July Joys! :))

This is the girl that got me into being at the softball field almost every weekend. This is the girl who held my precious Ken all through the visitation at her momma's funeral listening to Justin B together. This is the girl who helps me work through problems. This is the girl who makes me laugh no matter what. This is the girl who knows me well enough to know what I'm thinking when I won't say it. This is the girl that I love to jam to loud music with on road trips. This is the girl who has my old car, Bessie. This is the girl who has reached into my heart and caught me so tightly that I don't like to be away from her for even one day. 

THIS is the one... The ONLY 

Lyssa. #5!!!

It was tooooo incredible to get to have my Asha girl in Missouri again. She's a good friend to come see me. She was so easy to take along to whatever we were doing. It was fun to share the week of camp, Lyssa's game, Bean's game, worship at Chipman, and watching "The Beauty and the Beast!" She is one of my very oldest friends--- as in years of knowing each other... and I love her forever!!! I'm so proud of her.

Cutie pie Noller the second... The awesome pitcher, the girl everyone likes... but who when you ask WHY are you friends with her... we all pause and eventually come up with that it's because she's funny... the girl who makes my heart melt when she says my name, when she wants to cuddle, who then suddenly is evil and wants to fight... but oh, how she makes me happy. She is cuteness itself and I adore her smile and hugs. Whenever I need to know I have a purpose in life... I just remember this girl... who is always in need of a sandwich... I can do that. :) ha ha She makes my world a happy place.

Alyssa Lou on her 16th Birthday. A fun day of surprises, friends, sleepovers, fireworks, cake, AND cupcakes, and.... BESSIE. :D She is a great driver, I trust her and am very comfortable with her. But... I can tell you. There are so many out there who I do not trust... I have certainly prayed more for her while driving than any kid yet in my life. Love that precious girl and her soul.

Lucy Kay is sunshine and sweetness and cuddles and giggles and laughs and happiness...

And she is a bad baby.

But ohhhhhhhhh how we love her!!! When those arms reach out to me to be held, I just love it. When she tilts her head and smile that, "I know I'm adorable love me" smile... ohhhh she's distracting!!! She makes for some funny stories, some distraction during worship, but for some precious hugs!!

Ice Cream Therapy... or just because Birthday Surprise Ice Cream! It's all good! On your face, over the counter, ORRRRRRR even in your mouth!!!

Happy Birthday to the cute and perfect princess Madison Elaine, my precious and beautiful Aunt Tammy, the adorable and sweet Carter Boyd, and the incredible and brilliant MD (David Heck). What a busy time for birthday fun!! I really do LOVE surprises! ... Getting to plan them for others, I think, even more so than getting them myself. 

Those two smiles are priceless!!!

There's nothing like a mom... All the love that they she gives... all the work that she does... Every day should be a special day for her... she should be loved and cared for by her family... Ohhhh what fun we had for Aunt Tammy's birthday. With supper, dessert, and presents... Cuddle time, movie, and added bonus of listening to Aubrie and Rylee singing. Those days when you go to bed smiling because the day was so full of love and happiness?? Yeah, that day was one of those days!!!

I love everything about this picture. I laugh every time I see it. 

Life is just fun. It's full of craziness. Awesome people, and the ONE GOAL~ to go to Heaven. When life gets too overrun with the reminders of sin... it's good to get away, to step back and start counting our blessings. 

We have been given sooo much... 

And we have not been given anything that we cannot handle. 

Our God is an awesome God. 

He reigns. 

Let's live for HIM!

LLBC Summer 2013

I loved everything about camp. I loved the friends. All the friends. So many groups that were always together. And yet, always so friendly to others. Just such a happy place to be.

Camp has it all... sports, crafts, meals, work, chapel, swimming, lessons, devos, singing, evening activities... and soooo much more!

The time I was able to spend with Ken and Carter during this week was precious. I adore them! And ohhhhh how this little girls loves camp. They are so at home here...

My twin! My Asha!! She came to camp for the week. It. was. ammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmazing!!! We had so much fun talking, working, and laughing. Swimming, being with friends (almost ALL new friends for Tash)... and growing closer to GOD. I was so impressed with my dear friend of 17 years! She just jumped right in and did anything. She was friends with so many in such a short time. It was beautiful to watch. I love her very much!!!

Sweetest, cutest, most adorable little cousins. I soooooo love these girls. Even though they look WAY TOO GROWN UP!!!!

Chapel each night is super encouraging. As is Cabin study, Swim lesson, and campfire. What an enriching week of Bible Study. This year, all on the ONES! 

 

Precious cousins. :) I love how they love each other.

Crazy, awesome, fun friends. :)) life is just good at camp.

And sooooooooooooooooooooo much laughing. So fun. :)) It was great to be able to spend time with visitors who came out at night, too, and to share the pictures and fun stories of camp with those at home... sending mail-- and def getting mail!-- is one of my very favorite parts of camp. So personal. So fun!!!

Girls who I love... who have made me who I am... who push me to do better... I love them!! I loved each and every cook, handyman, director, counselor... the staff was just incredible. To know that anything at all we needed we could figure out together. Everyone was so hardworking. So willing to do whatever was needed. The lessons had been studied for and meant to help us. The fun that was had at camp was all GOOD, CLEAN fun. Being a Christian is a joy, not always easy, but ALWAYS worth it.

One very cute date here, don't you think?!?! :)))

Camp came and went too quickly. But the memories are fantastic. And the encouragement very really. Looking forward to more times together soon. Thank you GOD, for our blessings of salvation and CHRISTIAN FRIENDS!!!!

Carter Boyd's 5th Birthday!

Precious boy! How can it be that you are now 5 years old!?!?!

You are sunshine itself, and I just adore every minute that I get to spend with you.

Major. Heart. Melter. Right. Here. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You and your sister are best friends. Super crazy partners in crime/ favorite playmates. Listening to the things you come up with while you're playing or just riding along in the car is soooo funny!!

Thank you for loving me so much. You kiss me good morning each day, you bring me flowers, your hug me all the time. You come running into the kitchen just to tell me that you love me. When I wear my hair in pigtails, you always tell me how pretty I am. You know how to make a girl feel good!!

This was YOUR food choice on your birthday... after having scrambled eggs for breakfast! YUM!

One of my favorite moments of YOUR day was when you got to show Dad your new bedroom-- you'd not be allowed in there for a couple days... we cleaned and rearranged and put up new pictures and posters and made your little lego area. YOU WERE SO EXCITED. :)

Your awesome eye patch from Lynn. And you sure did enjoy that yummy chocolate!!!

"Yep. I'm a big guy... THIS is my room." :)

The C Man got a new lamp, new legos, a rug to sit on while playing legos... and Cars stickers on the wall. He was a happy camper!

That moment when you give a little boy an entire package of oreos for his birthday... and his eyes light up... and his older sister is sitting right next to him and says... "I know those are yours for your birthday... but if you wanted to share a couple... I like oreos a lot... and I am sitting right here..."

Precious boy, stubborn boy, but ohhhhh such a sweeeeeetheart you have. :))

Do you think I could live without you? Do you think anyone who knows you will ever be able to say your name without smiling? Do you know how adorable your chin dimple is?! YOU ARE AWESOME! Keep on loving life and caring about others... 

I love to see what you know about God. 

I love you more than anything little man... Happy Birthday!

McKenna's 7th Birthday!

Good morning baby girl. This is your 7th birthday. :)) How can you possibly be soooo big?!

This year was so much fun with you. You're learning to read. It's awesome to watch. To spend this time with you seeing your world open up more as you try to read everything around you. Trying to figure out the sounds. It's super cool...

We put up some new pics in your room, just the way you wanted them to be.

What did we have for your birthday breakfast?! Yep! It was popsicles!! SUMMER FUN!

It's so fun to have summer birthdays, getting to play outside all day on your day, getting to swim every year on your day, getting to take pictures surrounded by pretty green leaves.... Being outside with you makes me think of you Mommy.

You were so pleased with your new room. Having a blue lamp, having a new pillow, having new glowing stars... You giggled and smiled and looked at everything.

And this new little unicorn friend! This year the birthday party with Aubrie and Rylee is Despicable Me themed.  You were so excited about it and took it everywhere with us!

Sweet girl, you are joy itself. You are silly, funny, wonderful. You are a hard worker. It really is awesome to be around you. Your laugh is so happy. You are preciousness itself.

I love everything about you!!

And.. always... pics with the sibling :))))

hee hee. He's just so fun. And... stubborn.

They are each others best friends. I love that. They laugh and cry together. They are different, but so much the same. 

They are sweethearts through and through.

And silly, crazy monkeys!! Just good, happy, loving kiddos.

Having fun painting after an awesome time singing and running and jumping outside for hours. It's fun to let everything go for a day and focus on someone that you love so very much. You bring so much joy to those around you, it is nice to be able to bring joy to you!!

Yep. You, baby!!! Happy Birthday, sweet girl. Keep on growing. Keep on loving. Keep on being a girl that pleases the KING!! You make me proud of you. I love you very, very much!!