Simplify

April tends to be the month that "new years" start over. Taxes are complete, year in reviews at work take place, the new fiscal calendars occur. . . You get the picture right?!?! Well, today as we were on our way to the park, I asked Craig "what's our family's motto for the year?"  (This sort of conversation tends to be a continuous topic amongst our 4 walls so the nature of the conversation didn't catch him off guard but the relativity of it did!).

Quick recap for those who may not know us. We are a young family that sold just about everything (or at least it felt like it) and moved to the DFW areA almost 2 years ago for the hubs to further his education at Dallas Theological Seminary. With that we have also added another child to the mix, we serve as our apt community's  CARES team, Craig is a college intern, and I am a clinical Dental Hygiene instructor for Concorde Career College. Whew! That's a mouth load oh and did I mention we have a 2 almost 3 yr old and a 5 month :).

So, back to our conversation. One of the many things The Lord shows us is that we have to simplify!  Easier said than done. Especially when all our "jobs" are good Godly things, are required to put food on the table and pay bills, and more than that we have commitments to and we see proof of the gospel  being fulfilled!  We haven't determined a conclusion and may not be anytime soon, but what I do know is that The Lord is faithful and just and that when we seek Him we will find Him and when we ask according to His will He is faithful to answer in His timing. And that He will provide for all our NEEDS and he continues to prove Himself in doing this.

To sum it up, what we did decide is that a life, a family, a corporation, a church, a anything that is doing life without a purpose, without a plan, or without a mission will seek to do all good things but may continue to run in circles never fully being simplified on this journey we call life!

I leave with you with food for thought, "What's your years motto?" I would love to hear what everyone has to say.

I can't even begin to express how the past 5 months have flown by.

EG just turned 5 months old. Sweet girl is cutting her 2 lower teeth, I could give you teeth numbers but I'll save you from the dental geek inside me and save myself in the process.

Craig is in the heat of spring semester which entails Greek 104 with Only 1 more to go! Hebrew will be starting this summer.

E is growing up by the seconds. I can't en begin to wrap my mind around the fact that he will be 3 this summer. He is still ever so in love with trucks, cars,and trains and if you dare to get rid of one he will remind you of it's exact details and where it should be. The memory on that boy.

I have been working like a mad woman, but loving every minute of it. We have had the blessing of an in house nanny for the past four months. Without her I'm not too sure my world would have functioned. And with that being said, we learned this week that she will be leaving us in May to start on a new adventure that will be an experience of a lifetime. She will be joining the Mickey Mouse team for a 6 month to year long internship. What fun!!! We wish Maggie the best and know that Disney has a great thing a coming.

Without boring you with all the sobering in depth details of the last four months let me just end this post with some fun pictures that I have happen to catch in the midst of life! Enjoy.





EG and her cereal for the 2nd time.





Dr. Seuss is beComing a favorite in our home.








Easter at Leigh-Leigh's




Fun mud splashing with Dub. Boys will be boys, especially with Papa T.








While the boys played in mud, the girls showed their tummy time skills.







Here's an after of E!



My Easter bunnies!!




This picture I will cherish for a lifetime. This is my papa Russell, who just a month ago we weren't sure he would live to see another day. And Praise The Lord, here he is Easter 2013 holding my sweet EG. I have a picture of he and I like this when I was about her age. Precious moments that will last a lifetime.





This is Mimi Wilma with 2 of her great granddaughters, EG and Lyla. This is my brothers daughter who is just about 2 months younger than EG. Sweet friends I pray they will become.




E and my uncle Dale at the stockyards in Fort Worth. We have had the pleasure of Pappy coming to play a lot lately and have enjoyed some fun outings in the process. Pappy and E met Dale (pappy's brother) at te stockyards and did the whole shebang.




And last but certainly not least, Zsa Zsa on Easter with her two girls, EG & Lyla




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Location:Hello Spring. . You seem to be quite eventful

My Christmas Blessings

Christmas Eve 2012

 

It's raining, it's pouring. . .

And for a moment both my kids were snoring until EG decided she was done with her beauty sleep. It's hard to believe that 2012 is over and done and now onto 2013. So what do we decide to do on the last day of the year? POTTY TRAIN! So far E man has gone pee pee on the potty 3 successful times this morning and only had 2 accidents. Skittles sure are good.

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1 Month Already

Where has the time gone. My sweet EG is a month old today. In a matter of 4 weeks you have pretty much put yourself on a little schedule, experienced the craziness of a trip to Louisiana for Thanksgiving, bypassed E's round of the croup and become a little sweeter each day. You do enjoy being held ALOT, so we are having to retrain that thought process and today you survived your first day at home with daddy and E all by yourself while mommy had her first day back to work.

All in all I'd say you have had a successful first month! Love you sweet girl

New Beginnings

Do you ever feel as though life is just a constant transition? For our family that's what it has been over the course of the past 3 years. We have gone from a family of 2 adults and 2 pups with 2 amazing full time jobs and owning our own home, in which we built, to a family of same 2 adults, no dogs instead 2 children, selling our home giving up our careers, moving to TX and planting roots.

In the course of the past month we have added our second child, Evelyn Grace, and now I start a new job. I have been practicing as a dental hygienist for the past 7 1/2 years and have loved it. Today I trade in my tools and pick up my teaching hat. My new title is part time clinical instructor at Concorde Career College.

Here's to new beginnings.


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Location:E Campbell Rd,Richardson,United States

Time Flies . . . When your having FUN

Lots has occurred since our last post. Let's see if I can keep it short and simple.

July 2011 - Elliott turned 1!


September 2011 - we sold our first home in Ruston (which included passing the girls, Bella & Abby, onto friends) we lived in the garage apartment of a dear family from CCC

October 2011 - we moved to Dallas for Craig to further his education at Dallas Theological Seminary and we officially became the CARES team for our Apartment Community

November 2011 - my license to practice hygiene FINALLY came in so I could start practicing. Elliott started going to daycare a couple days a week for the first time ever. We all survived, Praise The Lord!

December 2011 - we continued to settle into DFW, I found a job, and Craig prepared for starting classes on campus

Now, onto a new year 2012:

Elliott had tubes & adenoids removed in January. (Any parent thinking this may help with your continually sick baby, I highly recommend it). We have had only one ear infection since and didn't event realize it until it was on the mend.

February was quite and uneventful. We just continued to settle and figure this thing called life out. My brother Dan had a wedding in March in which E was the ring bearer so we searched high and low for the cutest outfit.


March 2012 - we took a trip to Houston to celebrate with Dan & Shannon in their special day of matrimony. The wedding was beautiful despite the rain, the reception was TONS of fun. LOTS of dancing and acting crazy with ALL our family.


So sad to leave such a fun weekend but so thankful to have had it. Once we arrived back to Dallas we welcomed the news of expanding our family to 4!

If you've read any of our previous posts or you've heard our story, then your probably aware that this new bundle of joy is a totally welcomed surprise. In short, we tried conceiving for over 2 years for Elliott. This one, was not even on the radar. In fact the three of us were quit content.

From March 12, 2012 til today, we have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our sweet baby GIRL! Her name will be Evelyn Grace. Due date is set for November 6th (Craig's birthday)!


July 2012 - our E man turned 2! Cannot believe its been 2 years since he graced us with his presence. So glad you have been placed in our lives E. you are such a JOY and truly live life outside the box!


In our spare time, E attends the Village School 2 days a week, I work 2-3 days a week, Craig is a full time student at DTS, a part time college intern with Chase Oaks Church, and we are a CARES team for apartment. (Fancy name for hospitality in short, email us if you would like to hear more about it!)

As we speak, E is sleeping, Craig is doing research for a paper that's due towards the end of the semester, I'm laid out like a beached whale housing a 8 lbs baby at the moment and of course BAMA football is on the TV.

I'll leave you with one last picture of Elliott. This is my current favorite picture. One of the college students took this while on the college camping trip. E had an amazing time!


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Better Late than never, right?

SO, now that it has been oh say over 6 months since my last post, I guess I will update the blog.  Or should I say just kill sometime before my next patient.  Elliott will be 9 months old next week.  Life is crazy at our household.  Never a dull moment at all.  We are either chasing after little man that is now crawling like crazy and trying to pull up on whatever he can get his handds on.  Spring has sprung and we are so exctied about getting outside and playing in the dirt, finding a pool to swim in, and playing with our girls (dogs).  Til next time, hope all is well!~

Tis the Season

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Joy comes in the morning

As we speak, I am sitting in my chair drinking my coffee, holding my son, and pondering over the events that have taken place in Rushworld just the past 7 1/2 weeks.

It all really started November 2009 when Craig and I knelt before the Lord and surrendered our lifes to Him and His ways. Over the past 8 years I have had a strong desire to serve the Lord fully and ready to go and do just that. Craig on the other hand was not at the same point as I was. He wad not up for full time ministry. Not until he had tried all over avenues and finally decided that running from the Lords calling on his life was not working. After surrendering we discovered that we would be having a child. I quite my full time job for a part time position and better work environment. Craig began exploring opportunities of seminary and trying to figure out if that would play out through online or moving to Dallas. We started serving in college ministry at our church and discovered that even within western civ ministry there are plently of opporunities for cross cultural ministry. (which is what we like). Months after starting with college ministry we began to sense the Lord leading us to serving Him fully with college ministry. Much prayer, time, & talking has been hashed and rehashed. And 7 1/2 weeks after little Elliott arrives Craig starts his first day as the Christ Community College Pastor. Ready to hit the ground running we are super excited about the new journey we have begun and we look forward to what's in store. The life we can now give Elliott is just that more enriched with Godly influence, wisdom, and knowledge.

So leave you with a sweet reminder that the Lord is faithful, here is a picture of my sweet child. Zonked out after a morning walk.



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Thursday, July 29, 2010, 9 lbs 2 oz, 22 in. long, 11:53am

Baby Elliott made his grand debut.  After my water breaking Wednesday around 4:30, he finally arrived Thursday a little before noon.  We arrived at the hospital around 5:30 Wednesday evening and were admitted.  Contractions were not starting on their own, so at midnight I was started on a pit drip.  Everything went smoothly.  In fact I made the comment that I was a little bored and was very glad I had packed the computer, ipod, and my cell phone charger.  Craig set the laptop up on the bedside tray and was making sure my cell phone battery didn't die.  I think he charged it like 2 or 3 times within the night.  I was a texting fool!  Not so much as talking but texting like crazy.  Contractions were intense but not unbearable.  Around 6 am, I finally decided that I needed to sleep and had an epidural.  My contractions were lasting a minute and half long and occuring every 2 minutes, so what that means is, 20 seconds to be able to breathe.  Not much at all.  After epidural was placed I rolled over and slept for 3 hours, woke up and not long after I was ready to push.  My right side was not numb so I could feel exactly when it was time to push, and so we did.  3 times and out popped baby Elliott!  Easy as pie, I would have another one tomorrow.  I am so thankful for the easy labor and delivery, but not at all surprised by it.  This is something that Craig and I had started to pray about even before we discovered that baby Elliott would be joining us.  The Lord answered and gave us the desires of our hearts.  Here are a couple of pictures from the past few weeks.  Enjoy!

Elliott Thomas Rush
3 weeks old

Maternity Pictures

Here's a quick link to our Maternity pictures that were taken by a great friend of ours.  Thanks Crystal for capturing our memories and helping to enjoy in our upcoming little boy's life!!!

Click on the link it should take you straight to them.  Remember to sign the guest book!
http://www.pictage.com/875913

Elliott Update

So things have started to progress since the last time I posted on the blog.  We went to the Dr. yesterday and I am almost 2 cm dilated and still around 40% effaced.  Elliott is definitely taking his time to make his debut.  But I guess I have to be thankful, he will be here soon enough and then the fun will really begin.  The nursery is in order.  The last few items needed have been ordered and shipped already.  Just waiting on them to make it to my door.  This waiting game is not my cup of tea, nor do I tend to do it to well!! Guess the Lord tries to teach us lessons any and every way possible!

Last weekend my friend, Crystal Garcia, was in town and took my maternity pics.  She has posted some on her facebook page and has tagged both Craig and I so you can find them on either one of our sites.  I must say, they are ADORABLE!!  But you know I really didn't think they wouldn't be.  She is such a talented photographer and has an eye for things. The next thing to photograph is my little man.  Another friend that also works with Crystal will be taking Elliott's 1st year pics!  I am super excited to see what Jamie has in store.

I am now a 2 day a week dental hygienist and loving it!  Even though right now there are moments where I am a little anxious with what seems like nothing to do, I know that in a few short weeks this will change.  After taking a maternity leave, I will return 2 days a week.  This is going to be so good for me and for my guys.  I won't drive Craig crazy, less temptation to spend money, and some Bethany time with real Adult Conversations!!! Plus I will continue to see all of my patients that I so dearly love and look forward to being a part of their lives.  And who could leave out, my girls at work!  When I say that I absolutely miss this 4 women when I am not there,  I mean I do.  I wonder what in the world is going on in their worlds and with their families.  The Lord has really put together a neat group of working women for us to lean on and do life with.  Thanks Jennifer, Paige, Angela, and Donna for doing life with me.  And allowing me to do life with you. It is a blessing to serve the patients of our practice on a daily basis and not only meet their dental needs but to also have the privilege of doing our best to meet their spiritual needs as well.  The Lord has blessed us beyond believe.  I pray we continue to seek His face, submit ourselves daily to His will, and continue to serve in ways that He lays out for us to serve!

Anywho, my stomach is growling, it's almost 11:30am and I am in my pj's still, need to get my botty off the dance floor and take a shower.  Sundown for lunch with the Bodie's Crew!  Oh how I look forward to some good Sundown food!  Happy Friday Ya'll.  Til next time, keep it real and keep living for Him!

Elliott's Nursery

Here's a sneak peek of Elliott's Nursery!! Cannot wait for him to join in all the fun!!! Only 7 1/2 weeks left and then our family will be 3!!

Extreme measures

Ok. So I think I have blogged more since adding this ap to my iPhone than I ever had. Not much to write about. Just typing out thoughts and convos that have been occuring at our home lately. The most recent one is what extreme measures do we take in our walk with the Lord? Are we picking up our crosses and carrying them daily. Do we put as much emphasis on our relationship with the Lord as we do say our relationship with the computer, tv, or even our spouse. At the Rush household we are in deep prayer about what extreme measures we can take. I'll keep you posted on what we decide. But what will you do in order to take the next level with the Lord?


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Another year down

Today closes another year and tomorrow begins another one. That is in the timeline of life. Celebrating the big 2-9. It's hard to believe that we are already half through 2010 and even harder to believe that Elliott will be here in less than 13 weeks. Before we ever discovered that we were having a baby Craig made the comment that 2010 was going to be a big year. I do believe he was correct. Even with just an addition to the family that makes for a big year. So. Anywho. Here's to 29 and enjoying the rest of what the Lord has planned for the Rush household.


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Ever wonder how many uses for a household product you can come up with?

Ok. So the title is long. But have you ever thought about how many uses you can come up with for vinager. My friend introduced this idea to me. So after trying vin and water to remove soap scum from the bathtub I thought I would google it. So one website I cane across had 1001 uses listed. Let me know what you think and I will post a link to this later. I think I have found my new nontoxic cleaning agent. Plus it's cheap as can be. Happy Friday yall.


-- Post From My iPhone

Man how time flies!

While visiting a friend this weekend for her birthday, I was reminded that I have not been very faithful in blogging!! And man, has there been lots to occur since the last time I did. Here's the run down on what all the end of 2009 held and what 2010 is holding currently. . .

July 2009: Robertson-Rush-Harris Family Vacation
All 11, yes you read it right, of us boggied our way down to see Dan in Sarasota, FL. Payton & his crew, Jed, BK & Craig, Dad, Ruth, Anna, and Jordan. We crammed this crew into a 2 bedroom condo on the beach, little tight, but oh so enjoyable. . . I do believe this is by far the greatest memory our blended family can say that any of us has ever experienced. From enjoying the weekly drum circle at the public beach access, to Big kids night out on the town!!! Too bad Dan has recently sold all his belongings and up and moved to New York!!! Yes Sir, he has fallen in love, at least we think, and moved to New York to be closer to Kim. One we hope to have the pleasure of meeting sooner rather than later! I guess this means family vaca's will be taken up northeast to visit Dan! I kind of like the sounds of that. Not spent much time along that path!

Anywho, so that was a busy month, and the rest of the summer is a blur. I (BK) spent lots of days at the RCC (ruston country club) pool with my friend Meredith and Craig, when not working, spent much time on the golf course. My best friend Dana, whom lives in Memphis, married Jan 8 201o, so the later months of 2009 were spent planning and preparing for this grand event. December 2009 is where life becomes exciting for this Rush household.

After trying for a couple of years to add to the family tree, Craig and I discovered on December 12th that this dream and desire would be coming a reality. That's right ladies and gents, Craig and I are going to be PARENTS!!!! Our first addition is due to arrive somewhere around August 4th!! I think this is probably old news to most everyone by now, seeing how I am 6 months and close to the end!!! But Elliott Thomas Rush is a miracle in the making. From Sept - Nov 2009, we went through prelimenary stages of fretility treatments, praying this would give us the answers we were looking for. . . little did we realize that everything was okay with both of us, but just a matter of the Lord having our hearts in the right place.

Last fall a dear lady friend from church gave me a book by the name of Super Natural Childbirth. This book is about a family's journey through experiencing no children to the Lord's soverinty in their life and praying His Word over her body and battling spiritual warfare. On Oct 13, 2009, I sat down with my journal and prayed a prayer I will never forget. I was specific with the Lord of what I wanted, praying over my body to get in line and work accordily, and that conception would occur that cycle. When I returned for blood work on Nov 2nd, the fertility specialist told me that none of the treatment had worked and to go home and let us know when the next cycle started so we could go on with more intense treatment. I mark it on the calendar that I am thankful I never had to return for more intense tx. Elliott was conceived just 3 days after seeing the Dr. With no medical tx, and all of the Lord's doing.

Reason I mentioned that we believe the Lord was waiting for our hearts to be the right place, is because just 2 weeks before discovering that Elliott was on the way, Craig surrendered to the Lord for serving Him fully. This is something that both he and I have felt the Lord calling us to for several months, just were not sure how it would pan out and what all it entailed. We have since discovered that our heart is for evangilism, we have the gift and ability to connect and do life with anyone and everyone. . . no matter what the race, religion or cultural background. . . and we have a major heart for those of other nationalities!

So, I think this gets us up to speed. Oh wait, in the midst of discovering Elliott was coming, traveling to Dana's for her wedding, I was offered a part time job with Paige Volentine, DDS. Yet another really cool story and an answer to prayer!!! This will allow me to stay at home with Elliott and work part time to keep my hands in people's mouths!!! So, all my former patients, that I so dearly love and miss seeing your smiling faces, you can now find me at PAIGE VOLENTINE, DDS!!! And yes we are always accepting new patients and even kids!!!

Will post pictures soon!! Love to all, and until next time, good morning, good evening, and good night!!!

Joy comes in the morning

Reeta Gayle Tullos

This weekend has been long and emotion filled. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 around 1:00pm my great Aunt Reeta Gayle Tullos passed away and joined the Father. October of 2008 she was diagnosed with ALZ. A diagnosis that was probably close as can be, but my family is unsure of when she actually started having symptoms of this disease. Reeta seemed to progress rapidly. The last 5 or 6 weeks of her life with stable. She was very enjoyable and manageable. The Thursday before her death, Reeta fell while at my grandparents house and hit her head. It split it from front to back. She was rushed to Natchitoches ER and from there was airlifted to LSU-S for emergency surgery on her brian. She had bleeding on her brian. The thing that is thought to have ended it all, was her lungs. One thing Reeta liked was her cigerattes. The fact that she smoked for years on end and very heavily, her lungs were not able to hold up. Before she was taking to the Natchitoches hospital, I was told that she went around to each person and kissed them on the lips and told them that she loved them. Almost as if she knew she would be leaving her earthly family and joining in the eternal family. Even though it was a hard part of life to under take today, it was one, that in the long end brings less suffering.

Family reunions are not often thought of as coming during a time of family funerals and memorial services. The weekend was made nice by being able to see family from all over the U.S. My brother, Dan, who lives in Sarasota flew in. My aunt Donna Gayle who lives in Ponte Vedra, FL flew in, and my uncle Bill who lives in Austin, TX came in. An old family friend and past "Aunt Ann" was also in from Austin, TX. It's not often that all 6 of Dad and Ruth's children are together under one roof, so when it does occur we take every advantage of pictures. Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend.

Robertson-Rush-Harris Family

(missing Cady & Keri Harris)

Robertson-Rush-Harris-Haymon Family

Anniversary and Joining with the Father

This week has been a really long, at least it seems. It started out by heading out the Quick Care after work on Monday only to find that what I thought was allergies and congestion, is really Bronchitis! Oh the joy of coughing and hacking. . . So 2 shots later, working on a Z-Pack and wonderful supped up cough medicine for nighttime, I am slowing getting better. Attempted to play some tennis last night but didn't do much due to not feeling too good.

That brings us to Wednesday, my wonderful 3 year wedding anniversary! Oh the memories that flood my mind to where we were 3 years ago today! Such joy and bliss. An old pastor friend of mine called yesterday to wish congrats and to remind me "that if the bride would have been any happier they would have had to nail her to the ground!" And the bride is still happy to this day, I am happy to report.

But one of the sad moments of the day is that my great aunt Reeta Gayle passed away today. She has been ALZ since October. This disease can hit slow and long or it can hit hard and fast. Hard and fast is how it went for Reeta Gayle. It's all sort of been a whirl wind to say the least. One minute she was fine and the next she was talking out of her mind and completely gone. She could remember who I was and Craig, but she couldn't remember that since I am married that means I can't date anyone else. This past Friday night she fell and hit her head and has since been in and out of consciousness. Our family all sort of thought the end of her life was nearing but nobody really wanting to admit it or face reality. Such sweet sorrow. Hate to see her go home to the Lord, but glad to know she is not suffering any longer. The pain comes from those it leaves behind. My grandmother is now the only living Tullos left. Oh how I know Mimi Dot will miss her dear sweet sister, but at the same time is at peace with knowing life can resume after being detoured since October.

Special memories of Reeta. . . Smart as a whip. She was a physical therapist and loved her career. Smart with her money, and crafty with her hands. She could take a block of wood and whittle it into a beautiful masterpiece. I am very happy to say that I have a carving that is suppose to be me as a ballerina and one of peter pan flying. The last piece she carved was the Fleur De Lis that is on my dad's front door. What a true symbolism of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which for believers, is the last resting place. Reeta was never boastful in her faith, but solid in her being. When she first became sick she also resorted back to the cross. She was say, let me tell you about the cross. . . And continue on and on. This for me is and was the first time I remember talking to Reeta about the cross. I believe she was at peace in her relationship with the Lord. I believe she is dancing in heaven with B.A., her brother, and they are staring down to see Mimi Dot and the rest of us. And I know that one day, I too, will be able to join in the rejoicing and singing of the heavenly Father.