Pumpkin Winner!

It was a surprise to hear that E won first place in the Character Pumpkin Contest out of the entire Kindergarten...that is 8 classes! We decorated her pumpkin to look like Sister Bear from the Berenstain Bears Books. What a treat! Congratulations, baby, we are so very proud of you!

Fall Carnival

E's school had a little fall carnival! We had a trial run for Halloween and they looked precious! E is Dorothy and S is a Cowgirl! We had lots of fun as a family enjoying the different booths and just watching them! Life is so enjoyable! We are looking forward to more holiday events: Pumpkin Patch field trip with E's class, Fall Carnival and Trunk or Treat at Church.

Like Fall...the leaves of our life are changing...

Wow, as life settles into routine and our schedule becomes more and more familiar... I can only stop and realize (as well as ACCEPT) our life is changing. I used to be a stay-at-home-mom of infants and preschoolers, then a toddler and a preschooler and now a kindergartner and a preschooler! Having a kiddo in school is exciting, challenging, difficult and wonderful all at the same time.
I have seen E change so much in the last two months...change in ways like her face looks older, her vocabulary is getting more mature, her spiritual walk is growing tremendously, she is also breaking out of her shyness and her comprehension and desire of learning blows me away. I am watching this premature baby grow into a beautiful, God-fearing little girl.
Not only have I seen E change but S has been changing too! It brings good tears to my eyes...as I watch her grow as a preschooler. This darling 3 year old is old and wiser in her ways. Sometimes when I look at her I have to remind myself that she is 3.5. I do forget...that she is 3. She is so bright and her memory is unbelievable. Her love for the Lord is growing and it is so awesome to see her submit to His ways.
So as the leaves begin changing during this fall season...so the leaves of our lives are changing during this season. The colors of our life are beautiful shades of the fall. God is so loving to us!

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip with S!

The Goldfish Class

S is loving preschool! It was such a debate back and forth....do we send her? Do we wait one more year...and on and on our prayers went as petitioned to God for His guidance and wisdom. She has such an amazing year and it is only October! The Lord has a big year for her. We are excited to see how He continues to teach and develop her.

We had so much fun on her field trip to the Pumpkin Patch! We enjoyed a story and learning all about how a pumpkin grows! We also learned that Pumpkins have cousins. It was a special day just me and her. What a treasure of a time!

Open House!

Her friend Noel

(she invited her to church and they are coming regularly!)

It was such a treat to go to E's open house in her Kindergarten classroom! We enjoyed her showing us all of the "special things" about her class...where she sits, her pouch she has the back of her chair with all her supplies, self-selection area, computer, how to use the Smart Board, and much, much more. It was a joy to meet her special friends and their parents, too! I think our favorite moment was reading E's special journal. She is learning so much and loves her teacher! She loves everything about school! We are so thankful the Lord is blessing her year!

Mommy Date!

Last Friday E and I had a mommy date! S was home sick with the Little Piggy Flu. E picked Fuddruckers for lunch and we sat in the golf cart! Then we went shopping! After that we went to the Balloon Fiesta with Cottrell Family! It was a great time just mommy and oldest daughter. We did miss Daddy and S!

Special Moments!

Sunday Worship!

Oh, I love Sundays! Going to Church and worshiping God is the best day of week. I do enjoy worshiping God on other days, too; however, it is just awesome when you join together with other believers and sing praises to God. There is nothing like it! It was an awesome service today. Good songs, great singing and an incredible sermon. Why is there pain in this world? Why do we have to go through pain? Why doesn't God take away pain? He can in one word remove it but why doesn't He? The big question we all ask is "why, Lord, why?"
I loved our preachers approach....why ask why. According to the scriptures...He doesn't have to tell us and most of the time He won't tell us. He does what is pleasing to Him. Why look at the things we don't know; let just focus on the things we do know! We know...that God loves us, we know that God sent His son to die for us, and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
4 reasons God may allow pain:
1) Sometimes God brings pain into our life for no other reason than to cause us to draw close to Him.
2) Sometimes God brings pain into our life to discipline us.
3) Sometimes God brings pain into our life so that we can help someone else who finds themselves in a similar situation.
4) Sometimes the pain we go through makes no sense at all.
In the end, our prayers will be answered but maybe not in the way we expect it! What a great perspective! Then in our kids devotional tonight...the story and scripture were on the stars. How God named each star and calls them out at night one by one...then author asked the question...If He cares about the stars that much then how much does He care about you? WOW! Romans 8:28 We KNOW that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Think about that for a while! Do you know how much God loves you?

Snapfish...

I love Snapfish! I have been sending pics out since E was an infant! That is 5 years! Well, my computer has been having some major problems and it is not communicating with Snapfish right now. For those anxiously waiting for my monthly pics...I don't know when there are going to be sent out. Basically, it might be when I can get a new computer and that will not be anytime soon. It is so sad; but nothing I can do at this point! I have even contacted Snapfish and it is my browser that is having trouble. Never fear I do not give up easily ;) It will be a great surprise when they do come!

Bummer...

S is now sick with the little piggy flu, too! The good news is her symptoms are nothing like her sister's. We are praying for a mild case and quick healing. Oh, sick babies are so exhausting...this is when the famous saying comes in handy..."And this too shall pass!"

Being a Mom is tough!

Last week was a rough one! On Monday I took S to the Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. She had chronic ear infections and a year and a 1/2 ago we had tubes put in her ear. Well, they fell out..like they are naturally supposed to do; however, the holes where the tubes were did not heal. They are still open in both of ear drums. While, that was alarming news to receive back in June; I have had a couple of months waiting for this appointment to process this information. All I can think about is how in the world do you close holes in an ear drum...the medical answer surgery...my answer PRAYER! The ENT is going to give her 6 months to heal and if not surgery. Also, on Monday it was confirmed that she has slight hearing loss in both ears. It was very difficult as mom to sit in the audiologist room while she was tested. I could her the beeps and she couldn't. At one point I became very emotionally and tried to remind myself hold it together...be strong. Sometimes Mommy's need an outlet, too. Sometimes the burden becomes too big to carry. I am so grateful to know Jesus, and the He wants to carry my burdens. Oh, how uplifting and refreshing that is too know I do not have to do it alone. Needless, to say E getting sick with the little piggy flu was almost too much for me to handle :) Being a mom is tough sometimes...and it is at these moments I wish my mom was here.

So Gracious...

The Lord is so gracious and we are so grateful that E is doing so well after contracting the H1N1 or as we like to call the "little piggy" flu. It was a terrifying moment last week after going home from the doctor with the diagnosis and then getting a phone call from our school district stating that a 5 year old girl had died from H1N1. It wasn't that we thought the worst, it was that the worst was possible...hanging on to the Lord rather than fear was the only way we got through it. Thank you for all your prayers, they truly are what got us through this time. It is in these moments you see what really matters...family. It is when all the other "STUFF" just doesn't mean anything and you thank God for giving you treasures...a darling husband and two precious kids. Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Calling on Prayer Warriors

We are humbly asking for your prayers. Last night E came down with a fever after having a cold for the last week. I took her to the doctor today and they confirmed it is Swine Flu. Please cover E in your prayers. We know that this flu is like any other flu but it is frightening. We are relying on Jesus to take away all our fears and give us peace. We believe God will heal her! Please pray with us and for us.