little miss isabel update

Yesterday Luke and I took Isabel to see her cardiologist for her 3 year checkup! I wanted to share the report because I know lots of you like to keep up with her little murmer. The little "VSD" in her heart is "tiny" as the doctor says ever

y time. He did a sonogram and she was SOO good. Luke got to lay on a bean bag {which he LOVED} and watch Dora the explorer {which was a total life saver!} The sonogram told us that she definitely still has the little hole in her precious heart, but that every other thing about her heart is absolutely perfect! Because she was so good during the sonogram they were able to do a full check on everything he wanted to see and she passed each one perfectly! It was so sweet because I could tell she was scared with all the monitors on her chest, but she just held my hands and kept saying my name, and I would tell her..."mommy's here" "mommy's here sweet girl" and it would comfort her...then a few minutes later she'd say my name again, and I would continue to comfort her and just tell her i'm there. And it reminded me so much of how much comfort WE can gain by just saying the name of Jesus aloud. When we say his name and proclaim His word, he is there and he comforts us in time of need. WOW! Does anyone else learn lessons from your children EVERY DAY?!

I believe GOd designed that very nature of a child to teach us!!!!!

Each time we take her to the cardiologist, I come home and just have such a heavy heart of thankfulness to God for her healthy report. The heart is SUCH an amazing organ.

Well, I am thankful tonight for my little girl and her happy little heart : )

Ok, I am thankful tonight for my two little happy hearts !!

THREE!!!!

oh to be 3 and celebrate in the park!

...i just want to share all the fun with you, and 10-12 pictures just isn't going to cut it...so here you go!

One beautiful day in the park...Luke and Isabel turned 3!

Oh to be three....

This free photo collage created with Smilebox

Thank you to all our amazing family and friends for your love for Luke and Isabel.

i love...

i'm letting the kids run around like crazzies in their pj's before i'm about to lasso them like cows to read books...found some fun lovely things today in blog world ...

birthday girl and boy

Well on Friday, these two babies of ours will be t.h.r.e.e.!

We could have never imagined the blessings God was going to so graciously give to us three years ago. From the time I was a little girl, I always loved children. When I worked as a pediatric nurse those 4 years before they were born, I used to look down at those precious infants that would come in only 1 or 2 days old, and just look into their eyes and pray for one, some day....

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. AMEN!

In His scripture He also calls us to ...

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

Delight yourself? YES, DELIGHT yourself in Him, enjoy Him, talk to Him, love Him. It's not supposed to be a struggle dear people, enjoy Him! He is able to do more, SO MUCH MORE than we could ever think or imagine!

Well I'm just feeling SO THANKFUL TODAY FOR MY "TWO BABIES" as they both say, when I carry them together in my arms. "Mommy has two babies"

...slide show of their birthday party coming tonight. promise. : )

They're here!

Family to me, is part of my heart. And when parts of that puzzle are present, I am more complete. My brothers and sisters feel like a part of me, so I am SOOO excited that Kristen and Shelly are here, and I can't wait for a fun filled weekend!!! I get to see them tomorrow!! We'll be celebrating Clayton's 9th birthday, as well as the twins 3rd birthday!!!!!!! We are also excited that Ruthie and Papa arrived this evening as well!! Luke and Isabel have already had a sweet evening with them. We can hardly wait to go to Ocean Springs tomorrow and celebrate CLAY! What a special boy! All I can say is, what a true blessing it is to be around those you love as your children are young, so that they are able to form that special bond early. I am thanking my Savior tonight for love, kindred spirits, and the gift of life!

the candy cottage

A few more from Saturday...While Pops took all the boys {big and little} to the Monster Truck show, Nina and all the girls said no truck show for us, lets go to the candy store!! So here are the girls at The Candy Cottage in downtown Ocean Springs !

{so fun, so old fashioned, and I highly recommend it if you are ever in OS!}

They each got to pick out their own basket, and pick out two things.

A "sweet" memory for us : )

FUN has come to town!

tricked you : )

This is how we played a funny trick on Daddy last night!

cover us

I love having a HAPPY blog...

but I realize in one breath, all that I live for in this earthly life could be gone. That is reality, and that is ok.

By understanding God's wonderful Grace, it gives us the privledge to live a life of joy because we know that amidst the trial, sufferings, and hardships, there IS something greater, so much greater to look forward to as we enter eternity, a life with our Savior...a life FREE of ALL hurt.

So while it is wonderful to post each day about the happiness of each day I am honored to live, there is suffering in my life, there is suffering in everyone's life. I have several people who are close to me or close to my family who are suffering today, been through a time of hurt, or are just in need of PRAYER. I am lifting them up today.

As I was thinking of them. God and His infinite attention to detail, led me to such peace. One of my favorite women of faith is Elisabeth Elliot. I try to read her daily devotional each day that I remember, and today, her words were very dear to my heart.

Here are her comforting words from scripture:

For the Lord who loves you suffered and wants you to fellowship with Himself. The joy of thus knowing Him comes not in spite of but because of suffering, just as resurrection comes out of death. I have a Savior because I am a sinner, and beauty is given the child of God in exchange for ashes.

We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others.

How can one's illness help another? By being offered to Him who can transform it into blessing.

"You have been granted the privilege not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for Him" (Phil 1:29 NEB).

Lastly, I want you to listen to this song from Bebo Norman. I have always thought his voice was different and sounded so sincere. I struggle with the realities of life some days, and you know, I believe that salvation is quite simple. You dont have to understand it, just by believing, and asking for forgiveness... and try each day not to be a good person, but to live knowing that his Grace is what saves you, not you. This song is the prayer of my heart today and I urge it to be yours and see what God does in your life. Pray it as you sing, or just pray for God to COVER YOU, THOSE YOU LOVE, AND COVER YOUR LIFE.

Now....whatever is happening in your life...ask God to cover you....and go find your JOY today!

gulf shores and mardi gras!

Here's a few pics from our fun weekend mardi gras style...

THe beach in gulf shores on sat. was COLD but beautiful! WIsh it were this quiet during

the summer months

Headed to the Firetruck Mardi Gras Parade on Sunday...

So excited! Has no idea what she's in for...

SO many firetrucks of all kinds. This one was so old! You should have seen the

characters on this one!! Scary or funny...n

ot sure : ) But fun.

Wish I had taken a few more of the actual parade..

.but what can i say..I was

kind of busy enjoying it myself!!!!!

Making my Dad proud! These are for you Pops :)

Post parade....We ended up with moon pies, beads, caramel corn, cookies,

stuffed animals, plastic footballs, cups, mints, and who knows what else! This was seriously fun...the kids just LOVED it once they got a hang of what was going on. This parade was actually very low key. Couldnt get a smile out of them....guess they were over it by this point!

our girl

Just a pretty picture of my girl from yesterday.