Kaitlyn's Baptism

Well, my oldest little girl was baptized today. It was a big day for her and she was a little nervous but she did well. The pastor really made her feel comfortable and was really excited about it. We are so excited about this and know that God will help us as parents to grow her in Christ. She accepted Christ about a year or so but had decided to make a public statement about her faith. Here is the video. As you listen you will hear the pastor talk about the death and resurrection of baptism. Baptism does not enter you into the Kingdom of Heaven but only by God's grace.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10

Music Camp Who Is Like the LORD-NOBODY

Emily's 2nd Dance

For the girls dance recital, the video was taken during the dress rehearsal. We are not allowed to bring cameras in on the night of. I was only able to get one of Kaityn's dance's b/c I was still watching Emily and waiting for them to call her group. There was enough time between each of their dances but they were running behind. I was upset about this but this was nothing I could do about it.

Dance Recital and everything else thrown

As you can tell it has been a long time since visiting my blog. It has been so busy and the summer is half over. Here is a few things that have been going on since we the winter. We have had dance recital in May, Music Camp at church and VBS is coming next week. July 13-17. We did go to Chick Fil A today and dressed like a cow. It was a little embaressing but you only have such a short time with your kids and for them to act and be like kids. So I took advantage of this and we all had free meals today! I have posted some pictures of the girls some of the activities that have gone on

Our First Snow of the Year!!

Emily about done playing. Those big blue eyes!

Joel playing with Kaitlyn.

Kids making snow angels.

Joel trying to throw a snowball at me while I am standing on the porch taking pics.

Looks like someone got Joel with a snowball.

Attempting to make a snowman. That is about as far as they got.

Emily says she is done for the morning. She is ready for some breakfast and hot chocolate!!

It snowed, really snowed on Mar 1. It was so pretty when it was falling. Unfortunately, I did not take any pics while it was doing so. These are pictures from the morning and then when Joel got home he played in the snow. They tried to make a snowman but it just didn't go well. I think Joel was more interested in throwing snowballs. The kids had a great time with him.

100th Day Party

The finished product!

We had a 100th day party. It was not anything big. We did this on Feb 17th. I made the cake and iced the chocolate but the girls did the rest. They had a good time. We invited over the Plummers but forgot to take some pictures. Here is our cake and a picture of the girls.

Trip to DC Feb 16th

This our trip to DC on Feb 16 2009. We went with a good friend of mine and her good friend. It was great time but a little cold. We got a great parking place, in front of the Washington Memorial. That is as close as we got b/c of the wind chill. We spent about 30 minutes in the American History museum and about an hour in the art museum. I just love being in DC and seeing all the history.

End of the Month

Well, it is getting close to ending the first month of the new year. It has not gone as smoothly as I would have wanted it to but we are going to have bumps in the road while on this jouney called life. It is exciting to me even through some of the tougher times because I am always wondering what God is going to do next. I have felt so blessed with friends and family who are praying for us and looking out for us. I have found a wonderful group of ladies who I go to bible study with and enjoy studying the bible with. They are prayer warriors. I know I can go to them with worries and they will put this in their prayer requests. We can be such an encouragement to one another when we are going through struggles. God is teaching me to depend on Him more and more. He will see us through our good and bad times. I am just so lucky that I have a husband sho loves me and two wonderful children who I love, a house we can afford and food to eat. There are so many people right now who only have half of what I have or less than that. God is good to each of us and rewards us for loving Him and growing in His Word. Again, how blessed I am to have all of these things.

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
Psalm 105:4

Good News, But Not What I Wanted....

It has been three days since Kaitlyn has had surgery. She went in for diagnostic exploratory lapraoscopy(sp). The doctor reported he was not able to see anything inside of her. Her intestines looked fine. This wonderful news for us but I wanted to the doctor to find the cause of her stomach pains. Not even a little of anything. This was hard for me to except because I wanted her to start off with 2009 as pain free. Kaitlyn was very disappointed. I think that was the hardest thing to have to tell her. I have been down for the last couple of days and on the verge of tears. Again, I know I have said this many times, it is so hard to see her suffering. I do not know the plans God has for her but I know "all things God works for the good aof those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

We all will become stronger in our faith because of this season. I have said this a couple of times to Kaitlyn but am not sure she completely understands. I know it is probably hard for a nine year old to completly grasp this. I just want her know she can always give her problems to God and know he listens. He will make us stronger, whether physically, mentally, spiritually or all three. These past three days I have kept up a continual converstaion with God. He hasn't answered back yet but I know he is listening. This is a very comforting thought. I am trying to be patient and wait upon the Lord. He has the answers and His timing is always right!

I wish everyone a wonderful New Year's with many blessings and happiness.

Here We Are

It has been a rough two weeks here. Kaitlyn's stomach pains seems to be with her everyday and lasting longer. I am the only one who really sees this, it seems like. I think some of it is anxiety whenever her stomach starts to hurt. After putting the girls to bed each night, it seems she calls me at least twice if not three times for me to come up stairs to comfort her. I feel so empty because I don't know how to help her. I have prayed over her and talked to her. I don't have a solution and she understands this. I know I give her comfort and I am glad. I may not have the solution but we are working together in finding one. We have a docotor's appt. at 1:30 tomorrow, we are meeting with the pediatric surgeons. I am not sure what is going to happen. I don't want her to have surgery but will do what needs to be done so she can have a normal life without her stomach hurting. She is nervous about it, which I can understand. The unknown is always scary. As I was reading through my cousin's blog, she talks about her little boy who has many setbacks and a lot of physically challenged problems. When I read her blog their was a verse from the bible, one she found strength in. The one she uses from her most recent blog is from Corinthians, No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. I Corinthians 2:9. I take comfort in this verse, knowing God has plans for Kaitlyn and she will get through this. This is such a small thing compared to my cousin's everyday struggles with her son. I know my cousin has such great faith in our Almighty God even though she struggles with things everyday. I look at her blog and love seeing the faith she has and the ever growing of it. She is a wonderful mother and puts all she has into taking care of her children.

I trust in God and lean on Him to help me through. I have asked for a lot of patience and for Him to give me a more loving heart toward this situation. Sometimes it is easier to be a little indifferent because I just can't take away the pain. All I know is God is in control and I have to trust in Him. "Trust in the LORD with all your hardt and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Such a beautiful sight!!

So, who is ready to help me make my own gingerbread house?! Ingrediants are all listed. Hey, that is good enough to eat.

Waiting for fire works to start in Epcot.

Princesses' Character Dinner Dinner with Pooh and his friends!

Hear no evil, See no evil and Hear no evil. Something must be really funny?!

Joel and the girls inside the Akersus House in Epcot. It is in Norway. Hollywood Studios.

Magic Kingdom.

Dinner in Cinderella's Castle.

Me and Emily riding the race way!

This is one of my favorite pictures. The castle would change colors every few minutes. Here are some examples.