Catching up on our last year!

All right guys, I have no good excuse. I have really let this blog go. I/We seem to have sailed our boat off the edge of internet land over the past year, so I thought I'd post and let you know that we're okay. I intend to start this blog back up and keep it active. But first, I guess I need to catch everyone up on our life over the last year:

- While we were in Beaumont we helped to start a Farmer's Market there, as well as a group for backyard gardeners to share in community and their access bounty, called the SETX Green Exchange. (For more on that you can go to www.pleaseremainseeded.wordpress.com.) Or if you are near Beaumont and would like to participate you can get all the current info. at www.geauxlocal.com.


-River had his first Halloween! He was a dragon. ;) We went to a festival with some of his cousins and got to see a lot of farm animals, he was especially taken with the goats.



- River turned 1!! We had a perfect birthday party for him and shared this blessed day with a lot of friends and family who love him. We had splendid but healthy carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, among other yummy healthy snack foods (fruits and veggies, hummus and pita chips, etc.) The theme was whimsical forest creatures (owls, squirrels, acorns - er, ok, so this isn't really a "creature") and pinwheels! It was rather cold outside so we all stayed indoors and sipped hot cocoa with marshmallows.

He is now 17 mths and walking around getting into everything. He is such a curious little kid. He is also very strong willed and determined, (hmmm, wonder where he got that from...) but this is one of the things we love about him. I have heard this could be challenging to parent in years to come, but we're grateful for these characteristics, & think it makes for a fascinating human being! While I was pregnant with him I prayed continually that he would be creative, joyful, compassionate, adaptable, curious, and full of life.... and we have already seen glimpses of all of the these traits in his short life.

a rare family photo of the 3 of us - Christmas 09

River posing! - Christmas 09

His vocabulary has grown so much, and with it, our understanding of him. He seems less frustrated when he feels like he's getting his thoughts through to us. His first word was, of course, mama. ;) But now he can say dada, night night, nurse, water, meow, quack, ruff, neigh, moo, baa, grandpa, mimi, pa, bubble, uh-oh, etc. He now has 12 (going on 16) teeth. His favorite foods include: banana's, citrus, avocado, fish, brown rice and Bulgarian yogurt. This is such a fun age, though I have truly enjoyed something about every age he's been. He has brought so much joy to our lives. Here are some of his favorite things:

*Nature - being out doors as much as possible!
*Animals - all kinds (cows, ducks, birds, cats, dogs, sheep, etc)
*Brushing his teeth (and playing with his toothbrush, mimicking the sound, pretending he is brushing his teeth.)
*SHOES!! (I swear he got this from Matt - not me!)
*Helping mama sweep (we even bought him his own broom - after he sought it out at Whole Earth Provisions and insisted he did not wish to leave without it in his clutches.)
*Romping and wrestling - he LOVES to get all hyper and giggly and shriek with laughter.
*Hugs and kisses (he even kisses all of his stuffed animals on the mouth and loves to snuggle up on the floor with the puppy dogs)
*Reading books - especially books about animals
*Blowing bubbles (and popping them)
*Playing guitars, pianos and bongo's
*Bath time with Daddy (Dad let's him splash really hard and make a big mess)
*hissing like a snake every time he sees one or hears the word "snake" - he gets really excited

enjoying one of the last cool fronts in the park

hanging out in the sculpture gardens at the art museum

- So you may have heard some rumors here or there about the Ellis family moving back to Houston. As we approached the end of our year with my family in Beaumont, and as we've prayed about it, we knew the decision to not extend our stay was the right one. Over the months there we've had many talks about the need for community and support (on many levels) that we have so missed since being there. We realize that we were where we needed to be for a season in our life, and Matty being hired on in Beaumont enabled me to be able to stay home with River (our #1 priority), so we began to pray fervently about the Lord's plan for us. A few weeks ago an opening in Houston with the company that Matt works for opened up and was brought to our attention. Everything fell into place and we knew it was the right thing for us. We are so thankful for the Lord's faithfulness & guidance. It sometimes comes down to the last minute for us, but it always works out in the end...

SO....that brings us somewhat current. Matt and River and I are currently in Houston! We are very excited to be back. We have so missed our community here (with our friends, with our home church, with the Houston music scene.) Though our love for Jesus has always been present + growing, we've recently felt a little isolated from a real & celebratory community of believers, and are looking forward to re-engaging in some fellowship. Matt's parents, 2 brothers + wives and 1 sweet niece also live here. We have many plans for Mia Kat Empire (our record label) this year, as well as for Matt's own musical endeavors (exciting!) and I hope to be more inspired to be crafty once again. ;) Matty & I have been blessed with some great conversations lately about the future (and the present!) , & it feels like life has movement & inertia.

On a side note, we've been living for the past 2 1/2 weeks under the gracious hospitality of Matt's parents. All of our things are currently in storage, as we prepare ourselves to purchase a home. Our family is ready to settle down. We aren't sure exactly where in Houston we want to buy, yet, be it in the middle of the city, the suburbs, or a surrounding area with a lot of land. But we are looking forward to taking our time and putting a lot of thought and prayer in to this major decision. I think we are both learning the deeper meaning of patience and waiting on God. We welcome your prayers in this new journey.

More to come soon, I promise. ;)