Thank you is far too small a word to bestow upon you!! However, THANK YOU so much for all the precious gifts you send to us each month! I wish we knew who you were so that we could thank you in person.  Your generosity astounds us! You are being used by the Lord to provide for our family. THANK YOU!!  

As many of you may know, our house in Breckenridge still has not sold. Even after a year and a half of trying!!! (Thank you, Jillian!) Our needs are being met, but as you can imagine the strain of keeping up a house 1200 miles away is draining us.  A few weeks ago we had pipes burst in two places in the house. Praise the Lord there was no water damage!  All this to say, our hearts are a little heavy concerning this issue.  You, my dear secret pal, lighten the load with your sweet gifts. It is a visible reminder that the Lord has brought us here and will feed us straight from His hand. We know that God Himself will sell our house when the time is right, and we are learning to " In everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING" make our requests to the Lord. 

So thank you, whomever you are.  We love you. You make us love Jesus more.

Aevyn used to sit on the front porch in the mornings and wave to the cars.

This was taken in our front yard. We were taking Aevyn for her first hiking trip in her Kelty Kids pack.

61 Rodeo Drive on moving day.

 Anywho, Mama Joe told me that she was sure it would be over 100 dollars to get my hair cut. I was completely mortified. I assured her that never in my life would I ever pay over a hundred dollars for a hair cut to which she responded, "Don't you want to get your hair colored?" This was in light of our conversation about the ever-abounding grey that I have acquired as of late. I must have been looking worse than I thought. My love for Shabby Chic was being transferred into what I looked like.  Her offer was totally sweet, but seriously, I would never pay that much!!!

Oh quite the contrary. I don't have a "hair lady" here. Nor have I EVER had a "hair lady." When I get my hair cut I usually go to the nearest mall and find a shop. So, I went to the Regis in our outdoor mall here in Pearland. As I was having my hair washed so lavishly, I asked the lady what was the delicious smell  that she was applying to my head.  She told me that Regis makes a line of Olive Oil shampoos/conditioners. I decided that this was surely what I needed to make my life better. SO, fast-forward to me standing at the register and the lady tells me that with the shampoo/conditioner it will be a GRAND total of 177.58.  I literally shouted back, "WHAT? I can't pay that!!" "You will have to take back the shampoo/conditioner." It was a spontaneous outburst.

After taking off the products it brought it down an entire 20 bucks for a total of 155.00. I relinquished my money to the dear lady at Regis. Yes, my money. No, I didn't make Mama Joe pay the full amount. I am sure she will kill me after reading this and realizing I paid for some of it. She is the most giving soul. Anywho, I told her that I would post a pic of my new hair. This ones for you, Mama Joe. I LOVE YOU!!!

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And here are the real gifts this Christmas season!

"Sing out for joy for the brave little boy who was God but He made Himself nothing."

Tyler is an EMT and decided to pull over.  We were the second people on the scene. The girl driving next to us was an off duty firefighter and pulled over to help as well.  I remained in the car while Tyler and the firefighter tried to stabilize the dying man. It was a horrific sight. (I must add in here that our society has become numb to the idea of appropriateness on twitter, etc. One of my first instincts was to take a picture of his bike which sat next to me on the interstate.) WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!!!??? Anyhow, there he lay in the middle lane of 610, Tyler holding him, while the traffic came to a stop to see if the man would live. He didn't. 

The paramedics arrived on the scene a little more than five minutes later and the man was pronounced dead. I mentioned before that four guys were riding and only one was hit.  Only one of his friends stopped to check on him. He was drunk and had to be asked to back away, so he got on his bike and rode off. How sad. How tragic.

After the paramedics arrived Tyler got into the car and we continued our drive home. He was so calm, so collected. In my mind I heard Sara, my best friend, saying something she told me years ago when Tyler was on the rescue team in CO. "Leslianne, Tyler is a hero."  I laughed and thought it was true, but so dramatic. Now I must agree. Night after night while I was cozy in my bed Tyler was repelling off 1000 foot cliffs to rescue a hikers, pulling people out of the rubble of wreckage when their cars couldn't fight the snow, searching for weeks on end for people that lose their way on the mountain. Countless people died in his arms. How people in the medical profession see tragedy day after day and remain sane? I will never know.  All I do know is that I drove away and prayed for the man's soul. That somewhere along the way someone shared Jesus with him. That he had received Him into his life...

I was proud. A very proud wife. Tyler somehow has the capacity to serve the Lord out of an abundance of love for Him, with tenderness of heart and yet have the stoutness to pull someone out of the wreckage and try to save their life. That is my husband, the hero.

Introducing the newest member of the Newberry family, Daisy. She belongs to the Elderberrys.

Hope yours was as great as ours!

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Another exciting thing in the Newberry household is the developing South Campus building of Second Baptist Church. We are so excited to be a part of such an awesome time in our church's history.  The  South Campus has met in the Cinemark Theater for nearly four years.  This Christmas Eve we will have our first service in our new building. Each week Tyler and I and the kids ride our bikes to see what has developed.  

Now, on a more domestic note. I acquired two wingback chairs from my mom that I had planned on having reupholstered.  However, when I found out how much it is to reupholster I confess I thought about attempting it myself. My mom, upon giving the chairs to me, said, "Leslianne DO NOT try to upholster these chairs." She knows me all too well. The other day I got bored and again I thought seriously about doing it.  Instead I decided to make a slipcover. I had some old fabric from some curtains I had made, so I decided to have a practice round. Please remember I had nothing to go by, and it was my first time. I think it turned out quite nice!  I can't wait to get some fun fabric and make real one!!

Bofre

After

I have recently been making aprons. I made this craft apron for Aevyn's best friend, Caris' birthday.

 We are so happy to announce that our grass has officially grown in!

A birthday apron for my friend, Erica.

Who has ever heard of pumpkin picking in 100 degree weather?

 "Stoney, say 'Cheese!' "

Aevyn would move into the goat barn if I let her.

 Seriously cute pumpkins.

Amazingly enough,  you don't have to teach little girls to be princesses. Somehow it is inherent. I have been wondering if there is a spiritual correlation..... What do you think?

Here are some new lyrics I started tonight. Last week at the MIX, the Pearland Campus' mid-week service for students, Terry Kurtz (student pastor) gave a great message on the tongue as a weapon. I took some notes and have been thinking about writing a song about the tongue since last Wednesday. Here is the start of it. Right now the melody is "dark." I've never written a melody like this so I'm exited. I have no idea where this song is headed, but thought you might like to see a song in the making. Who knows, I might even finish it:

Sticks and stones
broken bones
words were said
that called for dead

the poison's in 
your pocket watch
cyanide 
is in your eye

evil stares
and lack of care
are coming out
of your mouth.

if walls could talk
they would tell
you to walk
away from this 

deadliest,
deadliest,
weapon in,
the world is your,
steadiest,
steadiest,
weapon in
your arsenal

This is one of six birdcages I have picked up! Currently the rest of them are on my mantle. I can't resist a good birdcage!

 This little dresser is the epitome of shabby chic. Maybe a little more shabby than chic. It was stark white and ugly when I bought it and pickled it. Now, it is a nice shade of yellow, and still a little ugly. $60.

 I have started collecting strange portraits. This one is from a man that lives down the street whom also shares my love of antiques. He sold me this and another portrait of a matador for $5.

This little chest of drawers was $80.

My mom picked up this darling coral colored table for me!

Aevyn thinks this is my grandaddy.

This little stool was ancient of days. I rescued her and covered her in my favorite fabric: toile. Oh yeah, that is my antique fire screen too.

This is my favorite antique thing: my 50's bench. What a snag for 50 bucks!

I don't have a clue what the story is on this painting, but I love it so much!

This was the most hideous thing you have ever seen until it was painted lipstick red... Tyler is going to kill me for putting those two words on this blog.

Now I will leave you with a picture of my living room, so that you won't be too afraid to come visit me!!

See, it's not TOO weirdo!!

This first picture is of the BrowsAroun (notice the non-"d") Antique Store. It is absolutely fabulous. I have decorated most of my house with diy projects from this store, but that is a whole nother blog. If you know me, then you will know that this place is a budget breaker for me.  We are on a first name basis with the owner, Don, a sweet, retired old man. If we are ever in another antique store Aevyn asks me if we are there to see Mr. Don. Also, this is where Aevyn walked in the door and said that it smelled like an elephant.

HOW pray tell, did I live without HEB? Here, truly, everything is better!!! This place is amazing. I have found their prices very compatible with Wal-Mart, and you would not believe how amazing the food is. They have people on-sight doing cooking demonstrations all over the store.  They give away free balloons to the kids. They give you "Buddy Bucks" to go play in the toy dispensers. They make fresh tortillas, and sushi right before your eyes. Not to mention, these stands are all manned by people native to the country of the meal they are cooking:) LOVE this place. Oh, and did I mention the huge, two-seater carts?? 

Please disregard the nastiness of this photo. My third favorite place in Houston, is The Pear Tree. YUMMY! If you are a girl and like girl food (ie. chicken salad, chocolate coke cake, tea, etc.) then THIS is where I will take you when you come to visit. The owner shares my love of toile, and it is a wonderful, girly place to have a meal.  

This is my dear friend Meredith. Here we are at Empire Cafe in Mid-Townish Houston. This place is awesome! My favorite thing to eat here is the Tortellini Salad. They have pieces of cake that are literally the size of my head. It is unbelievable. The ambiance is very chic and uptown. LOVE IT.

Lastly, Second Baptist Church. I cannot begin to express my love for this church, and our sweet Pastor, Dr. Ed Young.  We have been blessed beyond measure by the health of this body and it's obedience to the Word.  Every Sunday morning when I prepare to lead worship I tell the Lord that going to corporate worship is like a drug. I can hardly wait to taste the presence of the Lord, and hear the Word.  Of course, everyday is like that with Jesus, right? We are so thankful to God for bringing us here and hope to have MANY more years in Houston!

Did I fail to mention the Cupcake Cafe?? OH MY WORD.

I'll get to it in a second, but I want your help on something. Writting an unessesary song is like writting an unecessary book - it's as worthless as a crack in the sidewalk. As any wordsmith would, I struggle with word choice in cooperate music. It is no different in non-Christian music. For them, a parady song might say, "Oh, baby, sexy, hot, yeah/Spin it, dip it, hips, now." (I just made myself laugh out loud in public, if you're curious). On the other hand worship lyrics seem required to include, "Holy, righteous, worship, sing/Praise, lift it up, heaven king." I mean no disrespect, after all I've probably used all those words in one song or another. I have a hunch that we're paying the price now, with making worship music a market. Song writers flooded the streets, right or wrong, and filled CCM with haphazard sing-alongs. Bands that were suffering as touring artists simply (yes, simply) released a worship album.

Some worship pastors/leaders may frown at me, but I'm exited about changing the trends and turning the ship. A modest calculation, I've played 5,000 songs live over the past 14 years (comparitively, that's not many). As a worship pastor the vast majority of them were not original songs. Personally, I have a vision to see that vast majority become the vast minority. I'm exited about it too! Side Note: I'll never stop covering songs. There are some talented, provoking, cooperate song writers out there - Matt Redman, Robbie Seay, David Crowder, Charlie Hall, Phil Wickham, Jeremy Horn and Matt Papa, for example. I'm indebted to these men and will continue to play (and pay to play for) their music.

Here's where I need your advice. What do you want to hear that you're not hearing? For instance, I just finished "Nobody Does It (Quite Like You)," challenging listeners to remember that we've missed the mark if we think we've filled our own pockets. I'm also wrestling to finish "Property Lines." It says, "Kindness hits a wall around our property lines," meaning we don't mind ministering to people as long as they don't cross into our personal space. What about you? What attributes of God do you not hear about that you want to hear about? What issues in the church can we encourage one another about in song?

I look foward to hearing some ideas from you. Thanks! Who knows, you may inspire a new song!

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Sunday (Pearland)
4:45am alarm clock
6:30 load in
8:30 service
9:45 service
11 load out
11:45 get home
12:30 leave for airport
1:15 airport arrival
2:15 take off
3:45 land in Memphis
5:00 sound check
6:30 service

Monday (Memphis)
11 leave for airport
12:45 take off
2:25 land in Houston
4:20 arrive at home

Tues (regular day)
10:30 meeting
2:20 meeting

Wednesday (regular day)

Thursday
(regular morning)
4:00 take nap
6:00 load car, begin vacation!!
6:30pm drive back to Memphis

Friday
4:30am arrive in Memphis
4:31 sleep
wake up

Monday
leave precious kids in memphis w/ grandparents
lunch w/ friends in nashville, tn
evening w/ friends in louisville, ky

Tuesday
morning w/ friends in louisville, ky
afternoon, head back to nashville
evening, arrive at pickwick cabin
do nothing

Wednesday
do nothing
then, do nothing

Thursday
morning, do nothing
lunch in Memphis

Friday
do nothing

Saturday
6:00am drive to Houston
4:00pm resume life in Houston
7:00pm band rehearsal