Father Daughter Dance

Tonight Isabelle & Kevin went to the Father Daughter Dance at church. She said she felt like a princess & was so excited she could cry. She picked out her dress after trying on approximately 15. She loved them all but settled on the simplicy of this one.



The dress came with a matching dress for her American Girl Doll! This was a thrill!


JM says, "let me in the picture. I love my sissy." JM kept telling Isabelle she looked glorious. He kept telling me "isn't Isabelle dress pretty mom?"

Kevin & Isabelle arrived back at home around 10:15pm, she was exhausted. Her favorite songs to dance with daddy were the slow ones: "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman and "Butterfly Kisses". She also liked doing the Chicken Dance.

"I" is for Igloo

This week John Michael is working on the letter "I" at our homeschool preschool. We wanted to share his masterpiece . . . He made this igloo & the letter "J" out of sugar cubes for John - though he told me he likes to be called Bubba or John Michael, not just John! Turning 4 on the 16th and already has opinions about his name! I enjoy getting to spend this extra time with him. He loves doing these kinds of projects, not as much coloring type things. He does however LOVE to practice his letters in his letter book - I think it's because he sees Sissy doing her "homework" on lined paper like his books have. Enjoy the photos!

The igloo has a tree on the far left back, and the "snowmen" are Israelites. The 4 "bad guys" on the top are Roman Soldiers. The Israelites win the battle because God always protects them. Straight from the mouth of a boy who loves God's Word, especially the story of David & Goliath!

"Honey, It's Home"

"Honey, it's home" were the words I heard as the newest addition to our family arrived Friday around lunch time. Kevin had it home and hung on the wall all before lunch (he had to drive 1 1/2 hours to Pittsburgh, KS to get it & then the return trip). He obviously wasn't excited or anything. So, here it is. . . we shared photos from the great day last fall when he got this, his first deer & he wanted to share this photo of his trophy!

Aunt Kelly Babysits

Just wanted to give you a smile. I helped my sister over the last few weeks occasionally babysitting Olivia while she had shoe shows. At my house, all the high chair things are gone, so I had to feed her in this - which if you've seen one, rock turn, move, etc. Yes, that is food all over the side of her head. Sorry Holly! She had fun though & so did we!!!

Arts for Orphans

The other night as I prayed with Isabelle, she prayed fervently for orphans around the world: that God would protect them, that they would be safe, that they'd have everything the need to survive, and that people in the world would help them. I felt very challenged by her belief & fervency that the orphan crisis going on the world could be taken care of if we would all do a little something.

As we finished our prayers, I could tell something was on her mind. She looked at me & said, "Mom, how did it happen that we in America have so much & other places have nothing?" Wondering her thoughts I responded, "I'm not sure, what do you think about that?" She simply said, "because God wants us to help them." For a 6 year old, it is so clear & straightforward. There are no thoughts of how much can I give out of my paycheck, or what about that bill, or what about retirement. For her, we have been given & we are asked to give it away!

These children need us. There is much that you can do:

1. You can go to Isabelle's blog, the link is to the left entitled "Arts for Orphans". She continues to sell her handmade cards & her Nana has made & donated 2 quilts for her to sell. Isabelle loves quilts & my mom desired to help Isabelle in this journey.
2. You can contact Kevin & I about sponsoring a child through C3 ministries. Our family desires to partner with other families, couples, individuals, or businesses to fully fund homes that have been built by C3. By God's grace the construction costs of many homes has been given by God's people, but there is a great need for monthly sponsors for the children in those home. 100% of your $40 monthly commitment goes to the child. There is no money taken out of your donation for administrative costs. Isn't that awesome! In the future we'd love to take a trip with all those who partner with us to fully sponsor children in a home in Haiti - so we can meet the little ones God is connecting our hearts with.

Please pray & ask the Lord how He is asking you to be involved. If you would like to partner with us in fully funding the monthly support of a home in Haiti, please contact us as soon as possible.

Isabelle's First Lost Tooth

Fear, Tears, Joy, Sadness, Laughter, and Reward are several words I could use to describe the events of Friday evening February 15. Isabelle has 8 loose teeth - we discovered the first loose tooth back in early November - so to say that she has been waiting a while for one to come out would be an understatement in her mind. Last night while eating corn on the cob at Grandma Redfords, the tooth lost all its efforts to hang on, (despite the fact that Isabelle tried to eat with all her side teeth. . . it was a sight to see.) The tooth was just hanging & she refused to eat any more until I pulled it out - needless to say I didn't even have to pull, it just fell out in my hand.

I have to say it was bittersweet for me. There is something about losing that first tooth and seeing the new "big girl" tooth already popping up that changes something. She is growing so fast right before our eyes. Kevin & I talked last night that it feels like loosing her first tooth is a right of passage for her. It's very strange. Starting kindergarten didn't seem to phase me as much as this did. I guess I just got a little sentimental watching her grow up!

She decided that she needed to write a letter to the tooth fairy so she'd know where she was sleeping at Grandma & Grandpas. I thought how sweet, until she showed up the next morning at 6:30am next to my bed demanding to see her tooth. I asked what the tooth fairy had left her & she said, "she's you mom, thanks for the dollar & where's my tooth?" I don't know why I thought I could pull this one off. She's way to smart.

Snuggled in bed, with the tooth under her pillow!

Be quick to listen & slow to speak!

This little verse has take new meaning for me this week. Many of you know that I was diagnosed with vocal chord nodules back in the fall. My voice has not been good since Sept. and it has been a challenge for me. On Wednesday I saw my speech therapist who was very alarmed at the stage of my voice. She is enough concerned that she has asked me to STOP talking. Well, I can talk when needed, but nothing extra. She said that I MUST have vocal rest as much as possible - which translates into not speaking unless it is necessary. I was also informed that this is going to take a long time. If I don't take this seriously, I could end up with long term permanent damage or no voice at all. YIKES!!!

I have a choice to make. I have been told what needs to happen and the consequences if I don't remain silent. For someone who loves to talk for fun, to encourage others, to read stories to my kids, to pray, etc. the choice is obvious, but one that is very hard for me to make.

I have to admit, I was pretty discouraged yesterday, but today God has given me new eyes to see that He has something bigger for me through this process. Romans 8: 28 says "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." I claim this promise for myself & ask that you'd pray with me. I don't know all I'm going to learn or understand about myself & Him, but I know it will be a sweet time. I definitely feel His presence and His gentle hand in letting me know He is working & that I need to rest in Him through this.

All that to say - please leave me a note on this blog or email me. I cannot talk but VERY occasionally on the phone, but I probably shouldn't at all. I need communication so keep me updated on you!