Adventures in Alabama...

Happy Birthday, Travis!

2010-11-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

In honor of my husband's 37th birthday, here are 37 reasons I love Travis Wayne Dunham.

1. He loves Jesus.

2. He points me to Jesus.

3. He loves me.

4. I can trust him.

5. He's practical.

6. He's thoughtful.

7. He's playful.

8. He is an amazing father.

9. He's fun to be with.

10. He makes me laugh.

11. He wakes up happy (regardless of how much sleep he's had).

12. He doesn't complain.

13. He works hard.

14. His smile

15. He is considerate of others.

16. He is careful and thoughtful with his words.

17. Everyday after work, he gets home and gets down on the floor and plays with our kids.

18. He will play scrabble with me even though he hates playing scrabble.

19. He's really good at asking questions that make me examine my heart.

20. He values and practices good stewardship - with time, money, talent and health.

21. He challenges me to step out of my comfort zone.

22. When something seems not doable, he always seems to somehow get it done.

23. He sounds like Kenny Chesney when he sings (or so he thinks). :)

24. He comes back from the store with little, random surprises for me and our girls.

25. He's always striving to be a better husband (though, he's pretty great as it is).

26. He prays with me and for me.

27. He adds things to the stuff I'm cooking when I'm not looking and thinks I don't know.

28. He checks in on me at least once a day just to see how my day is going and tell me that he loves me.

29. He loves and respects his parents.

30. He is great with kids.

31. He is a good friend.

32. He seeks out ways to serve others.

33. He doesn't raise his voice.

34. He is quick to apologize for his mistakes and ask for forgiveness - even with our 2 year old.

35. He is forgiving -- he doesn't hold grudges.

36. He encourages me in my hobbies and crazy ideas.

37. Apart from Christ, my husband is my hero.

Fall Fun

2010-10-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Costume day at MDO for the girls...I got both costumes at Carters - Cow for 50% off and Bumblebee for 70% off! Carters will be my go-to place for costumes from now on!

Our first family Jack-O-Lantern! PJ was very concerned that sister might get hurt from handling the pumpkin because it had a lighted candle in it.

PJ loved pulling out the pumpkin "guts" but didn't like it on her hands, so she'd pull it out, put it down and wipe her hands off and then do it over again.

We went to the pumpkin patch with MDO and the kids got to pick a sunflower and pumpkin to bring home! PJ was more interested in the bees she found in the sunflowers than she was in the flower itself.

"CHEESE!""

The Beach

2010-10-30T10:56:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago we made our way to the beach for the weekend to witness two of our good friends get married. We had a great time and were thankful to see our friends and celebrate with them!

Baby girl loved playing in the sand...until big sister decided to throw sand on her head (and in her eyes)!

Within 5 minutes, she was soaking wet (and fully clothed at that point) and down to her diaper...the next thing I knew, the diaper was floating along the shore and she had flopped down in the sand.

This is one of my favorites...

Me and my sweet friend Noelle...

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Ps. 19:1

This Weekend in Pictures

2010-10-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

We played outside on Friday afternoon while Travis was golfing...the weather was perfect and Piper got to get some pent up energy out from being indoors all day!

This is Piper's "happy face" (the face she makes when I say to her "Piper, show me your happy face!")

This is Piper's "sad face" (in other words, this is the face she makes if I say "Piper, show me your sad face." But, if you ask me, she looks more like a grumpy old woman that can't find her dentures or her hair brush.

Apparently this little pink car my Mom bought for Piper doubles as a potty.

We discovered a beautiful park in town that has several play areas, a large duck pond and a mile long walking trail. The girls enjoyed riding in the wagon as we walked along the walking trail and then playing on the playground!

On Friday night, we went to our first high school football game. The weather was perfect and so were the girls. Of coarse, we had to bribe PJ with a lollipop but it did the trick for the whole first quarter! The people we sat by were nice enough to let Piper mooch their boiled peanuts (which to my surprise are not that bad!) and coke once she'd finished her sucker. I think we'll be doing this more often!

After the game we had some post game playtime in the practice field next to the stadium...it was fun.

Hospitality

2010-09-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace...in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:9,10,11

Yesterday, we arrived at our new home - for the time being, at least. A newly married elderly man, a member of the church, graciously offered for us to stay in his home rent-free until our house in Longview sells and we find another home here. When we received this news, I was so thankful. God knew our needs and faithfully provided - as I have seen Him do over and over again in my life...more on that later. Upon our arrival we walked into a sweet, very spacious and fully furnished home. Immediately, I noticed a basket of age-appropriate baby toys on the living room floor, baby gates were set up at critical points throughout the house, things had been rearranged so little hands wouldn't be able to touch or handle fragile or harmful items, sheets had been freshly washed, and then I opened the refrigerator door and found this...

Not only had our refrigerator AND pantry been stocked with a variety of essentials and goodies for the whole family, but there were specific items we love (like specialty coffee creamers for me and blue bell ice cream for Travis) that we found occupying our new refrigerator. People from the church had come in and baby-proofed the house, brought toys for the kids, and bought us groceries. I stood there, staring at this dark chocolate creamer and thinking of the generosity of this church and their hospitality and thought, "God, you have - once again - gone over and above what I could have ever asked for or imagined." Now, that may seem like a silly response to seeing coffee creamer in the refrigerator...but the thing was, no one here knew how much I love - and when I say love, I mean LOVE - specialty creamers in my coffee. That was a God thing. That was God saying to me "Robin, I love you. I know you. I made you. I know how many hairs are on your head and I know what brings you joy. This is from Me, for you." My heavenly Father had, in a small (and maybe silly to some) way expressed His love for me and my heart was compelled to worship my Father - the giver of every good and perfect gift...as small and seemingly insignificant (to others) as it may be.

I say all this because the living, active word of God came alive in 1 Peter 4:9,10,11 through the Church. I use a big "C" on purpose because not only were these sweet church members showing us hospitality by preparing the house we would be staying in to be a home for us to live in, but our precious friends back in Longview were cleaning our empty house in preparation for it to be shown to potential buyers that evening. Both sets of people - here and there - were sweetly serving us and in doing so, being stewards of God's grace to us. As a result, I was sweetly reminded of the goodness and faithfulness and steadfast love of my Heavenly Father.

"To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."