Snowflakes

When snow makes it's way to South Arkansas you can't help but try to soak it up like the first day of the summer sun!...It really was one of those "once every 10 years" snow falls this morning with huge, beautiful snowflakes.

The view from my office window over looks Main Street with the steeple of the largest church in town in its landscape...this morning I probably stared out my window a little too long watching the snow flakes. My mind began to wander a little bit. I had just received a phone from my sister about a friend of ours losing her unborn baby very late in her pregnancy, another good friends father unexpectedly passed away this week, we continue to wait for the "call" that our beloved grandmother has gone to a better place, and this week our little cousin, Lilly, started her radiation treatment for the tumor that has decided to grow back . To me it has just been one of those weeks of heart wrenching stories and a time where I find myself spending more and more time with our Lord. How in the world do non-believers make it in this world??? I recently picked up a favorite book of mine for the another read, "A Purpose Driven Life". If you have never read it, it is worth every penny and every minute. It is very similar to a daily devotional for 40 days.....

Day 1: It All Starts with God

It's not about you.

"Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in." Colossians 1:16

Day 2: You Are Not an Accident

Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God.

"I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." Isaiah 44:2 Day 3: What Drives Your Life?

Many people are driven by guilt.

Many people are driven by resentment and anger.

Many people are driven by fear.

Many people are driven by materialism.

Many people are driven by the need for approval.

"You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3 Day 4: Made to Last Forever

This life is not all there is.

"This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever." 1 John 2:17
Day 5: Seeing Life from God's View

The way you see your life shapes your life.

"Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones." Luke 16:10

Day 6: Life is a Temporary Assignment

Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

Day 7: The Reason for Everything

It's all for him.

"For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory." Romans 11:36

Day 8: Planned for God's Pleasure

Bringing pleasure to God is called "worship."

"The LORD takes pleasure in his people." Psalm 149:4

Day 9: What Makes God Smile?

The smile of God is the goal of your life.

"The Lord is pleased with those who worship him and trust his love." Psalm 147:11

Day 10: The Heart of Worship

The heart of worship is surrender.

"Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes." Romans 6:13

............there you have the highlights from the first 10 days...maybe I will get all 40 days on here but I promise the book has sooo much more than just these bullet points. I know there are days when I just need to hear the right words or see the right scripture to open my eyes, help me through, point me in a new direction, help a friend, remind me what's important, or just to remind me why I am here.

Today, being a snow day and all I couldn't help capture a few priceless moments of our "not so much a snow bunny" daughter. By the time her gloves (socks, she didn't want to wear her gloves but thought it was silly to put socks on her hands...) got wet she was ready to come back inside to play. And of course, Duchess, the stuffed dog wanted to go play in the snow too!! Then, up went the coat and boots and out came the riding turtle!!

Have a Blessed and Purpose Filled Weekend!!!!

Bounce Baby!

This past weekend we headed over to Texarkana...I wish everyone could hear Claire say Texarkana...oh! so sweet....for Gavin's birthday party at the bounce house place, then we headed to the park. This little girl has no fear...she never really played in the toddler area, she wanted on the big toys with all the big kids. I went on a couple of the slides with her and oh my! I can't believe she was doing them all by herself! I can't wait to edit a couple of the shots I took at the park....have I told you how much I love this little girl!!!

Watching kids come down the big slide

Slide with Momma

It is such a joy having a child because its ok for you to act like a child too!!!

Her favorite!!!

can you see who is creating such a long line??? She did have to take her time climbing all those steps.

Our new "death grip" hug

Feeding the geese

Love this!!! She LOVES her Daddy!

Birthday boy!

Trying to decide which side to go down

It was such a beautiful day!

Loves her some swinging

And.....she's out!!!

Sweet baby girl...

We are making passy progress...only on long car rides and at night time! This is HUGE for our Claire. She loves her "pap pap's" more than anything!!!

Stuck Like Glue

Every little girl has their favorite song, every time Claire hears "Sugarland's Stuck Like Glue" she gets super excited and says "that my song, that my song". A typical Sunday morning includes CMT being on as we are getting dressed for church...yesterday morning was no different, Claire got out of the bath and heard her song playing and took off to the living room...let's just say I had to put some panties on her so I could get a picture of her dancing!!! Shaking her booty!!

After "her song" was over she piled up all of her books on the table so she could read...I asked her to smile and this is what I got!!!....

Then, she showed me her teeth! Cute girl!

Funny story: Last night I was talking to Claire about giving her passy's to the babies...she has a couple of babies in the nursery she loves, one of them is Sophie, so we talked about her giving her "pap pap's" to Sophie and she could get a new toy...but she would never have her pap pap's again. In the beginning of the conversation she thought this was a good idea and she said "I give my pap pap to Sophie, get a new toy?. and I said "yes, you can pick out any toy you want if you give Sophie your pap pap's forever"... "and I never get it back" ..."no you never get it back"..."get a new toy"..."yes, you can pick any toy you want"..." I want a snake, I like snakes!!" WHAT??? I could not help but laugh..a snake really?..."I like snakes".and this is coming from a little girl that does like to go into a dark room by herself without reassurance that a snake, monster, or dinosaur is not going to get her...needless to say by the end of the night Sophie was not getting a new pap pap today.

Daily Life...

We might be potty trained but the passy is going to be a whole other issue. Love how she is lovin on her baby!
Look at those legs! She cracks me up! This little girl always has a book nearby!

Day at the Races

Opening day at Oaklawn Park 2011....quite the family fun time! Not the old school normal kind of a race day I think of but we knew Claire would LOVE the horses! And she sure did! I was afraid she would be the only child there but kids were everywhere! Nick has on the red shirt...they were watching the ponies come in.

It was pretty cold but we still made it outside to get a closer look.

Mimi and Pop Pop met us there...and of course Claire loves time with her grandparents!

Yelling for the horses!!!

Can't wait to take her again! Just hope next time we come home with some winnings!!!