10 months Month Day!

I cant believe two things that you are SO fun!! I mean, you are laughing all the time and talking all kinds of gibberish, you are much more talkative than your sissy ever was, which kind of scares me for when you are 3 and chattering as much as her :)  You arn't walking yet which is fine with us, but not to you, you get SO upset if you cant push the chairs all over the house with nothing slowing you down! 

Tonight we had a holiday scavenger hunt in the house and you were shaking your hands and bouncing on my hip as we ran from station to station lol. 

You love music, you cant help but move when you hear it

You love your bahbah, you say it but don't know what you are saying lol, you just act like you are grabbing air when you REALLY want you bottle, your food, your daddy when he comes home

Your little teeth that show so proudly are the CUTEST things we have ever seen!  They don't feel good when you dig them into my shoulder :) but they are precious!
Speaking of teeth, they keep you up a lot of nights! But we are used to sleepless nights!

Yesterday though I thought we were making strides that you woke from nap and were playing alone in your bed for a few minutes, and i could see you laughing and playing in your bed.... I went in to find to my HORROR you had pulled off your diaper, pooped all over the bed, and had shmeared it ALL over you, your clothes, the bed, the bumper pads, the wall... your hair, your face.... then me, then the tub... it was NOT the sight I was looking forward to lol

Sissy is learning how to be more careful with you, you are just such a little dare devil that she forgets you are a little baby!  You keep stealing her folding chair and STANDING in it when i turn to put the juice away!  Then when i tell you "no no baby girl" and come to get you down you bounce your knees slap the back of the chair and say "GAT!" and laugh... lol not sure what you are saying but i know you mean business! :)

You can clap and clap SO well!  You clap every time we say " yaayyy Sadie"  it's so sweet to see you make use of your new trick.  When we sing "ive got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart and clap, you join right in!"

I love to sit with you and you lay back on me and watch sissy be silly or watch baby Einstein and you let me brush your little hairs with my hand, your so precious to us my darling

Our trip to Bama meant you got to meet and see a lot of new faces.  You started being bashful and when someone new would come around or after your nap you saw a few faces you would lay your head under my chin and smile and be shy, its the CUTEST thing ever! 

I can already see that you love a good laugh and playing.  Your not as "go to anyone" as Kehnley was, but when you warm up to someone you are all smiles.  One thing is for sure when Pawpaw sings you have all eyes on him and you sat in his lap and ate your lunch while he ate his and you just cruised to him and put your hands up for him to hold you, it was a special moment for both of you!

You are closer and closer to walking and you will see something like, Lilly, me, a candy cane, a piece of plastic, a bean, something shinny, and just go for it and start walking and then realize you are on your own and drop to your knees lol. One of these days your just gonna walk all over the place!  I can't wait!  In the mean time I will enjoy your big open mouth smile as you walk towards me and fall on me so glad to be off your feet. 
You're changing me everyday Sadie Bug, I love you!

Wordless Wed: Trip to the Waterwall!

25 days til Christmas!!!

Th. Day 2 Make a gingerbread house with Fancy and Read Mortimer's Christmas Manger

F. Day 3 Holiday craft with Fancy! Drink Apple cider, share with Sadie- talk about the "good news"  what's the good news about Christmas and what does sharing mean?  mem. verse: Luke 2:10 "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

St. Day 4 Make Holiday treat with Granny and put together the manger at her house, teach Sadie the story!  mem. verse: Luke 2:12 "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Sn. Day 5 Take family pics for Christmas Card! Make something special to go inside, what is the dove-explain the Holy Spirit as best I can to a 3 yr old :)

M. Day 6 Drink Hot Choc. and watch holiday movies and cuddle on the couch!
Verse for the day:  Ps. 118:24 "This is the day the lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it"

T. Day 7 Make Christmas Tag stars and talk about the Star Of Bethlehem (kehnley: "bet-love-ham")

W. Day 8 Finger Puppet Choir and get instruments and be a holiday marching band! (shes only going to want to sing jingle bells)

Th.Day 9 Shrinky Dink Ornaments for family night! Christmas meal- only red and green things to eat!

F. Day 10 Make Rudolf Cup Cakes and watch Rudolf, talk about what special gifts God gave YOU!!

St. Day 11 Ice Skating with the Fam. at Discovery Green
http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/pdf/printables/1206c_ice_skating_adventure.pdf

Sn. Day 12 Make our own wrapping paper with found objects from MJP park for an angel tree family who needs presents under their tree

M. Day 13Make Crystal Ornaments and other fun crafty ornaments (mittens, wreaths, candy canes, folk art trees) for Friends and pray for SNOW!


T. Day 14 Watch Frosty make an extra snowman for Sadie on tree skirt and a winter wardrobe fashion show! (with this book to color and practice counting)

W. Day 15  Get some gifts that we don't need or use anymore to give to some kids in need!  Write a letter to Santa and gather things for him to give to ppl who don't have a home this year like blankets, boots, books etc. & Take some to a Local Donation Center! eat only red and green since we forgot to the other night!  mem verse: 'They give generously to those in need." Ps. 112:9

Th. Day 16  Holiday Baking day at Granny's!! 

F. Day 17 Put up a tent and read Room for a Little one to all our stuffed animals by flashlight

St. Day 18 Holiday Scavenger hunt!! (finding symbols of Christmas all over the house and what they mean!)  Draw things we found on our chalk wall!! Color pages printables!!

Sn. Day 19 Bake Holiday Bread for those that we are giving baked goods to for Christmas and learn the Lord's prayer (Kehnley)

M. Day 20 Pack for a journey as if you were Mary and Joseph going on the journey to Bethlahem or the shephards or Wisemen!  (whilst mommy and daddy pack for our journey to Bama!!)  Mem Verse: "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2:15

T. Day 21 Road trip to Bama, color and build your own snowman, thank God for all the different seasons!
http://printables4kids.com/color-cut-and-build-your-own-snowman/cut-build-printable-snowman/

W. Day 22 Go look at light at Bellingrath gardens lights at night with the Family

Th. Day 23 Gather items that Santa will need to give to people in need on Christmas even and bake him cookies!

F. Day 24 Make Birthday Cake for Jesus and think of a nice thing you could do for someone else as a gift to Him (that's what He likes for His birthday after all :-D )  *

St. Day 25 See who can find the crown in the tree and give it to Jesus for His birthday! Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and celebrate with a cake and special breakfast! mem verse: Acts 17:7 "there is another king, one called Jesus"

~~~~~~~~~

* Make a gift for Jesus. Wrap an empty box, and put a slit in the top. Whenever anyone does anything nice for someone else, they can write it on a slip of paper, and put it into the box for Jesus. These can be shared on Christmas Day.

Advent and Christmas Traditions

Dear Advent box, how I have missed you.  Last year we had a blast and Kehnley really thought you were magic how you would always have a new fun treat and instructions for a fun day ahead as we counted down the days til Jesus' birthday.  This year I can't wait to see you because she knows a little more and is going to be SO excited to see what you have in store!  Of course we have our nativity advent that helps us keep our days all in a row and as we fill the manger with all the animals and angels I can't help but get a little anxious to see what Sadie will do with you when I am not looking!

Some old some new family traditions to share, please feel free to let me know yours AND use some of ours!

25 stories of Christmas:
This year we are going to wrap a book (some old some new) that are all about Christmas and since Bry misses all the advent full all day while he's away at work, he will be the one to greet her with a new wrapped book every day when he gets home and that will be the book she gets to read at bedtime with us.  I can't wait for her to see the Grinch Stole Christmas Original, and a new book I found called God gave us Christmas!

Hidden Crown:
My husband is German and I looked up years ago German traditions for Christmas, i also asked about some that their family had when he was growing up.  Is mom shared with me how her mom, the boys Granny would decorate the tree and keep it hidden until Christmas eve!  That was the first time they got to see it!  But since I am pretty obsessed with falling asleep on the couch by only the light of the Christmas tree each year (there is just a joy that brings me that I can't express) lol  I couldn't do that one, but hiding a pickle in the tree is a tradition for many Germain homes and who ever finds it gets a special treat.  Well, this year we are hiding a crown. We did something like it last year, but I am going to REALLY hide it good this year and who ever finds it gets to put it on the cake and present it to Jesus for His birthday!  (Hopefully K will find it first! lol)

Christmas bake off:
We have a Christmas baking cookie exchange that I hope to share with some new friends and family this year!  Last year at the Blowey's K had a blast decorating "goodies"  for friends to share, she wanted to eat all those "goodies" as she called them all the time though! 

Shrinky-Dink:
Every year for many years (Bry loves this....well....he's grown to love it) we make shrinky-dink ornaments!  They are SO fun, great keepsakes and make the best gifts!  And it's just amazing seeing all those big drawings and art work shrink down to pretty little ornaments for our tree!  One day when I am old and gray i will have enough shrinky-dinks to cover a tree all on their own!  (And Bry will probably have a billion deer feeder scenes he's created from year to year on his!)

Advent Box:
I get ideas from blogs and websites and my crazy sleepless nights up for hours thinking about things to make and do on the days leading to Christmas that are fun and silly and remind us the joy of the season!  Some are the same each year... some are different.  Here is the first for this year and the sources I have for the rest I will post tomorrow.  (it's been a CRAZY week!)

W. Day 1  Make a wreath for Advent. Talk about what advent means.  Decorate the tree and Bry is bringing the first wrapped book today all about the Christmas tree!!


Speaking of Christmas Tree, this guy wanted in on the fun this year!  Happy Adventing everyone!!

Some Sources:
http://www.familyfun.go.com/ or http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/homemade-christmas-gifts/
http://www.bhg.com/
Book called New Noel
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/
http://holidays.kaboose.com/christmas/
http://christiancrafters.com/Journey-to-the-Manger-cvr.gif

           

             
 

Advent 2010

Today is the first day of advent all over the world.  The word advent actually means the arrival or to come... its the tradition of awaiting the coming of Christ, when He came to the world the first time and to celebrate that glorious day!  But more so, to celebrate and anticipate when He will come again!!  I hope that you and your family will find fun and creative ways to anticipate more than just the presents under the tree but the true meaning of Christmas.   I am posting my advent day by day family fun calendar tomorrow full of the things that we will do this year to get out girls excited about Jesus' birthday...feel free to steal ideas and make up your own!  This truly is the "most wonderful time of the year."   If there are any things that you and your family love to do to anticipate this day I'd love to hear about it!

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. " Isaiah 9:2

9 month 3.42 years

SADIE
you are nine months and 2 weeks old and you are starting to really go go go... no walking yet, praise the LORD !  :)  I can barely keep up with your wonder crawl!  You are starting to talk more now, and scream a little too... your first "words" are dah-dah, but you don't yet know who they belong to, everytime you say "dah-dah" I say "where is dah-dah" and you say nothing but smile at me, and Kehnley says "attt woooorkkk!" lol so proud of herself for knowing the answer!  You get pretty up set Sadie girl when you run into something with your push toy, or the chair, or the rocker, or the elphant, or anything you are trying to get going somewhere and its enterupted by the wall or a person or a little dog named Lilly.  You get sooo upset you begin to scream a bit and throw a fit :)  But we laugh and help you and love you through it lol.  Lat night you were holding some fake food from the pretend kitchen in hand and stood all by your self for  while but didnt realize it and when you finally did, you eased back down to your tushie.  So if you want to just stand a while, that's fine with mommy and daddy, we can deal with that!
Your favs:
fav. food - anything you can put all over you or something else!  And your just discovered puffs!
fav. toy - the little radio that plays music you be-bop to it and it's so cute to watch!
fav. show -  you like baby einstien or course, motzart, BUT you laugh at the backyardigans and LOVE the music!
fav. outfit - well you cant really have asay yet, thanks goodness lol, but you are wearing many a fottied pj bc its the only thing that keeps you covered and sleeping soundly!

Kehnley you are almost 3 1/2 but not there yet!  You are so busy busy girl, with all your animals dressing them for tea parties, everything is "wonderful" these days you say "this smells wonderful"  "my bed is so comphy, it's wonderful"  "your eyes look wonderful"  "this sausage is my favorite, its wonderful"  i have to say, you my dear are "wonderful".  You are getting a little mind of your own, if you didnt have it already, you are asking "why this and why that"  and before I can even answer while i am thinking of the right way to say the reason "why" you can not pull on your sisters legs in her bed to pretend she is slidding down the hill"you say to me "mom, tell me, tell me know, you need to tell me why"  Or when i say ' sweetie we can't run and scream at the top of our lungs like sadie or Lilly is trying to get you because (and before i can get the words out that says because it's making my head hurt, but really it's not safe) you say "mom,telll me whyyy" lol.  I am glad that your inquiring mind wants to know so much, even if it means I explain everything in great detal all day as if I am writing a documentary piece about how the world we live in works, what all God has made for His glory, and how not to kill ourselves.  :)

Right now you are learning, thanks to this time change we are experiencing (fall back), how to play quietly in your room until the sun comes up or mom comes and gets you.  You are coloring in your closet right now and I hope you are loving this quiet time in the morning.  I am trying to have routine with you girls and really praying God show me how to organize all the  things that I love and want to do in a manner that it keeps us all on a schedule.  I have  heard something about people thriving on a schedule, or something :)  So that's what I am trying to do!  Being a creative person means you are ill equipt with the skills to be type A and have eveything planned to a T.... but I am trying to find a marriage of both worlds for you and your sissy.  Wish me luck!
Ok a quick list of fav:
fav. breakfast- frozen yogurt pops(i just froze the horizon ones) and toast no jelly just butter
fav. toy - daddy old train set I swear i keep meaning to paint
fav. show - how the grench stole christmas, classic cartoon, moms old fav!
fav. outfit - jeggins and a "winter top" which is anything we just bought you or out of storage from last year that has long sleeves :)  

Work is hard work!

I was looking for something, not sure what and I noticed that Feb 2009 I posted that I was launching stuff for White Bird Press, well i kind of did...and then the company took a big turn, I got really busy with a few jobs and then my 3 year old, and my work at the school was a lot to handle for me to do it well, then I was blessed to find I was pregnant and prep for that took off... life has a funny way of being what you didnt plan it to be.  But in a good way, in the world of thought where I know that all I have is the Lords and His timing is perfect I'm not embarrassed that WBP isnt fully launched on the web yet or that I have yet to make my new business cards or upload images of my work on my website or finish creating my Etsy page.  I am fully content letting it work out when the time is right.  I had a baby girl only 9 short months ago, withing week 2 she and Kehnley and myself then Bry were sick with the stomach flu and then a month or two later I was in the ER with a baby that shouldn't breath, my sister in law had a baby girl, my best friend had a baby, my husband went on a mission trip for  2 weeks, i traveled, i worked, i started a home school teaching job once a week that i have to plan for twice a week, I realized that my time spent as a mom and encouraging others in my same season of life is what God wants me to do right now and not all the things I scribbled onto sketchbook and my to do list... and I am glad to be okay with that.  "whoo do you love" is a sister company that my mom and I have ideas and prototypes busting out of the seams to get out there to the consumer world, but I dont want to miss the few times Sadie lets me hold her and she just plays with my eye lashes, to be at the canvas, the sewing machine, or the computer.  I am typing this so that days when I feel like a failure, or I am disappointed that I haven't done all I planned in the past year, I realise that what I am doing, actually will mater when I'm gone.  Maybe one day I'll have White Bird be all it was meant to be and more, in the mean time...I am going to say it is what it is, and I will get to all of it when the chance arrives. :)

Ok, off to bed, the girls are actually sleeping these days!  Praise the Lord and thank you for B Complex!  This web stuff might happen sooner with a little more than 4 hrs of sleep! Holler!

How to Tuesday: Die a shirt!

I went to the Rit page to figure out how to die the shirts I am going to use to make some turkey shirts for Thanksgiving, BUT this site has pictures... lets face it, you know I'm visual!

SO check it out!  http://www.honeybearlane.com/2010/07/how-to-dye-onesie.html

Enjoy!  I'll post pics of the shirts when they get all good and green... or orange not sure what color to go with yet!

Over and over again...

 "I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May he be pleased by all these thoughts about him, for I rejoice in the LORD. " Psalm 104:33-34

I am amazed at how I could be reading God's word for so long now and still find something new, I pray that when I am 90 I will still be in awe of the ability He has to reveal Himself new to me over and over again. 

How do I teach my children about the thankfulness that stirs in my heart towards God and all He has done, all He has made?  This is the task I face today.

How will you?  I am yet to find an answer...

Mess-O-Meter

This is one of many blogs i visit frequently.  I dont get all my play and teaching ideas together on my own, and this is proof of that.  I need to remember to let mess and noise be a catalyst to learning and fun.  I usually live by that moto, but sometimes I get sucked into the weird world of moms who think that their kitchen needs to be spotless and home a hum of quiet reading with soft classical music playing... i don't even like classical music that much.  Anyway, here is to the moms out there that let their kids get a little mess, and to my Gran who says " you are more precious than this thing or that"  when her kids would mess something up or heaven forbid break something that was once really important to her.  She knew that they were worth far more...

(Dont get me wrong i think i might have cried when Kehnley broke my little bird pepper shaker, but quickly remembered Gran's words and moved on)

Here are our little messes....

How to Tuesdays...Make Chalk Paint

1.Measure out the 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into a medium sized bowl. You need put the cornstarch in first to prevent lumps.

2.Add 2 tablespoons water and 4-5 drops food coloring and mix until smooth. You can add more food coloring if you want a brighter color. This is also a great activity to teach children about color mixing.

3.Take the paint outside and create your masterpiece!

4.Let your drawing dry before walking on it. It will wash off in the next rainfall, or you can clean it off earlier with a hose. It may be a little lighter in color than traditional sidewalk chalk.

It's raining and cold so we can't paint with Chalk just yet, I hope tomorrow...BUT in the mean time, here is Kehnley having fun with Window colors, her creativity is amazing to me!  Try them out sometime, they are easy to clean up I promise :)

Revelation...

Something that came to me this week that I can not shake is the Revelation of serving my family, tending to these little ones and taking care of my home, doing mundane or prosaic tasks that I fulfill everyday has great purpose in me becoming like Christ.  He gave with no expectation, He loved without promise of return, He served relentlessly.... I want to be like Him, and if this is as close as I get to that right now in my life, I will be satisfied!

"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matthew 20:28

How to Tuesdays... Make a Tutu

Ever Wonder how to make your own Tutu?  Well, thanks to my sister Nicole and some searching I am on my way to making Sadie and Kehnley their very own Wreck Em Tech skirts for the game in Lubbock next month!

Stay tuned for more "How to Tuesdays" on my blog bc I am feeling creative these days... maybe it's because of my lack of sleep... Dear Red Bull, I miss you, hope to sip you soon! Forever tiredly yours, Keri


Source:  momdot.com

C is for Corndogs, Cat angels and CANTON!

Annual Canton trip was underway this year with many unexpected and some new friends to join the bunch!  My mother-in-love is the coordinator for canton I swear one year I will be putting pics of her face on shirts and we will say "have you seen our Canton Queen Bee?" lol  because its inevitable even if you aren't meaning too, you will loose the people you are with and see others you never thought you would whilst roaming the grounds at the First Monday Trade Days in Canton TX.  I am in LOVE with the many hilarious texts I kept getting from Megan on my Saturday morning drive up there. We decided to forgo our individual canton rooms for Friday night and make the trek on Sat morning, not sure how I feel about that as far as for next year, but one thing is for sure, I will be baby free next year.  Sadie was a trouper and she learned how to sleep in her stroller and in my arms and in a pack and play, but an 8 month old in Canton is a little tough.  Lyndz said at one point "i cat believe you do with with a baby!" lol.  After standing in line for a sandwich some fruit and a drink for 30 min in the sweltering "wasn't it supposed to be cool" heat, hearing a 3 yr old whimper and whine for his mom to "hold me mama, hold me, hold me mama" and then her to pick him up and him still whimper and whine... it was a real realization that maybe kids should be banned from canton?  I definitely know that Kehnley would want to die if she came, and shed be crusen in one of the canton wagons fashioned with sleeping bags and pillows like the kids were having a pj party!  We founds some cool new artwork and met the artist it was my Christmas stock up, many pieces of furniture for the girls, a lot of cute clothes that would hurt my bank account to mention.  Some amazing wreaths... I bought supplies to make my own this year, pics of that coming to a Christmas album near you!  and enough frickles, sun-dried tomato and spinach pizza, and kettle corn to last me til next years trip!  Lyndz and her mom came, so did Amy and her mom and Landry's mom, Megan her mom and her friend Shelby and her mom, Cole and Donna, Lauren and Becky... it was CERTAINLY a mother and daughter affair... even Ansley and Kairi showed up for dinner at the Jalapeno Tree (the place we eat every year on Sat night..they have the BEST Tortilla Soup!) 

Some things are just too predictable for canton and too canton-licious to forget!!

1. I got so sick on Saturday so bad that it was hard to sleep that night and I just wanted to lay on the floor and cry

2. Me and mom spent half the day Sunday looking for a parking spot or trying to get to our car with all our new buys falling off our canton cart.

3. Bought enough soup mixes to keep my kitchen cooking time down to bare minimum over the next few months or more!

4.Came home wondering what in the world I actually bought because although I was thoughtful about it at the time when Bry asked me I just couldn't pin point anything but the soups!

5. Filled up my garage with all the things that canton had to offer this year and know I wont get it all put away for another few weeks.

6. Already thinking of what I might be looking for next year....can't wait!  See you in Canton 10/03/11!

34 weeks

That's how long you have been with me and it feels like its rushing by so fast! 

You can:

sit up

roll over

crawl so fast

stand up

walk from close object to another close object

chew on a biscuit
eat baby food
drink from a bottle
hold a bottle with your feet
make anyone smile
laugh very loudly
squeal like your sister
talk to lilly
babble in your bed
roll a ball
feel my face when you wake up in the morning
hear daddy's voice and want to see him
cry in the middle of the night
put your passy in your mouth by yourself
steel another baby's passy
splash in the tub
hold something with two hands over your head in delight
push a chair around the room

You will:
walk so soon
talk sweetly just like your sister
clap your hands
stand by yourself
feed yourself
close the door in my face
laugh at something you've done on your own
always be my little girl
sleep all night (i hope)
move to a big girl bed one day and I will probably cry
hold hands with your sister and walk together
run and run and run
jump
hug your daddy's neck by yourself
give kisses on purpose
say a prayer
never fully know just how loved you are

You do:
growl a little bit when your excited
wake up a little too often at night still
make us so happy
get food all over the place when you eat
LOVE to eat at your chair
drive Kehnley a little crazy by climbing at her table
and eating her toys
and pulling her hair
always smile and in your own way say "im a baby I didnt know!"

love to feel stuff with your pointer finger it cracks us up

play on the computer til mommy says "oh no!"

love to hear me sing to you and make your hands clap

teach me so much about myself its scary

love to be outside

have a compassionate heart already

amaze us!

crawl away a LOT and I have to stop in a split second and find you again... sounds like I'm not an attentive mom or not paying attention its not true.. you just get curious and gone SO fast!

You must:

slow down and let me hold you more, rock you more, laugh with you in my arms, and never ever forget that the one who made you , makes no mistakes!  You're perfect in every way, I love you!!

Sadie needs bumper pads!

Seven things I want to be SURE to remember about my seven month old baby girl.

1. You are still the most smiling girl ever...you crinkle your nose when you smile, though getting more expressive when you want a toy and you cant reach it, or mommy doesn't let you play with it while you're eating
2.  You not only pull yourself to standing you will now reach for something near by to step from one place to the next
3. You can climb Fancy's stairs!
4. You have a little tooth on the bottom coming in!
5. You fav food seams to be pees! weird!
6. You squeal at lilly even when shes barking at you and thinks you are trying to get your food... which you do!
7. You crawled into sissy's room the other day sighed and laid your head down on her fluffy white pillow and just smiled and laid there, it was the cutest thing EVER!

I love it when you cuddle me, although these days you would much rather be crawling around or bouncing on something. 
Fav toy: the run around standing table, you just run and squeal lol
Fav. time of day:bath time, you kick your legs when you see that tub full of bubbles, and you are out of your bath seat because you wouldn't just chill there now you are sitting on a bath mat in the water and play like your big sissy.
Fav. show: Baby's first moves
Fav. Song: "if your happy and you know it" I have tried all sorts of songs, you don't get nearly as excited for anything like you do that song
Fav. outfit: a onsie with leggings so you can move and grove! 

I love you so much!
God thank you for this sweet girl who never keeps me serious too long, her smile is intoxicating and I just cant imagine what she will say when she can put words to these expressions.  Thank you for the lesson in joy she has taught us.  I think of how I will be able to hold her less and less as she starts to walk, thank you for those moments as they come and help me to cherish them and never neglect that time we have.  (even if its in the middle of the night over sore teeth).  I pray you put your word in her heart as she sees us living it out every day.

More than my husband

I'm breaking my 30 day blogging strike for this post:

Some people don't believe me when I say that I have loved him for half my life and hoped for him the other... this picture might just prove that...

we were 15!





It's true that we don't always aggree and I know my lack of time managemnt drives him crazy, as eaqually crazy as it makes me when he is acting like he's doing something besides looking at his watch, it's totally obveouse I don't know why he tries to fake me out.  Matt Chandler claims that there is no such thing as the "mythical one" but I believe that Bry is my one, my only one.  I don't just say that to impress some on looker or get the affectionate "awww" from the blogger world.  I think if you know both of us well, you'd aggree, there just isn't one without the other.  Bry you know you are much more than my husband, you'r my __fill in the blank__.  Whatever you can think of, you are! I love you, happy birthday!

Beach Bums

We all need a little sand between our toes sometimes!

Picture project-October

I am loosing my mind not sure why I am up right now... and whilst I am up I am not sure why I get so distracted by things that are not on the important immediate to do list.. if you know me you know that i obsess about albums, getting them done, looking at pics, capturing our lives as they flash by.  not sure why, i know it has no place in eternity... but them again, it's a ref. to where we have been and where we are going and... ok enough rambling lets get to the good stuff.  So I decided for a few weeks I am going to post random pics I come across while making my albums, just fun ones that I haven't seen in a while that make me smile, enjoy if your looking.

Looked up in the past hour:
how to make potato plantain omelets
Summer fun crafts by skiptomylou.com
Scrumdillydo.blogspot fireworks painting with a salad spinner
Splat mat material to make my own
Kiddly.com paper dolls hopping K and I can make ur own and share with an artsy friend too
& last but not least:
~these pics~

I love this group of pics bc it captures the explorer side of Kehnley, her posing and the amazing cuteness of little kids in jeans, it's amazing to me that they have denim is small and smaller! Her expression as she kisses Fancy just for the picture to be taken then say "let me look" to see herself is priceless!

Day 8 to 10 : Thanksgiving to Obedience

We have certainly had a lot to be thankful for, and I am thankful especially for this week, for Bry to experience God in a new way, and for God to use my time alone (and by alone i mean surrounded by kids and toys and friends and family) lol... but totally alone at some parts of the night once the girls are in bed and to just hear God's voice.  It's amazing how the things God gives us can distract us so much from Him!  I am learning more and more just how to honor Him with those gifts and not be carried away by them.  I had an awesome time in Dallas getting ot love on my best friends and I only wish that I had more time to do that stuff more often.  I got to experience God's miracle in seeing Kairi Anne, so beautiful this baby girl!  I loved seeing Amy and Landry's new place, it's so nice!!  I want to move in :)  Sadie looooveed the dogs!  I can't wait to get back and see how kehnley has been doing! I will post pics soon of my trip there. 

As for thanks giving, I picked Bry up from the airport on my way back and it was so funny to see him, he looked different, but the same, Sadie looked at him and stared for a moment then smiled like she hadnt all weekend.  It blessed me to think that at 6 months she knows his face and loves him so much!  I know that smile made him feel so good that she was saying with her little gummy grin 'I missed you'. 

I have spent the past few days listening to Bry's stories, they are pretty amazing and I am so beyond joyful that I married a man who knows how to share his heart...he has been reading me his journal and its like Im there with him experiencing it all together.  Thanksgiving that God lets us be a part of the sharing of the gospel that it my give us momentum to love others into knowing Him and experiencing His joy and experience His power to change hearts, especially our own.  If the soul propose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever then in a world where there are so many distractions from that:, where rather than enjoy Him we enjoy His gifts and instead of glorifying our God we glorify ourselves...the gift of seeing salvation come to the lost it reminds us that it's personal and speaks differently to everyone.  As long as we dont misunderstand the gospel message is the same: Christ came that we might be united once again to God after the sin of our flesh separated us from Him, we are saved by believing in our heart that Jesus is Lord and confessing with our mouths that He is all (Romans 10:9-10), although the way it reaches hearts is very individualized.  Thankfully we celebrate the 30 lives that were changed because of those who were faithful to go on this trip and the many more from them who will come to experience the Joy of the Lord.  We have much to celebrate, tonight under our roof we celebrate that my darling Bryson is home but more so that he did not let anything keep him from sharing the love of God with the world! People from all over: age, gender, race, social standing received Christ last week because God was gracious enough to call Bry out of his comfortable home and into the mountains of Venez.
Thankful for the men and women and children all over the world putting their own agenda aside to live out their faith and share Christ with all they meet, to orchestrate meetings in order that some might know Him and be formed into His likeness...they are risking their lives even for the gospel.  For their obedience I pray tonight.  Let the harvest be fruitful for them Lord, let them not labor in vain. 

Obedience for us, here in our lives, to look for the greater picture, to Him who is greater and worthy of it all...how will I live out this boldness and purpose in my home?  How will I teach my girls all the mysteries of Christ?  I must start with prayer!  Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and prayers, we have felt them and it's been life changing for us all.

Day 5&6: Giving light and Boldness

To date I have missed two calls and a facebook message from Bry.lol.  Looks like it's all about him and God and it's been fun being an onlooker in the relationship they have.  I love hearing the messages reading the text and seeing God working from afar.  I think it's the best possible thing because it's truly between them and I like that we will talk when he gets home.  Another amazing thing is when you pray and believe God hears prayers and then get to actually SEE them come to fruition and get to EXPERIENCE God's power, it's not only faith building, it's humbling because you realize just how awesome God is.  I am more and more learning that a relationship with Christ is about joy, experiencing joy, worshiping Him because of the joy He brings, and realizing that joy is worked, it's not a quick cheep temporary emotion, its worked into my life through sometimes really hard stuff!

Bry said that he had the opportunity to share this gospel of joy with 8 ppl and that Jeremiah 24:7 lead two to Christ and I am overjoyed that the Kingdom is growing that there are 8 more brothers and sisters in Christ who get to experience true joy in the Lord and that God let Bry experience that as well!

I know that he's the one who went away to do God's work...but I feel like God is doing a great work in me...I feel so much conviction over my heart to be greater for God, to be more loving less critical, to be encouraging, to parent with more grace and mercy and realizing how the cross is the only thing that makes me anything at all.  I feel a profound draw to the Lord right now that I haven't felt in a really long time.  One so strong that there is nothing on my heart more, there is nothing more pressing than to sit at His feet and take in His word and learn from Him.  I think it's good that Bry went away for this time for so many reasons, but one of them is that I might get a chance to be enthralled again with God.

How quickly I have been giving my affections to the things God has made and not to the creator who made them to reflect His goodness and cause me to worship Him all the more...

Back to Bryson, this days prayers are to be of sharing the light of the gospel and to cause boldness to stir in the hearts of those sharing...God has done that and there are many who's lives are just beginning, what a blessing!

We all go about our day to all kind of places with all kinds of people, it's not just about going across the world it's about going to where God has put us in areas of influence around ppl that only we have contact with and doing this very thing...
Mark 16:15
"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

Lets do this!

Day 4: Melt Down!

Sooooooo... was going to try and be thankful today, turns out when you make that your daily task... you face MUCH opposition! It was a really hard day, Kehnley was on the verge of a melt down every second! It was pretty tough, BUT every time I would start to pray for something silly like "God please dont let this painting fall and break because I dont think I could take it!" I felt conviction to pray for something a LITTLE more substantial...so anyway, I did that, and me and Kehnley had to stop several times and pray together for kind words to come out of our mouths and for loving hearts to be what we had and not meanness (Sadie didnt have to pray because she was being sweet, I had to explain this to Kehnley).

We went to get Snow cones thought it might brighten up her mood. Everything was going great till I had to spend 30 min in the middle of sadies late afternoon nap and woke her up in the process going into the bank to get a new pen number bc the snow cone shack is the only place left in Htown that doesnt take anything but cash. We get our cones and lilly had her ice cone too and we are sitting down to enjoy when kehnley has a few bites and hers falls over, only a super tiny amount falls out and she LOOSES it! I mean, gone, loses her MIND! She grabs hr face like home alone and screams bloody murder and cries and gasps and grabs her mouth and shakes her head like Lilly had just ran off with her ice cone and got hit by a car! it was terrible and HILARIOUS all at the same time, it was one of those parenting moments when you want to die laughing but have to keep your composure at the fear of scaring your child for life.

Her are a few pics of our outing, the best part of the day, except maybe this quiet moment I am having right now and the ab workout I'm gonna have before lights out...

Sadie ate her dinner in the front yard bc... well... why not!





This is right before the melt down! that cup is about to tip over onto the grass...

~~~~~~

Ps. Why is is that one of the nights when Bry is gone, as I am laying sadie down into her bed after just getting her cleaned and dressed, Kehnley takes a break from singing Cruella Devill to call my name across the hall and say "Mom, I pooped in the tub, can you wipe my bottom." Wow... there better be some people coming to Jesus this week, or I'm gonna be ticked! ( just kidding lol) I had to whisper, "step out of the tub and sit on the potty and wait there for me, i'm comin' and baby doll, dont ever do that again please."

Day 2 &3- Hearts and Fear

I am writing this in the midst of the sounds of my girls playing and laughing and realize just how truly lucky I am to have the sweet children in my home, to have my home, to have my family, my country of so many freedoms, to have a car, a church, a store 3 minutes away, a neighborhood that is safe, a swimming pool around the corner, neighbors who are friendly, and many many more luxuries that we take for granted every day. I have been asking the Holy Spirit to impart to me what to pray for Bryson and conviction in the hearts of leadership and banishment of fear for following the Lord whole heartedly and what that means keep coming to mind. SO that's what I am praying for. God has dealt with fear in my life before, many a time. I am not a worrier or a fear driven person, I am a little more unaware and almost ignorantly blissful if you will most of the time lol... so when fear does set in i know that it's not from actual circumstance but something put in my mind to distract me from trusting God, from seeing things clearly, and sometimes from making wise choices in really important times.

2 Corinth 4:6
"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. "

It still is amazing to me that God made so many references to light and dark in talking of our relationship with Him. he gave us light that would live inside of us, that even in the dark we might not be in fear or taken over by it... but that everywhere we go would be illuminated the truth of who He is and that would change lives, including our own!

John 10:16
"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. "

This verse really broke my heart i heard it in church one Sunday, a day when i was really facing fear of Bry going on his trip and it was so convicting to me to realize that God has ppl out there who He wants to bring under His care and they are waiting to hear from Him...that made my heart for the lost change dramatically and really give me a new desire to share His love with any and all who might be like a sheep looking for a shepherd.

Ppl who desperately wanted to belong to something, have a family, have a purpose...they have one in Christ.

Jerm. 24:7
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and "I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. "

Some people think that God is disconnected (looking over but never reaching out), or a spiritual vending machine (you put prayers in you get hings out, you put time in you get your hearts desire)... or even worse that He doesnt really matter or care about you. I love this verse because it's just one of many that fill the whole bible that God loves us deeply and wants us to know that. He can change lives, change hearts, and He is like a loving Father, a father some have never had, who wants to take us into His arms and comfort us, hold us up, and give us all things good.

I prayed for my heart as well as anyone else who might have forgotten or never really known JUST how much God loves them...

Romans 8:28-32
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? "

~~~~~

He has given us so many great things, salvation and eternal life are the two that are most precious and yet, very rarely through out the mundane tasks of the day do I thank God for those, or anything else we have so graciously been given. Today I think that's what my hearts focus is going to be on...thanking Him for all this and more!

The Green Monster

WE INTERRUPT THIS DAY 2 Of BRYSONS VENEZ TRIP TO BRING YOU BREAKING NEWS!

The green monster is on the loose and coming to a tub near you! Thanks Kehnley for reminding this mama what can happen when you leave a 3 yr old in the bath with tub crayons and paint while you dress a clean baby sister in the next room...
YIKES!

Day 1: Pray for Safe travel!

When I dropped Bry off at the airport I was able to keep it together, didnt have the ugly cry face til AFTER i drove away :). But for real, he strapped on his "big bear backpack" and gave me the a "hang-ten" hand and then was on his way! the most hilarious part is that he packed mostly fishing pants and no rinse soap...if something ever happened to me I think he's outfit the girls in windbreakers and head out with Bear Grills on all his adventures like a crazy groupie!

Anyway, hopefully we never have to see pictures of that! lol

He told me that there were 20 ppl along with their crew that were on the flight as well from Tallowood Bapt. "Looks like the bapt. are taking the plane over!" were His words. Right now he's probably on his route to whatever town they will be in and leaving Caracas.

This what I felt the Lord was pressing on my heart to pray for today...
Day 1 Travel
Pray for safe travel to each village, town and city for the members on their team and encounters along the way that might lead to Christ

Col. 4:3 says...
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ"

Christ IS a mystery, one that I have loved uncovering and I am hoping that it will be revealed to those going and receiving. It certainly happens that when we try to share Him with others we learn more of Him ourselves.

2 Corn. 2:17 says...
"Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."

I pray that they would know these ppl are coming out of a love for God and others and they would know how deep the Fathers love is for them that they might be encouraged and renewed!

~~~~~

As far as us here at home, we spent the day at Fancy and Papa's house swimming, playing and just enjoying their company. Every time I began to miss Bry I just prayed for him in different ways. I know that everyone out there who is deeply in love thinks that their relationship is unlike any other, and its true if you have a great love...there is just nothing to describe what it's really like to be married to some one you have been in love with most your life, like us. Going through this preparation for this trip its stirred so many emotions in us both.. one of them is just the realization of how beyond blessed we are to have a love like ours, to be so passionately in love and to be so close, he's my best friend, but more than that he's the companion that God picked especially for me. Some people don't believe in "the one" they think that there are plenty of ppl you could be with, it just so happens this person through circumstances ended up being the one...I disagree I know there is no one like him, there is no one who could compare in my life. He's been the love of my life for 13 years...and to think that there are moments I haven't cherished with him breaks my heart. This trip has opened my eyes to how much I need to make it a priority to show him just how precious he is to me, how much I adore him and I don't ever want to waste a day that I might have to just know him more. 13 years of caring about a person and learning them and sharing the most life changing moments together and yet there is still something in me that gets all caught up when I see him! I miss him like crazy. But then again, the Holy spirit keeps reminding me that I neglect to show my love for the Lord, my allegiance to Him, and i am convicted of the time i spend on other things rather than knowing Him more... I have missed having a heart that chases after Him and His word. So even as I think of Bry and miss him, my heart is caught up in my Love for God instead and I am taking this time to stoke those embers that have grown dim over the past months and take my focus off the things that have distracted me all this time and just consider God's unending love for me, I know there are others out there who need to do the same. Don't wait...

Vomos Venez...Praying Bryson through the mission field

It's currently 12:25, I'm so exhausted I can barely stand to keep my eyes awake to write this post but Bry leaves for Venezuela tomorrow on his first of many mission trips. Its been a crazy few months leading up to his departure tomorrow. We've been hit with a lot of things, a lot of distractions, a lot of trials, but God has been faithful and fully involved in all of it showing us His will. Even in the midst of much opposition, however, he is still going and i am still 100% positive it's what God desires most. Prior to him even stepping foot on a plane, he's had the opportunity to share the love of Christ and the calling of Him on his life and heart with people at work and family, it's been a long time since we both have had this passion for boldness in this way.



Our hearts have been bruised and broken again for the lost!The quickest way that the enemy could distract us from that calling was to make us busy in our own lives... and it certainly happened! But I am so grateful for Bryson's fervor to go and to share the gospel, to teach and to encourage.... it's truly been the compass of our home. There are a few events I want to record so I don't forget in the Lord prepping and preparing this trip for us.

1. we knew we didnt have the funds for this trip or anything around it and God provided above and beyond what we had ever hoped, up until the last day with some very real and random ways for us to have all angels of this trip provided for financially

2. Bry had a chance the day after finding out he was on the evangelism team to run into a pair of Mormon's with Ronnie (what are the chances of that.. those poor guys didnt know what they were getting themselves into) and Bry was able to really engage in some tough and probing conversations that was just a little prep course before he left for Venz.

3. Sadie went to the emergency room and we both learned not only that all we have is His.... but also the power of prayer!

4. From that God has changed our perspective on the things we have and where certain things used to be higher on our importance or priority line up, they have dropped way down behind cherishing moments we have with each other and our girls!

5. Conversations at Brys work have been circulating and deep talks of the Lord as well: biblical moral parallels, the "mission field" at large, and prayers towards service for us and the members of our church.

6. Sharing total trust and faith in Christ with family members and friends.

7. I have personally faced a lot of mental battle with this trip coming and as it got closer the thoughts got tougher to face. I was in total peace when the trip came up and as weeks began to get closer to the departure date the enemy really attacked me and I have learned the power of God's word to diminish all fear and learned more about God's heart for the world to know Him!

Some of these are really vague, but they have all been prepping and preparing us for the next 10 days. I felt called by the Lord to share some scripture that God not only used to comfort me but He used to share with me His good, and perfect plans AND what to be praying over Bry for each day that he is away. I hope that those of you who know and love us would join in with me.

8. This morning before Bry is to leave he was telling Kehnley that he was going to go on a trip to tell people in another part of the world about Jesus and His love for them and she responded in all her infinate 3 year old wisdom... "Dad, you gotta go what God tells you".

Today I feel great and at peace that things are going to transpire that God will have His glory known in more of the world because of Bry's faithfulness and not being swayed by much opposition... but I am still going to miss him and try my hardest to keep an attitude of gratitude even in the toughest moments whether here or there! We most likely won't be able to communicate over the next 10 days, but I know that the spirit goes between us and will guide our hearts on what to pray, the Lord has already laid certain things for certain days to be praying over, will you join me?

Day 1 Travel
Pray for safe travel to each village, town and city for the members on their team and encounters along the way that might lead to Christ
Col. 4:3, 2 Corinth 2:17,

Day 2 Hearts
Pray for the hearts of those who have gone to do God's work, for those who are left to wait and see, and for those waiting for salvation that don't yet know how near it is!
2 Corinth 4:6, John 17:3, John 10:16, Jer 24:7,

Day 3 Banishing fear
Fear for us here, fear for those who are doing God's will in Venezuela, around the world, and those who are being attacked in many ways by the enemy even as we pray
Ps 112:6-7, Rom. 8:28-32,

Day 4 Protection and Shield
Where ever they go, whatever they are doing pray a hedge of protection around them, angels guarding them and watching them, let them feel the presence of the mighty hand of God covering them
Ps 119:114, Ps 91:9-11

Day 5 Giving light to those living in darkness
Pray that God will unveil the eyes of the lost, that the people who know what truth is when they hear it and that they will accept this light that leave no darkness to fear anymore
John 11:9-10, Isaiah 50:10, 1 Pt 2:9-10

Day 6 Boldness
Pray for an ever increasing boldness to overcome those who are working on behalf of the Lord, let a steadfast fight be put in their spirit to speak God's word at all times
Ps. 138:3, Mark 16:15

Day 7 Strength to endure
Pray for weak hands and bodies and minds to be strengthened by God, let their will not be deterred and let them hold fast to God's purpose for them
2 Corinth 4:8, 1 Cor. 4:12-13, Isaiah 40:29-31

Day 8 Spreading of the Gospel
Pray God let the gospel reach those who will carry it on to others who might not know God, let it reach all the ends of the earth as God desires
Col. 4:3, John 12:32, 1 Corinth 1:17

Day 9 Thanksgiving
Pray thanking God for the lives who will be forever changed, for God's glory being shared and reveled and for doing all He said He would do, He is so faithful!
1 Tim 2:1,3-4, Jn 2:1b-2, 2 Corn 4:15

Day 10 Obedience
Pray for continual trust and obedience for those who are just now hearing God's voice for the first time and those who have been listening to Him for years, let them not turn away from their maker. Make their feet ready for whatever comes next!
James 2:17, Ps 67, 1 Jn 3:16-18

My Smiley girl

Sadie you are 5 months, actually almost 6 and you are growing so fast and becoming so mobile I am sure I will have less and less time to remember all the fun little details about you right now!
Like your favorite sound we make is like a car bumping down the road or an airplane flying. You also love anything that squeaks at you, we lost your FAVORITE duck at the grocery store one day on a long trip...I looked everywhere and Kehnley did too but we just had to leave without it (Kehnley said that maybe another kid would be happy to get it)

You love to be snuggled, I hope that never changes.
You love to sit in your highchair and chew on ice!
You love your karaoke machine and to pull yourself up on it like you are big enough to stand up! Silly girl!
You love to look at yourself in the mirror and laugh
You love your sissy's toys, and shes getting better at sharing one thing at a time :)
You love your swing daddy put up outside
You love to sleep in your bed, but love it even more when mommy holds your hand or daddy pats your back
Your favorite toy is the snail that crawls and has a rolling stacker on its back
Your favorite food is carrots! And apples too!
You love to smile at everything
You love to wear headbands and bows, you never even take them off!
You love to bounce and dance with daddy, Kehnley and me! I like your moves :)
You LOVE you passy... its your fav thing, you smile when you see it, grab it, pop it in, take it from mommy, suck on it all the time, chew on the back of it, you'll even steal other baby's if it looks like yours!
Some of your tricks are: at the first of the month you started sitting up, and being able to stay there!
this week you started crawling! At first it was a rock, then a rock and crawl one leg then drag on your belly, a bit of the worm lol. But now its a full crawl, lucky for me, you're not too fast yet, but you DO body surf over the play mat with sides that used to keep you contained.
Looks like we're gonna have to break out the pack and play
You dont watch much tv but your favorite show is Sesame Street...thanks to sister! :)

Sadie you are so precious! We love you so much...

New Face!

I am in desperate need of a new banner but it wont happen til Kristin takes our fam pics in a few months, cant wait... in the mean time enjoy this little video, this is for you daddy! We taped this the day after "daddy day" and saved it for the perfect time.

As I think of how you will be gone for ten whole days to Venezuela in just a few weeks, I am trying to not freak out and just pray for your impact there in the name of our Lord and also your safe return! You ARE an amazing man, when you start to feel the weight of the world and the stresses of your life away from home watch this and know how lucky we are to have you. K is right on!
I love you so much, more than I can even show...

Update on Sadie...

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement, Sadie woke up at 3 am with a tight chest and breathing problems, she started getting frantic, as did I, she was not responding and so we took her to the ER, she is doing better now and after breathing treatments and a steroid treatment and seeing her doc what started as bronchial spasms and possible pre-asthmatic symptoms became a viral infection that got into her lungs. Besides a sore throat and a lack of sleep she is doing MUCH better. We are at home resting, trying to anyway, and thankful for my brother Justin who came to be with us and for Bry's rents who took care of Kehnley all day. This is def. a day I will never forget!

It puts life into perspective when you almost loose one...

I have never seen a dad drive that fast or myself pray so hard in my life. This was the verse that I read at midnight just 3 hrs before all this went down... I had know idea what it would mean to me today.

Psalm 8
"O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens ! From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength... When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained ; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty ! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands ; You have put all things under his feet, ... O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth !"

You have given us these little people to look after, yet we know VERY well, that we are just overseers of what is already yours. We have no control that you don't give us, we have no way to save...only you can. As I held her body laying next to her in that hospital bed I thought of how fragile life is and all i could think was why didn't I hold her last night a little longer, I looked into Brysons red eyes and know he was thinking the same. I thought back to my frantic panic of what to do those seemingly long minutes before we drove to the hospital begging God to answer our questions, keep her with us, and help her breath. There have been a lot of scares with our girls lately: Kehnley passing out from a heat stroke at the park, getting an allergic reaction at the store and almost being unable to breath herself, and now this. I am fully aware that each day we have with them is a gift. And I am honored to think that God has given us one more, for whatever reason, He has favor on us. Humbled by David's words in the psalm when he says "and the son of man that you care for him? YET you make him a little lower than God and you crown HIM with glory and majesty" God does care for us. I learned that today. God cares for me, for my family, for my children and it's not that I deserve it... it's because He is majestic and awesome. Another translation says "O Lord, O Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to give you praise." She has taught me to give Him praise.... thank you Sadie, I knew the day you were born that you would teach me things about God I never knew.

Enjoy your loved ones today and if you don't think God cares for you...ask Him to show you, and He will! "For God so LOVED the world, He gave HIS only son, that everyone who believes might not perish but have eternal life {with Him.}" John 3:16

My Sweet Sister-friend

I am pretty sure she started calling ME that first but this is a tribute to my sweet sister friend. She is a best friend and one of my roommates from college and really to me a sister, i never had a sister of my own and she is one to me! She and I have fought like sisters, cried together like sisters, encouraged each other like sisters, laughed and traveled and listened late at night... but mostly we have shared moments together as sisters in the Christ.

She is soon to be a mom of her own and today is HER birthday. She is going to be an amazing mom for SO many reasons I can barely type them all but I will post the top 30... just a random number, no reason for it at all :)
1. she is loving
2. she is tenderhearted to those with special needs
3. she is wise and can share her life lessons
4. she is funny and laughs all the time
5. she is a prayer warrior and will blanket her home in it!
6. she is sentimental and thoughtful, the girl never forgets a date
7. she writes the best cards and letters and mails them in the REAL mail box :)
8. she loves to snuggle...lol and the best running buddy you could ask for
9. she has a fascination to see new things and go new places, she will explore the world with you
10. she is SO trusting, gullible others have said, but its the most amazing quality because she never meets a person she doesn't like
11. she is playful and will have amazing made up days full of imaginary friends
12. she can SHOP! let me tell you, you will never have a need for anything
13. she knows the Lord and will share His word
14. she loves to sing, in the car, in the house, on voice mails, she will fill your ears with musical hits from all decades lol
15. she loves movies and getting a blanket and popcorn ( that goes everywhere) and watching them in the rain
16. she gives the best hugs
17. she knows just the right things to say to cure a hard day
18. she is the most encouraging person i know always lifting you up before herself
19. she is brave and will do things you never thought she would do for such a small thing!
20. shes accommodating and always a great host
21. she will help you have PERFECT speech :)
22. she will aways have candy close near by
23.she'll play with your hair!
24.she can talk on the phone for hours
25.she can take you to any coffee shop in a 20 mil. radius!
26.she wont hesitate to show you how much she loves you and tell you too
27.she will make you an amazing s'more or teach you how to Rollerblade like a champ
28.she can light up your day with her smile
29.she is a wonderful friend and will always support you no matter what crazy things you do or say or think up...she's got your back
30. she will make you a better person just by knowing her!

I know a girl...

I know a little girl who knows her self so well, she's tall and smart and funny
strawberry soap is her favorite smell
Every morning brings new adventures to explore
she greets me with a smile and kiss
always keeps me wanting more
I know a little girl who catches bubbles and butterflies
she jumps and runs and plays and has the most beautiful blue eyes
She tells me I'm a miracle... God's wonderful beautiful child
these are things I tell her often, to hear them back is wild
I know a little girl shes helpful that's for sure
she helps me cook, clean and sweep; she helps me at the store
She loves to paint and draw and write, she's talented this is true
she always asks me with a grin "can I paint with you?"
When it's time to tuck her in she hugs my neck so tight
it's hard sometimes to leave her with just one kiss good-night
Eskimo, butterfly, princess, frog, bee, and Lilly just to name a few
these are all the different types of kisses she'll try to give to you
I know a little girl whose favorite phrase to say
Is "don't you think it's a beautiful day today?"
Who could ever be down or blue with such a joyful spirit
it brings a smile to any one's face whose lucky enough to hear it!
I know a little girl who treads upon my heart each day
leaving little things
finger prints sandy shoes and colored lip gloss on strings
Three years ago I couldn't have guessed how rich my life would be
with you little one in my arms, so glad God gave you to me.

Happy Birthday sweet Kehnley. Your name is special for many reasons but one is that it means enthusiastic for life and fiery: I have to say even in just these few years you are the embodiment of your name. It's amazing to see your personality grow but especially your enthusiasm for life and learning and just how excited you can be about everyday things. It makes me so proud to be with you all day enjoying life with you. I can't imagine a more fiery little girl, your passionate about so many things and I love that about you! You can certainly use your powers for good OR evil... but mostly you use them for good and when you talk about the things you love and your eyes light up it makes me smile. And when you pray for people and talk about God it brings joy to my heart. And when you dance and give me thumbs up I want to squeal with delight because its like nothing I have ever dreamed of, how fun it is be to be your mom... When you laugh and talk to Sadie and try to make her smile, it's the best version of what I had hoped your relationship would be. I say all this so one day you'll know, in case you don't already, that I've always loved you to pieces, and one of my greatest blessings is to get to show you that each day.

Epipen please!

So I was told i needed to share this story, it's one of those you laugh about later but at the time you are totally FREAKING out!

I was my monthly trip to the grocery store which I have decided just isnt for me, I get to overwhelmed, and yes I save a lot but its to stressful it's just not worth it!

So I get my self all geared up, i got the purse... CHECK, I got the cellular... CHECK, I got the mom sitter for the baby... CHECK, I got Kehnley in the car.. CHECK, i got the coupons....CHECK, the list and the menu and the modified menu....CHECK CHECK and... Check!


First things first you know your gonna be there a while so you get the 2 yr old what they want, keep them happy and they won't hurt someone or themselves. This means you better let them pick the color car the want to ride in ( you know the ones thats STRAPPED to the front of the cart like a box car rendering it impossible to turn without a wide double lane swing out) She pick "flue" of course (aka: blue)

We're on our way, managed to breeze past the balloons with no request (good so far)

Start with produce, start fillig her up, hit upthe dairy, the soy for mamma, and then its off to find ingreience for home-made chex mix. This is where everything goes TERRIBLY wrong.

List: pretzles, wheat chex, teddy grams, goldfish, cashews almonds, pecans...

Kehnley "mom I want to try that... point to a cashew" i dont know K I think you might not should have nuts, your alergic to peanuts" then i think of how she eats wanuts no problem and pecans no problem, so she takes one and pops it in her mouth all seams to be going well, I am reaching for the eggs and I hear caughing, LOUD caughing .... and its couples with gasps.

She is Choking, her face is red instantly, her lip looks like something off Vanilla Sky when Tom cruise is all warped, its hanging down and folded inside out at one side. My darling little girl is having the worsh allergic reaction I have ever seen outside of the movie Hitch. I RUN to the milk singles an pop the straw in, with as much froce as I can muster I push this train car like cart in the dirrection of the meds, Benedrill is my only thought ( oh yeah , I called my mom and got some advice). She downs the meds and then poses for a pic I use to show my mom and husband in horor... AND get this girl an epi pen when i show the doc the evidence! She says "cheese" as her lip invers and flaps down.... its amazing how resiliant they are that they can say "cheese" when they were 2 sec ago on the brink of death!


The shock of the situation has given her a "soiled"moment and she tells me she is cold and has gone tt in her pants.

I look down and there is pee drinching the car.... (THATS WHY WE DONT EVER GET THESE THINGS I REMIND HER AND MYSELF!! some OTHER kid could have pissed themselves and just left it for you to climb into. Anyway, back to the story, so we are too far from the bathroom, diapers are on my ist ( after all i AM here to shop and I have a coupon for that) so i run to the diaper ailse, take off my hoodie so shes not TOTALLY revealed, hide her behind my body, rip open the huggies bag and change her diaper. She is not wearing my hoodie around her waste with a new diaper and tshirt, I am porting a very ill fitted sports bra and tank top... at any moment someone i know is going to walk upI just know it.... that would make this momnet even MORE perfect. So we continue on our shopping journey i am deterined to get this over with and not leave without my discounted grovceries. Kehnley is hungry, its lunch fter all and she does have something choaking her throat and stomach, and probably all her inners at this point!

What do I do?

Of course, open the tortillas, the pepperonies, the string cheese, some chips, and a drink... then half a banana. We are hitting up the canned veggies ailses and all of a sudden she cries out and turns red.... oh no I think... oh please no!

I know what THAT face means, I pick her up put her on my hip and pat her back saying "sweety just let it go, its okay" she throws up ALL over the back of my sholder and onto some cans and all over the veggie ailse. She does it two more times me telling her just to let it out.

The poor cleaning guy walk by right as shes unloaded a THIRD time and I apolojize more than I ever have in my life and hear the "clean up on ailse 7 pls" After that we got OUT of there. the man checking us out, put all the opened products in a shared bag...okay okay TWO bags, yes it was a LOT of opened food!



By the time i got home I was soaking wet from pee, vomit and sweat, put Kehnley to bed. The meds had made all 32 lbs of her a dead weight on my sholder carrying her from the car to her room. I sat on the couch... and cried, hard! I guess holding it all in and acting cool for her got to me. Needless to say I took this pic to show the docs the next visit. It breaks my heart that she is smiling in theis pic. I thought I could have lost her, and she is still smiling in the midst of all she went through!