Double Digits Have Arrived

For Ash's birthday we decided to take the school day off and head to the movies. On the agenda? Ramona and Beezus. One of the cutest movies EVER!

Alec is growing by leaps and bounds and really needed some clothes. . . so we had to go pick up a few things for him.

Ash's request for her birthday dinner was barbeque and a cookie cake. I usually cook their birthday meals. However, since I don't know how to make barbeque I had to go pick up it (honestly, ALL the kids chose barbeque for the brithday dinners this year. . . I think it was so they'd get something other than Mama's cooking)

Where has ALL the time gone? Time. . . please, please, please slow down!

She still isn't too big for her Daddy to hold her!

GiGi and Granddaddy came over to open presents. Cookie and Grandaddy are BIG buddies!

Ash got a Life of Faith doll for her birthday. These dolls have books that come with them. They are sort of like American Girl dolls except better. . . because with all and all problems they encounter in life. . . they turn to Christ.

Before buying these dolls and researching them I came across something that really surprised me. American Girl supports BOTH abortion and homosexuality. Sadly, I'm normally not a big boycotter. . . but as I grow in my relationship with Christ I am becoming that way. If my money is all His anyway. . . and I spent it on something that directly contradicts His Word. . .isn't that wrong? Don't misunderstand me, I'm not being judgemental at all. . . just something I've been pondering.

Sorry, I digress. . . back to my girl in her double digits.

I'm so thankful that at 10 years old Ash still loves to play with dolls. I'm thankful she's not some boy crazy little girl trying to be like a teenager. I'm thankful she wants to dress modestly. I'm thankful when I tell her about American Girl and what they support she's flabergasted. I'm thankful for her heart for the LORD. She told me just the other night, "Mom, I'm going to do my Bible study every night before I go to bed. I know I will be tired the next morning, but it's worth it to spend time with God." I pray this seed in her heart will grow and bloom and not be choked out by this world.

She's 7, but tomorrow she needs to be 5

For Hanna Boo's birthday this year her request for her birthday dinner was barbecue (surprise, surprise) and this strawberry cake that my friend, Jenn. B. makes for me every year for my birthday.

Of course, I was delighted to make it for Hanna.

She wanted to light her own candles.

Oh, time is ticking so fast and that seems to be so much of my focus these days. . . how quickly it is passing us by. . . pretty soon 7 candles will be 16, then 18, then 21. . . I'm getting weepy already.

I told her though that since Mom is having a hard time with everyone getting older, that when she wakes up in the morning she has to be back 5 years old again!

She didn't buy it! She was so excited about turning 7.

She, like Ash, got a Life of Faith doll along with some CDs to tell about her doll's life. She was thrilled!

That girl LOVES her Daddy!

5 girls + 2 friends + 5 fingers = One FUN Girls Day Out!

What a fun girls day my girls and I got to have.

Faith has been wanting some 5 fingers for some time now. She just had her birthday, so we decided to go shopping.

I was so excited!!! I knew my girls would be thrilled, so I kept it as a surprise about our girls' day out.

Faith and her girls came to Ash's soccer game, then we all headed to Macon.

First, we stopped at Chick-fil-A for lunch. We had good food, good conversation, good laughs, and good fun!

We then headed over to Run Fit Sports.

Poor sales guy. . . although he was wearing a really cool pair of 5 fingers. . . he didn't have a clue as to how to fit someone in them.

The "Rayna" in me kicked in and I just had to take over and say, "can we try this size, can we try that size?" Faith and I both knew WAYYYY more than dude about the shoes.

It was funny and we had some really good laughs.

We then headed back to G-town and everyone knows that a good girls' day out HAD to end with dessert.

So. . . back to Chick-fil-A we went. . . for milk shakes!!!!!!!!!

Then we headed to my house and showed Jon Faith's next shoes! She's so rocking them! The kind she got is actually my favorite. . . it keeps all the stuff out that can get into your shoes.

MaeMae wanted to show off her shoes too . . check out the silvery glitter! Maybe 5 Fingers will start making some glitter shoes too:)

Afterwards we traded off kids and the kids got to spend the night with one another.

We're so blessed by our friends that share our same last name!!! It's such a rarity when the Dads, Moms, and kiddos ALL enjoy one another! The LORD has blessed us with many people to share our lives with. . . we are grateful!

I can't wait until our next girls' day out!

Pumpkin Carving

Oh Fall, how I love thee.. .

I remember when I was little and we'd go to Faye and Pruett's (my grandparents) and we'd carve Jack-O-Lanterns.

And roast pumpkin seeds. . .

And now, that tradition has been passed down to my children. . .

Except, we use kitchen knives rather than hunting knives.

And, some of use patterns rather than our imaginations.

And, no scary faces. . .

While we were a carvin', Jon was a grillin'

Some really good burgers and hot dogs.

What a GREAT night of family fun!

Run Girl Run retires!

She's been with me for over 2 years now.

She's my trademark.

She makes me feel all dressed up when I have no make-up on.

She makes me feel like I smell halfway decent when I've just run my fanny off.

She makes me feel as if I run like the wind.

But. . . it was time. . . .

Know how I know?

She'd gotten to the point where she started to get twisted on me.

I can't take twisting.

Just aggravates me.

Makes me feel all out of whack.

I think. . . it may just slow.me.down.

Thankfully I'm NOT talking about a person here.

I'm talking about my running hat. I passed her down to my mini-me!

I opted for a black hat with pink. . . shows less dirt. . . definitely what I need.

Don't worry, she's being taken care of very well by mini-me. . .

Mini-me has introduced her to the sport of soccer.

I think she's happier. . . because now she lies on the head of a real athlete.

My First Experience Ordering a Cream-Filled Donut

Having a dear, sweet friend like Faith, I knew at some point in my life I was bound to order a cream-filled donut.

Don't get me wrong. I love a donut. I crave a donut. If one is within my sight, I will eat a donut. However, I've actually never really ordered a cream-filled one.

Probably just cause I really like the plain ones . . . that's all.

Well, it was time for a girls' night out to celebrate one of my favorite people - Faith. Funny thing is we share the same last name, yet we have no relation.

Oh yeah, we DO have a relation. . . we are sisters in Christ!

So, Lisa, Jenn B. and I opted to get Faith cream-filled donuts for her birthday cake.

The kiddos and I pull up to Dunkin' Donuts, and I say, I want 3 cream-filled donuts (yes, there were 4 of us; however, I wasn't going to eat one. . . I knew if it was in front of me, I'd dive in head first).

The lady asked me, "Bavarian cream, vanilla cream, Boston cream?" She probably said a few more, but by this time I was in panic.

I looked at Alec with a shear look of panic, "Oh no!!! Which one do I order? Which one is her favorite?"

Alec opted for Boston cream.

Boston cream, it was.

Thankfully Faith is not picky when it comes to her cream-filled donuts. She likes them ALL!!! Good deal. . . because boy was I sweatin' it!

Oh what a dear friend I have! Words can't even express how much this sweet, funny, sincere lady who loves the LORD means to me! She and her family are absolutely PRECIOUS to me! I'm so thankful I get to share life with her.

Happy Birthday, Faith! It was a blast!!! Now, we all just have to find a night when we can celebrate Lisa!

Check out these Cheeks!

Remember my preemie niece?

Well, that girl ain't so preemie anymore. . . would you check out these sweet cheeks?

She gets them honest. . . from her mama and her Nanna. . .
My girls were thrilled beyond belief to finally get to hold their new baby cousin.

The oldest grandchild with the youngest grandchild.

114. For sweet babies.

115. For kissable, squeezeable cheeks.

116. For the gift of family.

117. For children who get excited about seeing extended family.

118. For girls who want to mother.

119. For Mama's good cookin'.

120. For a sweet baby sister who now entered the precious phase of life called motherhood.

Pack-A-Thon

Toward the beginning of September our church took a group of children to pack meals for hungry children. I was so very excited about this ministry opportunity for my children.

We headed out bright and early on the church bus.

The one thing our children's pastor did not tell us was that we were going to have to wear hair nets. She didn't want to discourage anyone from coming . . . ha!ha!

Hanna isn't too sure about the hair net.

Ashley loves anything that will get her attention. . . hair net or not!

I literally felt like a lunchroom lady!

I learned so many neat things!

For example, did you know that most of the world is vegetarian. Meat is too expensive or not available.

Rice is known as the universal food. Any mother, anywhere in the world can receive rice and know how to cook it.

The room was so full of excitement. This was not a job for slackers. We all had a goal to meet!

Another thing I never realized is how corrupt some governments can be. . . after we finished packing the food we all corporately prayed over it. They said that only 3 shipments of food have ever been returned to their ministry .. . where the government refused to accept it. This is only the power of God that it hasn't been more boxes.

The girl in pink is literally like my 4th or 5th child. I love this girl so.very.much! She and I talked so much about all the places in the world we want to go to share the Gospel. She's really trying to convince me to go to the Ukraine with her next year. . .

The girls had to miss their first soccer game. Miss "Super Star" was quite upset. I used this to teach her life is not about her. When we left she said, "Mom that was so.much.fun. I'm so glad I didn't go to my soccer game."

Me too, sweetie. Me too!

106. For children who are being fed both physically and spiritually.

107. For the opportunity to help feed the poor.

108. For a God-given desire to help those in need.

109. For where God has placed us.

110. For children who served joyfully.

111. For my spiritual children.

112. For a wonderful children's minister.

113. For an organization that is legit.