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?