The Smith House

Out of the Mouths of Babes

2011-04-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

As I was going walking through the living room this morning Sophie said to me, "Mama, Jesus made me just the way He wanted me, because He loves me. And mama, Jesus has puppies at His house with God. And mama, Jesus died on the cross."

Not only was this precious to me, but it spoke directly to my heart. Several times last week, I struggled with my thoughts about my personality and what I wished was different about me. Whether I was comparing myself to somebody else, or ridiculing myself about something I may have said in a group of people it is all lies that I chose to buy into. God spoke to me this morning through my three year old. He made me just he way He wanted me, because He loves me!

Psalm 139:13-14
13 For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well.

Saturday Play

2011-04-09T18:26:00.000-07:00

This is the Masters weekend, and every year on this weekend Mabry plays in the Green Jacket Tournament at the VCC. The tournament is in the afternoon, and then they all gather at the host's house to grill and watch part of the Masters. Mabry and Matthew won this tournament a couple of years ago.

While he was at the golf course the girls and I had a fun day together. We spent the morning at Old Navy, and Target buying the perfect birthday present for Mary. Happy Birthday Mary Rebecca! We can't believe you are 7!!!

Then we had lunch at Chic-fil-a. The whole time we were there Sophie kept saying, "thank you so much mama for letting us come inside". I usually tell her we don't have time and just go through the drive through. I especially use this excuse on Saturdays, because it is so busy. It was worth the extra effort to go in today!

After some good naps, we played outside the rest of the afternoon. We picked up a new box of chalk at Target, and that's what we did the most of.

I love when they play so hard, and their faces get all dirty;-)

It was such a beautiful afternoon, and we were out there for so long that I layed down and enjoyed the breeze!

The Drill

2011-02-15T05:27:00.000-08:00

I always feel a little awkward when I have not blogged in a while, and then decide to post something. I suppose I will make up for lost time and do some back tracking for the month of December and January. For now I will post a picture that makes my heart swell.

The girls eat dinner around 5:30 p.m. Miss Maddie is usually in the kitchen around 5 o'clock looking to be fed like a little bird. After they eat they run straight to the back screaming with excitement for bath time. They splash, scream, laugh, and beg for me to keep a steady stream of water flowing from the faucet until I turn it off and say, "that is enough girls, we are wasting water". It is the same thing every night. As soon as they are dried off, Miss Maddie gets suited up with what Mabry calls "a Maddie suit", which are footy pajamas. And Sophie asks with anticipation if her "Belk's nightgown is clean. When I tell her it is, she squeals with delight. The next part is my favorite. Sophie climbs up on my bed and takes her place with her flower pillow and Maddie stands next to the bed making the "ugh, ugh" sound that I hope I never forget when she starts using words instead of noises. I put Maddie next to her sister and they watch a movie together.

They never had to learn to love each other, it is natural. The love between siblings is an unexplainable gift. This is the drill. The same routine every night. I hope I always remember it.

My Birthday Song

2010-11-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

I would be telling a story if I said turning 30 didn't sting just a little bit. I did not think I would be phased at all leading up to my birthday, but when I say it out loud I can feel a little tug in my stomach that makes me a little uncomfortable. I am going to embrace it!

My twenties were great. Mabry and I got married, and we had our beautiful girls. I can only see that life is getting better and fuller. If I could pick a "birthday song" this would be it. I pray that this year I would make this declaration everyday. Hosanna in the highest!

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

I see the King of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes

I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Thankful

2010-11-25T14:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Bithday Sophie!

2010-11-15T14:17:00.000-08:00

2007

2008

2009

2010

We celebrated Sophie's third birthday on November 11. She was born 11-11-07. She pretty much had a "birth week", because we had several different little parties. We took purple cupcakes to her dance class. Aunt Crystal showed up with balloons and best of all, Annie;)

Earlier that day we met Mimi and NeeNee at Chickfila for lunch. I thought they looked like little angels in their dresses.

On Saturday, our family came over for grilled hotdogs, chili, and a purple Elmo cake. A generous friend loaned us their bounce house for the party, and it was a huge hit. I don't think the children ever got out of it.

I love these pictures of her opening her gifts. The look on her face and her posture as she sits there inspecting new toys.

She loves Uncle Matt. I think it is safe to say that Uncle Matt loves her too.

All of Sophies' "people".

Here she is holding up three fingers. "I am three!"

One of the wonders of living in the south. You can have on a warm up suit in the morning and be in a bathing suit by the afternoon. She got a Dora the Explorer bucket and she wanted to go to the beach.

You are three years old Sophie Pie! Your daddy and I love you so much. We can already see so many things about you at such an early age- compassionate, tender hearted, loving, rule follower, safe, smart, and eager to learn! There are times that I treat you a little older than you really are because you seem to be a little brighter than a three year old should be. You are our first born, and we love you to the moon and back.

An Afternoon with Maddie

2010-11-09T03:38:00.000-08:00

Sophie fell asleep on the sofa after lunch, and Maddie and I spent some one on one time together before I put her down for her nap. This was Sophie's dress, but I don't think she wore it more than one time. I love this picture, because you can see all the little creases on her arms. I can't remember when Sophie lost hers, but it seems like those kind of things happen over night. I don't want to forget them.

She looks so much like Sophie to me in this picture(with her paci). Miss Maddie has definitely found her voice in the family. She is always easy going, happy and laughing. In the last couple of weeks she has figured out that if she screams really loudly and turns red, Sophie will give her whatever it is she wants! It cracks me up. She has also started biting me, and pinching me! I'm not sure if she is just testing me, teething, or wanting my attention. She is only biting me, nobody else. Miss Maddie has been waking up around 5 am, and when the time changed it was around 4 am for a couple of mornings. I have started getting up with her, and we snuggle for about an hour, as I try to keep her quiet and not wake the rest of the house. Secretly, I love every minute of it!

Some days I still can't believe I have two daughters. What a responsibility to raise them to be sweet and kind young ladies. To always have a giving heart, to be content with what they are doing and what they have, and most importantly to love the Lord God with all their heart, mind, and spirit. I pray over them every night that they have a strong hunger and desire to know Him at an early age, and that He might reveal Himself to them at an early age.

Hope and Clutter

2010-11-08T05:45:00.000-08:00

I have a pair of earrings that I love. They were not expensive, but they are a good "everyday" pair that can also be dressy. I bought them at Mockingbird probably the first year we were opened and wore them all the time. I lost one about a year ago, and was so upset about it. I have never thrown the other one away, always hoping I would find it's mate. I don't buy jewelry and accessories often. I wish I were better at that, because sometimes I can't finish off an outfit by not having the perfect necklace or cute chandelier earrings. I envy others who do it so effortlessly. Every now and then I will buy something and be so excited about it just to fail at making it work. Sally and I like to call ourselves "challenged" in the wardrobe department. That is the reason I always go back to the basics: my wedding ring and the band Mabry gave me when Sophie was born, a ring that my parents gave me on my 18th birthday, a necklace Mabry gave me when Maddie was born, and up until a year a great pair of earrings. There were so many days I so wished I had the match to that earring.

The other day, I got fed up with a "junk" drawer in the kitchen. The famous everything drawer that is in the kitchen and holds the phonebook, receipts, coupons, gift certificates, sticky notes, pens, etc. Well, I have somehow gotten three everything drawers and something had to go. Here are a few things I found in that one drawer: 7 Cds, 2 DVDs, Maddie's hospital bracelet from when she was born (hello baby book, where are you?), 2 extra house keys, my spare car key, coupons that expired in 2009, 2 bank bags from KTB filled with deposit slips (surely I will need them one day!), 4 manuals to various products (a Fisher Price sink I bought Sophie 2 summers ago, my video camera, my bike that Mabry gave me for mothers day, a cell phone I don't even have anymore) and a pile of receipts dating back to 2008. Do you get the idea? There was so much clutter and junk in that drawer, and that is why I kept getting frustrated every time I would try to close it, or heaven forbid try and put the phonebook back in there without tearing off the front cover, because I had to jam it in there so hard.

I was almost to the back of the drawer when I saw it. It made me yell out loud. The match to my favorite pair of earrings! I could not believe it. I went straight back to my bathroom to reunite the earrings, and I have worn them everyday since.

The next day, I was praying about something, and the Holy Spirit revealed something so clear to me. I have things that I bring to Him on a daily basis that I believe in faith I will see happen. I hang on with the hope He has given us. I wait with an expectancy on the day, and I know He will get all the glory. He wants to give me the desires of my heart, and is ready and willing to do it. I have filled parts of my heart with so much clutter and junk that I can't even see what He has waiting for me. When I am ready to purge whatever it is that clutters my heart and mind, He has more than I have ever hoped for waiting on me.

20-21God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Message)

Birthday Girls

2010-11-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

I remember when I got a phone call from Leigh telling me she was expecting her second baby. I screamed on the outside because I was so excited for her. I screamed on the inside, because I had just discovered I was expecting Miss Maddie, but I had not even told Mabry yet! A couple days passed and I told our news of a baby on the way, and everybody rejoiced with me. The very next week, Eleanor called and said she was having a baby, and finallly Anne announced that she was also pregnant. We were all due within two weeks of each other. One year later these four girls celebrated together with cupcakes and t-shirts!

Susan, Mary Blake, Ella, and Maddie♥

The girls had fun playing on the floor with blocks and baby dolls.

Beep beep! Maddie on the go!

Sweet friends

Susan and Ella

Mary Blake, who looks an awful lot like Maddie.

Four friends, four candles, four cupcakes. Happy Birthday!

Looking forward to many more celebrations together!

Mountain Fun

2010-11-02T05:53:00.000-07:00

The girls and I drove up to NC with Sally and her youngest two for the weekend. Mama and daddy have been there for the whole month of October, and we decided to join them. Mimi started the weekend off with a bang! Cupcakes for everybody! Henry, Sophie, and Maddie all have November birthdays.

Saturday afternoon we went downtown for the fall festival and trick or treating. Have you ever seen a pig this cute?

This little piggy went to the market!

Do you see the look on Mary Rebecca's face? A man and his little girl walked passed her and were trying to figure out what she was. And he said, "She's a dirty rat!". Poor Mary, she was an opossum. What on earth was he thinking when he called a little girl a dirty rat?! We all got a good laugh, except for Mary-it hurt her feelings.

This lion has courage! I love this costume. Mama made it for John when he was a little boy. It has been passed down for more than thirty years.

Now, I know that man would not call this gorgeous girl a dirty rat!

Daddy had a fire going at all times! I can't think of a better way to start the day off than a warm fire overlooking the mountains, and Mimi's pancakes.

Meow!

2010-10-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

Sophie loves cats. Her NeeNee has two of them, and she talks about them all the time. That is why when I saw this at Wal-Mart for $5 I could not pass it up.

She is pretending to eat like Fraidy and Stormy.

"Look at my tail!"

Precious kitty cat!

Say cheese!

Monday Morning

2010-10-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

We have all been under the weather. First the girls, and now Mabry and me. The babies are finishing up their antibiotics and feeling much better. I love Monday mornings. A fresh start to a brand new week.

We ran a few errands as soon as we were finished with breakfast, and came home to play outside for a little bit before Miss miss went down for her morning nap. I sewed for a while, and Sophie ~~played~~ sat at my feet and got tangled in the sewing machine cord. I made a conscious effort to leave the TV off most of the morning. I fall guilty of letting her watch PBS Kids all morning long, so I can get my chores completed in peace.

At 11:00 a.m. sharp we turn it to channel 8 so she can watch Barney. She loves Barney!! She likes to sit in my room and watch.

She starts off watching, and eventually joins in the fun by singing and dancing along.

I remember laying in my parents bed as a child. I loved the way their room smelled. I especially loved a fall morning with the windows opened and laying underneath one of the quilts that used to hang from the upstairs balcony.

Security. That is what comes to mind when I think of that. I love that Sophie is able to have the same thing. I am able to be home with her, and she can lay in my bed on a fall morning and watch her favorite purple dinosaur sing songs.

happiness.

2010-09-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

This picture is framed in my bathroom. I see it every morning and it makes me smile. I love the tight grip Sophie has on Maddie's shoulder, and the way her nose is smashed into her cheek. Crazy love for her sister♥

Shoo Fly!

2010-09-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Mabry was out of town last week on a business trip, and the girls and I were on our own. The week went surprisingly smooth. We filled our days with picnics in the park, a morning with NeNe, and early bed times ;) And I didn't cook one single time. I could not believe how clean my house stayed all week just because I stayed out of the kitchen.

Sally invited us out to watch Mary Rebecca's riding lesson at "Mr. Joe's". Look at the gnats swarming Miss Maddie's face! She didn't seem to mind them.

Sophie made fast friends with one of the dogs at Mr. Joe's barn. I am not really an animal person. It's not that I don't like them, I just don't trust any animal completely. I am a little skiddish around animals that I don't know. And when this little dog took a piece of a ham sandwich right out of Maddie's hand I almost hat a heart attack. As hard as I try, I can't seem to instill the same caution with Sophie when it comes to animals. She gets this honestly! She wanted to pet every horse out there. Just imagine what that makes my heart do, if I am scared of that little dog, to have to approach a horse and pet it. Heart palpitations.

Now that I am looking at these pictures, this pup looks an awful lot like one of my childhood pets, Patty Cake. Patty Cake was not as small as this dog, and she had a couple of litters a year. She was the "popular" girl dog on the farm! They always seemed to be born on a holiday, and we would get a big cardboard box from the rest home, and go sit in front of Wal-Mart giving away free puppies. "Free Easter Puppies", or "Free Valentines Puppies".

Sally and Henry are looking at the exercising machine that Mr. Joe fixed just for Henry. For weeks, Henry would take his own toolbox so he could help Mr. Joe fix this thing so it would work. Mr. Joe would tell him every week, "We need to get that thing fixed Henry." And lo and behold, he called Henry himself to tell him the machine had been fixed, and the next time he came out to the barn he could turn it on. It looks just like the thing that ponys are tied to at the fair, and they all walk in a circle for a "pony ride". Henry had the best time turning it on and then running in a circle trying to catch one of the ropes with a hook on it.

He is trying to explain to Sophie exactly what he wants her to do.

But she ran the wrong way, and I held my breath every time a metal hook came within an inch of knocking her out.

Here is the little cowgirl herself riding side by side with a rodeo champion. Mr. Joe's daughter holds all kinds

of rodeo titles.

Here is my little cowgirl, sweaty and dirty.

It's Hot Out That Doe

2010-08-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I looked out my kitchen window and realized my flowers were thirsty, so the girls and I went outside to ~~water the pots and play ,~~ sweat to death. I put Maddie in the push "beep beep" car, and Sophie wanted to try the tricycle. I will begin by saying that the last time Mabry helped her ride the trike it did not sound like he had much patience with her. I tried to correct him by telling him that she is only 2 1/2 and he should be gentle and patient while teaching her things like this. I ate my words yesterday. She did not even try to pedal, and her steering ability is zero. Not to mention I was pushing Maddie at the same time, and it was 110 degrees outside. I think I scared my neighbors at one point when I said in a rather harsh tone, "I told you to steer!". I think it should be a rule that whoever gives her the gift (Mimi) should have to teach her how to use the gift ;)

I managed to get a couple of cute pictures of them playing in the yard despite the heat.

Sophie loves to chalk on the driveway.

I love this expression. It's one I see often.

Sophie is waving to the twin girls who live next door to us. They are about 7 yrs. old, and when they are outside playing Sophie is always mesmerized. I love the smile she is giving. The mystery of the "older girls", and what it would be like to play with them.

And this is what Miss Maddie thought about them. Doesn't care too much at this point!

And she has had enough of the sweat and humidity!

Faces

2010-08-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

Miss Maddie has been making the funniest faces lately.

Sometimes it is a look of confusion, and sometimes just trying to get a reaction out of us.

Sophie can instigate this face from Maddie.

Every time I look at this face, I can't believe God gave her to me. A gift that He chose to give us. A gift that I pray I never take lightly the responsibility that comes with it. To train her up with discipline, love her with gentleness, and respect who God made her as His daughter. I was loving on her this morning, and I had this thought: As good as this feels to hold her cheek to cheek, it is only a fraction of how much God loves us. He wants to be cheek to cheek with me everyday.

24 " ' "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

Ballet

2010-08-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

We have been talking about ballet lessons for a long time. We went to Annie's dance recital in April, and ever since then I knew we had to sign Sophie up for the two and three year old class. She twirls all the time, and she even knows how to do an arabesque (thanks to her Leigh Leigh). So the big day came last week.

Look at my little ballerina all dressed for her first ballet class. Sometimes I think I love her so much my heart might explode. As I expected, it was a little chaotic at the dance studio. The first week always was when I took ballet growing up. Every parent, sibling, and grandparent was there to peak through the window and watch with pride their own little ballerina. Sophie handled the crowd pretty good. We walked into her classroom and one by one, little girls wearing pink and purple leotards and skirts started walking in.

Mimi came in and she ran straight to her. She loved watching everyone as they ran around and played while other girls were being fitted for ballet and tap shoes.

Miss Maddie made herself right at home. She kept looking at herself in the mirror and tried to climb up on the tumbling mats.

Look at this face. She was starting to wonder if she really wanted to go through with the actual ballet class. Talking about it and getting excited at home was one thing. But actually being there with the other girls was another. And then the time came for the mama's to leave the room. The teacher assured us that they would come get us if they needed to, but they like to use what they call the "band aide" method. Go ahead and rip it off fast. In other words, leave the room quickly. I knew it wasn't a good sign when I had to peel Sophie's hand off the door in order to close it. A few minutes later, they came and got me and I was in the room with her the rest of the time. She was so afraid I was going to leave her again, that she did not relax the rest of the class. As soon as we got in the car she said, "That was fun mama. I'm so proud of me."

We left dancing and went to Chickfila. Annie's school was having a fundraiser and I knew Sophie would love to see her.

The girls played and then we ate an early supper. Annie was able to sit with us, and she fed Maddie ice cream!

Precious girls!!

In The Kitchen: BBQ Shrimp

2010-07-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

We had company for dinner last night(Grady, Gini and Jack), and I wanted to cook something that was delicious and special, but could be prepared ahead of time. I did not want to be running around at the last minute trying to pull it together. Pam gave me this recipe about 3 years ago, and it is so good. It seems like every time I go to get the recipe out of my recipe box, it is missing. Probably because I have gotten it out to share with somebody and did not put it back immediately. Yesterday was no exception. I could not find that darn recipe. I knew it was taped on the inside of the spice cabinet door at the beach, because every time I wanted to make it down there I inevitably had to call Pam for the recipe. Luckily Crystal and the children were at the beach, so I called down there and Annie read me the recipe.

BBQ Shrimp

1 stick of butter, melted
1/2 C olive oil
1/2 C chili sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire
juice of 1/2 of a lemon
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 lemon sliced
salt and pepper to taste
3 lbs. shrimp, peeled and deveined

Mix all ingredients together in a casserole dish, except the sliced lemon and shrimp. Place your shrimp in the dish and toss to coat. Top with sliced lemons. Put in fridge for several hours before you plan on cooking. Cover with tinfoil. Bake @ 300* for 45 min.

It usually takes my shrimp a little longer to cook than 45 minutes. Check them at 45, and cook a little longer if necessary. I overcooked them last night, but the sauce was still delicious.

The star of the show is the sauce. You have to serve it with good crusty bread to sop up all that good sauce left on the plate. Or you can give everybody individual bowls for their own dipping sauce. We had a good salad and baked potato to go with it. Gini brought mini cheesecakes for dessert.

p.s. I am putting the recipe card back in the box right this minute!!

This Could Be Trouble

2010-07-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

The first year we were married I thought Mabry was at the golf course ALL THE TIME! I would get my feelings hurt, and feel so sorry for myself. I had this idea that as newlyweds, we would spend every waking moment together! I would tell him all the time that I wish I loved to do something as much as he loved to play golf. The idea of playing 6-8 hours of golf on Saturday when it is 100 degrees outside is pure torture to me. He loves the sport. He loves to compete in tournaments, and he loves to go to the range and hit balls until the sun goes down. For the past four and half years, I have said over and over that I was going to find a hobby.

About two years ago I had the idea I was going to make my sisters and mama aprons for Christmas. If I remember correctly, it was three or four weeks before Christmas when I had this grand idea. I had never even turned on a sewing machine. I couldn't even sew on a button. I enlisted the help of my aunt, and she helped me make the cutest aprons you have ever seen.

I don't think I made anything else for about a year. Those aprons did me in for awhile. I don't think the pattern I chose was for a beginner. So last year, around Thanksgiving I was browsing one of my favorite blogs. Darby (I call her by her first name, because I know we would be friends in real life) creates the greatest things. She has a tutorial for a dish mat, and was making them for Christmas presents. I thought, I can do this, it is not as involved as the aprons. So I went to Wal-Mart and bought an inexpensive sewing machine, and a sewing kit that cost about $7.00. The kit had a pair of scissors, needles, a measuring tape, a thimble, and few other basics.

My obsession was born. There was no going back. I fell in love with sewing. I made a few dish mats, and gave them as gifts. I also made a jumper for Sophie, and bought extra material to make a Jon-Jon for her baby brother that I was pregnant with, who really turned out to be Miss Maddie ;-)

A couple of projects later, I was finally flying solo. I can now pretty much sew something from start to finish without asking for help. If I do need help, I can call mama of Aunt Pam. The ladies at Sew Blessed are also very helpful. I made these green corduroy pants and the fun Christmas pants for Sophie to wear this fall. I am working on some a little shorter for Miss Maddie.

The problem is, I start a project and swear to myself I am not shopping for anymore fabric until I finish it. But I can't help myself. I see something I have to have. This is an outfit for Maddie. It would probably take me a couple more hours and I would be finished. Sounds easy, right? I get bored, and want to move on to something new.

I never thought I would be sewing, but I am really enjoying it. It is almost like therapy. To be able to create something in your mind, and actually make it from start to finish feels good. When I said I wanted a hobby, I did not think it would be this. Last night, when Mabry came to bed, I told him I might need a nicer sewing machine to really "put me on the map"! We started laughing! There might be a nicer machine in my future, but I doubt it will ever cost as much as golf. I will keep telling myself that, as long as I keep buying fabric on a whim!

Happi Apples and Pears

2010-07-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

Monday morning came with a 6:00 a.m. wake up call. Miss Maddie cut her first tooth the day before, and apparently she is working on number two and did not sleep very soundly. I stumbled to the kitchen to make her bottle and went to get her. One of my favorite sights is a baby in their crib with crease marks on their fat little arms, and puffy eyes from just waking up. And just when I am about to pick her up, she squeals and turns around really fast so she can pull up on the side of the crib and get to me a few seconds faster. So very sweet. As I was feeding her, and Sophie and Mabry were still snoozing I had an idea to take a day trip to Tallahassee to Jo Ann's Fabric Store.

I cooked breakfast, threw supper in the crock pot, took a shower, and got in the car just before nap time for Miss Maddie. I forgot what an easy and short ride it is to Tallahassee. The girls did great. Maddie slept almost the whole way, and Sophie quietly watched her movie and ate Cheerios.

When we arrived at our destination, I unloaded the girls and all of my sewing patterns that I brought so I could piece together fabric for a creation that I had planned out in my mind. Sew Blessed in Hahira is a specialty sewing shop, and they have great fabrics. It is such a happy place to browse and get inspiration. I have found most of my fabrics there. The problem is that the fabrics tend to run anywhere from $7.00-$13.00 a yd. I thought that since I was piecing the dress together with a couple of different fabrics, surely I could find some cute things at a lesser price to mix in with the more special pieces that cost a little bit more.

Sophie had a lot of fun running up and down the aisles of fabric. She particulary liked the aisle with sheer tulle and sequins. She is such a girl! Maddie laughed and talked to Sophie every time she ran by her stroller. I sqeezed about an hour of "looking" time between chasing Sophie and enforcing the rule of staying on the aisle that I was on (where she could see me), and running to the bathroom with both girls for a few false alarms for Sophie. I was a little frazzled, but came away with some really cute fabric and a few sewing notions (my sewing lingo!) that I needed.

Tuesday morning I had a dentist appointment, and when I came home I was ready to get into my sewing room. I really am pleased at how cute this turned out. Mabry said this was the cutest one to date! I ended up using some scrap fabric from my first sewing project for the bodice (the green apple). It worked perfectly with the pear and apple print that I found at Jo Ann's. The name of the pink fabric that I used for the straps and bottom band is "Happi", and that is why I named it Happi Apples and Pears. I probably spent about $12.00 total on this project (not including the pattern). The pattern is Claire by Portabellopixie and was on sale a couple of weeks ago at Sew Blessed.

**The leaves and stems on the apples and pears are brown, but appear black in these pictures.

Driving

2010-07-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

Sunday was a good day. We went to church at Fellowship Home, and we got to hear daddy preach on righteousness. It was a good lesson, and it was so good to see him. I am beginning to think they are changing their zip code permanently. I don't blame them, considering our thermostat outside these days is set on hell!

Mabry did some yard work while the girls and I napped inside. After our naps we decided to punish ourselves and join him outside in the sauna. Good grief if is so hot and humid!

I had to put a bow in Miss Maddie's hair, because she did not have any clothes on! She turned 9 months old today! I can't believe our little beep beep is growing so fast. Tonight, as she was eating acre peas all by herself, I noticed her first tooth broke the skin! I really thought it might not ever come in!

There is the landscaper! We have really been enjoying our yard. Mabry is such a visionary. He will stand out there and analyze it from every corner for hours. He has the ability to envision the possibilities. I have a hard time with that. I am so very proud of his hard work and dedication to create such a great place to enjoy our family.

" All you who fear God, how blessed you are! how happily you walk on his smooth straight road! You worked hard and deserve all you've got coming. Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness! Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes, your household lush as a vineyard, The children around your table as fresh and promising as young olive shoots. Stand in awe of God's Yes. Oh, how he blesses the one who fears God! Enjoy the good life in Jerusalem every day of your life. And enjoy your grandchildren. Peace to Israel! " Psalm 128 (The Message)

Dolly and BJ

2010-07-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

When I put Maddie down for a nap this afternoon Sophie was quietly playing in her room. I decided to let her play a little bit longer since she was being so sweet. She has a life size doll that she named "Dolly" that she loves to play with. When I left her room she was changing her diaper. Dolly is bigger than Sophie! Lately, she has been carrying a ball around the house and treating it like it is her friend. She has named it "BJ". She feeds BJ a bottle, colors with BJ, and even jumps on the couch with BJ. Keep in mind that BJ is a ball. I realized it had gotten very quiet, so I went to check on Sophie. This is what I found.

Sleeping soundly in between her friends, BJ and Dolly.

Celebrating Val

2010-07-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

All of Val's bridesmaids hosted a celebration last night in honor of the bride-to-be! This was such a great idea! It was kind of a "kick off" for the wedding festivities, and we also measured all the bridesmaids so that when Val picks a dress she has all the information that she needs. This is a brilliant idea! Speaking from experience at Kiss the bride, the hardest thing for a bride to do is track down all her bridesmaids for measurements. There were always a few procrastinators who held up the dress order! Keri hosted the party at her house, and it was perfect.

The beautiful Fillion's, and one soon to be LaHood!

I love this picture of the two "big" sisters, Sally and Layton.

They were trying to establish a wireless connection so that Allsion, who is living in Japan for a year, could Skype and be at the party.

The bridesmaids gave her champagne flutes to toast at the wedding. Such a sweet idea!

Because Allison could not be here, she sent these fans from Japan. They are so cute! Notice Val's fan is all white for the bride!!

Mimi and all the girls, except for Miss Maddie. She was at home asleep.

I could not leave this picture out! One of my new favorites♥

Val has such a great group of friends. I told her last night I was honored to be a part of the group, and to be able to be a part of the wedding. I am looking forward to the next six months of fun!

Sweet Cherries

2010-07-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

I finished a sewing project over the weekend. I am calling these little dresses "Sweet Cherries", although after our picture session this morning, I am thinking about renaming them "Sweet and Sour Cherries"!

This was my first attempt of taking their picture side by side. I have no idea what provokes a two year old to stick her hiney in the air when all I asked her to do is sit by her sister. D.I.F.F.I.C.U.L.T. I wish I could remember being a two year old. Do they automatically wake up and decide to defy everything you say? Is their first thought that they are going to go against the grain today? I'm not sure, but she sure keeps me hoppin'!!

Maddie seems to be moving at all times lately. Always heading to the smallest object on the floor so she can put it in her mouth.

I love this picture. I foresee many, many hours of cooking and imagining in this very spot.

Missy checking out what's in the grocery cart, and big sister making sure she is not touching the wrong

thing.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-23

Highlands

2010-07-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

It was getting hotter by the day in Valdosta, and my parents were in a place where the high is in the 70's during the day, and it is just cool enough but not to cold to leave the windows opened at night. So we did the only logical thing I could think of. I packed up and the girls and I headed north for Highlands, North Carolina. (Just before putting the luggage in the car, I realized they were all pink♥)

It was the first time I had driven long distance with them by myself, and it went off without a hitch. We only had to stop twice. Once to eat lunch, and the other time because I missed my exit and I needed directions. When I turned right onto the road that winds up the mountain I simultaneously watched my car thermostat slowly drop, and reached in the back to scratch Sophie's leg so she would not feel queasy. (anytime something hurts her or she doesn't feel good she always asks me or Mabry to scratch her back, or tummy, or whatever body part has the ailment). We pulled up to their house around 5 o'clock. Mama and daddy were invited to a party to celebrate the opening of Scudder's, an antique auction that is open through the summer and part of the fall. This turned out to be a good thing, because we were exhausted from traveling and were able to relax and unwind before the mountain excitement began. We started the next morning off with pancakes, bacon and coffee on the porch overlooking the mountains. We all had on our pink pj's!

After breakfast I put Maddie down for her nap, and Sophie and I went to Dry Falls with Daddy. Here she is with her Giddy walking down to the waterfall.

We stopped to check out a cave on the way down.

We filled the rest of the week with lots of porch time watching the hummingbirds and Sophie painting with Giddy.

Sophie got in a lot of story time, while Maddie was a perfect little angel going to bed early and sleeping soundly in a new and strange place for her.

Mimi was very sweet to keep Maddie at home so Sophie and I could go with Giddy to Sunset Rock and watch a beautiful sunset. We got there a little too early for a two year old. I made a mental not to myself, that the next time I take at 2 1/2 year old on top of a mountain, I better not plan on staying too long. They get a little restless, and don't want to sit still. I was a nervous wreck.

She gave me this look when I told her to sit her bottom on the ground and don't move again. At one point, I tried to explain to her that if she fell off the mountain it would be "bye, bye Sophie". In which she replied, "Mama, I want to go see bye, bye Sophie."

We got to see the sunset!

Mimi and the girls after breakfast one morning.

We had a great time, and I can't wait to go back with Mabry.

In The Kitchen: Strawberry Jello Cake

2010-07-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

I will not be home for supper tonight, because I have a sewing class from 6-9. Mabry is cooking hamburgers for supper, and I wanted to have a sweet treat waiting for him in the refrigerator while I am off
sewing my little heart out♥

Maddie is teething like crazy and those little suckers won't cut through her gums for anything! As a result, she is not napping well at all. She rolled around her bed and cried/talked for about an hour before drifting off to sleep. Poor baby! While she napped a little later than normal, Sophie and I baked a cake.

This is one of my favorite desserts, and is so very simple. All you need is a box cake mix, a box of strawberry jello, and cool whip.

Bake the cake following the instructions on the box. I bake it in a 9x13. While the cake is baking, dissolve the strawberry jello in the amount of water the box calls for. When the cake is done baking, remove from the oven and poke holes all over the top of the cake with a straw or a knife. Pour the dissolved jello over the entire cake. Put in the refrigerator and chill. Once the cake is cooled, top the whole cake with cool whip.

Mabry and and the girls will be happy campers while I am away tonight, and I'm sure I will find my fork in there tonight when I get home!!

Syrup

2010-07-07T06:03:00.000-07:00

Sophie loves syrup. She asks for syrup or ketchup no matter what she is eating. I usually don't mind giving it to her, because she ends up eating more vegetables! There are some things that I refuse to give the sweet or salty condiments. For example, ketchup on jelly toast or syrup on rice and gravy. Those are pretty extreme, but she asks for it on everything. The problem with syrup is she usually eats it for breakfast and it ends up all in her hair. Which leads to screaming and crying when I try and brush it out so she does not have stringy, greasy hair for the day. I have tried to be nonchalant about putting in a ponytail before she eats to avoid the mess, but that usually results in some kind of dramatic scene. It is just too early in the morning to start the day off this way. So, this morning we discovered the perfect way to keep her hair out of her face and out of the syrup. The headband! It works like a charm. Hair out of the face, check!

Plenty of syrup for eggs, sausage, grits and toast, check!

Absolutely no dramatic outbursts and crying, check!

One happy little girl on a Wednesday morning eating breakfast with her mama, daddy, and baby sister, check!

Bambi- (Or In This Case, Bart)

2010-07-06T04:13:00.000-07:00

My brother found this baby deer in May. He is not sure if his mama deserted him, or if the baby deer just wandered off. This is not the first baby deer that they have found on the farm. When George was about Maddie's age (13 years ago!) they found one, and we have the cutest picture of him with the deer licking his cheek. Last year, they found a one in June. She happened to be a girl, so they named her "June". She followed George around the farm like she was his pet dog. It was the most amazing thing! They kept her in a pin at night and would let her roam around during the day. When she got a little older, she would go into the woods during the day but she always came back to the house at night to sleep. Eventually, she did not come back.

This year he found the deer in May. They wanted to name it "May", but it turns out the deer is a boy. So, they came up with the name "Bart". Bart has slept in the bed with George! We were out at their house over the weekend, and Sophie got to feed the baby deer. Sophie loves animals. I can remember always being afraid of them as a little girl. I think she takes after her Gigi!

While Sophie was outside feeding the deer, Maddie was "playing" with Brown. He lets her pull his hair. She thinks it is hilarious, but I think it has to hurt!

Look at how sweet and gentle he is with her!

159

2010-07-05T04:21:00.000-07:00

I was number 159 today for the Valdosta 5K. This was my second 5K, and I shaved off some time! The race did not start and end in the same place. Uncle Charles and I planned to meet early at the end of the race to leave one of our cars there so we would have a way back. Amanda Perez came and ran with us! I ran the first mile with no problem, and had to walk/run after that. I tried to pace myself with this family running beside me, but I kept getting ahead of them and then they would pass me. Pacing myself seems to be my problem. Overall, I feel much more confident in my capabilities.

The girls had been awake for about an hour when I got home. Miss Maddie pouted for about 30 minutes when I walked in the door. She refused to smile at me. At one point she puckered her little lips out like she was trying to frown. It was hilarious!! I guess she was mad at me for not being there when she woke up. She is too young to do this, isn't she? They grow up too fast.

Sunrise

2010-07-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

This is what I saw at 6:30 a.m. while driving to the Valdosta 5K. I don't get to see sunrises like this in our neighborhood. The light pole kind of kills the view, but I thought this was beautiful.

Saturday Morning

2010-07-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

The plan was to meet Eleanor first thing this morning for a jog. I overslept and I had a headache. Bummer! So, I made my coffee and Maddie's bottle while Sophie and Mabry slept a little longer. I decided to make pancakes and sausage for breakfast (Sophie's favorite)! I keep my big griddle stored in the garage, and when I went outside to get it I discovered it was unusually cool. I knew I had to go for a run after breakfast. I could not pass on the opportunity of that glorious weather on a July morning in south Georgia!

When Sophie woke up and joined Miss Maddie and me, the three of us snuggled for a bit on the living room floor. Sweet, sweet time. I have never been a morning person, (my mama can confirm this), but I guess that is because I did not know how sweet these kind of mornings can be with my babies.

As soon as I started cooking breakfast, Sophie told me she did not like sausage or milk. I am slowly learning not to disagree with a two year old when they make declarations such as this. She is merely trying to see how far we can go with this head butting. I just said, "You don't have to eat the sausage, but daddy loves it." Defused. When I served her plate she said again, "I don't like sausage or milk!". And I replied, "Don't eat it, it's okay". Defused again. And you will never believe what happened 5 minutes later.....
Sophie exclaimed, "I love sausage and milk, it's delicious!". I think I am on to her!!

After breakfast was cleaned up, sticky hands and mouths were wiped, and the kitchen was cleaned I knew I had to act fast to enjoy the beautiful weather I had discovered earlier. I put my shoes and hat on, grabbed my ipod and headed out. It was a great little run. I am still not running an entire 5k, but I am slowly improving. I am going to run in the Valdosta 5K in the morning. I think the practice of the actual race will be good for my mental challenge of the big Sprint-Tri in August. There is something about running alone versus running with a couple hundred people.

Now, I am going to try another paint color on my bedroom wall. We painted just about every room in the house when we moved in, but did nothing to our bedroom. Paint colors are hard to pick out!

We might take the girls to see the fireworks tonight for the 4th of July. They don't start until 9:30. Sophie would be fine, but I'm not sure how Miss Maddie would handle the late bedtime. Happy 4th of July!!

Playing Catch Up and Family Prayer Time

2010-06-30T07:05:00.000-07:00

We were out of town for two weeks in a row and I have been playing catch up around here ever since we came home. I have been doing major organizing and cleaning out, and rearranging some of the rooms in our house. When we moved in three years ago, I was almost 7 months pregnant with Sophie. We had a lot of help with the move and I just let everybody put stuff up in the kitchen where ever it would fit. When I was in the hospital having Maddie, Pam and Janice were busy at my house cleaning out my pantry and a few other closets and cabinets. I have done a pretty good job keeping them up. It made Mabry so happy that I decided after cooking and living in the kitchen for 3 years, I figured it was time to organize the rest of the drawers and cabinets the way I wanted them. I don't know why it takes so long to make changes like this! I also moved all the furniture around in our bedroom, and the space is occupied so much better! I want to find a paint color and change the window treatments next...

The time has come to lower Maddie's crib down. Truthfully, the time came several weeks ago, but it took me walking into her room with her pulling up on the side of the crib to actually do something about it! After we lowered her crib, she rolled around and laughed like she knew what we had done. And yes, that is Sophie's foot and hand behind Maddie. She could not be left out of the action.

We have put up acre peas and butter beans. I had high hopes to put up cream corn, but after creaming what we had, it was just enough for dinner. Baked ham, squash (from our garden), cucumber and tomato salad (also from our garden), creamed corn, and tomato pie that Big Gini made for us! It was delicious!! Sophie kept saying, "I don't want this corn, I want the BIG corn!". I am assuming she wanted corn on the cob, because when she eats that, she eats it in large quantities!

Finally, I have been in the sewing room! I took an unfinished project to Highlands with me so that mama could help me complete it. It is matching outfits for the girls, and they are going to be precious! Disappointingly, I did not have all of the materials I needed and they are still unfinished. I have given myself a rule: I am not allowed to start a new project until I have completed the project I am working on. When I saw this fabric, I made the decision in an instant that rules were made to be broken! Over the weekend I made this cute little number. It turned out a little shorter than I anticipated, so I plan on making some bloomers for her to wear with it. Sophie has also been doing some cooking of her own!

Love this happy girl!!

This morning before Mabry left for work, we all sat on the couch together and prayed these verses over our day.

Psalm 73:23-28

"I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with you counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all you deeds."

I am grateful today that although my flesh and my heart are going to fail, God is my strength and my portion forever! It is good to be near God!

Horton Hears a Who

2010-06-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

Our movie theatre offers morning movies during the summer for $1.00, and coke and popcorn for $1.50. Sophie and I were over due for a special date, just the two of us! Mimi came over to play with Maddie, and Sophie and I headed to the movies. The first time I took her to the movies was last summer. I was pregnant with Maddie, and all she wanted to do was play on the nasty floor eating the candy off the floor instead of out of the box. That was a little premature on my part by taking her then. On top of the health hazard of eating off the floor, she did take a nap that day because of all the sugar! I remember it vividly. This summer was a little different. We luckily picked the theatre that was not very crowded. There were only two other families in there, so Sophie had plenty of room to move around if she got restless. She did great for the most part. She munched on popcorn and enjoyed her Sprite until the last drop. Towards the end of the movie she wanted to walk around a little bit, and I figured it would be fine since the other people in the movie were about her age. The movie was actually pretty funny. It amazes me how they can make a movie to entertain a two year old and an adult.

After the movie we picked Mimi and Maddie up and headed to Rodeo. One of my favorite treats is Mexican food. Sophie dined on cheese dip, and mama and I had a quesadilla. It was a great morning with my favorite two year old! I am learning that it is important that she get some one-on-one time with me. As much as she loves her sister, the alone time with her is so special.

Father's Day

2010-06-22T05:07:00.000-07:00

Mabry loves golf. He loves to compete in tournaments, and he loves to watch all the major tournaments. I was sorting through some pictures and I came across something kind of funny. We were at the beach in June 2008, and it happened to be Father's Day weekend, and the US Open was also being played.

Daddy and Sophie watching golf together!

Fast forward to this year. We were at the beach this year, June 2010. It was Father's Day weekend, and the US Open was being played.

Daddy and Sophie watching golf together! Sweet memories being made. Only this year, there is a little less room on the couch...

Miss Maddie wants to watch too!! Happy Fathers Day to the best daddy ever. I grew up with the best daddy, and God chose to give me a father in law just as special. A father in law that was the greatest example for Mabry. My girls are blessed beyond measure!!

The Little Engine That Could

2010-06-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

"I'm not very big," said the Little Blue Engine. "I am just learning to crawl, so I can get my own toys and keep up with my big sister."

Then she said, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can."

Puff, puff, chug, chug, went the Little Blue Engine.

I think I can, I think I can....

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...Up, up, up. Faster and faster the Little Engine went, until...

"Hurray, hurray!", cried her big sister.

And the Little Blue Engine smiled and seemed to say, "I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could."

A List (Because I can't thing of a better title)

2010-06-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

We have been all over the place that last couple of weeks, and there is no better way than to make a random list to record our "exciting" history!

Family Fun in Fernandina

John and Crystal were at the beach for the week, and we decided to join them for the latter portion of the week. The girls and I drove down on Wednesday, and Mabry followed on Thursday. When we got there, Sophie was very aware of where George was at all times. The truth is, she has a little crush on him. He is about eleven years older than her, and when we are around him she is very shy, but when we are away from him she always asks where he is and what he is doing. When I mention to her that we are going to see George, she tells me she is going to close her eyes!

We had a blast. Lots of splashing in the pool and digging in the sand. I taught Sophie how to make a drip castle. I can remember my daddy making drip castles for us, and it never seemed like we could ever make them as good as he did it!

I offered to keep the kids at the house so that John and Crystal could go out to eat, and they took me up on the offer. As they were about to leave, Mabry called me to tell me that his truck had broken down on the way to the beach. While we waited to hear back from him to see if he needed me to come get him, John and Crystal decided not to go eat because it was getting a little late. Thank goodness, an off duty police officer picked Mabry up and helped him fill his truck with water and he was able to get back on the road.

Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

I saw this recipe and I was waiting on an opportunity to make them. I had a bunch of strawberries left over from bible study and I needed to use them before they went bad. Sophie loved helping me. I washed the berries and cut the stems off, and then she would throw them into the blender (taking a bite out of them before actually putting them in there). They tasted just like the fruit roll-ups that I used to eat when I was little. Fruit roll-ups were never my favorite snack, but I figured it would be something sweet for Sophie and Mabry to eat with out a lot of sugar and preservatives.

New Patio

This is what our patio looked like this week when the crew pulled up all the old brick to smooth out the ground. Their work time was cut short due to all the rain we got this weekend, so I don't have a picture of the completed patio. Hopefully this week it will be finished. It is going to be beautiful! I am so proud of Mabry and what a good job he has done with our yard. I know we will have many hours of family time on this patio and our yard.

Swimming Lessons

Sophie had swimming lessons this week with Coach Tucker. I did not know Coach Tucker, but he came highly recommended so we took a chance on him. The first morning Sophie was standing at the kitchen door holding her towel ready to go to "Coach Tucker" to swim! Little did she know what was waiting for her. She was in the pool for 45 minutes with Coach, Henry and Brown. She screamed for me to come get her as she floated on the "bar". Every now and then she would say through her tears, "I'm doing it mama". It was precious, pitiful, and remarkable all at the same time. I was so proud of her for being brave, and she actually floated across the pool on her back while he guided her. By the end of the week Henry and Brown were swimming! Sally and I also started our swim training this week. We were graciously offered a pool to go over and swim where the distance was marked out for us. On Saturday afternoon, we headed over to the pool and swam 17 laps. I don't ever remember a time that I got into a pool for the purpose of swimming. I get in the pool to cool off or play with the kids! This swimming was hard work. My arms felt like jello after it was over. Thankfully, I do not have a picture of us :-)

Beautiful Morning

2010-05-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

7 a.m. I hear babbling over the baby monitor. I have two little feet in my side. I walk to the kitchen and there is a cup of coffee and a bottle prepared for Maddie that is waiting on me. Mabry always makes my coffee♥

While I am feeding Miss Maddie her bottle, Sophie stumbles into the living room with sleepy eyes, rosie cheeks, and wispy baby hair falling in her face.

We sit together watching PBS Kids while Maddie finishes her bottle and Sophie has some juice.

We read some books and play on the floor, before we cook breakfast. Mabry goes for a quick run while I make pancakes, sausage, and the sweetest pineapple you have ever tasted. Sophie loves to sit at the kitchen table together to eat. After breakfast, I go for a jog/bike ride with Eleanor. B.E.A.U.T.F.U.L. weather. Maddie takes her morning nap, and when she wakes up I ask Sophie if she wants to go to the pool. She squeals, and says, "I'm so excited mama."

It does not get any better than this. I never want to miss the beauty in our "everyday" Saturday mornings.

Two Girls and One Bunny

2010-05-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

May 2008

Sophie, 6 months

May 2010

Maddie, 6 1/2 months

A Little Lady

2010-05-20T07:42:00.000-07:00

I was running errands with the girls yesterday afternoon and we stopped by to see Gini at her office, but she was not there. This was going to be the fun part of Sophie's afternoon, and when she found out that Gigi was not there the tears started flowing.

I was running through our options of how we could spend the rest of the afternoon when I spotted Chickfila. I figured Sophie could play on the playground inside for a little bit and then I could feed her an early supper of her favorites: chicken nuggets, french fries and polination sauce (Polynesian sauce). On the way there we passed Gini and she pulled in the parking lot so we could see her. Sophie's tears had dried up the minute she heard any talking of Chickfila, and she was so eager to get in there and play that she would not give Gigi the attention she deserved!

Sophie played for a little bit and then it was time for Maddie to eat, so I ordered Sophie's food. I asked her if she wanted to sit in a highchair or a big girl chair. Of course she opted for the big girl chair. I got her situated with her food, and pulled out Maddie's baby food. As I was feeding the baby, I watched Sophie eat. She dipped each nugget in her sauce so precisely. Then a french fry, then a sip of her sprite. "I need a napkin mama", she said, and then wiped her little mouth. I had a proud "mama" moment to myself. I can't believe how she is growing up. She is using the best manners. My heart could burst! Such a little lady. It was a moment with her that I don't want to forget.

I was sharing this with mama and daddy, and mama was laughing with me saying how you want to remember those sweet times because you know that they will be in between all the times of typical toddler behavior. So I am writing it down to remind me that when she tries my patience by pouring out an entire bottle of syrup on the kitchen floor while I am changing Maddie's diaper, I am raising a little lady. And when she insists on squating in the yard to use the restroom, I am raising a little lady. And when she throws an absolute temper tantrum because I will not give in to a third juice box I know she is going to be a little lady. With God's grace, mercy, and help I will raise both my girls to be little ladies.

Phillipians 1:6
"There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears"

Happy Birthday Gini/Gigi

2010-05-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Gigi, Happy Birthday

This is your day to sing a song

da, da, da

Happy Birthday Gigi, Happy Birthday

This is your day so sing us a song!

We love you Gini! Hope this is the best year yet!

Mother's Day with the Smith's

2010-05-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Mabry's parents went to St. George Island for the weekend, so we did not see them until Sunday night. Jack and Gini hosted us at their house for a wonderful supper. We grilled flank steak, roasted potatoes and celebration salad. I made a key lime cake that was delicious! Thank you Ashley for the recipe!!

Mabry and the girls wearing their pink Masters shirts that Layton bought them.

Sophie worked so hard helping Gini make the Celebration Salad.

Sophie with her Den Den. We are so fortunate to live so close to our families. Sophie and Maddie are surrounded by people who love them.

This is my awesome Mother's day gift from Mabry and the girls. Pretty fancy! I did not realize what goes into buying a road bike. We had to be measured and fitted for the bike, and given a lesson in how to ride it and change a tire in the event of a "blow out". We (Sally and I) even have a red flashing light on the back to we are more visible on the road. The training gets serious now for the sprint-tri!

And finally, guess who said "mama" for the first time on Mother's day? Miss Maddie!! She is also sitting up so good and loving all her new fruits and veggies she is eating.

I loved my Mother's Day weekend. I am grateful for both my mama and Mabry's mama!

Mother's Day Weekend with the LaHood's

2010-05-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

This is a little late, but I wanted to recap the weekend that we had with our families. Saturday we spent the afternoon at the lakes with my parents, Sally and Trav, John and Crystal, and Matt and Val, and all the children. The children had a great time riding in the boat, swimming, jumping off the dock, and tubing. We grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and all the fixings that goes with them. Val brought a delicious dip that needed to be cooked in the oven, but the oven was broken. We drove down a couple of houses to the Hutchinson's lake house and borrowed their oven! Thank goodness for friends!

I'm not sure what they were talking about. They both had the same confused look on their faces!

George could not be left out of all the fun even though he still has to wear his splint. The solution, wrap it up with a plastic toilet paper bag and tape it off with some duck tape!

Trav asked Sophie if she wanted to ride in the boat and she shook her head no. She immediately whispered in Mabry's ear, "Daddy, I want to ride in the boat." She is so cautious and shy, but does not want to be left out of the fun either!

Before long she found herself in the tube with Mabry! Mabry told me that as soon as she got in the tube with him she started crying for me, but then they started going and she loved it. Brave girl!

Mimi and Giddy with all ELEVEN of their grandchildren!

Beautiful sunset with her Giddy!

Daddy did a little "engagement picture session" with Matt and Val!

This is how we had to take her away from the fun day at the lakes. Kicking and screaming!

Sunday morning we went to church with everybody at Fellowship Home and ate lunch outside in the courtyard. It was a wonderful time with everybody!!

Round Here

2010-05-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or does she look five years old? This is Sophie's new picture smile. She just started really cheesing for the camera.

Annie had her dance recital a couple of weekends ago. Mama, Mary Rebecca, Sophie and I met Eleanor and Ansel for some mexican food before the recital. The children were so good during the recital and after intermission they decided they needed to get up and do some dancing themselves. Ansel looked at Sophie and said, "you want to dance Sophie?" And she nodded yes. Eleanor and I were laughing so hard we were sweating and crying. They really put on a show. All I could think was these girls have worked all year to prepare for this recital, and nobody is watching them because these two year olds are putting on the best show! We took them to the back of the auditorium so that they would not be any more a distraction than they already. They had so much fun running up and down the aisles!

Annie, Mary Rebecca, and Sophie after the recital. Annie did so good! We all went to Applebee's and got dessert, and the girls came to our house for a spend the night party. Sophie loves when the big girls come over to play. We did not get home until close to eleven o'clock and the big girls went straight to bed in Sophie's room. Sophie was so excited, she jumped around our bed telling her daddy all about the night!

A few weeks ago, Maddie and I drove over to St. Simons for a baby shower that I helped host for Amanda. Amanda is due pretty soon, and she did not find out what she is having! Whatever it is, it is going to be a beautiful baby! We can't wait to see!!

I love this picture of the girls with Papa and Grandmama. They stopped by with mama and daddy after they had been out to eat. Sophie loves it when this happens. She was saved by the bell! It was about to be bed and bath time, but it got delayed so she could visit with everybody.

In the Kitchen: Spaghetti Sauce Pizza

2010-05-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

The girls and I met Sally at the Bike shop this morning to purchase our road bikes for the sprint tri we are training for. I am sure the guy who helped us is still laughing at how much we don't know about bikes and triathlons! He was very helpful and we should have our bikes next week. I was so glad we got out this morning to do it, because as soon as we got home it started raining, and it looks like it is going to set in for a while. Perfect napping weather for the girls!

As I was pulling out leftovers for lunch I realized I had all the ingredients for spaghetti sauce pizza!
Growing up, my mama would always make this for us the day after we had spaghetti. Mabry was home for lunch and he asked me what I was eating. I thought everybody knew what spaghetti sauce pizza was! I told him it reminded me of being a little girl. He hugged me and asked me if I was homesick. I use that word a lot describing how I feel. I don't mean it literally, because I am in fact home. I just mean, heart sick to be away from the hard things of life. To be a little girl sheltered from the world. I realized that having spaghetti sauce pizza for luch kind of made me feel "warm and fuzzy".

This was just the thing I needed to lift my spirits! It seems like every time I turn around there is bad news. Tragic and sad news. Nothing that has directly affected my family, but my heart is heavy. It makes me long for a time when I was too young to know about "adult" things. I realize that these things happened then I was just sheltered from it. It's funny how something so simple and easy as an old recipe my mama used to make can stir up such emotion. Sweet thoughts of being a little girl, the smell of my parents house, and the sound of somebody always kicking the kitchen island as we were lined up at the bar eating our spaghetti sauce pizza. I hope that one day my girls will remember things like this, the little things, and it will make them smile on a rainy day!

Here is what you do to make it:
Take a piece of bread and toast it. Then spoon spaghetti sauce on the bread and top it with shredded cheese. Next, place it under the broiler until the cheese is nice and melted! Delicious.

So Long Insecurity

2010-04-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

I attended the Beth Moore simulcast last weekend. The title of her message was based on her new book, "So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us. What a needed lesson. She taught out of Ephesians 4:17-24. She used the acronym SECURE to make six points about being a secure woman.

S- Saved from Herself
E-Entitled to the truth
C-Clothed with Intention
U-Upended by Grace
R-Rebounded by Love
E-Exceptional in Life

I had a reality check on one of my own insecurity issues a couple of days after the conference. As I was getting into the shower Sophie said, "Mama, I see your fanny, I see your crusty fanny." I thought to myself, "what in the world is she talking about! What on earth is a crusty fanny?" I made her say it again, but I still could not make out what that word was. I finally let her say it for Mabry, and we laughed hysterically at what ever she was trying to say. Later that night, I was on the phone with Sally and asked her to say it for her, and it was suddenly clear "I see mama's dis-gusting fanny". After I picked myself off the floor from laughing, Sally and I came to the horrible conclusion, that she has heard me say that about my self. She has probably watched me look in the mirror and said, "that's disgusting!". After I gained my composure from laughing I had this realization. I am molding her self image at the tender age of two and a half. She is watching my every move, and listening to my every word. What a wake up call!! Ephesians 4:21 says, "Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus." I am entitled to the truth. The truth is God created me in His image. I am fearfully and wonderfullly made. It has never been more clear to me than now that I have to walk in this truth. These two girls are going to follow my lead. God has entrusted them to me to raise them to become the women He has created them to be. It is my responsibility to teach them that He created everything about us, and we are created in His image. Ephesians 5:1&2 says, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God". The most important job I will ever have as a mama is to be an imitator of God!

Insecurity runs much deeper than body issues, but I am more than aware that our society puts such an emphasis on how we should look. My girls are so very little, but what a great time to start implementing some self-confidence in my own body image. I got a great laugh, and an even better lesson!

I Would Like a Pause Button

2010-04-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Six short months ago Sophie was just starting to put a couple of words together. She was starting to really find her independence with things like going down the porch steps, and working her toys. She was still extremely dependent on her pacifier and "binkys", and was not even thinking about ditching her diapers. Exactly four weeks shy of meeting her baby sister, she was still such a baby. Now, we are potty trained, no paci in sight, and as for the independence- she has taken it to a new level. I know this is the normal progression for a toddler. I have often wondered if by becoming a big sister that it kind of speeds things up. Maybe not, but it just feels like we all of the sudden had this newborn at home, and because Maddie was so tiny and depended on us for every little thing Sophie took on a new roll. She suddenly looked like she was five years old. Sometimes I expect too much from her. In part, because she does exhibit so much independence and determination to do things on her on, and also because I forget that she is still a baby. I have heard it over and over before, that time flies. I can now say that I understand that to be so true. As much fun as it is to watch her grow and learn, I just want to freeze time. Pause for a little while and savor it. Experiencing the world through her eyes reminds me to slow down and take it all in. She brings so much joy and love into our lives.

Recently, she has been experiencing some fear. Nothing major, just being afraid of the dark, or loud noises she may hear outside. It is such an eye opener that I need to be more careful about having the tv on just any channel. I don't even think it she has to be sitting down to watch, but just by passing through the room she can pick up on ANYHTING! I was trying to ignore her outbursts, trying to not make a big deal about it, but I realized that even though there is really nothing to be afraid of, her feelings are very real to her. And the feeling of fear is not good. So, to combat these feelings, anytime she says she is scared I make her repeat Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you may go." She can now fill in the blanks when I start the verse for her. I actually heard her reciting her own version while she was playing by herself. It sounded something like this: "Be strong and courageous, for the Lord not afraid". It amazes me what their little brains soak up. (I am learning to sew, and this little fish dress was my first solo project. I was able to finish it from start to finish without asking for help! )

Six months from now, we will celebrate her third birthday. Who knew it was possible to want to see her grow and mature, and to make time stand still at the same time? I love her with every ounce of my being.

LOVE

2010-04-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

Pass Me a Spoon Please

2010-04-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

Easter

2010-04-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. I started the week by going to see The Promise with Aunt Pam and Janice. Park Avenue Methodist Church puts this on every year, and I had never seen it. I cried through just about the whole play.

Sophie was invited to a couple of Easter Egg hunts, and that made for a busy week. The first hunt was with Christy and her girls, Ellie and Jules.

Maddie enjoyed herself too!!

After the egg hunt they served cupcakes, cookies and other party food in the fellowship hall. Sophie sampled about five cupcakes before I realized she had helped herself by licking each one. We went to Christy's house after that and the girls played while I fed and bathed Maddie.

GiGi came over to dye eggs with Sophie Saturday morning.

We headed for Lakeland for another egg hunt that Katy Shaw invited us to. We picked Mary Rebecca up on the way. Sophie loved it. There was a big slide, real baby chicks and bunnies, candy, suckers, cookies and they were making slushies to order! I think the girls had two or three slushies each. The Easter Bunny also made an appearance. Sophie wanted to get real close but would not give the bunny a hug.

Sophie and Mary Rebecca hunting eggs.

Sophie, Maddie, Betts and Anne Harvey. How cute are they?!

Sunday morning we ate breakfast together and got ready for church. It was the most beautiful morning! I was able to take some pics of the girls before we left for church.

We had a delicious lunch with the Smith's!

Late Sunday afternoon we went to Sally and Trav's for our final egg hunt of the weekend. Sally's house was beautiful, and the food was delicious. The children had a great time, and we missed the ones who were not there this year. Here are some of the great grands!

Jesus died for me. He suffered for my sins. He knew every one of my struggles, fears, regrets, bad attitudes, and unpure motives before I was ever born. He knew there would be a time in my life when He was not even a thought in my day. Knowing all of that, He went to the cross and bore it ALL. That takes my breath away. I thank Him for making all things new! I am a new creation in Christ. He alone is good. He is enough for me, but still He gives me more. I can hardly believe how He continues to bless me, and keep me. What a beautiful day we had together as a family. A beautiful day, remembering the beautiful promise we have in His ressurection. My Savior King

We love you Lord, we worship you
You are our God, you alone are good

You asked your Son to carry this
The heavy cross our weight of sin

I love you Lord, I worship you
Hope which was lost, now stands renewed
I give my life to honor this
The love of Christ, the Savior King

We Did It!

2010-04-01T04:45:00.000-07:00

Our first 5K! The truth is that we finished it. Sally could have run the entire race, but she graciously walked when I had to walk. At about mile marker 2 she was trying to distract me of the fact that I thought I was dying, and and I told her to shut up. After that, she ran ahead and finished strong! I am so proud of us. We still have a long way to go to make it to August 21!

5 Months

2010-03-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

Madelyn Leigh Smith, you entered our lives five months ago screaming, and did not stop until you were about twelve weeks old. I cried a lot too, because you never slept, and did I mention, you cried, a lot?

You went from lots of tears, to a whole lot of smiles!! Layed back and just happy to be here!

You weigh about 17 lbs ( I snuck you onto the scale when we took Sophie to the doctor)

Sleep anywhere from 10-12 hrs @ night

You love to watch Sophie play

Your favorite toy is the exersaucer

love your cereal with fruit

You have eyes for your mama. I think you are going to be a mama's girl.

have a couple of nicknames: Miss Maddie, Miss Veazy, Miss Mad (when you cried all the time)

when you get excited you squeal this high pitched little noise

sat up for the first time with Aunt Sally on the couch

Dear Miss Maddie,

I have a certain tender place for you, because I am also a little sister. You will grow up always watching Sophie and trying to imitate her every move. I look at you and Sophie and my heart is full, because I know just how much you will come to mean to each other. You, my sweet baby, have been given the best place as far as birth order is concerned!

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

In The Kitchen: Lebanese

2010-03-22T05:46:00.000-07:00

I love to be in the kitchen on a Sunday afternoon! Especially when I have a helper.

On the menu was hummus and homemade pita bread. I have made hummus before, but the pita bread was a first. It was actually pretty easy, and was delicious!!

I love the smell of yeast and dough rising. It reminds me of being little and mama making her delicious yeast rolls or cinnamon rolls.

The final product. I had images of Zarife sitting on the dirt, outside with the cast iron dome over an open fire making her bread. We have a home video of that somewhere, I would love to see it.

While Sophie and I were in the kitchen, Maddie was doing a little of this

and a little of that

I realized that I don't have many family Lebanese recipes written down. My goal is to compile them and make a Lebanese cookbook for our generation, so we can continue to pass them down.

You can find the recipe I used here for the pita bread.

Bliss

2010-03-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

The girls and I loaded up with Sally, Mary and Henry for a quick beach trip. The sun was shining and it was beautiful, but the wind was pretty chilly! Sophie had a blast running on the beach.

Talking With a Two Year Old

2010-03-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

I was sitting at the breakfast table with Sophie and this was our conversation:

Sophie: Mama, your knees are hurting.
Me: No, they are all better. Jesus made them feel better.
Sophie: I love my Jesus.
Me: I love your Jesus too.
Sophie: No mama. You love your God.

I was floored! When I called to tell mama about it, she pointed out something I had not realized. Sophie is already showing so much compassion and concern. I started running about six weeks ago and had some trouble with my knees. I was upset, because I had really gotten into the groove and was very motivated about my running schedule. We prayed over my knees, I took a week off, and the next time I ran they did not give me one bit of trouble!!

Sophie is almost 2 1/2 and I can not get enough of her. She is talking in complete sentences, and so curious. I love to watch her learn and grow.

Joyful Heart

2009-01-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

I had such a wonderful weekend with three of my favorite people. My mama, and two sisters. Friday night, when we got to Atlanta we went straight to eat at a Mexican restaurant called Nuevo Laredo. The wait was 1 1/2 hours, but well worth it! The LaHood girls love to eat, and an hour and a half will not stop us from eating a delicious meal of 8 baskets of chips and salsa, cheese dip, enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos, and whatever else looked good to our hungry eyes after waiting to eat! I. Love. Mexican. Food. We celebrated Sally's 32nd birthday with sopapillas! Yummmmmy!

This is Sally being silly after laughing hysterically at mama and Crystal!

Here we are with my cousin Hanna after brunch at Einsteins. We had french toast, omelets, and pancakes! Like I said before, we like to eat.

Here we are with my cousin Eli. We went to the Variety Playhouse to see his band and their show Saturday night. He is the producer for Outformation. It is different music than I usually listen to, but it was so good to see him, and see him doing what he loves to do!

We ended the weekend at First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Wow! What a church. As we were walking up, my mama said, "Somebody has gotten a hold of God". What a gorgeous, and BIG church. We were greeted and embraced by several people as if we had been members for years! It was so obvious that these people were there to worship our God, not just for a concert! They were hosting cd and dvd recording for Travis Cottrell. Beth Moore was also a guest. Yall, it was powerful! The anointing of the Holy Spirit was there! God has anointed Travis and his praise team with a gift of authentic worship. Such a sweet time to praise our Creator with my family!

I will close with a picture of me and my mama laughing our behinds off. We pretty much laughed all weekend, and it felt so good. We planned this trip for my mama at Christmas time. She lost her mother on Thanksgiving day. Mama Mama is what we called her, and the great grandchildren called her Great Mama. She was a wonderful woman, and taught all of us so much about life, love, and how to be a lady! We wanted to ease my mama's grief and just have fun this weekend. It was just that! These three woman are so important to me, I was am grateful for who they are to me, and how they all challenge me to be the best I can be

Isaiah 51:11

"The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

Proverbs 15:13a

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful"

Hot-Lanta Here We Come!

2009-01-23T08:34:00.001-08:00

I am headed to Atlanta this weekend with my mama, Sally and Crystal. We are going to have a fun girls weekend with lots of going out to eat and shopping! I am looking most forward to attending the live recording of Travis Cottrell and the First Baptist Church of Woodstock on Sunday night! I can't wait!!!!!

2 Timothy 1:7

2009-01-15T04:39:00.000-08:00

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."NIV

This is my second scripture memory verse for the year. I recently heard this translation: "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind." I am not sure what translation this is, but I just love it. Praise God for this. In a world that is full of chaos and confusion we can hold onto this truth from our creator.

Last weekend, I attended a Lysa Terkeurst conference with my bible study group. She taught on this verse, and it was really good. The bible study that we did before her conference was What Happens When Women Say Yes To God.

Thank you Jesus for giving me a spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind. Lord, help me to use these three things to bring you glory, and to advance your kingdom. You don't give us these things so that we can store them away in our hearts for us to keep all to ourselves. I don't want to waste anything that you give me.

Baby Dolls and Adirondacks

2009-01-08T04:06:00.000-08:00

My mama gave Sophie her first baby doll for christmas, with a mathcing outfit! She walks around the house saying "baby" in the sweetest, little high pitch voice. Another funny thing she is doing right now is calling me Becky! We don't know where that came from. She still calls me mama, but she will walk around saying Becky over and over. She cracks us up!

I love this picture. It is almost impossible to take her picture, because when she sees the camera she starts running straight towards me to get the camera.

My husband's sweet Uncle Drew made Sophie her own Adirondack chair. We can't wait to take it to the beach with us and see how precious she will be!

I could never imagine what life would be like as a mama. The past 14 months have been filled with more laughter, more tears, and more love I can wrap my brain around. I love you Sophie Pie.

Kiss the Bride

2009-01-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

I have owned and operated a bridal shop for six years. August of 2008 marked the beginning of my seventh year. Kiss the Bride will be closing our doors. After I had Sophie, my hearts desire was to be a stay at home mama. The first year of her life flew by so fast, I just knew I couldn't miss any more time at home with her. Many months of praying and trying to figure out what to do with the shop, we have come to the decision to close. I have the most incredible peace about it. At first, this was not the answer I was hoping for when we were praying. But God is so good. He is directing our steps, and I don't have one ounce of anxiety of stress about the logistics of closing. This is odd, because for six and a half years I have been filled with more anxiety and worry than I would like to admit. I had a dream and a vision for Kiss the Bride. With my parents hard work and support, my dream became a reality for me. There have been great things, hard lessons, laughter, tears, fun trips to New York, late nights, stressful deadlines, just to name a few.

I don't really know if it was God's will for me to open Kiss the Bride. Honestly, at that time in my life, I was a Christian, but I was dead in Christ. Does this make sense? Looking back, all of the hardships and questions I had these six years were a direct result of the Lord not being my source of strength. Sure, I prayed for Him to come through in certain situations, and He did! That is no surprise. God's amazing grace was all over me, even when I was not "all over Him"! That is what cuts to my core so often. There have been plenty of times that God was an after thought of mine. I never considered how my actions or decisions would make my Jesus so sad. I went about my days oblivious to what God's will was for my life. D.E.A.D. How did I survive using my own judgement? Praise God for new beginnings.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I praise you Almighty God for saving me. You have captured my heart. I choose to walk in your truth, and your light. I thank you for the peace you have poured out on my life today. I thank you for your provision, guidance, and the joy you have given me in this decision. I ask you to continue to lead me through the final days of Kiss the Bride.

Psalm 21:1-7
1O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give!

2You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips.

3You welcomed him with rich blessings and place a crown of pure gold on his head.

4He asked you for life and you gave it to him-length of days forever and ever.

5Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

6Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

7For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T11:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! We had a very quiet New Year's eve. I think we were all asleep by 10:00!! I am starting this year off with a commitment to memorize two scriptures a month. I am joining everyone one at LPM. Beth Moore explains how it works in detail on their blog. My first verse is:

1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe him and are filled with and inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of you faith, the salvation of your souls.

I am believing God for a wonderful 2009. I pray "'inexpressible and glorious joy" over my family. I thank Jesus for his unchanging love, and for the salvation of my soul. What more could we ask for? Lord Jesus, I pray that I want more and more of you in my life. I pray that I stay desperate for your word to be in me, so that I may know you better. Show me your way Father, and I will follow you.