Houston

I'm headed to Houston today with four others. We're going to be working with a worship team at the Bammel Rd Church of Christ on Saturday afternoon. Then Saturday evening we'll do an evening of worship. I'm really looking forward to it. The Zoe Group ministry does unbelievable things for worship teams around the US and it truly is exciting to jump back in this year. Plus I get to see one of my best childhood friends, Kelly (Garrett) Harp!! Cannot wait!! She is SO talented and has actually started her own business. You can buy her baby clothes and accessories at many stores now, and she continues to grow her business and have major success!! Here is the website for her design store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5688783

Should be a fun weekend! Geof and I will have a nice Valentine's Day dinner on Monday night probably. Then his birthday is Wednesday... this month is going to be so busy!

Jackie's Surgery & Celebrities

Geof's mom, Jackie, had pretty major surgery on Tuesday. She found out early December that she needed Cervical Spine Surgery to fuse degenerated discs and remove bone spurs from inside her spinal canal. It was actually done by a neurosurgeon. Jackie did great and was actually able to go home the day after surgery! Geof has talked to her I think once or twice, and Leland (his dad) has continued to keep us updated. I believe she will go back for a follow up appointment next week and start plans for physical therapy. She will be in a neck brace for at least 6 weeks from what I understand. Please pray for her recovery process. If you guys know Jackie, you know she is always on the move and involved with church, friends, etc.. Pray that she gets the rest she needs and is able to tolerate the pain medicines that tend to make her sick. I will try to keep you posted, but thanks for keeping her and Leland in your prayers the next few weeks!!

Nothing too new going on with us. We recently joined a new Life Group at church and we are having the BEST time!! It's so difficult to find those close friends around our age that are in the same walk of life we are in. They usually either have kiddos or are newlyweds just out of college. We feel like God has answered our prayers and given us this new group! We are having SO much fun getting to know everyone!!!

Several of you often ask if we ever see celebrities in Nashville. Yes. The two latest: I was singing on praise team a couple weeks ago and looked out to see Carrie Underwood at church. She lives near our church, so I'm assuming she was just visiting? not sure. Didn't see her last week. And about two weeks ago I had a meeting at work with a producer of a new show we're about to start shooting. When I was meeting with him, I kept thinking to myself, "I know this guy. He's famous somehow. I think he was a kid actor, but I can't place him... " I went home that night and googled him. Jason Hervey. The older brother from "The Wonder Years". Wayne. Ha! Pretty cool! Very nice guy.

Have a fun week!

Christmas 2008

Christmas this year was a BLAST! Everyone arrived safely in Nashville late Christmas night - and we kicked off the next day with a bang! The weekend was full of FOOD, GIFTS, playing Wii... and all sorts! It flew by so quickly!! Here are just a few pictures....
David acted like he was fainting when he saw the Transformer toy we got him for Christmas!

Here we are at the Aquarium Restaurant in the Opry Mills Mall.

We love to go see the lights at the Opryland Hotel every Christmas. SO beautiful!

What A Gift!!!

Geof's family grew up with the Baker family. Geof and his brother Jon were around the same age as the Baker kids - Joel, Phillip, and Melissa. Geof and Joel were the exact same age and went off to Harding University together. After their Freshman year, Joel left school and has been missing for about 8 years. They have not heard from him or seen him since. They used to hear during those early years that he was living on the streets and involved with substance abuse, etc. But stopped hearing about him after a few years. I believe this year, his mother was going to have to declare him dead since his social security card had been inactive for so many years. An unfathomable mystery and devastating experience. Joel's sister, Melissa, lives in Nashville now where I have gotten to be friends with her thru Geof. She is like a sister to me now and I've enjoyed so much seeing God work in her life. I went with her and her mother to pick out her wedding dress a few weeks ago. So fun!!! This past Sunday at Otter Creek, Melissa responded and walked down front during one of the final songs. Geof and I went down there when we realized she was crying. We had no idea what was wrong. Maybe her mom was in a car wreck that morning, maybe someone in her family was sick, etc.. When we reached Melissa, she looked up at Geof with huge tears steaming down her face and a smile that would knock you over and said, "They found Joel!!" Geof just held her and we all bawled with unimaginable disbelief and joy. He is now in a group home in New Orleans, and is ready to see his family again - they will go see him on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to the Baker Family!!! What an awesome gift! As you get together with your family this Christmas, give a little extra THANKS to God for this Christmas miracle. And give your brothers an extra little squeeze too. Merry Christmas! Top: Melissa, Geof, Joel, Jon, Phillip

Geof's Project

Geof covered the cornices the other day! His mom found this AWESOME fabric in Kansas City and brought it when they came here for Thanksgiving. Thanks, Jackie!! And don't you think Geof did a great job?? He is so proud of this project. I had to show him how to do the corners, but he did GREAT! He had 2 smaller cornices (about 3.5 feet) and 2 large cornices (about 6.5 feet).
Way to go, Geof!!!

Christmas Time's A Comin'!

I cannot believe Christmas got here so quickly! So much to update you on...

THE HOUSE - decorated for Christmas, Geof covered the cornices (pics soon) - to which he was SO proud of, we had our first Winter snow last week. And today it is 64 degrees - go figure. these pics were actually taken after most of the snow melted.

The Christmas tree is in the dining room - you can see it peeking thru the window here in the above picture. That's a snow flake blinking above the door by the way. Gotta love Big Lots.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! We ran out of Christmas cards, so sorry if you didn't get one... here is a cropped version of our Christmas card picture below...

Family all gets here Thursday evening! Can't wait!!! Will be a wild and fun weekend!

Thanksgiving 2008

It's so easy to just plow right through Thanksgiving and into Christmas. Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday! My absolute favorite time of the year. We had a great time with Geof's parents here. Our first Thanksgiving in our new house. We ordered a Greenberg smoked turkey from my old middle school/high school buddy Griffin. Was WONDERFUL! I am not a turkey fan, but this was absolutely awesome! Go to http://www.gobblegobble.com/ to get you one for Christmas! Here is Geof after carving it. This is what I deal with every day, people. Not just the holidays. He's quite hyper all the time.