My heart is full...

I love these girls... great day with my besties! Aren't they beautiful!?


We spent the day talking, eating, laughing and making these...


The three of us became friends back when Sadie was born... they both had baby girls that were a year older than Sadie and we learned to do life together. There is something to be said about friendships that are made when your children are young... there is authenticity in those relationships... I mean, after all, you get no sleep and spend most of the days in your pj's... you need people that love you for you! We have so many good memories together... and I'm thankful that although there are now miles between us, we can still pick up where we left off!

Oh... and here's our kiddos, too...


4 boys... 4 girls... even steven. Great day... great friends.

Entering the wonderful age of 2!

We welcomed sweet Cole 08/08/08... super quick labor, super little baby - 41 weeks pregnant. He weighed 5 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 inches long! Pure sweetness.


Cole's 1st Birthday!


Cole's 2nd Birthday!


Is that not the sweetest little face??? Yep... I'm pretty sure that time goes way too quickly! I love being his mommy and pray that he would grow into everything that God desires him to be. Happy Birthday, little buddy!

Welcome to the World, Katelyn Reese

The Lord heard our prayers! Little Katelyn Reese was born July 2, 2010 to my brother and sweet sister-in-law. Weighing in at 7 pounds 7 ounces, 20 inches long... she is completely precious. She is truly a miracle from the Lord and we are so thankful for this little life.

Thief or Magician

Some stages in my children's lives I enjoy more than others. I'm sure you mommy types are picking up what I'm throwing down here...

You have the sweet baby stages where they rest so preciously in your arms AND THEN that adorable little baby that you've been cuddling for all those months wakes up one morning with the ability to say "NO." AND quite forcefully. How does that happen??!!

Back to the point... Cole is in an precious phase of life right now. He is spouting off words, keeping up with his big sister and coming up with his own tricks that he thinks are ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS. His latest...

Sticking toy coins up his sleeve, pulling them out and shouting "ta-da" with his cute little "Mater-style" smile. Yep, it doesn't get any cuter than that... let's just hope this is a magician phase of life and not practice for being a future swipper.

1 John 4:9

Know what thrills my soul???

Listening to Miss Sadie play in the living room and then spout off, "1st John 4:9."

Curious as to if she could match the reference to the verse I asked her what it said and she replied... "God loves us and sent his only son Jesus."

Praying for her today that she would learn to love the Lord with all her heart, soul and mind. He is truly our only hope and salvation.

28 things I'm forever thankful for...

Well, today is my BIRTHDAY! I'm twenty-eight (doesn't it look cool written out like that???)!!! I absolutely LOVE to celebrate a Birthday... seriously, does it get better than eating a mountain-load of sugar and being pampered all the day long??? Every year is a little sweeter and every year the Lord makes me a little more grateful. Today I'm deciding to celebrate by sharing 28 things that I'm oh so thankful for....

1. Dr. Pepper and Dove Chocolate (I bet you all were thinking I was going to put something kind and thoughtful first, huh!? Got ya!)
2. My husband - who loves me on my best and worst of days, who is strong where I am incredibly weak... and has a sense of adventure that keeps me on my toes! :)
3. Little Miss Sadie - I've never seen a child love life quite as much as she does... she reminds me to go lightly and to "not worry because it's just going to be perfect."
4. My precious baby boy (who's not gonna be a baby much longer) - he's so laid back (unless it's the middle of the night) and has a smile that can light up the room.
5. The freedom we have in America.
6. My Bible Study girls whom I get to sit criss-cross applesauce with every Monday night to grow in God's word (and grace - GIG:) and be incredibly encouraged. I'm so blessed to know each of you.
7. My really great friends... I have some of the most loyal friendships and I'm so grateful for each of you!
8. The opportunity I have to be with my children at this point in their lives.
9. A place to call home with all of our basic needs... and things we are far from needing. We live in a very blessed nation.
10. Those who have taken their time to genuinely invest in my life - Merle, T. Mac, Cooke, Deana, Angel, Brenda - from each of you I've learned and grown so much. THANK YOU!
11. The moments I have just to sit quietly.... ahhhhh...
12. My time at ESU where I spent 4 years of my life... I have such rich memories from my time there.
13. Books - I love to read and learn. :)
14. Memories I have from my Western Hills family... we are all over the place now, but I love you all so much and think of you often.
15. Super Summer... need I say more???
16. The fact that every day at 11:00 the mail comes... a stay-at-home mom's dream... the mail!
17. Rest (I don't think I would have considered this something to be thankful for a few years ago... but every time I get a good night's sleep now I feel so relieved and renewed.).
18. My family, beyond the precious three I live with... I'm blessed to have parents that cared enough for me to encourage me and support me in everything I did growing up and do now... and in-laws that love me like their own.
19. My little brother deserves a line of his own... I'm the luckiest sister in the world. No matter how much I bossed him around, made him play house/school or sung to him growing up, he loves me anyway. I'm privileged to be able to call him one of my best friends.
20. Kansas sunsets and storms... do they get any more beautiful or exciting???
21. God's timing - I'm growing to appreciate it a more and more as I get older - it is perfect and I should seriously trust it more than I do.
22. My grandparents - I'm very blessed to have been able to enjoy all four of them for 28 years.
23. The birth of both of my babies... some of my most incredible memories are with Eric during their first moments of their little lives.
24. Vehicles that get us from one place to the next...
25. A good foot rub... ahhhhh!
26. God's provision.
27. Snuggle time with my children.
28. To my Lord and Savior... for whom I'm doing my best to live each of these days for... may my life truly be an offering unto Him... giving Him the glory and praise that He deserves.

Could it be???

My brother, Brady, and I were raised on a little bit of Oak Ridge Boys Christmas. We decorated the tree as we sung these tunes and I think it was the only Christmas cassette tape we had growing up (except Mannheim Steamroller... which I consider lame-o).

A few years back, my dad purchased Brady and I an ORB Christmas CD for us to enjoy with our families... it was a wonderful idea, but I'm not sure my husband or sister-in-law have the appropriate amount of appreciation for the ORB Christmas music. All I can say is Eric better start falling in love with the Oak Ridge Boys soon BECAUSE yesterday he came home from work reporting that he heard that Oak Ridge Boys do a Christmas special in the Wichita area every couple years. I'm sitting here doing my happy dance just thinking about possibly going to see them sing a little "Christmas Carol." Does it get any better than this???