Brett's First Day of Church!

So I barely survived the first day back at work and having to put my baby in daycare. I cried the night before giving him his bath, that morning putting on his little clothes, and dropping him off. When I arrived at work I had PLENTY of work to catch up on so the hours until lunch came and went very quickly. I rushed across the parking lot, yes my son is only a parking lot away... it didn't make it any easier, and was able to hold and feed him. Well, that wasn't a good idea because I had to give him up all over again. Needless to say I cried on my way back to the office and in the office. I am so glad I share an office with a daddy. He could sympathize with me and I didnt feel awkward putting on the waterworks!

Well its 3 weeks back at work and leaving my baby at the nursery is a lot easier! I LOVE his teachers and they love him. He is the only infant surrounded by cute little toddler girls, already a ladies man! Which by the way he has already been invited to his first birthday party. The boy can't even talk yet and is already Mr. Social! I love my job and being back at work. I missed the hussle and bussle and all the wonderful people I work with.

Today was Brett's first day of church... well what this really means is Brett was in the nursery while Mommy got to go to church. Nevertheless, I dressed him up as cute as can be with a sweater vest and khakis pants. He looked like a little man and was so good. I kept looking to see if my number was going to flash on the screen, but #2 never did. I was able to enjoy the incredible worship and solid Word of God. It has actually been awhile since I have sat in service. I've ministered alongside Pastor Brett (Daddy) for 4 years now and wasn't able to attend morning service. It was such a blessing to be back. I was on the verge of tears the whole time and of course the camera guys found me and I am sure the control room was surprised to see me there too. For those of you who don't know, I am TV producer for John Hagee Ministries and help produce sermons that air all over the world. It is truly a ministry and an honor to be called to serve along side Pastor and Pastor Matt.

After service we went to go visit Pastor Brett at KidZone and surprised all the kids with a visit from Brett and me. Pastor Brett asked the kids to show Brett how to worship and they all danced and sang to "My Redeemer Lives." Brett sat in his car seat as peacefully asleep, I think he was used to all the music and singing when he was in the womb. Man, I danced and jumped right alongside those kids up until 9 months!!

This has truly been a beautiful day. I am in my kitchen with my little boy in my lap and am so thankful for all God has given me. You don't know how much you miss being in communion with other believers until you have been away from it for awhile. There is a reason why God calls us to walk with others in faith, He never meant for us to do it alone. I believe when we are going through the hardest of times and feel the Lord is being silent, is when He uses a sister or brother as His mouth piece to let you know He is here, always has been, and doesn't plan on leaving!

Happy First Day of Church my little one! It will be the first of many...

Where is the Support Group... Momma's Going Back to Work!

UPDATE!!! I know it has almost officially been a year since I last posted, and since then many things have changed. That is an understatement. Brett and I found out we were pregnant last June, had our baby February 8th, and now 8 weeks later I am getting ready to go back to work.

Meet our little boy, although most if not all of our readers have... I don't have a very large blog following.

Brett Andrew Owen II

Look at that tummy! It keeps growing and growing just like he does. He is already more than a month and a half and we just love him more and more. (This is his signature face.)

The past 8 weeks with this little boy have been such an adventure. I had no idea I could function on such little sleep, eat and nurse, type and nurse, talk on the phone and nurse, walk and nurse... too far, maybe. I love watching Brett hold his son and everyday grow more and more as an incredible father and husband. In the last couple of weeks my hubby has taken up most if not all the cooking and grocery shopping! I am so spoiled. He was and is one of the biggest supports I have had during my time at home. So many people came to my side as we welcomed our little one home. My parents were at the hospital bright and early when we told them it was time. My dad came prepared with camera in hand and my mom was a wonderful birthing coach, holding my hand through that epidural. Brett's mom was also such a blessing, she even turned around after arriving at the hospital to pick up Brett some breakfast tacos. She came to the house and provided wonderful meals and a helping hand so we could both catch up on sleep. My mom and dad also took off week and had their own shifts with the baby.

My third week home left me without my parents, my wonderful mother in law, and my Brett. It was hard to not have them there, but thankfully my Aunt and grandmother took their place for the next two weeks. They provided such comfort and encouragement. During this time I was going through my moments of, "Why won't you sleep," crying while he cried, and not believing how dark the circles under my eyes had become. My Aunt came and shared with me a verse that has truly been my cornerstone. "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Nehemiah 8:10. I say it to myself when I rock him to sleep at 4am. I say it when I finally get a shower in the morning and he wakes up from his, thought to be, deep sleep. I say it when I change his diaper, pick him up and hear him let out another wet one.

God has truly given Brett and I much strength these past 8 weeks, but as much as all of those little things should get under my skin, I look at that little face and understand the Joy of the Lord. For it was His Joy to create such a perfect little being and it is our joy to have him apart of our lives. I have missed work and the hustle and bustle of my job, but saying goodbye to the special all day mommy and Brett time will be hard. Please, if you are reading this say a little prayer for me. I know it will all work out perfectly, but this little boy has me so wrapped around his little finger...

I will keep you posted on my transition back to work and being an official working momma! It has been an incredible 8 weeks!

Finally Rockport April 2009

Brett and I ate at Bourbon Street for our 2 year anniversary. Awesome food and a great night with my love. Also, first night with the new camera.


Rockport was so much fun. We were so blessed to be offered a place to stay at. Brett and I laughed, relaxed, and spent some great quality time together. It was so nice to get away and be refreshed. Enjoy some of these pics.

The 5am Club

First read this blog excerpt from one of my new favorite blogs called "Girl Talk.

"October 31, 2008

"Doing Your Husband Good

Here's the final batch of ideas...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My husband has been quoted as saying, “The 5AM Club"  is the greatest thing for our marriage!”  After reading Shopping for Time, I have adopted this habit and it HAS been so good for our marriage.  I currently work outside of the home, so the only time I seem to be able to care for our home is briefly after work…if we don’t have a home community or date night.  When I get up, I’m able to read, pray, plan and care for our home before I even walk out the door to go to the office.  When I’m done at 5pm, I’m ready to come home and give my husband my all…not my left-overs. 

Only by God’s grace (and my sister-in-laws calls each morning) am I able to get out of our warm bed and get my day started off right.  Sitting at Jesus’ feet first thing sets the tone for my day, leaving me still joyful and energized after a long day at work.  I get to focus on my man instead of the dishes and that makes him happy.  The sacrifice from 5:00 to 5:05 before the coffee kicks in becomes well worth it when my husb

and feels like he gets my full attention at night.
Amy"

Ok, so I did it this morning! I woke up at 5am and officially became a member of the 5am Club. It was incredible. Do you know how much time awaits you at 5am. I took a shower, made some coffee, cleaned the dishes and the kitchen, fed the dogs, let them out, started a load of laundry, spent QUALITY time with my Jesus reading His Word and listening  for His voice, prayed over my husband, prayed over my house, ironed Brett's clothes, finished getting dressed, MADE MY BED, prayed with Brett, walked out the door and made it to work completely on time for chapel!!! 

People, I am in no way super woman, I just gave my morning to the Lord so I could give my Brett more of me when I get home. When Amy, the author of the blog article,talked about left overs my heart sank. Because I knew that is what I was coming home to offer Brett. I am always rushing rushing rushing to get to work and get home and make dinner. God deserves my first fruit and every area of my life and so does Brett. 

I am not even tired today. The day seems a little brighter and I love knowing how closely the Spirit is walking with me and how covered my family is in prayer... man I even prayed over my dogs.

So who is going to join me in the 5am club? I know some of you are already doing this and to you I ask for your continued prayers of encouragement. Those of you who aren't, married or not, think about it. Will you do this with me?

My Crew

Until I upload my awesome vacay pictures from rockport, I thought I would blog about "The crew" at work. I have now worked at John Hagee Ministries for over a year now and along the way I have made some very special friends. Since work is a place I spend a lot of my time some of our corky characteristics have collided and thus we now have "the crew." We meet in my office from time to time to talk about exaggerated scenarios that may never happen, but so fun to come up with. It helps the time go by when you are sitting in front of a large computer screen with no natural light coming in. 

I love my job and I love every person I work with. Together we are making such a "Difference" (JHM you know what I am talking about...) in the Kingdom. So here is to all of my co-workers and my special crew! 

I promise you we did not plan this. We came in that day perfectly coordinated... spending too much time together???

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BRETT OWEN!

Yes, today two years ago Brett and I stood before God and our family and friends to make our everlasting covenant. It has been an incredible journey and I know what God has planned for our marriage will blow us away. Brett you are my best friend and one hunky husband, I love you. 

So April Fooled... Big Time!

So every year without fail my wonderful Dad plays an April Fools joke on his children. To elaborate, every day before school I would ask my Daddy how the weather was going to be. That day, April Fool's Day, he told me it was going to be so sunny without a cloud in the sky. He actually encouraged me to wear some shorts, it would help me enjoy the gorgeous day. So I got dressed and headed outside to get in the car with my dad. When I stepped outside... IT WAS FREEZING, CLOUDY, and WET. I looked at my dad so confused and he just pointed, laughed, and exclaimed APRIL FOOL'S. 

Years later on the same day we call came down to breakfast and noticed there was a piece of paper towel on the ground. We asked what was underneath it and my dad told us to be very careful our dog, bandit, had had an accident and it was very large and underneath the paper towel. The whole morning my sister, brother, and I tiptoed around that piece of paper. I think it stayed there until we got back from school and someone was finally brave enough to look underneath. We revealed a big spot of NOTHING. Dad was there to point, laugh, and exclaim April Fool's!!

So needless to say this year at 23 years old I braced myself for that awaited day. I just knew my dad would have something clever this year, but I didn't know what. He had done everything from telling me I had no money in my bank account to "hey you have something on your shirt," so I just didn't know what he had left. All day I shared with my co-workers my dad's infinite array of April Fool's pranks and they all awaited what he would do that day. Well the day came and it went. Nothing... NOTHING. Nothing happened. I couldn't believe it. I went home and Brett asked me what my dad had pulled this year and I said NOTHING. I thought maybe just maybe he was holding out for April 2nd. It came and went, the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th went without one word from him. 

Today I called my dad to ask if him and my mom would like to go out to lunch with me. I talked to my mom about Easter weekend plans and then I asked her to pass the phone back to dad. I was going to let him know that his April Fool's jokes were a thing of the past because this year he simply forgot. I told him I waited all day to hear from him and couldn't believe he 

didn't do or say one little thing. 

He said, "I know... APRIL FOOL'S!!!!!!!!!!!!" My dad is one of the most clever man I have ever met. He waited 9 days for me to take the bait and I took it, hook, line and sinker. I couldn't believe what had just happened. He told me he kept that one just for me, and as aggravated as I was to be fooled once again, I have never felt more loved by my one and only daddy. :)

P.S. My sister was taking her temperature at their house on that faithful day, my dad told her it was a rectal thermometer. Classic dad!