I heard a new song tonight.

Most of you know this has been a hard week. We just got home from an amazing 2 week trip!!! On Saturday,Bill and Deb, some very close friends of ours were in a tragic wreck. They had also been on a long trip with their best friends, Ed and Marcy. Sadly, Marcy died in the wreck and Deb has been in critical condition. She is now in a step down unit from ICU but had to have surgery today to work on her shattered hip. This has made for a long week for us. We have been very worried about our friends and deeply sad for Ed as he starts looking for a new normal with out his wife.

I read several blogs and have some friends who write great blogs but sorry guys you are stuck with me (unless you stop reading) and I am not bashing myself but writing is not my strong suit. All of this to say....

This life is only a blink of the eye. We are not promised any amount of time here. There is absolute truth in this world and it is that God so loved you (and me--and the entire world) that He sent his only son, Jesus, to die on the cross and pay for our sin--yours and mine!! This is the ONLY way that you can go to heaven. You can be a great person but that is not good enough, you MUST admit that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus is God's son and that He died on the cross to pay for your sin and confess your sins to God and your need for Him. Not hard but life altering.

So that song? I bet you are wondering why I told you I heard a new song and then have not told you which song. Well I'm getting there. I know that God speaks to me through music at times and today was one of those. See, I've been worried about my friends--started with Bill and Deb but is true for all of you out there--I want to be bold and ask do you know that you know that you know?!!! Their friend, Ed was on my mind tonight at church during a music thing. One of the songs was called Every Season and is by Nichole Nordeman. So finish reading this and then take a short minute to listen to and watch the video.

The part that got me says:

Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be

As You are re-creating me.....

This week God has shown me how He is in the small things. Funny that our lesson in Bible study was on God being faithful in ALL things and then our pastor preached on basically being bold in our faith.
So tonight hold on to your loved ones a little longer, count to 10 one more time if you need to (moms and dads I know you know what I'm talking about here), let your friends and family know how much you love them. We're not promised tomorrow!
I love you guys!!!

Happy 10th Birthday, Shelby!!

Do you know what I was doing 10 years ago at this time?

Waiting..... Yep, waiting to hold a beautiful little girl that was getting ready to make her entrance into this great big world.

Shelby,

We love you so much and you are a wonderful young lady. You are beautiful on the outside and most importantly on the inside!!

Some things about Shelby.....

Shelby

loves reading

can swim like a fish

still enjoys playing dress up

has her own sense of style

loves dressing up in "fancy" clothes

loves hearing us tell stories

has a great flare for drama

has an amazing memory

can memorize Bible verses like crazy

loves her family

great smile

although she doesn't always like it, she will basically try any new food we give her

is a great helper

enjoys dancing

is getting better and better at tennis

is a loyal friend

loves singing

is a homebody

is very social--(but like her mommy)only after she knows you

has long legs

and is

GROWING UP WAY TO FAST!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Jammie

We hope you had a wonderful day.

We love you!

Sorry this is a day late but the connection to the internet has been spotty at best!!

And I know I have a more recent picture but......

Birthdays and Dancing for Joy...

Wow the past few weeks have been busy!!! Here is a quick glimpse into our lives for the past few weeks. Okay really the pictures are all from the last 6 days!!! Enjoy....

Landon wondering why we are putting fire on a cake in front of him!!

Daddy helping Landon blow out the 2 birthday candles!!

Drew and Shelby waiting on cake and ice cream!! Mimi taking pictures!!

Isn't she just beautiful!!

Drew lounging around while Landon opened his gifts.

Landon playing basketball on his new set!!

A MUCH needed gift!!!

And to go with the helmet....

Guess what happened a short time later....

This boys and girls is why you should wear a helmet!!!

Casey was invited to Ella Rose's birthday party. Okay Casey was the party. Mrs. Rebecca and Mr. Jeff treated the girls to a trip to Build A Bear!!

Here are the girls waiting to stuff their bears. Can you tell that they picked matching bears?!! Big surprise there!!! NOT!!!

Giving their bears a "fluff" bath.

The fact that both girls picked wedding dresses was a shock!! Casey really wanted a mermaid outfit for her bear but when she saw what Ella Rose was getting she wanted the same glass slippers and mermaids apparently don't wear glass slippers. The worst part was how sad she was when we got home and she realized that we were not going back to buy the mermaid outfit!! I told her she had to save her money just like the big kids.

Today was a happy/sad day. Casey went to her first day of dance!!! She was so excited. I think part of it was because she knew Mimi was picking her up after dance. I can remember the first day that Shelby took dance. We still had a set of taps and ballet shoes from when Shelby started taking dance that Casey could use!!! Plus a friend sent us a few leotards which were the perfect size!! (Thanks Christine--I'm pretty sure that they came from you!) I only had to get her a set of tights.

No problem.

Ready for her dance lesson.

Shelby also took a tap/jazz lesson. She is trying it out to see if she still likes/enjoys dance. She will have some catch up to do. She did a good job today. I know it was difficult since it's been 4 years since she took dance.

Now we are on to another busy week and anxiously awaiting our vacation.

One of the joys of homeschooling....

taking a vacation that can be fun and counted as school!!!

Godly Humor--thanks Grandma

Little John the Baptist Johnny's Mother looked out the window and noticed Him "playing church" with their cat He had the cat sitting quietly and he was preaching to it. She smiled and went about her work. A while later she heard loud meowing and hissing and ran back to the open window to see Johnny baptizing the cat in a tub of water. She called out, "Johnny, stop that! The cat is afraid of water!" Johnny looked up at her and said, "He should have thought about that before he joined my church!" Send this to someone who needs a laugh today…

Happy 2nd Birthday Landon!!!

Wow how time flies!!! I can't believe that my last baby is officially not a baby anymore.

Shhh--don't tell him--although I think he figuring it out at an alarming rate of speed!!

I can't imagine our life with out him. My how different things would be. We are so thankful that God gave us a bonus baby to love and enjoy!!

Landon:

He is such funny little fellow--already following in the footsteps of his bigger sibling by telling jokes!

He loves playing hide and seek (and no one has to actually hide for it to be fun)!

Absolutely LOVES being outside.

Loves being in the water (as long as you don't plan on washing his hair).

Loves riding toys.

Loves balls.

Loves planes, trains and automobiles.

Has a love/hate relationship with Max.

Loves to get in the cereal cabinet and sneak a box of cereal to snack on.

Eats ALMOST anything.

Has the most beautiful curls in his white blond hair--that I don't think his daddy ever plans on cutting. :o)

Loves, LOVES, LOVES his doggie and paci.

Loves his siblings--especially Casey.

Enjoys Curious George and Thomas the Train.

He loves Blues Clues!!!

Doesn't like mashed potatoes.

Doesn't like home made fried squash--especially when he thinks they are cookies.

Landon, we love you so much and can't wait to see you grow and change.

Game Answer

Here you go--the full picture!!