Play-Doh Portraits

Part of our fun over our five day break from school was playing with Play-Doh. Carson surprised me with a self-portrait and a portrait of his baby sister! I love the creativity of six year old! :)

Thursday Thirteen- Thanksgiving Style

Thirteen Things Carson is Thankful for This Year (in the order he said them)
1. Tripp
2. Jesus
3. Santa
4. God
5. Ella
6. Mommy
7. Daddy
8. Nascar racers
9. Grammy
10. Papa
11. Phil
12. Sarita
13. Lizzie
"...That's all!"
"Oh, and you can't forget G.G."

So Much to Be Thankful For!

Each and every year I have so much to be thankful for, but this year I stand amazed at my blessings! First and foremost, I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father - - - my Healer, my Hope, My Strength, my Foundation, my Wisdom, my Protector, my Father!!! God has worked so many miracles in my life this year, and continues to work them as I watch for Him daily! I am so thankful that God healed our precious baby girl when she was hospitalized back in February, and that He chose for me to remain on this earth to be Carson and Ella's mommy for awhile longer back in April. I am so thankful for my children. They are truly God's greatest gifts to me on earth. I am thankful for the times Carson and I race in the morning, for the prayers that we say together, for the songs that we sing together, for the times we cuddle, for the times he shares his work with me, for all the smiles he gives, and for the relationship he is forming with our Savior. I am so thankful for the times Ella just wants her mommy, for the love she shows her babies, for the little voice that calls for a cookie, for the feeling I get in my heart when she raises her hands to Jesus, for the girly girl she is! I am so thankful for the strength that God gave Brian during Ella's illness and especially during the time of my accident. God provided everything that Brian needed for the children to continue living as normal of a life as possible without Mommy!! I am so thankful for my family - - - my mom, my dad, my sister, my grandmother, Sarita, Phil, and my in-laws. My parents and my sister sacrificed so much for my husband, my children, and especially for me. I could NEVER repay them for what they did and continue to do for us today. I am so thankful for the lifelong friends that truly showed me what friendship truly is. Up until April, we were so blessed not to have experienced anything as serious together as we did then. I am so thankful for God changing my heart, and showing me the much LARGER purpose I have on this earth!!!! I am so thankful for my new school, one in which I am surrounded by a strong Christian administration and faculty. I am so thankful that God handpicked each and every child that is in my classroom this year. I am so thankful that I have a new church home- - - one that my children will be able to grow up in and come to know the Lord Jesus in their hearts. I am thankful for LIFE and knowing that God is in complete control of every intricate detail in my LIFE...my children's LIVES...my husband's LIFE...my family's LIFE...my friends' LIVES...my students' LIVES...

Check This Out!

If you feel the need to see a few of the most amazing pictures of a beautiful aunt and two precious children check this out!

God is so GOOD!

I am so proud to announce that I have officially found a new church home for my children to grow up in! I have known for awhile that God was calling me to Wellford, but it was not until today when He made it very clear that it was time for me to walk the aisle and make it public in front of my new family. It was an amazing worship service with music and the Lord's Supper. I will be forever grateful for Sabrina holding my hand as I made this journey. The Coans, Browns, Halls, Listers, and many others in my new family have been by my side and uplifted my name in prayer over the past seven months. Thank you God for leading me to such an amazing home and for the oportunity to worship you with my new church family!!!

Seven Months and Counting...

Today marks seven months since God had a new direction for my life. I continue to stand in awe as I think about the progress He has allowed me to have in just a few short months. The progress has seemed to slow down somewhat when I think back to how quickly everything progressed toward the beginning. As we stand now, I am awaiting three intense cognitive testing rounds at Roger Peace. These will begin on December 15 and will conclude on December 30. I praise God for my MRI results coming back with no significant damage shown. Now we are just digging deeper into my mind focusing on the issues I am still having problems with. Everything with our legal case is on hold until we have all of the questions answered with these tests. God continues to hold my hand and continues to change my heart each and every day that I am on this earth. I am beginning to feel like a "real" mommy to my children again. I praise God that I am able to take care of them alone, play with them, pick up my precious baby girl, and have the energy that they deserve when Mommy comes home from work. I pray that God will continue to use me as a witnessing tool. I also pray that God will continue to provide me the enthusiasm I have for my job this year! I feel like a brand new teacher despite the physical discomfort and hardships I face on a daily basis. The LOVE I have for my precious children and school is asounding! I truly believe God healed me at the rate in which He did physically for each of the 44 children I teach daily!

Ella at 21 Months...

• Loves to "use" the potty (which here means just sitting on it)
• Got into a little "fight" at school and obviously lost (not a very happy mommy)
• Continues to have nonstop ear infections
• Has been on an antibiotic since last month
• LOVES her pacifier but doesn't like her paci strings anymore
• Will still only drink milk from a bottle
• Says "night night" when she is ready for bed
• Can't stand for her top front teeth to be brushed
• Weighs about twenty-two pounds
• Has a very rapidly growing vocabulary
  
• Loves her baby
• Must have a baby, bottle, and pacifier in the car each time she travels
• Adores Carson
• Loves I Carly thanks to her brother
• Has no idea who Elmo or Barney are
• Enjoys playing in her kitchen
• Is still a Daddy's girl, yet she WANTS Mommy often
• Points to objects such as the remote, the telephone, make-up, hair dryer, etc. and tells you whose they are
• Knows how to put on deodorant
• Has not been napping as well at home anymore
• Loves her school
• Has begun talking on the phone
• Loves to have her hair blow dried
• Loves real babies and could stare at them all day and say, "Baby".
• Just has no idea how THANKFUL we truly are to call her our daughter!!!!!!!!! :)
  

Umm...Cake!

Oh Such a Girly Girl...

Veterans Day 2008

Happy Veterans Day!

Our little soldier melted my heart today!!!!!! What a proud moment for the chairman of the Veterans Day committee who this little boy calls HIS MOMMY! :)

God of this City

With a very historical election finally here today, I have prayed many prayers about the direction of this country. Through all of my prayers and thoughts, I have been constantly reminded that God is in Control! I found great comfort in listening to this song today!

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

You're the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You're the King above all Kings
You Are

You're the strength in our weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You Are

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for you and love for you
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

I PRAYED and then...

Halloween 2008