Joplin

So Chad and I had the opportunity to spend a day helping Joplin. It was a heartbreaking experience buy we feel so blessed to have been apart of the love that was shown to each other by the Christians we worked with. We heard heartbreaking stories that brought us to tears and when we got home the couch Harry peed on, the broken dryer, and the short circuit iron weren't so tragic. We did not take many pictures out of respect for the families. There were signs on homes that said "we arent a parade" " put down your camera and lend a hand" and " we arent a freak show quit taking pictures". We were with a man who kept doing it and it was so embarrassing. We were all wishing he would do more work and less photo ops! I cant imagine how violated these people feel about having their entire house thrown all over the town! Here is Academy Sports and Home Depot. You can get more pics online but pictures don't do it justice. It is like looking into a peep hole really!


Thanks a ton to our in-laws who sacrificed their time to watch our little ones so we could go help. We also loved that Hannah and Tyler came up to help!! Oh an if you get an opportunity to listen to Obamas speech..do. I thought the timing and wording was impeccable. It takes a village! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Park Date

Great playdate with the Hicks on Friday. Donuts first!!





Lindsey would drop flowers off te bridge and Harry would go find them.


GK wanted to be apart of it too.


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iPhone Catch Up Again

Chad spent the weekend fishing with the guys and some of us girls went out for dinner!! Good times!!


Chad got back and we hit the parks!





Sunday night was spent in and out of our closet. It started fun but got exhausting after the kids were asleep and we kept waking them up.


We love Face chatting!!








I am so engaged with the Joplin tragedy. I am hoping to spend Saturday spending it there working with the victims. We will see. I just can't imagine the uncertainty and fear these people must be going through. Prayers and love to those in Joplin.
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Truffles and Rainbows

So, Harry and I have been talking about how we need to reach out to the widows because the Bible tells us to.  He has kind of been obsessed with it and so I asked him what he wanted to do for them.  His first response was to give them toys.  After a bit of manipulating he decided on making them truffles and rainbows.  He is good at making both! We are calling it his own little ministry.

 These things are just too good to be so healthy.  I got the recipe from my friend Kim.  They are raw, no sugar added goodness! 

 Georiga Kelley wanted to paint some!

We put the truffles in little bags(no pic) with bows and wrote them notes on the rainbow pictures. Ms. Aileen was our first stop!  We gave her a plant too..she is extra special to us.  Harry kept asking why she had three beds if she was lonely...I am kind of hoping she didn't hear that last part.  She was embarrassed for being in her pjs, and I said, "I would be in mine too if Harry would let me stay home." Later in the car he said, "Of course I would let you wear your pajamas all day."  I thought it was sweet he waited to tell me that comment.  Great manners these days!

Our next trip was to a local nursing home, we had a list and we were prepared to visit four women there. Well, come to find out all four were either dead or the church list was wrong because they didn't live there.  Here are the kids hanging out at the nurses station.  We tried. We have another group to visit next week.  We will see if it works out. Georgia Kelley is trying to get the straw in her mouth...not crying. 

Week Catch Up

This week started a busy work week for me. I love my job and I am very passionate about what I teach so I am excited about it. I have had some other highlights with the workload too!! Spa morning with my pal Amy! We got the best massages ever!! It was a wonderful start to my day and week!!


Thursday I went to lunch with three of my favorite girls from church!! We are all passionate about our women's ministry and hanging with them is very refreshing and rewarding.


-I saw this on Pandora and I am thrilled!! I love Blessed Union of Souls and they have a Christian album!! good stuff!!


I took the kids tongue square this morning and we were there for hours!! It was a blast!! The Farmer's market had grown and they were having a reopening of the Wal-mart visitors center. Kids loved it!! We also hit the splash park!!


I am counting my blessing today.
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iPhone Kid Friends

Harry with is best friend Maddox. Reece is also a new favorite pal!!


-GK and Ellie playing at the park while the guys jumped the fence to get the cars!! The path was flooded.


Harry with his best friend Jake giving brynlee hugs!!


Layla may be the most precious thing ever!! She helped Harry push his bike!!


Harry loved going to lunch with the Faubus clan. Their mom sent me this pic!


Playmate with Ms Ellie again!! Fun times!!


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iPhone Mother's Day

My present from Georgia Kelley!! Such a sweet girl!!


Harry's class had. Mother's Day Tea with sweet surprises!!





Song time!! Chad was proud Harry is the tallest in his class.


How cute is this apron???


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Harryisms

It has been a long time!  We have to update:
So we are having some interesting comments from some of the girl's moms from his school.  His teacher's said there is a "Harry Fan Club" and he loves it!  I was walking into school very late and a little girl was leaving with her mom, she said, "Mom, I don't want to leave, I will miss Harry so much." Her mom told her she could write him a letteer.  I asked if there were any other Harry's in the school...none!  I was walking Harry to the playground to pick up GK one day early and we were beside a line of girls who were all saying, "Look there is Harry with his mommy." Harry stood behind me and said, "those are the girls who want to marry me".  As soon as we hit the doors to go outside, HArry sprints as fast as he can to GK and hugs her! He knew he had an audience!

He is in a very sweet stage.  He tells me and Georgia Kelley we look cute or pretty every day!  He also helps me decide what to wear sometimes!
On the way to school he said, "Mom, don't you think we should count our blessings?"  If I am annoyed he will say, "mom what are you grateful for?" 
There are so many more, I think off all the time and I am blank! I need to write these things down so much more!



Here is his interview:

What is your favorite color? blue
What is your favorite sport? basketball
Who is your favorite friend? Austin'
What is your favorite thing to do?  Play with mommy
Whose house do you like to go to?  Jakes
Do you have a girlfriend?  No
What is your favorite thing for mommy to put in your lunch?   bananas
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? muffin
What is your favorite thing to wear? shorts and t-shirt
What is your favorite thing to play outside?  slide
What is your favorite drink?  lemonade
What is your favorite thing to do with daddy?  jump on trampoline
What is your favorite thing to do with mommy? make you feel pretty (okay seriously sweetest thing ever)  he also said I need to put a dress on and paint my toe nails and my finger nails then i got a put make up on my eyes and lips, then i gotta necklace and bracelett, that is how i get pretty
What is your favorite thing to do with Georgia Kelley? make her hug me
What is your favorite thing to do with Coco? paint some eggs for me
What is your favorite thing to do with Mimi? play with her on the playground
What is your favorite thing to do with Bobo?  play outside
What is your favorite thing to do with Papa?  gets movies for me
What is your favorite thing to do with Hannah?  take her to jail
What is your favorite thing to do with Tyler? take him to jail
What is your favorite thing to do with Emily? play with her, superheroes
What is your favorite present? batman toy
What is your favorite book? Pirate books
What is your favorite TV show? Pokemon Rate G(yes he said that last part)
What is your favorite movie? DAvid and Goliath (thanks ANnie)
What is your favorite Bible story? God
What would you ask God if you could ask him anything?  I'll pray for you everyday
What do you want to be when you grow up?  a pirate, a good one
How will you get to work? a blue car
What do you not like to do? i like to do what i want to do but you say i can't do
Do you get in trouble? yeah, when i hurt Georgia Kelley

Last Game with Coach

Who loves soccer?  We do! I mean we LOVE IT! The whole family!  Harry seems love it and Georgia Kelley is dying to get out on the field!  Chad can't stay off the field either! HA!

 Chad is out of town for Harry's last game, so I thought this was as big one!  He will be in a different age bracket next year!  So sad!

 Aunt Hannah and Uncle Tyler drove in Saturday morning from LR to watch him play!  Are the not the best?

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She acts so so sweet but as I write this she is doing everything she can to hit the power key on this computer!  Oh dear!

Getting Real

I have used this blog to brag on my family, share my thoughts, share my life adventures, and today i want to share with you my faith. I know my few readers know I love God and strive to live by Biblical principals but, I want to share what has gotten me to the point to want to be a God chaser. So it is no surprise to anyone who knows me that I struggle with bridling my tongue. I say things that should not have been verbalized and end up apologizing to someone on a weekly basis for saying something that should have been left unsaid. On another side God has given me the spirit of being bold. I don't practice it near as often as I should but I am getting more confident speaking truth. Do I wish I was quieter kinder softer and more passive ....yes I do! Is God teaching me when to use my gifts more?? Yes he is!! I learned at the age of 16 that I wanted to follow Christ. In the last 15 years I have had a roller coaster of a time finding my path and needless to say the jumping on and off the fence has given me a spiritual workout!! I struggled in college the most. I will always say the best gift my parents gave me was the freedom to spend my three summers on the mission field. No, not overseas or cool places to add to my travel list(I did that too) but, at a campbin AR that served kids who came from all over and mainly from foster homes. It was what I loved the most about college. The pouring of all my energy love and knowledge of Christ into teens. I got to see God's hand at work and seeing Him change lives was filling. I built relationships with peers who loved God and walked the walk of serving the Lord humbly without any entitlement. I would go back to school and struggled with "friends" who thought I was too out there. I won't go into detail but it was hard for me to carry out my hearts desire in a place that felt so judged. Praise God I lived with girls who loved me and supported my active need not only talk about Christ's will for our lives but peruse it. Now I want to fast forward to me with Chad! I married the perfect spirituAl partner!! He loves my testimony(not posting that just yet) and respects my desire to be active in faith. He is open minded and has a huge heart to serve and grow in Christs knowledge! He is wise and full of integrity. I am very opinionated and  talking about God is very much apart of my daily life. The sad part is I don't feel like I can talk about God's activeness in my life with people who are closest to me. I mean family. I am not very close to anyone who I can't speak about His truths with. I believe the people love God and some are very active in their churches but when I converse with them I don't get the impression I want. With that said I crave to be around Godly people. I especially crave the ones who make every field a mission to serve Christ. I am disgusted by greed, self righteousness, selfishness and the chase for the "American dream" or worldly norms. I say those things because I know I struggle with them too. I try really hard to not judge motives but I am disgusted by hypocritical Christians who chase worldly pleasures.... I am sure these emotions strike because I see the same sin in my own life!! I hope the readers who read this and see me not living out Christ will kindly tell me so I can change. I mean it! I would take a Christian sharing their insight of my lifestyle in love more than I would just thinking about it! There is your open door...I will respect your perspective. I will say God has blessed me with very wise women who I seek counsel with and time with weekly. I had some couples in college who constantly filled me with truth that I still remember and live by. Chad and I had phenomenal marriage counseling that has saved us some sleepless nights. My closest relationships are with women at church who live Godly lives and spend time with me that I savor weekly. Another outlet I use to be encouraged by is women from other churches who love the Lord! These women have shared their wisdom with me through Bible studies, books, and Podcasts!! Chad and I are loving our Podcasts. It can be very easy to get stuck with one perspective and miss out on hearing God's message. Another blessing from God to bring me to where I am now is the Biblical principles that my parents were raised on and i inherited. I love how God's Word has all my answers and every time I realize that I fall more in love with it. Billy Graham said( I am paraphrasing) if you offered me a plate of crumbs and I just ate a steak I would say no thanks. The same with Christ. If I am filled with Christ then I am not going to want the sin. The discipline and sacrifice of self have been the hardest part in getting over the fence and on the path God wants me on. Praise Him for putting people in my life who have spoken truth to me even if I didn't feel ready for it. I have to note that God has given me great Christian friends and even more than that he has given me spiritual friends.  I have one who I talk to daily and every day it is how God is working in our lives and what his will is for our mission.  We both feel a passion for women's ministry....one I don't think either of us saw coming!  I have had a blast with it!  Chad said it and I think he may be on to something, my life experiences and love for learning and teaching has brought me to this calling.  I don't believe I am wise or insightful but, I love studying God's word.  I love watching God move in people's lives. I got really bitter during and after college with the whole let's talk and do God's will at church but, when we are away from the "saints" let's just be "normal".  I fell victim to it at times and hate it at the same time.  Is that saying I hate myself.  No! It is saying I hate the sin. I hate the sin that is in me. I have learned that God is enough.  Did I want a new home, closer to town, a bit bigger, a bit prettier...yes...has God shown me that his will is enough and I don't "need" a new home! YES! That is a story all in itself!  Do I sometimes wish I went to a more dynamic church that had  more opportunities for my kids...yes but, God is enough! He has called me to be where I am and that is enough!   He is enough! I don't have a desire to hunt for new friends because, what I have is enough and the blessings he has given me are enough.  Now, will he put new friends in my life and take others out....absolutely! Will we move to a bit nicer house, I am sure of it, but I am content with where I am now, with my career, my family, my belongings, plans, and friends. God is enough and to want more is sinful to me.  What I do want more of is His word and a closer relationship with him. I've been called according to his will. I am grateful God put a desire in my heart to seek him and freed me from the yucky sins that still haunt me. I hope you can now understand me a bit better and understand my purpose is God's purpose.

Ezekial 16:44 "...will quote this about you..."

'Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: "Like mother, like daughter." Ezekial 16:44

I love this quote because it is so me and my mom!  I love it!  I had the best Mother's Day! Chad did a great job of making me feel very special and so did Harry!  Georgia Kelley didn't get the memo!  I really wanted to get a good pic of the kids before church since we missed them with their Easter outfits and I just wanted a good one...no real reason! It did not go my way because Georgia Kelley wans't having it! Any where the lighting was good...she would not stay!  When asked for a pic of the kids with me....she ran off...see the pic below!

 Here is a real genuine smile...

 Harry went straight to being sweet mode and of course Georgia Kelley...not in the mood!

Could this be part of the verse? Am I this stubborn?

 Oh...but she sure does love her daddy!

 What a sweet boy I have! I just love him to pieces...being my kids mom is the best gift ever!

 My mom and sister met us for a fantastic service at church and we headed to the Wares for a lunch to celebrate Grandma's birthday and Mother's Day!

 Once again...my kids are not interested!

 We all jumped in to help get lunch rolling!  It was superb as always! Big Harry can get his cook on!

 Sandy got a Rick's cake!  It was an indulgence! Yes, I broke my cleanse for this!

 I must say my favorite treat was getting to shop with my mom and sister! Emily is moving in a couple of weeks and I know these days together are short! We had the best time! I didn't want it to end! Emily got me stocked up for summer with new gear!  She is a great stylist!  Being with my mom was the best too!  Oh how we laugh!  They left after eight for a pretty good drive home! I am eager for them to come back!  I am so blessed by them! I know Georgia Kelley will fit right into our beloved bond!