Monday's Message

Yesterday we went to church and heard Don Piper, the author of "90 Minutes in Heaven" speak. This book was extremely touching to me as I read it after losing Emma. It was so comforting to read about what he heard and saw when he entered Heaven's gates and knowing that Emma is in such a grand and wonderful place. As he spoke yesterday I began to think about how we walk through life with our earthly glasses and not our heavenly glasses. When we see and meet people we should be so burdened about their eternal life that we have to share the gift of salvation.

Click here for more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ElnQUVkWsQ

After services we went to Bible Study Class and our lesson was on the disciple John. One of the characteristics of John was his "boldness" for Christ and we began to talk and reflect in our own lives about whether or not we have that same "boldness" for Christ that John had.

How many times have you heard God speaking to you to witness to someone or encourage someone and you did it and got a positive result. If you haven't you should try it! There have been times I have felt lead to ask someone if I could pray for them or invite them to church and I was so convicted I couldn't resist. When I did it, God never left me or made a mockery out of me because HE was instucting me to do it. Afterwords, my faith in Christ grew stronger and the next time I was convicted to speak out to someone or do something for Christ that was a little out of my comfort zone it wasn't nearly as difficult because my faith in Christ was stronger. Each time you do it it becomes a little easier and you begin to gain that "boldness" that James and John had for the Lord.

I am a Christian today because I had two loving parents who didn't see me as only a cute lil' blonde headed, blue eyed girl but as a child that was born into sin and headed for an eternity without Christ if they didn't introduce Him to me. Wow! What a responsibility as parents we have to raise our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Are you doing that? Do you realize that you will one day stand before the Lord and give an account for how your children were raised. If God has so blessed you with the miracle of a child why would you not want to introduce them to their Creator? Thankfully for Scott and I, it is easy because we were both raised in church and our Saturday night plans are dictated by having to get up early for church on Sunday. We don't discuss whether or not we are going or "if" we are going to go and now it is rewarding to see that it has become a part of life for Lane and he looks forward to going to church on Sundays and learning about Jesus. Since the day him and Bella were born on Sundays they are in church. We are the parents of 3 children, 2 on earth and 1 in heaven and one day I want our family to ALL be in heaven together and for that reason alone I will continue to pray that one day I will have the opportunity to lead them to the Lord and our family will be eternally together. Do you have that? I pray you do and if you don't, I challenge you to be "bold" in Christ and dedicate your Sundays to taking your children to church and introducing them to a friend that will never leave them nor forsake them and change their lives for ever.

Why am I doing this post today? I woke up this morning with it heavy on my heart to do so and I know that I am taking on that challenge today to be BOLD for Christ and maybe someone somewhere will read this and try it and strengthen their faith in HIM!

Happy 8 Year Anniversary Babe!

Scott-

I am so blessed to have such wonderful husband. I love you so much and appreciate all that you do for our family. I love you more and more each day and look forward to you coming home each and every day from work. I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments in your personal life and your business. You inspire me in so many ways!

Love you always,

Me

My Big 1st Grader goes Public!!

My beautiful boy started first grade today at Giesinger Elementary. As you know he has been at Glenwood Private School for the past three years and this year he has offically entered public school. After many talks with Lundy (thanks Lundy for all of the advice) and Aunt Carol, I felt really comfortable about his first day.

Is he precious or what?

Lane finding his chair.

His teacher, Mrs. Gaskins.

Getting settled and unloading his backpack.

Bella watching big brother and saying goodbye.

Daddy, Mommy, and Bella went to pick Lane up from school.

The kids in the yellow bibs are helpers and they help open the door and put the kids in their car.

It is so sweet.

Getting in the car.

Well his first day of school was a hit and when he got home he had to call Bamber, Lundy and GiGi to tell them all about it. After his long day though he was a man of few words. He fell asleep in the chair after he got home. That was probably because he didn't go to bed the night before until midnight because he said he was so excited about school that he couldn't sleep.

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY CADE MAN!

Caden - Aunt Kay loves you so much and wishes that I was there to celebrate your birthday with you. I hope you had a wonderful party and hope to see you soon! I love you mostest mostest

Come on, let's go for a ride!

Hey Mom, Caden is the best cousin ever!

He is pushing me wherever I want to go!

Mr. Bubble Man

Happy 6th Birthday Lanerbugs!!

Lane -

What did we do for entertainment before you came along? Sometimes I wonder. You are such a handsome, sensitive and fun-loving kid. We love you more than you will ever know and wish you a very Happy 6th Birthday!

Those Big Blue Eyes and Beautiful Smile!

Bella and Lane.

Lanerbugs and Mommy.

My two favorite boys!

Happy Berfday Bamber!!

Me and my Big Sis!

Bamber and her Bella Blue Eyes!

Bamber and Lane ready for her party last year.

Amber you are a great Big Sister and I wish you many more birthdays to come! You are such a wonderful Mom to Caden and your love for him is evident in all that you do. You are so special to me and I love you more than words can say. Although I do still hold a grudge for you not ordering very much at our home made Burger King window and ALWAYS giving me exact change! Maybe someday I will find it in my hear to forgive you. LOL!

A Weekend in Dallas

This weekend we decided to go for a long trip to Dallas. We left after Lane's VBS commencement on Friday evening. Scott had a triathlon in Lubbock and so we decided to go visit Bamber.

Saturday morning we took the kids to Shipley's for donuts.

Here is Bella and Caden talking to each other looking out the window.

Bamber and Lane at Shipley's.

Then it was off to the Mall for shopping.

Here is Lane playing dead in the back of the ambulance on the playground.

Caden driving Bella Boozie around!


Lane gave Bamber a break and pushed Caden around at the Mall.
At warp speed I might add!




We also had a Target excursion where I bought Caden and Bella some Bubble Guns.




Bella and the bubbles.



Caden playing bubbles.

After shopping we came home, took naps, then it was SWIM time!

Here is Lane, Bamber and Caden.

Lane and Uncle-T played football.

Here is Lane checking out Puff the Parakeet.

The kissing cousins.

Caden needed one more kiss!

On Sunday we slept in and then took Lane to get a haircut.

Here is Bella and Caden running all over the salon having

some great family fun!

Then we went swimming again!

Here is Bella with chocolate from my Reeses Peanut Butter Cups she ate.

Me and my kiddos.

Aunt Kay and Cade Man.

Bamber and Lanerbugs.

Sunday night we ate at On The Boarder and then went to Baskin N Robbins for some Peanut Butter and Chocolate Ice cream. It was Oh So Good Too!

Monday morning we slept in while Amber and Tim went to work. When we woke up we went swimming for a little while before the rain hit. Then on our way out of town we met up with Amber and McDonald's for lunch. My plan was to wear them out so that on the way home they would sleep. It only worked with Avery for an hour though. Oh well, we made it.

Lane and Bella on the playground.

Goodbye hugs til' next time!