Why Crawl... When You Can FLY????

I am currently reading "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan and God has laid on my heart to share a short portion of that book with you that spoke so deeply to my heart.

A little bit of background about the book is that Francis Chan is referring to the Holy Spirit as the "Forgotten God". He refers to the Spirit this way because we as Christians tend to forget that even though people back in the Bible times got to physically walk with Jesus, as Christians today we GET to have the HOLY SPIRIT IN us, and our lives should reflect that.....

Years ago when a random thought came into my head, I decided to share it with my wife. "Have you ever wondered what caterpillars think about?"
Not surprisingly she said "NO"
I then proceeded to tell her about the confusion I imagined a caterpillar must experience. For all its caterpillar life, it crawls around a small patch of dirt and up and down a few plants. Then one day it takes a nap. A long nap. And then, what in the world must go through its head when it wakes up to discover it can fly? What happened to its dirty, plump little worm body? What does it think when it sees its tiny new body and gorgeous wings?
As believers we ought to experience this same kind of astonishment when the Holy Spirit enters our bodies. We should be stunned in DISBELIEF over becoming a "new creation"with the Spirit living in us.
I want to live like I know that is true.
I DON'T WANT TO KEEP CRAWLING WHEN I HAVE THE ABILITY TO FLY.
Francis Chan "Forgotten God"

I hope this blesses and challenges your heart as much as it did mine:)

Easton's Monster Jam

Soooooooooooooo Excited that I have been invited to the Monster Truck Jam of 2010...



I can't believe it, my sweet baby nephew Easton Zane is turning 3!!!! What happened, just yesterday I was camped out at Presbyterian Dallas waiting on his little butt to get here.
He is really into Monster Trucks right now, so clearly that is the theme of his party. I think his MOMMY did an AWESOME job on the invitations. Sooooo Cute and so many cool details....
It's a ticket to the Monster Jam at "Whicker Speedway" the bar code is for RSVPing, and the section number and seat assignment is the DATE of the party so clever. I am only concerned about one thing though it says admit ONE, and Uncle Kyle and I only got One invitation. The Birthday Boy even told me I probably shouldn't come cause I'm a "Gull" (GIRL)! He said however Uncle Kyle would have a blast because there will be a bounce house and Grave Digger "Pinnatta" (Pinata). Cause we all know 6ft7in Uncle Kyle can't pass up a good bounce house:) When I threatened that he wouldn't get a present if Emmy didn't get to come, without missing a beat he says "Uncle Kyle can bring it, and I will call you on the phone and tell you thank you." I could just eat that little monster:) Well I gotta go now and try to figure out how to sneak into the "Boys Only" (according to Easton Party). Just another down side of being a Gull (Girl):)

Always Thinkin' About You

I got to thinking the other day about how there are certain "things" in life that when I see or hear them, they take me back to a memory and a certain special person in my life. I think it is funny how a song, product, etc, that may be so ordinary to most people are so special to someone else. This is what I'm talking about...

1. Vicks

My sweet Granny swore by this stuff. She ALWAYS carried a Kleenex around with some vicks on it. According to her Vicks could cure anything, and I mean ANYTHING. As I write this I can still smell her and that ever present Vick's Kleenex in her precious hand.

2. Original Chap stick

My PAPA Morphis always had a tube of this on hand. You were never going to have chapped lips with him around:) I found some in my husband's drawer the other day and had a sweet memory of watching my PAPA pull a tube out of his plaid shirt pocket, and tell me "here baby, put some of this on!" He always called me baby...

3. Caress Soap

Every bath I ever took at my MeMe's house I used this soap. I thought she made the stuff, because I never smelled it in ANY other bathroom except for hers, EVER! I kid you not, I went to the store a couple of months ago, because I found out you actually can buy it, and when the lady at the store asked me what she could help me find, I just had to tell her MEME SOAP:)

4. I Just Called to Say I Love You...

Growing up we had the radio on a lot when we were working around the house. Well WHENEVER "I just called to say I Love you" came on, and luckily it came on a lot, my daddy would stop whatever he was doing, come find me, and dance me around the house while he sang every note. Even today if by chance we are together when we hear that song, the same dance erupts, no matter WHEN and no matter WHERE:)

5. Sponge Rollers

Although most girls who grew up in the 80's had at least one "run in with these rollers", my experience was more intense than most. EVERY NIGHT my mom would roll my hair with these. I would wake up every morning with the biggest hair in the state, and whoever drew the short straw and had to sit behind me in class never saw ANYTHING over those curls. But it was the consistency of every night knowing that rolling my hair was mommy and me conversation time that I treasured the most. Sleeping in those however may be one of my worst childhood memories:( Just Kidding but I do think migraines originated from those things.

6. Arkansas Razorbacks

My husband eats, lives, and breathes anything that this school does, but I love him for it. If I must confess I have been known to call the Hogs a time or two myself... Woooooooooooo PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGG Sooooooooooooooiiiiiiiieeee

7.Big Green Tractor

This is my three year old nephew, Easton Zane's, favorite song. I CANNOT hear this song on the radio and not smile thinking of how precious he is to me, and how cute he sounds singing this song. Every time we are together we listen to it. Don't you worry even the chipmunks sing it if you are looking for a different version:) His EMMY has to be armed with both at all times. A perfect day is having Easton in the backseat of my car, the sun roof rolled back, Big Green Tractor on the radio, and us singing at the top of our lungs.... "I'll take you for a ride on my big green tractor, we can go slow or we can go faster:)"
Some "things" make the moments, but it's those moments that make life worth while! And my cup of "things" runeth over:)

Allergic to Shoes

I have recently discovered that my house has a serious defect. My husband's closet is alleric to shoes....

This has to be the case because I know he wouldn't get SIX pairs of shoes sooooooooo close to the closet and not put them in it, I KNOW he wouldn't. So the only logical explanation is he put the shoes in there and upon receipt the closet sneezed them back out. Luckily shoes must be its only problem though because clothes make it in, and stay in.
I must figure out a "home remedy" fast because when you get that many SIZE 17's in one place someone is bound to break an ankle.
I will get to my dishwasher's fear of dishes at a later time:)
But MAN I sure do LOVE that GUY:)

We are sooooooo NOT friends

All throughout my life I have made friends easily. I like to make people smile and have a genuine love for my friends. However over the past month I have "met" two people who are soooooooo not my friends.
Exhibit 1...

Jillian "makes me think I'm dying" Michaels


Yes Jillian and I "met" on my quest to get back in shape. On her commercial she said that she is "here for me", "wants to see me reach my goals", and "will HELP me through my journey."
Well apparently I don't speak "Jillian code" because when I workout to her DVD she yells at me,tries to make my body move in ungodly ways,and makes me think her face is going to be the last thing I see before I die. Jillian you don't even give me water breaks, I need hydration! If I were IN SHAPE I wouldn't need you yelling at me.
So back up JIll and maybe we can work something out.


Exhibit 2.....
Tony "Bring it" Horton



Yes Tony and I met in much the same way as Jillian. He seemed so nice and motivating on his commercials, promising me results in 90 days if I would just work hard and "Bring It" everyday. Well Tony I am trying to bring it everyday, but the problem is each morning after we have um "brought it" I can't feel a part of my body, and by the end of the week I feel like a body cast is what I need instead of achieving a Beach Body. Tony I like that you give me water breaks but you still yell at me, and that is just not my style. I sweat so much when we are together, when I stop my Beagle frantically starts licking me because she thinks I am leaking. Again if I were in good enough shape to "Bring It" I wouldn't need you!
Please have mercy on a girl.

Maybe by some chance Jillian and Tony will read this Blog and rethink their ways, or maybe just maybe if I stick with them yelling at me I can get back into shape? Stay tuned...

Blessed to be "Out of Control"

It has been a loooooooooooooong time since I blogged, this I know. I would love to say it is because I have been layed out on a beach somewhere relaxing and soaking up the sun but that would be a BIG, I MEAN BIG LIE!!!! God has tested and blessed me and Kyle in some incredible ways over this last year and a half. I will get into things more in depth in future posts, but for now I will focus on the BIGGEST lesson God has taught and reminded me of as Kyle and I have had triumps, but most of all our TRIALS these past several months. Now before rumors get started Kyle and I are MADLY in love with each other and our relationship is better than ever:)

This was me as I struggled to figure out exactly what God was doing in our lives...


I was confused and sometimes selfishly "hurt" by the way things were going in our lives and thought I "deserved" to know WHY God was letting these things happen to us. As I cried out to God, I mean literally crying here, I continually wanted to know what we had done to "DESERVE" everything that was going on in our world, God spoke to me in a way that BROKE MY HEART IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

God began answering my cries one by one...
He reminded me how truly blessed we are that He doesn't let us know "WHY" things are happening to us because our FAITH in HIM is ALL WE NEED.
He also reminded me that what was happening, we may not have deserved, but because we went through a Valley Kyle and I have been made stronger through these storms. Most of all GOD WILL GET THE GLORY.

But most of all he reminded me that He loves us enough, to make us "OUT OF CONTROL" in all situations. He is in Total control of our lives, decisions, struggles, etc. and we want HIS PERFECT guidance and Will to be done. Whether he places us on Mountain tops or in the depths of a valley I know MY SAVIOR will be with us everystep of the way.



Now my prayers have turned from tear filled questions, to a peaceful heart THANKING GOD for HIS unfailing PERFECT control over the good times and the bad in our lives.
And as for our daily lives now, I love that our lives are completely OUT OF CONTROL!!!

The Riggs Have The "Right" Stuff

I have 9 nine first cousins. They are all wonderful and I love them all in their own special way! Most of them live in Tennesse, but I am blessed to have two of them living close to me in Ft. Worth. I have a special bond with them because I was able to be there on the days they were born and have enjoyed watching them grow up. Seems like yesterday I always referred to them as "My little cousins, Reece and Rachel." Well now Reece towers over me at 16 and Rachel is everybit the beautiful young woman! Where has time gone? I am soooo proud of the people they are becoming and have already proven to be. This shouldn't surprise me so much because my Aunt Mel and Uncle Gary are loving and devoted parents, not to mention a great Aunt and Uncle. Reece and Rachel are two of the most selfless and caring people I have ever met. I just love being around them and am sad that I don't get more opportunities to hang out with them.
Aside from their amazing character, they are both amazing Athletes.
Reece is a Junior and Rachel is a Freshman at Northwest High School in Justin, TX.
Reece plays football and Rachel runs track for the school. She also plays Select Soccer for the Solar Dogs! Reece plays both wide receiver and defensive end! You couldn't ask for a better player!
Rachel pretty much dominates in all her sports. She is a phenominal soccer player and has won both local and state honors in cross country.
Basically I look up to both of them tremendously:)
Here they are in Action...

The Rest of The Runners should be coming in about 10 minutes, atleast that's what they said when I passed them...

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"The" Rachel Riggs...

You are going down buddy...

Excuse me, I'm headed for the quarter back...

Yes ladies He's SINGLE, only incredible girls need apply:)


So next time you pick up a paper and you see a picture or an article about one of the Riggs' kids either helping their community or achieving a great sports feat, you can say you heard it here first. They're amazing and I love 'em