My Niece Already has a Favorite Football Team!

Wow - Isella already choosing to follow America's Team. I think she mentioned that her favorite player is Tony Romo (see pict). Finally someone who can cheer for the Cowboys on Thanksgiving with me... phewww.

And the most amazing thing about this is that I didn't even get her this outfit! My bro-in-laws' brother, Chris, who is a diehard Bears fan, was so thoughtful and kind as to buy her this outfit himself! How awesome is that? I always knew I liked Chris, even though he lives halfway across the country. But this is a sure sign of destined friendship. I just hope his buddies in Chicago don't get wind of this... it may spell trouble.

OK, OK... here are the REAL pictures:). Nothing like a little 'Photoshop'.

Joy Gets Eye Surgery

Thanks for all your prayers yesterday.

Joy is out and at home recovering since yesterday. Her infamous "Pirate" pict - RIGHT AFTER SURGERY and STILL ENJOYING HER VALIUM - has been cleared for the public.

• She said “that it was the weirdest surgery” but it seems to have gone well.
• We went back today for a follow up where she had her “patch” removed (we will upload this pict soon) and start taking ointment medication.
• It will take about a week for the swelling and irritation from the surgery to go down so her 5^th graders are going to LOVE her new look – albeit temporary.
• What was the problem? Pterygium surgery.

Eye Surgery Survival Kit - See Below





Ok, the three movies on the left were my idea (3 for $20 at BB).

Top 5 Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives

Dr. Laura step aside.

I decided to spend some time this morning listening to my good friend Cathy Constanz's message at the Saddleback College Ministry a few weeks back via podcast. The Series is a gender series called "Genderful".



As her husband lovingly says: "Cathy doesn't have a private thought in her head!" The cool thing is that Cathy doesn't sugarcoat anything and she is ridiculously real. Perfect for every woman (and man) to be reminded on what reality matters in life.


This was the title of her message:
Top Five Things (Christian) Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives


Here is an overview (Men, listen up, cause we contirbute to the lies):


1. Waste too much time comparing on what they aren't good at and not focusing on what they excel at

2. Being more concerned about convention rather than calling

3. Waste their best ministry time waiting to do the married "script"

4. Christian women want to marry for the wrong reasons

5. Christian women compromise their walk with God to get married


It is worth a listen!

My Version of Our Governor - Art Class 1995

What Erin Does on Tuesday Mornings

(Starting with the 'Asian Persuasion' and moving clockwise... Huy (Do-Bee), Me, McFadden, OC, Vebbes and Irons pronounced 'Ains').

This motley crew needs some help-which is why we get together EVERY STINKIN' TUESDAY at 6:30am! Thankfully we get to have Diedrichs Coffee to wake us up... and aside from ridiculous tangents and rips on "purpose-driven" lingo... we just get real and honest about our lives as we strive to be more like Jesus - in our relationships, at work, wherever. And as you can see, we aren't the sharpest dudes around, so lately, we have been reading through Proverbs. Practical and memorable pieces of Godly wisdom.


Here's a few notes and a sample:

• Verse 3 - what is right, just and fair... in other words ethics based on God's moral law.
• Verse 4 - love it because you don't need to be a scholar to figure these out.
• And verse 7 - where "fear" means "respect, reverance, awe" - that is, without humility, you are not going to live wisely according to God's economy.

Proverbs 1:1-7 (NLT)

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. 2 The purpose of these proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline, and to help them understand wise sayings. 3 Through these proverbs, people will receive instruction in discipline, good conduct, and doing what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will make the simpleminded clever. They will give knowledge and purpose to young people. 5 Let those who are wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. And let those who understand receive guidance 6 by exploring the depth of meaning in these proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles. 7 Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.

If YOU HAVE TIME... A PONDERING MOMENT:

It makes me wonder where do most people get their source of wisdom for life from - probably parents, society, other religous faiths, even the media or music?

But which one is "best" - they can't all be "best" or we wouldn't cry out when we see injustice happening (that's just WRONG!) - so there is a "best"... it would seem to me that you would have to go back to the original source of that wisdom and ethic to determine which source was "best"... but then how would you determine it? Without a standard, everyone could choose their own "wisdom" but then again, how is it wisdom then since this, by definition, assumes there is a WISE and UNWISE way to live... which leads me to a favorite movie quote of mine.

I think Owen Wilson said it best in the movie Meet the Parents (though the humor is in regards to Wilson's inspiration for his passion for carpentry being from Jesus Christ), the double entendre is still fitting... "Who better to have as a mentor than JC himself?" (paraphrase).

My Gorgeous, Beautiful, Wonderful Niece!

Chillin on the Patio (s)

Birthday money...new patio furniture!
Thanks to Mama and Papa Kerr we were able to purchase a patio table set for our front porch and balcony. It was a fun Friday excursion and fairly easy to assemble. Now we just have to add some greenery and we're good to go! Thanks again Mom and Pops for the birthday gift card! -Joy :-)