Ailee's Bday Week...

Today is my sweet sunshine's 3rd birthday! Ailee, you named this your birthday week and we have been celebrating everyday. I forget how exciting the third birthday is because this is the first year children really understand what it means to have a birthday...cake, fun with friends, presents: it's all about me! That is one thing I want to make sure you girls know...your birthday is all about you! The days you precious girls came into my life were and will always be three of the best days ever for me. I want you to experience true happiness on your birthday each year so you will know how mommy felt the first day I held you in my arms...the greatest gift ever! I love to go above and beyond the expected to show you just how special each of you are to me. I cannot wait until your Monkey Ballerina Party tomorrow! I love you "whole muches," Ailee, as you always say to Mommy. I have had an awesome week celebrating with you.

Here's to you, my sunshine...

You just had to have a Tinkerbell party at school with your friends and you were so happy to have a #3 shirt and cupcakes.

Enjoying every minute of your special time at school.

We had birthday muffins for you on your actual birthday and, then, mommy and daddy surprised you with your very own wooden play castle. You love it!!

Our Little Rollie Pollie...

Adelynn, you worked and worked last night but never could master rolling over. You would get stuck with your arm under you and get sooooo mad! Your big sisters were sitting by your mat just cheering you on and coaching you through the whole thing but you got too tired. However this morning when I was getting everyone ready for church, you did it!!! You have such determination, just like your big sister, Ailee Claire. I was very proud of you and loved seeing your expressions while you were working so hard to roll and then how your little face just beamed once you finally got it. I can only imagine the joy in seeing you accomplish all this world has to offer you in the years ahead. Looking forward to "rolling over" into many new adventures with you, precious little one. Something about your big blue eyes just melts the deepest part of my heart.

Almost there...pure determination~just look at your face below.

and...you did it!

Snow Day...

I know, I know...we really do not have any snow today but the girls were out of school today for the MLK holiday and we saw a little snow falling on Saturday night that put us in the mood for a little snow celebration. The fun thing about having young children is that they love to pretend. So this morning, that is what we did. You wanted to stay in your snowman PJ's this morning and mommy made you a little breakfast surprise. Even though we didn't have snow outside, we had a good time wishing for it inside! Good morning precious snow angels, enjoy your breakfast! I had fun making snowman pancakes with some goodies from our pantry. You girls were suprised and excited about your treat.

4 Months and Counting...

Adelynn was 4 months this week. We got a great report at the doctor. She had gained 13 ounces in one week! At four months, you weighed 11 lbs. 11 ounces and were 25 inches long. Besides the fact that you are just a tall, skinny girl (who wouldn't want that problem, right?), you were just not getting enough calories. Now that we know this, I am nursing you every 2 hours and then supplementing a bottle at night to pack on a few more calories. I wish someone had to force me to eat. Unfortunately, eating is one of my favorite things! Adelynn, other than this little scare, you are the perfect baby. Everytime someone speaks to you, you flash the biggest grin. Sometimes you will smile, tuck your little chin under and look down pretending to be bashful. It is so cute and I love how sweet and innocent you look when you do this. You love playing in your exersaucer. Your face just lights up immediately when your big sister, Anna Grace, walks in the room. She loves to do ballet for you and you just smile and coo at her. She will sit on the couch with you in her lap and you guys will watch tv together. It is sweet to see the bigger girls constantly loving on you. When others want to hold you or talk to you, Ailee rushes in and makes sure they know, "that is our baby!"

Jon got to spend his Saturday repairing the ceiling in the kitchen where Ailee flooded the house last week. I was nursing Adelynn in the nursery and overheard Anna Grace talking with her Daddy. Anna Grace, you were standing in the middle of the kitchen looking up at your Daddy as he stood on the counters repainting the ceiling. You commented on what a great job he had done and then said, "Daddy, you fixed it. You can fix anything, can't you?...anything in the whole world!" I knew this probably made him feel wonderful and I thought it was so precious that you had such awesome faith in your Daddy. As I hurried in to see his face while you were saying this, I saw you standing there gazing up at him with such amazement. My mind quickly paralleled to the relationship between myself and my Heavenly Father. When I go to Him in prayer, do I have this type of faith...that He can fix anything in the whole world and that it is His world and in His control. Do I act as if I trust Him with my life or do I approach Him by asking..."do you think you might could, if you don't mind maybe could you, etc?" I love when my girls teach me something about my own actions. Thanks, Anna Grace, for reminding me that my Sweet Father can definitely be trusted with my world and that He enjoys "fixing" things when I bring them to Him in prayer.

Growing Up...Learning to Dance

Last week, I began a new bible study with the sweet ladies from my church. I was quickly reminded how much I missed out on while staying home with Adelynn for a few months and skipping the last study. Actually, Satan was working really hard at keeping me out of the study yet one more week. That morning was the day I learned that we may be facing some health issues with our adorable baby girl. I wanted to run straight to the doctor and scream for help. Luckily, Dr. Young didn't get in that morning until after 10:00. This allowed me just enough time to join with my friends and call on the only one with true answers, my Sweet Savior. God's timing was perfect because if I had been slammed with the news any other day, I would have been a true basketcase. However, the minute I walked in the door these sweet women began praying over me and Adelynn, loving on us and offering every type of support and comfort. It was exactly what I needed to walk me through such a difficult morning. And, we still do not know the reasoning behind why our precious angel is so small and not gaining weight but I have been able to cope while going through this struggle because of the amazing people God has surrounded me with.

As I explained in the previous blog entry, the past week or so has brought a lot of saddness and disappointments and, so far, things have not slowed down any. We had another friend have a heartattack last night, my Pappaw is becoming more and more ill, we learned of Adelynn's problems, Aunt Beth's Daddy gave up the fight and went to be with Jesus, and Ailee accidently flooded the house today as her Daddy was headed for N.C. and mommy was all alone with my three girls and a friend over to play. PERFECT!!!

Actually, I guess it really is in a way. The study we began last week was called When Wallflowers Dance by Angela Thomas. The study focuses on growing up in your salvation and being the woman God is calling you to be by stepping out. I strongly feel that is God asking me to grow up in my salvation by learning to trust him and turning over the controls to him. And for someone with OCD like me, that is very difficult. I inherited the worrying gene very honest and it is a hard habit to break. As I watched my kitchen ceiling pouring water from the upstairs bathroom, I just began to laugh out loud. It was out of my hands... everything around me was spinning more and more out of control. What is left for me to do but fall on my knees and beg for help. I must pass all of this worry and concern off to Him and rest. And I must say, it felt really good to laugh today. Even if it was while water hit me in the head as my kitchen ceiling puddled up with water. When Ailee rolled her bottom lip out and said "Mommy, Mommy! How are we going to get all that water up, I am sorry, I am sorry," I knew something bad must have happened.

He is drawing me in and preparing to grow me up. I am ready...Let's dance!

As I learned that my little baby may be literally starving, I entered the bible study and was greeted with a pink flower, tied with a sweet bow and reading this verse...

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3

I had spent the day before claiming all the ways the Lord has been good to me even during my time of struggles and disappointments. I have tasted many times over and over how He is good and it has left me craving more and more of a relationship with Him. Just as I am drowning my sweet baby in milk this week trying to pack on the calories and fatten her up, I feel my God is pouring down on me so that I may turn to Him for spiritual nourishment and He can begin "growing me up!"

Our Newest Ballerina...Ailee Claire

Ailee has been so excited about starting to ballet. Ever since Mimi sent your new ballet bag in the mail last week, you have been asking if it was time to go yet. Well, yesterday was your first day. I must say, you looked absolutely adorable and did an excellent job. You would look to the door and smile so big at Anna Grace who was checking in on you. You were so proud that she was watching you and I know you were so thrilled to be big like her now.

I love this photo because it shows how hard you were trying to point your toes just perfectly. When Ms. Anna asked you to walk across the room on your toes, you actually tried standing up on the ends of your toes like a true ballerina. I know it won't be long until you are ready for some pointe shoes, big girl! Great job, little sunshine!

You were so excited to get ballerina pajamas to celebrate your big day at ballet! We love you so much, Ailee Claire. You make mommy and daddy so very proud of you.

Good News?...

When I woke up this morning, I found myself extremely discouraged. Since Christmas Eve, I have heard nothing but terrible news and sadness from so many of my friends and family. Along with the rain, it has finally beaten me down. I found myself even struggling with the "God is Great, God is Good" prayer the girls will sometimes pray. How could any of this be good? A young mother loses her 18 month old son the week of Christmas from a sudden illness, my sister-in-law's father is fighting an extremely hard battle with cancer and the doctors have given up, our friend's dad has a heartattack on Christmas Eve and passes away last night after 2 weeks of suffering, friend's husband diagnosed with cancer yesterday, our neighbor's basement is flooded in at least 5 inches of water as we speak, and the list goes on.

Jon stayed home from work today and offered to take the girls to school. Of course, this usually makes it easier on me but this morning I felt like I needed to do it... I needed out of this house. I was up all night with two of the girls and extremely tired on top of everything else. Satan was loving whispering all the many discouragements in my ear. I needed an escape. God used this as a perfect time to speak to me and I am SO thankful!

The girls and I began saying our prayers as we usually do on the way to school. They wanted me to go first today and once I started praying it just seemed like their were so many people who needed lifting up right now. I began sobbing as I listed everyone and the tremendous strength they each needed from above. I finished up praying for the girls as they faced their day at school and closed thanking Jesus again for the enormous blessings he has given to us. This is when I heard God so sweetly say to me...the way you are feeling today is a choice. I was choosing to listen to Satan tell me about all the terrible things going on around me instead of listing the goodness God has shown me. So....that is what I did! I began just listing all of my blessings out loud. It made me feel so great! God is GOOD!!!!!

The girls are not used to seeing Jon and I go to our Father in prayer with sadness. I was a little worried about getting so upset with them in the car this morning but then I realized that they need to feel comfortable talking to God whenever no matter how they are feeling. God knows anyway, right? He loves us and wants us to voice to him our struggles. He also used Anna Grace to speak to me this morning. I love how my gift is teaching and working with children when, actually, he uses them as windows for me to understand so much about him. She asked me why I was sad that those people I was praying about had gone to see Jesus. Man was this a hard blow! I was going about this all wrong. Meeting Jesus face to face one day is our goal!!! I should be thanking God for allowing them to be dancing and rejoicing with their Savior. As I explained to her that the sad part was that the people left here were the ones that were sad because they were missing their loved ones, I realized that once again I had a choice to make. The way I viewed the situation allowed me to see it as a painful experience or a blessing! Anna Grace has a friend from church and school who lost her daddy a year and a half ago to cancer. She is very much accustom to Cassidy joyfully talking about her daddy being in Heaven and with Jesus. I find myself looking at her and saying...bless her sweet, little heart. One day, when she is older and really understands, this is will so very hard on her. HELLO...she does really understand. With her childlike faith, Cassidy knows that her daddy is where he always longed to be, with his Father. God calls us to have this same childlike faith but the earth wants us to see only the pain and suffering. However, He understands the grief we endure when losing someone we love so much and this is why He so willingly pours out grace and mercy for us. I am witnessing this through my friend Ashley who lost her baby the day after Christmas to a brain tumor. I cannot imagine how she makes it through one minute much less a day. God grants us peace within our situation that surpasses all understanding. That is why He wants us to lay it all down for Him to carry and we must just rest in His amazing love. Again, this is a choice but a very difficult one to follow through with.

The girls and I began talking about how neat the clouds looked this morning and I just giggled because it felt like God painted the sky this morning as an illustration for my morning lesson. In the middle was one large, dark cloud, so thick and heavy. Circling around it were beautiful rays of sunshine and white fluffy clouds sinking in the most gorgeous shade of blue (like the blue in 2 of my daughter's and my sweet husband's eyes). I was stuck under that dark cloud only choosing to look straight up at it instead at all the love and many blessing surrounding me! Again, I began claiming my blessings out loud and thanking God for each one big and small!

This photo taken by http://www.519photography.com/ during a Christmas party shows three of my greatest blessings...2 of my precious daughters and the adorable, sweet friendship that they share with one another is a wonderful blessing, as well. It makes me smile when I see the strong bond they are forming as sisters. I cannot wait to see them letting little Adelynn in on all the fun!

Happy New Year 2009!!!

We rang in the New Year (well, actually, we were in the bed at that point) with some of our closest friends from church. We had dinner, played cards, sang karaoke, and you kiddos laughed and played all evening.

I expect this new year will bring new many joys, sorrows, blessings and heartaches but one thing I pray for sure is that it brings me closer to my Lord and Savior. Pastor Randall spoke today about being filled with the Holy Spirit. By becoming filled with the Spirit, I desire to be cleansed from my own selfish desires. I pray this new year would find me giving more of myself to God instead of trying to get more of my God for myself!

Snowing in the Station...

Katherine (4), Anna Grace (5) and Ailee (almost 3)...Ellie (1) wouldn't stay still long enough for a photo and Adelynn (3 mths) was snug in Mommy's sling.

We went to Atlantic Station the week after Christmas to have dinner and celebrate the England/Sills Christmas with Bruce, Becca and their girls. We had a calm and enjoyable dinner, even with 5 little girls in a nice restuarant, impressive, I know! You girls did your annual Christmas ornament exchange and, then, we went outside to enjoy the snow falling around the 55 foot Christmas tree. So, the snow wasn't real, it was still a lot of fun as you can see and you girls were covered in white!

Fun On Christmas Day

One of the best things I love about the actual day of Christmas is that we get to just be lazy and play with all the new toys and enjoy each other without all the hustle and bustle of "get togethers." We stayed in our PJ's until late afternoon, ate leftovers, and played and played and played. What fun it was to teach you both how to ride a real bicycle! Anna Grace learning to ride with Daddy by your side.
Granddaddy trying to teach Ailee to pedal. I love how you put a helmet on your doll, which was actually a knee pad for you but you thought it fit perfectly on Feana's head to keep her safe.

Another little princess who has her Daddy wrapped around her tiny little finger!

Merry Christmas to all...

Just a few photos of Christmas morning...Anna Grace and Ailee you both asked for "big girl bicycles with a baby doll seat of the back ." Adelynn, you sat in amazement during your entire first Christmas morning. You got your Madame Alexander Baby Huggims doll just like your older sisters did on their first Christmas's and like Mommy had when she was a little girl. Anna Grace, you wanted pink flowers from Santa and they had to be real. Santa had a hard time finding these on Christmas Eve but after driving from around to convience stores for almost 2 hours he finally found one pink rose and Aunt Lynn helped him out with a big pink poinsetta too. You loved them!!! Thank Goodness! Ailee, you wanted a Donkey and Feona doll from the movie Shrek, which you call "Matt Matt." Donkey was the first thing you grabbed when you ran to your toys. You both got a salon chair and cart to share because all you do is sit in the living room and do each others hair. The other exciting gift Santa brought (AKA, Mimi) was a craft box for each of you filled with markers, glue, ribbon, googgley eyes, beads, etc. You both absolutely love doing art so this will keep you busy for months. Although you were thrilled with all the new presents you received, you both were very aware of the reason we were celebrating this special day. "Thank you, Dear Jesus, for blessing us with such a joyous holiday season. Thank you for filling our Holidays with family, friends, great food and, most importantly, for flooding our minds and hearts with the true meaning of Christmas. When You humbled Yourself to nothing to come to this Earth for each of us, You gave us the greatest gift ever given."

Christmas Eve

We began our Christmas Celebrations in Cumming this year at Grammy and Popa's house. We went over on the night before Christmas Eve and exchanged presents with Uncle Josh, Aunt Courtney and Tyson. Tyson always loves getting to play with you girls. We all spent the night there and you girls loved playing with your gifts from Grammy and Popa. Anna Grace, you made light brite designs all evening and, Ailee, you wore your new Snow White dress up outfit all night. Unfortunately, Mommy got in too big of a hurry and left my camera at home. I know, I know...totally unlike Mommy to be without her Nikon and I definitely felt lost. Luckily, Aunt Courtney caught a few snapshots for our album but I cannot figure out how to send them to the blog.

We traveled to Chatsworth later that night for Mimi and Granddaddy's Christmas Eve dinner. It was fun to get together with Danielle and her family, Big Unc and his family, and Uncle Matt, Aunt Beth, Campbell and Cybil. We read the Christmas story all together this year, ate the traditional Christmas dinner, and exchanged gifts. It was loud, hectic, choatic and tons of FUN!

Our Family in front of Mimi's beautiful tree.


All the granddaughters piled up with Mimi and Granddaddy in the Santa shirts Mimi made for you all.

One of your favorite things to do on Christmas Eve is sprinkly reindeer food on Mimi's lawn.

We left cookies and milk for Santa and some carrots for the reindeer too.

All snuggled in the bed with visions of sugarplums dancing in your heads...or is it bicycles and baby dolls? (It seems like only yesterday when Mommy, Uncle Matt Matt, Danielle and David were all snuggled up together in Granny and Pop's attic looking to see Santa's sleigh out of the little window...I love how you sweet little cousins are carrying on the tradition of spending Christmas Eve together upstairs in your Grandparents house and then experiencing the magic of Christmas morning all together! These are memories you will cherish forever. I will never forget the mornings we all went rushing into Gran and Pop's living room to see what Santa left on our chairs while Granny watched from the corner in her brown housecoat. The image of her sitting there with the biggest of grins is so vivid in my mind that I feel like I could just reach out and hug her. "I love you Granny! Your memory is one thing that keeps my heart so warm and my smile so big during this special season...it also adds a few tears to my eyes when I think how far away that corner really is."