Disney Part 1...

Last week we had the privilege of going to Orlando with our family and our pastor's family.  The guys had signed up to go to the Ligonier conference...my husband got to hear his hero in the faith...R.C. Sproul...and our pastor got to hear his as well...John Piper.  The guys were stoked to get away and just listen to some solid preaching.  Because of where the conference was, we decided that the kids would go along and we would surprise them and take them to Disney World for a day.  Now mind you, the kids had NO idea we were going anywhere...much less Disney!  We have never been and I was just so exited for them to get to go!  We packed in secret...planned in secret...and we were ready to hop in the van and head down to the sunny state. 

We woke up bright and early the next morning to head over to the park.  The kids were brimming with excitement...and I can't lie..I was too.  It was my first visit to the Magic Kingdom as well.  I can't tell you everything in one post or your retina's would seriously be bleeding, so I will share with you some of my favorite pics from the first part of the day!!

                                        

 This was the gang waiting in the parking lot....

We just knew it was going to be a magical day...

Waiting to go in...2 already had to go to the restroom...

                      I loved this picture and will print it just so we can remember what a great day it was...

                                                                       The Castle...

                                           Charlie pulling out the sword in the stone...

                                                      My girls in the matching shirts...

                                                 The 2 J's...Jesse and his buddy JohnMark...

                                     Shelby and Karis on "It's a small world"...such a cool ride...

                                                                            No words....

                                              Dumbo...the longest line we waited in all day...

                                                                    The tea cups...

Stay tuned for part 2 of the best day ever!!!

2 Birthdays...

Three years ago on the 26th I gave birth to my sweet baby boy Jesse.  I remember when they set my c-section date...and I politely told the doctor..."oh, that day doesn't work for me...my daughters birthday is the 28th and I just don't want his to be that close to hers...and I don't want to be in the hospital on her birthday".  The Doctor then proceeded to look at me like I was a lunatic...and she politely told me..."uhm...that is the only day you can do it so it's gonna have to work".  I remember crying...I was pregnant and all...and telling Ric that I didn't want to have it that day...that I didn't want Addie's birthday to be overlooked...that I couldn't have two birthday's that close together.  Well...I did...and it's been just fine!

Jesse is my sweet little ball of energy that loves life.  He is passionate...funny...loves to play...is my little spit fire...all boy...and a smile that can melt your heart.  He loves his cars, dinosaurs, Handy Manny, and his tools.  He is a fixer...if something is broke he runs to get his tool box to fix it.  He loves to be outside and could literally swing for hours on end...or jump on the trampoline.  He loves his brother and sisters.  He misses them every day they leave to go to school...he loves to have them home with him.  I love this little boy that came into my life 3 years ago.  He is a blessing for sure.  My prayer for him is that he loves Christ...and that he is burdened for lost people all over the world!  I love you Jesse Man...JB...little man...Jess!  Three is gonna be grand for sure!

Addie is 8 years old today!  I can't believe that it's been that long.  I will never forget the day I had her and just basking in the glow of having a daughter.  She was so pretty as a baby...and even more beautiful now.  I can't tell you how many times I hear..."she is just so beautiful"...and she is(she looks just like her daddy and aunt)...but what is even more beautiful is her sweet spirit.  She is a little momma.  Always playing with the little kids at church...always taking care of my friends little ones.  I listened to her last night reading her bible to her little sister as they lay in bed.  She was reading about Abraham and Issac...and my heart just got all welled up...I pray that she would always have a passion for the Word of God...for the Gospel!!! She is such a big helper...always ready to step in and do something for someone.  She is crazy talented at art...an unbelievable athlete...smart as a whip...and just a great kid  with a great big heart.  I love you Addie Boo...Boo Bear...Boo Girl.  Eight is gonna be great!!!

March is a great month for me...two blessings came in this great month...two lives changed mine in this month...two children stole my heart in this month.  This month I am grateful for life...grateful for my children...grateful for the chaos that goes around celebrating two birthdays...even though it didn't work for me:)!! God is so good!

That picture at the top...yeah, it's at Disney World.  We just got back on Saturday and we had the time of our lives...can't wait to share some pictures and memories with you.  I told you March was a good month!

Professional people and the BFRO...

Oh people, it seriously can't get any better than this...I mean really!  This past Sunday in the Times Georgian, here in my home town, was an article about a local family that are believing to have had an encounter with Big Foot.  There is evidence of it...they have seen it...smelt it...people they have even had the BFRO come out and investigate it.  What is the BFRO you ask...it's the Bigfoot Field Research Organization(go look at the site...they even sell t-shirts). Yeah...there is such thing, can you believe it!

 I am reading this article that two friends had sent me through Facebook and am literally dying from laughter...Ric was not so amused!  His response is "I don't know what is so funny".   Those who know my husband, know that he has a deep seeded belief that the Big Foot is real...that he is out there...and lawzee...now he's probably gonna be hunting him since he is in our neck of the woods and all.  You can read about the hoax we pulled on Ric here.  As I am reading this article out loud...to Ric...I get to this point and literally can't speak...my laughter is out of control folks....Ric's, not so much.  Read this excerpt below...reminder...this is in my local paper:

“I don’t care what people think,” Lori Chandler said. “I know what we’ve heard. I know what we’ve seen and I know that outside one of the most elaborate practical jokes ever played there is nothing else to explain all of this.”

For the record, the Chandlers are professional people, have lived in the area most of their lives and haven’t seen space ships, don’t have mushrooms boiling on the stove and there’s no green leafy substance growing anywhere in sight on the property. "

FOR THE RECORD!!!  Are ya kiddin' me????  I found it so completely humorous that they are throwing that line in there...because if we are keepin' it real...there is some validation needed so that we don't think these people are nut jobs, but the shrooms and pot is just too funny!

The next morning I am still just in stitches over this as we are getting ready for the day...he says to me very seriously "I think this one is a hoax...I really think someone is messing with these folks"...I respond..."really, who has time to do that...it's been going on for months!"  He says in reply...still very seriously "well, you know unemployment is at an all time high...some people have a whole lot of time".  Ok??? 

Go read the article...I'm telling you it will make your day...but it will make you think.  For reals...there is  a lot of evidence pointing towards the Big Foot...and now our town could be famous.  When you come into Carroll County...the sign could read..."Welcome to Carrollton...the Home of Big Foot"!  We could start tours...Big Foot museums...sell memorabilia...oh my soul, this could really help the unemployment in Carrollton!!

All of this to say...my husband makes me laugh more than anyone in this world.  I love that he stands by what he believes in....even if it is Big Foot!  I love that some "professional" person down the road from me has seen Big Foot...and don't be surprised if it turns out to be true!  I'm just saying....they are professionals people...why would professional people make something up like this???  I may surprise Ric and call the BFRO and see what he needs to do to join in on the team...it would be pretty cool to run through the woods on a Big Foot hunt!

So here's to professional people...the BFRO...and my man!  Find that Big Foot...

Go read the full article here...it'll bless you!

No names were changed in this article to protect the innocent...'cause they are professionals and all!

This goes out to the one I love...

I remember growing up that it was a big deal on the radio stations to call in and have a dedication made. I never did it...promise I didn't, but I do remember people thinking it was just the coolest.  You would listen to see who so and so's "song" was...what couple was fighting...moving on...new love.  It was a tell all for any small town.

Ric is not a music person...he listens to sermons when he drives...the bible read aloud...he is an R.C. Sproul junkie, so if you get in his ride...that's what you will hear. We never had a "song"...didn't dance at our wedding(which I highly regret). Me on the other hand, I love music. I hear a song and it brings back a memory...I have an iPod full of my favorites...and music is important to me. All that to say, I heard this song this morning...a song I have heard before, but today it meant a whole lot more to me. It's a song about love...commitment...forever...and Jesus...and if I'm gonna have a song with my man..this would be the one. May there be lots of dancing in the minefields...and at the end of my days when I forget my name...I know you will remind me. This goes out to the one I love...

Just like her...

I love Valentine's Day. I love candy...sweet little gifts...cheesy cards...school parties. I love celebrating my love for people on this day...as well as every other day of the year. I surely don't love them anymore just because the calendar tells me too...but I love expressing my love  in an extra way on this particular day.

I love getting to spend time with my husband and kids on this day. Some years we have a special date...some years we are at home with the kids. This year we will be at basketball practice...such is life. I love my man though and pretty much think that he is awesomeness. He loves me, with all my faults...with all my strange tendencies...he just loves me, and I am grateful for that.

Valentines took on a whole 'nother meaning for me 8 years ago. Snow was glistening on the ground that morning...it was freezing cold. I had woken up extra early that morning...why I'm not sure. It could have been Charlie waking up...me getting ready for the day...not being able to sleep because I was almost 9 months pregnant...but I remember where I was...what we were doing when that phone call came. The phone call we knew was coming eventually...but the call that we dreaded. The phone rang sometime after 6 that morning...my mom answered it...I heard her voice quivering as she talked...and I just knew. Knew that my sweet Mama who had been fighting dementia for years had gone to be with Jesus. Knew that our lives would be forever changed because of that day. Mom got off the phone and we just hugged and cried. We were broken...sad...but thankful she was no longer in any pain. Thankful that she was healed...that dementia no longer had its ugly grip on her mind...thankful she was in the presence of the King. I remember smiling and saying to mom..."that's just like her...to go on a day that stands for love...because that is what she did the best...love."

Valentine's Day will never be just about loving on my sweet family...it will forever be a reminder of her life...her love...her legacy. I am thankful to God that He chose to call her home that snowy day...that she lived her life so full of His love...His grace...that it poured out into everyone around her. She stood for love...so for her to be in the presence of Christ that day...well, it's just like her!