Saturday, August 4, 2012

Catching Up ... Birthday Boy!

 I'm saying it's never too late to celebrate a birthday ... and to write about it! :) Brian's birthday is in April and we celebrated it in grand style ... birthday gifts (and thanks to a daughter's great memory, we really did surprise him), a birthday banner and cake! He is our hero! And, we celebrate him everyday! Love you babe!

Daddy and his girls!
Had to add this picture cause of all the smoke from all the candles! So blessed to be growing old together with this amazing man!

Catching Up ... Go Karts and Bumper Cars

Sadly, I have not figured out how to turn my horizontal photo's vertical (grrrr ...), but I have plenty of vertical photo's so why stop catching up? Right? Sometime in early spring we did family night at the putt-putt golf (which was very hot) followed by Go Karts and Bumper Cars. It was great fun as you can see ...

Speed demon!


Getting a little driving advice from Dad.

By George, I think she's got it!

Not to be left out of the fun, since we were the only ones riding, they let little bit ride with Daddy. A safe place to be. She only lasted a few minutes ... too much bumping!
And, when the little got off, the games really began!
It was a fun time had by all! :)

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Catching Up ... Upwards Basketball 2012

So this was Madison's last season to play Upwards Basketball. :( But, it was an especially fun season because the sisters were on the same team. The dynamic duo!

First up, our Peyton-girl ... she's fast and quite the shooter!




Second up, our Madison-girl ... she's a defensive power-house. She got linked up with some tough players (boys) and gave them a serious run for their money!




And, lastly, Brianne and her half-time ball-rolling buddy! So precious! And our favorite fans ... Mike and Emsoon (from our RV park), Bill and Marion (also from our RV park) and my parents, who get the award for most faithful fans considering the looooong drive they made to be present and cheering!

 
P.S. Sorry for the sideways photo's. For some reason they wouldn't upload straight up and my sweet Gina, who knows all the ways to fix things, is in Africa leading a mission trip team with her hubby, Jason. Praying for them. I'm sure I can be tutored to fix it when she returns! :)

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!



There are two reasons for this post. One: It is Mother’s Day and my Mom is not where she can receive mail, but she does have internet connection and an online “card” is the next best thing to the post office. And, second: I want to be a part of caring for Mother’s in Haiti and by honoring my Mom, I am helping them. So I’m linking with Ann at A Holy Experience and adding my sweet Mother to the “1000 Mom’s Project.”

I’m finding it difficult to figure out where to start and what to say because there is so much. So, I am going to write a nowhere near comprehensive list of things I love about my sweet Mother …
• She loves the Lord with all her heart.
• She is a servant with a servant’s heart.
• Because of her servant’s heart she continually loves on others in her church and community whenever the opportunity presents itself. I’m thinking that she is always looking for those opportunities to be His hands and feet.
• She never, ever, ever quits. The end. And, I love that about her because that is a trait that I inherited from her!
• She loves my husband.
• She said to always choose fun and she does it.
• She loves on my children, her grandchildren, in ways that amaze me.
• She likes to play games.
• She exercises so she always has energy for us.
• She reads to the girls at bedtime …in funny voices and remembers things from the books to talk about and laugh about later! It’s awesome!
• She is a good cook and is always trying new recipes and sending them to me.
• She eats very healthy and green, which I love, and am adapting in our house, so we get to share recipes.
• She prays. She prays all the time. She is always talking to Jesus.
• She raised my sister and I fearlessly as a single mom when my Father died.
• She has great courage.
• She is not afraid to try something new.
• She is always ready with an encouraging word.
• She knows how to live simply, so she can share with others in need.
• Family is very, very important to her.
• She has a great smile.
• She has great style.
• She knows what is important to her and generally disregards the rest.
• She is always ready to help and I could make a never-ending list of the ways she has helped me.
• She thinks her gifts through so they are personal and perfect for everyone who receives one.
• She is a bargain hunter and finder.
• She is incredibly creative.
• She likes to swing on the porch swing.
• She lives in the country.
• She loves my sister and I and our families equally and with great tenacity.
• She is a devoted sister to her sister and brother through the tough and the awesome.
• She is selfless, never selfish.
• She loves my in-laws.
• She loves to grow things … like gardens and flowers and people’s confidence.
• She is a great mentor.
• She is genuine.
• She surprises me all the time in cool ways.
• She is constantly growing and changing in the Lord and I love that we share that part of our relationship with Him with each other.
• She loves my friends.
• She loves my second Dad fiercely.
• She does not compromise her beliefs. She won’t do it. And, that is an amazing example.
• She drove a long way, with Paw-Paw, twice to watch two granddaughters play basketball and play with the little one.
• She writes very fun, very encouraging, very cool letters.
• She leads by example.
• She is a loving and devoted friend.
• She is not afraid to show that she is human and emotional and gets mad sometimes and makes mistakes, which I love.
• She is always supportive and encouraging.
• She will disagree with you, when necessary, with wisdom and gentleness.
• She memorizes the Word and has it written all over her house because He is truth and she walks in it.
• She has not forgotten how to be a kid!
• She comes up with things to do with the girls that are just plum cool.
• She will still go romping in the river.
• She looks at every challenge and knows there is a solution, and if she can’t think of it, she knows God will reveal it.
• She gives great hugs.
• She rejoices with others always ... and mourns with those who mourn.
• And, best of all, she is mine! (well, and my sister’s, too).

Happy Mother’s Day Mom! I love you!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Friday, February 10, 2012

My Grannie



My Mom sent this rocking picture of my Grannie this week and I had to post it 'cause she is so amazing. My Grannie is 94 years old. Isn't she the cutest!?! She has lived through illness, a flood where she lost everything, in many different countries in the world, through losing all her family (parents, siblings and my PawPaw, I mean) and most of her friends, and many other things I don't even have a clue of and she is the most optimistic sweet lady ever. She has been and continues to be a shining example of perseverance, faith, generosity, wisdom, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. She loves Jesus with all her heart and can't wait to meet Him one day, although we would selfishly like that to be later versus sooner. She lives with my Aunt and Uncle right now because she is diabetic and that has resulted in a couple minor mini strokes that have affected her independence. But, even with that, she is still cheerful and humorous and quick witted and fiesty, which is what we tease her about and how we know she is still okay. I am blessed beyond measure that she is my Grannie, that I got to grow up knowing her and that my girls know her. She is pretty special!! I love you Grannie! I want to be just like you when I grow up! :)