Just enough Time!

We cannot thank the Swards and the Stewarts enough for the kind invitation to join them on a long weekend getaway to paradise. We very much enjoyed the sweet company, awesome weather, beautiful accommodations, amazing scenery, sounds of young giggles, quaint little shopping, restuarants and the late night talks! It was just enough time to become refreshed after a long, busy month of May. The eight kiddos enjoyed the beach and the waves so very much. They jumped them, rode them and even went head first in them (mostly on accident). With 7 girls and only one boy, the friendships played out so sweetly the whole trip. Jake took on the "big brother" role perfectly since he was the oldest. He helped calm the fears of waves. I love how he is holding Ailee's hand in the pic above I stole from Miss Stacey's blog. He also was the gentleman and gave up a bed to sleep on the couches on the highest floor of the house so that all the little girls would have a bed. Then, on the last day, he caught fish for all the excited girls. He even was so gentle and loving to Adelynn. Thanks, Jake, to being such a caretaker!

I enjoyed the night we all spent crabbing. I was amazed at how brave you were Anna Grace. You would snatch the crabs up and carry them around for all to see. I'm sure all 16 of us on the beach in the complete darkness and small flashlights was a sight to be seen. Or heard, rather. From screams of excitement to shrieks of terror, it was a blast!
Sweet Baby "A"...you were wonderful the whole trip. You swayed back and forth from enjoying the attention that came from being the "baby" to hanging in there like a champ while acting like a "big kid." I must say, I loved the baby stuff more!
(thanks, Miss Stacey, for this adorable pic!)

You took a great nap on the most perfect part of the beach....the hidden bed swing!

School's Out....Scream and Shout! and other May Happenings

Another year has come and gone and you sweet girls are growing faster than I could ever imagine. I LOVE summer so much (not because of the hot weather but because I get to spend each and every day with you all from the minute we get up to the minute I tuck you in. Shhh... and sometimes we just all pile up together and spend the whole 24 hours side by side!) We venture into all kinds of interesting things. I have already heard a few plans being tossed around for this year~butterfly gardens, camping trips, river adventures, day boat trips and lots more. And, yes, for Adelynn's favorite, Cousin's Camp. She has no clue what it is but knows it includes Mimi and staying over at her house without Mommy! She's in!! All YES answers to whatever she wants. Perfect for you, mommy's sweet Baby A who has been disguised lately as the cutest little stinker Daddy and I have ever seen. I just wanted to share a few random happenings through out this month that have kept us busy!

Ailee, you did great at your Pre-K Graduation and I loved your precious little speaking part. Mimi and Granddaddy made the trip, actually, I think Mimi drove down 5 days in a row last week! That's why you're the greastest, Mom, and all us girls (and Daddy too!) know you wouldn't miss a second of being there for us no matter what! What would we do without our Mimi?

Anna Grace, your Hee Haw Celebration was adorable too! You told some silly jokes and your "Gossip Song" with all your girlfriends was too funny! You and our neighbor, Bryce, have had a great year together in first grade. I am sure this summer will be a blast too with him being right across the street.

Mommy had some fun creating some fun teacher gifts for the end of school this year for your awsome teachers. We were truly blessed this year with teachers. I couldn't have hand picked a better 2 women to teach and mentor you both. God's cool that way, huh?

I had a blast making these super cute cake pops with my new cake pop maker for mother's day! We made bouquets and cute tags and it was fun~~ besides slapping little hands that wouldn't stop grabbing the fun balls and running out of the kitchen with them before I could get them packaged up!!!

Another exciting Spring activity this year was soccer. It was interesting to watch how different your personalities are in a competitive nature. Ailee, most people think you are more the sport type and that Anna Grace is less competitive. However, I was amazed with the aggressiveness my big girl showed on that field. I could see you chomping at the bit to get going while waiting on the ref to blow the whistle. It is impressive to me that you have such strong determination to master whatever you take on. I LOVE it!

This shot is so cool to me because this boy looks at least a complete head taller than you but you were not going to back down. Then, below you were surrounded by the boys (who all look a little taken back by the way you jumped in there after the ball!HA). Even though it was not your favorite and you said next year you would just stick with ballet and violin, you played out strong until the end and for that I am extremely proud!

Ailee, please understand my love when posting these (and one day you may be an awesome soccer player) but, during the entire season, these pics of your big sister taking you under her wing and helping you through a completely clueless moment are priceless to me!
You all broke up from huddle and headed out to your positions. Immediately, Anna Grace picked up on the fact that you had no idea where to go. She called you over and pointed out where to stand. Then, gently pushed you off in the right direction. Once you got where you thought she described, you looked back to check. She shook her head. You shifted over to the left about 8 ft and looked back again. This time you got a sweet smile and a thumbs up. (sorry for no pics of the last part. I was too teared up and soaking it all in to snap any actual pics. I have perfect mental captures though).

And, finally, my beautiful ballerinas!

(Ailee, I have some precious pics of you backstage from Mrs. Stacey as you were getting ready for your butterfly dance with the big girls. You seemed to be quite confident in yourself and were soaking in some peaks of yourself in the mirrior. I pray you will never let go of the confidence that God made a jewel when He created you! Hopefully, I can get them posted soon. My computer and I are having a little disagreement tonight and I'm going to let it win because Mommy is tired and needs to be packing for the BEACH instead!)

Born Again...

Last night was one of those brief moments that I will remember until the last few seconds I have on this Earth. The girls and I were all sitting in our bed doing our normal nightly devotion and prayer time. However, it quickly took a turn from what the author of our devotion book for girls thought was important. Anna Grace started in with a questions about discernment. I have been amazed at her gift of prayer lately and there is obviously a lot more communication going on between her and her Heavenly Father than she opens up to us about. (Which is more than fine by me!) She wanted to know how she was sure it was God's voice when she was asking Him for help with things and waiting on answers. First off, I struggle with this daily so I was a little taken back by having to try to explain this to her. Secondly, I was immediately overcome with gratitude to Him for allowing me a peak at her heart and the realization that she is seeking His guidance for her life. It was completely surreal and it gave me peace with some issues I have been dealing with lately about school and her being included in so many "secular" activities. I felt Him soothing my anxiety over the fact that there are areas of her life that are not "sheltered" so to speak. I heard Him plain as day saying to me..."Do you think I would ask you to send your daughters out into a world that I would not send my own Son? If it was okay for My only Son to step out of a complete and Holy place to minister to my Earthly sons and daughters, then please trust Me with your little girls as I use them to share My love with those around them that may never see or hear Me anywhere else!" He was SOOO right! Imagine that? Why do I question that we are making the right choices when I know He loves them more than I ever can? Why do I think that He cannot handle their hearts and lives even though this world is not my "ideal" for them?

The conversation between Anna Grace and I went on for over 30 minutes or more. Ailee sat patiently and was soaking it all in. Finally, I guess she waited as long as she could and she raised her little hand (ha! Do I run this house like a classroom?) and said "Mommy, I wish I could ask God to come live in my heart and He could help me when I need Him." I felt like time stood still for a few minutes. She has made comments for the past month or so about wanting to be saved. Sadly, I must admit that I have assumed her too young and rushed past them to move on to other topics. Trying not to discourage her but "knowing" she was too little to understand. At that moment, I heard over and over in my head, "Let the little children come to Me." It was not my place to decide if she was ready or not. Again, I had to trust that He is big enough to handle my daughter's heart. Ailee's teacher had given me a sweet quote that morning (this isn't the first time He has used her to send me little hints). It said...God is looking for imperfect mothers raising imperfect daughters in an imperfect world-who are desperately dependent on a perfect God for the results. I know I am far from perfect and most days lately that has been heavy on my heart. Many nights, I go to sleep wondering "How I screwed up my girls today?" I had gotten freedom from that stronghold through this little nudge from Ailee's sweet teacher. (who has no clue about my thoughts, by the way, BUT HE DOES! And, that's awesome!) Anyway, sorry to ramble, but I felt it was time to just go with it and see how much she really understood. Or from what I could tell! Anna Grace and I said we would pray with her as she prayed the salvation prayer. She went straight into it all on her own. She asked and explained it better than I probably could have and much better than I have heard some adults do it lately. It was precious! She was so big and so aware! She asked specifically for the Holy Spirit to help her make better choices and for God to take away all her sins. She summed it up with a thank you for dying on the cross and said that she just couldn't stop loving Him. With more words than this and sweet emotions, another one of my precious daughters had been born again. I was holding them in my arms the first minute they entered this world and I sat holding them both again during the minutes they both became born again into the Kingdom of Heaven! God is so Good!

I am aware that one of the last things His Son asked of His people was to share the good news. I cannot expect my sweet girls to be able to be the salt and light of the Earth if I never let them actually find their place in it. So, I am going to stand firm in my faith and the glimpse that He shared with me last night that He holds my children in His loving hands and though they are not perfect and will not always make the best decisions, as long as they are seeking Him first that I can breathe lighter and enjoy what I see unfolding before me instead of living in fear of when this evil world with get it's way with my babies.

Jesus, I cannot thank you enough for using my imperfect ways to guide and draw my children closer to you. Thanks for reminding me yesterday that I am completely dependent on You for the results and at the end of the day if my girls are looking to You first, then I can sleep easy knowing that You hold them in the palm of Your hand. In Your precious Son's Name, Amen.

A Little Bit of May...

Of course, this month of May didn't start without a race to the finish, as most days do in our lives. We crammed a lot in the few days of May that have passed by so quickly, so I thought I would highlight a few things. Mommy was in charge of co-planning a big Kentucky Derby party for my service league at the country club. Miss Julie and I have been planning for what seems like forever but the night came and it was a complete success. Daddy and I had so much fun and the stress of being "in charge" wasn't near as overwhelming as I had thought. We actually enjoyed the evening and wearing hats was a lot of fun too! I think you girls enjoy the Derby, as well, from the sweet pics on Mimi's blog. I stoled one from her site so you could see how festive you all got after you saw Mommy leave in her hat. Adelynn, you picked the winning horse! You were so proud!

We also are drawing near to my favorite time of year...Ballet Recitals!!! Each of you big girls have worked so hard this year and it really shows. This is going to be the very best show yet!! I adore each of your precious little songs and you both have learned so much technique this year. You are truly beautiful ballerinas! Daddy is looking forward to your Butterfly Kisses routine, Ailee, that you are helping in for a tribute to the senior dancers.

Not only does this special studio teach my girls wonderful ballet technique, they have a deep love for Jesus and focus on making the dancing completely "in His honor!" Ailee, your song sweetly discuss how Jesus endured your sins on the cross and I love how you so deeply show your gratitude in your expressions while dancing!

Anna Grace, you and Anna have become such sweet friends this year and it helps that she is our new neighbor! I believe you both are two of the most precious little ladies I know, such pure hearts and loving personalities! (and you were so serious during your rehearsal, Mom couldn't bring myself to distrub you with pics of your actual performance...it's just perfect, though. Your bar work has definitely paid off!)

And, then there was...

Mother's Day! Thank you to my beautiful angels for all the wonderful ways you each honored me on that special day. Nothing in this world is more fulfilling than being your Mommy!

Just a little Heaven on Earth!