Birthday Shout Out!

Eli at his First Holy Communion last month.

Our nephew, Elias, turns 9 today! Happy Birthday buddy! We miss seeing your smiling face and Madeline and James miss playing with you. We hope you have a fantastic birthday weekend. We sent your gift in the mail earlier this week, hopefully you've received it. Lots of love always.


So miss Penny Lane is still recovering from her hernia repair surgery. On Thursday evening we noticed a tinge of blood near her stitches, so on Friday we took her by the vet...again...to get checked and have an e-collar put on. This playful pup is just making it hard on herself, if only she would stay calm, rest and heal she could go back to chasing the kids around, running around playing fetch, and wrestling with daddy.

We borrowed Bill and Jimmena's dog kennel to keep Penny confined. She's not too thrilled to staying in it but it's our only way of keeping her calm. Hopefully she'll be all healed up by the time company arrives later this week!

So my oldest brother, David, his wife Armilyn and their son Alexander are coming to visit this week! :) And after they arrive late Wednesday night, my cousin Eric's family from Hawaii will be here on Friday, along with my cousin Whitney's family from Houston. We're having like a mini cousin reunion here in Austin. Stephen and I are taking 5 days off from work while everyone is here. We have a few fun things planned including taking a trip on the Austin Steam Train and touring the scenic route of the Texas Hill Country on this 1949 coach car. We'll be stopping at historic 1912 train station in Bertram. It should be a lot of fun with all the kiddos!

While everyone is visiting we're also going to check out the Hamilton Pool Preserve. The Hamilton Pool Preserve is a historic swimming hole and the Hamilton Creek spills out over limestone outcroppings to create a 50 foot waterfall as it plunges into the head of a steep box canyon. We're going to picnic and swim there with the kids. We really enjoy discovering all of the spring fed pools around the Austin area, hopefully this one will become a new fav!

Photo from Eli's 1st Holy Communion

The religious ed coordinator at Sacred Heart Catholic Church was thoughtful to send us a link of the professional photographer, Plum Perfect Pictures, of our Godson's First Holy Communion from last week.


Click here to see a photo of Elias receiving the Eucharist at his First Holy Communion.

*Figured out how to copy the photo from the photographers website, so here it is.




In search of a special gift for our Godson, we found these neat "Prayer Box" necklace pendants. They each have latches on them that open up, so you could put a tiny scroll inside. On Elias' scroll we wrote:


"May God bless you today and watch over your life Dear Godson...May He warm your world always with His unchanging love.
Thinking of you on your First Communion Day"


Love, Uncle Steve & Aunty Melissa




We received a call and voice message from Eli letting us know how much he liked his necklace. We hope he wears it close to his heart and knows that he will always be prayed for, God bless you Elias.

A Prayer for Our Godson

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (New American Standard Bible)
The Lord's Supper

23For (A)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that (B)the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
25In the same way He took (C)the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the (D)new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death (E)until He comes.

Today our nephew/Godson, Elias will be receiving the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Medford, Oregon. These sacraments are seen as special ways in which the saving grace and the presence of God come to us. For Catholics Sacraments have a Scriptural command to do it and a Scriptural promise from God that comes with doing it in faith. So this is a very special day for Eli! We ask that you say a prayer for him.

"May God bless you today and watch over your life Dear Godson...May He warm your world always with His unchanging love.

Thinking of you on your First Communion Day"
Love, Uncle Steve & Aunty Melissa

We will be sure to update the blog post with photos of the lil man on his special day once we receive them.

Elias it's your birthday!

We just wanted to wish our nephew Elias Hugh, a very Happy 8th Birthday today!!! We miss you buddy and wish we could be near to help you celebrate. Have an awesome day with your family and friends! And we hope to see you very soon! We love you Godson and Happy Birthday!

Photos of Eli through the years...

Elias and Stephen


Me and Eli


Elias, Noah, Ella, Nathaniel and Madeline!


Glitter Graphics @ SweetComments.net