Let's all say it together...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Thank you sweet Lord for this cooler weather!  How refreshing and rejuvenating it is to our spirits, our land, and our animals.  It made me realize how stuck I was in the monotony of the hot dry days.  And this says it all about several areas of my life lately.  Just stuck.  "Why isn't this changing in my life Lord, we've been chatting about it for quite a while".  Oh, I see.  "Try doing something different and maybe, just maybe, you'll see some new results."  We all know this to be true and have heard it a million times.  But the good Lord has gently reminded me in the past few weeks.  Thanks for the reminder Big Guy!

And this parenting thing.  UGH!  I feel like an epic fail every day.  But there He is again, with His gentle and loving reminders and encouragement.  "Try this, see if it works better for ya..."

The marriage and the cute guy who wears my ring?  Once again, a new season that requires tons of purposeful effort and prayer.  God is working, I can feel Him.  We just attended an amazing marriage seminar with Jimmy and Karen Evans.  Giving God all the glory for providing this opportunity for us.  We had an awesome time together and learned so much about how to be better for the other.  Doing something different and seeing different (and amazing) results.  I hear ya Lord!

So a few changes today, goals to get "unstuck".  So thankful for my Lord who whispers the reminders and the encouragements in my stubborn ears.  Headed to the back porch to drink my coffee, watch the kids play in the cool damp grass, and chat with God about me doing things a little different.

Matthew 5:6  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Everyone is pretty excited around our house! We have a big girl that will start Kindergarten tomorrow. Regan's new cute pink dress is hanging on her closet door with the cute pink shoes sitting on the floor below. She asked me to paint her finger and toe nails today so "they would look perfect" for tomorrow. She wanted to read her "favorite" book before going to bed tonight. I am so thankful for her and the excitement she has about school.

My beautiful step-daughter starts her Junior year at Canyon High tomorrow. She also got a job this week! I am so proud of her. I am so thankful for her heart and her spirit.

Our two girls both have big days tomorrow. I pray God blesses them throughout the day. I pray He protects them and guides them every step of the way. I pray He fills them with His love and kindness to show to others.

I am thankful for a perfect summer filled with relaxation, friends, family time, laughter, and love. I am sad to see it go. It was our first summer in our new home. The kids are at an age now that we could do more and I could worry a little less. Ray and I had several date nights and the best anniversary yet. It's been a terribly hot and dry summer. So thankful for our pool time and our air conditioner...

We are saying goodbye to an amazing summer and hello to our jobs that we LOVE! What a blessing for both of us to be so happy with what we do on a daily basis.

And my mind keeps running back to that five year old precious baby sleeping in the next room. Tomorrow is the beginning of a long and exciting journey of learning, relationships, struggles, and lessons learned. I pray God will always be her guide and she will seek Him first in all her decisions. Thank you Lord, for these early years and for all the blessed years in school to come.

It's not difficult to decide what I'm thankful for today.  Christ is risen!

It's impossible for me to fathom giving my child as a sacrifice for the people of this world.  It's beyond my comprehension.  Our Lord watched His son suffer and die.  Jesus died for us.  What an amazing gift that we, as Christians, are aware of and thankful for every day!

We went with Ray's parents to St. Ann's Catholic church in Canyon this morning.  Reece didn't cooperate so Ray was in and out with him the entire service.  Regan was cranky.  And honestly, I was missing my family and the church I grew up in.  However, I was in a beautiful place of worship.  The music was so pretty and it was wonderful to see the church packed with families for the Easter holiday.  We survived with the little ones and we were home early.  Everyone took a nap before lunch!  We had lunch at Ray's parents house.  The kids are now hunting eggs with their older brothers and sister with the other side of their family.  It's quiet around here.  I sat on the back porch and read.  I needed some time with God.  I was falling into the trap of feeling sorry for myself and what I imagined this Easter to be, that it hadn't become.

God quickly put me in my place.  Thanks God!  I am blessed we had a church to go to this morning.  I am blessed my kids are healthy enough to be disruptive in church.  I am blessed Ray's parents are married and welcome us into their home at any time.  I am thankful my little ones have the big ones to pick them up to go have a BLAST!  I am thankful my God loves me, forgives me, and is always there.

Easter seems to mean more to me each year.  What a beautiful day to celebrate our Christian FAITH!  No matter the "details" of the day.

Ephesians 1:7-10
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Today I am thankful for several random things...

I am thankful for the gorgeous weather at the district track meet yesterday.  It was a great day for athletes to compete! 

I am thankful for lunch with my grandma today.  She's my world, my hero, my best friend.  She'll have a nice long post of her own when I have a chance to sit down and give her the words she deserves.

I am thankful Reece wasn't seriously injured when he ran into a pole yesterday.  He has a nasty black eye but that's it!  Praise God!

I am thankful for the quiet time Ray and I have together tonight.  So I'm signing off to enjoy my time with him!

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

A Super Friend

Today I am thankful for a very special friend, Heather Ladd.  She amazes me, she is superwoman!  She does it all and more.  I am always stunned at what she can accomplish in 24 hours.  Maybe she doesn't sleep? 

Heather inspires me spiritually.  I am extremely thankful for her in my life.  I am so proud to call her my friend.  She does everything with such passion and purpose.  Her ideas are creative and she has such a giving heart.  I am a better person today because of Heather's influence in my life.  I love you precious friend!

Jude 1:20-21
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Regan

My first born turned five yesterday!  It's such a joy for me to watch my children grow up.  We had a wonderful weekend with family and friends.  She told me it was the perfect birthday. 

I am so thankful for Regan.  She made me a mom, which is an amazing blessing in itself.  She has taught me so much about myself, about love, about life, and about who I want to be.  She is a very strong-willed child and is very passionate about everything she does.  There is a certain way to do things in her mind and she has a hard time understanding when others want to do it differently.  :)  Her heart is precious.  She loves to read, color, paint, and play outside.  She also likes tv a little too much so we have to monitor the time she spends watching "her shows".  Regan is quite the fasionista!  She loves dresses and cowgirl boots. 

Thank you, my awesome God, for this amazing blessing!  It's an honor to be her mother, knowing God trusted us enough to bless us with her.  My hope for her is that she will love God and put Him first in her life always.  I pray she will always have the passion for life that she does now.  I pray she will always come to us when she needs us and our relationship with her will be comfortable and open.  I pray she will always do what makes her happy, always be kind to others, and live a long and blessed life.

I look forward to experiencing life with Regan!  I can't wait to see what she does each day with the blessings God has given her.

Romas 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Sprirt.

He did it!

Today I am thankful for Ryan.  He made the WT football team and we are so proud of him!!!  Ryan had a great senior football season at Canyon High School last year.  He decided to walk on for Spring football at WT.  He prepared very well and worked very hard once he was given this chance.  And his hard work paid off!  This picture is from Ryan's high school football banquet last year.

Ryan has always been a very determined young man.  He has a great personality and is always respectful. He likes to have fun and amazes me with his responsibility.  He is a wonderful brother, treating all his siblings with so much love and respect.  He is always thinking about other people and their feelings, putting others before himself.  Ryan works hard in the classroom and made the Dean's List his first semester at WT.  He makes friends easily and is always loyal. 

Ryan's heart is golden. 

I feel honored to be Ryan's step-mom.  He has always been accepting of me and has made me feel like an important part of his life.  That is such a gift and blessing to me.  I pray I have been there as he has needed me and that I can play a constant role in his life in the future.

It's an amazing experience to see your child have a dream, work extremely hard, and achieve their goal. Thank you Lord for blessing Ryan with his abilities and his wonderful heart!

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.