Cutie - pa - tooties

There is really nothing to say in this post...but here are some new pictures of what we have been doing!

One of the rainy days stuck inside...they were looking out the window just dreaming of playing out there...

Look how much lovin is going on!

I think he's cute!

This weekend we took advantage of the beautiful morning and went to the park.


A "new" thing they have learned is how to go down the slide all by themselves. I think they learned it at church. They use to be timid - not anymore!
At the top getting ready!

At the bottom!

Just being so seriously cute!

Man-bag

At least that is what we are going to call it!

Just because

they are so darn adorable.

Here are some videos!

50's skate night!

We had such a fun valentine's day weekend. Nate and I had a date Saturday night which included a movie and a dinner at one of our favorite Houston restaurants, Hungry's. The boys had 3, yes 3, Valentine's dates! I don't think they really missed us! I even got roses...all in all a great Saturday.

Last night, we went to a 50's skate party with the student ministry for Valentine's Day.

We took two cool dudes with us!!!

I have to admit...they were a hit! Thanks granma and granpa for the outfit advice!!!

Some of our senior kiddos:

Who's picking on who?

So the boys think it's really funny to play in each other cribs after nap times. The other day I put Owen in Blake's. Blake was in a real playful mood and Owen couldn't decide if he thought it was funny or not.

One thing you should know. Both boys have ONE item in the house that they never have to share. If they want it, they get it. For Owen it's a giraffe named "'Raffe" and for Blake it's Monkey.

Here is how the event started:

Here are some videos...

Disclaimer! There is baby crying in this video. Rest assured, no one was hurt...just maybe aggravated!

Last thing our friend from SC with TTTS will be delivering today. her boys are weighed in at 5lbs 5oz and 4 lbs 13 oz. Hopefully they will be bigger! Those can go 10% either way. Blake and Owen both came in bigger than expected. They are going to induce her in this morning!

COOOOOOL!

So Karen Moise, the nurse for Texas Children's Fetal Center and our hero, is at a conference in Chicago...

This is from her blog:

I'm in Chicago right now for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Foundation conference. This is the 30th annual meeting, and I'm so excited to be a part of it. I'm especially looking forward to sharing our advancements in treating TTTS, and hearing about what everyone else is working on too. As long as I can brave the cold weather for a few days, it's going to be a great trip!

And this is from her presentation:

It's a banner with the boys on it! It's from their photo shoot this summer! So cool!!

Since you were praying

Sad news...
Nega and his wife lost their baby.
Here is the email:
Dear Mom and Dad, It was unexpected news that I heard yesterday. When I went to the hospital the doctor said that the baby is not alive! Wow, I could not believe because we were told many times that the baby was ok! We could do nothing! Yesterday She delivered. I am so sorry that I could not say more than this! Yes, God knows! Emu is doing well! Thank you for your prayers!
Nega

Body

I am in a precepts bible study this semester where we are learning about the spiritual gifts. This past week we were studying 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul talks about the body of Christ.
He makes the analogy of the body of Christ to the human body. He is making the point that we all have unique gifts that are given to us at the moment of salvation. It is up to the God head to determine who gets what gifts, how we use them, and what the effect or outcome will be.
He also talks about, in the same analogy, how we are to rejoice with our fellow members of the body and to suffer with them.
That is so real to me this morning on a very personal level as my whole body hurts from going to the gym again yesterday:).
Also by an email I got this morning.
When I was in college I served on staff at FBC Brownwood as an interim youth pastor for a year. Our pastor that year came on staff at almost the exact same time I did. He was young and married to an outgoing, fun lady and had two adorable children - Maggie Lee, 4, and Jack, 2.
We served together for that year before he moved on to another church, but the whole year I watched and observed this family. I thought they were adorable and different. I really admired them.
Now move 8 years later to this summer. I heard that Maggie Lee, now 12, had been in a car accident on her way to church camp. Their van flipped and she was in the hospital with a brain injury. I began to follow their 3 week ordeal as I prayed for ML and her healing.
Sadly, God chose not to heal her the way we all had hoped. But he healed her in His way, by healing her forever and taking her home.
The Henson's have been amazing during this time. Not by being over spiritual, but being real. They have been vulnerable and open allowing the body to come along side of them and do just as Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians and hurting with them. They are also still allowing God to use their gifts to encourage and edify the body even during this time.
Anyways, I am constantly encouraged and challenged by this family. It has been 6 months since Maggie Lee passed away and Jenny posted this journal this morning.
I would encourage you all to read it.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maggieleehenson

This is why time out doesn't always work

Especially when only one of them is in it!
You have to listen very carefully. I was far way and sneaking the video.

Do you hear Owen say "Here you go!" As he hands Blake the monkey? Talking up a storm, I tell you!

Bad for me...awesome for them. It has to be AWESOME to have a twin!

On other news, Nega and his wife are still hanging in there. Her blood pressure has gone down some, but they are still not out of the woods. She is still in the hospital in the country's capital, Addis Adaba. I have seen this hospital...not really the "best."

Thanks for the prayers, as Nega said, our God is sovereign and in control!

Prayers and Pictures

So, first things first...I have a prayer request.

Background:
When Nate and I were dating I had the chance to go with our church to Arba Minch, Ethiopia. It was an amazing trip, one that certainly changed my perspective of life. I met so many amazing people while I was there. A really cool thing that I saw there was how many native Ethiopians who loved God and were missionaries to their own people! One of those people was our translator, Nega. Nega is/was such an amazing man. Full of love for God and love for people. He was a joy to be around for the weeks we were there.

The woman who organized our trip there, Renee, sent me an email this weekend in regards to Nega. He has gotten married in the past few years and is expecting a baby with his wife. Here is the email Renee got from him and forwarded to me:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Please pray for my wife that my wife is at Black Lion Hospital since Wednesday! A week ago we were told that her blood Pressure was very high and the baby could not gets enough food. So, they told us that it is better to take out the baby but in Ethiopia less than 1kg (32 weeks) will not survive. Our baby is 27 week, 900 gram only.

I know that God is Omnipotent! Please Pray!

Nega from Ethiopia

So I am asking that you join me in praying for him, and his wife Emu, and their sweet baby. I know how important it is to have prayers for you, your spouse and unborn baby! I will keep you updated.

On another prayer note, the family from SC that has twins with TTTS has made it past the 32 week mark. Her twins, Owen and Rhys, are weighing in at almost 5lbs each! AND they get to keep going! They are going to break a record I know it!!! Yeah God!!!

And lastly, new pictures of the boys!

Football player or Bible Character...can't tell!

How appropriate are these shirts?