Looking Good

I actually got the whole bunch dressed up for Christmas Eve service....Here are pics of my nieces with the kids as well. We have a picture of them in a circle and Kyra was only 6 mos old. :-)

Nap Time at Nana's

Over the hills and through the woods to Nana's house we go...and as you can see. The trip was exhausting. Like father, like daughter.

Katie's 1st Christmas

Since it is her 1st Christmas, Katie Grace gets her own space. It did not take her long to figure out how to tear off the paper--and eat it of course. She had a ball and wanted to play immediately with what she opened. So her unwrapping session took a lot longer..much to the dismay of her brother.

Christmas At Our House

Following Build a Bear on Friday night (12/21) we opened presents at our house on Saturday morning! David had a BLAST!! He loved ripping the gifts open! David asked for a Texas Tech"s "jacket and hat and he got a toy shotgun. Kyra wanted a Webkins and roller skating dog. How much fun to have kids on Christmas morning! Okay so Rody and I had a blast playing with their toys as well.

Realization

There are several new posts..so keep reading. Don't you just love it when God uses your children to teach you the hard truths about yourself. Yesterday was designed completely around our children. From hunting..to the build a bear..to getting the food they wanted to eat...to movies. And you know at the end of the day you would think that we would have these grateful little childrenand would be just so thankful for the time and money their parents spent on them--WRONG!! They are selfish little sinners and will be until they accept Christ and have HIS spirit living in them. But in my heart breaking over them being disobedient and talking ugly to us...God spoke to me in that still, quiet voice. Look at all I have given you, look how blessed you are. Do you thank me daily or moment by moment? Do you obey me? Do you spend time with me when I seek relationship with you? Oh Lord, I am so sorry! We are so blessed and I urge you to get alone, get quiet and just praise the Lord for His goodness. I love you all and we wish you a very Merry CHRISTmas. I'll post our opening presents pics later.

Katie Grace

Here are just some fun pics of Katie. Amazing how early they learn that ride on things at the mall are so cool!!

Build a Bear

The mall here in San Angelo has a Snuggle Factory (like Build-A-Bear) and the kids have been begging to do that so that was part of their Christmas. Kyra picked (just a guess) a horse of course. And put it in a "cheerleader" outfit and named the horse K.C. (her inititals pretty clever I thought). They had a great time and she is just like her and had a hard time picking. She had a ball!!

Build A Bear David

Here is David--he picked out a turtle and named him "Crush" (sound familiar -- Finding Nemo) and a firefighter suit. He had a ball as he got to push the peddle that runs the machine that stuffs them.

What a Friend!!

Okay this one will make those of you who know me well laugh! For my friends in Grady, Brienna, my girlfriends at ENMR and my roomie Dawn! We've had several blessings since moving to San Angelo. One has been our next door neighbor. She is absolutely precious! She is full of energy, fun and just so full of life and joy! Well we have become instant friends and can "spend hours talking" as Kyra says! :-)
Anyway, she shows up at my house yesterday with a gift--one just for me and one for me to share with my family. Guess what it was???? REAL Dr. Depper. Yah! Dublin Dr. Pepper in the bottle with real sugar. Mmmmm they are so good and my kiddos couldn't wait to have a drink! What a friend!! I laughed and told Rody--my legacy I leave will have something to do with Dr. Pepper!

Kyra & Daddy Day

Kyra and her daddy got to hang out today and had a great time. In addition to shooting a deer she got to drive the go-cart. Thanks Alan for the great day!

Fa La La La La

We had a great time with our Sunday School class last night as we got together to hang out, eat and then we went carrolling. And wow- was it a great sounding group. Okay so over half of our class is in the choir! You know I want to encourage you to take time this season or make a pledge in the New Year to spend more time "breaking bread" together. I truly believe this is one of the reasons the church in Acts was so effective. They knew each intimately--encouraged one another, prayed for one another and just "did life together."

1st Steps

Ms. Katie Grace took her first steps yesterday and unfortunately I was the only one to witness it. She is so funny. She is such a chicken once she realized what she did she went back to diving or just plopping on her bottom.

On the Scene Photos

Good Morning! Well I got pictures from the scene of the deer hunt. Here is David with the deer his daddy shot. Doesn't he look so big. He has told everyone who would stop and listen this week about the BIG deer hunt with his dad.

The Deer Hunter

Here's David with the antlers--Kyra gets to go hunting with Dad this week

Christmas Program

We had our Christmas Cantata at church on Sunday. The kids choir sang and Kyra had a speaking part. She did SOOOO well! I was so proud of her. It was like 3 lines but she just paid attention and was very good. I know I'm her mom!! And here is David and Adam--they matched. I got pics of the kids all dressed up! (The reason there aren't any pics of them during the program is that is was really dark and my camera doesn't take good pics in the dark) Sorry.

How Handsome

Here is David in his first tie. He LOVED it. Someone at church said it was just wrong for a dad who hates ties to make his son wear them. But David has asked for one. He loves them. Oh and he is holding bullets from THE Deer Hunt!

How Pitiful

I had to put this on here. Doesn't she look pitiful? This is dressed up for church.

It's hard to see in this pic, but more than the dress and the bow, I loved her fat thighs, white socks and black shoes!! I love to squeeze her little thighs.

Her Own Little Doll

Rody and I were laughing the other day as Kyra dressed up in a dress, her heels and a purse and came through the door with Katie in her babydoll stroller. Katie was happy as a bug, especially when Kyra went in the kitchen and fed her chocolate pudding. In her mind--Katie is her own "real live doll" to play with and that she does. She is a great big sister and Katie adores her.

Challenge

This morning I was finishing my last batch of "Haystacks" and thinking of my Granny who has gone on to be with Jesus. I thought the only reason I make haystacks is b/c growing up my Granny sent us a box from North Carolina with fudge and haystacks and then my mom started making them and now I make them. Some things we do from tradition (oh and did I mention they are REALLY easy to make).
But as I was thinking of Granny I thought of a verse I read this morning in Hebrews 3:1 "Fix your eyes on Jesus." What does my day look like if I fix my eyes on Jesus? Well, I have more hope than just checking off my 'to-do' list. I think about eternal life and what my Granny is experiencing being in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. I see dealing with others differently--I try to exercise the grace He showed to the woman caught in adultery and how He tenderly told her to "go and sin no more." He didn't yell at her, He didn't lecture her, He showed her grace and forgiveness.
Then I was challenged with this and so I share it with you..."On what foundation are you building your life? Am I substituting man-made traditions and performance standards for a growing relationship with the Son of God? Are the 'religious rituals' in my life advancing my relationship with God or keeping me from getting know Him and His Word better." I want 2008 to be a major milestone in my Christian walk. I want more of Him, more of His power in my life and more of His love. I want to act on what I hear...to move past elementary teachings to the "meat" of His word! I love each of you and wish we could have this conversation over a warm cup of cappacucino!

Christmas Party

Last week the Children's Ministry had their Christmas Party. We met and went to carol to shut-ins in our church and then back to the church to eat of course--we're Baptists. We had a "kids favorite foods" dinner. Then they did a gift exchange. It was a great time of fellowship and the kids had a blast b/c they got to ride on the church bus. The one thing my kids feel they miss out on most by not going to school--riding the bus. Haha and to those of us who "HAD" to ride the bus we go Praise the Lord they don't have to! :-)

Day at the Park

Okay I'm playing catch up! Last Saturday was gorgeous and we enjoyed a day at the park with Nana (today is rainy and cold -- cold here is in the 50s) :-) Katie loves to swing and Rody wore the kids out playing tag! Again- sorry no pics of Kyra. She moves to fast. I need a camera that shoots really fast to get her.

Deer Hunt

Well David went on his first deer hunt this morning with Dad and Alan. They shot one and he was SO excited. He loved finding the shell casings and he even found the bullet in the deer. We know have antler and 2 hooves/legs in our front yard--you might be a redneck! haha! What a cool father/son day! Sorry I don't have any pics... mom didn't go..thus no pics. But I will get a picture of David with the antlers after he wakes up.

Firsts

It seems Katie has a first every day--yesterday she said Dadid- for David and sucked through a straw--Of Course it was Dr. Pepper! This weekend she did patty-cake with Nana. She has said Kyra for a while (of course it doesn't sound like Kyra it is more Dyda) but Kyra was reading and Katie couldn't see her face so she would lean over and say Dyda!

Underliner

Do you ever go through your Bible and there are certain books that you have a ton of verses underlined? I am in Philippians this morning and I think half the book is underlined. I LOVE this book (did I wet your appetite to go back and read part of it). It's a short book so that is good, but you could stay in one passage forever. There are several things that God is working out and through and in me right now. One theme He keeps bringing is that He will complete what He began--in my life, in my kids' lives and in His church! Phil 1:6 Do I have the faith to trust? Then I remember the verse 2 Tim 2:12 "Because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." Of course I do! He is faithful and trustworthy--I am to obey & submit, teach & train--and TRUST!!

Falling Down on the Job

Okay I've been falling down on my posts...sorry. Nana was here last week and we ran like crazy. She worked on the girls room and it is so cute. Kyra picked her bedspread (sorry don't have a pic of it) but here is Katie's side of the room. Thank you mom!

Worship

Wow! You know it is often in the little things I am reminded just how BIG and great our God is. As we drove through the countryside tonight and just were awed at the rolling hills and the beauty of His creation...He delighted us with the most beautiful sunset. Lord we give you glory because there is none like you!