Baby Faces...

Anna Grace, Adelynn and I had to stay home from church today because yet again sickness has snuck it's way into our home. Anna Grace woke up this morning with pink eye. Although we had to miss worship this morning which is a favorite in our house and something we look forward to all week long, I had fun capturing some special memories with my sweet baby girl! Adelynn, you suprise yourself with new things you can do and I was excited to catch some of the expressions on camera. In the photo above, you were playing in your crib and you sat up for a few seconds by yourself. I also love the pics of you with your special rattle from our dear friends, the Davis family. Your bright eyes light up my day and your sweet smiles warm my soul!

"It's Not Your Turn...Yet"

We just completed the bible study, When Wallflowers Dance by Angela Thomas. And, it was awesome!! I definitely felt God "growing me up" in my salvation during this study and I heard Him speaking quite often throughout the past few weeks. In review today as a group, we looked back at where we had started and discussed where He had lead us to now. It was neat to see answers to prayers and the gains made on many of His still "works in progress" in my life. With my OCD type personality, the study was great in the fact that it was very introspective and focused on cleaning yourself up and getting off of the "wall." It feels incredible to be "all cleaned up" and out of that corner that I was pressed up onto like a poor, wilting wallflower. I do have to admit though, that a few of the things He brought to my attention that needed "cleaned out" of my life, are still being worked through. I am so glad He is patient!

A very common phrase that seemed to continue to resurface throughout this study for me was "it is not your turn, yet!" I have used this many times as a new mother of three, however, I never thought of what it was like to be the one hearing it. I now know why those little feet will stomp off huffing and a little disgusted that another sister was having her "dance." God has presented this in light to my situation many times throughout the past couple of weeks. As Angela says in the study, sometimes you feel like you are waiting in the wrong line. I cannot tell you the times I have acted just like my girls in the fact that I feel disappointment that other people seem to be in shorter lines than me! It feels kind of like in the grocery store when you are walking down behind the checkout aisles trying to scoop out the shortest one and the one that moves the quickest. I have come to realize that God has me in just the perfect line even though it seems the checkout lady is a million miles away. He positioned me right where He wants me and surrounded me by the perfect people in front of and behind me to guide me while I wait.

Thank you, my Dear Jesus, for helping me through the process of getting clean so that You can fill up the new cleaned out spaces with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. I know I have a ways to go and trust that You will continue the mighty works You have begun in me. Waiting is never fun or easy, but knowing I am safely wrapped in Your arms just waiting for "my turn" gives me a feeling of security that is indescribable. However, when it is my turn...I am soooo ready to DANCE!

***Angela Thomas will be coming to our church Ladies Conference on March 7th. I am thrilled and feel assured that God has so amazing things planned for the women in attendance on this special day. If you or anyone you know might be interested in coming, please let me know. I am on the Ladies Ministry Team and would be happy to assist you in getting your tickets. For those of you who are not familiar with Angela, she has an amazing story of living in and being carried out of a mighty storm in her life by our Sweet Savior. If you or someone you know is currently in a storm, this will be a wonderful way to encourage them and give them an opportunity to feel the Lord asking them to dance through the reminder of the storm with Him. Hope to see you there!

5 Months and Eating...

Adelynn, you are 5 months old today and Mommy cannot believe it!!! You had your first taste of eating from a spoon today and you did really great. I love the first photo from the collage where you are looking at me with such confusion. It is like you are thinking...Mom, I have no idea what you are doing to me but I trust you and will try to figure this out. I am excited about you growing and I look forward to each new task we experience together. However, I am trying to savor each memory with you because you are changing so quickly and I wish I could keep you my little peanut forever! Will you ever know the tremendous amount of love I have for you?

My Forever Valentine...

I just want to share a little bit about why I adore my sweet valentine~the one who makes my world go round. He surprised me with the most precious gift ever this weekend while on our little getaway. He wrote me a poem (unbelievable for him because he is not a real pro at sharing his feelings, especially in such a creative and expressive way) So, I wanted to share it and brag on him a little bit...

Why?

~This is dedicated to my best friend, the one I can count on, my Moe, my evertlasting love, my wife!

Why did we meet on that beautiful spring day, foley field at a baseball game?

Why did I see you later that night while buying cereal with my current flame?

Why did you play hard to get, when you didn't even have a mate?

Why did everything, except your beautiful face, go wrong on our first date?

Why did you try to play it off when that car ran over your toes?

How was I so lucky to end up the one you chose?

Why did you walk beside me through the many turns of my life?

Why did you stick with me when those turns pierced your heart like a knife?

Why are you so crafty and gentle and neat?

Why did you give me 3 beautiful little girls that are so perfect and sweet?

Why do you look past all of my errs and faults?

Why did I hide my emotions and keep my heart locked like a vault?

Why is it that to life's true happiness, you've given me the key?

Why were you the only one who pushed me and knew the man God wanted me to be?

Why do our girls look up to you with so much love and adoration?

Why are you the perfect mother, which is a full time occupation?

Why do you defend and stand up for me in the presence of any?

Why do I overlook the blessings you pour out, which are so many?

Why is it your needs and desires that you put your families above?

Why do I get to wake up beside the one who gives me unconditional love?

Why did I know at first glance that you were supposed to be my wife?

Why? Because God loved me so much that he gave me the perfect compliment and companion in life!

Valentine Surprises...

Daddy and I (and Baby Adleynn) went to spend the night in Chattanooga by the river for Valentine's Day. We went with a couple from church that are two of our very best friends, Mr. Shep and Mrs. Andrea. You girls went to Sevierville with Mimi and Granddaddy to see Uncle Matt Matt, Aunt Beth, Campbell and Cybil. Daddy and I enjoyed spending time together on Valentine's Day and you girls very much enjoyed seeing your cousins. We missed you very much but we were only gone one night. When we got home, we enjoyed exchanging Valentine surprises with you. Anna Grace, you were thrilled to finally get the new American Girl movie and, Ailee, you screamed in excitement over the American Girl lotion that you have already almost used up in one day!

Adelynn, Mimi sent you some new bottles and you liked playing with the ribbon on the packages. Thanks to each of you precious girls for being the absolute sweetest Valentine's Mommy could ever ask for!

You girls wanted to give Daddy a new flashlight for Valentine's Day because, Anna Grace, you said when you and Daddy are working, he never has a flashlight. We wrapped it up with a card that says "Daddy, you "light" up our lives!" Ailee, you picked out Daddy's card which had a monkey playing golf on the front. It was perfect since you love monkeys and Daddy loves golf!

Valentine Princess Daddy Date for Lunch...

We have the best Chick-fil-a anywhere!!! They had a Valentine Prince/Princess Lunch Day where if you wore a princess outfit you could get a free lunch. Daddy meet you girls there for a lunch date and you had so much fun dressed up like princesses. You looked beautiful!

A lot of your friends from church also met us for lunch that day. We made them all Valentine heart crayon necklaces. It was fun melting the crayons and then cutting them into hearts with cookie cutters. We tied the "You MELT my heart" tags on them signed by both of you and passed them out at Chick-fil-a to all your prince and princess friends!

Mommy's Little Masterpieces...

While you girls were busy creating your unique valentines, Mommy was secretly making my own little valentine masterpieces...YOU!!! I had fun using my new embroidery machine to make shirts for each of you to wear. The big girl shirts say "My heart belongs to Daddy." And, Adelynn's little onesie says "My heart belongs to Mommy." I made you each little skirts with matching heart fabric and a tulle overlay with rose petals inside tied with a pink ribbon at the waist.

I think you 3 sweethearts make the best valentines Mommy has ever seen!

Adelynn, you look so big in this photo and I LOVE how big you are smiling at Mommy. You are my precious little Love Bug!

Mosaic Valentines and Melting Hearts...

You girls had a lot of fun making your valentines this year for your friends at school. Mimi sent a box of Mosaic hearts for each of you to make. I was impressed with how creative you both got while making them. Anna Grace, you cut strips of paper to make your friends initials from and then made mosaics with them. It was really cute and creative. You also made some hearts with crosses in them so that your "friends would know that Jesus loves them." We also made "melting hearts" as treats for school. We took heart "peeps" and put them on a sucker stick. Then, we dipped them in melted chocolate and tied them up with cards that said...You "melt" my heart! I loved watching each of you write your names on all of the cards. Ailee, you did great at writing your name and you were the only one in your class to write your name on the valentines by yourself!

Getting Groovy and Giving Back!

Cartersville Service League

Bell Bottom Bash 2009

Jon has HAIR!!!

My Groovy Girls!!
The girls had a blast helping me get ready...they did my green and yellow barbie eyeshadow!

My class in CSL...

As a member of the Cartersville Service League, we work extremely hard each year at several different fundraiser to be able to give more than 70,000 dollars a year to the chidren's charities within our community. I absolutely love being a part of something that makes such an amazing difference in the lives of so many children. God has blessed me with a situation where I am currently able to take wondeful care of my children and provide for them all the need and more. However, this is not the case for everyone and I feel the very least I can do is give my time and efforts to help other little ones because my Heavenly Father has so graciously given to me.

This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and between ticket sales, donations, and silent auction we are able to make a huge impact for our children. I worked the silent auction this year and it was a lot of work but a lot of fun also!

A Little Taste of Heaven...

Last weekend on Ailee's Birthday, we spent Saturday afternoon with some of our closest and most wonderful friends enjoying the beautiful scenery surrounding Berry College. All four famillies pitched our quilts on the field below Frost Chapel. Towering on the high hill above us was one of the most beautiful chapels I have ever seen (the girls called it their castle named Glory to God). They each danced under the arched doors pretending to be princesses. The boys and their daddies played everytype of ball imaginable. The kiddos just enjoyed running through the fields giggling and playing with one another. We walked the trails over to the lake and saw the geese and swans. Some of the brave little ones and their daddies climbed up to the very top of ridge overlooking the waterfall. It was one of the most pleasant times I have spent with my family in a very long time. It was nothing formal or even planned...but it was perfect! My soul needed the sweet smiles, cool breezes, warm hugs, and loving friends.

The kids, big and small, enjoyed rolling down the huge hill from the chapel.

Ailee and Daddy going on a walk.

The little princess playing in the "castle."

Mommies little snuggle bunny!

Here are some of my favorite shots from the play date...

Ailee B-day cont...

Here are a few more photos from your awesome day!

Your Guests...Jaycee, MuLaney, Blake, Isabelle, Dalton, Lily, Ailee, Anna Grace, Joseph (wanting to jump more!) and Emma Grace was hanging with her Mommy.

You couldn't wait to open up the rest of your fairyland play toys and your mat. You and Anna Grace played with the fairyland and read stories in your new tent by flashlight for a few hours after we got home. Thank you, Dear Jesus, for allowing such a special day for my middle darling!

Monkeying Around....#3!

I cannot even begin to explain the fun you and your friends had today at your monkey birthday party at the jumping place. You all jumped for hours, ate the adorable Ballerina Monkey cake that Grammy made, colored on your monkey placemats, and, then, you shared the goody bags filled with a banana, a monkey bowl and m&m's with your guests. It was so much fun to watch all of you enjoying one another and to spend the day hearing you giggle and smile! This is how being around you makes me feel inside all the time. You are such a cheerful, spontaneous, and sassy little girl who makes my heart smile with every silly thing you do! You are so much like your Daddy with your social personality and you have have such a fun little spirit about you. I love you to pieces and cannot wait to see your life explode with all the good things God has promised for you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Little Monkey!!!

Daddy's Little Bug and Mommy's Precious Sunshine!