Monday, December 19, 2011

Happy Birthday Ashlyn!



15 years have flown by since we had our precious girl. What a blessing she has been since the day we brought her home! To say she brings us joy is an understatement. There is a love of life in her that radiates to all around her. She is beautiful on the inside and out.






Some of my favorite things about Ashlyn are:

1. She is so kind-hearted.

2. She is so loving.

3. She is caring.

4. She is helpful.

5. She is silly.

6. She is so fun to be around.




7. She is forgiving.

8. She is a leader.

9. She is outgoing.

10. I love that she is such a people person. I love that she doesn't give up on others and she believes the best in those around her. I love that she enjoys life and laughing and being around those she loves.

Most of all I love that she is a Christian and not afraid to share her belief or stand up for things that are right. I pray for her daily. I pray she will continue to follow God and trust in his guidance and path that He has prepared for her. I pray for God's protection on her and that she won't lose her love of life and others because of people that chip away at those qualities in her. I pray she stands strong and remembers always who she is in Christ!




There are many things I can learn from her!

Thank you God for blessing me with this wonderful gift. May I be the mom to her that you intend for me!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

What We've Been Up to Lately

Well, it has been a few months since I've been here. It's been a whirlwind of activity since my last post. Here are a few pics to update the last few months.



We enjoyed a great trip to Marble Falls with family.



Another fun trip to South Padre.



Our girl's first Homecoming.



We enjoyed watching Reece play Optimist football again this year.




Keith and I had a fantastic trip to Napa. I'll post more about that later. Maybe since it's my favorite time of year, I will be more inspired to post!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Missing her so much!! Especially this week before Mother's Day! I love you Mom!!


Thursday, April 28, 2011

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

I gave my last TAKS test this week!!

My son is finished with his TAKS tests!

My daughter has one more TAKS test and then finished! See the pattern: ENOUGH of the TAKS!!!!!

My daughter made the STARS (the dance team she tried out for)
I'm so thankful for all the support from family and friends through the "try out" process! (STRESS)

The weather has been gorgeous!

Great work team that supports each other through the stress of the TAKS test.

My students worked so hard!

The biggest thing I'm thankful for is this:


My little family!! Today is Keith's birthday and we are celebrating with dinner and his favorite cake!! This is a picture of us from last year at his 40th birthday. I love celebrating birthdays!! The kids have grown so much! Time is flying...I'm so thankful that God has shown me to slow down, enjoy the little moments!

I'm thankful God gave me the perfect man for me! Happy Birthday Keith!!!!



This is us in Colorado this past summer!




Any time I think of things I'm thankful for, these three are on top of the list!

What a HUGE blessing they are to me!!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Every time I see this, I smile...

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter 2011

What a blessed day! It started out early with the kids looking at their Easter baskets...okay this year, it was actually bags: Bath and Body Works for Ashlyn and Abercrombie for Reece. It was filled with some of their favorite things! With the kids ages, this year was quite different than usual, but great!

We church hopped this morning to participate in several worship services and to see one of my friend's son get baptized. What a beautiful event on Easter.

One of the best reminders I heard today: What will I do with the "cross" tomorrow as I go about my regular day?

We spent Easter day at my nephew's house with lots of food, laughter, our annual egg hunt, egg toss, and relay race. It's always such a great day! I love watching all the kids race around for the eggs and hearing everyone scream when eggs bust open during the relay. It just makes me smile. The only down side...my sweet hubby had to work! I missed him! I missed my mom today too! She loved Easter too.

Here are a few pics from the day:




These two kids are such a blessing to me!! They keep our life so full and remind me how lucky I am to be their mom!



The trash bags to "protect" us during the egg toss was brilliant!! If only we would have stayed in the competition longer.






This one makes me laugh!! My sister got splattered when she caught the egg and it broke. I love the face she is making!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Marriage Monday

Here's a few things that are on my mind to share today:

I've been listening to my nephew teach the past Sundays on Ephesians and I love all God has been showing me. You know how you can hear or read the same scripture repeatedly and then one day God shows you something new or you finally "get it"? Well, that seems to be happening to me a lot over the past months. So, to do with marriage, this is what I've been focusing on and some points my nephew made:

1. We can show the world Christ and His church through our husband/wife relationship.

2. The Bible says: Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is also the head of the church. (Eph. 5:22-23) and later in vs. 33 it also says the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Many wives hear the word submit and think something negative. It sounds like an ugly word to some. That is not what it should be. Submitting to your husband does not mean being his slave, but rather remembering his role and putting him first. Remember he is the spiritual leader of the house.

Some times this is hard for me because of our personalities. Keith is passive and I'm more of a take charge person. I've had to let go of some of that and give Keith the chance to lead. Although I struggle with this at times, I know it is God's plan and I know Keith is capable of leading our family well. So, I try to slow down and intentionally pay attention to my comments or actions and make sure I give Keith his chance to lead. After all, he is more than capable! It makes such a big difference when I do this!

The Bible also says that we are to respect our husbands. There is a lot that can be said about this subject, but I will share something that is very important to me and in our marriage. I do not put my husband down to other people or in front of him to other people. I encourage him and I compliment him. Who doesn't like to receive a sincere compliment? What a difference this can make in your marriage ladies!

Love plays itself out daily in many different choices that we make throughout the day. Will I pick up the socks without griping? Will I ignore a certain comment? Will I compliment him even when I don't "feel" like it? Let's remember love is not a feeling. Love is action.

I've read this statement and thought about it many times over the years: What is it like to live with me? Hmmm, I would hope that most times it is pleasant. I want my husband to be in a hurry to get home to see us. I don't want him to have the desire to be away from home, but to look forward to arriving at home each day. It's made me look at how I greet him, how I act, what I say. Even though some days I am exhausted, I bite my tongue and don't "list out all I've done for the day!!" He works and does a lot around the house as well! I encourage you to make your house a fun, relaxing, peaceful place to be. Notice how you respond to your husband when he arrives at the end of the day. Is there something you need to adjust?

This is a picture of us out to dinner with some of our friends! I love the smile he has on his face. I typically drive him crazy taking pictures, but he's a good sport. I am blessed!