Beating the Heat!

Playing in the sprinkler on a hot sunny day...

I think she had more fun draging the water hose all over the yard and filling up her bucket full of water and then dumping it down her belly :-).

Asher trying to stay cool in the only shade spot!

An Ordinary Day...Just a Swinging

Asher 9 months...first time in the swing
Amesley 9 months...first time in the swing
Growing FAST...Amesley 32.5 months

Asher 9 months

Amesley 9 months

Growing FAST...Amesley 32.5 months

We can get so busy in the "ordinary day". That we fail to see THIS is what life is all about...enjoying the blessings God has given us and glorying in Our Great Lord and Savior.

This video blessed me, and helps serve as a reminder of the "ordinary moments" that make up our lives and how we should treasure them now before they are memories of bygone days. Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olSyCLJU3O0&sns=em

A friend of mine sent me this excerpt from the The Flourishing Mother Blog(http://flourishingmother.blogspot.com/) awhile back and it is a great reminder to remember what is important in life. See excerpt below:

I can serve all the healthy and organic food to my kiddos I can possibly serve, but if I have not love I am "a clanging symbol."

I can preach "mini-sermons" to my kids when they "mess up" every. single. time. --but if I have not love I am "a clanging symbol."

I can home school my children, keep a clean house for them, and read the Bible to them every day--but if I have not love I am "a clanging symbol."

Instead of condemnation...choose grace.

Instead of control...grace.

Instead of rules, choose relationship....grace.

In all things...grace.

This is my prayer:

Lord may I remember...I love because you first loved me

Lord may I remember...life is but a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow

Lord may I remember...to glory in my Redeemer, who paid it all at Calvary.

Lord may I remember...to rejoice in all, I say it again REJOICE!

Lord may I remember...to soak up all these precious times.

9 Months with the Doggie

Crawling Away...

Meeting Great Me-maw Irby

Lots of new things going on this month...

• second tooth is in
• tasting finger foods like cheerios and Puffs
• took a 12.5 hour car trip to Atlanta, GA for Cousin Courtney's Wedding
• Met lots of new family...Me-maw Irby, Uncle Allen, Aunt Ginny, Cousin Eric, Cousin Courtney and Cousin Adam
• Jibber jabbering all the time and making boy noises like a bear "growling" and a car "motor"
• Crawling everywhere! When you are crawling you make a whistling noise :-)
• You are 17 lbs 9 oz and 27.5 inches long. You are wearing a size 6-9 month.
• You love to make a "fish face"
• You love to be held by mommy and now when you want Mommy to hold you - you come crying and crawling to my feet to be picked up.
  
  
  

We are going to miss you Abby...

Christmas 2009
Amesley and Abby 2008

Christmas 2005

Mom and Abby

Dad and Abby

Abby passed away June 6, 2010 at the age of 8.5 years. Up until about 10 days earlier she had been a healthy dog. She went into the vet on May 27th after vomiting all night. The vet thought she had pancreatitis. On Friday, a specialist was called in to perform an ultrasound; however, all the test run on her were inconclusive. Her platelet counts were very low which may have indicated a possible lymphoma.

We have lots of memories with Abby over the course of the passed 8.5 years. The last few days have been tearful. We have been remembering all of our great memories with our "bruiser" as we called her. We will greatly miss Abby...

• sitting on the couch with me as I do my bible study


• laying under the desk at night as we work on our computers


• scooting on her belly across the floor


• running to the kitchen at the sound of a cereal bag opening or the refrigerator opening
  
• barking at the trash bag as Wayne shakes it to put it in the trash can
  
• chasing squirrels in the back yard

• dodging "landmines" in the back yard:-)

• sunbathing in the window or at the storm door


• greeting us at the door as we arrive home


• watching out the storm door as we go out to get the mail


• barking at the doorbell or the people who walk by


• waiting at the kids door as we lay them down to bed


• cleaning the floors under the kidos seats :-)


• squeezing between the cabinet and my legs as I cook to make sure nothing falls on the floor


• squeaking a toy as if to say "let's play"


• playing chase around and around the couch

• giving you your weekly "Tuesday Bath"
  
• running after "tissue paper balls" at birthday parties and Christmas

• snoring and making noises in her kennel beside our bed at night
  
  
  WE LOVE YOU ABBY!!!!!!
  

It's OFFICIAL...Asher is moblie!

Mom, you better put on your running shoes. Now we have two busy bees :-) Asher started crawling all over today! Prior to today he would crawl 1-2 feet and then flatten out on his belly...now he is going from one room to another!

Amesley's First Hair Cut

Before the Cut

Getting it cut!

The Finished Do

After the Cut!

Amesley got her FIRST hair cut yesterday. We went to a place called Pigtails and Crew cuts. As you can see in the picture, she was able to select if she wanted to sit in a firetruck, police car, plane or a taxi while she got her hair cut. Amesley was very still and quiet during the hair cut...this could have something to do with the sucker in her mouth :-)

Happy Mother's Day!

Remebering the years we prayed that God would give us children- and praying I will never forget those years of waiting on the Lord. Thank you, Lord for THE MESSAGE COLIN SMITH gave, which provided a precious reminder of learning to wait.

He said:
"If there is one thing in your life that you particularly long for and it is not yet there and may never be there. That more than anything else is the place where you can demonstrate that you Love God for God and not just God for His gifts. In the abundance of what God has given to you, take the one thing you long for the most and offer it to Him as worship and it will transform disappointment into praise. It will make a great change for the Glory of God at a deep place in your life."

I thank God for the sweet blessings He has given us, in Amesley and Asher. I am a living example of this verse "He makes the barren woman abide in the house, As a... joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!" (Psalm 113:9) Thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow! Thank you Lord for shaping me into your image through trails...may I find great joy in trails of life!