love and laughter between Siestas from all over the country – 42 States! – and Canada who’d come to know each other simply on the basis of expression of heart. I watched (and participated) while so many had their pictures taken together like they’d been friends all their lives and most of them hadn’t been face-to-face until that very weekend. They hadn’t been drawn together by a single outward characteristic. Not similar jobs, finances, age groups, appearances, or stations in life. They’d been drawn by one another’s hearts in Christ and on the Internet of all things. Seeing it in action was nothing less than astonishing. I am honored to be a part of this community. You have won my respect in so many ways over the last several years. I reflect back on the days when Amanda began talking to me about starting an LPM blog and me thinking that I needed something else to do like I needed a hole in the head. I had no idea what this little town would come to mean to me. You are a big priority in my ministry life.

OK, as my friend Amy says, if we’re going to serve up that much cheese, somebody grab the salsa and let’s at least make queso.

My man is in the mood to talk so I’m not going to be able to carry on. I’ll wrap it up by saying that God gave us the neatest group for Bible study last night. I asked them to raise their hands if they were attending for the first time and we were blown away by the numbers. I bet well over a third were brand new. I could not believe it. I hope so much they stick it out. I love the story of David. God used it in countless ways years ago to give hope and dignity back to this former pit-dweller. I find myself once again in a great place for a brand new heart. A heart a whole lot more like His.

I love you, Siestas! Let me know how you’re doing! And don’t be too long winded because I really do try to read as many of them as I can. If most of us see a super long one, we usually end up having to skim it just for time’s sake. No telling what we’re missing. Give me a shout when you get a chance. Blessings to you!

We start A Heart Like His tonight! Are any of our Houston Siestas attending?

Your prayers for a smooth and God-honoring semester of Bible study are appreciated.

Please visit the Houston Connection page on our web site for more information.

Hello, ladies! I hope everyone made it home safely and happily from the Siesta SMT Celebration. For those of you who were unable to join us, please know that we missed you and thought of you a million times. I don’t know when or where, but I feel certain there will be a “next time.”

Yesterday would have been a great day for me to write a recap of the event, with it being so fresh on my mind and heart, but I was so tired I could barely string two sentences together. Did anyone else feel like that? Thanks for your patience as I spent the last 48 hours recuperating and tending to my family. I know Mom would be on here right now except that we start our new semester of Bible study tomorrow (yippee!) and she’s got her sweet little head in her books today. So here is my feeble attempt to recap a weekend that was too wonderful for words. Please forgive my lack of pictures. I will work on those tomorrow.

Dressed in my black and green SSMTC t-shirt, I set out from the house on Friday afternoon and headed to The Omni. Hillsong United was playing loudly in the car and it was one of those times when I probably embarrassed myself in front of other drivers but didn’t care. My heart was so full! I got to the hotel and drove to the back to find the “free” parking garage, which I knew about thanks to a comment I read from one of you. As soon as I got out of my car I saw a group of Siestas who were leaving to have dinner at Pappasito’s. It was such a fun encounter – the first of many! I made my way into the lobby to check in to my room and there were Siestas and pink feathers everywhere. My first thought was, “They came! They really came!” What a wonderful sight! I got to see Tiffany, Adrienne/Fuzzytop, and Melana/Moose Mama as well as many other beautiful ladies in pink boas. (That was such a great idea, y’all.)

I dropped everything off in my room and looked out the window to see some of our Siestas (I think) hanging out by the pool. They weren’t actually swimming, but I was so glad they got to enjoy the beautiful warm day. Next I went up to 1123 to check out the hospitality room the hotel had given us. It was so pretty! I felt like I was in a palace. I got to visit with some more sweet Siestas and then it was time to head to the church.

It was not long before our ladies started to arrive. In fact, I think some of y’all beat me there. I was stationed at one of the name tag tables, which is where I met Kelly Jo from Kentucky and my bloggy friend Charity who brought me a box of tea from the UK. We had never met face-to-face but I felt like I knew her. I’m sure you can relate. Melanie/Big Mama was there (in a very cute jacket) bearing cookies from her favorite bakery in San Antonio. Siesta Tiffany brought the Moore girls two boxes of cookies from JD’s Chippery – our favorite place in Dallas. Are you kidding me? Could we be any more blessed? My friend Marla Taviano came in from Ohio and it was such a gift to have her there. She made her own boa out of fun scraps of pink fabric. It was so adorable!

Wow, this is already so long and the conference hasn’t even started. Sorry!

Soon it was time to begin. Mom came in and Melissa and I went on stage to help her welcome everyone. I immediately got a hundred massive butterflies in my stomach when I got up there and saw all 507 ladies. It was very exciting to see everyone though! We shared some fun statistics about who was there and where they came from (even Alaska and Hawaii!) and then it was time for worship. Travis Cottrell led us with a Houston-based praise team (which included our own LPM sister, Kimberly McMahon/KMac, and our Tuesday night worship leader, Lisa Pierre) and the iPod band. They were awesome. We were on the front row and could hear everyone in the room singing so loudly. It seemed like the group didn’t even need a warm-up – we were at a “10” from the start. During worship it struck me that in Siestaville, Jesus is truly the first and deepest bond that we all share. Our love for Him is the Reason for all of this.

(Please allow me to interject that I just heard from a Siesta who discovered on Saturday morning that her 4-year-old son had unpacked all of her unmentionables to “play a trick on mommy.” That deserves both an “LOL” and a “bless her heart!”)

Beth brought a great message from Psalm 119. She had her own little trick planned in which she tried to tell us that we’d be memorizing all 176 verses in 17 hours. I just looked for my notes to share some of the points I wrote down, but I can’t find them anywhere! Oh no! Y’all will have to help me out.

After the session, we all had Siesta Mama’s Texas sheet cake and mingled in the church foyer. Can you believe she was able to bake that much cake and teach the conference? Neither can I! We have Chefs Paul and Katherine to thank for our yummy dessert. Lots of fun pictures and hugs later, it was time to say goodnight.

Melanie/Big Mama and I took Marla to have a traditional Texas Aggie dinner at none other than Freebird’s. Melanie is about the size of my pinky and she attempted to eat a monster size burrito. The monster won out in the end. I’m not sure if Marla was a fan of the Freebird, but she was a good sport about it. We finally headed back to the hotel and then Marla and I went to the hospitality room to hang out. It was after 11 at that point and there were only two Siestas up there. I was so sad to have missed the party! But more ladies trickled in and we pulled up chairs in a circle. That was a neat time. Two ladies were having a little issue with their room, and all of a sudden one of the Omni workers walked through the door and called out their names. He said, “You are now the Mistresses of the suite.” Then he swung open a door and revealed their beautiful new room that adjoined the hospitality suite. Everyone was squealing and laughing because it was just so cool to see God loving on them.

By this time I think we were all about to drop. Marla and I went back to the room and crashed. I slept until about 3:40, at which point I woke up never to drift back into blessed dreamland. It was a combination of being too excited and the room being too quiet. Oh, the irony of being unable to sleep in a quiet room! The good news is I was pretty much ready by 6 a.m.

We made it back to the church and grabbed some food. I think some of our ladies got to try breakfast tacos for the first time. (One of my faves!) After prayer time with the team, it was time to begin. Morning worship was tremendous and Travis had us ready to receive our word from the Lord. Mom brought the second half of her message and the Lord was moving in our hearts. She got really hyper toward the end and Melissa and I couldn’t stop laughing in amazement. She’d told us (and demonstrated) that she got so excited while listening to a Chris Tomlin song on her walk that she stopped, did a knee lift and played the air guitar. In the middle of the neighborhood. Oh my word, my parents are going to have to move now!

After Mom finished teaching, we broke up into pairs and said our memory verses to one another. Everyone spread out throughout the church and courtyard, which was a sight to see. Mom and I said our verses to each other while Melissa went out and took some pictures of our girls doing their thing.

Thirty minutes later we met back up in the fellowship hall where the event took place. It just happened to be in the room where Mom’s Sunday school class used to be, which was really special for her. We gave away some door prizes like $25 gift certificates to our LPM store, some Wising Up DVD’s, and a few So Long Insecurity books. We also had the ladies vote for their favorite blog name or screen name. Spicy Magnolia/Meghan came in second place and Lopsidedhalo/Brittney came in first! They came on stage to explain why they chose those names and then we gave them copies of SLI. They were both so adorable!

We did a little question and answer session with the time we had left. It was kind of like the one at the Siesta Fiesta in 2008, but shorter. Those are fun to do with Mom and Melissa but later on I always wonder if I said something dumb. That’s why writing is so much better! I can always go back and edit this post but once you speak something outloud, that’s it. That freaks me out a little bit.

Travis and the team closed us out with worship and I think we would have stayed there all day if we could have. Melissa, Mom and I hated for it to be over, so we decided to go out in the foyer and see everyone off. We got to hug a lot of necks, take some pictures, and say “See you next time!” It was bittersweet!

I want to end by telling you what WONDERFUL, AMAZING, GODLY, BEAUTIFUL, HILARIOUS, SMART, WARM, LOVING, GRACE-FILLED women you all are. We love you ladies so very much. I’m not just talking about the ones we got to meet, but also you sitting on the other side of the screen who didn’t get to come this time. You ladies are jewels and we love getting to journey with you. Thanks for everything you add to our lives and for how you enrich this ministry.

And thank you for coming to the Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration! We had a blast!

Okay, I’m going to try something new. If you would like to share your own SSMTC recap and/or pictures from your blog, you can link to it here. Copy and paste the link that goes directly to the specific post you have written (not just to your blog in general). If this goes well we might be able to use it for future events, which could be fun! If you just want to leave a comment, you can still do that. Just look below the McLinky and you’ll see where to do it.

Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration Recaps

Welcome to Houston, where it’s already spring!

Friday
Partly sunny
High – 74
Low – 58
Rain – 0%

Saturday
Cloudy
High – 74
Low – 54
Rain – 20%

Sunday
Partly sunny
High – 68
Low – 43
Rain – 0%

When we suggested various activities for this weekend, I never dreamed we could have included “Lay out at the beach or the hotel pool.” Seriously! It will definitely be warm outside, but you might still want to wear layers in case it’s chilly inside the church.

Siesta Audrey sent me a little itinerary of where some Siestas will be at various times during the weekend. If you would like to eat and shop in places where you’ll probably bump into other pink feather boa-clad ladies, this list is for you!

Thursday 5pm–Tiny Boxwood’s
Friday 3-5:30pm–Pappasito’s or Cyclone Anaya’s (Mexican)
Saturday 1:30pm–Cafe Express
Saturday 5pm–The Galleria
Saturday 5-7pm–Collina’s (Italian)
Saturday 7-8pm–The Chocolate Bar or Dessert Gallery
Sunday 9:30–Church at HFBC (there is another service at 11:00)
Sunday 12pm–Benjy’s

*Note that Audrey has NOT reserved a party room in each of these places. These are just suggestions of where you could show up and try to sit together or, if that doesn’t work out, just enjoy being in the same place. The times listed may not be exact. Your best option may be to simply talk to other Siestas around you and see what their plans are. Let’s also keep an eye out for Siestas who may be traveling alone and try to include them in what we’re doing.

Ladies, we’re so excited! We’ll see you TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS – Expect to encounter rush hour traffic on Friday afternoon/evening.

The Chocolate Bar
1835 W. Alabama
Houston, TX 77098
713-520-8599
www.theoriginalchocolatebar.com

Dessert Gallery
1616 Post Oak Blvd
713.622.0007
www.dessertgallery.com

Cafe Express
6570 Woodway St.
Houston, TX 77057
713.935.9222
www.cafe-express.com

Collina’s Memorial
8800 Katy Fwy.
(Ste. 109)
Houston, TX 77024
713-365-9497
www.collinas.com

Pappasito’s
10409 Katy Fwy.
Houston, TX 77024
713-468-1913
www.pappasitos.com(click on the I-10 location)

Cyclone Anaya’s
5761 Woodway Drive
Houston, TX 77057
713-339-4552
http://www.cycloneanaya.com

Tiny Boxwood’s Cafe
3614 W Alabama St.
Houston, TX 77027
713-622-4224
www.thompsonhanson.com
(Click on cafe down at the bottom)

benjy’s
2424 Dunstan
Houston, TX 77005
713-522-7602
www.benjys.com

Please meet Matt, Pam, Silas, and Luke.

And again:

Just a boy’s life. An older picture I dug up from their website. Love it:

We’re just days away from our big celebration, ladies! I can’t believe it’s almost here. There are about 500 of you coming, which is going to make for a really fun group. I’d like to share a few last minute things with you.

1) Siesta Anne told us that some Siestas have decided to wear pink feather boas while they’re traveling and once they’re in Houston so that they can easily recognize each other. They asked me to let all the Siestas know so that everyone can join in the fun. We’ve heard that Michaels and Hobby Lobby might be good places to look for those. Siesta Teri even came up with a verse to support the boas. (If anyone needs an extra verse to memorize last minute, here you go!)

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:4)

Love it!

2) We sent out an email earlier this month with information on how to order a Siesta SMT Celebration t-shirt. We know that some of you did not get this email because it was caught in your spam filter and we’re so sorry about that. It is too late to order a t-shirt, but we will have a few extras available for purchase at the resource table on Friday evening.

3) Beth will be dressing casually this weekend and she welcomes you to do the same.

4) The most frequently asked question we’ve had is where to eat Mexican food. That makes me laugh so hard, y’all!

Here are my picks for Tex-Mex close-ish to the church.
Pappasito’s
Escalante’s
Guadalajara
Ninfa’s on Post Oak

Houston girls, am I leaving something out?

If you love fine Chinese food and you happen to be at the Galleria, my current favorite is Gigi’s Asian Bistro, which is located in the mall.

Oh my word, I am so hungry right now!

If you’re here on Thursday night and want to splurge on a great steak, we have a great restaurant called Taste of Texas. If you go on a weekend night you’ll have a very long wait, which is why Thursday night might be best.

5) Don’t forget your Scripture spirals!

6) Here’s a link to our Siesta SMT Celebration FAQ page in case anyone has a question.

Friday can’t come soon enough!
Love,
Amanda

A few evenings ago, the Joneses were over at our house for dinner along with Keith’s parents so we could celebrate CJ’s and Pop’s birthdays. (Curtis’s was over the holidays while they were out of town so I had a roast and mashed potatoes and green bean casserole waiting for him when they got back to Houston. It happens to be Keith’s Dad’s favorite meal, too, so they made a great pair for a Moore celebration.) My adorable grandson is not much for lingering at the dinner table once his half-pint tummy is full so, about the third time he was told to get out from under the table and back up in his chair, I started strategizing an exit plan. I didn’t have to wait long.

“Bibby, wanna play wis me?”

Sensing this was escape from an inevitable time out, I quipped, “Of course, I want to play with you!”

And, while everyone else sat at the table and talked, Jackson and I headed to the den to play. We play all sorts of things when he’s at my house. Last night, for instance, we played toy store and he “sold” me (and his mommy) various toys from his big box at Bibby’s (actually, his old pack ‘n play) for pennies and nickles that he promptly stuck in his play-wallet. It was great fun. He’s like a lot of sales folks, however. He is more inclined to sell you what he wants you to buy rather than what you request. I was just as content with his selections anyway. It makes me really happy when he thinks something like a lizard would suit me best. Last night was a departure from our norm. We ordinarily play cars. We sit across from one another, each with a matchbox car, and we say in unison, “One, two, three, GO!” And on “go,” we each spin a car as fast as we can toward the other with the chief objective to make them crash. It’s harder than you think for a boy and his grandmother and we high-five if they do.

Several nights ago, the night on the table for this post, the play of choice was blocks. Brand new ones, as a matter of fact. I’d ordered him a really cool set off the Internet for Christmas and, when I received them from UPS, the toy company had added a smaller bonus box. I promptly snatched them up for Bibby’s house. Maybe you’ve seen the kind. They’re made for little builders with all sorts of accessories like wrenches and bolts and wheels.

You can’t imagine all the shapes you can make. Hence, my story.

Jackson didn’t feel very well that evening like most people in Houston. He’d been coughing and snorting like his life depended on it. As a matter of fact, much of the time we were down on the floor in the den, building blocks, he had his head propped against my right shoulder. I reasoned to myself that when I don’t feel well, my creative juices tend to be stifled and, if that were the case for the three-and-a-half-year-old sitting next to me, he could probably use some help with construction concepts. So, I said, “Why don’t you put this piece right here?”

Shook his head.

“OK, well, how about putting this wheel on this side so it will roll really good?”

Shook his head again.

Hmmmm. Almost out of ideas. “Well, we don’t have many bolts on this side. Wanna put a few over here?”

He picked his head up off my shoulder, looked straight in my eyes, and said, not rudely but firmly,

“Bibby, that’s not what I’m doing.”

It was everything I could do not to bust out laughing.

Instead, a very serious, “Oh, I see! Sorry, Buddy. You go right ahead.”

To which he seemed relieved.

The lesson wasn’t wasted on me. I didn’t have to wait till my head was on the pillow and started spinning. I never made it off the floor without thinking how often I try to help God out with ideas. “Why don’t You do it this way?” Or, “why don’t You do so and so with so and so?”

I’m forever giving God workable suggestions about how He could – sometimes, if I may be so bold, should – handle something. Or someone.

Anybody else?

Don’t you know there are times He wants to say to us right out loud in our stubborn hearing, “Child, THAT’S NOT WHAT I’M DOING.”

Often, we just don’t know what God is doing. So often we think we do but, the truth is, we just don’t. Thankfully, He does. He really does. He doesn’t need our help. Our brilliant ideas. Or our last ditch efforts because He ignored our first ten suggestions. He just wants our cooperation.

He is constructing something beyond our human rationale. He knows in advance every piece – past, present, and future – that will be required for the finished work. He has all the patience in the universe to put it together. We see one little part and one little moment. He, the One who is, who was, and is to come, sees beyond the singular piece to every generation and condition He means to effect. Meanwhile, He works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The one thing may not be good at all by itself. In fact, it may be horrendous. Criminal. It’s when He weaves it with all that comes before it and all that will come around and behind it that something good, something beneficial, emerges.

Never let Romans 8:28 become so familiar that you subconsciously fold it into your spiritual fairy tale file. It is as true today as it was the moment the Apostle dripped the letters on the parchment. Don’t blow them dry.

Maybe it’s not that God isn’t listening. Maybe it’s just that what we keep suggesting is not exactly what He’s doing. And, if that’s so, what He’s doing can only be better and more effectual than what we think we’d do in His place.

John 13:7 says something that keeps ringing in my ears.

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Later.

LATER.

L.A.T.E.R.

We WILL understand.