Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Dip, Dunk, Submerge, Splash, Sprinkle, Spray...

I got baptized!!  I got baptized!!  FINALLY, I got BAPTIZED!!

Kim and I backstage before the big event  :)

Practice
Best technique ever, right?  ;)




This past Sunday I finally did it.  I have been feeling the pull to do this for a couple of years now.  At one point I decided I wanted to do it before I had the babies...but fear and other "kacy-isms" have stopped me until now.  I grew up Catholic, as did my family and Mikey's family.  I enjoyed being a part of that church, but I struggled with a lot of guilt, and I didn't feel that I was connecting during mass.  It was all I ever knew, and I always just figured I wasn't doing something right because I basically zoned out during mass and thought about where we would go to eat when it was over.  If I am being completely honest, I never wanted to go to mass...but I went so I wouldn't have to feel guilty about not going.  When Mikey and I got connected at Southside, and "church" became our small group meetings once a week, and Sundays became a day to serve and hear very relevant messages based around scripture, we both started to grow in our relationship with Christ.  We felt the spirit come alive in us in a new and exciting way, and I don't ever want to go back to "going through the motions."

I finally realized (with the help of my small group, wise council and a whole lot of the holy spirit) that nothing should stop me from obeying the call of my Heavenly Father.  The night after I decided it was time to take a step and get baptized...no more excuses...I was reading in Corinthians and came across this verse (2 Corinthians 3:17)
Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. 

I may have read that before, but never like I did that night.  That verse is pretty much the theme for my baptism and my faith journey going forward.  I am so excited to see what God will do through me.  It really was an incredible experience.  I am still "me" and I was definitely shy and nervous and all those things that come along with it, but I knew the Holy Spirit would get me through it.

I am extremely thankful that I was able to do the whole thing with my friend, Kim.  She is in our new small group, and it has been fun getting to know her over the last few months, and doing this together was very special for me.  It will definitely make a cool experience be even more memorable.

Here is the video, if you are so inclined:


January 29, 2012 - 9:30 Service from Southside Church on Vimeo.

Also, you can click HERE to watch a cool video from Andy Stanley about baptism.  It really spoke to me, so I wanted to share.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Boat Show 2012

We went to the boat show this year (my second year in a row).  We were debating if we should do it since we would have to bring the kiddos, and you have to pay to get in...but we decided to go for since Aunt Erin and Uncle T would be there.  Little did we know, there would be a monster truck show and a huge volleyball tournament the same day, and the parking was OUTRAGEOUS.  We had to park about a mile away, and it was $30...plus $10 per ticket to get in.  A bit more than we planned on spending, but whatever.  Mikey's dad looked at a new Axis, and we are hopeful that he might think about trading his boat in...even though I think the one he has now is amazingly awesome.  It's always cool to try new stuff.

Oh...and Mikey won a t-shirt!  Woo-hoo.  The kids did great, and we went out to dinner after.  Fun Day!

Here are a few pics I snapped.  It was PACKED so it was hard to get around and take good shots of the place.




Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Uncle Steve stops by

Uncle Steve came to town for a few minutes...it was so great to see him.  Parks and Marlee had a good time with him too!



Sunday, January 15, 2012

Hair Cut

As Mikey and I started to plan for our 2012 financial goals, I tried to think of something "different" I could do this year, personally, to save money.  That's when it hit me...BAM...highlighting my hair is soooo dang expensive.  I've been doing it for as long as I can remember, and it is something that has to be maintained.

Anyway, I decided to give my natural color a try.  So far I am happy with it.  I also chopped it so I could blow dry it faster and hopefully fix it more often.

BEFORE (driving to the salon)

AFTER (driving home)

Fancy picture courtesy of Lucy  :-)

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Christmas Day 2011

We spent Christmas day at my parent's house...my mom, dad, brother, aunt libby and uncle ron.  Lucy came by for a while too!  We had a great morning, eating a yummy breakfast and then opened some baby presents.  They went down for their nap at 10, and the rest of us had present time...the babies slept the whole time we opened presents and sat around visiting.  We had lots of fun and good laughs.









































One of Mikey's sweet customers gave us this dress for Marlee...brand new and fit perfectly!!  I stinkin' LOVED her Christmas outfit!!







Parks learned to climb up the stairs...yay.