Puppy Love

I promise we let nothing bad happen to the puppy! Claire wanted so badly for the puppy to sit in her chair. She sure did love playing with her:)

Lent

Ash Wednesday has come and Lent has begun! My grandparents are faithful believes in lent and have for every year that I can remember given up their evening adult beverages during this time. Being they are part of the generation that the man arrived home from work at 5:00 on the dot and the "June Cleaver" would have already dropped a couple of ice cubes in the clear drink and added a couple of olives on the little plastic sword just as the front door opened....Awww! the stresses of the day disappeared for a brief second. Olives...don't you have things that trigger memories??...I will forever associate olives with my grandfather, he always let me have one of the olives off of his sword. I am sure you know my grandfather's drink of choice. And when you reintroduce the olives on the sword on Easter Sunday, let's just say we have had some good laughs! (please don't get me wrong I would never classify my grandparents as heavy drinkers) So, back to Lent...this year I have given up the social networking of Facebook, not that I am on it all the time but I just don't even want to be tempted to go sit on the computer when I could be doing things around the house or spending time with the family!! Have a wonderful LENT!!!

My Monday

Nothing in Life

Can Hold More Joys or More Tears

Can Make You More Proud or More Tired

or Give Back More Rewards

THAN BEING A MOTHER.

"You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Psalms 139:13-14

Party Girl

Last weekend, Claire and I made a quick 24 hour trip to Little Rock. We hosted a Kelly's Kids party, attended two birthday parties, and soaked in some family time. Auntie Emmie and Uncle Josh even came from NWA and all the cousins came for the trunk show. Such a Wonderful weekend! Coloring with the cousins during Kelly's Kids

Aunt Liz, Mimi, Pop Pop...Claire still wanting to play

Miss Claire loved the Water Station at Becca's Birthday

Claire LOVED The Wonder Place...a second visit is in our future:)

Tree House Slide

Playing Vet

She had to steal some one's tractor:)

Ruth's Birthday...Wheels at the Skating Rink

Mac and Cheese Anyone?

Need less to say all this partying made for one tired little girl....and her momma!

Puppies!!!

Claire helping with the pups...I promise no puppy was hurt while shooting these pics:)

We have 12 Lab puppies at our house...it is a zoo! If you know anyone in the market for a great hunting dog send them our way. The cute pups are AKC Registered, Champion Bloodline AFC, NFC, MH, JH and will be ready for their new homes the end of February. We have black male and female available. They are at the fun age now and I am just trying not to get attached to any of them:)

Blizzard 2010

My heart was so happy on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning...it finally snowed!!! I was so jealous of the rest of Arkansas and the winter wonderland that landscaped the state. I was praying for just enough snow that Claire could play in it and it would make everything beautiful, but not make driving hazardous...The perfect answered prayer, about 2-3 inches later everything was draped in white and Miss Claire got her hands white. She loved every minute of it and just kept saying "snow, snow, snow, snow". Who knows when South Arkansas will ever be this beautiful again! We not only played on Thursday evening but we got up early on Friday morning before the temperature rose to melt this wonder away!

"Choose this day whom you will serve" Joshua 24:15

Believing God....

A little background about me and my relationship with God. I seem to think this is my draft testimony...a testimony is progress. I was baptized as an infant, grew up in church, and have prayed throughout my entire life. I would attend church throughout college because I knew I needed to attend church. One day I picked up the book, A Purpose Driven Life, this book truly changed my view of the world....I would say this is the first part of my transformation. I truly do call this a testimony is progress because it doesn't have an ending yet...I truly am learning who I am as my relationship with the Lord grows. Having a new mind set after reading that book, things on the inside were a little different but I was still not satisfied. Years went by...which I never really did anything about not being fully satisfied. When I was pregnant with Claire I never felt closer to God then I did for those 9 months....I can not comprehend how someone can carry a child in their womb, give birth, and still deny the Lord exist. It's just not possible! Reading all those pregnancy books about what is happening to your baby at that exact time is mind blowing and only possible with our High Lord.

My story continues...skipping ahead and a few of the details...our family is in church...Sunday school and church...which we love and have not missed a Sunday since we made this commitment. I would say I am addicted to church right now!!! All the way from our study of Exodus in Sunday school to my bible study! I have always heard wonderful things about Beth Moore but have never participated in any of her bible studies. The first Sunday we went to our church I noticed in the bulletin a Beth Moore bible study was going to start the next week....sign me up!!! The study is "Believing God" and it has opened my eyes even more...one of the most profound things I have discovered through this study is....(you might all think I am nuts for not knowing this before)...the bible is not written in the past, it is not just the history of God's word and Jesus' life, but God actually talks to us in the present tense, His word is for today just as much as it was for the last 500+ years! and this study helps you understand why you should believe His word. Hence the name of the study...Believing God...we are believing His word right now in the present day...His words are written in the present active tense, not the past tense. If you ever have the opportunity to do this study, jump on board.....

Earlier this week I was reading "Kelly's Korner" and watched a video called "Cardboard Testimony"...no words were even spoken and I just sobbed. If you have not watched this video it is so worth linking over and viewing....just scroll down to a her older post and you will see it.

My transformation is in process, I am thinking about what my cardboard would say...I think I know the front side and I am anxiously awaiting what the marker will transcribe on the back side.

What's your cardboard testimony?.....it's ok if your still work in progress,

so am I...but it's a good place to be!!!

"Now may the God of all Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in BELIEVING..." Romans 15:13