Dad's 60/ Captain Jones Celebration

We had a fun celebration a few weekends back. My Dad turned 60 years old this year. Crazy I know! Also, my older sister Shubhra is in the army and is now a Captain in the army. That's crazy too!

The evening started with honoring my sister Shubhra. She has worked really hard and make alot of sacrifices to be where she is. She has been away from her family, off to trainings and even to Iraq for 15 months. HUGE sacrifices. We are so thankful the Lord protected her and guided her through these last few years.

We are so proud of her and love her so much!

Later in the evening we celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday. What a fun time to reflect on his life and all his accomplishments.

We love you Dad!

The evening started with chatting away and catching up with one another, then eating yummy burgers by Tim, army trivia game, Dad's life trivia game, and then ended with dances from the nieces and nephews.

What a fun time!


The cook of the evening.


Fun gift idea, everyone signed a picture frame of Shubhra and Dad. It turned out great.


Captain Jones


Our dual snacks.


Birthday Boy and his lady. (My dad and mom)


The kids doing a dance they put together as a tribute to Dad and Shubhra. So cute. Brings back memories because my cousins and I used to do this when we were young.


The guys.


The ladies.

4 years

Tim and I have been married for 4 years. Wow, so much have we experience in four years.

- We have lived in 3 different cities (Nacogdoches, Dallas, and now Austin)
- Tim completed DTS (Dallas Theological Seminary)
- I have had four jobs
- Tim has started his own business
- we had our first child
- Started a church (North Village Church)
- Paid off our car
- Have a new car (mini van... a post coming soon :))
- Do ministry in our apt complex
- Traveled to Seattle, Virginia, India, Disneyworld-Florida, and Las Vegas
- Met Kirk Cameron
- Have gone to 20+ Dallas Maverick games
- Been to a Cowboys game
- 2 Dallas Cowboy training camps
.... and so much more!

So thankful for a husband who desires to know God more daily and glorifies God. Amazing father who Neela adores. Yay!

25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.

So I am totally wasting timet tonight on facebook. I ran across this note I did on facebook 2 years ago and enjoying reflecting back. It's one of those "random facts" list about yourself.

Here is the list from 2 years ago:

1. I have been married for 2 ½ years to a loving, gentle, fun lovin man that I simply adore!

2. I am currently 7 months pregnant with a baby girl. We can’t wait! My due date is May 11th.

3. Tim and I are helping start a church with Hill Country Bible church in Austin. We are moving to Austin in May after he graduates from Dallas Theological Seminary.

4. I have this weird fear that if I go to sleep with mascara on that my eye lashes will fall out. Weird I know. I know this can’t happen, but in the back of my mind…

5. I suck at grammar. I have a smart husband that helps me out by proofreading everything I write. (except this )

6. I am currently a kindergarten teacher and love it! I enjoy their innocence, curiosity about the baby, the 100’s of hugs and “I love you” everyday, and seeing their minds full of delight when they are learning new concepts.

7. I love to read, but usually end up falling asleep if it’s at night.

8. I am obsessed with Gilmore Girls. I know people think it’s a weird show, but I love their quick wittiness.

9. I take joy in sending cards, but I don’t do it as often as I would like. I miss the date or get preoccupied with dumb things.

10. I have never been snow skiing and really would like to go someday. But I do love vacations in warm, sunny climates

11. On our honeymoon, I was swallowed several times by a current and had trouble getting out of it. It was scary and hilarious all at the same time. At dinner that night, a guy walked up to our table and said, “I just want to congratulate you for surviving that wave on the beach today! My friends and I were laughing.” I was super embarrassed.

12. I crave, especially now that I am pregnant, Big Macs from MacDonald’s. I know it’s one of the worst foods I can eat, but it sure is yummy. I could probably eat a Big Mac once a week if I didn’t know how bad they are for my health.

13. I love spending 1 on 1 time with girls and just talking and living life together.

14. I have an older sister, Shubhra, who is a First Lieutenant in the Army.

15. I have a younger, Sameer, who is in a band called Flyleaf.

16. One of my favorite books is “Save Kind of Different as Me” by Ron Hall

17. I really enjoy cooking and trying new recipes or simple recipes from friends, but I have put that on the back burner since I have been pregnant. I am dead tired after a day with my energetic kindergarteners.

18. I guess I am a pretty predictable gal because my husband can complete my sentences or he knows what I will say or how I will respond when he says something. I get a kick out of it!

19. Tim and I said our own wedding vows, and in my vows I committed to support the Dallas Cowboys because this is a huge passion of Tim’s. This showed Tim I was serious about supporting him and being committed to him. Hee! Hee!

20. I am obsessed with music. It does not have to be anything particular, I just love to move and groove. I wake up in the morning and the first thing I do is turn the radio on, I get in the car it’s the first thing I do, when I’m getting ready for bed or cleaning our place I have music playing. It truly is an obsession!!

21. My favorite vacation is when Tim and I went to Seattle. We spent a week downtown checking out the sights and being intentional about talking about our marriage, praying together, and just being flat out goofy! My favorite day is when we rented a car and drove to Mount Rainer. Breath-taking! We spent the day hiking and enjoying God’s creation.

22. My number one passion in life is to know God, be obedient to His leading, and my life to reflect His glory.

23. My car is a 1996 Geo Prism and it has 311,000 miles on it! And it’s still going strong with no problems! Thank God!!

24. My favorite book of the bible is Ephesians.

25. I hope you enjoyed a few random facts about me!!

Hidden Wives by Claire Avery

This is a book I read a few weeks ago. It was such a great book. It was so interesting to learn more about fundamental mormons. It's fiction but backed on a true story. I was shocked by so much. Totally recommend it!



Below is the summary on this book.


Fifteen-year-old Sara and her beautiful sister, Rachel, are too young to legally drive a car—but are approaching spinsterhood in Utah’s secret polygamist Blood of the Lamb community. Having long since reached the “age of preparedness,” they will soon be married off to much older men chosen by the hidden sect’s revered Prophet.

As Sara, chosen to become her uncle’s fifth wife, grows more distraught over her impending incestuous marriage, she begins to scrutinize the faith she has followed blindly her entire life. But for Rachel, who will be married to one of the many powerful community leaders vying for her hand, disobeying the Prophet means eternal damnation. Her friendship with the newest member of the community, the young and handsome Luke, starts as an attempt to save his agnostic soul, but ends with the pair falling helplessly in love. When Rachel is forbidden to see him, her absolute faith in the Prophet is severely tested.

When Rachel’s future husband is finally announced, violence erupts, and the girls must find the strength to escape the only life they have ever know…before it’s too late.

Claire Avery has woven a stunning tale that could be ripped from today’s headlines. Shocking and empowering, Hidden Wives is a page-turning debut that will stay with the reader.

Year One of our Church!

North Village Church: Year 1 from Tim Birdwell on Vimeo.

4 Years Baby!

Tim and I have been married for 4 years. Wow, so much have we experience in four years.

- We have lived in 3 different cities (Nacogdoches, Dallas, and now Austin)
- Tim completed DTS (Dallas Theological Seminary)
- I have had four jobs
- Tim has started his own business
- we had our first child
- Started a church (North Village Church)
- Paid off our car
- Have a new car (mini van... a post coming soon :))
- Do ministry in our apt complex
- Traveled to Seattle, Virginia, India, Disneyworld-Florida, and Las Vegas
- Met Kirk Cameron
- Have gone to 20+ Dallas Maverick games
- Been to a Cowboys game
- 2 Dallas Cowboy training camps
.... and so much more!

So thankful for a husband who desires to know God more daily and glorifies God. Amazing father who Neela adores. Yay!

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 2010

Birdwell Family Tradition: Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

I love that Tim loves the Cowboys. I knew it from day one. This has never been a surprise to me. It's been fun for this to be an important bonding activity we do in our marriage. So to honor this commit I made in my vows, we have made it a family tradition to go to the Cowboys Training Camp every year. (well, if it is in driving distance. If not, then we will try to work it into our family vacation that year :))

We took Neela when she was almost 3 months old and now as a 1 year old. She definitely enjoyed it more this year. :)


It was hilarious, 3 people approached us and asked us if they could take a picture of Neela because they thought she looked/is so cute. It was so cute because Neela would kind of pose saying, "Yeah you're right, I am cute." :)


Neela following in her Daddy's steps.


We stayed at the La Mansion off the River walk. (The same hotel we stayed at after our wedding) It was so fun! Neela loved walking out our room to the balcony and walking around.


Pool time at our hotel.



Can't wait till next year!