Friends of all kinds

I loved this...I caught Katie sitting on the stool and talking to her shadow on teh door. My flash messed up the shadow, but they were having a great conversation. She ate her banana and was just chatting away.

Encouraging Quote

The kids and are reading "Mayflower Adventures" as our SS/History as we look at colonial times. In it, two kids are preparing to leave Holland with their parents in search of religious freedom (something I fear may someday happen within our own country). In it the little boy quotes William Bradford (not sure if this is a real quote) but it is VERY encouraging no matter what the situation you are facing...be it illness, desiring a family, the task of raising godly children or just being obedient to follow the Lord.
"Great difficulties always go with great and honorable actions. They must be faced with courage . Granted, the dangers are great. They are not desparate. The difficulties will be many, but some of the things we fear may never come to pass. Others can be prevented by using wisdom. Through the help of God and patience, we can bear them or overcome them. We should neither make attempts that are rash nor undertake things lightly out of curiosity and hope for gain. Our reasons are good and honorable. We have every right to expect the blessing of God."
Wow--gives a little insight to the heart of those fleeing to America...

Kill Me or Make Me Stronger

You've heard the old adage "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger..." Well we will see. Part of the 2nd Birthday Celebration was bye bye to the bottle and paci...the bottle..no problem. The paci..well we'll see if it kills me or makes me stronger. This poor baby. She is truly addicted to the paci to the point of shaking and crying (okay some would call it screaming) but only in the mornings for her paci. When shared as a prayer request in Sunday School yesterday a friend kindly reminded us "She'll end up in therapy for sure now..no reason they call it the terrible twos you take everything away." :-) So please be in prayer for Katie yes...but also for me!! :-)

Katie Turns 2

Valentine's Day is associated with love, but it has a super special meaning in our family because it is the day God blessed our family with Katie Grace. I cannot believe two years have flown by. I still remember the close call with her life and thank God every morning when I get her out of her crib for His protection over her life. She is such a blessing. Her bouncy little blonde curls and little personality just complete our family. She is our little clown, our girly girl, my little one who has to have every drawer and door closed (thank you Lord for a cleaner), she is the light of her bubba's eye and her sister's best buddy and she is her dad's "Button".

Katie Grace, you are a blessing to us and we love you so much. I pray you continue to grow in God's word, His grace and love! Happy 2nd Birthday.

Cavegirls Sr. Night

This weekend we went to Carlsbad to watch my niece, TaBree or Tabbie...play her last home basketball game. We made shirts for the kids that said "Tabbie's Big (Bigger, Biggest) Fan and then #11 Rocks on the back. They had a blast AND the Cavegirls beat Hobbs. So it was a good night. Here are some pics...

I threatened to embarrass her by wearing my old uniform and cheering for her..she knew she was safe since I can't get my skirt over one thigh much less two. :-) yeah but then I found out they don't have cheerleaders...they have a spirit squad. What's up with that??? :)

Hanging with Tabbie

More Pics

Here are more pics from the basketball game. Me with my nieces TaBree and TaLynn...Katie, Shelby and Kyra and Katie with her gum. This girl loves gum. I'll have to post the video of her chewing gum..it is hilarious.

Okay I have to comment on my hair..I have no idea what that glob in the middle is. Bad hair night I guess...how funny. I laughed when I saw these posted and had to come back to it.

Fill Up February

How appropriate that as I sit down to write this morning, I can hear the rain running off the roof. What a sweet sound to our dry, parched land. And that is what this weekend has been to my soul...a watering to a dry ground, a filling up so that I may again pour out. I had the incredible opportunity to meet up with my two best friends since Jr. High (and yes we determined this weekend it is okay to use the term 'best friend') this weekend and attend Beth Moore in El Paso. It was 3 days of giggling (not just laughing) but roll on the floor (literally) giggling, crying, sharing, eating yummy food and just fun girl time. I think there were times we reverted to acting like we were still 16 to encouraging and loving on one another as moms and wives and sisters in Christ.

Beth's passage this weekend was out of Hebrews 10 and I think Hebrews 10:24 was so appropriate to cover the weekend "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" The theme was "Treasures in the Trash" and she talked of how we trash our treasures and treasure our trash. Amen!! I am sure I will share more of the weekend, but wanted to touch base this weekend. Thank you to Nana and Paw Paw who loved on and had a blast with the kids this weekend and for our church family who kept Rody busy! :-)

As for the fill up February..I love the spring. First I got this "girl time" fill up this weekend. Later this month, Rody and I get "us" time fill up when we attend the evangelism conference and then later in May I get "mom & teacher" fill up at the homeschool conference. Not that I don't get my daily filling, but these times away where I just soak in God's word and teaching are sooo good for my soul. Love you all.