Good Morning!

TGIF!

while e's away...

b will play...

A gecko crawled into the back door when Erin left this morning and went behind the dryer...B looked and looked for him and then went to the pantry and came out with a fly swatter and said, 'okay, gecko, it's time to get serious'.

2 minutes later I saw her spinning in this chair and singing to her get well card from Kelly that sings (see middle right) bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yay.

she said...

e had a hard day...she held back tears until they put her in my car and she let them flow...

she said she did not have a great day...
she said I can't believe I was there until supper...
she said she asked the teacher if she could go home and it was still morning...
she said she asked if she could go home all day and the teacher kept saying no...
she said I missed you so much, I didn't know I was going to miss you so bad...
she said I'm not allowed to be silly...
she said if I hear one more rule, I'm out of there...
she said I can't believe you signed me up for this...
she said please call and cancel my reservation tomorrow!
she said I can't do this another day, and you said I have to do this for 13 years!
she said her teachers were not really nice (except for Ms. Riley), that they don't love me like you do...

went to dad's office, to berrypop, and tonight we keep telling her tomorrow will be better! friends brought cookies to encourage her and one, of our many sweet neighbors, had a party for all the little ones going to school yesterday, called to ask her about her day...she is feeling encouraged and confident that His mercies are new every day!

Off she goes!

in the car with daddy...

she picked out her outfit :)

and is excited to make friends...

this is how our family began, and Lord willing, this is where it will return...

I can't help but think of the illustration James Dobson gives of preparing your children for independence...a kite analogy...how you work hard to get it off the ground and as it takes off for flight, the rope slowly slips out of your hand as your kite flies higher and higher...

Our baby goes to Kindergarten...

tomorrow. I can't believe it. It's so exciting, but feels bittersweet. Bitter because I loved the endless days with her, her naivety, watching her play with her two little sisters, her excitement over small things, and carefreeness (maybe I just made that word up...don't know, back pain affects the brain) towards all things. I don't want those things to change.

But, when this sadness wells up inside, I'm quickly reminded of what is sad. Sad would be if Erin didn't grow up to go to Kindergarten...

So, I will let this moment just be sweet...not bitter...and with a thankful heart, I will let her go tomorrow and trust in the knowledge that God is with her when I am not.

update:
grocery shopping the day before school starts = nowhere to park and no ziplock sandwich bags left;
picking out outfit for first day of school with Erin = no more carefreeness

Over the Sun

We are studying Ecclesiastes at church. It's awesome because it's so true. Solomon was wealthy, had more money than Carlos Slim Helu, and he sought out the pleasures of this life 'under the sun', but he finds the secret to life is hidden over the sun...a relationship with the God of the universe. All the other pleasures are like chasing the wind and cannot satisfy. Only God can. Listen to the song playing...Over the Sun by Shane and Shane :)

after nap...

dazed and confused

media room

Erin is creative. She's industrious. She improvises.

Kameron and Brooke are down for their Sunday afternoon naps and Erin is enjoying free time. Kyle and I are resting, but we hear noise coming from the dining room. We check it out and get a good afternoon laugh :)

a little bit of hair showing and we know where she is...

Kyle lifts the skirt...

and we can see her watching a movie on an old iphone in her media room...

UPDATE: Brooke wakes up from nap...

and Erin gets to share her inspiration with sister...

You're Beautiful

I took pictures in my backyard last Saturday...the sky was glowing and a storm was coming...my heart was singing this song...

I see Your face in every sunrise

The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes

The world awakens in the light of the day

I look up to the sky and say

You're beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night

Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright

We are amazed in the light of the stars

It's all proclaiming who You are

You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree

You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me

Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne

Soon we will be coming home

You're beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity's shore

Where death is just a memory and tears are no more

We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring

Your bride will come together and we'll sing

You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, I see Your face

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

where....

have I been? Christian Rap :) Preach it, rap it, live it, just don't waste your life!

Montgomery County Youth

Our Sunday School class took on the 'transformation' of young teens and pre-teens rooms at MCYS on Saturday. Mark told the youth we weren't from the government, but from the body of Christ :) We believe in a big God, not a big government :)

Click here to see the before and after video.

Just listen to the song playing! Praising and Rejoicing in Christ alone this morning!! Happy Thursday!

In Christ alone

My hope is found

He is my life, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone , this solid Rock

Firm through the fierces, drought and storm

What heights of Love, what depths of Peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

my Comforter, my all in all

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness,

scorned by the ones He came to save,

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied;

For every sin on him was laid

Here in the depth of Christ I live

There in the ground , His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory,

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This the pow'r of Christ in me,

From life's first cry, to final breath.

Jesus commands my destiny

No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from his hand

Till he returns or call me home

Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand .....