Happy Halloween!

Took these sweet pics of Griffin today, on his first Halloween. If you can't tell, he is a baby giraffe. :)

Running.....almost non-existent...

Got to go for a run awhile ago while Tyler kept Griffin. It was so nice. 51 degrees outside so I got to wear my cool jumpsuit. It is a beautiful day here and I enjoyed being outside. Tyler got me some new running shoes for my birthday about a month ago and I have all but used them 4 times! I have ran only 4 times in a month! Make that 5 if I get to go tomorrow. We shall see. It's really my own fault I suppose. I was so excited about getting to run again after Griffin was born but really haven't made it a huge priority. Tyler always says that if you don't force yourself to do something (like going to lift weights for him) then you'll get stuck in a rut and you won't want to do it and then will end up not doing it for a awhile. That is me. I thought getting new shoes would motivate me, but I guess since the colder weather has settled in and I just like being inside when it's cold that I just don't go. Anyways, all that to say I am really going to try harder to push myself to go more. I'd like to go at least 3 times a week.
By the way, if you want some awesome running shoes I would recommend you getting Sauconys. They specialized in running and are so great! They won't make you more disciplined...but when you are your feet will love you for it! (ok I feel like that was sorta like a commercial or something)

I am determined to not let running (exercising) become non-existent in my life.

Griffin Dancing, well sort of....

Griffin Dance from Tyler Hicks on Vimeo.

Griffin loves to listen to and watch this toy while he dances!

Eva Mae

While in east Tx Griffin and I got to go see my dear friend and college roommate, Courtney, and her new baby girl, Eva Mae. It was a delight to get to meet Eva and I know Griffin formed a crush. How couldn't he? She is absolutely beautiful! Thanks Court for letting us come by and see y'all!

Dear Eva,
I really liked getting to meet you. You will have a lot of fun over the next months learning all sorts of stuff in this world. I hope I get to see you again real soon and we can be friends.
Love, Griffin

Backyard time

Today we went out in our backyard to play with Griffin and so I decided that it was a beautiful time to take some pictures of him since days like today will soon be no more with the cold weather coming. Tyler took most of them and really got some great ones. Hope everyone enjoys.
Griffin loves being outside and sitting under this tree in our backyard. He is sitting up now pretty much on his own, which is so hard to believe. We have been practicing for the last couple of weeks and just this week he has conquered it. He still falls over some but not until after he has sat up for quite awhile. We are so proud of him!

We love cousins!!!

Before we headed to Elysian Fields last Thurs. my dad, me, and Griffin went to see my sister and her kids, Landry and Ty. We had the best time! Landry loves Griffin and can even say "Griff". I loved getting to play with her and talk to her. She is so smart and can say so many things already at 1 1/2 yrs. old. I also loved getting to meet Ty, who is only 2 months old. It was just a sweet time getting to love on each others children with my sister.

Home again Home Again

Well Griffin and I made it back to Clovis Tuesday. He was an excellent little traveler. We had such a sweet time in east Texas with my parents and was able to see so many people I hadn't seen in a long time and they all enjoyed meeting Griffin.
But the most special thing was the time we got to spend with my parents. When I got home to Clovis, I couldn't help but miss them terribly all day Wednesday. After being around them so many days, it makes me want to be nearer to them, but living so far away makes me appreciate them more I think and treasure our time together even more since it's so rare. As I get older I feel as though I come to love and respect my parents more and more. They are such special gifts to me from the Lord and I am so thankful for the relationships I have with them both.
Griffin especially enjoyed being held all the time by them and playing with them.
Dear Papa and Naunie,
Thank you for letting Mom and I come to see y'all. I had so much fun at y'all's house. I especially loved the big, tall trees. I wish we had big, tall trees at home. I love y'all very much and will see you at Christmas time.
Love, Griffin

East Texas...land of the grandparents, home of trees....

Well, as Tyler pointed out, Griffin and I are currently in Elysian Fields. We made it Dallas Thursday afternoon. Griffin did great on the plane. He didn't cry, just played and then as we were landing he feel fast asleep. My dad picked us up and then we headed to Corsicana where my sister resides. We got to spend a lot of sweet time with cousins and Griffin loved it! Landry talked the whole time and could even say "Griff". It was sweet. And baby Ty is so adorable and such a good baby. We took lots of pictures which I'll post when I get home. Then Friday we headed to EF to spend the next 3 days with my mom and dad. Today was pretty special because I got to spend the whole day with my mom and we also got to go see my dear friend, Courtney's new baby girl, Eva Mae. Let me tell you, she was a doll! She was soooooo pretty. Took pictures with her also and will post those too. Anyways, Griffin and I are having such a great time and loving being here. We miss Tyler, though.

Dear Daddy,
I really miss you. I really love you too. Don't worry I will see you soon and we can play.
Love, Griffin

Quote of the Day

Well... Haley is out of town visiting her family in Elysian Fields, so I'm a bachelor until Tuesday. So, I figured, this is my chance to hi-jack our baby-blog and write something profound. The problem is... I'm not that profound. But, I read stuff from people that are. Such as, Tim Keller. He wrote a book called The Reason for God that came out a while back and I'm in the middle of it now. I read this today, and I want to share it with everyone:

"When my own personal grasp of the gospel was very weak, my self-view swung wildly between two poles. When I was performing up to my standards - in academic work, professional achievement, or relationships - I felt confident but not humble. I was likely to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. When I was not living up to standards, I felt humble but not confident, a failure. I discovered, however, that the gospel contained the resources to build a unique identity. In Christ I could know I was accepted by grace not only despite my flaws, but because I was willing to admit them. The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued and that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less. I don't need to notice myself - how I'm doing, How I'm being regarded - so often."
(Tim Keller, The Reason for God, p.180-181)

That paragraph rocked me. Had to share it. Hope you got something out of it. Now, go get this book and read it:
www.thereasonforGod.com

Sunday Sermon

Get Real About Jesus from Central Baptist Church on Vimeo.

U2

Tyler went to see U2 in concert tonight. He is there as I type. I know he is having a blast because U2 is one of his favorite bands. He went with his brother, Blake, and his best friend, Jerod. I am so glad that he got to go because he has been working so hard lately, well, he works hard all the time, but I just feel like he really needed this little break to do something fun and exciting for himself. We are missing him tonight but are happy he is rocking out with U2!

Growing up

Griffin and I went to visit our friends Jan and Ali this morning and Jan took some photos of Griffin. He is just growing up and looking more like a little boy. Hope everyone enjoys these. Thanks, Jan, for taking Griffin's picture. They turned out very sweet. :)

Loving the Fall

We are having a great week here in the Hicks household. Griffin and I have been enjoying the Fall weather. I am enjoying not having to get up out of my warm bed at the crack of dawn to drive to Bovina. It has been so sweet spending the cold mornings with Griffin inside the house looking out the windows. I am actually getting to use all these soft blankets Griffin got as gifts. I bundled him up in one when we made a trip to Walmart today. He was so cute.
We also went to Hobby Lobby today to spend some of my b-day money I got on some Fall decor. I got a wind blowing thing that has a turkey on the top that Griffin can watch blow in the wind from out windows that look out on out backyard. Then I got a little flag thing for my front step, all half off! Hobby Lobby is a great place. I took Griffin down all the aisles with the Christmas ornaments and he just gazed at all of them sparkling. We also went and looked at all the Christmas trees lit up. Then we took a stroll outside before we left the shopping area. It was a fun day.
Also- Please be praying for Tyler this week as he prepares to preach Sunday morning at the 11:00 service. He is really excited about this opportunity since our Senior pastor is on vacation. Please pray that he honors the Lord and speaks by the Spirit.
We will also be traveling a lot next week. Tyler is going to a U2 concert on Monday in Dallas. He will be flying out Monday morning, go to the concert that night, and then turn around and fly home Tuesday.
Griffin and I are flying to Dallas next Thursday to go visit my parents and sister and her family. We will be gone for 5 days. Please pray for safe travel for us and also that Griffin will do ok on the plane ride, since he is a lot older than he was the last time he flew in the summer.

ps Griffin has been enjoying playing with his feet now and playing in his jumperoo.

27

Well it's official. I am almost 30 (as my mom would say). Today I turned 27. It was such a sweet day too. My mother and father-in-law came for the day and I have to tell you that just getting to watch them enjoy Griffin was the best gift I could get. I love sharing him with family and friends who just really enjoy him, love him, and play with him, because he loves it too. We made beef ribs for lunch, which turned out excellent. Ate some delicious homemade chocolate and strawberry cake, made specially by my sweet mother-in-law, Peggy. Then we played with Griffin and just visited all afternoon. We also got Bahama Bucks. You've gotta have Bahama Bucks on your birthday! And finally went out to eat for dinner at Leal's. What made the day even more special, was when the Lord blessed me and made Griffin fall asleep against my chest at Leal's. He never does that anymore and he was so tired I guess that he just laid his sweet little head on my chest and went right to sleep. It was so sweet and I loved every second holding him asleep like that. My sweet friends, Cristy and her son Benson, also stopped by with birthday wishes. She gave me the most beautiful white frame with one of her pictures she took of Griffin in the bowl in it. Thank you so much Cristy! I love it!
I had many phone calls, texts, and facebook messages, and cards from friends and family that meant so much! Thank you everyone! It has truly been a sweet 27th birthday, even if it does mean I'm almost thirty! (no offense against anyone who is thirty, of course :) )

Dear MeeMaw and PawPaw,
Thank you so much for coming to visit us today. Thank you for playing with me and talking to me. Thank you for making Mommy's birthday special too. I love y'all very much and can't wait till I see you again.
Love, Griffin