2 Whole Weeks!!!

After blocking out the weeks leading up to and during Levi's law school finals (not exaggerating), our family actually had 2 FULL WEEKS with all of us home. It was WONDERFUL. We really relaxed and enjoyed our time together. Noah was sick some of the time, but it sounds like the majority of those with kids experienced this. And for some reason, he decided to sleep in until 9 or 9:30 each morning!! Here are some pictures:

we went to the Galaria for pics with Santa with the May Family
Here Brooks and Noah are checking out the ornaments

Brooks and Briggs did great

Noah did not...

We had a Christmas party with our home group (well, half of us)

Levi and I went down to Houston for one of his pledge brother's weddings. I also got

to have lunch with some of my girlfriends!

Kile, Christina, Jill and me

Grant, me, Levi and Matt

Celebrating Christmas at my mom and dad's house

The mechanics for Noah's hot wheel

Kelly, Lane and me

Noah opening some gifts

Here we go!

smooches

making important phone calls while driving

Family pic

Christmas Eve at our house before church, and
before he chunked the bible on the ground...

Christmas Eve

Levi's family came over and went to church with us Christmas Eve. The weather was crazy! We had dinner and opened gifts before his mom and sister had to head back home for work in the morning. We were supposed to head to Kansas City in the morning to see his Grandma and Grandpa but did not go because of the weather.

Noah and Hudson

Trains!

my bike from Granna!

Christmas Morning

Eating the left over cookies from Santa

We could have put straws in his stocking and he would have
been just as happy! I think he just liked the process of pulling

stuff out of it!!

He WILL play the piano :)

We bundled him all up to go play in his first snow. He didn't

last very long out there because he was not a huge fan of there

being a "mess" on all of his things.

Update

Here is an update on Matt Chandler.

Dear church,
In the first chapter of Philippians, the Apostle Paul writes that whatever imprisonments, beatings and trials he may have suffered, they all “serve to advance the gospel” of Jesus Christ. We implore you to keep the gospel of Christ as the main focus as we walk with Matt and Lauren through this trial.
On Tuesday, Dr. Barnett informed Matt and Lauren that the findings of the pathology report revealed a malignant brain tumor that was not encapsulated. The surgery to remove the tumor, the doctor said, was an extremely positive first step; however, because of the nature of the tumor, he was not able to remove all of it.
Matt, who is being released from the hospital today, is meeting with a neuro-oncologist this week to outline the next steps of the recovery process. There is a range of treatment possibilities but the exact course of action has not yet been determined. He will continue outpatient rehab.
The Lord is calling Matt and Lauren and The Village Church body to endure this trial. It will be a challenging road for Matt, his family and our church body. The gospel is our hope and the Lord is our strength. Matt and Lauren continue to find solace and hope in Christ. They weep facing this trial, but not as those without hope and perspective. The gospel clarifies their suffering and promises more of Christ through it all.

Playdate

On Saturday we got together with some friends from high school and all the kiddos at Jennifer Vicari's house. Thanks Jennifer for letting us play there! It was a fun time to catch up and let the kids play. Here are some pics

Noah and Anderson loved watching the dog

Such big girls!

Hey dude, back off!

Sweet Briggs just taking it all in

Clayton and Anderson

Briggs, Brooks, Noah and Anderson

Actually trying to get a group pic. You will see from

the next series of pics, it didn't work out :)

we would get some seated and then the others would be up

As you can see, Noah was not happy towards the end

Oh well, we tried!!

Update on Matt

Matt's surgery lasted about 7 hours last Friday. He recognized his surgeons afterwards and responded well. He was moved out of ICU on Sunday and is continuing to stay in inpatient beginning speech, PT and OT therapies. His recovery/hospital stay is longer than anticipated, but he and his family are in good spirits. We have not been updated about test results from the tumor.

Matt posted a video on his blog the night before his surgery. It's very encouraging if you're interested in reading it (it's about 5 minutes).
http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/ scroll down to the second post

Lots of Prayers

When we moved to Lantana, Levi and I were blessed to find a church that has become a place where we can be real, learn, grow, question and experience so many new and wonderful things. Matt Chandler is our pastor, but an even better name for him would be teacher. He is brilliant, passionate, raw and loving.

On Thanksgiving morning he suffered a major seizure. A mass tumor was found on his frontal lobe and he is schedule for surgery today at 10:45. Although he has brought a church from 300 something to over 6000 on 3 campuses, he gives ALL glory to God. He has done this through teaching the gospel and being real and honest, making the church an okay place to not be perfect, and teaching the process of sanctification. No, he is not the one to be worshiped, but he is undeniably an amazing vessel that God has used and I PRAY that he is able to continue the wonderful works he is capable of here.

Please pray for him and his family (his wife Lauren and children Audrey, Reid and Norah), the surgens, the church, and his recovery. Here is a post last night from his blog and also one from his wife's blog.



http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/blog/hvpastor/

http://themchandlers.blogspot.com/2009/11/we-had-this-picture-taken-well-before.html

Just some fun pics

Noah loved the boots he wore for Halloween, but those quickly went away after that night, because they were little girl's tall boots :). So, I got him some cowboy boots and he loves them! He just runs around in the house in them and laughs!!

Hanging out at Granna's house

sweetness

Thanksgiving 2009

It was GREAT to have a whole week off from work and to spend some time with Noah. Levi has been BUSY BUSY BUSY studying with finals right around the corner, so Noah and I headed down to Lake Whitney to spend some time with my parents and let Levi have some peace and quiet. Levi came down Wed. night to spend Thanksgiving with us, along with his sister, Dennis, Hudson and Riley. It was a bit of a different scene with 2 toddlers and a newborn trying to sit down and eat, but it was sweet chaos :) Noah and Hudson are so fun together right now. They are going to be TROUBLE!! On Friday morning Levi hit the books again and my parents, Noah and I went to Homestead Heritage for their annual carnival. Noah had a great time seeing all the animals and eating homeade ice cream!

Family pic

Eating lunch on the patio

Cousins

Dennis and Hudson

Noah Loves to swing!

Stealing a kiss

Niki and Riley

Mom, me and Dad

Me and Niki

My parents and Noah

checking out the animals

I love this picture

What's next...