Behind in Blogging!

I feel so behind lately in blogging-maybe it is because I feel so tired all the time and I forget to take pictures like I normally do. I'll blame it on the homones...LOL! Anyways, my friend Jane bought Emily and Ansley some Moon Sand and they had a blast playing with it. We made all kinds of things! Thank you Jane for thinking of them! They love it!

Then the girls and I headed to a friend's wedding. Andrew was still at the golf tournament so just the three of us went. Their dance teacher was the bride so they were very excited to see her get married. My sister Sarah was a bridesmaid and Kylie was one of the bell ringers. It was absolutely beautiful and I wish I would have remembered to take more pictures (its those crazy hormones!). We were told close to 800 people were there. Then Kylie came home with us and she spent the night. This morning Sarah and Trey picked her up. We had fun seeing each other again. That is one thing I have had to get used to ( and I still don't like!) in the last couple of weeks and that is Sarah moved two hours away from me. The girls are having a very hard time adjusting too. I guess it could be worse and she could live in Africa or something but it has been a not so fun adjustment!

Kylie, Emily, and Ansley at the wedding ceremony

Cousins and Parties

Today for lunch we headed to my grandma's house. My cousins were coming from out of state. They had been here for the week visiting all the spring break places close to where we live. My grandma's house was the last stop before they had to make the long drive back home. School starts back up for their kids on Monday. The girls had a blast playing with their cousins that they don't get to see very often.

Ben, Alex, Kylie, Emily, and Ansley

Then I headed home to get ready to meet Andrew for a party out of town. He is in a golf tournament this weekend and they always put on a party after the first round. He teed off in the afternoon so Elgin and Jane picked me up so we could all meet up there. We had a great time laughing and enjoying the good food:-) Today is the last day of the tournament so I am praying he does well!

Andrew and me

Andrew's golfing buddies: Eric, Andrew, and Elgin
Elgin and Jane
Eric and Andrew

Thankful Thursdays

Here is what I am thankful for this Thursday:
1. Answered prayers
2. Foot rubs from my hubby
3. Emily's love for dance and gymnastics
4. Ansley's love for drawing
5. Pamper Day going well today at MOPS
6. The beautiful weather we have been experiencing!
7. Medicine that keeps you from feeling nauseated and throwing up all the time!!!
8. A flushing toilet (especially when you have been sick a lot!)
9. My sister Sarah is visiting this weekend
10. Email (since I am such a bad phone person...LOL!)

Content with Circumstances

In chapter 2 of the bible study we looked at our circumstances in life and how we handle them. Most of us can categorize our lives in both positive and negative ways. Both lists are true, but the focus of each list is different. Which list do we spend the majority of our time dwelling on????
"Two women looked through prison bars
One saw mud, the other saw stars."
Every women at some point in their life will feel as if their circumstances feel like they are in prison. Each of us has a choice about how we look at life: We can focus on the mud or lift our eyes and see the stars. God wants you and me to learn to be content in our circumstances, not when they improve.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lively, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." Philippians 4:6-8
Our thought life-not our circumstances-determines whether we are content. Our thought life-not our friends, husband, children, job, or anything else-determines our contentment! So we need to put into practice what Paul instructs in Philippians:
1. Choose to give our anxieties to God
2. Choose to pray specifically
3. Choose to be thankful
4. Choose to dwell on the positive
Now that is a lot easier said than done but I pray that I will focus on the stars instead of the mud because I know who my Creator is and He loves me through the mountain tops and the valleys!

Contentment or Complaining....

I am in a women's bible study that is going through the book titled "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow. I am a little behind in posting what I am learning in each chapter and God's Word due to being so sick. Now I hope to catch up...

Each week we memorize a verse from the bible that is so important. When we can hide God's Word in our hearts then we can pull it out at anytime during the day to fight against whatever we are feeling.

Chapter 1 is titled My Journey to Contentment. We memorized Phillipians 4:11-13 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Wow! This verse was written by the apostle Paul while in prison! There is no way we can possibly do this on our own so we definitely have to rely on Christ to give us the strength to do so. This will not happen over night but is a lifelong journey. Here is also a prescription for contentment:

1. Never allow yourself to complain about anything-not even the weather.

2. Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.

3. Never compare your lot with another's.

4. Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.

5. Never dwell on tomorrow-remember that tomorrow is God's, not ours.

(written by a lady who was a missionary in Africa for 52 years)

When we have an eteranl perspective on life, the little things we tend to gripe about begin to seem meaningless. True contentment is separate from our circumstances. Contentment is a state of the heart, not a state of affairs.

Christ is Risen!!

Every year on on Resurrection Day the girls open their Easter baskets. This morning they woke up and found them on the table. Ansley getting ready to peek in.

Emily digging out her goodies.
Then we got ready to go to church. We decided to go the second service this morning because I knew we would be running extremely late if we went to the first. We had church at a local pavillion that could accomodate more people than our building could. I am glad we did because we had close to 2,000 people in attendance. My prayer is that the new faces would continue to come and want to grow in a relationship with Jesus. I thought the service was awesome and Christ was glorified!

Emily in her Easter dress

Ansley showing off hers
They said the sun was in their eyes so they couldn't open them very good in this pic.
After church we headed to lunch. Then my sister,the girls, and I made Easter cookies. I am still trying to get back into the swing of the things so I forgot to take pictures. I am starting to feel better after having the doctor prescribe me some medicine for my nausea and vomiting. I am so thankful it is working! I pray all of you had an awesome Resurrection Weekend and remembered how much Christ loves you!

Easter Egg Hunt

This year our church had an Easter Egg Hunt at a local baseball complex. The girls were so excited to attend. The rain clouds were moving in but we were determined to go. Once we got there the girls got their baskets and I thought they would be ready to get those eggs but....

not to sure so mommy had to help get them to the starting line...
then they were off but inseperable!
Mommy trying to encourage them to pick some eggs up!!!

Our family
We made it just in time to our car before a downpour. Next we had brunch with Andrew's parents to celebrate Easter. Then my sister Audrey came and we decided to do some shopping. After that we all met up for Easter dinner with my parents. I was exhausted!
Oh and check out Ansley's outfit-I picked out the shirt and jeans. Two minutes later she came out with those pink shorts to wear over them. She said she wanted to look like this girl off a tv show that they watch. Too funny!

Guess What?????

I am pregnant with #3!!! I am only 8 weeks and usually like to keep it a secret until the first trimester is over but considering I have a "belly bump" going on I knew I couldn't hide it for much longer. I also have been so tired and nausea. I throw up every morning and then the nausea comes and goes through out the day. I know this is a good thing and exactly what I prayed for...strange as it might sound. This is my fifth pregnancy. Emily and Ansley's pregnancies I threw up in the first trimesters but with my two miscarriages I did not get sick. Sooo when I found out I was pregnant again I asked my family and some close friends to pray that I would throw up. I know, I know,it sounds like a strange prayer request but considering what I am basing it on-you get the point. They did pray and God has answered our prayers!!! I have not been able to blog much because I have been so "under the weather". Saltines and ginger ale get real old too! I had to tell the women's bible study group I am in last night and MOPS this morning or they would start thinking I have lost my mind! Andrew and I told the girls this morning and they are thrilled to be big sisters. It was so precious to see the smiles on their faces:-) Then the questions came!! Oh my! I am very excited to be pregnant and I ask that you please join me and pray for this little baby.

Emily and Ansley (the big sisters)

Book of the Week

This week I picked out another one of the girls and I favorites: My Easter Basket and the true story of Easter by Mary Manz Simon. For each item in the basket the author takes the color of the item and explains the whole Easter story. (It reminds me of the salvation beads I used to have to represent the Gospel.) I think it is a great book to add to your personal library:-)

My Little Bible Thumper

Yesterday I was in my room and I overheard Emily and Ansley in the playroom talking about something. Well, the next thing I know I hear Ansley saying "Love the Lord with all your heart Emily. So you need to share!" Oh you know this mommy was cracking up! They couldn't hear me but I thought it was too funny! Ansley gets a new memory verse to learn each month in her 2-3 year old class at church. This was January's verse and I guess she thought it was appropriate to say on such matters as sharing! Out of the mouth of babes!

Out of Town Fun

My sister in law and her husband were down for a business trip that wasn't too far from where we live. So we loaded up in the car and headed that way for lunch. They live out of state so we don't get to see them that often. While we were eating lunch at the resort they were staying at, this mama duck and her little babies came walking by. They were so cute I just had to take a pic of them.

Here is Aunt Stephanie with Emily
Ansley and Aunt Steph
After finishing the treats that Uncle Todd and Aunt Steph bought them this is what they looked like! Want a kiss anyone?????
It started warming up outside so we headed up to their room for some cool air. Emily and Ansley got a hold of my camera and here is a pic of me that one of them took. I was shocked! Now the other 15 they took didn't turn out:-)
Aunt Steph gave Ansley her birthday gifts and Emily got a special something too:-)
After saying our goodbyes we headed over to a hospital in the same city to visit our friends who just had a baby. She was born between 33-34 weeks but weighed 5 lbs. 2oz.! It was so nice to see Kip and Cristy. I must say KaCee is such a cutie! I can't wait to see her when she gets home:-)
Then we headed over to Target and a mall nearby. My sister got off work about the same time so she met us there. We ate dinner with BB and did a little shopping. Then it was time to head home! We got a lot of visiting done in one day
!
Aunt BB, Emily, and Ansley posing for a funny picture:-)

My Thursday without a Camera

Ok by now you know that I like to post at least one picture a day but today I didn't have my camera. (So sorry about my ramblings of today without a pic.) This morning the girls and I headed to a MOPS leadership meeting. The team has been planning our upcoming Pamper Day for the moms. We enjoyed coming together with all of our plans and drinking our coffee too! We got a lot accomplished!
Then I headed down the road to my old hometown. One of my childhood friends was down visiting her parents for Spring Break. My parents took Emily and Ansley to lunch while I went out to eat with Erin. I haven't seen her in over a year so we had a lot of catching up to do! I had such a fun time with her and can't wait until we meet up again. Thank you Erin for buying my lunch!
When I came back to pick the girls up my dad had told me I was getting a flat tire. He put air in my tire to get me back home where I could call the tire place we use. They got me right in and they found two nails in my tire! I have no idea where I picked them up at but the guy teased me saying I must have a magnet in my tire too! After finishing up there the girls and I headed home to rest a bit and then Andrew wanted to take us to dinner. No cooking for me! Now I am ready for bed. I look forward to some sleep:-)

Thankful Thursdays

Here is what I am thankful for this Thursday:
1. The hope I have in Jesus!
2. My husband who took me to dinner tonight
3. Emily's kisses
4. Ansley's yum-yum (her blankie that she cannot sleep without!)
5. Childhood friends
6. Tire places who can get nails out of your tire!
7. Rain that is pouring down at my house (we need it so bad)
8. Toothbrushes and floss
9. My cat Samuel (best tailess cat in the world!)
10. Ice cubes!

Cariboo!

One of the gifts Ansley recieved for her birthday was a game called Cariboo. It is put out by Cranium which is the adult version that I already had. My sister found this game and said it was really good so I asked her to get it for Ansley. It teaches all kinds of skills plus its lots of fun! The girls and I (and sometimes daddy too!) have worn this game out! They want to play it all the time! I recommend it to anyone with preschoolers-it makes a great gift idea!

Ansley and Emily getting ready to play the game! Get your game faces on!!
Thank you Sarah, Trey, and Kylie!

Book of the Week

Little Colt's Palm Sunday by Michelle Medlock Adams is a great book to get for your personal library. It is hard to find books about Palm Sunday for children and this author does a great job taking it from the little colt's perspective who walked Jesus into Jerusalem. The girls love it!

Train Time!

For lunch today we met Mam-ma at a local restaurant and enjoyed some delicious potato soup and spinach pie. Then we headed over to Bill and Suzie's house for a train ride. They have the neatest train in their backyard! Suzie's dad used to build these and put them in amusement parks around the country. Now Bill has taken this one and is restoring it to it's original paint colors. The girls absolutely loved it and I had a good time too:-)

Here we are ready for take off!

Headed around the track

Bill the engineer!

What a good time!

Getting ready to go again with Mam-ma

Hold on!

Afterwards we hung out for a little while and the girls enjoyed playing in their bonus room. We got to play with Moon Sand which I had never heard of but it is like sand and play-dough all at the same time!

Thanks Bill and Suzie for having us over today-we had a great time! Thank you Mam-ma for lunch too!

Trying out the New Golfclubs

This morning we headed to church. It was my week to volunteer in Emily's class so we learned about Noah and the Ark. My sister Audrey was heading home today so we met up with her and Nick for lunch. We enjoyed spending time with them (even thought I spilled my cup of ice water all over Emily and BB!). I am a mess lately-I have done it twice now in a couple of weeks!

After saying our good byes we headed home for nap time. The weather was awesome again so the four of us headed to the putting green to practice golf. Ansley was extra excited to try out her new golf clubs that we had gotten her for her birthday. She did a great job today!

Ansley and her new golf bag

Daddy giving the girls lessons

Swing that club Ansley!

Go for it Emily!

Picnic at the Park

We had such beautiful weather on Saturday that my sisters and I decided to gather our families and go on a picnic at one of our state parks. It happens to be next door to the neighborhood I live in which makes it very convenient! Uncle Trey grilled out while the rest of us brought the sides. We had a great time!

Ansley, Emily and Kylie

Andrew and Ansley relaxing!

Aunt BB working hard to push her nieces!

Aunt Sarah trying to take a fiesta but that didn't last long!

Aunt BB, Grandma, and Emily eating some cookies:-)