Goddaughter

Baby Alexis - our beautiful goddaughter. We got to babysit on Sunday, what a treat!


I just love being her "fairy godmother"!

Another End in Sight

We finally see the finish line on our house. They've given us a walk-through date of Feb 18, with a "guestimated" move-in date of the 28th. I am very thankful we get an extra day before the end of the month as our lease is up the last day.

Bobby - true to his loyal form - has decided to come help us move! He'll be staying with us the entire week. I'm so thankful for friends like him (for more reasons than just his muscles).

So nearing the ending on construction is kind of bittersweet in that I'm very excited to move in, get out of this neighborhood, spread out, have a pool put in, etc. But I'm dreading the work that lays ahead for us as well. More than just the moving, since we decided to do a lot of the finish work ourselves we have a mountain of tasks awaiting. Tile, paint, fixtures, landscaping, blinds etc ... all in good time.

We have been very happy with the whole construction process though. Most people gave us dire prophecies of how terrible our experience was bound to be, that any and all contractors are untrustworthy, that we would likely near divorce for all the decisions and compromises that had to be made. But none of these predictions came true. In fact, it's been pretty painless. The only issue we are dealing with now is my inexplicable regret over half the decisions we made. I wish we had done this, or that, or not done this or that, etc. Poor Michael has to endure all of my inner monologues that somehow come spewing out of my mouth into aggravating outer monologues. A very big flaw of mine.

But anyway, we'll keep you up to date on the final stretch of this journey. And I'll try not to complain so much about this beautiful house we are being blessed with.

An End to the Strike

So my body has been on writer's strike pretty much since we got back from Maui. I apologize for the lack of posts, but seriously, I was being threatened on my way to cross the picket line, and was barely able to get those last few posts and pictures up there - what with all the boos and hissing.

Ok, I guess I'm just saying I haven't felt up to posting, and I hope you will forgive me.

Especially since it was my big birthday! I had planned to just let it pass by unnoticed, partly because I'm in denial about hitting 3 decades, but also 'cause I'm just not that into my birthday. Nevertheless, friends and family appeared from all over, and I had a wonderful week and felt very blessed.

I'll explain how the week went. I got something in the mail just about every day. A card from the grandparents (thanks for the $$!). My candy bouquet from the girls. A card signed by many friends back home. A lollipop bouquet from Jess & Paul. A real bouquet from Michael & Bear. Then it was actually my birthday. We worked all day then Michael took me out for Sushi (the best in Austin!). By this point I had heard rumors of a video, but didn't know what to expect.


Then on Friday, I learned that it was U2 who had filmed me a wonderful video, in 3-D no less! What a kind gesture from my favorite band. We joined a few hundred others at the IMAX to enjoy it (I highly recommend you go see this show!).

On Saturday, we went out with my family here to celebrate at dinner. Mom and Dad gave me some $ (thank you!) and a few cool items you can check out when you come to visit. Anna got me a one-hour massage (I'm always talking about wanting massages, I just love it!).

So after dinner, we came back to our humble abode for some birthday cake. That's when I finally got to watch The Video. Nothing could have prepared me for seeing all those sweet faces on my tv screen. I just can't even tell you how much I appreciated all the work that went into that. Especially from Jess for coordinating everyone, and Michael who edited it all together in the midst of a very busy week full of deadlines!

Thank you again!

The last event of the evening was Michael lugging in his gift for me. It was .... (drum roll) .... a MASSAGE TABLE. Like the kind you lay on when you get a massage. With the toilet-bowl-shaped headrest and everything. Only Michael would think of an idea like this! I'm always begging him to rub my back because I constantly have knots and muscle spasms from my unique brand of retardedness, and he's always willing to help a girl out, but it's uncomfortable for him to kneel by the bed or couch, and he doesn't really know what he's doing.

So he decided if we had a real place to do it, he would learn some techniques, and this would be his gift. Can you believe that? I just LOVE MY MAN.

So last week we ordered a video on Netflix called "Massage Your Mate". Don't worry, nothing even remotely questionable about this video except for the high-tops, leg warmers, jazz music, and 80s hair. But he's learned a lot already, and I've already had a half dozen massages.

My birthday week didn't end after that. I still got another gift (massage-related!) from Jess & Paul in the mail, and a unique set of gifts that only crazy cousin Sarah could give (thanks for everything!).

Ok, so this post should catch you up on all the news about my birthday week. Now we once again return you to your regularly scheduled blogs.

Wow, what can I say?

Seriously, what can I say? There are many people out there who deserve such a wonderful keepsake as this (see the video Michael posted below), but I wouldn't consider myself to be one of them in a million years! What a huge surprise and honor. I managed to see over 40 of the people I love for my birthday, without having to travel from my living room. THANK YOU to everyone who took part! You are all so special to me and I will treasure this for a lifetime. I love you all.

... in order of appearance (in case you're curious, and and in case you watched all 20 minutes :)

• Grandma & Grandpa Rau - Michael's (and my) beloved Grandparents
• Jim Black - Our good friend for many years
• Paul Bernstein - My brother-in-law
• Patty Spears - My good friend from high school
• Scott Mehren - Our friend from One Life (and our tax guy :)
• Shawna Smith - Michael's (very pregnant) sister
• Paul - Again, sheesh, can't get away from this guy
• Maddy & Gabby Mehren (Scott & Jill's beautiful girls); Jordan Bowman (adorable son of Eric & Lisa Bowman) in the background
• Mom & Dad Matthew (My adopted parents)
• Stephanie and Bryce - Nick Ikeda's son
• Summer Ward - My good friend from high school
• Wally Beck - From One Life
  
• Aunt Stacey & doggie Jodi - Michael's mom's sister
  
• Jenee Watts - My good friend from grade school!!
• Anna Barber - My beautiful sis
• Duncan Elledge - Musically gifted one-of-a-kind friend from One Life
• Jamie Owens - Michael's cousin (and Logan's mommy)
• Jess Bernstein - My other beautiful 'sis who had a major role in orchestrating all of this!
• Jerimy (and stuffed friend) - Our great friend from high school that we visit in LA often
  
• One Life Worship Team - Paul, Jess, Duncan, Nick, Scott, Eric, Gabby & Maddy, Jill, and Roy (I think?)
  
• Mom & Dad Barber - How much more adorable could they be? Only loving parents can brag on their kids like this. I love you two so much!
  
• Whitney Bingham - My good friend from high school
• Logan Chase (my nephew); Grandma & Grandpa; and a beautiful singing voice belonging to my mom-in-love
  
• Anna - cheerleader :)
• Paul - again ...
• Becky & Vicky - One Life
• Stephanie & Bryce - One Life
• Chrissy Udoffia & Cade - My good friend from high school and her third-born (soon to be not-the-youngest anymore!)
  
• Mona Bass - From One Life
• Nick Ikeda - From One Life band
  
• Walt Dobrowski - One Life (and Hissites.com)
• Jenee with Kylee and Talyor - Her beautiful girls!
• Troy Dean, Eric Bowman & Michael Bass - Pastor and Friends at One Life
• Make-out session (!) - Close your eyes, parents
  
• Bob Sherwood - Best friend of Michael (and me) since 1991
• Eric Maddox - My great friend for many years
  
• Shawn Sutton - Another great friend for many years
  
• Michael - Love of my life - thank you for putting this all together for me
  
• Bear - My favorite doggie and second love of my life

I've watched it three times already, but I hope I didn't miss anyone!

Thanks again, my friends.

Happy 30th Birthday Sharon!!!!

I see a theme ...

My sweet tooth precedes me ...


This time a FedEx man brightens my day.

Thank you Jess! :)

A Bouquet of Joy

Ah, such a cold and dreary day it was on Friday. The doorbell rang and there were two large packages from UPS. I just left them there and told Michael to go get them, since all we ever get from UPS is office supplies and hardware.

But he said one was for me, and I opened it up to find this large and lovely yellow bouquet ... of flowers? No. CANDY! Much better! All my favorites. I love it so much I can't bear to break into it yet. I have it setting out so I can look at it and smile. I'll at least save it 'til after my birthday. Then I'm sure it will be love at first bite!

Thanks to my girls in California (Jenee, Summer, Stacey, Chrissy, Patty and Whitney & Jess) for sending me such a wonderful gift! It brightened my day and my week.

Workin' 9 to 5

Finally earning his keep around here.


No napping!

"Under the Sea!"

A Happy Texas New Year!

Fireworks are a BIG deal here in Texas. People go all out - in ways that are hugely illegal in CA. Fireworks are sold in huge warehouses or stands all along the highways. People do fireworks for birthdays, Christmas, 4th of July, and pretty much any other reason they can think of. It's hilarious.

This was our neighborhood last night at midnight. These are people's houses, not a fair or city event. People light these in their front yards. Which is probably why you hear the fire trucks almost immediately.

A very entertaining show.

Happy New Year from us to you!