A Joyful Heart

Proverbs 17:22

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Zoe has been nothing but a joy to be around these last couple of weeks.  We have had the best time...whether we've been at the zoo, the arboretum, Target, the pool, or chillin' out in Mama and Daddy's bed watching a movie.  She's just the best company!  Last night she wore herself out giggling. We were all out in the back, she was cruising around in her stander, and laughed at absolutely everything.

She has a happy little heart and she's great medicine for me and Jay. That's for sure.  We all get a little worn out sometimes, and she certainly knows how to cheer someone up and bring life to people.  I hope that it's not just a phase, like some of her other newly discovered character traits.....

New behaviors include saying the exact opposite of everything I say, wanting blueberries instead of strawberries, arguing whether outside really means outside or inside, telling me she wants "my ways" when I tell her not everyone gets their own way...it's all very complicated and she knows exactly what to say that's completely different than what I told her to do or say.  It's actually hard not to laugh at her sometimes.

We are still trying to settle in around here.  Nothing is hanging from the walls except for the computer monitors (they look great, honey!).  Boxes are still everywhere in the guest bedroom.....we have about 10 days to get that room in order with Maddy coming to visit.  And we still need a few more big items priced out like tree trimming, pest/bug control, miscellaneous stuff that houses that have been vacant for awhile need....But that will come in time.

Dallas Arboretum 

It was perfect weather for the Dallas Zoo!  Cool, cloudy, and breezy.  

She just loved the zoo!!  We are definitely taking Daddy next time.

Right now, Zoe and I are headed out back to swim and get some sun!  Hope y'all are having a good week.  Love to all.

Our life these days

We have wrapped up another school year and moved into our new house since I last posted.  As you can imagine, there has been very little time to post anything lately!  I am so happy the last chapter of our life is over!  That was a very hectic, sleepless, exciting, nerve-racking, and crazy few weeks.

Lovejoy Life...
We had an extremely successful pop show - celebrated several "Guilty Pleasures" in the history of pop music.  On top of all the pop show preparations and rehearsals, we have also had our very bittersweet and fun glow-in-the-dark choir banquet, traveled to Austin for the ridiculously successful Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest (love our outstanding choir students!!), were honored at 2 very prestigious awards ceremonies for our famous Music Man production back in January, sadly said our good-byes at graduation ceremonies, and celebrated all weekend with our graduates.  We also received word that our Varsity Women will be performing at TMEA next February as an invited honor choir!!!  For you non-music teachers out there, it's a very big deal to be chosen, and we will be traveling to San Antonio to perform at the convention for parents, faculty, and every other choir director in the state.....like I said, it's been a very exciting AND nerve-racking month! It feels good to breathe again :)  Bethany and I have some very big decisions to make in the next few months so we are already getting the ball rolling.

Murphy Life...
We are living in Murphy now!  Our new house is a one-story home built in 2002 I think??!!  We have lots of hardwoods and tile inside for little Zoe to move around easily.  We have fabulous neighbors who are incredibly friendly and have already included us in some get-togethers.  We have a little work left to do in the house...yard work, pool lights, leaky faucet,  (comes with the territory I guess!?) and we will be settling in over the next couple of weeks.  Come by and visit us and swim too!!!

Zoe Life...
She is still amazing us every single day.  What a joyful little songbird we have on our hands.  In the last month her singing and talking has tripled.  She counts to 30 (22-29 gets a little confusing), scoots backwards on her bootie, likes to bulldoze in her wheelchair (not encouraged whatsoever), gives lots of hugs and kisses, "kicks" in the pool (looks like her hips are doing more of the work than her actual legs right now), and dances, giggles, and performs for anyone and everyone.  We are easily impressed I suppose, but she seems to be thriving.  I'm expecting big things this summer, lots of sweet memories, and big milestones.

Brooke and Jay Life...
We are ready for a little time off - time to cook dinner, time to hang a few pictures in our new house, time to buy some chairs for our backyard, time to sit together, time to just look at each other and remember why we are here on this earth, time to encourage each other.  Those are things that get put off when 2 people work 50-80 hours per week per person.  Life is very complicated.  I don't understand God's plan right now, but I do know that we're on the right track.  That's all we need to know right now!  I keep reminding myself daily of this verse:


"For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:9


I hope all of you are having a great week!!  We have certainly gotten started on the right foot :)

Zoe P sings God Bless America

I just had to share this for all of my friends!  Enjoy!