VBS 2012

Logan and Aila attended VBS again this year.  Logan cried the first day, Aila wet her pants one day, and they both were kind of crazy on parent night...they loved VBS though and they learned a lot.  Let's just hope next year it goes a little smoother!

Love Multiplies

The more children you have it does not mean your love is divided more.  In fact, it is the opposite.  Your love is multiplied!

Happy Birthday to Zona!

Last year around this time Aila started telling everyone she was getting a puppy for her birthday.  We kept telling her that she wasn't, but she prayed every night for one.  Well of course she melted our hearts because she is this sweet little girl who never asks for anything.  So we researched shelters and fell in love with a litter of boxer mixed puppies.  A week later our Zona came home.  We figured out her birthday must be sometime in July so we celebrated this week.  We got her a new doggy bed and some toys.  I think she liked it ; )

Chic Fil A Cow Appreciation Day

We LOVE Chic Fil A. 

 The owner Truit Kathy is a Christian and does a lot of great things. 

 It is one of the only fast food places where the playground is actually regularly cleaned. 

It is also one of the only fast food places that will bring your food to your table and has someone walking around asking if you need anything or would like a refill. 

 And my kids love that they can trade in the junky toy from their kid's meal for icecream. 

 So of course we show our appreciation on Cow Appreciation Day! Did you know that if you dress up like a cow you get a free meal? We dressed up all the kids and got our entire meal for FREE! They handed me a receipt that said $0.00!

Hurray for Chic Fil A!

Rainy Day Fun

It's raining, it's pouring, but mommy can't be snoring with 4 little ones.  So instead we made a fort : )

Ariah is 3 Months Old

Ariah has turned out to be our most smiley baby.  She loves to laugh and coo.  She loves it when people talk to her.  She loves to be tickled and she cracks up at daddy's funny noises.  She can roll over now and she is already TEETHING! Uh oh!

It's a bird...It's a plane...

No.  It's Levi, Logan and Aila with their very own super hero capes!

Twins!

Aila used to be obsessed with having her baby dolls dressed like her.  Now she has set her sights on her baby sister, her real live baby doll.  Here is Ariah wearing a doll dress that Mimi had made to match the shirt she made for Aila.

Cuddles

There aren't too many things sweeter than this...

Surrender, Trust, Obey

God always has something to teach me. If you know me at all, you know that God has changed me alot...but you also know that I still have a LONG WAY TO GO. Every day is a battle between following my flesh and surrendering to the Spirit. I have some pretty big hurdles that God is working on in me right now. I am stubborn. I like to be in control. I am selfish.

 God has been showing me that I am NOT in control. I have no say over the weather. I can't MAKE my kids be good. There is so much beyond my control. God has shown me that I need to surrender to Him. His will needs to become my will. My life should not be about what I want. It should be about pleasing HIM. My Maker. My Father. My Comfortor. My Strength. My Provider. My Everything.

Jeremiah 10:23 "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." I need to surrender to the Lord. He is the one in control. Not me.

God has also been showing me that I don't really trust Him. I think I know better than Him. I think I know what I need (but really it is just what I want).

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding.”

Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”

I need to really trust that He knows what is best for me...even if it doesn't make sense...ESPECIALLY when it doesn't make sense.

Finally, God has been convicting me about being obedient. I am constantly talking to my kids about obedience and how important it is for them to listen to me. I tell them things for their own good. I tell them things to protect them. When they disobey it hurts me. I had a realization the other day. God is the same way. He tells us things so that we may have life to the fullest. I also realized that when I disobey God, I hurt Him.

Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

John 15:14 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Every day I am faced with choices. Will I let my emotions get the better of me? Will I wallow in my discont? Or will I choose an attitude of gratitude. Will I live for others rather than myself? Will I choose to love the person that cuts me off when I am driving? Will I show love instead of frustration when someone is annoying me? The answer is I am going to try. And I know I can do all things through Chrsit who strengthens me!

Letter A Memory Verse

Dancing Fool

Aila fell and Levi got whacked in the face and Logan was pretty much oblivious to the damage because he was a dancing fool.  LOL

Happy 4th of July!

Fun at the Park