Her New Look

Look who's got glasses...

Before

After

Before and After

Before

After

Yay! Our girl got her braces off today. 

Texting and Driving?

Today I am asking all of you to do something for yourselves and everyone else out there. Please do not text and drive! This morning I was headed to the grocery store --(a pretty uneventful trip, oh so I thought) when suddenly a car crosses over the yellow line and is headed straight for the two cars in front of me and then me before swerving back into its lane. As this was occurring I just repeated over and over "Oh my God, Oh my God!" Thankfully by God's merciful grace, none of us were involved in a head on collision as we all swerved off the road, one by one while the other car took over our lane. As I continued on to the grocery store, I was literally shaking from the experience and also pretty upset. So I am asking everyone to please consider the consequences of checking that message or sending that text while you are driving, it could just cost you or someone else their life!

Happy Father's Day!

In honor of Father's Day, I wanted to salute and honor fathers. First a big thanks to my heavenly father. And also to my earthly father. And to my husband, an awesome dad who is loved, respected and adored by his girls. No one can make their faces light up like you. I could not have chosen a better parenting partner and am thrilled to be on his team.

Fun @the beach

 

Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius! Happy Birthday Cassius!  

Amazing

They are.......Amazing!

Look Who's Turning One

A whole year already? Why yes, it seems so.

The Goal

courtesy of bloom (in)Courage

More from Yesterday's Outing

Today's Outing

Ever Need a Do Over?

Well that's what I feel like I need today. It all began pretty uneventfully. Breakfast, laundry, lunch and then an outing with and for the girls. Well, that is where uneventful ended. As I stopped at the first stop sign in our neighborhood I looked left and then right and saw a couple of folks standing around someone who'd either fallen or passed out. Shocked at what I saw, this not so good samaritan pulled away from the stop sign and kept going right out of the neighborhood. As I was driving my gut just churned and my mind raced with thoughts of was this person alright, would he be okay. So I turned around and followed the emt truck back into our neighborhood and walked to the scene at the corner, trying to overcome the fear and shame I felt at not stopping to begin with to offer assistance and hoping that those there did not think as badly of me as I imagined they did. When I arrived at the scene the medics were evaluating and treating the young man and preparing him for transport to the hospital. It turns out he had a skateboard accident and broke his lower leg. As I walked back to my house, I said a prayer for the young man, asking God to please heal his leg and not let him have any permanent damage to his leg. 


Today, I am afraid I was far from a faithful witness to and for Christ. However, I am determined not to let this failure define me or my faith. I know that Christ has not given up on me and neither  should I. Thanking him today for do overs.

Featuring

Cassarra recently took a trip to DC and captured some great shots 

Purpose?

courtesy of bloom (in)courage

This quote arrived just when I needed it the most. Recently, I have been struggling with an issue I thought I had resolved almost two years ago--that of my purpose. What is it exactly that God has placed me on this earth to do that only I can do? Almost five years ago he began showing me my purpose. I made excuses for why I could not live out that purpose for close to three years. Then about a year and a half ago I embraced his purpose for my life---to be a stay at home mom to my children. To be here for them physically, emotionally, and in all the ways that I could not fully be here for them when I was working full-time. I knew that when I made the decision to walk away from work it was the right decision for our family. From time to time I would ask whether I had done the right thing, questioning the decision, questioning God and his great wisdom. And ultimately I would always be led back to yes this is where I want you at this time and this is what I want you to accomplish for me at this time. So when the questions came this time I figured it was only more of the same and I would soon find peace in my decision as I had in the past. However it began again and only seemed to grow in intensity following a visit home and being asked what I was doing now. As I happily responded that I'm at home with the children, the response was a stunned "oh, you're not in school, did you get your masters, I thought you were in school."  And then this week at church, I am asked again about working full time and again I happily reply "no."  Then the next question, "are you planning to return soon?" I then glanced down at the sleeping 9-month old in my arms and answered, "no."  I stated that perhaps I will once the girls are older. The reply then came, but you know that you will be older and it will be more difficult to go back, there will be younger folks out there, etc. I must admit that once I left church I was truly wondering whether I am doing the right thing by staying home with my children. I may be wrong here but I didn't feel that those in whom I was speaking with thought very highly of the choice of staying at home and not being out there working whether for money or for a sense of accomplishment or success. 

So last night I poured out my heart to the Lord regarding what I was feeling and asked him to please once again show me what my purpose is and being the faithful, lover of my soul that He is, he did before I fell asleep last night. He spoke to me during our nightly devotion. Last night's devotion was on this very issue that I had been struggling with so intensely and reiterated what God had told me many times previously---that "staying home with my children is an investment in our most valuable resources."  (Quote from the book Moments Together by Dennis and Barbara Rainey) 

Raising them is more important than any other job I could ever do, despite what others may think.

Trhue Moments

Blossoms

The arrival of spring is announced with the first blossoms of our Kwanzan Cherry Tree. How beautiful! 

Memories Already?

Hard to believe so much time has passed...

Favorites

Preparing to embark on one of our favorite past times, Oh how we love Dr. Seuss!

Trhue Moments

It all began here

Weekend Visit

The two cousins

More of them

They were practically inseparable

Walls

Above is a picture of one of my walls.  On it is a framed print with one of my favorite sayings. The   saying actually inspires me to strive to Live, Laugh, and Love. Sadly, many days I don't live, laugh, or love. Instead I choose to hide behind one or more of my walls. My walls were erected for protection--to protect from hurts (both real and perceived), disappointments, and rejections. I recently realized that my walls may be hurting me more than the things they were supposed to protect me from and they need to come down.This is a process which has not reached completion. However, just when I think I can stand without the wall some new hurt, disappointment, and/or rejection emerges. So what's a girl to do? She is to trust that she is to live without walls and that life is to be lived--with laughter and love, lots of both. She is to believe that when those culprits come around, she can trust in Christ and his holy spirit to bring her through it as He always has.

Do you have any walls which need to come tumbling down?

For You

A beautiful gift from my awesome hubby.....thought I'd share. :)