2014 Year in Review

This year has been a year of adventure for the Hendrix family. We have experienced many different places and events!

We welcomed our 3rd beautiful daughter, Aleza, into the world and we are enjoying the adventure of being a family of three! Aleza's sisters have been extremely sweet towards her. Emma started dance class, and has loved experiencing the adventure of dancing. Her favorite part is "Tap", because it's really loud! Clara started Mother's day out and has experienced the adventure of being away from home for the first time! She loves her teachers and has all her friends convinced her name is "Elsa" because of the movie Frozen. Aleza is growing like a weed! She brings so much joy to our family and it's hard to imagine our family without her.

Chris is still studying hard, and slowly plowing through his Masters degree. He's almost done with his language classes, but has really enjoyed them. Kristan has been busy taking care of our ever growing family, and loves how every day is a new adventure with 3 kids in the mix.

As a family this year we have done so much! But our favorite thing has been the many adventures we have taken together. Chris and Emma traveled to Florida for Emma's first plane ride. Chris, Kristan, and Aleza went to Ohio, which was Aleza's first plane ride. The entire family went to Mexico, which was Clara's first plane ride! The Lord has blessed us with a year of fun, excitement, and fun adventures with one another!

Looking forward to where God takes us in 2015!

What does Pregnancy Feel Like?

A few months ago I was at a "seminar". Honestly, it was a quaint gathering at a friends house where everyone brought a crockpot dish and the recipe to share, then we got to listen to a wonderful speaker talk about what biblical womanhood looks like. I was truly blessed with wonderful fellowship, and being encouraged in the scriptures.

There was an adolescent girl in attendance with her mother, about 13 or so, who kept glancing in my direction. I didn't think much of it to be honest. I was a couple months pregnant and in the early stages of "showing" but not really looking "pregnant". She must have over heard me talking with someone about the pregnancy because while I was grabbing a cup of coffee (yes, yes, I know!) she approached me and asked me "what is it like being pregnant". I was totally taken aback! In the past 4 years I have either been pregnant or breast feeding, so to me it's "the norm"! I casually said something like "oh I don't know... not to different then when you're not I supposed. I've been pregnant twice before so this seems pretty normal to me." I could tell that didn't really answer her question, but I really didn't have a better answer at the time.

Over the past few months though, I've had some time to think on it. What is it like being pregnant? My first thought, scary!! From the first few second sitting on the toilet wondering if there will be one or two pink lines, up until you have to push that little one into the world... and even after that! It's just scary! Am I too sick? Why am I not sick? Is that blood? Am I bleeding? Shouldn't I be feeling the baby moving by now? Does my baby have arms and legs? This kids is moving too fast! Am I drinking too much coffee? Should I really be eating lunch meat? And on, and on and on!!

It's so hard to try and remember that the Lord is in control during this time period. I'm so used to being able to SEE or touch what it is that I need to take care of. While I'm pregnant I can't! I can't pick up my baby and check to see if she has arms and legs, or put my hand on her chest to see if she is still breathing. She is inside of me! It's a time I believe that the Lord give to me to remember that there are so many things that are out of my control, and I need to remember to trust in Him! He has blessed me with 3 healthy pregnancies already, and 2 beautiful daughters with a third coming soon. But if He ever sees fit to change that, then He is still Lord, He is still on His throne, and He is still the creator and sustainer. I find so much comfort in knowing those things, and trusting in His perfect will.

What does it feel like to be pregnant? It feels like you're loosing control, and that's okay! It allows me to draw closer to the Lord because of it.

Photo's are by my dear friend Cate. 

Where Holiness comes from.

On Sunday a friend of mine in Sunday school presented a question that made me think. We all have tickle fights, play with our kids, do the dishes and mop the floors... but as a Christian mother and wife what am I doing differently? How am I allowing the Holiness of God to work through my life, and the lives of my children?

Something I have recently come to the conclusion on while studying the book of Psalms with our church is that no mater how hard I try, I can never allow the Holiness of God to shine through my life. It just won't happen! This was so discouraging to me at first. I felt like a failure as a Christian woman. That is until I read Psalm 51!

Psalm 51:10-13

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.

This spoke to me in so many ways. The first was the realization that the Lord is the one who creates a clean heart in me! How many times I feel as though I can do everything myself. "Create in me a clean heart", the Lord is the one who purifies my heart! "Restore the joy of Your Salvation", God restores my joy!! How freeing it is to realize God will provide me with joy and purify my heart! In doing so, I can be the wife and mother that God is calling me to be. How do I allow the Holiness of God to work through my life? By letting Him to work through my life, and knowing I can't do it on my own.

Sweet Clara and I a few months ago in the bluebonnets. 

Slow cooker fajitas

I've always heard so many wonderful things about "Crockpot Cooking". I just never really could get into it though! That is, until I came across this great cookbook at our local library Southern Living's "Big Book of Slow Cooking". I got home and quickly found a ton of recipes to try! For about 2 weeks we had crockpot meals just about every night! No one was complaining though, they were ALL so tasty!

One of our favorites is the "Fajita" recipe. I've made these for a party we were hosting, and they were a hit! The best part was that I could start dinner in the morning and get it going, then clean the kitchen and the rest of the house up before our company arrived that evening. I never felt stressed trying to get dinner ready then having to clean up the kitchen right before everyone arrived, because the kitchen was already clean!

Beef and Chicken Fajita's:
Makes 10-12 servings.

1 1/2 lb flat iron steak, cut into strips
1 lb chicken breast, cut into strips
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 1/2 Tbs Fajita seasoning (try a homemade version, instead of store bought)
4 Tbs olive oil, divided (I prefer sunflower seed oil)
3 Tbs Fresh lime juice
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce (I actually didn't have any... I substituted 1 tsp this instead)
5 Large garlic cloves, minced
1 lb frozen pepper stir fry (I do mine with fresh sliced peppers and onions. Taste much better that way.)

Place steak and chicken on separate plates; sprinkle with salt, pepper and 1 Tbs fajita seasoning.

Heat 1 Tbs oil in an extra-large skillet over medium heat. Add steak to pan; cook 3 minutes or until browned, stirring once. Place steak into slow cooker. Add chicken to pan; cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or until browned, stirring once. Add chicken to slow cooker.

In a bowl, stir together remaining 3 Tbs oil, lime juice, Worcestershire (or this!) garlic, and remaining fajita seasoning. Pour mixture over chicken and steak, cover and cook on low for 5 hours. Then top with peppers and onions cover and cook another 1-2 more hours.

Sever how ever you enjoy your fajitas!! This will quickly become a family favorite.

What we've been up to!

It's been over a year since we've updated anything! I'm sorry about that. I could use almost any excuse, but ultimately, blogging has just not been a priority.

That is, until recently. I've had so many thoughts recently that I want to write down and share!

There have been so many things the Lord has been reveling to me since we move up here in January of 2012, and I know He is going to teach me so much more! I want to share what He has taught me, as well as how He has sustained us during our time here. How I have grown not just as a mom, or a wife, but ultimately how He has drawn me closer to Himself!

Stay tuned! I have some fun things to share, some serious things to share, and just some random things!

-Kristan.

Week Number ....I lost count

Hey y'all!
Hope everyone is doing well! Two weeks in a row on updating the blog, I think we are doing well! Although originally my lovely wife was supposed to update it, I will let her slide though :) Everything and everyone is doing well on this end!

Midterms are already going on and that means my papers will be due soon!!!! I can't believe this semester is at the half way point already. It seems like just yesterday we were driving off in the Uhaul. God has blessed us tremendously with making things easy and smooth on getting settled here. It has been an amazing transition so far and only God could have made it go this easy.

Kristan has taken up knitting along with her other amazing artsy skills. That woman has some skills in the creativity world. Also, for any of you other creative people, Kristan and Heather will be doing an auction on homemade items to raise money to bring the Cline's baby home, so if you can make anything, then make it and donate it to the auction. If your not creative, then buy the items from the auction. I can advertise on this blog right?

Emma has taken up copying mommy like crazy. She now knows how to cook, bath someone else, change a diaper, clothe someone else, put shoes on someone else, and everything else a mom does. Of course she does all this to her little bears which is hilarious! She also can read (see facebook on Kristans profile for vids). Anytime I kiss Kristan's tummy for baby Hendrix, she must also have her tummy kissed. That girl is crazy!!!

Well whenever any one of you wants to take a vacation to Fort Worth aka cowboy country, then let us know and you can come see us and stay in our humble abode. During baseball and football season though, the price for staying is taking me to a Rangers or Dallas Cowboy game. (I still am a Houston fan more than anything though!)

That concludes this weeks blog. Tune in next week (maybe) for another update. And remember...update us on how you are doing and whats new. Oh and btw, a special shout out to the Barkers....Kristan and I told you that y'all were having twins!!!!! (We just didn't say it would be dogs)

Chris, Kristan, Emma, and baby Hendrix

Swing of Things

Hey Yall!
Yes, it has been awhile since this has been updated. Sorrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy!!!!!

Well, life has been crazy busy as expected. We have our routine down now which involves a late night and early morning. The weekends are nice though to have as days of rest and relaxation and school work (tons of it). God has blessed us though with a schedule that is busy, but not overwhelmingly busy.

Our church search still continues, but we have narrowed it down to where God is calling us. For those of you who have been praying, thank you and please continue!

Kristan and the baby are doing well! She recently posted a picture of her belly (which has grown since then) on facebook. We are thinking a boy this time but we will have to wait for 4 more months to find out!

Emma is also doing great. She still is serious as usual. Many people have commented on her seriousness which is kinda funny. She is starting to pronounce words now which is awesome to hear! Currently her fav words are dadda (yes i am proud!!!) and popcorn. She hasn't said momma yet but trust me, Kristan is working everyday on that.

We still miss Summercreek and occasionally have to catch ourselves from comparing other churches to SCBC. We have visited some good churches in the area though and it is good to hear the Word taught at them.

Thanks again for all of your prayers! We want to know how we can be praying for each of you so let us know! Also, give us an update on how you are doing!