On a more serious note...

... we opened up the job search today, to areas other than just San Antonio. While this may seem somewhat insignificant, it's sort of the last thing we've been holding on to. San Antonio is home. We grew up here, we fell in love here, we've always returned here for wonderful family reunions and now we're finally back! Surely this is where God intends us to be... right? Or, is this the last thing we won't let go of in our attempt to maintain some control over the wheel of our own lives?

Okay Lord, wherever you lead we'll go.

So, we're giving it over, all of it, to God. If he wants us here, he'll open a door for us to stay here, but the willingness of our hearts to go wherever He leads is what's important now. It's huge, and it's scary, and it's honestly not what our hearts desire... but it's right, and there's a peace that's settled in the dust of something we've long been holding captive.

Once again, as they have at a few other turning points in my life, Rich Mullins' lyrics ring through my head almost constantly throughout the day...

Sometimes my life just don't make sense at all

When the mountains look so big, and my faith just seems so small

So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shakin' like a leaf,

You have been King of my glory, won't You be my Prince of peace?

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And I wake up in the night and feel the dark

It's so hot inside my soul, I swear there must be blisters on my heart

So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shakin' like a leaf,

You have been King of my glory, won't you be my Prince of peace?

*

Surrender don't come natural to me,

I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want

Than to take what You give that I need

And I've beat my head against so many walls

Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

*

And this Salvation Army band is playing this hymn

And Your grace rings out so deep

It makes my resistance seem so thin

So, hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shakin' like a leaf...

You have been King of my glory, won't You be my Prince of peace.

Happy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter celebration today! We all got up in the morning to find the Easter bunny had visited and brought lots of goodies to Moira and Ian. Then we all got ready and headed up to San Marcos to go to Kim & Tom's church with them, as well as my parents and Grandmother. We enjoyed getting to see Kim & Tom's church home and worshipping together on Easter morning as a family - we missed you guys, Neal & Janice. After the service we went back to Kim & Tom's for an Easter egg hunt out in the yard for the kids, and a scrumptious dinner of a Honey Baked Ham and all the yummy sides to go with it. Many blessings to you and yours on this beautiful Easter day.

He has risen! He has risen indeed!

St. Patrick's Day

Come on now... with a last name like McCann, you didn't think we'd let today pass without posting some good St. Patrick's Day pictures, now did you?! We decided to go down to the Riverwalk today to check out Waxy O'Connors Irish Pub and Eatery, and had a blast! We were all, as we should be, decked out in green and enjoyed some spectacular Irish food, authentic atmosphere, and of course a pint of Guinness. Enjoy the pictures:

Collin's (outstanding) Bangers and Mash

Janelle's (equally good) Corned Beef and Cabbage

We ended our day with a trip to Barnes & Noble in a search for a good book of Irish folklore, and came home with this one. I hope to read some together with Collin tonight, which should make a good ending to our St. Patrick's day celebration.

Sea World

We finally bit the bullet and got Sea World season passes on Saturday! Here are a few fun pictures from our day at the park:

Moira really wanted to go on the big rollercoasters, so Collin took her on the kiddie Shamu coaster to appease her until she's big enough to ride some of the big ones. Seriously, she really is sitting next to him, you just can't see her from this angle. ;o)

Ian wasn't quite big enough for the Shamu coaster yet, so Mommy took him to do a little fishin'! He practices this game (on a bit smaller scale) at Grammy's house all the time, so he was well prepared. I think we have a natural fisherman in the making...

...check out his prize! What a cute little monkey, and the stuffed one's not too bad either!

Moira and Daddy enjoying "The Cannery Row Caper" a very clever sea lion show.

One of the dolphins we made friends with at the feeding pool. No one had any fish yet, but he must've thought we were cute, so he came up for a better look!

Some of you have asked if we've heard anything back from HEB yet, so I thought I'd update you. The HR recruiter called us last week to let us know that she'd talked to the guys he interviewed with and they both liked him and thought the interviews went really well. Unfortunately, there was an inter-departmental disconnect, if you will, and there aren't any positions open right now. So, he'd pretty much have the job if there was one to be had at the moment, but there's not. She did assure him that things can change on a dime around there though, and asked him to keep in touch with her so she can keep looking for him. So, not bad news, but not great news either. We suppose this opportunity is not out entirely, just deferred. We'll just have to wait and see what God has in store, and what His timing will be. Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes, keep them coming, and we'll keep you all posted.

Showers of blessings

I'm just dropping in to update y'all on how well the interview with H-E-B went yesterday - praise God! Of course, when Collin arrived home, I immediately hammered him for details, to which he was very gracious to oblige, so I will sum it all up. He met with Hugo first thing in the morning and was given some background on his experience with the company. Then they toured the floral processing plant, the snack (where they make potato and tortilla chips) plant, the dairy plant, and saw where they make (H-E-B brand) Creamy Creations ice cream - which was all very interesting according to Collin. Hugo then took him to meet John, the Director of Process Improvement, and had more of a formal interview, which also went very well. He felt he had a good response for every question, and thinks John liked him pretty well. Both Hugo and John said in their own words that even though it's not entirely their decision, they'd love to have Collin on board! Yea - what an encouraging thing to hear from an interview! So, Collin called the HR lady that he met at Texas State and who set up the interview for him, and thanked her for her help and let her know how it went. She told Collin that she'd be talking to Hugo and John and we should be hearing back from her in about a week. Collin said he feels it really went as well as it could have gone, and he sincerely thinks and hopes they'll call him back to continue the hiring process.

So, thank you for your prayers and e-mails and phone calls! We'll be sure to let you know when we hear something back. Yesterday was all sorts of fun for Collin, with a great interview, picking up his newer used car, and getting floor seats to the Spurs game last night! We'd appreciate it if you'd continue to pray over the decision-makers at H-E-B during this next week, and that God would make His will clear to us as well. Much love to you all!

On my heart & mind

Well, our computer has been in the 'shop' for the last week, so hence my lack of posting and even e-mailing, but I wanted to give a quick update about a couple things on my heart and mind.

First, is good news on the job front. Last Tuesday Collin went to a job fair at Texas State University in San Marcos and came away with a very encouraging experience (praise God!). He met with an HR Rep and Manager from H-E-B (a huge grocery store chain in Texas) and they seemed really interested in him for the Management Training Program. It was such a good exchange that the same Manager of one of the processing plants, Hugo, asked the HR girl to set up a time for Collin to come out and see the manufacturing and processing plants, and consider whether he'd be interested in a management opportunity there. They kind of hit it off, and when he asked when Collin was available, to which Collin replied "when do you want me to start," Hugo's eyes lit up and he was very excited that he was available right away. So, we got a call on Friday afternoon scheduling the entire morning today at the plant with Hugo and interviewing with a couple Directors - and that's where he is this morning. So, my head and heart have been in prayer for Collin this morning. We pray that God will make His will known in this opportunity and that it may be the beginning of something wonderful in our lives. Please say a prayer for him if you're reading this this morning. He'll be there from 8am to noon. We'll let you know how it goes once we have a chance to talk together about it.

The other thing that's been on my heart for a few days now is a friend of mine, Erica. She and I met at our church in Montana and have kept in touch since. She and her husband, Kevin, have a son a little older than Moira, Eben, and they've been in the process of adopting a little Ethiopian boy for the last year. The process is finally coming to an end, as Erica is now in Ethiopia this week to bring their sweet little boy, Abel, home. I've been able to follow her trip there to get him on her adoption blog, and it's been a heart-wrenching and very raw experience for me to read her posts. She's scheduled to fly home (about 30 hours of total travel time) with Abel on Saturday, unless she can get an earlier flight for Friday, but they're both struggling with illness and lack of sleep and my heart just goes out to her. Please, please say a prayer for their growing family. For their health, travel mercies, that all the paperwork will be accepted without trouble, and for their adjustment into a new little family of four. What a blessing for little Abel to be taken in to such a loving and God-fearing family. Our prayers are with you.

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west." -Isaiah 43:5

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"We have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

- Romans 8:15