Time Flies

"Time flies when you are having fun"! That certainly seems to be true in my life anyway. Today I realized that Marty and I have been Texans almost as long as we were Iowans. We moved to Houston the summer of 1994 so that I could take my first teaching job in Alief ISD.



Marty and I home from Texas June 1995




Home from Texas Dec. 1995


My graduate...Marty on graduation day from University of Houston summer 1996


We lived in a dinky apartment had almost no money, and missed our families deeply. At the time, the plan was to stay in Texas temporarily, just long enough to get some experience so we could get good jobs back home. Well, plans change.

A few years later, Jack came into our lives, and we settled down in McKinney, Texas. Drawn to the quiet pace and the serene atmosphere of this far outer suburb on the north side of Dallas, we decided to build our first home.



Marty, Jack, and I standing in front of our first home in McKinney February 2000



Our first Christmas in McKinney Dec. 2000



While my heart is still an Iowan, I confess I have grown to love Texas and McKinney is now our home.Today, we are a busy family of five. Since living in McKinney we have lived in four houses and have added two daughters to our tribe. And while I still get homesick for Iowa every fall, I confess I love being a Texan. After all, "I may not have been born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could."


The Arbuckle "Five Pack". <3

Jack is a 1st Degree Black Belt Recommended!

At long last, J-Man has almost reached his taekwando goal of becoming a black belt. Only one more testing period stands between him and his final belt! Tonight his punches were fierce and he broke his board on the first try with one ginormous punch! I pity da fool who messes with Jack! We are so proud of our Martial Artist who lives with honor, dignity, integrity and faith. Congratulations Jack!

Kindergarten Field Trip 2010

Sofie's class went to the Nature and Science Museum in Dallas, Texas for their spring field trip. I got to tag along and ride the bus since Sofie is in her wheelchair. Despite the fact that Sofie couldn't participate in digging for dinosaur bones in the sand, the Honeybug had a great time with her friends at Glen Oaks.


LUNCH....Peanut Butter sandwich, Cheetohs and a Hostess cupcake. All is well with the world!


Sofie loved skooting around on the rocks with her friends after lunch. Nothing slows her down for long. I think her life motto just might be "Nuttin to it but to do it!"



Gazing at the pond looking at turtles and guppies...one of the FEW moments Sofie was still and quiet.


Sofie and her BFF Molly behind the wheel. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

Introducing Florence Nightengale

It is my proud honor and privilege to intoduce you to Florence Nightengale. I know what you are thinking...that looks a LOT like Lily Arbuckle. How right you are!



Lily was Florence NIghtengale at the Annual 2nd Grade Living Museum at Glen Oaks Elementary. With a little help from Lily's wonderful Sunday School teacher, we transformed our sweet fashionista into the cutest little Florence Nightengale you ever did see! The proof is in the pictures! (Thanks Miss Kim!!!) Lily practiced her speech faithfully for days ahead of the performance and she delivered it boldly to visitors of the "museum" on Thursday morning for over an hour. She also meticulously made the backdrop for her place in the museum complete with drawings of band-aids and "pain killer". Hahahahaha! Near the end of her performance, Lily was delighted to see a special guest... Marty, who had planned to be stuck in a meeting, broke away for a moment to see his sweet girl. It made her day! Truly, I don't think I have ever seen her smile brighter than when she locked eyes with her Daddy! Florence Nightengale with her BFF Amelia Earhart...also known as Lulu and Bobo! <3 Making History F-U-N!!

Small Moments

My three children are all lovers of nature and they have a soft spot for all creatures great and small. Yesterday morning, I stepped out of my bedroom and noticed the girls were nowhere to be found. After searching their bedroom, the office, and the kitchen, I looked out the window and witnessed this scene...



I asked my precious angels what they were doing and they told me they were giving a dead Mosquito Eater a funeral. They had tried to "save it's life" by offering it some food (leaves and grass), but Lily and Sofie were sad to find their attempts at First Aid were unsuccessful.

I explained that most insects live very short lives, and that they were sweet to show such care to one of God's creatures...a life is a life no matter how small. I tried to comfort the girls with the idea that "Cutie Pie" (the name given to the insect by Lily) was now flying around in a peaceful garden in Heaven.

They proceeded with the funeral somberly and Lily wrote a eulogy that went like this...

"Here lies Cutie Pie Mosquito Eater Arbuckle. It died on April 17th, 2010. R.I.P."

How precious they are in God's sight...and they are a sight for my weary eyes as well. In a world filled with hateful rhetoric, corruption and malice, my daughters' eyes are filled with the compassion and love of Christ.

What more could a mother want for her children? I am so grateful for these small moments with my children whose great love makes the world a better place.

Jack's Birthday

A birthday hug for the best big brother ever!



Jack turns 12! One more year and we have a teenager in the house!!!


OK!!! I have no decent excuse, but I forgot to post Jack's birthday pics. Somewhere between our spring break trip, moving, and Sofie's broken leg, I forgot to put Jack's birthday on our site. Crazy Mommy!

Jack is growing so tall. He now stands at my chin. He still doesn't care that much about combing his hair and he certainly has no interest in looking "cool". Jack is much more interested in hanging out with our new neighbors, exploring the creek, or playing in the two dimensional world of his Nintendo DS.

School and taekwando keep him extremely busy as well. Jack is taking all Gifted classes and will continue with his rigorous schedule next year at Dowell Middle School. He is quite a gifted writer and is expressing an interest in Journalism. Next year, he plans to write for the school newspaper. In addition,J-Man loves playing his French Horn and he is getting quite good (not that I am biased or anything). :) A Red Decided belt, Jack 0nly has one more belt between him and his goal of becoming a black belt. He is on target to test for his black belt early this summer.

In addition, Jack loves hanging out at The Rock, the youth area for our church. He is looking forward to Extreme Camp this summer, and he has made several good friends from his small group on Sunday and at YouthQuake on Wednesday nights.

Jack celebrated his birthday with a few friends from both church and school, who came over to play the Wii and hang out for the evening. His best friend Kyle spent the night. I was amazed how much junk 6 tween boys can eat without getting sick! ha!

We are so proud of Jack for who he is and who he is growing to be. I know God has big plans for our J-Man.

Happy Birthday Jack! We love you to the moon and back!! xoxxoooxooxoxo

Scenes From Easter

"How Marvelous.
How Wonderful.
Is My Savior's love for Me!"




Here are a few memories I am storing in my heart from this Easter weekend...

The kids eating chocolate bunnies for breakfast
Sydney eating the jelly beans dropped by the Easter bunny in the hallway
Resurrection Egg Hunt telling the story of the Cross
Glorious spring morning
Marty holding Sofie in church so she could "stand up" to worship her Savior
Hearts drawn near to Christ finding salvation for the first time at church
Blessed turkey dinner
Comical game of Sequence with the fam
Friendly neighbors opening their backyard for an impromptu Easter egg hunt
Hugs, Kisses, and snuggles good-night
My heart filled with humble gratitude for my wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.
How marvelous indeed!

Happy Easter to our loved ones near and far. May the love of Christ be yours.



Coloring the eggs...


Sydney's mug shot...guilty as charged.


I get by with a little help from my Dad.


Easter Joy!



Off to FBC McKinney for Easter service...better late than never.




A game of Sequence...Lily won three games in a row.


Daddy and his little Bug snuggling together during a movie.


All Is Well
The virgin white of Winter
Now wears a shawl of green
For all the trees are budding
And flowers can be seen.

The snow that chilled us yesterday
Has melted like a dream
For now the stone is rolled away
Beneath the sunlight's gleam.

How sweet the sound of Spring
As songbirds now return,
And here below the rainbow
Earth makes another turn.

For Spring's a noble season,
One of show and tell,
When God reveals His Majesty
And shows us all is well.
Poet, Clay Harrison

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!" (Mark 19:8)