summer memories

something about 3 days of snow (and counting) makes me want to look back at our summer pictures and daydream. These are a few from the cabin that Bill's parents have. We love to go there, it offers much peace and solitude-which seems to be great medicine for me. When we turn down the dirt road that leads to their house, I always switch the station to country music....it's the perfect fit.

my girlies

My friends are just as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Miss Whitney, is the perfect example of the wife and mom I want to become. Miss Alyssa is the perfect example of the giver and creator I want to be and Miss Alysia is the perfect example of how emotionally soft and compassionate I want to become. I thank God everyday for the precious gift of friendship and hope to become more conformed to His image through these passionate women. thank you my sweets for being exactly who you are.

Christmas 09

My sweet kids are at the age that makes Christmas morning a blast. I'm so giddy just thinking about what the morning will be like when they see their presents from Santa. We've had tons of excitement, parties, friends, and chocolate! leading up to this big day. God is so good. I hope you have an awestruck day thinking about a baby born in a manager who came to save you and me from our sin. plain and simple. You're forgiven because of what happened on Christmas and then Easter. Peace my friends!

Price, Garrett and Macy

I didn't notice until I was looking back through my pictures that Macy looks painfully shy in this photo. Then I figured it out. It's Price's presence that's making her feel slightly nervous. Do crushes really happen this early?! oh my.

Gift Giving

So, I finally found the secret to giving the perfect gift. Scripture. Plain and simple. In giving a few gifts to some friends and neighbors this year, I included a specific scripture for that person either on the tag or somehow incorporated it with the gift. It sounds so simple, but it really makes a great difference. It turns the "how cute" into "how special" . Just thought I'd share.

Can I still keep the title of my blog even though THERE ARE NO MORE DIAPERS IN MY HOUSE!!!!! None. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.
P.S. I'd like to put some Christmas songs on my playlist however I can't remember my password to change my songs. hhmmm.

Nativity Scene

My mom gave me my late grandmother, Vivian's, nativity scene this past year. I have it in the dining room and it's the really pretty kind that has two barns with hay and all the animals and a little light that shines in the stable with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. I love it!! BUT, what I love most of all is secretly watching my son move all the animals out of the barns and all the shepherds, kings and travelers to face the stable. Silly me....trying to "display" the scene so everyone could see how beautiful it was. Only through the eyes of a babe does it make sense to see only the backsides of the participants. that boy. he teaches me more than I ever thought possible.

We 3 Kings...

This past weekend we spent the morning at the City Rescue Mission where my 5 yr. old was one of the 3 kings in a Christmas play. I loved being there, having my kids there to play with others less fortunate than us, but I'm especially fond of a little 3 yr. old named "baby" who gave me the best head massage ever!! no lie.

Bill would be so embarrassed if he knew I was going to write about him but....if you know anything of my husband he is a) a passionate photographer and b) a passionate giver and lover to humanity.
The man would wear dirt if he could. He's the most non materialistic person I know and sees life as a reason to make someone else's better.

He set up a photo booth at the shelter and took family portraits of the families that were there. It was so precious to see these families rejoice in a simple picture.

I needed a little wake up call this month and I got it~
We look forward to going again in the spring to take their pictures. ahhh, it feels so much better to give than receive.

my sweet friend

In chalking up my blessings this year, I'm reflecting on what my friend Alyssa has blessed me with this year and actully since Macy's been born.

Aside from being beautiful, Alyssa my sweet friend of my whole life, has been doing something really great for our family. Alyssa and her cutie little daughter, Hayden, (born exactly one year from my Macy) has graciously donated her wardrobe to us. So pretty much for the past two years, I've only purchased food and diapers and some bows for my little girl. Priceless, I know. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all see the pics of the beautiful, INSIDE and OUT, family that I'm so blessed to call friends. I hope you know someone as generous. Happy Thanksgiving.

family of 7!

Check out this super sweet, cute, fun, and happy family of seven! They were tons of fun and so easy! Lovely family.

shower thoughts.....

I do my best thinking in the shower. I've had tremendous spiritual growth in the shower. Seriously.

However, this week I needed to clean the shower. So I did.

Nonetheless, I still had a spiritual moment:


Me: "Man-o-mighty, if I would just clean this shower regularly it wouldn't get like this."

Holy Spirit: "It's kinda like your quiet time in the morning that hasn't been so regular."

Me: "Hmmm, I would be really embarrassed for anyone to see the INSIDE!"

Holy Spirit: "This is where you come clean. Keep cleaning. Don't fear judgement, you'll get there."

Me: "Okay, I'm really gonna start doing this more regularly, because it feels great to have a clean shower!"

Holy Spirit: "Come to me regularly also and you'll be refreshed!"

Me: " Oh, wait now I have to clean the soap scummed glass doors. Darn."

Holy Spirit: "It's also true that you should be transparent(just like your shower doors) so everyone can see how clean and made new I've made you."

Me: "Saweet"

Father, thank you for reaching me in the ordinariness (is that a word?) of today.

P.S. Last time Garrett saw me cleaning the bathroom he said "Mom, are you the new cleaning lady?" Ahem..."why yes sweetheart, I've decided to stay home and clean instead of going to work each day. Is that okay with you? "Sure, i guess."

A new favorite picture

I can't wait to frame this picture! It has my favorite people and a new favorite memory of our family lake house. We spent fall break this way:

Seeing more deer than people
Seeing more water than land
Breathing more outdoor air than indoor air
Playing more games than the casinos
Watching Macy crawl out of bed more times than I could count
Eating soup and chili that my husband made (de-lish)
Eating at a new restaurant our family is calling "Sabrina's Choice"

it was fun and much needed. I can't wait to go back.

Macy Marie

Bill took these pictures of macy while I was gone one afternoon. He's such a good daddy. Watching daddy/daughter interaction is one of my favorite things-and she's my sweetie. I love having a girl. Precious, precious she is.

cuties

another fun shoot!

Obsessed with Genesis

Okay, this may not be a news flash to you (but it totally was to me) and I've been obsessed with it for a few days now. Remember how I've been saturated in God's timing lately? This is great~

I'm going to spill my way through this post, so try to follow me, it's rich!

Genesis 1, He Created:

Day 1 Light and Dark
Day 2 Sky and Water
Day 3 Land and Seas
Day 4 Sun, Moon, Stars
Day 5 Fish and Birds
Day 6 Animals and Humans
Day 7 Rest

Here's the fun part-

Numbers 1, 2, and 3 are all things that SEPARATE
Numbers 4, 5. and 6 are all things that FILL


Number 6 fills 3
Number 5 fills 2
Number 4 fills 1

So, my Genesis page is covered with lines and numbers. God is so smart. I think I'll praise Him today for that. :)
Happy Tuesday!

Last day of summer and First Day of school 2009!

We have a PLETHORA of boys in our neighborhood. Garrett usually has a playmate, anytime-anyday. It's been such a blessing this summer. They love to ride their bikes to Hafer, swim in the "eight foot pool" and play super heros. I love them. EACH. AND. EVERY. ONE. because of the friend they've been to my son. Because of their love of the Father. Because they're gentle with Miss Mace and because they are dirty, sweaty, stinky, silly, burpin' boys. On the last day of summer we all walked to Hafer and played for hours. We had a ton of pizza left from Trip's surprise party the night before, so I had all the boys over for lunch. What a great day it was. Thank you Jesus for sunshine and neighbors- turned- into- friends that I never knew I'd be lucky enough to have.







These are our pictures of the first day of school. I can't believe it's gone so fast. Isn't that every mom's line? I read "The Kissing Hand" over breakfast. Nobody really wanted to listen but me, so I quit half way through(and no one really noticed either). Maybe next year when he's gone all day he'll appreciate it. he he

last chance museum trip

Now that we're nearing the end of summer, Garrett is holding me accountable to all of the day trips I've promised for the summer. The Sam Noble dinosaur museum being one. So, together- with a friend and her sweet girls, we journeyed to Norman and had a blast. It was a beautiful day for a picnic outside and a great time had by all. We lucked into the Discovery room and they had a little story with a clay making craft. Garrett made a 'raptor' and macy made a 'ladybug/butterfly/ball'. Tomorrow we're headed to the cabin to Meemers and Papa Bill's. boats, go carts, golf carts, chuck wagons, oh my!

miss mace

i love this picture of macy. she's a little ball of sunshine!

stirring

I love the mystery of God's timing and puzzle in life. I'm stirred at this season in my life about something and although I think I know what it may stem from or be associated with, I know there are so many pieces of the puzzle that are being worked out that I need not know. I know someday, sometime, it will all come to fruition, but my theme for the year is "wait" so that's what I'm going to do. In the meantime, I'm working on each Fruit of the Spirit this summer, and it's been sensational! This week will be self-control. I'm always up for a challenge, I guess.

Randomness

I'm having hot flashes and rude outbursts

I'm going to start taking tennis lessons

I'm wrapping up some overdue home projects

I can't believe it's almost August-I really don't want my kids to start school

I'm starting to catch up on Macy's one year scrapbook

I'm reading my first Jodi Piccoult (sp?) book this month

Macy is hilarious!

I'm growing my hair out

Happy Birthday to Macy Marie!

Macy turned 2 this month! I know it sounds so cliche' but I really can't believe how fast the time has flown by. We had a family birthday party at Build-A-Bear and it was perfect. It was a great evening spent in the AC! and she really understood that we were celebrating her birthday, it was so cute to watch her. She got a baby doll stroller (which grandpa let her walk around the mall with) and a Barbie computer to learn her letters and numbers and a sweet talking baby doll from gma. Garrett picked out a monkey that he named "vines" and she picked out "sweet cream" the teddy bear. Happy Birthday Macy!

the coffelts~

Cupcake Party!

We read "If you give a cat a cupcake" and decorated cupcakes with the neighbor boys today. Whom, by the way could be considered our cousins b/c for 1) their mother is like an older and wiser sister to me and 2) the boys love eachother so much. It's a really sweet blessing to watch my children want to be with them EVERY day! Anyway, after we finished decorating the cupcakes, the boys carried them(with baskets!) to the pool and very modestly offered their cupcakes to all the lifeguards and people visiting the pool. Awwwe, it was so cute to watch how embarrassed, but excited they were to walk up to people and offer them something they made. So stinkin' sweet...which by the way, is exactly what I needed this week. A refresher. That kids feel accomplished when doing something nice for someone else. Goodness. An extra bonus if the boys' mom is reading: While we were decorating, the oldest said, " This is so fun, I guess it is true that happiness is doing fun things together." (double aawwe)

because I like to torture people-

Here's a few snaps of miss Haydie, enjoy~

Camping!

We went camping (cabin style) at the river for a few days and had so much fun. Between my brother's family and ours, we have 5 kids under 6, so it was pretty busy but so great. We floated the river, swam, played in the splash pad and crafted to our hearts content. We had smores (my favorite dessert) two nights in a row and cried when we left. We've decided this spot is going to be an annual event for our families and we're excited to return. Enjoy the pics! P.S. aren't my nieces and nephew KEY-UTE!

baby Paige

I had the absolute pleasure of taking my friend's maternity pictures last week. It definitely brought back lots of memories! She was all smiles and no complaints and she's due any day! Isn't she beautiful~ Her husband is quite the sweetheart I might add too. He fetched her clothes, turned her body and moved her hair just so...it was so sweet. Nothing like sharing a heartbeat with your baby....