Shout Out - TEXAS!

Things we LOVE about Texas:

• the produce!  Cantaloupe, strawberry, mango, celery....everything is always in season and it tastes sooo good!  
• the people!  So many super nice people - neighbors, waitresses, friends at church...genuinely nice folks.  
• the women!  I'm so inspired by all the ladies I meet.  Several women participate in triathlons, 10k, half marathon or marathons!   There's a running club that meets at 5:15am every Tuesday and Thursday, and they run 5 miles.  I want to be with them one day, but for now I'm only running 3 miles/day/4x/week. So 5 miles is my next goal.  These and other women all have goals and work towards them.  It's refreshing and invigorating to be around so many like-minded ladies!
• the food!  This is BBQ heaven!  I'm not talking about "BBQ" where people cook hamburgers and hot dogs on a grill (that's for you my Western US friends :o).  I'm talking about the real deal.  Slow cooked ribs, brisket, roasts slathered in amazing sweet tangy barbeque sauce.  If you think you have good BBQ, I promise you Spring Creek BBQ or Carl's or Goode's will put it all to shame.
• the neighborhoods!  Our neighborhood, Northlake Forest, is great!  Only 400+ homes, but 4 large lakes to enjoy as we jog/bike around the trails; one of which is in our back yard!  The neighborhood across the street, Coles Crossing, is huge and offers all kinds of entertainment and support.  The best fun we've had is joining their Garage Sale yahoo group and finding so many inexpensive treasures for our home.  Check out the photos of the girls rooms - we got bargains for McKenna - nightstands ($40), bedding ($40) and lamps ($10), and for Sariah - bed and dresser ($200)!  WooHoo!!
• the shopping!  Outlet malls on nearly every quadrant of Houston, high end retail shops and (my favorite) THE CONTAINER STORE!  I managed to live seven dreary years in Alabama without a Container Store - the love story can now continue!  We've met for a few closet and pantry rendezvous and most recently for an elfa encounter.  See photos below.
• the Church!  The Church we attend is fabulous.  I mentioned last time just over 400 members and 179 are under the age of 18.  Plus all those 400 members live within 5-7 miles of each other - the ward boundaries are that compact!  What a network of support and friends!  It is so easy to give/get rides, arrange playdates, meet for callings and visits.  There are a few families that have several generations in the area, but most of us are transplants and quickly feel a bond of Church family since our extended families are so far away. 
• the Temple!  The Houston Texas Temple is 10.3 miles from our home (23 minute drive)  It's a huge gorgeous structure similar to Atlanta Georgia Temple.  We've found several ways to drive there and it's all about 20 minutes.  Our teens' homeschool groups both plan temple trips - one group goes monthly and the other quarterly.  Ken and I love going as a couple and are working to arrange a group trip for the Bishopric members and their spouses.
• the convenience!  Even when McKenna was invited to a birthday party at Cosmic Jump at 5pm on Friday, we made it there without any traffic delays or problems.  I remember in Atlanta that nothing was scheduled before 7pm because of evening 5pm traffic.  The traffic is bad here, too, but there seems to be enough side roads that we can go wherever we want on the northwest side of Houston within reason.  I wouldn't go to the airport at 5pm, but everything else has been really good.  Movie theaters, grocery, shopping, restaurants are all 5 minutes away.
• the parks!  There are several parks (think "everything is bigger in Texas" park :o), and we are just beginning to explore them.  We tried one last week and will pick another one for this week.  One of the homeschool groups has a park day each Friday, too.
• the homeschooling!  It is so easy to homeschool in Texas.  No government hoops to jump through!  We love it.  So many museums and fun places have homeschool classes or homeschool days.  There are too many homeschooling groups to choose from, and we are happy with the few LDS ones we joined.  They offer Shakespeare play in May, Modest Prom, Lego club, Book clubs, Temple trips, Teen Quests, Teen Games nights, art classes, clogging group, Super Singers choir, Mom's nights and so much more.
• the opportunities!  College classes available for 14-year olds, national team gymnastics training, Church leaders and speakers visit or broadcast to us every other month, General Relief Society President's sister, Marsha Decker, lives in our stake as does Daniel Stephens, son of Carole Stephens, First Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency, a member of the First Presidency of our Church will broadcast during our Stake Conference next month, Elder M. Russell Ballard was in our Stake last month and held a fireside for the Youth and Young Adults, Brad Wilcox was here in November of 2012.  Certainly Ken's new career is the best thing about Texas.  He is doing so many different things with the students and truly creating an environment where they want to be the best of the best! 

McKenna's room!

Notice the elfa shelves and desk system.  We'll get a chair soon!

Sariah's room

elfa Shelves and Desk for her too (yep, still waiting for a chair)

Pantry door organizer ($90 what a deal)

Jetta!!  Love this pooch!  She's amazing! 

Pantry Baskets $9/each!  

Week 3 Musings Jan 20

Callings - 

In our church we all share the load of the organization of the congregation, instruction, activities and events.  It's very different from other faiths in that we fully believe our leaders (who are also volunteers) are "called" of God to serve in the several capacities.  And, in some of those several capacities, those volunteers extend "callings" to others in the congregation. 

Ken is currently called to serve as the Ward Executive Secretary.  He works directly with the Bishopric (Minister and two Counselors) as their secretary.  I know this is a call from God because of Ken's free will and choice, he would never choose a DESK JOB!  Haha!!  He chose to be an anesthetist because he can wear pajamas (scrubs), have contact with many people in the surgical team as well as patient care, and he can't bring his work home with him (awkward!).  So now, for about four hours on Sunday and one or two hours every other day of the week, he has a DESK JOB as he makes appointments for the Bishopric to meet with members and youth of the congregation, as he organizes for Council meetings at the church, as he completes paperwork and agendas...  The Lord knows what capacity Ken has and is now showing Ken just how much he can grow.  I would say it's a beautiful sight, but currently he's still in the unidentifiable infant stage.  Check back in a few weeks to see if he's moved to the cute toddler stage.

I am currently called to serve as the Relief Society Meeting Coordinator (women's ministry).  On Sunday, the congregation meets together as families to receive sacrament/communion.  We then meet in separate groups as adults, teens and children for Sunday School class.  Lastly, we meet as women, men, young women, young men and children for instruction.  The women's group is called Relief Society.  In addition to the Sunday instruction, the Relief Society meet once a month during a weeknight or Saturday morning.  It is this meeting that I have been called to organize.  Luckily, I lead a committee of ladies who share in the planning and organizing of these meetings.  Think of it as a GNO with your BFF from church!  Sometimes it's a party as we learn homemaking skills or create beautiful things for our homes.  Other times it's a strength of numbers as we gather with other sisters to assemble care packages for victims of natural disasters.  At other times, we gather to fill our lamps so we can be a strength to our families.  And now, I lead the committee to have all this happen.  I am so scared!  :o)  But scared in a good way because of the responsibility I feel to create an environment where the sister's needs are met, where their faith is strengthened, where they can feel unity of providing local and worldwide relief (thus the name Relief Society :o) and where they can feel strengthened and return home to strengthen their family.

Yesterday, Ken organized a dinner group with the Bishopric members and their wives.  We enjoyed getting to know our new friends in our new city at a new restaurant.  It was a fabulous time.  I loved the conversation and friendship.  We hope to do this again, but attend the temple as a group and then maybe include going to dinner or just out for dessert.

Ward Conference - 

Our new Ward and Stake both have new leadership as of October.  Today was our Ward Conference when we have the leaders from the Stake meet with us to provide lessons and messages. 

FYI - A ward is a congregation assigned by geographic boundaries.  A stake is a group of congregations that are geographically near each other.  Our current ward, the Cypress Ward, is geographically 5 miles wide by 6 miles tall.  The ward we left in Alabama was 40 miles wide and 30 miles tall.  Both have about 400+ on the membership rolls. 

Today the messages brought to us by our leadership are:

• Bishop Wagley - Sanctification:  1) Know the gospel and know the commandments by having daily experience with scriptures, prayer and revelation, 2) Repentance is not a punishment, but a gift from the loving Savior to permit us to access His Atonement and be made clean again, 3) John 17:3, come to know the Savior personally and individually.  Satan desires nothing more than for us to NOT know Christ, 4) Unity = speak kindly and view each other in the best light, be inclusive and friendly to all, 5) Think of each other the way the Savior thinks of us.
• President Lauck - "my only message is to follow the counsel of your Bishop.  All I wanted to mention today was discussed by your Bishop.  As your ecclesiastical leader, he has the right to revelation on your part.  We just received revelation."
• President Welch - Know it, Do it, Become it  Mark 10:17-21 the rich young man knew all the tenants of his faith, but could not go and do (has testimony, but not converted).  Matthew 5:27-28 its not enough to actually do the act of adultery, but anyone who for even a split second has impure thoughts/lust is just as guilty (has testimony, but not converted).  Matthew 5:43-44 love your enemies (the ultimate test if we know it, do it and become it).

PHOTOS:

 An nesting pair of bald eagles live near our area.  We've seen them several times.  This photo was taken 20 yards from our home!  There's a lake near this tree and we've seen the eagles swoop down to catch fish.  It's amazing!

Flashback - Our First Thanksgiving 2012

 

McKenna is paying for riding lessons.  Here she is on "Doc" an Arabian.

Nathan's 16th birthday 12/12/12 - I love this boy soooooo much!

Meet Jetta!  She's in our family as of December 3, 2012.

 The rescue group, Pup Squad, thinks she's about 18 months old and is a Basenji mix.  

I love how smart and agile she is!  It's a pleasure to watch her run and leap and twist in the air.  

She's doing very well with training and will be a great dog.  

We just have to get a few bad habits replaced with better habits.

Welcome 2013!! New year and a new home!

New Year and New Home.

The Maloney's are now in TEXAS!!!

14210 Marin Drive, Cypress, TX 77429

Ken's cell: 832-314-1937 Ken's email: kmaloney00@gmail.com (those are zeros, not the letter O)

Tami's cell: 832-691-2684 Tami's email: tmj997@gmail.com

Kid's phones: Boys 832-691-2746 Girls 832-691-2788

We moved to Texas in November 2012.  Our home is fantastic, and we have great neighbors.  The kiddos love having so many friends just across the street - makes for a party everyday after school!

Ken absolutely loves his job.  He is a the Director of Didactic Education of the Anesthetists Master's program with Case Western University at the University of Texas at Houston.  He spends two days a week in labs and lecturing students here in Houston as well as teleconferencing students in Cleveland, OH and Washington, DC.  The other days he is in the operating room and currently works with Memorial Hermann which was recently rated the top hospital in the country.  He has some flexibility in his schedule can be at home with us about two days a month which makes for great family fun days.

The church here has been fabulous. We learned that there are 428 members in the church and 198 of them are under the age of 18! Nearly half the congregation are kids! It's great!! We've enjoyed several get together for games nights, dinner and dessert.  We are excited to return the favor especially since Santa (my parents) gave us a wonderful housewarming gift – new furniture in the den!

Nathan is one of 17 boys in his church group.  He's worked with several of them on their Eagle Scout projects and has enjoy several amazing scout activities so far - trebuchet launch, rock climbing merit badge, overnight camps and biking.  The trebuchet launch occurred the weekend we moved here.  The Varsity Scouts spent about 6 months constructing a 20' tall trebuchet to compete against other scout groups in a launch the weekend after Halloween.  They launched pumpkins 75-150 yards!  It was awesome and is now an annual event!  Nathan is currently a legally licensed driver and is only beginning to understand the role of chauffeur! We also learned in Texas, high school students can dual-enroll at Lonestar College for FREE and receive high school and college credit.  We just pay for books and a small registration fee.  We're waiting to hear back from the counselor and hopefully will have him enrolled over the summer.

McKenna's class at church has 18 girls!  Seriously, eighteen!  They are all really sweet and not cliquish at all!  She is paying for horseback riding lessons and, since she's homeschooled, can spend an additional four hours at the stables learning horsemanship. Her training is thrilled to work McKenna “like a dog” throwing hay, waking up the horses each morning (removing blankets, feed, water, take to pastures, bring back from pastures).  We hope she'll return to figure skating soon, but until our home in AL sells, we cannot commit to lessons.  She spoke with the organist at church, and the lady agreed to teach McKenna to play the organ.  McKenna has two good friends that live across the street - Reagan and Lily.  She typically goes out to walk them to the bus stop each morning at 7am and then play after school (as long as all homework is done :o).

Logan found a friend from church who lives four houses from us, and he also has several other friends nearby so he's always planning activities with them!  It's so fun to see the things they come up with.  Logan is now an 11-year old scouts preparing to enter Boy Scouts.  He's done well in the program and we're blessed with good leaders in this troop. Logan's excited to join a basketball camp in January.  He's missing our b'ball hoop we had in AL, but hopefully he'll do ok here.

Sariah has several girls her age in the church and two live right in our neighborhood.  I think she's been invited to their house each week we've lived here.  Her Wednesday activity group meets two blocks away, so she enjoys a quick bike ride or walk there and back.  It's so nice everyone lives near each other; we didn't have that in Alabama.  Sariah is having a hard time deciding what to choose for her sport.  We've gone to two fabulous ballet schools to try the classes, and also to a great gymnastics place - the same place that trained 2012 Olympians Chris Brooks and Jon Horton – but I think she's leaning towards gymnastics again!

Ken is serving as the Executive Secretary in the church, and I'm the Relief Society Meeting Coordinator (aka party planner for the women!)