All You "Knead" IS Love

 So, after my mom went into surgery, we had 10 hours to kill.  Kris found a new restaurant on the Board Walk in Frisco called the Biscuit Bar.  It did not disappoint.  Such a cute atmosphere, complete with Gingham cups and floors.  I ate the French toast made out of a biscuit nonetheless!  The highlight was the sweet potato tater tots with toasted marshmallow cream on top. Um...Y'all...This certainly sweetened our time and probably secured our future heart surgery, oh well...


There seems to be a C.S. Lewis quote for every part of life, I bet he even has one for biscuits.  Since, all you need is love, I looked up his quotes on love:

• "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8

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• "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." John 4:9-12

"To love at all is to be vulnerable." The Four Loves
"Courage, dear heart." The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I frequently turn to my favorite author for solace, advice, and guidance.  When I wish that I could find a door to Naria.  They might not come with a faun or a light post in the woods, but sometimes words work magic of their own.

 I have been reading The Shack by Paul Young while I am sitting in the hospital room with my mom, I know I'm late on the up take. Here are some quotes that have stuck out to me about love from this book: 

"You were created to be loved! If pain is left unresolved, it will keep you in this spot and you will forget what you were created for!"

 "Even if you can't see it, you ARE in the center of our love and purpose. And out of all the galaxy, how beautiful it is, it's nothing compared to how we see you.

I have seen my mom need so much help during this time of recovery.  It has only reminded to receive God's help.  I don't need to let pain overcome my life.  Let's remember that we are created for a purpose to love, and be loved.  God is LOVE.  Doesn't the thought of this just butter your biscuit!

Turn on Your Heart Light!

A Diagram of My mom's heart (black = blockages, red=procedure)

  Molly found my blog from 7 years ago.  She asked me to start doing it again.  It helped her to remember trips and thoughts that she had forgotten.  So, while my mom is in the hospital having her heart bypass surgery I decided why not...TURN ON MY HEART LIGHT and start again.

  It is so difficult to watch my mom recover from heart surgery but I am hopeful that this procedure will make us all a little stronger and that she can live life again.  It has been sweet to see her, despite her pain, remember nurse's names, their children's names and rather or not they are single.  She really likes the ones that will sneak her a coke when no one is looking.  I see her heart light shining bright in her darkest hour.  God is good.

  I heard a quote by Jeff Hood, "The strongest hearts have the most scars."  That is only true if you do as James 1: 2 says to "Count it all Joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance."  God never promised that we would not face trials.  He promised that He would be with us and that we will become stronger.  Just like Kelly Clarkson said with a head bop: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"  So chin up Buttercup!  Or your crown will fall off. Let's Shine Bright!

Wooden hearts in the lobby of Baylor heart Hospital

Reunion Tour Chandeliers in the lobby

I Love A Parade!

We couldn't go to New Orleans without learning about the parades!  We took a tour of the main warehouse of Blaine Kern.  He has multiple warehouses that store the floats, tractors, and art studios that build props for Hollywood, Vegas, and the Mardi Gras Parades.  There are some real family friendly parades that take place on St. Charles street.  All of the families have a tall ladder that they put wheels and a box of seats for their little one to see the parade from and catch the prizes.  They decorate them and pass the ladders down for a tradition.  There are 5 parades a day for 2 weeks.  Blaine Kern's studio is responsible for 65 of these parades.  There are clubs and groups that are responsible for organizing each parade and its theme.  It looks like a lot of fun!  We got to see the Italian parade going on while we were there.  It was a "small" parade for New Orleans, but we were excited to see some in action.

The Italian Parade, See Rook trying to catch the beads!

On of the dance crews during the Italian Parade

This is the ticket that you wear on the tour

I was trying to show the huge 3 football field size warehouses that store the floats, tractors, and studios.

I'm a Queen

One of the floats from the 1800's

My Prince Charming

Molly eating King Cake With A King

The Chic Fil A Cows are made here

Molly tried to smell the huge paper flowers

joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea...

These are some pics of the girl trip that Molly and I had to the Audobon aquarium in New Orleans while the boys did their thing with the youth group.

Albino Alligator!

an aviary

Sharks!

Otter!

Sharks!

Penguins!

Jelly Fish!

Frogs!

go shorty, it's my birthday...

So, Friday was my birthday.  I'm 39 years young I tell you. Woo Hoo!  Kris did a great job of making the day special.  He got charms put on my charm bracelet, pink TOMS, and new jeans!  We got to eat at Papacitas, had an ice cream cake and he made my favorite breakfast!  We went to eat lunch at my mom's house the next day...chicken salad, blueberry soup, and mini shortcakes! I received a lot of sweet notes and phone calls, texts and facebook wishes.  Those always help me to swallow that I'm a little bit older than Kris.  (Emphasises on little bit)  Sorry, I forgot to get more pictures!

On Blue Bayou-oooo

We got to take a swamp tour while in New Orleans...It is really amazing to see how creative God is.  Me made some new slimy friends, not just the amphibians...

A shrimp boat that was relocated to the swamp during hurricane Katrina and is still there

Lily pads!

A draw bridge

Captain Mike giving marshmallows to the alligators

Jake the 1 year old alligator

See dem beady eyes?

A Blue Heron

  

A 3 hour tour (echo) 3 hour tour

See Da Snake?

Wild Iris