tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49463811328434786132024-03-05T05:49:44.153-06:00In the Army of the Living GodTrain yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for ALL things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-74523275680441541522011-10-20T15:17:00.006-05:002011-10-20T15:37:17.303-05:00If Love Could Have Saved you, You Would Have Lived Forever<p>Once upon a time, a wonderful gift was given to me—a boxer pup, the pick of the litter, and we called him Clay. He soon became the “smartest” and “most well mannered” and “prettiest” dog that ever was. In fact, we joked that he could do no wrong in Mom & Dad’s eyes. And to be honest, I guess he didn’t! Mom told me that she can still remember exactly how he looked when he was set down before her in the parking lot the day they picked him up. She called it “love at first sight” saying, “I knew he was going to be cute—but I didn’t know he’d be THIS cute!” </p><br /><br /><p>And he was…the cutest little thing :)<br /></p><br /><br /><p><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9581" border="0" alt="IMG_9581" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oT1tQRwJeOw/TqCBZz4WovI/AAAAAAAAC_k/1Pwkpj5n52s/IMG_9581_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="471" /></p><br /><br /><p>And curious… </p><br /><br /><p><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6ijfxmTJvIU/TqCBasfJpRI/AAAAAAAAC_s/j1LlJQeO9A0/s1600-h/IMG_9582%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9582" border="0" alt="IMG_9582" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VwJvZUU7XGY/TqCBbYMRZSI/AAAAAAAAC_0/DGjz4XvR-Yk/IMG_9582_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="473" height="317" /></a> </p><br /><br /><p>With the biggest “little” paws you’d ever seen… </p><br /><br /><p><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uXMl7BbUZqk/TqCBc9fpxrI/AAAAAAAAC_8/5Mcb1ekYvPM/s1600-h/IMG_9584%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9584" border="0" alt="IMG_9584" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D7HPs-olZsw/TqCBduKq1QI/AAAAAAAADAE/ma0AymLzYAM/IMG_9584_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="475" height="318" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P8U6vkiJhKo/TqCBeh-AbbI/AAAAAAAADAM/hCZktrF18-g/s1600-h/IMG_9591%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9591" border="0" alt="IMG_9591" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1aPZCdoKqFg/TqCBfX9Y73I/AAAAAAAADAU/779jg9fD-Tk/IMG_9591_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="472" height="316" /></a> </p><br /><br /><p>And he would look at you with such love…even if I was away at college and only got to see him for the weekend… </p><br /><br /><p><br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4tXCb_7BLWk/TqCBgrAgrWI/AAAAAAAADAc/Eez1GAD6zcE/s1600-h/IMG_9587%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9587" border="0" alt="IMG_9587" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T79u71yWhUk/TqCBhQK7xII/AAAAAAAADAk/6Or_SQdw6jU/IMG_9587_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="322" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DyvwVJI7nqg/TqCBi7X3O9I/AAAAAAAADAs/wHa--ZwWNxE/s1600-h/IMG_9599%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9599" border="0" alt="IMG_9599" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c8zd5ENSWKU/TqCBkHtZo6I/AAAAAAAADA0/tiB6NogI9qo/IMG_9599_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="479" height="321" /></a> </p><br /><br /><br /><p>He was so special. There are so many funny stories about him that there isn’t time to write about them all. Once he was stolen, went on a float trip and ended up in Missouri at at stranger’s house. After missing nine days I think it was, Dad was trying to prepare himself for the worst, but mom was not giving up. They drove in a storm a few hours and picked up their stolen dog and brought him home. Mom had a little flag pillow about the size of my fist that hung on a door knob inside our house. He LOVED that pillow. He would go get it off the knob and literally lay his head on it. She has pictures somewhere of that! But he really didn’t belong to me you see… </p><br /><br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHSw-JbF9cuQ1pyJjNthR9LbMWGid6mCeied3Ii-mRyQPi1c9GBqtGh5fmu8O3eaVxergpNYg-YSFIbfH0EGM89iq5zzEncEsy_G_yqzovGiHPLNjWDEFN4n5ujyVjBE856ffupeSABU/s1600-h/IMG_9602%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9602" border="0" alt="IMG_9602" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tPbU_AIcHVw/TqCBmDuVqKI/AAAAAAAADBE/iQG9k1guPwI/IMG_9602_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="322" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LtR-C4H5jDI/TqCBm8pMgbI/AAAAAAAADBM/aPUUxnWDqlc/s1600-h/IMG_9593%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9593" border="0" alt="IMG_9593" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oh5IYxvKJdA/TqCBnUtNbLI/AAAAAAAADBU/gjdgI59bsSs/IMG_9593_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" height="320" /></a> </p><br /><br /><br /><p>He was mom’s dog…she fed him twice a day (with a spoon a lot of times) and grew him into a 95 pound dog. She hauled him around and watched after him. He kept her company and he loved her company in return. </p><br /><br /><p><br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rBJlpqrNa7s/TqCBo10fEtI/AAAAAAAADBc/MHx3WU1zMbA/s1600-h/IMG_9618%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9618" border="0" alt="IMG_9618" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-apN0Ss26Iqs/TqCBpb1qDgI/AAAAAAAADBk/nsx8plzJIsw/IMG_9618_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="321" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gVf0wlZrI-s/TqCBrASm4tI/AAAAAAAADBs/De1ruk8T1ho/s1600-h/IMG_9614%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9614" border="0" alt="IMG_9614" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1VaRAy2KfMY/TqCBr39X5dI/AAAAAAAADB0/ER3xCTsTbqQ/IMG_9614_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="478" height="320" /></a> </p><br /><br /><br /><p>And he was Dad’s dog…He rode around in the jeep with Dad, sitting up so pretty and straight. He hung out in the shop and rode to Hop Rods in Cotter on Monday nights when Dad and his brothers were working on cars. He went to the river and went on walks. He was a true loyal companion.</p><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n8ZX8UxxsdI/TqCBt1scjqI/AAAAAAAADB8/BMf7kcXlAYQ/s1600-h/IMG_9613%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9613" border="0" alt="IMG_9613" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0-ng8pzyM6w/TqCBujESqQI/AAAAAAAADCE/-0nF53oUeD0/IMG_9613_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="478" height="320" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2l8sdKrC3w0/TqCBwMH6wcI/AAAAAAAADCM/HI6yvEpQLwU/s1600-h/IMG_9603%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9603" border="0" alt="IMG_9603" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HJgZXKCAo-0/TqCBw_3m7kI/AAAAAAAADCU/6wvQVpxlx7Q/IMG_9603_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="472" height="316" /></a><br />When I think about it, he was actually a gift to my parents…he was there waiting on the step when I got in my car and headed back to college after the weekend. He was there waiting when their girls were grown and moved away and they had an empty nest. He was there with Mom when Dad was traveling a lot. And as Dad experienced some of the toughest days he’d ever known at work over the last several years, Clay would be right there at Dad’s feet when he got home late of an evening, exhausted and bearing a heavy load. And whether he just laid there and watched Dad build a birdhouse or sat at his feet and brought comfort, his presence was soothing. He was the perfect gift for the season of life they were in. All of these pictures in this post were in his youth. He eventually turned gray and they learned a couple of weeks ago that he had an enlarged heart. They loved on him even more in the last few days because they knew they had just a short time. I’m so thankful I got to be home last weekend and see and feel him one last time. </p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AGvYVongtaM/TqCBxyl96OI/AAAAAAAADCc/0k7Lgo7ZnX4/s1600-h/IMG_9610%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_9610" border="0" alt="IMG_9610" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-j1UCkJCPrZc/TqCByctLlKI/AAAAAAAADCk/N6deYQlSm48/IMG_9610_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="475" height="318" /></a> </p><br /><br /><p>Last night about 10:30, he died peacefully. Mom and Dad were there with him, just like they always were. He would have been 10 next month. </p><br /><br /><p>Ten years of companionship. Ten years of love. Ten years of fun. Ten years he never wanted for anything. Ten years of giggles and grins and laughs that he brought us all.</p><br /><br /><p>He will be remembered only as the best, greatly missed and always loved.</p>In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-3501409072225049232011-08-29T20:57:00.005-05:002011-08-29T21:59:39.903-05:00How does this happen?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-7uFCWklmLP-BHdZChKyIfZLZP564D351y-BjaFDNagku-aaUJJs7tSvpO9moj79v3vl3sLEGbMcGRR_vUmTkwrJcec4PtBai6pYc7l7Fl0ulBJ4hrpruOQPUCXFZQicp7XHc0itlYg/s320/IMG_1231.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646468993224547186" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span>
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<br /></div></div></div>In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-73221263332948573562011-08-05T19:14:00.035-05:002011-08-29T22:01:08.987-05:00Born Again and Confidence in Christ<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFeEDu1PNE6JVs8gpsMwiK3WlPesPwFwC5KDk0FfSUwmveXZjKx2ORbLh0fFCMXO33E-g4wkuK8w9nR5dY-DeNAmPYGwnHYutJ7F0ao4eGZqu_F04XGEx5oRsjRYTEGlBytSF3yae68kU/s320/Jeryn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637543082955540530" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><div>Jeryn-Hebrew origin (Jaron) meaning "He will sing and cry out to the Lord" or "cry of rejoicing."</div><div>
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<br /></div><div>It seems like just yesterday that he was this size. This is one of my favorite baby pictures of Jeryn! It's so hard for me to believe that we recently celebrated his fourth birthday! </div><div>
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<br /></div><div>There are so many things I LOVE about this kid! This smile is one of them:</div><div>
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<br /></div><div>But if I had to pick one quality about him that stands out, I think it would be his confidence. The following picture captures a little of what I mean. This was the first time he ever played tennis, but he must have thought that he was Andre Agassi. </div><div>
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<br /></div><div>Even before he was born, I would pray for him to have confidence. I have always prayed specifically for him and his sister to be confident--I think it started out as a concern for them to be confident in their racial identity and not feel confusion about being multiracial. But then I realized that it is more important for them to be confident in the only thing that actually matters-their spiritual identity and to know and identify themselves as a child of the Most High God. And three days ago, Jeryn did just that. He placed his faith and trust in Jesus, asked Him into his heart and will be confident from this day forward in who he is in Christ Jesus! </div><div>
<br /></div><div>On August 2nd, in the car on the way home, he began asking me questions and a few minutes later said he wanted to ask Jesus in his heart. When I asked him to tell me why he wanted to do this, he said, "Because I know Jesus loves me SOOO much." I asked him if he knew what Jesus did for us, and what it meant. He knew that Jesus had died for our sins on a cross and that he rose from the dead. We continued to talk, but as we were about to pray, he got distracted by something else and started talking nonstop about that. I didn't push it because I knew it would come back up. The next morning on the way to work, he talked about it again. At that time, I asked him if he was ready to pray and he said yes! He was drinking orange juice, and I saw him put it in the cup holder and clench his little hands together to pray. I said a sinner's prayer out loud and he repeated every word. I can still see his smile when he opened his eyes back up. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I know he is young, but I also know that it is just that simple. We are sinners in need of a Savior, and his name is Jesus. (John 14:6, Romans 3:23-24, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-13) I'm not going to worry about how much he understands beyond what we talked about because we will just continue to pray for and encourage him in his walk. I was telling mom that nearly every night when we go to bed, he asks if we can talk about God. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I remember something I heard a pastor say once about never underestimating the power of a baby. He was preaching on parenting and praying over your children to fulfill God's purpose and shape their lives. He talked about a baby in the bulrushes, and a baby in the manger, and how we should look at our children to have the potential to be the next person God will use to accomplish his will. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>He is also very confident in what he has learned about God and for that I am so thankful! I want to share something that I have written down so that I will never forget. Back in May, we had a terrible accident with a rusty shovel at our house. They were playing in the dirt arena with a full size shovel they had found. I was standing just a few feet to the side of them, but it didn't actually register until it was too late. (I know that sounds ridiculous like "I didn't realize my kids were playing with a rattlesnake" but we were all laughing and talking and my brain just didn't make the connection) Moments later, little Jeryn was screaming and crying like I had never heard before, Jaiden was wailing, "It's all my fault! It's all my fault!" I was crying because I knew it could've been prevented. We rushed to the emergency room, and Jeryn did not quit screaming for 45 minutes. I was trying to console him but he was not letting up. I prayed out loud in the car all the way to the hospital. Three of his little fingers were cut right above the middle knuckles and two of the three were full thickness (thru all layers of the skin) The doctor assured us that the bones and tendons were in good shape and they got it cleaned up and sent us home. Bless his heart it was hurting so bad :( I put them in the bathtub and he was sitting, holding his hand up above his head so that it would not get near the water. He was crying off and on. I knew they were throbbing and I just couldn't bear it! Then, he got really still and started to sing. He sang the words from a song off a dvd (Joseph King of Dreams) that we had watched months earlier. How he knew the words, I do not know, because I didn't know them until he sang them, but I recognized the tune... <i>"You know better than I, you know the way, I don't have to know why, You know better than I."</i> He repeated that twice in the sweetest voice, and on the second time, he lowered his hand and held it under the water until his bandage had loosened up enough it fell off. I couldn't hold the tears back. (Psalm 8:2-"<i>From the lips of infants and children you have ordained praise"</i>) </div><div>
<br /></div><div>When I got him out of the bath tub, I wrapped him in a towel and carried him to Mario. Jeryn was still really quiet and still. While Mario was holding him, he sang those words again, and Mario and I were both just really moved. I got him dressed and laid down to go to bed with him, and I told him I wanted to pray for his fingers and also thank God that his fingers were going to be okay. He said, "Momma?" </div><div>"Yes?" I answered.</div><div>"When I was in the bathtub, my fingers were hurting, (and this is how I know it was the Lord working because I have NEVER heard him use this phrase before or since) <b>But in a snap, the pain was gone. God used his power and I KNEW IT." </b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>That's the confidence I love! :)</div><div><b>
<br /></b></div><div>I couldn't say anything, I just sobbed! Earlier that week he had learned about Jesus healing the man with leprosy and he was SO excited when he told me about it. I know in my heart that he just knew and believed that God would heal him too! Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:18, <i>"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,<b> and his incomparably great power for us who believe. </b> That power, he writes, is "like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms." </i></div><div>
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<br /></div><div>So Jeryn, </div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">vs. 35-</span> Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">vs. 36</span> You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">vs. 37</span> For in just a very little while, </div><div>"He who is coming will come and not delay. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">vs. 38</span> But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">vs. 39</span> But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." </div><div>
<br /></div><div>HEBREWS 10:35-39 </div><div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; visibility:visible; margin-right: auto; width:450px;">I love you, son. And I rejoice in your recent decision!
<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-45425936309254602102011-01-30T23:43:00.001-06:002011-01-30T23:59:22.461-06:00To Know Your Name<p>Last Sunday was awesome.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZLlh72IlI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/LiU4r3J-WXM/s1600-h/IMG_5928%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5928" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="391" alt="IMG_5928" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZLmGUO8bI/AAAAAAAAC4U/wDfb8McgA1U/IMG_5928_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>For the handful of people that follow my blog and it’s occasional postings, you  might remember reading about <a href="http://armyofthelivinggod.blogspot.com/2010/06/today-is-day-of-salvation.html">my daughter’s decision to accept Christ</a> last May.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZLnYDULpI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/vWlyl5KaTGE/s1600-h/IMG_5939%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5939" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="367" alt="IMG_5939" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZLn83XSaI/AAAAAAAAC4c/auuxswRQFCc/IMG_5939_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="257" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZLpP0DB3I/AAAAAAAAC4g/yeTnNvdR6tM/s1600-h/IMG_5941%5B10%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5941" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="369" alt="IMG_5941" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZLpoHQQoI/AAAAAAAAC4k/UtkRE3k4u1U/IMG_5941_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="267" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p>We knew that she was ready to be baptized, and Mario and I agreed to ask <a href="http://fbcflippin.blogspot.com/">Bro. Steve</a> to baptize her.  He is the pastor of the church I grew up in and baptized me, as well as many of my other family members over the years.  We later learned that my cousin’s little boy, Bryce, and another little boy, Carter, would also be baptized the same morning!  What a special day to share together!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZLysInHVI/AAAAAAAAC4o/ANJtaDsyB4o/s1600-h/IMG_5952%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5952" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="341" alt="IMG_5952" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZLy_UBCqI/AAAAAAAAC4s/xI4EkhGqAoA/IMG_5952_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" border="0" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZLz61vxMI/AAAAAAAAC4w/ItpiucI1Hic/s1600-h/IMG_5929%5B10%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5929" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="341" alt="IMG_5929" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL0XAssxI/AAAAAAAAC40/WTERqkBTb9Q/IMG_5929_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>My mom usually fills the baptistery at the church when there are baptisms, so she had the water good and warm! :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL1Gq0WgI/AAAAAAAAC44/eqS9NJRftLM/s1600-h/IMG_5949%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5949" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="IMG_5949" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL1ZnHMeI/AAAAAAAAC48/BAOFmqjBEz8/IMG_5949_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Bro. Steve met with the three kids to give them a few instructions:  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL1_p9A9I/AAAAAAAAC5A/pd80ElF3Y-8/s1600-h/IMG_5955%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5955" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="379" alt="IMG_5955" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL24kfG9I/AAAAAAAAC5E/mzbzfFX6jzU/IMG_5955_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="258" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>( I loved this one with their bare feet)</p> <p>Jaiden & her cousin, Bryce</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictMAviyz5n4uKEMKGDzv0zIQghVIElN7SJ-NEIO4SfmPl5AZlxO5GaT9bt2zUMbF6ZHZBp3gR-ACp6xGcp-fzUmMs6xmFdMoSgS0qlH-mIxQcC1Px8EMEL7ByzjTmc7bSmRJ_KdNMh7c/s1600-h/IMG_5956%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5956" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="177" alt="IMG_5956" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL3_NP-FI/AAAAAAAAC5M/rLuJj17HcUQ/IMG_5956_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Jaiden & Mrs. Judy, one of the sweetest women on earth…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL4UGyNMI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/LoPZJldNhVw/s1600-h/IMG_5959%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5959" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="369" alt="IMG_5959" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL4vRGTlI/AAAAAAAAC5U/1jPOpkmGNi0/IMG_5959_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="251" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Carter & Bryce…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL5RUbrrI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/QCxJn2wPjt8/s1600-h/IMG_5960%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5960" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="318" alt="IMG_5960" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL5sfVHcI/AAAAAAAAC5c/hsUhq08rNlA/IMG_5960_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="217" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL6K57lXI/AAAAAAAAC5g/v5xe2w1nb9I/s1600-h/IMG_5965%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5965" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="318" alt="IMG_5965" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL6mr9W7I/AAAAAAAAC5k/8Tl50MUxq68/IMG_5965_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="222" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Jaiden…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL7P3Sa1I/AAAAAAAAC5o/cPlKU2u9hhY/s1600-h/IMG_5968%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5968" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="320" alt="IMG_5968" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL7jz3ebI/AAAAAAAAC5s/hrvByADYceg/IMG_5968_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="222" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL8OWMQgI/AAAAAAAAC5w/MvpE-AKgzsc/s1600-h/IMG_5970%5B9%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5970" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="320" alt="IMG_5970" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL8RrKNCI/AAAAAAAAC50/mlBJSqVEILM/IMG_5970_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL9HLSa0I/AAAAAAAAC54/MelI0KmshHI/s1600-h/IMG_5971%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5971" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="381" alt="IMG_5971" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL9fOELaI/AAAAAAAAC58/bAFqPXJiWUo/IMG_5971_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL982qeRI/AAAAAAAAC6A/PBtHfJWujSA/s1600-h/IMG_5972%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5972" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="383" alt="IMG_5972" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL-eE_AbI/AAAAAAAAC6E/kw-mt2vH2XM/IMG_5972_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="261" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL-6K5awI/AAAAAAAAC6I/In-hti2qEPU/s1600-h/IMG_5973%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5973" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="481" alt="IMG_5973" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL_bFCSTI/AAAAAAAAC6M/M_HN91EtoSA/IMG_5973_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="327" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZL__QJXRI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/-r1PWd-sguM/s1600-h/IMG_5974%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5974" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="230" alt="IMG_5974" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFoCj0RjFagklXxCHs4caQryUVunQi31XjEzRSZ7v3mXULSwc4br2lJC8L7d9SsM9V0MfV1-KQJ1OT6X9KJT2StADeT8eSsopFL54eEQFcNtejs9iFa9vOVRpk7iT6GVJZnrTs3rYBsQ/?imgmax=800" width="330" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Mo & Jaiden…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZMA-e1tmI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/bNJ75XQrgFU/s1600-h/IMG_5975%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5975" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="223" alt="IMG_5975" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TUZMBCmiHzI/AAAAAAAAC6c/2t96i1k7Ku8/IMG_5975_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="327" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>I’ve thought for a week now about how to attempt to describe this special day, but I don’t know that I can!  Our hearts were overflowing with joy!  That’s something I’ve heard Mario’s mom call “full”…That night in the car Jaiden was singing “Amazing Grace.”  I hope I never forget the sound of her sweet little voice coming from the back seat.  It was pitch black around us as we drove, but her voice was so soft and sweet as she sang every single word.  I looked over at Mario and he looked at me…I could tell by the smile on his face, that his heart was “full” :) We pulled into the driveway at our house just a few moments later.  It was the perfect ending to an amazing day.</p> <p>Tonight as I write this, I think about a song that I love right now.  “To Know Your Name” by Hillsong.  It prompts me to think about not only her decision to follow Christ, but my own, and anyone else who has made such a decision.</p> <p><em>The <strong>precious blood of Jesus Christ redeems</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Forgiven</strong> I’m alive, restored, set free</em></p> <p><em>Your <strong>majesty resides inside of me</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Forever I believe</strong> Forever I believe</em></p> <p><em>Arrested by your <strong>truth</strong> and <strong>righteousness</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Your grace has overwhelmed</strong> my brokeness</em></p> <p><em><strong>Convicted by your Spirit, led by your Word</strong></em></p> <p><em>Your love will never fail<strong> Your love will never fail</strong></em></p> <p><em>And I know you gave </em></p> <p><em>The world your only Son for us</em></p> <p><em>To know your Name, to live within the Savior’s love</em></p> <p><em>And He took my place, knowing He’d be crucified</em></p> <p><em>And you loved, you loved… A people undeserving…</em></p> <p><strong>To my sweet Jaiden:</strong>  As hard as I try for my family, I will never do it all right.  In fact, I fail miserably pretty much on a daily basis.  But I’m so thankful for a God who does <strong>everything</strong> right.  For a God who has a perfect plan for your life.  For a God who knows you by name and knows the number of hairs on your head (Which is a lot by the way!) :) </p> <p>While raising children is an incredible blessing I’m so grateful to be a recipient of, it comes with great responsibility.  As much as I hope every decision I make for you is the right one, as much as I want to be an example, the truth is I don’t always know what’s best and I certainly don’t measure up to the example of Christ.  But He loves me anyway, and He will always always always love you. </p> <p>My prayer for you daily is that your heart will desire the things of God, and that you will serve Him wholeheartedly all the days of your life.  I began praying before you were even born for your confidence…for you to know and understand who you are in Christ Jesus above anything.  I thank God for answered prayers in your decision at an early age to follow Him.  I thank Him that you know whose you are.  </p> <p>And I will continue to pray that you will know and understand what He has done for you in order for you <em>to know His name</em>.  I will pray that you know <em><strong>“his majesty resides inside”</strong></em> of you, and that you would <em><strong>“forever believe”</strong></em> no matter what.  And although at your young age, you haven’t necessarily known “brokeness” as mentioned above, one day you will feel and understand this.  And I pray that in that moment, his <strong>“grace would overwhelm you</strong>.<strong>”</strong>  I pray that you will always be <strong>“convicted by His Spirit”</strong> and that your life always “<strong>led by the Word…”</strong> because <strong>“His love will never fail,”</strong> Jaiden.  Never. </p> <p>I love you dearly.</p> <p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:e1659347-2491-4fce-901e-12d4b144be0c" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/hnvlpNVQocw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/hnvlpNVQocw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div></div> </p> <p>(Sorry, you’ll have to scroll down and turn off the playlist to be able to hear this)</p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-56544813030340800872011-01-21T00:00:00.002-06:002011-01-21T17:27:42.664-06:00Someone Special for Stacie, 28 in AR!<p>So <a href="http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/">Kelly</a> is hosting <a href="http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/2011/01/show-us-your-life-show-us-your-singles.html">“Show us Your Singles”</a> at <a href="http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/">Kelly’s Korner</a> and although I did not ask for her permission, I have taken it upon myself to enter Stacie, my beautiful, and sweet first cousin. She is 18 days older than me :)</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TTkg5P6yVYI/AAAAAAAAC34/KJYpd14dHh0/s1600-h/stac%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="stac" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="210" alt="stac" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TTkg5ofKWGI/AAAAAAAAC38/DnlLBU4ji1M/stac_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="153" border="0" /></a> </p><p>I think it goes without of saying that she’s a gorgeous girl, so let’s get to the other stuff… She has a fun personality and is hilarious to be around, she will make you laugh a lot, but she also knows how to take the important things in life seriously. She makes friends easily, works hard and is very independent. She really loves the Lord and has been actively involved with her church her entire life. Her parents are wonderful people and she reminds me a lot of both of them. Here is a picture of her a few months ago on a mission trip with her church.</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TTkg6Ixb1FI/AAAAAAAAC4A/b80bL7Pn-8c/s1600-h/stac2%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="stac2" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="177" alt="stac2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TTkg6pp5A7I/AAAAAAAAC4E/-b3kb3Suo9Y/stac2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p><p>She loves the Razorbacks and pretty much all sports, especially NASCAR and has a big heart for people. She was recently elected for City Council and is respected among her peers. She was a cheerleader in high school and cheered me on at lots of basketball games! </p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TTkg7mFgclI/AAAAAAAAC4I/zXjXarmNb6I/s1600-h/stac3%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="stac3" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="266" alt="stac3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TTkg7zxL8WI/AAAAAAAAC4M/x7ziIf7BscI/stac3_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="150" border="0" /></a> </p><p>She has never been married, but I know that she will make a WONDERFUL wife and mother one day. Kelly has known Stacie pretty much forever, so you can always inquire for more info :)</p><p>Email me about her at <a href="mailto:mmj04@windstream.net">mmj04@windstream.net</a>!</p><p>Hope you’re not too mad at me , Stac!</p>In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-23023836412899069922010-10-02T14:43:00.001-05:002010-10-02T14:53:44.040-05:00Ma-aax Moving On…<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLEk2fHNI/AAAAAAAAC1w/R875bda0ySc/s1600-h/IMG_4371%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4371" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="254" alt="IMG_4371" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLFe-YogI/AAAAAAAAC10/1gGqy2G8s_E/IMG_4371_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>There comes a time in every goat owner’s life where they have to make a decision between passing a lovable pet on to a fellow goat lover and sweeping goat pellets (waste) off their back porch forevermore.</p> <p>We’ve “had our fun” with Max as my mom put it.  He was playful, fun, and downright hilarious.  He did, however, grow to be three times the size we expected, and as he grew and grew, he also became a little more aggressive.  He had gotten to where he would rear up on his hind legs and then come down and swoop his horns at the kids and it was making me a bit nervous.  Jaiden was strong enough to grab him by the horns and push him away, Jeryn on the other hand, was not big enough yet. </p> <p>We had told the kids that we were looking for Max a good home.  They seemed okay with it, but I had mixed feelings.  Our co-worker, Katie and her husband agreed to give Max a good home.  They had mentioned they wanted another goat, and Mario was quick to offer ours.  Not sure if she was completely serious,  I sent Katie the following picture in a text that said,</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLGi4BoRI/AAAAAAAAC14/dp46V3NJ5Oo/s1600-h/Maax%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Maax" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="191" alt="Maax" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLG8Xh3II/AAAAAAAAC18/7L1h7n27r6Y/Maax_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="146" border="0" /></a></p> <p>“Dear, Katie, I would like to come live with you starting tomorrow.  I’m an easy keeper, funny to watch and even know a few tricks.  Sincerely, Max “</p> <p>We waited, holding our breath, for the response.</p> <p>In a few seconds a text back said,” Lol that is so cute!!!! How can we resist that.”</p> <p>I texted back, “What time should I be there?  Are you serving dinner?”  </p> <p>The next text said, “Whenever you want to come, dinner will be waiting.”</p> <p>“Perfect!” I thought…Everybody wins here.</p> <p>Everyone was on the same page until right up till time to leave.  The kids all of a sudden didn’t want to give Max up, and as I petted him and he nibbled on my hair, I felt tears welling up in my eyes.  The kids were crying.  I was sniffling. Mario, on the other hand, couldn’t get him loaded fast  enough.  </p> <p>I thought about the night he showed up at our house with Matthew.  And how sick/weak he got, and how we nursed him back to health.  I thought about worried I was about him.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLHkBSpfI/AAAAAAAAC2A/mxqAVSJRSWE/s1600-h/IMG_4127%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4127" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_4127" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLIKE_TOI/AAAAAAAAC2I/i6CycWoOxH4/IMG_4127_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLIumB90I/AAAAAAAAC2M/eQsLydPrSNc/s1600-h/IMG_4202_15_1_1%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4202_15_1_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_4202_15_1_1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLJFy5TgI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/3QBZhUEQIDw/IMG_4202_15_1_1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>I thought about petol bismol on his lips.  And party hats on his head.  I thought about him on the table finishing off the barbeque at Jeryn’s party when we left the table.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLJxyf-tI/AAAAAAAAC2U/4zlIAGqrNjY/s1600-h/IMG_4233_23_1_1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4233_23_1_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="238" alt="IMG_4233_23_1_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLKKHMmPI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/e5sPic_0_64/IMG_4233_23_1_1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLLOTL8NI/AAAAAAAAC2c/vbuI_1lgboY/s1600-h/IMG_4473%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4473" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4473" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLLz_CanI/AAAAAAAAC2g/OVEN_2rKuPE/IMG_4473_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLMcRD-PI/AAAAAAAAC2k/r2H50on2_go/s1600-h/IMG_4482%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4482" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4482" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLMvC5IrI/AAAAAAAAC2o/ExEvQMjbI6I/IMG_4482_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLNXLDoSI/AAAAAAAAC2s/25F3hauq-DU/s1600-h/IMG_4466%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4466" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="351" alt="IMG_4466" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLN5jFLvI/AAAAAAAAC2w/BS5IRMrAZBw/IMG_4466_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="511" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>I thought about his little tricks and how he first played with the kids.  How he came to the arena with us to rope.  And how patient he was as Jeryn practiced his tying.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLP6JqkaI/AAAAAAAAC20/L5hnOSvty_o/s1600-h/IMG_4504%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4504" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_4504" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLQDUh3oI/AAAAAAAAC24/LAbFsEoNERc/IMG_4504_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLRGRt82I/AAAAAAAAC28/E8nnnT6KbTc/s1600-h/IMG_4370%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4370" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_4370" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLRg08zWI/AAAAAAAAC3A/L5So-MuXuAU/IMG_4370_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Then I thought about how disgusted we all were three weeks ago, the night we came home after a long hard day to find that the goat had spent the ENTIRE day in our house demolishing every square inch of it.  (Our dog has learned to turn the handle of our back door and open it if left unlocked.  Obviously, we left it unlocked that day.)  There were vases turned over, vases broken, indoor plants shredded, straw mats even MORE SHREDDED, trash cans tuned over…and a trail of goat pellets into every room.  Mario actually made it home before me that night.  He was mad at the dog for opening the door, but more mad at the goat for destroying that house I had stayed up till midnight cleaning.  He texted me saying, “Say a heart felt prayer for your dog and goat.”  I laughed, thinking, what in the world?  Another text told they had been in house all day.  I laughed again, thinking, “What a ridiculous prank to play on me.”  I checked out my groceries and headed for home.  When I walked through the front door, I realized he wasn’t kidding.  He joked (sort of) that he never knew goat meat was so good on the grill.  That night I stayed up until 1:30 a.m. washing, disinfecting, mopping, cleaning, dusting, etc every nook and cranny of the house AGAIN.  </p> <p>I wiped the tear off my cheek and told the kids to let Daddy load Max.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLS2f93VI/AAAAAAAAC3E/vKiyCFLMYpg/s1600-h/IMG_5051%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5051" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="329" alt="IMG_5051" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLTjVq_vI/AAAAAAAAC3I/jRLj21zAkdI/IMG_5051_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLUJIxnTI/AAAAAAAAC3M/bJ6DC26Swak/s1600-h/IMG_5043%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5043" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="334" alt="IMG_5043" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLUlqiDTI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/kTTK-1ygMUk/IMG_5043_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="487" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLWInx9EI/AAAAAAAAC3U/ZFGOx9TixwQ/s1600-h/IMG_5032%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5032" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="303" alt="IMG_5032" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLWvEIEoI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/66_eTudDs_8/IMG_5032_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="429" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLYIaxZmI/AAAAAAAAC3c/kAnEe4FSirY/s1600-h/IMG_5035%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5035" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="301" alt="IMG_5035" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLYx_g19I/AAAAAAAAC3g/AhWZdy3lMp0/IMG_5035_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="428" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p>Jeryn was too terrified to get in the picture because Max always butts him and stands on his hind legs with his hair raised up all over.  But he did, however, muster up the courage to swing his rope and drop a loop on him one last time after sissy had him caught.   haha </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLZ0ubhcI/AAAAAAAAC3k/xozghiJg9hc/s1600-h/IMG_5054%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5054" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="295" alt="IMG_5054" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLanJWLJI/AAAAAAAAC3o/qr0Te-4fw2U/IMG_5054_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="433" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>And so Max was off to a new home, just a few miles down the road.  At least we can go see him if we miss him too bad.  I am happy to report he is doing well and likes his new home!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLbMy2-RI/AAAAAAAAC3s/XXuZs2QnciU/s1600-h/Max2%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="Max2" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="306" alt="Max2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TKeLbQ6vSDI/AAAAAAAAC3w/f82oRzsprYc/Max2_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="439" border="0" /></a></p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-51038913287949916422010-09-15T23:25:00.001-05:002010-09-15T23:30:11.680-05:00Much Prayer; Much Power…Prayers for Elizabeth<p>In the last couple of days I have revisited some material about prayer in a book that I actually read several years ago.  I have always believed in the power of prayer, and my parents taught me to pray at a young age.  However, in my junior year of college, my mother-in-law, Sandra, really inspired me and helped me grow as I observed her faithfulness to pray.  There were several things and people in my life at that time that I really needed to pray about, and I can think of a couple of occasions where she got out her bible to show me stuff in the Word or other times that I would just show up to pray with her when I needed someone to stand in agreement with.</p> <p>One of the most exciting (and rewarding) things we can do as believers is to pray and watch God work.  It can also be one of the most difficult things to do consistently. And it can also be frustrating when you feel like God has turned a deaf ear to you and that your prayers are not being heard.  </p> <p>Several days ago, a dear and precious girl whom I have had the pleasure of knowing and even working with (up until this past May), was critically injured in a very bad automobile accident.  I know that people everywhere are praying, but the last few days have been very difficult with not near the progress we had all hoped for.  I am ready for some major progress.  Ready to see God move in a mighty way.  Ready to see our prayers answered.  And ready for Elizabeth to wake up and come home.  So, today I am posting some information about prayer that I have been looking over…and why it is a MUST as brothers and sisters in Christ that we lift one another up continuously and go to the Lord in prayer continuously!  The following words (in purple) are taken out of a book I have read and reread.</p> <p><font color="#800080" size="2"><strong>“Some prayer; some power.  More prayer; more power.  Much prayer; much power.”  I have talked with prime ministers and presidents.  To talk to one of these people, you must make an appointment way in advance, and your time is always strictly limited.  They have great power, but at the same time their power is limited because they are men controlled by other men.  But I can talk to God Almighty at any time, for as long as I want, and when I’m finished He doesn’t shrug His shoulders and say, “I  can’t help you, John.”  He says, “I will make a way where there seems to be no way.” (See 1 Corinthians 10:13.)  He says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know”  (Jeremiah 33:3).</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#800080" size="2"><strong>Why pray?  Because prayerlessness is sin.  1 Samuel 12:23 says far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.  This particular part of the book addressed the faithfulness of the author’s mother to pray for his salvation.  Once he surrendered his life to Christ, he preached the gospel for over 45 years across the globe because his mother “went to war with the devil for her son’s soul in her prayer room—and the devil lost.  She prayed me out of the fires of hell and into the arms of God.”  Who should we be praying for?</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#800080" size="2"><strong>A prayerless Christian is a weak Christian.  A prayerless church is a weak church.  A prayerless nation is a defeated nation.  A prayerless family is a divided family. </strong></font></p> <p><font color="#800080" size="2"><strong>Why pray?  Because God answers prayer.  This section had a really touching story about a ten year daughter (Lizzy) of the music minister in his church that was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in the center of her brain.  The physicians, including one of the best oncologists in the nation gave absolutely no hope for her survival.  The church, grief stricken, got on their knees and went to war for Lizzy’s life.  In spite of their prayers over the next several weeks, she grew progressively worse.  The doctors said, “The last sign will be that she will have such severe headaches that she will be unable to attend school.  Once she comes home from school, she will not go back.”  He went on to write that he remembered it as if it was yesterday when Lizzy’s father came in to his office and said, “The school called and said, ‘Come get Lizzy.  She has a headache.’”  He put his arms around her father and they prayed together, yet again, for poor Lizzy.  The pastor felt a surge of faith like he had never felt in his life before that point in time.  After their prayer, he instructed him to “Go home and give Lizzy an aspirin like it was an ordinary headache, and see what God does.”  The next morning, Lizzy woke up without a headache.  Her left eye began to come back toward the center.  Her hand/eye coordination began to dramatically improve.  Her eyelids, which had been droopy, were back to normal. Her parents were fearful of being overly optimistic because of such negative pronouncement by the medical community.  They soon took Lizzy in for an MRI which revealed the tumor was completely gone.  HEALED in Jesus’ Name!  That was some thirteen years+ ago, but she has since been married to the love of her life and her future is as bright as ever because of the miracle-working power of God!</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#800080" size="2"><strong>Why pray? Because we are commanded to pray.  The tragedy of our day is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.  Matthew 6 says “When you pray,” not “If you pray.”  The apostle Paul told the Thessalonians, “Pray without ceasing.”  Many Christians know the power of prayer, the priority of prayer, and the purpose of prayer—yet they do not purpose to pray.</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#800080" size="2"><strong>Why pray? Because anointed prayer rises above.  The apostle Paul was stoned and left for dead.  Yet he didn’t ask the church to pray for the rheumatism that was caused by the stones that broke his bones.  When he was jailed, Paul didn’t say to the church, “Pray for me.  I’m in jail.  They have whipped me with a Roman cat-o’-nine-tails.  The blood is running down my back and onto the floor in puddles.  I’m going to be in the news again as a fanatic and in handcuffs.  Paul did say, “Pray that I might speak the Word of God with boldness” Act 4:29.  If there ever were a time in America’s history when Americans need to speak the Word of God with boldness, it’s right now!  <font size="4">An almighty and all-powerful God is sitting on His throne in heaven with His hand cuffed behind his ear to hear the petitions of His children.</font>  He’s listening for us to ask Him to do “great and mighty things,” to show signs and wonders of the power of God.  He’s listening for us to pull down the strongholds of the addictions that enslave our children, our husbands, and our wives.  He’s looking for us to pray for a national revival that will turn this nation away from the moral sewer in which we find ourselves.  </strong></font></p> <p><font color="#800080" size="2"><strong>When you get down to pray, remember that you’re talking to almighty God. ( I love this part!!)  <font size="3">The blast of His nostrils can split the cedars of Lebanon.  He holds the seven seas in the palm of His hand.  He weighs the mountains on a scale and the hills in the balance.</font>  Ask Him for things so staggering, so big, that God slides to the edge of His holy throne and says to the angels, “Did you hear what that kid asked for?  “Do it, angels!  Faith like that excites me!  Get down there with the answer!  Move those mountains of impossibilities.  Heal that incurable disease.  Restore that dead marriage.  Set her addicted son free!”</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#800080" size="2"><strong>Do you need supernatural wisdom to make a difficult decision? Do you need peace that surpasses understanding?  “Nothing is impossible to them that believe.”  </strong></font></p> <p><font size="2"><strong><font color="#800080">Do you need to experience the impossible?  Open your mouth in faith believing because you’re not talking to the president of the United States.  You’re not talking to a billionaire of limited means.  <font size="4">YOU’RE TALKING TO THE UNLIMITED CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.  HE HAS THE POWER TO DIVIDE THE SEAS, AND HE WILL NOT FAIL YOU. Ask Him for the impossible!  Ask Him to defeat the giants in your life because our God is a giant killer.  Ask Him to divide the Red Sea before you, which will bury Pharaoh and his army.  Ask Him to send fire from heaven as He did for Elijah.  Ask Him to walk you through the fiery furnace as He did with three Hebrew children.  Ask Him, for He’s the God who cannot fail, and He’s waiting to show you His mighty power!</font></font></strong></font></p> <p><strong><font size="2">If that doesn’t get you excited about who you’re praying to, what will????!!!!  I don’t know about you, but the God I serve is strong and mighty!  HE IS MOST HIGH!  Can I get an amen?!  :)</font></strong> </p> <p><strong><font color="#800080" size="2">PRAY SCRIPTURE.  The author writes that his mother was the greatest prayer warrior he’s ever known.  As a child, she would<font size="3"> pray the Scriptures because they are the promises of God and will not return void.</font>  He gives several examples of how to do this…What is your problem? Your burden? Your crisis?  Find the verses in the bible that relate to what you’re going through and pray those verses.  (I have done this time and time again and it is powerful.)  Don’t be intimidated if you don’t know a lot of scripture.  Consult a concordance—for instance, look up the word worry, and then find passages that apply.  As you become more and more familiar with God’s Word, praying scripture will become automatic.  Here’s his example.  If you are going through a dark valley of sorrow, grief, and perhaps depression, praying scripture could sound like this:</font></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font color="#800080" size="2">Heavenly Father, I come to You in the mighty name of Your Son and my Savior Jesus Christ.  You know my heart is full of grief, and so, according to Your Word, I’ve come before Your throne to rejoice.  Father this is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.  I delight myself in You, Lord.  You are my shield and buckler, my fortress, my high tower.  You are the bright and morning star.  You are the Prince of Peace.  Happy am I because God is my refuge.  Father Your Word declares that You rejoice over me with joy and that everlasting joy is upon my head…Father, my mouth shall praise You in the day of trouble, for You are the strength of my life; in whom shall I be afraid?  Though a host should encamp against me, I shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.  For in the time of trouble You shall hide me in Your pavilion.  You shall set me upon a rock.  And now my head shall be lifted up above mine enemies; therefore will I offer sacrifices of joy unto You Lord.</font></strong></em></p> <p><strong><font size="2">(And this isn’t in the book, but I’m just saying…don’t worry if you don’t have the scriptures you are reading memorized before you pray.  You can be face flat to the floor with just enough room to slide your bible between your nose and the floor and enough room to read it out loud or sitting in your car in the parking lot with your bible open praying Scripture!)</font></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font color="#800080" size="2">Prayer is getting you prepared to do God’s will.  God never forces you to do His will, but He often places you in extreme adversity that drives you to your knees and prepares you to do His will.  Example here in Acts chapter 9 of Saul being blinded.  Three days in darkness saturated with soul-searching prayer, then God told Ananias, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.” Saul’s prayer was not getting God ready to do Saul’s will, which was to put Christians in prison.  Saul’s prayer, in the sanctuary of blindness and forced helplessness, prepared Saul to do God’s will.</font></strong></em></p> <p><strong><font color="#800080" size="2">Consider the power of two—Matthew 18:19 reads: Again I say unto you, that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  Paul and Silas demonstrated the power of two.  If you are wondering when God is going to do something about your situation, remember he has placed the responsibility of taking action squarely on your shoulders.  Find a believer that will stand in agreement with you in prayer…if you take initiative, the power of prayer will move the hand of God to bring the perfect answer.</font></strong></p> <p>Tonight, and in the days ahead, would you join me in prayer for this sweet child of God and sister in Christ?  She is someone’s daughter, someone’s sister.  She is a friend to many.  I assure you that she is even more beautiful on the inside than she is on the out.  Many people have known Elizabeth for much longer, I have only one had the privilege of knowing her just three short years, but one thing that has always been evident to me about her is that she loves the Lord.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGboY11fhI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/H3u1uBbL3N0/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGbp7rN3kI/AAAAAAAAC0U/v-TkvihD2SQ/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="166" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGbxT1V5BI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/_L98YPqx3co/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGb0Q19XaI/AAAAAAAAC0c/5jKdprOP1CU/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="323" height="243" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGb3g1RlyI/AAAAAAAAC0g/5HapGUMVcDk/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGb5JwONdI/AAAAAAAAC0k/XMTUmBipPWM/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGb_OQ1hBI/AAAAAAAAC0o/kHnxTFFanMA/s1600-h/image%5B14%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGcBtCUZ5I/AAAAAAAAC0s/SQvlMkxahV4/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="193" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGcJsLIOZI/AAAAAAAAC0w/3cZaAS1Gt7U/s1600-h/image%5B20%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGcMkO_rHI/AAAAAAAAC00/3zkrcTQXZ0o/image_thumb%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="323" height="243" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGcPkTqlgI/AAAAAAAAC04/9_Qv_oEVpHs/s1600-h/image%5B23%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TJGcRsZGRfI/AAAAAAAAC08/wgSlUVPm7pA/image_thumb%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Here are some of my favorite pictures of this sweet family.  I had to post the fish picture because it just shows how awesome she is :)  And her and her sis that was recently married…</p> <p>The following is something that she had as a favorite quotation on facebook:  <em>Your never too messed up, broken or far gone that your creator can't bring you back, heal you and put you back together again! ♥- liz boedeker</em></p> <p></p> <p>I believe with all of my heart that God is going to heal her and bring her home to her family.  I just know she has lots left to do in this life for Him!  <strong>PRAY.</strong> <font size="4"><strong><font size="5">PRAY.</font> <font size="7">PRAY!</font></strong></font>   </p> <p>This has been the world’s longest post, but it is wonderful to see children seeking the Lord.  My babies have been praying a lot for Elizabeth too, and today when Mario picked J up from school she told him, “Today when I went to the bathroom at school, I wasn’t supposed to be talking, but I prayed out loud for Elizabeth in the bathroom.”  It was so precious to me.  I pray that your faith will be built up in this time and that God will do great and awesome things!</p> <p>You can read the updates at:  <a title="http://www.prayingforliz.blogspot.com/" href="http://www.prayingforliz.blogspot.com/">http://www.prayingforliz.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p>Thanks for your prayers.</p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-12317659804665989662010-08-15T22:31:00.001-05:002010-08-15T22:36:00.045-05:00Like a Good Neighbor…Even in 100+ Degree Temperatures<p align="justify">I don’t think I ever posted that I changed careers.  In April I went to work for my husband, and I am so thankful for that opportunity.  We really enjoy working together, and it has worked out great for us.  </p> <p align="justify">This summer we have also had the privilege of having two college students work part time in our office, and we have enjoyed them so much!  </p> <p align="justify">One is my lil sis-in-law and the other is her best friend, Carter.  They are good help and they work hard, but you seldom see one without the other.  They also are hilarious and so boss man has nicknamed them dumb and dumber :)  </p> <p align="justify">The two of them worked out for us to have a tent at a new apartment complex’s college move-in day.  IT WAS SOOOOO HOT we nearly melted.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwX247HZI/AAAAAAAACvw/-q1v8JFuCbQ/s1600-h/IMG_47715.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4771" border="0" alt="IMG_4771" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwYd53DDI/AAAAAAAACv0/1RnICD2iXno/IMG_4771_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="339" /></a> </p> <p>Mario & Brent, our sweet neighbor kid, icing down the drinks…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwaF6AmzI/AAAAAAAACv4/yeRERY47bmE/s1600-h/IMG_47736.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4773" border="0" alt="IMG_4773" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwbYTuI_I/AAAAAAAACv8/o8jaYmxFIjI/IMG_4773_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="511" height="342" /></a> </p> <p>We starting getting stuff ready around 7:30 because thye told us the first wave of people would be checking in from 8am-10am.  </p> <p>About 8:30am, one of the poeple with the apartment complex remembered to fill us is in that they had changed check-in time to 12-2pm.  That was nice of them.</p> <p>So we broke for about three hours and went back to the office to hang out and stay cool and run some other errands.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwc7j8kVI/AAAAAAAACwA/XAWwGnaS33M/s1600-h/IMG_47747.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4774" border="0" alt="IMG_4774" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwd1cE0kI/AAAAAAAACwE/KDUVWtjLTX8/IMG_4774_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="518" height="347" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwelRoWBI/AAAAAAAACwI/N-UeLmfkJ0s/s1600-h/IMG_47753.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4775" border="0" alt="IMG_4775" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwfurLoyI/AAAAAAAACwM/6Ws687mwbnA/IMG_4775_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="237" height="354" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwgQmkjSI/AAAAAAAACwQ/jX9zHPqKLic/s1600-h/IMG_47764.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4776" border="0" alt="IMG_4776" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwhBo74MI/AAAAAAAACwU/XgKC0zGaVf8/IMG_4776_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="352" /></a> </p> <p>We put some bags together with a few goodies and brochures on auto and renters insurance and gave them out to the students moving in…</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwip58q5I/AAAAAAAACwY/uMv2RxRfnnM/s1600-h/IMG_47824.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4782" border="0" alt="IMG_4782" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwjGYlvCI/AAAAAAAACwc/DkLhjXh4yvw/IMG_4782_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="470" height="314" /></a>  </p> <p>Jeryn spent most of the morning in the candy/gum basket opening gum and putting the wrappers back in the basket….</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwjxBo2rI/AAAAAAAACwg/pVL5bMw7H08/s1600-h/IMG_47903.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4790" border="0" alt="IMG_4790" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwkQZIbDI/AAAAAAAACwk/EWlYyIvWl9E/IMG_4790_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="467" height="313" /></a> </p> <p>Mario and Carter…</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwlrQ12yI/AAAAAAAACwo/xOeFlaEQFCw/s1600-h/IMG_47933.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4793" border="0" alt="IMG_4793" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwmJnEpsI/AAAAAAAACws/ciNgu3daE88/IMG_4793_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" height="401" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwnh0hcgI/AAAAAAAACww/tkKg3tbcH68/s1600-h/IMG_48194.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4819" border="0" alt="IMG_4819" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwo5z6rqI/AAAAAAAACw0/tS12UgYwxwg/IMG_4819_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="595" height="398" /></a> </p> <p>When we were back at the office, Brent showed Jaiden how to call from desk to desk and she spent the next three hours calling her daddy to say, “I love you.”  </p> <p>I thought she looked so sweet sitting at the desk :)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqt5YiqiXbA-jo_yMikBjKcDLkwF7JV3O7cIbL_EGfgJ6jTyyFjoY5Lqngkl2Z0HvztDwPXDzULbNb4QnzcelFBrjdseMU6fwTY8PF9W_6npSHPKi5wNTYhqGjUz0YP8RT-x2_ewB2ZQY/s1600-h/IMG_48013.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4801" border="0" alt="IMG_4801" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwqBhT-WI/AAAAAAAACw8/BRjkxOG5feo/IMG_4801_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="467" height="313" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwrjKeDkI/AAAAAAAACxA/3mniLjntfuQ/s1600-h/IMG_48084.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4808" border="0" alt="IMG_4808" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwsrkUGFI/AAAAAAAACxE/JkAEwmpW6CI/IMG_4808_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="464" height="311" /></a> </p> <p>Around noon, we made our way back to our “spot” under the tent.  It was ten times hotter and we were all miserable…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwtR4xJDI/AAAAAAAACxI/j14jQapAYpM/s1600-h/IMG_48107.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4810" border="0" alt="IMG_4810" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwt9QEwQI/AAAAAAAACxM/3T61dCIsmX0/IMG_4810_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" height="430" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwuuaP1YI/AAAAAAAACxQ/5IJ1A_TmvDg/s1600-h/IMG_48165.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4816" border="0" alt="IMG_4816" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWN4MOKYBR8snDouKwU9nKKn3OErngeBT0jEd_xfJ_DYeQ7dO289C0c8mGup6EunqJUZjifWOBCj3sM_V1roUBSx-F1THo_HTIzEGBQDCyT71qIIQfz5dCla4G1kjBB6cA5CMxd9IQas/?imgmax=800" width="641" height="429" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwxS5i1vI/AAAAAAAACxY/Fd8Zmvy3CQQ/s1600-h/IMG_48244.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4824" border="0" alt="IMG_4824" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwx3I4c_I/AAAAAAAACxc/4lxFz3OXXHc/IMG_4824_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="290" height="211" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiwzkL7O_I/AAAAAAAACxg/wG_Fr_jAxJg/s1600-h/IMG_48285.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4828" border="0" alt="IMG_4828" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw0P8olyI/AAAAAAAACxk/kyOmT0UXUWc/IMG_4828_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="206" /></a>   </p> <p>Bridget had planned on getting in to the State Farm Good “Neighbear” suit…but when the time got changed, I was afraid she would pass out in it at that time of day.  When we got back to the office to unload everything, we had a little fun with the bear head anyway!  Jaiden looked so cute peeking through the eye…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw1YfcfNI/AAAAAAAACxo/ejYcjcO5tVA/s1600-h/IMG_48363.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4836" border="0" alt="IMG_4836" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnTaZvw9WFaVgXApAqKFfExZNX3VHpfnMHTfgn8iJKTCO6Z0AB_7n3eBMzwXEmDywP7CWTcKknVCKXCdVojVpbp68Q6HccnwWkcWQ6kr0TRd2aGKEBD7zK0j5rjDovFERfY9pSRoWyi4/?imgmax=800" width="403" height="270" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw2TCOHpI/AAAAAAAACx0/9FhdsO8_MC8/s1600-h/IMG_48373.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4837" border="0" alt="IMG_4837" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw2g_slTI/AAAAAAAACx4/yAvIT1AzRz8/IMG_4837_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="181" height="269" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw3YxkkNI/AAAAAAAACx8/Bno3DbDrboY/s1600-h/IMG_48395.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4839" border="0" alt="IMG_4839" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw31jpDgI/AAAAAAAACyA/2trriqvzHTk/IMG_4839_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="270" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw5CsUNZI/AAAAAAAACz4/wmYDTJMjLa8/s1600-h/IMG_4842%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4842" border="0" alt="IMG_4842" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw6W7F8UI/AAAAAAAAC0A/DOYSOCKcMZU/IMG_4842_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="348" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw7pGgiLI/AAAAAAAACzY/mYIVeKe5E8A/s1600-h/IMG_4843%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4843" border="0" alt="IMG_4843" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw84yfvtI/AAAAAAAACzc/JqV4pDr5gDE/IMG_4843_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="518" height="347" /></a> </p> <p>Bubby wanted a turn and it was so funny because it swallowed him and he was just being real still in there.  He was walking around really quiet with out saying a word.  We’d say, “Jump Bear!” and he’d take a little hop.  He was so cute!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw9ffQRjI/AAAAAAAACyU/XPpeWOfwT5g/s1600-h/IMG_48444.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4844" border="0" alt="IMG_4844" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw90DFP6I/AAAAAAAACyY/JhnzFewUyQ0/IMG_4844_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="264" height="394" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGiw_N-HvVI/AAAAAAAACzo/Sz1wTqDKm4Q/s1600-h/IMG_4845%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4845" border="0" alt="IMG_4845" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGixAuMN0DI/AAAAAAAACzs/Qr84RL2NcsA/IMG_4845_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="499" height="334" /></a></p> <p>On the way home, Mario treated us to lunch at the Japanese Steakhouse. Jeryn fell asleep on the way home and so I carried him in to the bed.  Jaiden laid down next to him and fell asleep.  I was walking through the house and somehow heard “Ma-ax.”  When I found Max, he was in some serious distress.  It was blazing hot and he had somehow managed to get himself penned underneath the deck where there was only about a foot of room.  His head was twisted back and he couldn’t move it.  His little face was mashed in the dirt.  His body was wedged and I felt so sorry for him but I was also panicking because I couldn’t budge him.   I have also heard that goats get really stressed, and let me tell you, he was STRESSED.    By the time Mario got him unstuck, everyone was back awake.  So much for their afternoon nap.  Max looked sort of rough:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGixCtDYtRI/AAAAAAAACyk/CMnZ-On0vPA/s1600-h/IMG_4849%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4849" border="0" alt="IMG_4849" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGixERy8uoI/AAAAAAAACyo/WyBjRDMTmUc/IMG_4849_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="339" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGixFtF3SNI/AAAAAAAACys/zX4Cb-U3x78/s1600-h/IMG_4846%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4846" border="0" alt="IMG_4846" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGixHBTiUMI/AAAAAAAACyw/x9URvIHkpL4/IMG_4846_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="501" height="335" /></a> </p> <p>This goat has like TRIPLED in size since we got him.  For some reason I was thinking he was full grown when we got him.  Meanwhile he grew up and out, and his horns are really long (and we actually had an inch trimmed off about a month ago because Mario was worried the tip of them would hurt one of the kids because they were pretty sharp.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGixHgs7QUI/AAAAAAAACy0/BfcCyeCmTjg/s1600-h/IMG_4851%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_4851" border="0" alt="IMG_4851" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGixIGexbvI/AAAAAAAACy4/k_GdG1FcmCM/IMG_4851_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="396" /></a> </p> <p>We headed out to a rodeo that evening, and while Jaiden was running exhibition barrels, Hot Sauce tore out bucking with her!  He hadn’t done that before, it scared me too death, but she managed to ride it all out and was still in the saddle when he stopped.  The crowd was cheering for her and I had part of it on video because the tape was rolling. I shut it off for a few seconds because I was trying to figure out what I needed to do.  Then I saw Mario running into the arena I turned it back on.  When I watched the tape back, there was a lady in the bleachers screaming, “Ride ‘im!  RIDE ‘IM!”  It was sweet because people were rooting for her :)  Then, just as we were leaving the rodeo, two guys got in a fight at the concession stand.  One was rolling around on the ground next to us, the other was griping at the guy that he had pushed down.  These were grown men fussing over a hot dog that didn’t actually get shoved in anyone’s mouth, only pretended to.  Needless to say, our day was not uneventful..  I was ready to just get home and into bed. </p> <p>The highlight of my night came during the prayer that was said at the beginning of the rodeo.  I peeked over at my son, and this is what I saw:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGixIhfwPzI/AAAAAAAACy8/EKd3kfwelOE/s1600-h/prayer%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="prayer" border="0" alt="prayer" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGixI8j5dNI/AAAAAAAACzA/rYRioz6BSAo/prayer_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="496" height="373" /></a> </p> <p>I love these kids!  That little spot in the upper right is the sliver of moon.</p> <p>I still can’t believe it’s time for school already.  I spent the better part of this afternoon labeling school supplies and getting everything ready.  We have orientation and open house this week, and then the real deal! </p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-73602223975684587662010-08-12T00:04:00.003-05:002010-08-12T00:42:06.829-05:00Funtainers, Fillings, and Other Small Talk<p>Ever heard of a “funtainer?” I hadn’t.</p> <p>I’m guessing I may be a little behind the times. </p> <p>I pretty much picked out J’s school stuff, but when I mentioned needing to get her a new water bottle, and that I would let her pick it out, she knew immediately what she was in the market for.</p> <p>Five stores later, we found it. Jeryn needed one too. He is required to bring a water bottle to school also, and it must have a built in straw.</p> <p>Perfect! The funtainer has a push-button to pop the top open, and then a nice built in straw. I would’ve liked a different design better, but beggars can’t be choosers. The funtainer supply was a little scarce around here just a few days before school starts. Jeryn had a funtainer under each arm and annouced, “This one’s for Daddy!” </p> <p>I told him he could share. I hated to spend another $12. Even if it does stay cold for 12 hours.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAglbmVuI/AAAAAAAACto/cPNBIy8ZhJQ/s1600-h/photo43.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="photo (4)" border="0" alt="photo (4)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAhLRk8GI/AAAAAAAACts/elA6c41rDIo/photo4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAhqYed1I/AAAAAAAACtw/o1u6H4uYfwo/s1600-h/photo4%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="photo" border="0" alt="photo" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAiBQiX8I/AAAAAAAACt0/1_ACiXMLtRE/photo_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="205" height="274" /></a> </p> <p>I think we have all the necessary school supplies now. I have a few labels to make, and then everything will be ready!</p> <p>I can’t believe the summer is nearing an end, and we are getting back into the school routine.</p> <p></p> <p>Before a trip to the dentist Tuesday morning:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAjr58WoI/AAAAAAAACt4/l7tExYz0aYU/s1600-h/IMG_577443.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_57744" border="0" alt="IMG_57744" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAknBQ_ZI/AAAAAAAACt8/dWpMDVHxx3I/IMG_57744_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="358" /></a> </p> <p>Things were quite dramatic when I found out that Jeryn had numerous cavities a while back. So we went to a pediatric dentist and the evaluation went great. We came back the next week, and Jeryn wouldn’t sit in the chair and wear the mask, so we had to delay the fillings for another month. The dentist decided he would need to be somewhat sedated to complete the dental work, and gave me a prescription and rescheduled him. I had strict instructions to follow: No food or drink after midnight, arrive at 8am, weigh in, administer the medicine, wait in lobby for one solid hour, be called back at 9am, and complete dental work. I was nervous about having a hungry little bear on my hands and not being able to do anything with him for an hour, on top of worrying that we wouldn’t be able to complete the dental work. But it all worked out. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAlfbrCNI/AAAAAAAACuA/VQCzVlHyqxw/s1600-h/photo63.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="photo6" border="0" alt="photo6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAlmneKxI/AAAAAAAACuE/FNrWwW5Pg60/photo6_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="208" height="276" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAnI_tO4I/AAAAAAAACuI/ATt8PqaA900/s1600-h/photo55.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="photo 5" border="0" alt="photo 5" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAnn22zsI/AAAAAAAACuM/o9pmCk0Rlps/photo5_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="273" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOJo3vmeqI/AAAAAAAACvA/V7AzWo7J4vQ/s1600-h/photo3%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="photo3" border="0" alt="photo3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOApXEK0KI/AAAAAAAACvE/amHI7OHUnuw/photo3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" height="381" /></a> </p> <p>Jeryn was a little angel. He was so sweet and he got three little fillings. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOArVGHxPI/AAAAAAAACuY/37B7-GLyMzA/s1600-h/IMG_57863.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5786" border="0" alt="IMG_5786" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAr4btOEI/AAAAAAAACuc/s0cuXWQhWkY/IMG_5786_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="241" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAsU992RI/AAAAAAAACug/_v-KAlnGIDE/s1600-h/IMG_57932.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5793" border="0" alt="IMG_5793" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAs5oaQII/AAAAAAAACuk/d8T8BEgiTaU/IMG_5793_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAtYiKT8I/AAAAAAAACvM/nbdduWcgfhw/s1600-h/IMG_5794%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5794" border="0" alt="IMG_5794" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAtv0TuWI/AAAAAAAACvQ/lin9JwZ5fi0/IMG_5794_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" height="384" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAudlvioI/AAAAAAAACvU/sZqgHDe9Ph8/s1600-h/IMG_5791%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5791" border="0" alt="IMG_5791" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAu08Gr6I/AAAAAAAACvc/J7Hlqr9nSBk/IMG_5791_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="285" height="380" /></a> </p> <p>He never was completely out, but he was pretty drowsy. They let him breathe grape “silly gas'” after the medicine had kicked in and he laid in the chair nice and still. I sat on the chair next to him the whole time, holding his hand and rubbing his little legs.  The cavities weren’t very deep, so they didn’t even have to numb him. I think the gas did make him a little loopy because at one point he was humming and singing a little tune. It was so pitiful and cute at the same time. After one filling he said, “Thank you…” to the dentist. Here he is after we were done, proud of the tooth ring that he picked from the treasure drawer:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAvT7pOcI/AAAAAAAACu4/oxctW3sPrXU/s1600-h/photo25.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="photo2" border="0" alt="photo2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TGOAv3n9v5I/AAAAAAAACu8/q2rPt3Z1JBw/photo2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="548" /></a> </p> <p>He has really grown up this summer! Even looking at that picture of me holding him the morning before we left for the dentist, I cant believe how big he looks! He talks all the time about random stuff and we get the biggest kick out of some of the stuff he says. </p> <p>Tonight during dinner, Jaiden asked, “Is he going to talk that country at school?”</p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-72922575380319556562010-07-26T21:54:00.005-05:002010-07-26T22:11:42.106-05:00Time Keeps on Slippin’…<p>Dear Blog,</p> <p>I’m sorry it has been so long. I think about you often. I really do. I always have lots to talk about, but somehow my fingers never get around to telling it. Every day, I look at the faces of the little ones growing up so fast around me, and I hate that I’m not telling every second of it just like it is. But those little ones are keeping me pretty busy. On one hand, I’m mad at me for not writing more. But on the other hand, because life is so fast paced, I figure it’s better to just to enjoy every moment and try to soak it in than to sit in front of a computer and try to actually complete a thought. </p> <p>But tonight is different. I am in the house alone. This may be historic. And for a short period of time, it was also quiet. That is until “Maaa-aaxx” looked through the back door and saw me sitting here. And now he is maaaa-aaaaaking a noise like maaaa-aaaaaa over and over and over again. He is also standing on his hind legs with his front feet against the door. Kind of hard to ignore.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5JpU0ydDI/AAAAAAAACrc/BnNVbRxQkXQ/s1600-h/IMG_57203.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMG_5720" alt="IMG_5720" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5Jq4AykPI/AAAAAAAACrg/y1wVFbO4jx4/IMG_5720_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="647" height="486" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Meanwhile, the boys are outside, J had her own outing tonight, and I am thinking about the summer and wondering where it went??</p> <p>I pray I never forget how fun the kids have been this summer. They are at SUCH a fun age and have been such a blessing to just be around.</p> <p>We have spent a lot of hours in the practice pen and at rodeos lately.</p> <p> And I think they are enjoying it…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5JrlzNdNI/AAAAAAAACrk/tLbPo0-NIDo/s1600-h/IMG_4690_2_14.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMG_4690_2_1" alt="IMG_4690_2_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5JsGxYnvI/AAAAAAAACro/EXFbw-BUcTg/IMG_4690_2_1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="296" height="441" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5JslKrCEI/AAAAAAAACrs/dXlifMi4r1c/s1600-h/IMG_4680_9_15.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_4680_9_1" alt="IMG_4680_9_1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5JtQmGiHI/AAAAAAAACrw/fdUJ4KyjBIo/IMG_4680_9_1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="298" height="444" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5JufAKmsI/AAAAAAAACr0/9H-AHXqTYNw/s1600-h/IMG_4666_2_15.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_4666_2_1" alt="IMG_4666_2_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5JvG45djI/AAAAAAAACr4/B0EkkUw-jtI/IMG_4666_2_1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="600" height="402" /></a> </p> <p>In fact, Jaiden made her debut in the exhibition barrels at a local rodeo and I think she may be hooked.</p> <p>J: “How often do they have the rodeo?”</p> <p>M: “Every Saturday.”</p> <p>J: “So how many days is that?”</p> <p>M: “Every seven.”</p> <p>J: “Can we do this every Saturday?”</p> <p>(Fast forward to the next Saturday)</p> <p>8am.</p> <p>J: “What’s today?”</p> <p>M: “Saturday.”</p> <p>J: “You said there is a rodeo every Saturday. Can you take me?”</p><br /><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5JxDS_N8I/AAAAAAAACr8/9flAxpjizYg/s1600-h/IMG_46683.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_4668" alt="IMG_4668" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5Jy30rGkI/AAAAAAAACsA/pPhZqZ4myhM/IMG_4668_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="586" height="392" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5JzeE494I/AAAAAAAACsE/wi3X2MYdEtg/s1600-h/IMG_4670_5_13.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_4670_5_1" alt="IMG_4670_5_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5J0EPNTsI/AAAAAAAACsI/T4WRwcxNty4/IMG_4670_5_1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="377" height="564" /></a> </p> <p>Last night:</p> <p>As she loped Hot Sauce from one end of the pen to the other over and over again, occasionally taking her hat off and waving it with one hand in the air as she flew by…</p> <p>She stopped for a breather. Actually just to talk, because it has been more than 60 seconds since she last uttered a word, she leans back a bit in her saddle and in a really loud and excited voice (she takes after me) says, </p> <p><strong><em>“I’m riding a big horse, and a good horse—and I’m lopin’ ‘im!”</em></strong></p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5J1Ce5miI/AAAAAAAACsM/Is8ptmHtcYc/s1600-h/35376_10150210369355531_557670530_13548367_324356_n%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" title="35376_10150210369355531_557670530_13548367_324356_n" alt="35376_10150210369355531_557670530_13548367_324356_n" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5J2sPyN9I/AAAAAAAACsU/ZqULsHROl-w/35376_10150210369355531_557670530_13548367_324356_n_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="582" height="438" /></a></p><p>Jeryn likes sitting behind the chutes with the big boys. He talks like he is about 15 years old. And does so non-stop. One of his favorite words right now is “proud”.</p> <p>“I’m so proud Will got a rope for his birthday.”</p> <p>“I’m real proud of my boots, mom.”</p> <p>“I’m proud I found my red rope (red rope is his favorite rope, however, not red, actually multi-colored, but as necessary as air.)</p> <p>Yesterday I walked into my bathroom to find him bare in his birthday suit wearing only a black cowboy hat on the commode. </p> <p>That’s Bubby for ya.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5J3WafzjI/AAAAAAAACsY/PU6nEs1fs4M/s1600-h/34859_10150210369815531_557670530_13548374_3740387_n%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" title="34859_10150210369815531_557670530_13548374_3740387_n" alt="34859_10150210369815531_557670530_13548374_3740387_n" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5J4EhpuoI/AAAAAAAACsc/dR224XZ3Bqs/34859_10150210369815531_557670530_13548374_3740387_n_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="327" height="435" /></a> </p> <p>Saturday morning, Mario headed out early while they were still sleeping to doctor a calf and then get some practice in before it got too hot. When Jeryn woke up, he sat in the bed chattering non stop. “Where’s Daddy?” he asked a little bit later.</p> <p>Not wanting to hurt his feelings by telling him he went to ride, I told him he had gone on to doctor a calf and just left off the part about riding and roping. He raised his little eyebrows up on his head and said, “Or <strong><em>MAYBE</em></strong> he’s riding a horsed named Hummer Dunn.”</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5J6NidnsI/AAAAAAAACsg/RkayA7NBKO8/s1600-h/IMG_55944.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_5594" alt="IMG_5594" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5J7qwcYWI/AAAAAAAACsk/3mW0nQ6_VLM/IMG_5594_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="512" height="385" /></a></p><p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5J99nlaKI/AAAAAAAACso/HiTnIZIHS0k/s1600-h/IMG_56445.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_5644" alt="IMG_5644" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5J_yLXzPI/AAAAAAAACss/OwFj0iB1L2U/IMG_5644_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="509" height="383" /></a> </p> <p>These pictures were made in Flippin around the 4th of July. Not enough time in the world to ever get tired of being there. If it weren’t for the rodeos around here every now and then, we would never be able to talk the kids into coming back home with us. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KB0R_cbI/AAAAAAAACsw/QBgV_fcwfNo/s1600-h/IMG_56735.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMG_5673" alt="IMG_5673" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KEAFraPI/AAAAAAAACs0/qr2YbI3YjMQ/IMG_5673_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="731" height="549" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KFJCYdKI/AAAAAAAACs4/aVxWCllaJI0/s1600-h/IMG_7404%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" title="IMG_7404" alt="IMG_7404" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KGCXWoQI/AAAAAAAACs8/pKvDp2ihxk4/IMG_7404_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="726" height="486" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KHvtLLYI/AAAAAAAACtA/7xgquLXEcfI/s1600-h/IMG_56404.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_5640" alt="IMG_5640" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KJBii_dI/AAAAAAAACtE/KUvQfar7mfw/IMG_5640_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="351" height="466" /></a></p><p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KLHnAMNI/AAAAAAAACtI/HfzQgfbbRsI/s1600-h/IMG_56954.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_5695" alt="IMG_5695" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KMzl_h2I/AAAAAAAACtM/-DarHTctlAg/IMG_5695_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="615" height="463" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KPnDaU0I/AAAAAAAACtQ/3uojpLcajdI/s1600-h/IMG_57174.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_5717" alt="IMG_5717" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KRezBXOI/AAAAAAAACtU/FjiPCd7MGyQ/IMG_5717_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="427" height="567" /></a></p><p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KTVWII9I/AAAAAAAACtY/ebqjgeSE6J8/s1600-h/IMG_57134.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_5713" alt="IMG_5713" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KVz-AuqI/AAAAAAAACtc/BGH1eKuVTho/IMG_5713_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="752" height="565" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KXEurkQI/AAAAAAAACtg/NO9Z4-jqSic/s1600-h/IMG_5750%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" title="IMG_5750" alt="IMG_5750" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/TE5KYBdVy0I/AAAAAAAACtk/kFOkJIvoefI/IMG_5750_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="430" height="323" /></a></p> <p>I’m so far behind, I don’t know where to start, but this is my attempt to start catching up on what we’ve been up to these days! </p>In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-48093460114553518132010-06-03T01:17:00.020-05:002010-06-03T04:03:25.692-05:00Today is the Day of Salvation!<div style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; visibility: visible; margin-right: auto; width: 450px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The day was May 29th, 2010</span>.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />It was a great day, and I was thinking things just couldn't get better. ( I was wrong!) It had been a tiring week, and I was EXHAUSTED. But we were headed in to a three day weekend with Monday being Memorial Day.<br /><br />It was around 10:24 pm and we were leaving a local rodeo. Mario had won first place in the tie-down calf roping, and our nephew, Breylin had entered the breakaway roping for the first time ever. He placed 4th out of 15-20 ropers of various ages. We had had a great day together, the kids were excited to be up late, and I was wrapping up last minute tasks for Jeryn's birthday party for the following day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We pulled out of the rodeo arena parking and headed for home, Mario and Breylin trailing us. We were all tired, but still excited, and I felt a little for twinge of guilt for having the kids out so late since they were both recovering from strep. I reached over and turned on a cd that I had found a few days earlier after having misplaced it for some time, and had been listening to it throughout the week. (album Everything Glorious by Passion)<br /><br />I thought some soft music would help the kids to wind down. We first got our praise on with Jesus Paid it All. Once it was over, I drifted off into deep thought during the next song or two, justifying why it was okay to have them out so late:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It was Mario's first time to win on that particular horse (</span><span style="font-style: italic;">Raider, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">a horse my mom raised that he has been training in calf roping)...we wouldn't have wanted to miss that!</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">School is out now anyway, and they can sleep in tomorrow morning and we'll just go to the late service... </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">They had a blast and we were all there as a family..</span>.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Breylin gets to spend the night and we were there to show our support at the first rodeo he entered...</span><br /><br />My thoughts were interrupted by, "Mom, start that song over."<br /><br />It was Jaiden, and it was obvious that she was listening very closely.<br /><br />I cleared my mind and just settled in and listened to the song with her. I could hear her singing along with it from time to time. Her voice sounded so sweet.<br /><br />'I love to hear you sing and praise, Jaiden" I said.<br /><br />She smiled and tucked her little chin down and thanked me.<br /><br />I kept listening...to the lyrics and to her...<br /><br /><span id="LBLLyrics"><b>Chorus</b><br />Oh, Christ, be the center of our lives,<br />Be the place we fix our eyes,<br />Be the center of our lives.<br /><br /><b>Verse 1</b><br />And You’re the center of the universe,<br />Everything was made in You, Jesus.<br />Breath of every living thing,<br />Everyone was made for You.<br /><br /><b>Pre-Chorus</b><br />You hold everything together,<br />You hold everything together.<br /><br /><b>Bridge</b><br />We lift our eyes to heaven,<br />And we wrap our lives around Your life,<br />We lift our eyes to heaven, to You.<br /><br />And then the music faded out and it was just voices ending the song, singing:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> And turn your eyes upon Jesus,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> And look full in His wonderful face.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> In the light of His glory and grace.</span></span><br /><br />The next song came on and she listened to it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We are Yours</span>--kind of a different song, but it talked about being a 'generation touched by your salvation" and it prompted a conversation about what salvation means. We had talked about this nearly a month ago, and she was recalling some of that.<br /><br />She told me that she had learned the story of Nicodemus. We talked again about salvation and how Nicodemus was "born again"...and how if we gave someone a gift and they didn't accept it, it was their choice and we weren't at fault for that. We discussed how that was similar to God offering us the gift of salvation and eternal life. We talked for a while and I remember saying, when you have any questions about all of this, just ask me or daddy and we can talk about it some more."<br /><br />A silence fell and I looked in the mirror to see if Jeryn was asleep yet. He wasn't, but he was as quiet as a little church mouse back there, holding his ear with one of his hands--something he does when he is sleepy :) I reached back over and turned the music back up just a tad.<br /><br />By this time, Chris Tomlin was singing<span style="font-style: italic;"> I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)</span> , and just a few moments later, Jaiden announced from the back seat, "I want to be saved!"<br /><br />There were no words to describe the joy that overcame me with her decision to accept Christ. We were nearly home, just around the corner...and while I hated to make her wait, I didn't want Mario to miss!! So I called him to tell him about Jaiden's decision. He was right behind us, so I told her we would pray together as soon as we got in the house because I wanted Daddy to be there. She was excited!<br /><br />So at 11:25 p.m. Mario, Jaiden, Jeryn, Breylin and myself knelt in a circle in our bedroom floor. I read the following scriptures from my bible:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28000">Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)</sup><br /></div><sup style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28000"><br />23</sup><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:georgia;" >for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, </span><sup style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28001">24</sup><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:georgia;" >and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Romans 10: 9-10 (KJV)<br /></div><p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-28198">9</sup>That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. </p> <sup style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" class="versenum" id="en-KJV-28199">10</sup><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:georgia;" >For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation</span><br /><br /><br />And then Mario led Jaiden in a sinner's prayer to repent and accept Christ. This is the moment we had hoped for. Prayed for. Waited for. To see our child acknowledge Christ and accept Him at an early age.<br /><br />If you are reading this and you have never done this or have questions about what all of this means, you can go to <a href="http://www.byroncenterchurch.org/billygraham/steps.htm">THIS</a> site to read what Billy Graham has outlined as steps to experience a new life in Christ.<br /><br />Praise the Lord for answered prayer! Now, I continue to pray for Jeryn, that he too will accept Christ at an early age! Will you also pray for him?<br /><br />And please pray for Jaiden to grow spiritually in the days, months, and years to come!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">God is so good!</span><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Acts 4:12 (New American Standard Bible)<br /></div> <sup style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" class="versenum" id="en-NASB-27035">12</sup><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">"And there is salvation in </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."</span><br /></div></div>In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-32917450643312034602010-05-04T00:47:00.004-05:002010-05-04T00:58:07.220-05:00Little Artist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_L4bPWTygcA-KSMx-7sz1I303Zfji2nTACKaicoQZTT_X9vbMGRkLRkE9aPnMEndGA8RDP7COlrDe5NYsn4s-TdMtODLmu17FdRFtvUcha6QaBP_fofWmQ9K9uJowhchOJQC2SQNXJI/s1600/IMG_5147_1_1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 347px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_L4bPWTygcA-KSMx-7sz1I303Zfji2nTACKaicoQZTT_X9vbMGRkLRkE9aPnMEndGA8RDP7COlrDe5NYsn4s-TdMtODLmu17FdRFtvUcha6QaBP_fofWmQ9K9uJowhchOJQC2SQNXJI/s400/IMG_5147_1_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467289587229923858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />My little sweetie got a 2nd place ribbon in the art festival for her two tigers! I asked her if I got to keep the picture and she said, "No, because it will go in my portfolio." Pardon me for not knowing that kindergartners had portfolios. We are proud of you, sis!In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-7553808814460540142010-04-24T17:10:00.001-05:002010-04-24T17:10:21.331-05:00The Loveable Max!<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9Nr-F7x15I/AAAAAAAACpk/w_w_JHoGC0c/s1600-h/IMG_41794.jpg"><img title="IMG_4179" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="362" alt="IMG_4179" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9Nr--aoZLI/AAAAAAAACpo/fcK0BNN4SMc/IMG_4179_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="528" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Could he be any cuter???</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsAc2BaII/AAAAAAAACps/WR4JgVCHcQ0/s1600-h/IMG_41675.jpg"><img title="IMG_4167" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="365" alt="IMG_4167" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsBTDPK7I/AAAAAAAACpw/AMDZC370KL0/IMG_4167_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="529" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p>The next picture cracked me up.  I assumed the goat would learn to act like the dog, but looks like Esther has decided to be goat-like:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsCk_a5rI/AAAAAAAACp0/YbZbmPIzIUk/s1600-h/IMG_41725.jpg"><img title="IMG_4172" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="365" alt="IMG_4172" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsDipmfMI/AAAAAAAACp4/O_W-ZSKT9rM/IMG_4172_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="529" border="0" /></a>    <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsEUClitI/AAAAAAAACp8/19NJclKIFao/s1600-h/IMG_4198_12_1_13.jpg"><img title="IMG_4198_12_1_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="362" alt="IMG_4198_12_1_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsFBfPqVI/AAAAAAAACqA/SDOzwmgq-Jo/IMG_4198_12_1_1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsF0KBfnI/AAAAAAAACqE/UB3_-j1xzrc/s1600-h/IMG_4199_13_1_13.jpg"><img title="IMG_4199_13_1_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="361" alt="IMG_4199_13_1_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsGghahwI/AAAAAAAACqI/3bAOks55dSA/IMG_4199_13_1_1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsHQBXOdI/AAAAAAAACqM/wWr9MoK6_9U/s1600-h/IMG_42003.jpg"><img title="IMG_4200" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="347" alt="IMG_4200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ1qB6-9qEOFYWjgZp3hbdHOPmF68UOtupubj19Y1PQMdRtW-L36HZyEcYFPH128_EPpzTUZILcceu0HN26kt-hNmF3udTXkLvNUjJ_j8LpiFAyd9qdfarg9_4OJhaxjaDtziUSTLFCU/?imgmax=800" width="511" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Thank goodness Max is feeling MUCH better!  After a few doses of pepto bismol and a round of penicillin and B12, he is doing well!  He nibbles on everything…the buttons on my shirt, my ponytail, my ring, toes, books, and as you can see here, paper towels:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsJcCjb8I/AAAAAAAACqU/pxt8kKnwcaY/s1600-h/IMG_4202_15_1_13.jpg"><img title="IMG_4202_15_1_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="347" alt="IMG_4202_15_1_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsKJGn9YI/AAAAAAAACqY/41MCCcSznIQ/IMG_4202_15_1_1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="511" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The horses didn’t know what to think about Max the night we brought him home, but they have warmed up to him.  (I think Jeryn was telling him that he still likes horses the best).  We found out that Max loves animal crackers.  We already knew Esther did.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsK_oX3tI/AAAAAAAACqc/tUZ7V95bdxU/s1600-h/IMG_4222_16_1_19.jpg"><img title="IMG_4222_16_1_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="377" alt="IMG_4222_16_1_1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsLlSo09I/AAAAAAAACqg/kB2cpkryMPQ/IMG_4222_16_1_1_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsMF01BrI/AAAAAAAACqk/6JtkIW8nhHA/s1600-h/IMG_4231_21_1_16.jpg"><img title="IMG_4231_21_1_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="377" alt="IMG_4231_21_1_1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsNXXM8hI/AAAAAAAACqo/__ixXQC0ASs/IMG_4231_21_1_1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="257" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsOdG-LxI/AAAAAAAACqs/RthL_7kVVm4/s1600-h/IMG_42269.jpg"><img title="IMG_4226" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="368" alt="IMG_4226" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsPV9V8PI/AAAAAAAACqw/VK6Wo_lC0us/IMG_4226_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="535" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsQ5ht1ZI/AAAAAAAACq0/8QCw-GPLeOw/s1600-h/IMG_4232_22_1_16.jpg"><img title="IMG_4232_22_1_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="371" alt="IMG_4232_22_1_1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsRpBwafI/AAAAAAAACq4/AVNAaS8bUvE/IMG_4232_22_1_1_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsSXWL1bI/AAAAAAAACq8/lvY0-kwlHJ4/s1600-h/IMG_4233_23_1_15.jpg"><img title="IMG_4233_23_1_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="372" alt="IMG_4233_23_1_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S9NsTOXzwHI/AAAAAAAACrA/e8v-pU92KIc/IMG_4233_23_1_1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="257" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>We fixed a bucket of warm water and gave Max a bath this morning.  The only thing I could get to quickly was a bottle of Head & Shoulders, so Max shouldn’t be having any dandruff anytime soon :)</p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-60689640619998464332010-04-21T21:54:00.001-05:002010-04-21T22:02:49.056-05:00Goat Rope or Bust.<p>Goat Ropers.  It was a term we used in junior high on up to describe the kids that dressed like cowboys at school.  They wore the tight wranglers, belt buckles big enough to fry an egg on, and sounded really country.  (Like more country than me).  No disrespect to the “goat ropers”…it was not to poke fun, it was more like an association.  For instance…those kids are baseball players, those are basketball players, those girls are cheerleaders, those are band kids, and those kids rodeo/show, etc.  In fact, I always wanted to be in FFA and to this day don’t know why I didn’t participate.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-5vp28qCI/AAAAAAAACnE/E_bMiPN8poo/s1600-h/IMG_4080c%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4080c" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="300" alt="IMG_4080c" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-5wxaNe-I/AAAAAAAACnI/59lE0_jXYoQ/IMG_4080c_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Make no mistake, I was no city slicker.  In my mind, I was a cowgirl.  I loved helping with the cattle, enjoyed the horses and didn’t mind to get dirty.  My summers were filled with long days in the hayfields and I loved getting to check out of school early for “cattle working” days.  I caught crawdads and went fishing, and did stuff with my cousins like sort chickens for the sheer enjoyment of it.  I never grew out of doing that stuff, but somewhere between my forest green Rocky Mountain jeans and junior high, I traded in my Justins for a pair of Nikes.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-5xnsBQxI/AAAAAAAACnM/mEIwAs-P3gY/s1600-h/IMG_4061%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4061" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4061" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-5yCC7z7I/AAAAAAAACnQ/nZl6T9XMvpc/IMG_4061_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-5zQ7dktI/AAAAAAAACnU/RBChHhnTxD4/s1600-h/IMG_4068%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4068" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4068" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-5z7OX7XI/AAAAAAAACnY/N5TYafwpHjM/IMG_4068_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-51Zjda2I/AAAAAAAACnc/OIathGBUeKo/s1600-h/IMG_4051%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4051" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4051" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-514ZWU7I/AAAAAAAACng/aNy8E2p-3S0/IMG_4051_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-53NJRP5I/AAAAAAAACnk/2j18lhMgEDE/s1600-h/IMG_4052%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4052" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4052" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-53hdhFmI/AAAAAAAACno/3yv0s3M-bls/IMG_4052_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-549J6T1I/AAAAAAAACns/pyOXWru0YgY/s1600-h/IMG_4054%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4054" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4054" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGX2zNzx_KzQfJABWhYAPH1ZPofx1gjirq4NiZ7fZx1GSR5_5_H2Wv6lOJLwSkWKiuOvF2nzFhCRDEPOCX8KV8Ke_V-rTjHlSTiXomE_8ls5sNmXdhDJlSKqDb-YQIUf5C8FpsMpJ_zI/?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-56_3UysI/AAAAAAAACn0/P2DW-OJ8YgA/s1600-h/IMG_4055%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4055" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4055" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-57Zs1_xI/AAAAAAAACn4/of1p7W0p2IA/IMG_4055_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>However, I also secretly dreamed of being a “goat roper.”  I loved the country life, the adrenaline that comes with competing in an event, and I thought about the day that I would not be too scared to fly around a set of barrels effortlessly.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-591QdWvI/AAAAAAAACn8/YILExylsQn8/s1600-h/IMG_4087%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4087" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="323" alt="IMG_4087" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-5_XtMTNI/AAAAAAAACoA/XDRaUyX2Auo/IMG_4087_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="475" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>That day never came, so I married a goat roper.  More like a calf roper, but stay with me.  Then, when I had a couple of kids of my own, it was important to me for them to be “country kids.”  Not because that makes you one iota better than a city kid. It doesn’t.  But just because being around animals is a learning experience…an adventure…it teaches you about responsibility…and it helps you to appreciate the mighty God that we serve!  Every day, you can see his handiwork displayed in the gentleness of a deer grazing in an open pasture, the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, or the miracle in the birth of a new baby calf or a long awaited foal.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6A-YdwJI/AAAAAAAACoE/0vAZ97PjQEQ/s1600-h/IMG_4106%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4106" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4106" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6BbGFWLI/AAAAAAAACoI/6tGjFNHkRI0/IMG_4106_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6D7gAONI/AAAAAAAACoM/5kZybvAyDp8/s1600-h/IMG_4050%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4050" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="247" alt="IMG_4050" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6EkyRIdI/AAAAAAAACoQ/cLzIEzIc5lc/IMG_4050_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="359" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>These are the things that I loved about growing up on a farm.  In my lifetime I have had cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, geese, rabbits, horses, cattle, fish, turtles, frogs, and probably some other stuff if I thought longer.  I have nursed wild rabbits with broken legs, and held baby deer rescued from the hay cutters.  One thing I never had though, was a goat.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6GNa5RvI/AAAAAAAACoU/aHEufZ90bmA/s1600-h/IMG_4139%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4139" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_4139" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6Gj_BgxI/AAAAAAAACoY/m_LNqSYIXB8/IMG_4139_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6IdfFqzI/AAAAAAAACoc/PTV4sZuwJCE/s1600-h/IMG_4141%5B7%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4141" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="247" alt="IMG_4141" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6I7UJTlI/AAAAAAAACog/UpRbLRq_XzU/IMG_4141_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>But last night, that all changed.  Here goes the wild and crazy tale.  Mario’s calves had gotten huge and were too big to rope.  So he trades in with our friend, Matthew.  Matthew comes over to get the calves.  I mention that he should be on a lookout for a little goat for Jeryn to practice roping and tying on.  Mario rolls his eyes.  Later I called Matthew on the phone and left a message that Mario and I had discussed, and we agreed that it might be good for the kids to have a goat.  A local rodeo has goat ribbon racing and goat tying every weekend, and if they showed interest, we might think about that.  So I ended the message with, “So in all seriousness, be on he lookout for a little goat.”  As I’m thanking him at the end of the message, Jeryn is in the background saying, ‘no mama, not a lil’ goat—a BIG goat!”  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6JsiEuUI/AAAAAAAACok/FHgMb9dkrs0/s1600-h/IMG_4120%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4120" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="371" alt="IMG_4120" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6KFy3xCI/AAAAAAAACoo/Mxb_LUsBQU4/IMG_4120_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="258" border="0" /></a> We went to community group with the kids last night and Mario’s parents were up for letting the kids spend the night.  I needed to study and Mario and I thought it might be nice to have a quiet evening to ourselves.  Except we ended up getting a goat.  And castrating it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6L11jiPI/AAAAAAAACos/j3jXCssaGhw/s1600-h/IMG_4156%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4156" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="320" alt="IMG_4156" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6NWUS8YI/AAAAAAAACow/CRCPIW1qems/IMG_4156_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="467" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>On our way home from community group, phone rings.  It’s Matthew, and it’s 9:00pm, he’s leaving the sale barn. “You still want a goat for your boy?”he asked.  “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”  </p> <p>Closer to 9:30, Matthew shows up with a goat.  I asked for a female…It was a male.  A guy that had bought a full load at the sale barn couldn’t fit him on his trailer so he told Matthew to grab him off the back if he wanted him.  I hated to complain about a free goat, but I wasn’t planning on a male…</p> <p>“Not to be picky, Matthew, but this is not a female.”  </p> <p>Oh but he’s been “fixed.”  As we stood there talking, Mario discovered that he had indeed NOT been “fixed.”  Matthew offers to “cut” him on the spot.  So here I stand at 9:30pm with my new goat, being castrated on my lawn in the light of the moon and porch light, enjoying a romantic evening at home with my husband like any other.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6O7TD2XI/AAAAAAAACo0/_TYuUR9IlXI/s1600-h/IMG_4146%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4146" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="404" alt="IMG_4146" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6QJgQq4I/AAAAAAAACo4/pN3dwb_1M8k/IMG_4146_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The kids were tickled too pieces upon hearing the news of the goat.  This morning we had Moms and Muffins at school and I ran back by the school to take J’s lunch.  I stuck a note in her sack that said I enjoyed the morning with her, and to be thinking of a good name for the goat.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6RgWgz_I/AAAAAAAACo8/YhxbMsxsyBM/s1600-h/IMG_4147%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4147" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="303" alt="IMG_4147" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6SL0VVCI/AAAAAAAACpA/mNGTCmLUfQw/IMG_4147_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="445" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6UEwXR7I/AAAAAAAACpE/LhanfPl52PQ/s1600-h/IMG_4150%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4150" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="302" alt="IMG_4150" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6UuLo-dI/AAAAAAAACpI/FMzSRoZGgrQ/IMG_4150_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="440" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>When I picked her up from school, she said his name would be “Max”…that is if Jeryn was in agreement.  He thought that sounded good, and said he would ‘fwank’ and tie Max.  When he heard the noise Max makes, he decided he would NOT flank and tie Max, at least not right now.  Just as well, Max had a tummy ache (i.e. the runs) and Matthew came by and gave him two syringes full of pepto bismol.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6VUMRq0I/AAAAAAAACpM/YdKoj3rFX6w/s1600-h/IMG_4127%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4127" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="297" alt="IMG_4127" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6WPi8TfI/AAAAAAAACpQ/Q890ISogCbo/IMG_4127_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="433" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Which is why Max has what looks like lipstick on in these pictures.  But don’t be confused by that.  He is a male.  And now, he is wethered (proper term for castrated goat, I think).</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6XTEsCZI/AAAAAAAACpU/mZCeUBO7UXc/s1600-h/IMG_4153%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4153" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="289" alt="IMG_4153" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6YCfAjJI/AAAAAAAACpY/mY588x5rH08/IMG_4153_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Meanwhile Max has settled in to his new home by getting in Esther’s dog crate and standing on our back deck.  The dog and the goat have made fast friends, and Esther is enjoying the company!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6ZRyM9SI/AAAAAAAACpc/FfXUcdVsO3o/s1600-h/IMG_4162%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4162" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="289" alt="IMG_4162" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8-6aC5lmkI/AAAAAAAACpg/9YB3sAnVlDk/IMG_4162_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" border="0" /></a></p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-7525954349387586682010-04-11T23:00:00.002-05:002010-04-20T22:18:51.495-05:0015 Steps to Success!<p>1) Start by gathering some farm fresh eggs. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaAo7dAeI/AAAAAAAACj0/YryfCtx5xXc/s1600-h/IMG_66672.jpg"><img title="IMG_6667" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6667" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaBP-Q7SI/AAAAAAAACj4/1EumO7tzGZc/IMG_6667_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaDD4SkvI/AAAAAAAACj8/sw8tRR66O5g/s1600-h/IMG_66682.jpg"><img title="IMG_6668" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6668" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaDTeV0JI/AAAAAAAACkA/355DSwRUxnE/IMG_6668_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>2) Get some help from your great-grandmother.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaFFk-WyI/AAAAAAAACkE/dDPdqcBSG9Y/s1600-h/IMG_66792.jpg"><img title="IMG_6679" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6679" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaFqPVg-I/AAAAAAAACkI/O4P_LMgRhTE/IMG_6679_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaIbJMWeI/AAAAAAAACkM/r_J42r91toc/s1600-h/IMG_66722.jpg"><img title="IMG_6672" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6672" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaJO0HrWI/AAAAAAAACkQ/JQuPWQ3zPQk/IMG_6672_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>3) After collecting enough eggs, sit on the porch and enjoy a little coke in a bottle.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaKxNj7CI/AAAAAAAACkU/5Icbw3CUiMI/s1600-h/IMG_66853.jpg"><img title="IMG_6685" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6685" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaLaue57I/AAAAAAAACkY/mimiwVfJLNE/IMG_6685_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="333" height="227" /></a> </p> <p>4) When you get home, wash the eggs with soap and water. Place them in a large pot with cold water (to reduce cracking) and a little salt and boil.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaM60zIAI/AAAAAAAACkc/_1-kU58_a7o/s1600-h/IMG_67684.jpg"><img title="IMG_6768" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6768" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaNYEyu_I/AAAAAAAACkg/qh0b-Tp-86Q/IMG_6768_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="334" height="230" /></a> </p> <p>5) Next, you will want to start with a nice, clean work area.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaPMb1mvI/AAAAAAAACkk/4rj66CWsUWA/s1600-h/IMG_67923.jpg"><img title="IMG_6792" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6792" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaP5qDzzI/AAAAAAAACko/qwVpg2xQjpI/IMG_6792_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="338" height="230" /></a></p> <p>Or you can ignore that step altogether.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaQjiDVDI/AAAAAAAACks/qcJAan-lwcs/s1600-h/IMG_40322.jpg"><img title="IMG_4032" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4032" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaRHu4lBI/AAAAAAAACkw/OFfxRrlxkAc/IMG_4032_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaTMYkJfI/AAAAAAAACk0/dUxpJ1YPje4/s1600-h/IMG_40463.jpg"><img title="IMG_4046" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4046" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaTj0GiTI/AAAAAAAACk4/q4v23K4-WVw/IMG_4046_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="319" height="243" /></a> </p> <p>6) Bring the whole family in, coloring eggs should be a family affair!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaUwhUqBI/AAAAAAAACk8/M9eo5TWy9wY/s1600-h/IMG_40426.jpg"><img title="IMG_4042" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4042" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaVpjEvBI/AAAAAAAAClA/OZRMyLC0hfs/IMG_4042_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaYtz-e4I/AAAAAAAAClE/yfCRsAz_oPk/s1600-h/IMG_40457.jpg"><img title="IMG_4045" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4045" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaZOeldTI/AAAAAAAAClI/1X8HVY3s_Y0/IMG_4045_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="313" height="246" /></a> </p> <p>7) Scream at your little brother for breaking all your eggs and try to push him off the counter. Act like your not mad at him long enough for a quick photo.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaagHjUGI/AAAAAAAAClM/XD43YCw0PnE/s1600-h/IMG_40482.jpg"><img title="IMG_4048" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4048" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KabWdd9lI/AAAAAAAAClQ/aDASApTZyXc/IMG_4048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Kac0dpjGI/AAAAAAAAClU/E2GOWVOj4h8/s1600-h/IMG_40492.jpg"><img title="IMG_4049" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4049" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KadLox0CI/AAAAAAAAClY/WXs-kvxoazI/IMG_4049_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Kad-ow6NI/AAAAAAAAClc/j0PKAHI1XG4/s1600-h/IMG_677432.jpg"><img title="IMG_6774" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" alt="IMG_6774" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaecYHH2I/AAAAAAAAClg/k4vnBH-aHas/IMG_67743_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="215" height="312" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>8) When you tire of the traditional egg coloring routine, call in an artist. An artist can help make the eggs into a variety of things like rabbits, flags, and cute cartoon figures. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KagPLPFUI/AAAAAAAAClk/_VsfDdCsjmc/s1600-h/IMG_67803.jpg"><img title="IMG_6780" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6780" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Kag2DDL0I/AAAAAAAAClo/WLB53KqgSUU/IMG_6780_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="364" height="248" /></a> </p> <p>Exhibit A:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KahRNlvUI/AAAAAAAACls/gQ4949wJdAQ/s1600-h/IMG_67844.jpg"><img title="IMG_6784" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6784" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaiHCkicI/AAAAAAAAClw/6fYUfMZcQls/IMG_6784_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="362" height="249" /></a> </p> <p>Exhibit B:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Kajovc_rI/AAAAAAAACl0/hvNdEPrmswA/s1600-h/IMG_67914.jpg"><img title="IMG_6791" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6791" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KakADjMAI/AAAAAAAACl4/bIHeI-S5-Mk/IMG_6791_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="362" height="249" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Kal3QDRlI/AAAAAAAACl8/nyeHuSAjiPo/s1600-h/IMG_67876.jpg"><img title="IMG_6787" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6787" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Kamswv7uI/AAAAAAAACmA/ONR2qS7zL5Q/IMG_6787_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="365" height="249" /></a> </p> <p>9) Encourage the artist in a young-in by having them think of ideas and then turn them loose with sharpies (which wears nicely with their Easter outfit the next day).</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KanwmcCSI/AAAAAAAACmE/wviPX_azWD8/s1600-h/IMG_4062%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4062" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4062" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaoiU1mFI/AAAAAAAACmI/yMKhutoiuvM/IMG_4062_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="192" height="247" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KaqLXorwI/AAAAAAAACmQ/jlGMkRbTaFk/s1600-h/IMG_40777.jpg"><img title="IMG_4077" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4077" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Kaqmd2ExI/AAAAAAAACmU/de92wfO1rEo/IMG_4077_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="194" height="246" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KasRuC4aI/AAAAAAAACmY/qDgNYESiOxw/s1600-h/IMG_40663.jpg"><img title="IMG_4066" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4066" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KauP2gbpI/AAAAAAAACmc/ZW_AVnN2p5Y/IMG_4066_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="480" height="365" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8KawJUg7uI/AAAAAAAACmg/inQzV1MCo0g/s1600-h/IMG_40704.jpg"><img title="IMG_4070" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4070" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Kaxoyi5PI/AAAAAAAACmo/xGKxGhI0UdU/IMG_4070_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="483" height="369" /></a> </p> <p>10) Smile big and pack your Easter baskets. Go and celebrate our RISEN SAVIOR! </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Kaz-_0PjI/AAAAAAAACms/CNbajguHW_U/s1600-h/IMG_4080%5B1%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4080" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4080" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Ka0XH4kBI/AAAAAAAACmw/YN3PhoQbVI0/IMG_4080_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="335" height="261" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Ka08VekUI/AAAAAAAACm0/LENOAM1A8EI/s1600-h/IMG_6790%5B1%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6790" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_6790" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Ka1cTDGoI/AAAAAAAACm4/UXigXNQwlG4/IMG_6790_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="182" height="261" /></a></p> <p>11) Put aside your “special eggs” so that no one else gets to find them in an egg hunt after church.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Ka3nCLVVI/AAAAAAAACm8/1_SevQvREzs/s1600-h/IMG_40933.jpg"><img title="IMG_4093" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="IMG_4093" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S8Ka4mTYUaI/AAAAAAAACnA/QX66rb5zTrQ/IMG_4093_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="319" height="243" /></a></p> <p>12) Leave one basket of eggs at the family Easter gathering. </p> <p>13) Put the other basket of eggs in the back of your mom’s car and forget about it for a week. Be sure to throw stuff in on top of it throughout the week from all directions knocking the basket over so that the eggs will roll around and break in a million pieces. </p> <p>14) At the end of the week, help mom unload the car! Act extremely upset to find that your eggs are broken and stinky. </p> <p>15) Finally, laugh it off and take the few that are not broken and chunk them into the horse pasture as far as you can. </p> <p>This concludes our 15 steps to egg coloring success! A few Easter weekend photos to follow soon.</p>In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-39203731115546946732010-04-09T13:38:00.004-05:002010-04-09T13:50:59.577-05:00TGIF<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday Morning: </span>Speeding ticket two miles from J’s school.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday Morning:</span> And so continues our troubles with transportation. Mario's truck has decided not be reliable. At the risk of sounding a bit spoiled, can I just say that week two of sharing a vehicle has been a bit of an inconvenience? Not to mention a strain on the pocket book. Ouch.<br /><br />Add dropping off my husband at his office to my list of usual morning stops…oh, and picking up too. Okay, so it IS fun to visit and have the extra time together but I feel like I have been in the car long enough every morning that I should be pulling in to a beach somewhere. With the backpacks, diaper bags, changes of clothes, and computer bags piled up in the back…we certainly would have enough luggage to be checking in somewhere.<br /><br />One morning en route, Mario looked at the clock and said, Have we SERIOUSLY been in the car for an hour??<br /><br />Welcome to my world, Dear!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday:</span> Complete blur….I can’t even remember.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday Morning:</span> After dropping J & M both off, I looked forward to spending some time with Jeryn and getting a few things done. I returned some movies to Hastings two weeks ago, but this week they called to give me a friendly reminder that I had kept one of the movies out longer than expected. Not that I would EVER do that :) I called and explained that I had returned both at the same and asked that they look into it further because I was certain that it had been returned. They promised a call back which I never received, so I thought I would run in and make sure they had found it. Thankfully they had. And then J wanted to rent <span style="font-style: italic;">The Black Stallion</span>. We spent way too long looking for it and when we arrived at the checkout, the sweet little girl working told me that they had it for sale for $3.99. So off we went to spend way too much time looking for it again. In the used section, I found two more movies about black stallions for $3.99. One was a movie we once had, but watched so much it skipped. I decided this was a justifiable purchase and made my way back to the checkout counter.<br /><br />Again, the sweet little girl was trying to help and said, “You know that if you buy three from the used section, you get a fourth for a dollar.”<br /><br />I didn’t want a fourth, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. She was extra helpful and friendly. So off we went and pretended to look even though we returned to the counter empty handed. By the time I got out of there, it was almost time for the consignment shop to open. I had spent a few hours cleaning our closet last week and had sorted the stuff for good will and a few things for consignment.<br /><br />It turned out to be more of a hassle than it was worth.<br /><br />Sometimes you will get a really nice one that will check everything in and if it doesn’t sell, you never really know it. But at least you don’t get your feelings hurt in the drop off line. This time I was lucky enough to get the consignment chief of police.<br /><br />“<span style="font-style: italic;">This one has two small stains.” </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“This one is too heavy for spring and summer.”</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“This one appears to have a water stain.”</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“This one has a hanger crease.”</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“This one has a few knobbies on it.”</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“You MIGHT could get this spot out with some club soda and then bring it back and try me.”</span><br /><br />In between those kind gestures were remarks like these:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“Your son is climbing on our fence.”</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“Your son is about to knock our fence down AGAIN.”</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“Your son is taking the toys out of the kid section.”</span><br /><br />I smiled and apologized multiple times, but I was really thinking, “<span style="font-style: italic;">If you think that’s bad lady, you should smell him right now.</span>” On one trip to peel him off of the wooden fence around the play area, I realized what he had been hiding in the doll house and doing.<br />Meanwhile, he moved both chairs to the counter and tried to climb up on it.<br /><br />I was afraid the growing line behind me would get a whiff, so I carried him back to the play area, made threats, and muttered something about feeling like I was “<span style="font-style: italic;">about to go crazy” </span>under my breath. No sooner had it came out of my mouth and the nice lady behind me said, “<span style="font-style: italic;">I thought I recognized you two!</span>”<br /><br />I was unsure of what that could mean. Did that mean that she was used to seeing me chase my son and make threats? Did that mean that she had seen me in the tacky clothes I was trying to resell??<br /><br />It probably didn’t mean anything other than a friendly hello. Her child attends Jaiden’s school and she is quite possibly the sweetest parent of any child there. Embarrassed and still a bit flustered, we talked and my mind drifted to wondering if she had a keen sense of smell.<br /><br />I drug my bag of clothes back out the door, along with Jeryn, who by this point had said, “I smell something yuck.”<br /><br />This was beginning to look like a repeat of last Friday in the parking lot of a local restaurant. I realize this is gross, AND that this is the www. I also realize that you probably don’t care to read this. But for my own sake, I’m venting: One bad diaper, exploding all the way to the tag of his shirt. Three wet wipes left in the box. And NO extra clothes. Oh wait…I bought his Easter outfit earlier that morning! Let’s wear our Easter outfit into a casual restaurant on a Friday night when the rest of my family look like bums! You do what you have to.<br /><br />Where was I?? Oh, the consignment shop...Friday morning. I changed him in the car the best you can change a “bull in a china closet”, and gasped when I looked down in the floorboard to see Esther feasting on the dirty diaper.<br /><br />As I looked up, sweetest woman in the world from Jaiden’s school was waving as she drove off. Maybe she didn’t see our dog eating the diaper. Maybe she did. At any rate, TGIF.In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-88579699250184413462010-03-26T22:36:00.001-05:002010-03-26T22:41:46.498-05:00See How They Grow<p>A couple of weeks ago I picked up these little nifty bags for the kiddos.    </p> <p>   <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S618_ArUgTI/AAAAAAAACig/dNhbjID1Z9A/s1600-h/IMG_3780%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3780" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3780" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S618_2ozv-I/AAAAAAAACik/yT4BH9O-4Ao/IMG_3780_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619Bj3rxAI/AAAAAAAACio/lOfvFETMS8Q/s1600-h/IMG_3781%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3781" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3781" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619CJ7LnVI/AAAAAAAACis/o3Z9mqoIFHE/IMG_3781_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Thought they would have fun planting and watching them grow.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619EC-njQI/AAAAAAAACiw/dWFgFJ-gBp0/s1600-h/IMG_3785%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3785" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="346" alt="IMG_3785" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619GLNM5aI/AAAAAAAACi0/-b8xAkDSZ1c/IMG_3785_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="501" border="0" /></a> </p> <p></p>        <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6FQGDvJxv9Y2mo37rEIe0qUyOoqfXHuEDxErTmx9n-0Q386j8hjfJ33Z9vhFhKRNzXz0thQFxXTFDTn-fdM46TtGIqBRW92cci0swDBQ5_wEF80ZrwcRz2Nkpp_Z5ZyKXFYWGDUAAsY/s1600-h/IMG_3791%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3791" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3791" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619IfQgx-I/AAAAAAAACi8/-L3U4N8UiLo/IMG_3791_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619KP-pSCI/AAAAAAAACjA/mPirAswYyn0/s1600-h/IMG_3792%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3792" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3792" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619Kp1IkoI/AAAAAAAACjE/38mm5S6-SKU/IMG_3792_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>  <p></p> <p>They did have fun planting.  </p> <p>I did not have fun cleaning up the mess.  </p> <p>Soaking peat pots in water is not for little boys between two and three.  I couldn’t get a picture of the mess..it had to be promptly tended to.</p> <p><img title="IMG_3797" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="366" alt="IMG_3797" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619LR1r3NI/AAAAAAAACjI/BoWhOGlKqZ0/IMG_3797_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" border="0" /></p> <p>We put them in the window and waited for them to grow.  I begged my family to keep the door to this room closed because a certain dog likes playing in dirt.  And a certain little boy likes playing in dirt.  And eating seeds.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619NGG7kDI/AAAAAAAACjM/_UqDZzSGW_I/s1600-h/IMG_3803%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3803" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="342" alt="IMG_3803" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619Ot4ZInI/AAAAAAAACjQ/UCtJWw_AmmI/IMG_3803_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="495" border="0" /></a></p> <p>But somehow this little monster kept sneaking pots out.  We started with a dozen and are down to nine.  She also knocked some off of the ledge and the stickers/labels fell off, so I’m not sure what is in each pot. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619PdqTVUI/AAAAAAAACjU/c2ZNxsLNJmc/s1600-h/IMG_3807%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3807" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="376" alt="IMG_3807" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619QKp1l-I/AAAAAAAACjY/igGEo8JmJTo/IMG_3807_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="256" border="0" /></a>But I do know that these are Bubby’s baby watermelons… YAY!<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619R4fGX_I/AAAAAAAACjc/fxbQCYYuR7g/s1600-h/IMG_3934%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3934" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="305" alt="IMG_3934" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619SgyIYhI/AAAAAAAACjg/ZTRN_SMdsdA/IMG_3934_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="448" border="0" /></a>Not sure what these are but they sort of look like the same thing… if not, they are sunflowers…<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619TnF2GQI/AAAAAAAACjk/87vu3vp1BRs/s1600-h/IMG_3932%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3932" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="306" alt="IMG_3932" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619UUov3MI/AAAAAAAACjo/5ozfD0U88bA/IMG_3932_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="442" border="0" /></a>And these are sis’s tomato plants… YAY!<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619VzMwQ0I/AAAAAAAACjs/i_hzQFi_orU/s1600-h/IMG_3929%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3929" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="299" alt="IMG_3929" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S619WmsytgI/AAAAAAAACjw/TD2cU03vvTc/IMG_3929_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="440" border="0" /></a></p> <p>I am glancing over my shoulder right now and noticing how much they’ve grown even just today.  (These pictures were taken a few days ago).  They are screaming my name to water them so I had better do that now!</p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-65587540614649398032010-03-25T21:23:00.001-05:002010-03-25T21:23:04.257-05:00On Globes, Teeth, and Feeling Under the Weather<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6waTmDF1RI/AAAAAAAACho/5Z6_1M7xa7k/s1600-h/IMG_4002%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4002" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="502" alt="IMG_4002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6waUqRJVyI/AAAAAAAAChs/VnUf37zTiMo/IMG_4002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Mo & Grandad got J a globe for her birthday.  I used to love looking at my mom’s globe, so when mom told me she had one ordered for J, I was excited!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6waWQAY73I/AAAAAAAAChw/ue6hZsDoqO4/s1600-h/IMG_3988%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3988" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="345" alt="IMG_3988" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6waXTbHg-I/AAAAAAAACh0/advnGA0Am5Y/IMG_3988_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="508" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="center">I knew she would love it.  Added cool points for lighting up. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6waY3yCQQI/AAAAAAAACh4/sfmLMchPqNw/s1600-h/IMG_3975%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3975" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="360" alt="IMG_3975" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6waZwByMSI/AAAAAAAACh8/GB76BMe3a9o/IMG_3975_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="center">We turned the lights off in the living room and sat by her globe for a long time talking about different places.  I love the soft glow it puts off.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6waa6Wd_wI/AAAAAAAACiA/1YojQ3rdp44/s1600-h/IMG_3971%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3971" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="352" alt="IMG_3971" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6wab3gDKaI/AAAAAAAACiE/g1NPSOTURko/IMG_3971_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="518" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="center">We decided that we would pick a place each week and then do a little research together on that place to learn about it.  She chose Italy for this week.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6wacsi-ckI/AAAAAAAACiI/72cZJj6bNiQ/s1600-h/IMG_3944%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3944" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="354" alt="IMG_3944" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6wadnf0DbI/AAAAAAAACiM/DtBwZN71az4/IMG_3944_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="514" border="0" /></a>   And last but not least…look what we lost last night!!!!  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6waeU9aCwI/AAAAAAAACiQ/-7bhasVASw4/s1600-h/IMG_3946%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3946" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="494" alt="IMG_3946" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6wagNTtrrI/AAAAAAAACiU/ydYlOcNjbz8/IMG_3946_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" border="0" /></a> I was glad Mo found the tooth because it fell out in her sleep.  We had a rough couple of days.  On Monday, I took Jeryn to the doctor and he had a positive strep test.  He’s on an antibiotic for ten days.  He just finished one in February for an ear infection :(  Yesterday morning around 5 a.m. Jaiden woke up vomiting with a bad stomach bug.  She was sick the whole day but finally started feeling better about bedtime.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6wag9zVucI/AAAAAAAACiY/lDerh7txmLU/s1600-h/IMG_3960%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3960" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="487" alt="IMG_3960" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6wahlINO2I/AAAAAAAACic/E_p9lzQc-T8/IMG_3960_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="center">Thankfully they are both feeling better!</p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-12195605035702740562010-03-18T13:52:00.001-05:002010-03-18T14:05:05.715-05:00Oh My Sweetie!<p>Six years ago, my life changed forever in a wonderful way.  The feeling that I had the first time I laid eyes on this girl was like none that I had ever felt before.  Scared too death, I actually asked to stay an extra night in the hospital because I was so afraid I wouldn’t know what to do.  The same little girl I had talked to, played music to, prayed over and dreamed about was finally in my arms!   </p> <p>She was perfect.  She was sweet.  She was precious.  She was beautiful.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1KuKLtCI/AAAAAAAACdQ/Sw7ucZxFU6s/s1600-h/116962-R1-21%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="116962-R1-21" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="358" alt="116962-R1-21" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1LriJRJI/AAAAAAAACdU/W6R1xRfwrqs/116962-R1-21_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" border="0" /></a></p> <p>She brought joy in a time of grief.   </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1MkhH7rI/AAAAAAAACdY/s0tBebE7bdg/s1600-h/116962-R1-18%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="116962-R1-18" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="353" alt="116962-R1-18" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1NYuzxxI/AAAAAAAACdc/XK7QtwqiuKk/116962-R1-18_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" border="0" /></a></p> <p>We couldn’t take our eyes off of her. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1O2X4PII/AAAAAAAACdg/ppLXgc2HLDc/s1600-h/1111111-R1-028-12A_1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="1111111-R1-028-12A_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="350" alt="1111111-R1-028-12A_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1P2FByVI/AAAAAAAACdk/Osg7jPsBDc8/1111111-R1-028-12A_1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="241" border="0" /></a></p> <p>PaPa tried to make her watch basketball while she was still at the hospital.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1RmZZcNI/AAAAAAAACdo/m8tZ96HgOqs/s1600-h/1111111-R1-053-25%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="1111111-R1-053-25" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="166" alt="1111111-R1-053-25" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1SXlaR2I/AAAAAAAACds/qICZ5KXr0tk/1111111-R1-053-25_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Family and friends made special trips to see and hold her.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1T5ZvEPI/AAAAAAAACdw/8T_kVmLXxV4/s1600-h/1111111-R1-007-2%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="1111111-R1-007-2" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="355" alt="1111111-R1-007-2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1UtnBodI/AAAAAAAACd0/2TtKlYZNGXI/1111111-R1-007-2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" border="0" /></a></p> <p>She brought smiles to our faces and love to our lives.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1WYX99OI/AAAAAAAACd4/FuyWPASgAMI/s1600-h/jaido2%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="jaido2" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="230" alt="jaido2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1XMzWrQI/AAAAAAAACd8/2QlxUWK2nnQ/jaido2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>I think these guys were even spotted running across the hospital parking lot when they returned from a mission trip the day after her arrival. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1Yns0xQI/AAAAAAAACeA/2LXfiBnqi00/s1600-h/jaido%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="jaido" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="330" alt="jaido" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1ZScBlqI/AAAAAAAACeE/CkrGVvoya3U/jaido_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" border="0" /></a></p> <p>She grew so fast…</p> <p><img title="9369301-R1-022-9A" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="295" alt="9369301-R1-022-9A" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1abusaSI/AAAAAAAACeI/QZA0vsSohJs/9369301-R1-022-9A_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" border="0" /></p> <p>And changed so often…</p> <p><img title="8915001-R1-043-20" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="383" alt="8915001-R1-043-20" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1bkItfBI/AAAAAAAACeM/WPljbdTb4a0/8915001-R1-043-20_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="267" border="0" /> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1c76jQDI/AAAAAAAACeQ/mgQjmAaw01g/s1600-h/2512781-R1-009-3%5B7%5D.jpg"><img title="2512781-R1-009-3" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="309" alt="2512781-R1-009-3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1eeKq7uI/AAAAAAAACeU/hKu6Nwx6pFw/2512781-R1-009-3_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="433" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1fdkVWdI/AAAAAAAACeY/k_X6VWrFJPM/s1600-h/sleepyhead%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="sleepyhead" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="330" alt="sleepyhead" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1gZylr2I/AAAAAAAACec/25oDS8yvaMI/sleepyhead_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="441" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p>  She went with me EVERYWHERE.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1iGk-FzI/AAAAAAAACeg/dtbuisowExE/s1600-h/jaido3%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="jaido3" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="346" alt="jaido3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1jpwn7HI/AAAAAAAACek/GxgY3yezaZo/jaido3_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="440" border="0" /></a>   </p> <p>All of a sudden she was talking up a storm… </p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:f45b7539-8acc-4cf7-b564-5c89efe1f701" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object width="400" height="280"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6462305&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6462305&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="280"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6462305">Sweet Little Jaiden</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user777449">In the Army of the Living God</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p></div></div> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1lLdVXFI/AAAAAAAACeo/xjIxksnYlj8/s1600-h/IMG_8947_3_12.jpg"><img title="IMG_8947_3_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="IMG_8947_3_1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1mSsp7_I/AAAAAAAACes/q0EblXh-uOI/IMG_8947_3_1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1nS5D41I/AAAAAAAACew/AaEFbvao6kw/s1600-h/IMG_8953_4_1.jpg"><img title="IMG_8953_4_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="325" alt="IMG_8953_4_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1oZckOjI/AAAAAAAACe0/53RyM2iFubY/IMG_8953_4_1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="center">2006 </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1pxifThI/AAAAAAAACe4/QXJyGzjawhk/s1600-h/32e1re2%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="32e1re2" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="260" alt="32e1re2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1rEk6aHI/AAAAAAAACe8/WAFwQCCNFos/32e1re2_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="377" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1sCw1ubI/AAAAAAAACfA/PJctmiwk24Q/s1600-h/96acre2%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="96acre2" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="256" alt="96acre2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1tApXEaI/AAAAAAAACfE/OrAxXDHDdRk/96acre2_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" border="0" /></a></p> <p>She was a daddy’s girl…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1uuMVK0I/AAAAAAAACfI/0ehef_uhGw0/s1600-h/pb%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="pb" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="282" alt="pb" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1vuT9CVI/AAAAAAAACfM/CrbaIpqPx6s/pb_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="381" border="0" /></a>With vibrant personality! </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1xu0efyI/AAAAAAAACfQ/dVSXNXmOadc/s1600-h/IMG_4062_2_1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4062_2_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="303" alt="IMG_4062_2_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1yPAMpzI/AAAAAAAACfU/pDgvny22XLg/IMG_4062_2_1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" border="0" /></a></p> <p>And style. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1zKG8aYI/AAAAAAAACfY/nyRvqWT5Rlw/s1600-h/IMG_4071_8_1%5B1%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4071_8_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="309" alt="IMG_4071_8_1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1z8WcWAI/AAAAAAAACfc/DaPIS_myS74/IMG_4071_8_1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="235" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">2007<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J12XHUbJI/AAAAAAAACfg/XGSq8mZ-hlI/s1600-h/IMG_41719.jpg"><img title="IMG_4171" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="185" alt="IMG_4171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8PqNbDQPmmqOSZ6-fKv5ZyPYanN-nNLlVLhUG7_rt6OvQSN3z5JQfEShgQJbjymR6kFSitAtNz4-U2YGp2-jsABRfnBOUBXt5k2qbKfWKjbq3o7YjeSCtXaOiwrOB7zqFWTNTdc2Og0/?imgmax=800" width="232" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="left">I wondered how she would adjust to being a big sister…. </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J15VJ1RtI/AAAAAAAACfo/u13VZzZgrm8/s1600-h/IMG_4200%5B1%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4200" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="302" alt="IMG_4200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J16D1JjVI/AAAAAAAACfs/O5_sIM79nJg/IMG_4200_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="left">as she had us all to herself for the last few days before her baby brother came…</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J17wqq8EI/AAAAAAAACf0/DSUrIMwsmWI/s1600-h/IMG_4189%5B1%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4189" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="308" alt="IMG_4189" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J18vkjvaI/AAAAAAAACf4/aFtOZF6eWIM/IMG_4189_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" border="0" /></a>   but I should’ve known…</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1-TMPQaI/AAAAAAAACf8/2L13ilW2y9g/s1600-h/IMG_4218_11_13.jpg"><img title="IMG_4218_11_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="243" alt="IMG_4218_11_1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J1_DTf5pI/AAAAAAAACgA/65tyzI6o9vk/IMG_4218_11_1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="left">that it would be totally fine…</p> <p align="left">  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2A0w5a0I/AAAAAAAACgE/RYwY4m6n5ZA/s1600-h/IMG_4221_13_13.jpg"><img title="IMG_4221_13_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="198" alt="IMG_4221_13_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2BgTOnZI/AAAAAAAACgI/rI0lX1re0Lk/IMG_4221_13_1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2DP61WII/AAAAAAAACgM/9MXTIDExh7w/s1600-h/IMG_4298_52_17.jpg"><img title="IMG_4298_52_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="199" alt="IMG_4298_52_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2D0kqISI/AAAAAAAACgQ/r2oCESAN5Lw/IMG_4298_52_1_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="252" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p align="left">Being a big sister is one of the things she does best!!!!!</p> <p><img title="IMG_4503_1_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="400" alt="IMG_4503_1_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2EYP776I/AAAAAAAACgU/Ndxkdi3CuOU/IMG_4503_1_1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" border="0" /></p> <p>It seemed like once she became a big sister, the time sped up.  Overnight she just had a different look about her.  She was a big girl now!  She was getting to be more and more independent….</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2F1NBbxI/AAAAAAAACgY/dsOU8pY3V-w/s1600-h/IMG_4487_4_17.jpg"><img title="IMG_4487_4_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="396" alt="IMG_4487_4_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2GzpR61I/AAAAAAAACgc/8fm43XWwd-4/IMG_4487_4_1_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2HrMe1MI/AAAAAAAACgg/XfaoVnBw1v4/s1600-h/IMG_9147_13_12.jpg"><img title="IMG_9147_13_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_9147_13_1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2IVuVWKI/AAAAAAAACgk/PFanbHsA_80/IMG_9147_13_1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a></p> <p>She got big enough to ride a pony and have long talks…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2Kd-LIaI/AAAAAAAACgo/kQuIZdTZ2AQ/s1600-h/mo%26jaido%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="mo&jaido" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="273" alt="mo&jaido" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2LebxT5I/AAAAAAAACgs/EaZvjWHH4OA/mo%26jaido_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="401" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="left">Big enough to make friends and go to class…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2MoF8MkI/AAAAAAAACgw/ucDzFdc1lxM/s1600-h/DSCF1155%5B1%5D.jpg"><img title="DSCF1155" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="305" alt="DSCF1155" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2NoMvalI/AAAAAAAACg0/DK9J2sGI_yA/DSCF1155_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="397" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="center">2008</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2Oahle9I/AAAAAAAACg4/HWtxqEu9lAs/s1600-h/IMG_0053_2_1%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0053_2_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="307" alt="IMG_0053_2_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2OxKZ58I/AAAAAAAACg8/fPt7DbqecIk/IMG_0053_2_1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="212" border="0" /></a>She is as sweet as she was the moment I first saw her.  What a blessing she is!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2PtIF5bI/AAAAAAAAChA/bGL_hNArq9s/s1600-h/IMG_7500_8_1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7500_8_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="308" alt="IMG_7500_8_1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2Qc4SXcI/AAAAAAAAChE/o512jp9dHts/IMG_7500_8_1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="216" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="center">2009</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2SMxsKhI/AAAAAAAAChI/YqOyN5vYR4Y/s1600-h/IMG_0840%5B1%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0840" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="295" alt="IMG_0840" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2TMNVbXI/AAAAAAAAChM/I9m0tGyuFwM/IMG_0840_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="433" border="0" /></a></p> <p>    She is still my baby…she’s just a little heavier to hold.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2UMeDwbI/AAAAAAAAChQ/tfdvn4M_TK8/s1600-h/IMG_10355.jpg"><img title="IMG_1035" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="356" alt="IMG_1035" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2U12JjRI/AAAAAAAAChU/kzW75eVXQrc/IMG_1035_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" border="0" /></a></p> <p>She  wants to be a “cowgirl and an artist” when she grows up.  She can read and write.  She is thoughtful and kind hearted.  She is a <strong>FUN</strong> kid!  She’s my sweetie.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2W94htnI/AAAAAAAAChY/eHE76Q6bhp8/s1600-h/IMG_3899ed3.jpg"><img title="IMG_3899ed" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="401" alt="IMG_3899ed" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2YYXrFyI/AAAAAAAAChc/RGSlfY8YPEc/IMG_3899ed_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="273" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>She is six years old today.  Happy Birthday to our sweet Jaiden.  May the Lord bless you today and always!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2ZNZpimI/AAAAAAAAChg/CEeneYv4nRw/s1600-h/IMG_3909_5_11%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3909_5_11" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="386" alt="IMG_3909_5_11" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S6J2ZyZimwI/AAAAAAAAChk/YGbnL0W9-yM/IMG_3909_5_11_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" border="0" /></a></p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-67507069903185464602010-03-14T23:59:00.001-05:002010-03-14T23:59:24.161-05:00Celebrate Six!<p>J’s birthday is not until later this week, but this year we had a party early.  On top of an already busy week, I was worried about having everything ready for her party Saturday, but it happened, and the party seemed like it was a success :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S528U-n9UZI/AAAAAAAACac/siBqz_qfdSY/s1600-h/IMG_3810_4_2_1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3810_4_2_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="333" alt="IMG_3810_4_2_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S528ZKUZMAI/AAAAAAAACag/viVlbDpmp2k/IMG_3810_4_2_1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="489" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>She wanted a zebra cake.  I was laughing about it to my sister a couple of weeks ago because it just dawned on me that she never really has had a “cute” cake.  </p> <p>Year one I must of expected 2,000 people because I ordered a Little People Farm Cake with “Happy Birthday Jaiden” on one side and “Happy Birthday Rhett” on the other.  I think I was afraid Rhett would feel left out…never mind that he was only 1.  I also didn’t think about possibly wanting any pictures of her first birthday cake with just her name on it.  Luckily it was so stinkin’ huge that I could still manage.  </p> <p>Birthday 2 was decent.  It was a lion face to go with our circus theme that year.  Maybe I’m just holding it against the cake because the weather sort of rained on my parade.  Literally.  At least it didn’t pour at the party--only the three days before.  One corner of my front yard was trying to hold water but the bounce house was rented, so the weather would clear up and it would work just like I had planned.  Kind of like the time I convinced Mario to keep heading toward Gulf Shores because I was going to “pray the hurricane away and have a nice family vacation like I had planned.”  I digress.  So the rain stopped, but the temperature DROPPED.  And the wind?? WHEWW!  We jumped in the bounce house and took pony rides on borrowed “Spanky” in ten minute spans.  Many watched from inside the house.  Note to self: No more outside parties in March.</p> <p>Year 3 was another lousy cake.  I honestly can’t remember if I ordered it through the party place or ordered it and brought it myself.  I’d like to blame it on the place where we had the party, but I’m afraid it might have been me.  It has horses on it, which was thoughtful, but it wasn’t anything to write home about.  </p> <p>You’d think by year 4, I might have caught on.  I can’t even remember what it looked like right now, and I’m too tired to try to look up the picture.  If memory serves me correctly, it was definitely provided by the party place, and I can still taste the freezer burn.</p> <p>Year 5 would have to take the prize prior to this year…it wasn’t just unbelievable, but we did make improvement.  And I don’t know why I got off on a 15 minute discussion about cakes.  Jaiden, honey, just know that my lack of planning over the first five years is no reflection of how VERY VERY much I love you!  My mom made most of my birthday cakes and they taste the best anyway!  And don’t even get me started on the Red Velvet she always makes for Aunt Jamie!  Yuuummm.</p> <p>Where was I??  I was telling my sister that this year I vowed to have cool cake.  So I rolled up my sleeves and got a good early start, and I made this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S528cliGovI/AAAAAAAACak/0lcHu_laHHg/s1600-h/IMG_3811%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3811" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="349" alt="IMG_3811" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S528gEtpm1I/AAAAAAAACao/f7UeqUZyoic/IMG_3811_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S528jk8la6I/AAAAAAAACas/QnzAm7qK2v0/s1600-h/IMG_3813%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3813" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="350" alt="IMG_3813" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S528n3sfbNI/AAAAAAAACaw/RDvBFvVIces/IMG_3813_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>KIDDING of course.  I ordered it from a super talented lady, but I loved how it turned out!  I made J a little shirt to wear with iron on letters form Hobby Lobby and a cut out “6” from zebra felt. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S528sUWbzRI/AAAAAAAACa0/LCx_tYV9Kj0/s1600-h/IMG_3812%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3812" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="346" alt="IMG_3812" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S528vpmVAGI/AAAAAAAACa4/_ZEN2DMMGnk/IMG_3812_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="499" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Here she is, as sweet as the day I first laid eyes on her…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S528zcHe3VI/AAAAAAAACa8/nZUvbhkFryE/s1600-h/IMG_3818%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3818" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="357" alt="IMG_3818" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52815kVjII/AAAAAAAACbA/RGoPez_Zy3M/IMG_3818_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5285O3658I/AAAAAAAACbE/Y0HqWbFnIaE/s1600-h/IMG_3821%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3821" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="356" alt="IMG_3821" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5288ZHY_rI/AAAAAAAACbI/ONp35tmdU5A/IMG_3821_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529BCKtmNI/AAAAAAAACbM/tacuAGm1Erg/s1600-h/IMG_3860%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3860" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3860" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529D6o4yLI/AAAAAAAACbQ/L7e5CGXxgX0/IMG_3860_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529Iovb7HI/AAAAAAAACbU/Xh2r1NDuy6M/s1600-h/IMG_3863%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3863" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3863" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529K5gUU7I/AAAAAAAACbY/x--D96vVR3Y/IMG_3863_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Thanks to my sister for taking some pictures for me.  I didn’t have enough hands.  I was too busy serving ice cream with a butter knife.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529Nhb87rI/AAAAAAAACbc/-b3tx00nqhA/s1600-h/IMG_3888%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3888" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_3888" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529Q_iS3zI/AAAAAAAACbg/7WTvQ28Ca-s/IMG_3888_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529UD8gKXI/AAAAAAAACbk/rJnpHNPW0tQ/s1600-h/IMG_3826%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3826" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_3826" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529XPwOtdI/AAAAAAAACbo/FqEfqb48IQc/IMG_3826_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529Z9EMrXI/AAAAAAAACbs/X0GdpQbY2yM/s1600-h/IMG_3892%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3892" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_3892" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529dc6gJrI/AAAAAAAACbw/NupERJf3tyo/IMG_3892_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Lex wanted to wear her pretty dress for Jaiden to see :)</p> <p>Mario’s cousins Jermaine and Brandy and Mario’s god-daughter Marlee…  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529h9JdPmI/AAAAAAAACb0/3I0cmF8r8F0/s1600-h/IMG_3824%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3824" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3824" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529kJwbd9I/AAAAAAAACb4/iIizyaB4LnM/IMG_3824_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>   <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529n_SMiJI/AAAAAAAACb8/z8cKz0BIA3c/s1600-h/IMG_3831%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3831" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3831" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529qCkM3qI/AAAAAAAACcA/e-rLJIXvmgc/IMG_3831_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Adi, Rhett & Chloe…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529uBL1e8I/AAAAAAAACcE/ZquOpj03_fQ/s1600-h/IMG_3891%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3891" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3891" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529xsAXdYI/AAAAAAAACcI/85EcY5IoPsc/IMG_3891_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5291gUy0tI/AAAAAAAACcM/yAjJIMh_gqA/s1600-h/IMG_3839%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3839" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3839" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5294KmhwLI/AAAAAAAACcQ/UOgIxzBQpg8/IMG_3839_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Ryann and Mary Kate…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5298Gv1MkI/AAAAAAAACcU/SuyoDO3_O8E/s1600-h/IMG_3880%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3880" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3880" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S529-jY1R-I/AAAAAAAACcY/SAzW_N3YAqw/IMG_3880_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-De0XmxI/AAAAAAAACcc/sJSGoh5buX8/s1600-h/IMG_3838%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3838" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3838" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-F7YX_oI/AAAAAAAACcg/IzyF5sjSP1k/IMG_3838_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Jadien with her cousin…</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROBI_jEk_gdYQf0iiKU9QANR2wrLIZkvcWFge26A2YgnmrHEYeYqpRtJ3lrD5bJ05CtkQhM5P2_NWvGFmc6pu3DgHNjl4VoPxB7b-Ghj4_1fxogCZgyCN0PYn5hakvTZyCbo3x7sAYl0/s1600-h/IMG_3854%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3854" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="232" alt="IMG_3854" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-NuS3cvI/AAAAAAAACco/JlhVVJvEWA8/IMG_3854_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="158" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-Q6Qo8aI/AAAAAAAACcs/pd6E__BsWGA/s1600-h/IMG_3823%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3823" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="232" alt="IMG_3823" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-ShXFw1I/AAAAAAAACcw/cvFCK2yTMt8/IMG_3823_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After the party we picked these jonquils and I took these of J:  I edited them to make them a little brighter but you can see the originals next to them.  There aren’t words to describe how special this girl is.  We love you, sis!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-V1gylpI/AAAAAAAACc0/Qf1N0FK542o/s1600-h/IMG_3899%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3899" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="324" alt="IMG_3899" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-ZbWdH2I/AAAAAAAACc4/UuS_CulAaYw/IMG_3899_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" border="0" /></a> <img title="IMG_3899ed" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="426" alt="IMG_3899ed" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-cqzO85I/AAAAAAAACc8/wu_XybS6R5c/IMG_3899ed_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="290" border="0" /> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-gMfv0yI/AAAAAAAACdA/AShOAgaCAN0/s1600-h/IMG_3900edit%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3900edit" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="468" alt="IMG_3900edit" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-jm37ZqI/AAAAAAAACdE/nn6fu4a2ewI/IMG_3900edit_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-niM1JSI/AAAAAAAACdI/CEF-hpAw_Ro/s1600-h/IMG_3900%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3900" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="283" alt="IMG_3900" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S52-qHbkDSI/AAAAAAAACdM/bGfp_-r4XQo/IMG_3900_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="202" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Happy Early Birthday!</p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-10200085373120057342010-03-10T22:16:00.006-06:002010-03-11T23:25:26.474-06:00Dear Self...March 9th, 2010<br /><br />Dear Self,<br /><br />I am writing you this letter as a reminder. IF ever the day comes that you feel that you’ve got it “together,” don’t take yourself too seriously. Humble yourself and remember that it was not always that easy.<br /><br />Today you woke up to find your left eye messed up. Again. This has gone on for three weeks now.<br /><br />Today, you wore your dress completely backward to work. While you thought it felt unusually uncomfortable, it still took you until almost noon to figure out what the problem was.<br /><br />Today you chipped a chunk out of your front tooth while scarfing down lunch. Add trip to dentist to the one million things that need to be done this week.<br /><br />Today you realized that regardless of how hard you try, you really are so helpless. You admitted that these days, things are just tougher than they used to be. And as blessed as your life is, you actually wasted the rest of your day feeling sorry for yourself.<br /><br />These days you meet yourself coming and going. You go to bed exhausted and wake up exhausted. These are the days that you are trying to recover from a broken nose, pleurisy and whatever is going on with your eye during the same month.<br /><br />These are the days of packing lunches, and scrambling to get the kids out the door and a dog in the crate. These are the days that you cry all the way back from a listing appointment because in your state of frenzy you forgot to drop off your daughter’s lunch.<br /><br />These are the days of dropping everything to rush a toddler in with a double ear infection….of waiting in the car line for the medicine for what seems like hours while the kids cry, fight, and destroy your car right behind your seat.<br /><br />These are the days that no matter how hard you work to get the house clean, the tornado comes shortly after…the days that the only time to do laundry and housework is after you get home, feed, bathe and tuck everyone in. These are the days that when you kiss and tuck in, you sometimes fall asleep…waking up at midnight to the work you needed to do and lay back down at 3. These are the days that you lie in bed for another hour before sleeping because you are planning the order of events in your head for tomorrow to make sure you can get everything done.<br /><br />These are the days of wondering if you are even on the right path and praying desperately for God's direction.<br /><br />These are the days that you wonder if your parenting skills are adequate for equipping your kids to be a light in a dark world and you pray for the Lord’s return. These are the days that you go to ballgames and watch the teenagers and wonder, what will it be like by the time my kids are in high school?<br /><br />These are the days that I spend hours brainstorming with my husband…the days of dragging the kids with us to his office on Saturdays to clean and work in the office…the days of feeling guilty when we sneak off from the kids for a date every now and then.<br /><br />These are the days that I feel so blessed, yet so broken down.<br /><br />Thank you Lord for these days.<br /><br />Because these are the days that my children are little and laughing…the days that they reach milestones like losing a front tooth and learning to read...the days that they need me for everything, the days that they light up when their parents walk through the door at the end of the day.<br /><br />These are the days that they cuddle up to me, and fight over who lays next to me before asking me to “just get in the middle.” These are the days that they play too rough until someone gets hurt, tattle, then hug and make up.<br /><br />These are the days of watching them discover new things…of making them eat their vegetables, and of teaching them bible stories. These are the days that I can give them baths and smell them all night…the days that I can plan their birthday parties and still pick out what they wear.<br /><br />These are the days that I catch myself staring at them and just savoring the moment…the days that I look at pictures from last year and cry because of how quickly they grow and change. These are the days that I laugh out loud and write down the funny and sweet things they say.<br /><br />These are the days that I don’t have to struggle alone…thank you Lord for Mario.<br /><br />These are the days that I always dreamed of…of being a wife and mother. Thank you Lord, for these gifts.<br /><br />Thankfully Mario talked me into going to Community Group. We are doing a great study on marriage and the book Intimate Allies. We got into a great discussion about not wishing our days away. It seems like so often we are bogged down and we catch ourselves saying, “If I can just get through this day…” or this week or whatever we might say. It was a great reminder that even on our worst days we should be intentional about looking for something positive and not wishing our days away looking to the next one.<br /><br />There’s a song I hear sometimes that says,<br />“You're gonna miss this<br />You're gonna want this back<br />You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast<br />These Are Some Good Times<br />So take a good look around<br />You may not know it now<br />But you're gonna miss this”<br /><br />You may feel helpless today, but the Lord your God fights for you and surrounds you with songs of deliverance!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Self<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:5-6</span>In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-45111742555457593042010-03-08T14:20:00.001-06:002010-03-08T14:20:07.395-06:00Minus One<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbGC3c6mI/AAAAAAAACW0/GXClhf0ciuA/s1600-h/IMG_3638%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3638" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="367" alt="IMG_3638" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbHOSni_I/AAAAAAAACW4/DlDFhFuDg6o/IMG_3638_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Who else is in love with this great weather?  The kids have had so much fun the last few days enjoying the horses and the time outside.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbIx-yuOI/AAAAAAAACW8/naFfUhh-wd4/s1600-h/IMG_3639%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3639" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="287" alt="IMG_3639" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbJrfOrtI/AAAAAAAACXA/_qX-LWrc6Lw/IMG_3639_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Jeryn sure looks up to his daddy.  It’s really neat to watch them together.  He talks nonstop and says stuff like, “let’s catch a horse” and “I rope calves like my daddy.”  Last week he wanted me to team rope with him on their steer dummy before Mario got home.  When I jerked the loop off of one horn and missed, he told me, “Just rope both horns mama.”  He then asked me to sing the song “Cowboy Cool” AS he roped.  Hilarious.  </p> <p>His favorite story these days is about Mo as a little girl getting chased by a wild dog “with wild rabies in it”…true story.  It’s funny that he says “rabies in it” though…I always just tell it as the “wild dog with rabies.”  At any rate, he can retell it now.  All the way down to standing by the plum thicket and it jumping up on the side of the truck and slobbering on the window as she and her mom raced back to the house.    </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbKd4mKiI/AAAAAAAACXE/YNX2Gj76Pis/s1600-h/IMG_3635%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3635" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="386" alt="IMG_3635" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbLCF6fYI/AAAAAAAACXI/E3xg4dcREAk/IMG_3635_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="263" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>We picnics on Friday and Saturday.  Here is Jaiden showing how loose her front tooth is:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbL5r1eHI/AAAAAAAACXM/uDS0MrzFszI/s1600-h/IMG_3640%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3640" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_3640" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbMa3SjmI/AAAAAAAACXQ/vcS_5W_RWqI/IMG_3640_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbN4l8nCI/AAAAAAAACXU/X7z6Tsr6GWg/s1600-h/IMG_3646%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3646" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_3646" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbOYZCpkI/AAAAAAAACXY/OH5GmpV-6NA/IMG_3646_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p>Sunday after church, the kids wanted to ride again.  They have been watching the two Black Stallion movies and so they wanted to pretend to have a desert race.  Jaiden insisted on riding bareback like the boy in the movie.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbQknvh6I/AAAAAAAACXc/FoMAqHlMJBc/s1600-h/IMG_3649%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3649" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3649" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbRZBs9LI/AAAAAAAACXg/7yEc9GyLFUk/IMG_3649_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbTlHT_YI/AAAAAAAACXk/98mK5_kAgm8/s1600-h/IMG_3650%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3650" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3650" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbUlOYmxI/AAAAAAAACXo/5u8YuynXLE4/IMG_3650_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbWqh34hI/AAAAAAAACXs/Opwb0796LTk/s1600-h/IMG_3651%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3651" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="342" alt="IMG_3651" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbYm8S--I/AAAAAAAACXw/V8Kqqp1DTPE/IMG_3651_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="494" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Later in the afternoon, we headed to the house of some of our friends from church.  They have ten baby chicks and two rabbits.  They were also getting a new horse.  The mare was being delivered that day, and we were excited to see her.  She is going to have a foal soon!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbZ_0KxpI/AAAAAAAACX0/LZlHtXCaQTg/s1600-h/IMG_3664%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3664" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="242" alt="IMG_3664" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbaui_vQI/AAAAAAAACX4/VgVh3yBStgE/IMG_3664_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbbbUDwsI/AAAAAAAACX8/XFLdSDa5dWQ/s1600-h/IMG_3672%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3672" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_3672" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbb4DQ8XI/AAAAAAAACYA/MMy5_O0xyBI/IMG_3672_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The kids jumped on the trampoline and played outside ALL afternoon.  They were so tired and dirty but they had a blast!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbcpdry3I/AAAAAAAACYE/TybikIsf7gI/s1600-h/IMG_3681%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3681" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3681" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbdHPwEuI/AAAAAAAACYI/Lo63lwY2_nk/IMG_3681_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbex168JI/AAAAAAAACYM/78zC1dGsA60/s1600-h/IMG_3692%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3692" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="IMG_3692" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbfVfIuCI/AAAAAAAACYQ/LmO7bIRUfhU/IMG_3692_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbggyhR0I/AAAAAAAACYU/afQUv_JWMTM/s1600-h/IMG_3693%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3693" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="230" alt="IMG_3693" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbhTHgfxI/AAAAAAAACYY/6ErXCLKNd0o/IMG_3693_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbjDHNriI/AAAAAAAACYc/l2yd3laExhk/s1600-h/IMG_3694%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3694" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="237" alt="IMG_3694" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbjjb00hI/AAAAAAAACYg/FtveISLqe78/IMG_3694_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Here’s Josiah with his kiddos looking over their new horse!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vblr-J6hI/AAAAAAAACYk/K_kjinxmY0Y/s1600-h/IMG_3670%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3670" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="235" alt="IMG_3670" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbmbtVijI/AAAAAAAACYo/p18DLe6Z6oA/IMG_3670_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>She is so sweet and seems great around kids!  Their oldest daughter loves animals and she was eating up every minute with the horses.  We took two horses to their house and everyone took turns riding.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbnAvg0lI/AAAAAAAACYs/yZrdbsaXIdE/s1600-h/IMG_3702%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3702" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="281" alt="IMG_3702" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbnyKsgcI/AAAAAAAACY0/EN55zcnnZSc/IMG_3702_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="192" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbpKAhsTI/AAAAAAAACY4/Ry6ikgnoWYM/s1600-h/IMG_3722%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3722" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="282" alt="IMG_3722" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbpwz0YcI/AAAAAAAACY8/Qdi2P8FW8hY/IMG_3722_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="195" border="0" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbrs3AQ-I/AAAAAAAACZA/ToqhJm96bTo/s1600-h/IMG_3715%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3715" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="238" alt="IMG_3715" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbsc1V0EI/AAAAAAAACZE/Gj6Sow8ltUQ/IMG_3715_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbt40JH2I/AAAAAAAACZI/JKv0x30mgVA/s1600-h/IMG_3711%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3711" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="239" alt="IMG_3711" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbulbUuRI/AAAAAAAACZM/90gJhqS3QDA/IMG_3711_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbwXSkezI/AAAAAAAACZU/50tyyD2HV6Q/s1600-h/IMG_3709%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3709" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="238" alt="IMG_3709" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbxH5CH1I/AAAAAAAACZY/9PEt8cI4hv4/IMG_3709_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Josiah and Ann Marie grilled burgers for us, and hot dogs for the kiddos.  Jeryn would not quit tackling their smallest dog.  After dinner the kids ran out to play in the hay :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbycFoZOI/AAAAAAAACZc/ceDh9jsyJ2U/s1600-h/IMG_3743%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3743" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="241" alt="IMG_3743" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5VbzOQSR7I/AAAAAAAACZg/6ykQnrJa1N8/IMG_3743_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vbz0i48KI/AAAAAAAACZk/SzVKJ4lwkmM/s1600-h/IMG_3742%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3742" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_3742" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb0ZS0FiI/AAAAAAAACZo/aCkedzCqJF4/IMG_3742_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>They ended up on the trampoline looking at stars:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb0-ABfqI/AAAAAAAACZs/FakiNHrqILU/s1600-h/IMG_3751%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3751" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="239" alt="IMG_3751" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb1c8ra4I/AAAAAAAACZw/go2iAurlkYI/IMG_3751_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>A little later in the night, Jaiden was climbing over a gate and yelled, “I just lost my tooth!”  Josiah brought a flashlight out and we looked all over for it but couldn’t find it :(  The tooth fairy must have found it late last night because their was $5 under her pillow this morning?? ;)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb23fhWYI/AAAAAAAACZ0/hHSHlVhUGGU/s1600-h/IMG_3752%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3752" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="240" alt="IMG_3752" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb3j_a2CI/AAAAAAAACZ4/GvtuWRheaLQ/IMG_3752_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb4R9PPMI/AAAAAAAACZ8/bFGg3cs0Yns/s1600-h/IMG_3755%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3755" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="241" alt="IMG_3755" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb43xSeiI/AAAAAAAACaA/yHUHsUXGdow/IMG_3755_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="170" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>We pretty much wore out our welcome the first time we had ever been to their house, and then when we did try to leave, Mario’s truck wouldn’t start! It took about another hour before we had it running and the horses loaded.  When we got home, I washed and washed all of the hay out of their hair and took a few more pictures of her missing tooth:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb5loSuAI/AAAAAAAACaE/4VwoaaknKK0/s1600-h/IMG_3762%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3762" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="243" alt="IMG_3762" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb6Zo2yDI/AAAAAAAACaI/aqkd0gqcq4A/IMG_3762_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>I let her have a soft ice cream sandwich.  She couldn’t wait to show her teacher today :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb7hBrASI/AAAAAAAACaM/GAykCRMotX8/s1600-h/IMG_3770%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3770" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="246" alt="IMG_3770" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb8SrCg0I/AAAAAAAACaQ/KZLt1yrhINA/IMG_3770_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Before school, one tooth less than she had yesterday:</p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb9KX85MI/AAAAAAAACaU/tV2Nm7DfsDE/s1600-h/IMG_3771%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3771" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMG_3771" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S5Vb9fHRknI/AAAAAAAACaY/dZ60a8BVmds/IMG_3771_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a></p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-4145521246914191722010-02-05T17:48:00.002-06:002010-02-05T17:53:32.862-06:00Forgive Them Anyway<p><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">People are often unreasonable and self-centered.<br />Forgive them anyway.<br /><br />If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.<br />Be kind anyway.<br /><br />If you are honest, people may cheat you.<br />Be honest anyway.<br /><br />If you find happiness, people may be jealous.<br />Be happy anyway.<br /><br />The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.<br />Do good anyway.<br /><br />Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.<br />Give your best anyway.<br /><br />For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.<br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">It never was between you and them anyway.</span><br /></span><br />- Mother Teresa</span></strong></p>In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-28964350713562644892010-02-03T11:14:00.001-06:002010-02-03T11:14:01.589-06:00Dashing through the snow…<p>In a <strike>one horse open sleigh</strike> redneck open sleigh, O’er the hills we go…<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2muZhD7bfI/AAAAAAAACVU/hAHhpIYAw5I/s1600-h/IMG_3414_31_1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3414_31_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="316" alt="IMG_3414_31_1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mubAA3jGI/AAAAAAAACVY/YF6Fvm45bC4/IMG_3414_31_1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="465" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Barking all the way…Esther just couldn’t wrap her brain around what was going on.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mucLxg-rI/AAAAAAAACVc/5nIssYoB6Cc/s1600-h/IMG_3415_32_1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3415_32_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="319" alt="IMG_3415_32_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mueVkMkWI/AAAAAAAACVg/FFbB_Bc8eZg/IMG_3415_32_1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="465" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mufQLSvOI/AAAAAAAACVk/cVkW0SlYZf0/s1600-h/IMG_3395_15_1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3395_15_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="321" alt="IMG_3395_15_1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mugjQKzvI/AAAAAAAACVo/T58UIcgw93g/IMG_3395_15_1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="468" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The kids were having a BLAST!  I even took a ride—I did get some video of all the madness.  (i.e. the horses running on the other side of the fence, the dog barking, the kids squealing and laughing, myself screaming to “be careful”)  </p> <p>At one point I heard Mario ask, “Wanna go out in the field and find some hills so we can get some air?!!”</p> <p>They (the kids) thought that sounded like a great idea, but since they were getting enough “air” in our yard to keep my blood pressure up, I talked them out of it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2muhzfS0PI/AAAAAAAACVs/dm2nWtp2NzI/s1600-h/IMG_3404_22_1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3404_22_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="319" alt="IMG_3404_22_1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mui0wEkiI/AAAAAAAACVw/H1Y6-hzFkgU/IMG_3404_22_1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mukhnDT7I/AAAAAAAACV0/WKyieAT9ZJ8/s1600-h/IMG_3413_30_1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3413_30_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="326" alt="IMG_3413_30_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mumuII_uI/AAAAAAAACV4/0TduRrfnknA/IMG_3413_30_1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="472" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Esther—If you can’t beat ‘em…join em’:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2munrjci0I/AAAAAAAACV8/AvIH9duWXf0/s1600-h/IMG_3408_26_1%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3408_26_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="324" alt="IMG_3408_26_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBtZEpTZtROfR-gdui_dKgZxr9x5RIUbqyQpMhvpThwqc_jOAntdsdSZUSe_-K9226eKvgbRh1OZuiRBJe0kLPfdhwHDheDZZOJQy_OmgZstmAKlvspGHFrZ6C96bJPTbjigqdJntalc/?imgmax=800" width="473" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>She finally decided to forget jumping up at horses and barking at them to stop…so she ran a hundred laps around the house instead.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mup3QjWJI/AAAAAAAACWE/90QrDASFRZo/s1600-h/IMG_3939_4_1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3939_4_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="298" alt="IMG_3939_4_1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2murK8YOJI/AAAAAAAACWI/rEgLAl09Tq4/IMG_3939_4_1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2musNkDOlI/AAAAAAAACWM/gSxWrg4zJyA/s1600-h/IMG_3970_12_1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3970_12_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="298" alt="IMG_3970_12_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mutPexX-I/AAAAAAAACWQ/jgcaeXo4NxA/IMG_3970_12_1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p>After sledding we went in and warmed up.  In the afternoon we came back out and built a snowman and snowwoman.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2muuTC6O1I/AAAAAAAACWU/oreFHctHll0/s1600-h/IMG_3994_16_1%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3994_16_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="287" alt="IMG_3994_16_1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2muvmBLM5I/AAAAAAAACWY/qeTMHF_lrfs/IMG_3994_16_1_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2muwlmRkMI/AAAAAAAACWc/nEHaAU-c7yg/s1600-h/IMG_3995_17_1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3995_17_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="288" alt="IMG_3995_17_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mux1OLPKI/AAAAAAAACWg/V9j-rlDyBNs/IMG_3995_17_1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" border="0" /></a>              <img title="IMG_4003_20_1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="215" alt="IMG_4003_20_1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2muznnVczI/AAAAAAAACWk/j3KcvyDjUV0/IMG_4003_20_1_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqVaUd69JHeohe42wpO1IyZpaCAe6CDCIqZE58prlzSV23eUZPelNZBTXiMG7M3XUN7f2lvCR0VsMtwLOTfD6z-9xJEagW8hCqM5Om_wRhTZw2KAoUHII9EUCMneu8ksFCUPDtqzkr5Y/s1600-h/IMG_4006_23_1crop%5B7%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_4006_23_1crop" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="215" alt="IMG_4006_23_1crop" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S2mu1poq_lI/AAAAAAAACWs/wnKovTeDNB4/IMG_4006_23_1crop_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>We had fun in the snow, now I’m ready for springtime, flowers, warm weather and sunshine.</p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946381132843478613.post-59369918420323952732010-01-19T14:00:00.001-06:002010-01-19T14:03:16.487-06:00What Are Little Boys Made Of?<p><em>“Snips and snails and puppy dog tails, that’s what little boys are made of…”</em></p> <p>If you’ve ever wondered what it means to be classified as “All Boy”  here are a few of my requirements.</p> <p><strong>#1:  Magnet to mud.</strong>  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YO8fxgzbI/AAAAAAAACTs/NJqNW5Ohigg/s1600-h/IMG_3290%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3290" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="468" alt="IMG_3290" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YO98oFnsI/AAAAAAAACTw/BPpc3oM5i3g/IMG_3290_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YO_dmWpEI/AAAAAAAACT0/xqqMTeIkZJQ/s1600-h/IMG_3291%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3291" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="457" alt="IMG_3291" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPAlQ_VyI/AAAAAAAACT4/eDzkykE3dRM/IMG_3291_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>(Like Jaiden doesn’t like it just as much as him)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPCCeQBoI/AAAAAAAACT8/ixmkQyxdPyA/s1600-h/IMG_0773%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0773" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="406" alt="IMG_0773" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPDkoLBBI/AAAAAAAACUA/ydfp1LKoVcM/IMG_0773_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong>#2.  We do things like this:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPF-qaCVI/AAAAAAAACUE/QOy2T38Bed4/s1600-h/IMG_3269%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3269" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="263" alt="IMG_3269" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPGVcQQdI/AAAAAAAACUI/YFSf7IhHsq4/IMG_3269_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" border="0" /></a></p> <p><strong>…and this:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPH4nhvsI/AAAAAAAACUM/RjZz9a60tmc/s1600-h/z03%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="z03" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="296" alt="z03" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPISoPWsI/AAAAAAAACUQ/c8m0ic_h2xU/z03_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="384" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong>…and this:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPJJh1XjI/AAAAAAAACUU/5yyVTwXKLO4/s1600-h/IMG_2500_3_1%5B11%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2500_3_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="267" alt="IMG_2500_3_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPJmGXJwI/AAAAAAAACUY/09rLcQbmhds/IMG_2500_3_1_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong>and my mom knows it’s not an accident, because we wear a look like this:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPKKauHZI/AAAAAAAACUc/K49VNv_idl4/s1600-h/IMG_2501_4_1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2501_4_1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="263" alt="IMG_2501_4_1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPKj_8cOI/AAAAAAAACUg/3nxf_2ktCVY/IMG_2501_4_1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="380" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong>#3.  We ride hard and we ride fast.</strong>  We tip our rocking horses over forward sometimes because it terrifies our mothers.  We also like to <a href="http://www.texasescapes.com/ClayCoppedge/Bill-Pickett-and-Bulldogging.htm">bulldog</a> anything that happens by…like dogs. Or sisters.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPLN0uVaI/AAAAAAAACUk/lxPKtIlA-uE/s1600-h/IMG_3273%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3273" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="326" alt="IMG_3273" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPLr7PNtI/AAAAAAAACUo/-uwOwvV9w7s/IMG_3273_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="235" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPMacSTwI/AAAAAAAACUs/85Mdpn6LrmU/s1600-h/IMG_3272%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3272" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="327" alt="IMG_3272" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPM-oY-bI/AAAAAAAACUw/Bs3ENsSBul8/IMG_3272_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPNRR_TaI/AAAAAAAACU0/Aup0ICUX3XQ/s1600-h/IMG_3275%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3275" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="327" alt="IMG_3275" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPNxsBY8I/AAAAAAAACU4/RaLKUX34fAY/IMG_3275_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="235" border="0" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPOn587sI/AAAAAAAACU8/1H7z3IEvUGU/s1600-h/IMG_3278%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3278" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="325" alt="IMG_3278" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPPKDQgWI/AAAAAAAACVA/ccbv28eZZzQ/IMG_3278_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong>#4.  We act innocent and look like this:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPQjCRzYI/AAAAAAAACVE/beQEdY3Fr2A/s1600-h/z04%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="z04" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="z04" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPRIA5arI/AAAAAAAACVI/Y7EOfeV2VxQ/z04_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>But my mama knows better. She knows that before she got this cute picture, I probably had my puppy in a full nelson or did a belly flop on her.</p> <p>Still, she wouldn’t have it any other way.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPShow5aI/AAAAAAAACVM/33N_xpPxkF4/s1600-h/z05%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="z05" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="z05" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kQUFn9keNMU/S1YPTPeCH9I/AAAAAAAACVQ/JbQqOl6TNPY/z05_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>I’m her little helper and I’m good at making her laugh.</p> In His Armyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07790422535889601467noreply@blogger.com9