Fun at the pool. It poured when we first go there, but the girls didn't care! Within five minutes the rain stopped, the sun came out, and a good time was had by all! :0)

Just some fun shots from the day. The girls danced, played Wii Just Dance, made bracelets, and ate cake and ice cream before swimming.

A Glorious Day

Growing up, my family never went to church. I had a close relationship with my parents and we were a very close knit family. As I grew, I realized that many of my friends went to church and at a pretty young age I can remember having a desire for something spiritual, but of course, not being able to articulate what exactly I wanted. As I grew older and neared the end of my high school career my mom and I wanted to try going to church...my dad wanted nothing to do with it. So, my mom and I went to several churches and finally found one that was a fit for us. We really enjoyed it and we both eventually joined the church and were saved and baptized. This was the real beginning of my spiritual journey. At that time, however, I did not fully understand God and the relationship that I should have with Him or how I could live a life in Him. I just knew that I wanted to be part of the "church crowd"...I didn't know what that meant exactly, but I wanted to be part of it. Mom and I attended church until I began college. In college, I did not attend church...none of my friends really attended and I certainly wasn't brave enough to go on my own. You see, I never really felt that I belonged in church. Many churches are like that...you may be greeted at the door, but after that...you are kind of on your own and I wasn't brave enough to try that on my own. Eventually, I graduated from college and met Chuck. When things started to get serious, I had a renewed desire to go to church, and , again, my mom was willing to go with me. We started to attend our old church (from high school), but really never felt that we "fit." When Chuck and I married, we began to attend his home church, which is where he and his family attended. They had always gone to church and when we went there I really felt comfortable and like we belonged. As long as I was with Chuck and his family, I felt that I "belonged." Here, I started to grow spiritually. Off and on I would invite my parents to attend and they would if it had to do with the kids, but my dad was adamant that he didn't want to go to church...he almost had an "anger" toward church that I didn't quite understand. Soooo my mom didn't go to church either, although she would often say that she wished Dad would go because she would love to go. During these years, I felt like I belonged a little more, but I still didn't feel that I really truly understood the church thing. I grew to know the routines and I knew I wanted my kids raised in the church, but I didn't know enough to really have strong convictions. Many years later, it seemed that church was a chore...Chuck never wanted to go...we were just filling an obligation, but we weren't really living out our faith (if we really had any) in our lives. We had good intentions, but we lacked the understanding and the comfort level to really "get it." That's when we made the decision to start looking at churches in town. We kept hearing about this church called Lifehouse, and I had actually felt a "nudging" to go there and try it. We put it off for a long time and when we finally went, we said we were trying it "for the kids." Little did we know that this was SO about us! After one time at Lifehouse Chuck and I left and I can so vividly remember having the first serious conversation about church and God that we really ever had...it wasn't me talking and Chuck just agreeing, but both of us actually discussing the sermon and how we could use some work in that area. After that, things just started falling into place so quickly...my mom started attending and we all started praying regularly about all kinds of things, but particularly about my Dad being saved. You see, I had learned about how important it is to be saved and I wanted that for everyone that I know (and don't know), but especially for my dad. When we invited him to attend with us, Dad was reluctant, so we pulled out the "big guns." We had Brock and Kenzie ask him to go, because we knew he couldn't and wouldn't tell them no. And that is how it started...he went once...and again, and again. Things slowly started to change, but he really started to feel a connection. Next thing we knew, he was talking about getting baptized. I don't think that at the time he made the decision that my dad knew he would have to give a testimony, but I am sure glad that he did, because it was a beautiful thing to hear and it was the day that I was most proud of my dad. That is saying alot, because my dad has always been my hero and he has given me many reasons to look up to him in my life, but this moment...this moment...I will remember forever. I know now that God has a plan and looking back in hindsight I can see His hand in things, even all those years ago when I was a very young girl going to church with friends and wanting "something more." God is good! I can't wait to continue this walk with Christ with my WHOLE family...Dad included! I love you dad, and I am SO very proud of you!!!!

Award's Day 2010

Today was Award's Day and Jefferson Elementary. Because my school was out already, I was excited to get to go. We knew for sure that Lexi was getting a special award for reading in her kindergarten class so we wanted to cheer her on and we also wanted to be there for Kenzie in case she received any awards. As it turned out, she got awards for All A's in the fourth nine weeks, All A's for the year, and CARES honors. We were very proud of her...and all of her friends who were recognized as well. She worked hard this year and it payed off! Good job Kenzie...we are all SO proud of you!

Dance! Dance! Dance!

This year marks Kenzie's sixth year of dance...and her last year of dance (for now). She is ready to take some time off of dance to see what else she might like and enjoy. She is thinking of volleyball and maybe even tumbling. As long as she is happy, it is all good for us. We really enjoyed this recital, mostly because we knew it could be the last and because we have seen so much growth in Kenzie's dance over the last year. We decided to let Kenzie get her hair done for her special day and our dear friend, Sarah, did it for her. We were so pleased and she made Kenzie feel so special. The most amazing thing was that the curl stayed for BOTH recitals!!! Thanks so much Sarah - you are awesome! When we got home, our sweet babysitter and friend, Emily, came over and I curled her hair. Of course, Kenz had to get a quick picture with her. We love Emily...she is so good to our kids...what a nice young lady for Kenzie to look up to!

Her pretty curls...thanks to sweet Sarah!

Kenzie with Aunt Tina and Grandma Cindy after recital.

Grandpa Howard and Grandma Darlene.

In her "New Girl in Town" costume for jazz. This was my favorite costume this year!

I'm partial, but I love this one!

Kenzie and Daddy...is there anything sweeter than a little girl and her daddy?!?

I snapped this when she wasn't expecting it and I adore her happy expression!

I never like pictures of me, but I do love this of Kenzie and me!

And, finally, Brock did pose for a few and I really loved this one of the two of them! What great memories of a special day!

Medieval Feast

Brock's enrichment class had a Medieval Feast to wrap up their unit of study on the Medieval Times. Their teacher has done an outstanding job with these students and Brock has enjoyed every bit of it! I didn't get to go, but my dad (who made Brock's costume for him) and Chuck attended. I asked Chuck to take some shots for me and he did a great job. He said the children performed a really good play and then each spoke about something specific from the Medieval Times. They finished the day by having a feast with foods from the time. Sounds like a fun time was had by all.

Brock, Cade, and Nick in their costumes.

The whole class. Don't they look fantastic?

Nick and Brock.

Brock and Cade

This Kid

This kid makes me so proud! I was on my way home from school today when he called to tell me, "Mom, you're gonna be so proud of me!" He went on to tell me that he had been chosen as Student of the Month for May. He was so proud of himself that I could hear the pride bursting from his voice. As a mom, I sometimes see this kid struggle...to fit in...to get kids to like him...to say the right thing... and my prayer to God is always that he would catch a break and have something terrific happen to him. Well, today was his day, and when I hung up that phone...with tears in my eyes, I said, "Thank you, God." Congratulations Brock...Dad and I are proud of you!

Women of Faith 2010

Last weekend I had the pleasure of going to my first Women of Faith Conference in Columbus, Ohio. My mother-in-law had asked me many months ago if I would go with her. I thought it would be a good experience, but at the time, I don't think I could have realized how much it would come to mean to me. I have been really struggling lately with being content with certain aspects of my life, my job in particular. All of this was really causing my stress to build up to a level I have never really experienced before. Then, as many of you know, Chuck's Aunt Tina...who is as much an aunt to me as my mom's sisters, has been battling breast cancer. She had just suffered a setback and that had really affected our family as we worked through all of our emotions. So, I went to Columbus with a heavy heart, ready for the Lord to do some work on me...and He did. We had a wonderful time and my soul was filled up. Many of the speakers seemed to be talking directly to me and were sending messages that I definitely needed to hear. Also, due to a last minute change, Tina had been given a ticket to attend the weekend with us. I will always remember this fun weekend that the four of us shared. I love these ladies! (I actually wasn't going to bring a camera, but right on the way out the door I decided to grab Kenzie's little pink camera, and I am sure glad that I did! Even though I only took a few pics..they are special to me.)

The picture above is of Mary and Tina on the bus. This is right as we were getting started. As Tina has been doing her chemo, her hair has started thinning and she has gotten a couple of wigs, but she doesn't often wear them. When she first came out I told her how cute she looked in her wig (and she did!), but she was really uncomfortable with it. Cindy told her that she didn't need to wear it for our benefit, since she looked fine without it. Well, about 15 minutes into the trip we heard Mary and Tina giggling and when we looked back Tina said, "I'm taking this 'critter' off!" And she did...and she looked just as beautiful without it! The "critter" didn't make any more appearances that weekend!

Cindy and I on the bus. We were seat buddies...we usually are! Don't I look really white beside her?!?

At the conference we were given box lunches. We were able to eat them at the gorgeous park that was right across the street from the arena. I tried to capture how many ladies were there, but this is only about one fourth of them! It was amazing to see so many women. It was a beautiful day, but it sure was windy!

Cindy, Tina, and Mary...all beautiful women and all important to me. Love you girls! Thanks for sharing the weekend with me!

Tina, Mary, and I