Snow ... where did you go?

I was wishing for some snow fun with my kiddos and our friends, but all we got were a few hours of flurries. It's F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G here today, but not an inch of snow to be found. All of my sweet southeast friends are posting the cutest snow pics on facebook, so I thought I should revisit our snow pictures from the day after Christmas. We were with my parents in GA ... they have had quite a winter! There is just something magical about the land being covered with snow. It's the most fun to see it through the eyes of the little ones!

This is a test ...

Last night as I was cooking supper, something terrible happened. The pot I was cooking noodles in boiled over onto the stove. What's so terrible about that? It happens almost every time I cook! I don't know if I'm trying to do too many things at once or if I'm really just losing my mind, but seriously!!! I was so frustrated when I heard that awful hissing noise and ran from the family room to try to minimize the mess. In that very moment, I was reminded of my promise to be thankful. And this is where my mind went ... Lord, thank you for pots to cook in, thank you for things to clean up with, thank you for plenty of food to eat, thank you for my precious family that gets to sit around one table and eat together tonight. Thank you that my pots just boil over and I don't have to admit to burning food every time I cook ;o). There must be 10 million bazillion things to thank Him for every day. I wonder what tonight's meal will bring?!?

The pictures are obviously not of my sticky stove top, but of two of my favorite people to clean up after!

New Year, New Me?

"Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:23


I do love a fresh start and a clean slate. There is just something so special about "new". The first few moments with a precious newborn baby. The excitement of new leaves budding on a tree after a long winter. The pure and unbridled joy in the face of a new believer in Jesus Christ. They all seem so fresh from the face of God, like we get a glimpse of His majesty and glory in these miracles of everyday life. Yesterday, I was challenged to thank God for something new every day. I've decided to accept the challenge and to search my life each day to see what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do ... you know, to see what's new.


"Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things..." Psalm 98:1

At the Pumpkin Patch

One of our favorite things to do each fall is visit the local Pumpkin Patch. Will had been looking forward to it for a few weeks and Kate had no idea what she was in for! We went with our sweet friends and the kids had a blast together. This is the first year that I wasn't able to get as many pictures of Will ... he ran so fast from one thing to the next too excited to slow down for mama's camera. Don't worry - there are lots of pictures still, just 350 instead of my usual 500! Kate loved the animals until one Mr. Goat got a little too close and and was a little too grumpy. I hope she's not scarred for life! Will was really into the maze this year. His technique - run as fast as you can no matter what. Run like the wind to the the dead end and then turn around and run just as fast back! We all enjoyed the hay ride and picking out our favorite pumpkins. Sometimes, in the midst of enjoying such a wonderful day together, I stop and think about how fast time is flying. I wonder how many more trips to the pumpkin patch Will will really look forward to. Maybe this has to do with the picture that Will brought home from school this week - FROM A GIRL!

I'm okay. Really. For now, I'll treasure every moment.

Papa & Nana

Will and Kate (and John and I too!) had the best visit with Papa and Nana a few weeks ago. We went to the zoo, drove, to Kansas and back for a little ceremony (see post below), and played, and played, and played. They played baby dolls, coloring, and dress up with Kate and then switched to legos, animals, and UNO with Will. Everyone enjoyed the after dinner dance parties! Papa had Will laughing so hard one afternoon I thought Will would run out of breath. Kate LOVED playing ball with Nana. We can't wait until they come back!

Child's play

Is there anything better than watching your kids play ... like lost in their own imagination far away from any danger or bad thing, laughing, squealing, running, jumping, play? I love to sit back (a-n-d take pictures :o) while Will and Kate are playing. They bring me so much joy. I am one blessed mama!

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD ..." Psalm 127:3

So long Captain's bars

Some of you probably know and lots of you probably don't, that John joined the Air Force Reserves last October. It was a difficult (more like, painful!) decision to separate in March of 2007. He spent 2 1/2 years convincing me that the Reserves was a good idea ... I wanted both feet in or both feet out. I don't know how he did it (just wore me down, I reckon!), but we decided to go for it last summer. He now serves one weekend a month and a couple of weeks during the year. Since leaving active duty, John had missed wearing the uniform (crazy, huh?), he'd missed the camaraderie of the AF life, and probably most of all, he'd missed the smell of jet fuel in the morning! Well, now we think we have the best of both worlds ... he's back in uniform (which doesn't have to be dry cleaned), wearing boots (that don't have to be shined!), and smelling like jet fuel (ew!) one weekend a month and the rest of the time he's at home working hard at our church. We found out in April that John was selected to promote from Captain to Major and he pinned on his new rank on October 2nd. John's parents made the trip out for his ceremony. I'm so proud of my airman, and if I do say so myself, he sure is handsome in that uniform!