These days

It has been busy around here.  Lots going on in the ministry, which keeps us busy, especially Craig.  When he is away it means lots of momma and three little girls time.  I'm very thankful, but I realize quickly how very thankful I am for Craig too.  He helps out quite a bit around here and it just makes life easier, so when he has to be a away alot, I get tired and cranky easier!  This is usually always a busy time of year, but it's been extra busy this year and that's okay I know he is doing what the Lord would have him to do and he does with a cheerful heart.

We actually did school yesterday too, because some men from church took Craig to play golf for Pastor Appreciation and then he took the youth to a judgement house in Albany, GA last night, so he took the van all day.  Since the girls and I were going to be home all day, I thought why not do school and give ourselves extra days off in the pretty spring time.

Friday night, the church had a fellowship and movie night for Pastor Appreciation too, we really enjoyed the time there.  The girls had a blast with their friends.  Anna Claire and I had to leave about half way through the movie, she was exhausted and a bit loud!!!!

Aunt Rikki is coming today and bringing a SURPRISE with her!!!  I will have to post a pic and tell all about it soon!!  We are anticipating it for sure.

This wee one does not like anything in her hair, but it's getting longer and in her face, so I bought some of those little clips that I "thought" she wouldn't be able to get out.  Boy was I wrong after 1 minute it was in the floor.  O well, I tried!

I taught AC a while back where her nose was, and one day when asking her, she stuck her finger in her nose and we all started cracking up.  Now she does it ALL the time, cute huh?!?!

On our way to movie night. 

This was after movie night, I told you she was exhausted.  She looks comfy!

Amazima

So I saw on another blog about 3 weeks ago a video clip of a young girl named Katie Davis who had visited Church of Brookhills.  She began a ministry in Uganda named Amazima, which means truth.  After seeing the clip I HAD to buy her book.  I would like to say this girl is amazing, however like she says, she is not amazing, she is no different than you and I, she just follows the will of God.  The Bible says to go to the least of these, to take care of the widows and orphans, and that she certainly does with an absolute loving and joyful heart.

Reading this book has enlightened me in such a way that is amazing.  Everything she says is clearly written in the Bible, and I've gone to church my whole like, I'm married to a preacher who preaches exactly what she writes about all the time.  He also has a passion for the lost and the least of these.  Somehow though God has used Katie Davis and her book to open my eyes to a different world per se. 

It's so easy in this American life to think you always need something, or maybe even just desire things.  I'm not saying this is a terrible thing, but God has brought me to a new place and I see now that we are blessed way beyond measure (materially).  I see that there are truly children, orphans, widows, people all over this world who are starving to death (literally), who sleep on the wet filthy ground with no cover, with no running water to ever take a bath, who walk around barefoot, who work hours upon hours each day to still not have enough money for food, who have truly nothing, but God.  We have it all (materially speaking), I want it all (spiritually speaking).  When you live in a place where anything and everything is at your fingertips, it's hard to always be dependent on God and always look to Him first.  I want to be different, I want my life to have purpose for the Kingdom's sake.

Thank you Lord for making a change in my life and heart, may You continue to mold me, make me, and form me in Your image, and live in a such a way that brings honor and glory to You and Your Kingdom.

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/ is Katie's blog and her book is called Kisses from Katie.  I would encourage EVERYONE to get a copy.  I am not much of a reader, but I read last night for 4 hours straight.

Visiting

Yesterday the girls and I had a sweet visit with a sweet lady from the church for about 3 1/2 hours.  Her and her husband both are precious people and we certainly enjoyed our time with them.  They are actually the wonderful people who took care of our 2 sweet girls while we were in the hospital unexpectedly for a week with Anna Claire.  However there were a few others who helped out with them too.  I meant to take my camera with me, but of course I forgot.  They have a beautiful yard and we sat outside for a while in the nice weather and the girls played. 

That same sweet lady came and sat with the girls while I had a quick doctors appointment that afternoon too, which I appreciated so much.  It is a bit exhausting going to the doctor with all 3 of them.

We had a viewing last night of a precious lady from our church who I have mentioned on here before, Ms. Lorraine, who had the brain tumor and fought the good fight as long as she could.  Sweet Jesus ended her fight on Sat. night and now she is rejoicing with him in Heaven.  She had SUCH a strong faith through her battle.  She was a blessing to be around at all times.  She will be missed, but she is SO happy now.

Before the viewing.

Kyndal wanted to hold her too and Abby was trying to help!!!!!!!

They were watching Cake Boss!

Weekend Visitors

Eron and Marley came this weekend and we had a great time.  We went into some new shops here in town and took the kids to the park on Friday.  Not to soon after getting to the park, Marley and Kyndal needed to use the restroom, so we just left.  We cooked up some dinner, got kids ready for bed, and then we watched a movie.  Eron is a night owl ( and I mean really late owl).  I consider myself to be a night person, I guess because I seem to have more energy then, but I CANNOT stay up as long as Eron does, anytime!!!

Saturday morning we took the kids back to the park and let them play for a good while.  After lunch, the girls played outside while we got ready for our cousins memorial service here in town.  It was nice to see some old faces that we haven't seen in a while.  We then came back home, made a dress, cooked some dinner and watched the Bama boys win another game.  I fell asleep on the couch soon after the game was over.  So off to bed we went!

Sunday after church and lunch and some playtime outside, it was time for Eron and Marley to go home.  On the day they are planning to leave, Abby and Kyndal ALWAYS say, can you stay just one more day.  It's funny!  We really enjoyed our great company, we had a fun weekend.  The girls love playing together!

Cute shirts made by Aunt Eron (aka Marley Moo Designs)!!!

This and That

Anna Claire is pretty much a full time walker now unless she wants to get to something quickly.  She's not quick on those feet just yet.  She is also starting to eat alot more from the table.  I know, she is 16 months, but switching to table food is my least favorite thing to do with a baby, I have the biggest fear of them choking.  She did eat the same breakfast and lunch as us the other day.

It is really cool here right now, but there are some highs next week up in the 80's, boo. 

I've started walking with a friend in the mornings before the kids get up.  Working out/exercising in the morning is really the best time for me with having 3 kids at home, but I am sooooooooooooooo not a morning person.  If I didn't have someone to meet and go with me, I would never get up and do it.  We walk for about 45 minutes around downtown.

The girls are both doing really well in school.  Abby sometimes has difficulty paying attention, she just gets in to big a hurry for some reason, but she still makes really good grades and even teaches me a few things from time to time!!  Kyndal is doing so well with reading, which is the main focus in kindergarten.  She really knows both vowel sounds well, just sometimes gets them a bit confused on reading words, I just have to slow her down and make her pay closer attention.  She is reading some of her A Beka books on her own though.

I averaged their grades yesterday for the first 12 weeks, and they both have all A's.  In kindergarten they usually don't really do grades per se, but letters.  However, I give Kyndal tests in Math, Language/Phonics, and Bible, so she had grades in those subjects.  Very proud of them both.

The other night when we went out to dinner, I let Anna Claire play with a piece of toast, which I would have never let Abby and Kyndal do.  After she eats she sometimes gets a bit restless at the table, so I just let her have at it.  She made a big O' mess, but I didn't care.  I guess the more kids you have you just go with the flow and work with what you got!!!

We went to the library today for story time/craft time, and to pick out books for the week.

Aunt Eron and Marley are on their way here, and we are looking forward to their weekend visit.

Different Perspective

Last night Kyndal woke me up about 1:20 am needing my help and my first thought/feeling was one of irritation.  I quickly thought to myself there are some women out there who would love to have a child to wake them in the middle of the night needing their help.  Or moms who would love to have their babies back or healthy to wake them in the middle of the night needing their help.  It's all about perspective, and that my friend is our decision to make on whether we will have a positive one or a negative one.

I had a really bad headache all day yesterday, but I know their are some out there who hurt worse everyday.  I do complain, don't get me wrong, I know I shouldn't, but I do.  I do try to remember that my circumstances could be so much worse no matter what.  It's all about perspective.

I was reading a blog yesterday that was talking about how frustrating it can get to always have a mess in the house with toys and shoes and such everywhere.  She went on to say she was going to slow down and try to enjoy the mess, because one day those toys won't be all over the house, and one day the only shoes on the floor will be yours and your spouses.  One day sooner rather than later.  This encouraged me to take a deep breath and "try" to enjoy the mess, which can be hard, because the messes make me a little crazy.  It's all about perspective.

It just so happens I have a great pastor/preacher/husband who really desires to walk closely with Jesus and he also desires that his family and the flock he shepherd's does as well.  He has been preaching on gaining new, greater, positive, Godly perspective.  His messages, led through by the Lord, have helped so much.

I of course don't always choose to have the right perspective, but boy do I want to grow in this area.  It's all up to me, with the Lord's help, of course wouldn't even be possible without Him.

Playing store, Kyndal was the cashier, Abby and Anna Claire were the shoppers!!!

She loves pushing that cart around!

Love the kids, love the mess!!!

Check Ups

Abby and Kyndal had their 8 year old and 6 year old well check ups yesterday.  It's a nice long drive to Auburn, but we enjoyed ourselves.  I told them they would not be getting shots, but Uh, I was wrong!!!  Whoops.  Actually they were not suppose too, but something about getting a second round of Hep A that BCBS wouldn't cover back when they were little and they are covering it now.  Their doctor recommended for them to get it since we are in ministry and the there's a possibility of us traveling out of the country, she thought it would be safest for them, so we did.  Abby is a bit dramatic, so she was not excited about the shot, and said her leg was numb the rest of the day!!!!!!!!!  We stopped and got a sweet treat after the appointment and then made the hour and a half journey back home to pick up dad and go to dinner, which was really good!

Abby and Kyndal appear to be healthy and in good shape.  Abby is in the 85% for weight, 75% for height, and 80% for BMI.  The doctor said those were all good numbers.  Kyndal is in the 50% for weight, 30% for height, and 60% for BMI.  She said those were all good numbers too.  I know that BMI is body max index which I believe is your weight and height together, but not too sure about how the percentile works in that area, I probably should have asked, but the doctor was encouraged with the numbers so I'm not concerned.

Our doctor is pregnant with her first baby, which is a boy.  She is such a cute pregnant lady. 

We have just finished our second day of school today since being off for a week of fall break which we really enjoyed.  School is going very well this week, which I'm grateful for.  It has its ups and downs as everything in life does, but this week is good, yay!

Aunt Eron and Marley are coming for a weekend visit and we are super psyched about that.  Great Gran and Pa are also coming for a Memorial Service on Sat. so we are looking forward to spending a little time with them as well.

I forgot to take pics yesterday at the doctor so this is from the other day.  I did remember to take my camera, just forgot to take it out of my purse and take a pic!!!!!!!

This is also from another day, but I love this pic of them.

Random

On Saturday we went for a family walk on the trail, and before we left I told the girls to go and get dressed.  Kyndal came in the living room looking like Punky Brewster.  It was soooo funny.  She does that alot and just doesn't care, I think it's cute.  My sister, Eron, use to do the same thing all the time growing up.  Now she actually has a little sense of style about her!!

I'm sure one day when she looks back on this, she will say why in the world did you let me go out looking like that and why did you put it on the Internet too!

Aunt Rikki was here for the weekend and the girls always love that.  She is a really sweet aunt.  We had a full day of church on Sunday, which was good.  One of our sweet members who is a Sunday School teacher passed away in her sleep Sat. night.  It was sad and she will be missed, but she is rejoicing with Jesus now, free of pain.  God bless her sweet family as their hearts ache.

Sweet Aunt Eron made this precious outfit for AC.

I thought this was so cute!  She was looking at her cute little princess face in the mirror.


Anna Claire has a new favorite playing place, right in the corner.  She moves all her toys out of her way and plops down right in the corner and plays.  She is walking alot now too.

Abby took this picture of AC while I was in the shower, and said I got a cute picture of AC for your blog!!!!!

Fun Memories

Anna Claire likes to bounce around and play on our bed anytime she gets a chance...

Just cracking up!!!


I took Abby and Kyndal to the park yesterday afternoon after PE.  The weather was really nice, so it was a good time to be out.  After playing for a while, we made a family trip to clean the van up real good.

Being a wife and a homeschooling mommy to 2 and just mommy to a 16th month old can be quite exhausting at times, but at the end of the day it's so rewarding.  I love these girls so much and love making such sweet memories with my family.  Very grateful for the family the Lord has allowed me to be a part of!

Sweet Sissy Love

The other day I was doing some work and the girls were in the living room playing together.  Later I went to get my camera and found these pictures on it that Abby had taken.......

When I am folding clothes, Anna Claire likes to play with the clothes basket, but she really loves to get in it and have someone push her around the house.  Abby put her in it and pushed her around and she just laughed so hard.  It was so sweet!

Sweetness!!!!

Fun with Daddy

The girls had a play date with Lexi on Tuesday and I only got one picture and I almost forgot to take it.  They played and played and then we went to lunch.  The girls had co-op that day, and we went and visited some sweet folks from church after that.  Then off to a good luck party for a girl at church who is in the peanut pagent this weekend.

Kyndal, Lexie, and Abby

Abby and Kyndal bought guitars and a microphone with some of their b'day money and so it gets a little louder in this house at times.  It's probably time for me to invest in some ear plugs!!!  They had all their stuff set up in the living room the other night while I was cooking and they ask Craig to play with them.  Of course he did and it was quite the scene, I must say.  They had lots of fun for sure.  I did get it on video too, great times to always remember!

The Party

The girls had their Birthday Party at Pump It Up with Zyla and Eden.  All of their b'days are right there together.  We all had lots of fun.  It was great to see everyone.  I did realize I'm a little to old to be racing through those things and wayyyyy out of shape, but it was still lots of fun.

Abby and Kyndal had a really great time and we thank everyone for making it such a special day!!!!

This was her one and only slide down, she wasn't digging it!!

Racing Jason before I thought I broke my back.................................

Wyatt had the best time on the slide!