the 12 dates of christmas

for christmas, joey and i decided instead of gifts, we would give each other dates. i had seen a couple who did this on the news and thought it was a really fun idea. joey planned the dates for the even months and i planned the dates for the odd months.

on christmas morning we opened up date 'gift certificates' that said:
"on the ___ month of dates, my true love gave to me ________"

so this year we are looking forward to:

seeing the Color Purple at bass hall
ice skating
an Andy Warhol exhibit at the Modern Museum in fort worth
a picnic at the Nasher Sculpture Center in dallas
dinner and milkshakes at a 50's diner
camping in the backyard
a visit to the Botanical Gardens
dive-in movie at a water park
open mic night at Barnes and Noble
a bike ride and picnic
stockyards rodeo and eating bar-b-que
a night at the Great Wolf Lodge

i'm so glad for these dates because 1) they make sure that we get a least one date a month no matter how busy life gets and 2) we had to be creative and therefore won't get in a movie/dinner rut for dates

can't wait to start dating my hubby all over again!

(don't) go west young man....

this was God's message for our family last night. joey had interviewed for a worship job at a church in midland in december. he had several conversations with the leadership at the church and it all seemed to be going well. we weren't sure we would take it if they made an offer, but we also were not opposed to going. we were definitely right in the middle of the fence on this decision. then they called last night, "joey, due to some changes in the needs at the church, the worship position no longer is needed." see, they have a guy who does the traditional service but wanted someone younger and cooler for the contemporary service, but the greater need of the church at this time is an adult education/connections pastor.

i'm sad. joey desires with all of his heart to lead worship full time and be able to use his God given talent to bring Him glory. and we thought this was the opportunity.

i'm happy. because i don't know how to live anywhere but this area and i don't know what i would do without friends and family nearby. and because God knows our future and has an awesome and amazing plan for us.

sometimes it's just hard to be sad, happy, and patient all at the same time....

14 facts

1. max is 14 months old
2. he is walking everywhere and even attempts to "run"
3. he is a big eater! his favs are cheese tortillas and bananas
4. he wears 18-24 month clothes and a size 5 in shoes
5. max loves the water...too bad we can only enjoy it at bath time! (can't wait til summer!!!)
6. one of his new favorite things to do is sit by us on the couch...and then try to stand up on it
7. he can sign 'more' and 'please' and waves 'bye-bye'; he nods 'yes' and 'no'
8. he LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to read
9. he can say 'momma', 'dada', 'baby' (i think this means banana), 'me me' (when he fusses), 'good' (when listening to the song "good morning" on the phil joel cd)
10. he still takes 2 naps (about 1hr in the am and 2hr in the pm); bedtime is 8:00pm and he sleeps til about 7:00am
11. max has 8 teeth (4 on top and 4 on bottom)
12. he is going through separation stuff....he cries everyplace i drop him off (the gym and church)
13. max knows by the sound of our door alarm that his daddy is home and moves as fast as he can to meet joey at the door....it is adorable!
14. max is our pride and joy...we love him so much!

and the award goes to...

...me! wow, i'm honored that people even read this blog, let alone want to give me an award for it! thanks andrea....i love you too.

I thought when you got an award, you gave a speech. But instead I'm limited to one word answers....(and cue the "cut-off the speech they are talking too long" music)

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? growing

3. Your mother? busy

4. Your father? corny

5. Your favorite food? dessert

6. Your dream last night? non-existent

7. Your favorite drink? water

8. Your dream / goal? living it

9. What room are you in? living

10. Your hobby? travel

11. Your fear? alone

12. Where do you want to be in six years? home

13. Where were you last night? dining

14. Something that you aren't? quiet

15. Muffins? waffles :)

16. Wish list item? kitchenaide

17. Where did you grow up? Keller

18. Last thing you did? Biblestudy

19. What are you wearing? jeans

20. Your TV? TLC

21. Your pets? nope

22. Friends? quality

23. Your life? changing

24. Your mood? anxious

25. Missing someone? Lyndsay

26. Vehicle? Pathfinder

27. Something your not wearing? socks

28. Your favorite store? Target

29. Your favorite color? green

30. What was the last time you laughed? earlier

31. Last time you cried? recently

32. Your best friend? Joey

33. One place that I could go over and over? beach

34. One person who emails you regularly? Kristin

35. Favorite place to eat? out

I'm passing the "Your Blog is Over the Top" award to ...

Kacy...because I'm sure you'll have some time on your hands in Honduras (and because I know you love these surveys).

family futures...

the team lrvn (lotton, rankin, vanderveer, neinast) family is in for some big changes. my brother tyler and my sister amy are in college. when tyler graduates in may, he wants to live in china. amy will be at ou for at least 3 1/2 more years. and then there's kacy and jd. and their move to honduras. in a little over a week. i am so proud of them for following God's leading and taking such a huge leap. it still just seems so surreal. i mean, are they really not going to be at my moms house on random sunday afternoons? or at bday celebrations? or at dinner with my dad? nope.

and that will be when the tears will fall.

but right now, i choose to focus on spending time with them and planning our trip to visit them this summer. oh, and praying :)

team lrvn

top: joey, darrel (scooters son), tyler, jd

middle: scooter and mom

bottom: amy, me and max, kacy

what a blessing to have a loving (and willing to babysit) pop and g!


this is the album cover we will use when we make a cd of early 90's TV theme show songs

and who knows what God has for this little family's future ?!?!

new years and a new idea

we had our annual new years party and once again it was a blast...we just love ringing in the new year with our closest friends and family! us with the stewarts

(there were other people at the party but it was REALLY cold outside at midnight)

and so with a new year i have decided to follow in my sis-in-laws footsteps and print our blog each year. i figure it will be a great way to see how God blesses us each year and how much our lives
change, so with that said, look for more posts by the vanderveers in 2010! Happy New Year!

more snow!

when it snowed a few days after christmas, we decided to let max check it out... dad, what is this stuff?
hmmmm....i'm not sure about this white stuff on the ground...

wait, it's coming from the sky!

i love snow!!!!

all smiles about our crazy texas winter weather!

i'm dreaming of a white christmas....

...and we got one! i actually said to joey on christmas eve eve "wouldn't it be cool if it snowed on christmas?" our christmas started on christmas eve morning when our little family of 3 opened our gifts.

what a great stocking stuffer!

max actually got this cozy coupe for his birthday, but we put it together for christmas morning and he loved it! good thing bc he wasn't tall enough to enjoy the ride on toy we got him...

we spent the day at my aunts house and then on to the christmas eve service at my parents church. by the time we left church, the weather was gettting pretty bad so our family friends that we usually do christmas eve with didn't get to come over....we missed you watters family!

we spent the night at my moms..and then the next morning, more presents!

my mom got max this little chair from potterybarn kids...he really likes it!

my parent's backyard on christmas morning..beautiful!

our traditional "it's over :( picture"

then we were off to spend the day at my dads house where max got a truck with blocks, along with a few other things....

after my dads we go to joey's parents but unfortunately i was tired of taking pictures by then so i didn't get any with all the cousins. we had a great (if tiring) time with all of our family and are just so blessed to have them all nearby to celebrate holidays with! Merry Christmas!