A Time for Cold

You don't have to read this blog for very long to know that we are true and blue through and through for soccer.

Well, at least I thought we were. I draw the line at being true and blue, through and through at 30 degrees on the soccer field.

That's how it was this past weekend. We had a tournament. Goodness gracious, when you have to pull out a blanket to take with you . . . that means it's time for soccer to be over.

Look at my boys. . . especially the bigger one who wears shorts in 50-degree weather. You know if they are bundled up THIS much, then it is C-O-L-D!!!
Hanna and I were bundled up tight as well.
Poor Ash. . . we left her with her team for the 45 minutes they practiced and crawled back into the heated van.

Then, to top it off, I didn't take a single picture of my soccer girl. . . I stink, I know.

I really was too busy trying to cheer our soccer team on to at least one victory.

No dice - they lost all 3 games.

Meanwhile, Hanna got a hold of the camera. Here's the pictures she took.
I'm actually quite impressed. They're better pictures than I take.
Here's putting soccer to rest until March. Thank goodness. I don't think I could hack another cold weekend like we just had :)

Crazy Hair Birthday Party

This year Ash and I racked our brains for a birthday party idea for she and her friends, then I happened to see on Facebook something about a "Crazy Hair" birthday. I told Ash, and she was in all the way.

We had all sorts of things . . . rubber bands, pipe cleaners, ribbons, curling irons, hot sticks (yes the ones from 1993 that still work, can you believe it?), bobby pins, etc.
Nanna and Papa were here, but only for cake not to have their hair done.
The girls were put into teams (2 in each team), and we had several different categories to give away prizes.
They all had to come up with a team name.


The Crazy Hair Crew
Time for the cake. . . Mom always does such a great job with their birthday cakes.

Ms. Faith and Maddie were so sweet to get Ash a GA Bulldog shirt. .. their family are huge GA Tech fans. I'm so surprised Steve let her get it. . . they just love Ash-that's why :)


Okay, why in the world I have my eyes bugged like this I have NO idea. . .maybe its the fumes from the hairspray?

Ash - spunky, delightful, our girl who does everything BIG, servant, giving, and such a thankful heart.

Ash's BIRTHday Surprise!!!

My sweet friend, Jenn. B, is such a great mom. She is always inspiring me in so many different ways. . . she truly is one of the MOST thoughtful people I know.

One of the many things she does that I just love is on her kiddos birthday (she has 3), she takes them out for a special day.

This year, I thought I would start this tradition with my kids. Remember, on Alec's birthday, I surprised him with a trip to an Infantry Museum. It was such a special day for the both of us.

Well, my spunky, now 11-year-old loves horses. I have a friend at church that gives horseback riding lessons. So I set up a date with her to come to her house and surprise Ash. Ash was so excited all day and couldn't wait to see what we were doing.

She was ecstatic!!!

Here's my sweet friend, Jackie. Her love is horses and she has so much knowledge and taught both Ash and I so very much.
Ash was so excited, yet a little nervous when after Jackie taught her how to "steer" the horse, she let Ash loose. Thankfully as Ash has gotten older she's a little more tame. If she would have been 5, that girl would have that horse galloping through the woods.

Here's the end to our day together.
Well, the next day Daddy-o had a surprise up his sleeve. He woke her up early before chuch and took her out to breakfast. Such a sweet Daddy! Ash, Daddy and I love you oh.so.much, and we're so proud of the young woman the Lord is shaping and fashioning you into be!

Flashback Friday- Ash's Ear Piercing

When Ash was about 3 or 4 she got her ears pierced. Jon's rule has always been 1) they have to know what they are doing, 2) they have to know that it will hurt, and 3) it has to be their decision. I think we took her earrings out too early or we found out she was allergic to nickle by putting some cheap earrings in. . . I can't remember. Anyhoo, her holes grew up.

So, last summer. . . July, I think, she decided she was up for having it done again. So we went and had her ears pierced. I just loved her excitement.


While Ash isn't about hair bows and high heels. . . she does love to look pretty. . . doesn't every girl? She was so very happy not to have to ear clip on earrings anymore. I just love that girl's excitement for life!

Dining at the Lord's Table

Our church takes communion the first Sunday of every month. I love this time of examination. However, since the children are now in the service with us, I've struggled about whether or not to let my children take communion. I would never want them to take of it in an unworthy manner, and I'm just not sure they understand the significance of it. We just started letting Ashley take communion (Alec has been taking it). However, I usually talk to them just about every time we take it and ask them did they examine their hearts and ask God to reveal sin in their lives. . .did they ask forgiveness?did they repent? and we always talk about taking the Lord's supper in an unworthy manner.

We don't let Hanna take it. Hanna has been saved, but I just don't think she quite understands the importance and significance of dining at the Lord's table. Sometimes this is hard for her. I always stress to her this does not make her saved or unsaved. In fact, one Sunday, it was so hard, she bowed her head and covered her ears the whole time during communion.

One day at the pool this summer I asked several of my friends their approach to communion and their children and they all pretty much said after their child has been saved, they allow them to partake. Honestly, I felt like an odd ball, but I knew my convictions. Not that they're wrong or I'm wrong, but it is just a personal conviction for me. I'd love to know any of your thoughts!

I still struggle whether or not Ash should be taking it. However, after today, the Lord really confirmed in my heart she is ready. Ash is starting to get at that age where she struggles with friendships. I know this is normal (since I work with teen girls) and I've really been trying to help her with her own heart issues. And, that's just it. . . it's not really her friends. . . it's her own heart issues. This morning as she and Hanna and I were cooking breakfast casserole together, we started talking about taking communion. I told her that she knew if she still had bitterness in her heart against some of her friends. . . if she had not repented and turned from it. . . if she was still struggling with that sin. . . that it's okay if she just passes the communion plate. . . it would be better for her NOT to take of it, then to take it with sin in her heart. She listened intently, but you just never know if they really take in your words or not.

This morning, she passed the plate. My eyes welled up with tears and I reached over and took her sweet hand. I so hate that she is struggling. I hate that she can't get over the bitterness within her own heart. Yet, I love her heart for the Lord. . . her desire to please Him. . . her knowing the seriousness and the depth of dining at His table and remembering what He did for us. What an example my sweet child was for her mother. I'm so honored the Lord chose me to be her mom. She blesses my heart so.

On the eve before I leave

Well the night before I left I wanted to have some sweet time with the kiddos. So we made make-your-own pizzas. This is a family favorite. We then played a couple of rounds of Uno Flash and, to my amazement, no one pouted or got made (that's a rarity when we play games :))

I had a long list of things to get done. I let the kids watch TV while I tried to mark things off my list. . . tieing up a few loose ends before I left.

One thing I always do whenever I leave to go out of town is write my children notes. I hide them in their bags (or if they are at home I put them under their pillows) and always pray they will find them at a time when they need to.

The sweet thing is is I actually saw a note in my bag placed in there by one of the kiddos. Come to find out it was a letter from Ashley. This is what it said.

Dear Mommy,

I love you so much and already miss you so much. But I love you and hope you have the best time ever. I jus can't reapeat how many times I love you cause its more than you think. Here's a kiss (picture of red lips). I hope you and Daddy have the best time.

Sincerly,

Ash

P.S. I love you

Attached to my letter was another card made by her. Here's what it said.

I love you Mom and already miss you so much and I know you miss me and I can't wait to see you. But while your there have THE BEST TIME EVER!!! I love you.

That girl is some kind of sweet!!! Yes, I know we need to work on her spelling, but don't you just love her heart of gold?

When I dropped the kiddos off with GiGi and Grandaddy Ash was actually better than I thought she would be. Hanna was very clingy (she's my girl with no words, holds everything in) and didn't want to let me go. Not like a "i'm going to hold onto you so you won't leave me" more like a "i just want to hug on you until the absolute last minute you have to walk out this door." Alec was good. Very loving, but he knew we'd be home and he did want to talk to me that night to ask me about my flight. I have some wonderful kiddos, don't I?????

Remember the Story

This past Sunday the girls did their Christmas musical at church. I can't say enough times how thankful for I am for our church and for the precious friends the Lord has given us to share life with.

When we got home from our "Cookie Cooking" I took the girls over to Gigi and Grandaddys. Gigi made the girls their Christmas dresses this year. She wanted to have a "beauty shop" night.

Meanwhile, Ash's friend, Claire, was hanging out with me. The girls get home and Hanna is fit to be tied. The child is tired, and that girl is a girl who needs her sleep!

However, she is always happy when she is in her Daddy's arms!

It was so funny when I went into her room to kiss her goodnight. She was laying on her stomach and had her chin propped up on her pillow. She didn't want to mess up her curlers. I told her, "Baby, you know you can lay on your curlers. It won't mess your hair up." She said, "I know. I actually like sleeping like this!" Yeah right!

But, the next day my sweet little "Mary" was all smiles!

Sort of . . . . :)

Here is Ash and her sweet friends. I wanted a picture of her in front of the Christmas tree (next week hopefully). But, there was a musical to be performed and Mama was too late to get a picture!

Ash looked beautiful though.

She had several speaking parts and she did such a fabulous job. She spoke clearly and slowly and articulated her lines so well! I'm so proud of her! She's growing up way to fast on me!

Here is Mary getting visited from the angel Gabriel.

I just love this picture with Hanna's silhouette behind it.

Now Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus are all together.

Next, the shepherds join them!

Then come the angels who are usually a hoot and a half!

Hanna also had a singing part! It just amazes me with her extreme shyness how she will sing into that microphone!

Then, the angels, shepherds, and Mary and Joseph joined the rest of the choir.

Absolutely precious! I'm telling you if a children's musical can't move your heart, I just don't know what can. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME I see my children, or any children for that matter, singing about the Lord tears just well up in my eyes! It just moves me so! I'm so very thankful for Faith and Teresa who put so much time and dedication into making these things happen!