Happy Monday

Happy Monday to you!

Wow! The alarm clock went off at the crack of dawn this morning....and I wasn't ready.

We were serenaded all night long by two cats who apparently are deeply in love and who were enjoying themselves in the moonlight....oiy! Get a room!

I need a nap and it's only 9:30.

We had a fantastic weekend. How about you?

Friday night Rachel and I were blessed to attend our church's Ladies Spring Celebration.

This was the 14th year and we have been at each one.

My mom does a wonderful job planning the event and we all look forward to spending just a few hours with many of our mentors in the faith.

It's girl time and we love it!

Many ladies volunteer to decorate tables for the event. I love to see what everyone comes up with. There were beautifully elegant tables decorated to the hilt, some fun "bling" filled tables. One hostess bought cute, pink rings to use as napkin rings and as favors for her girls. To her surprise and her delight, the rings lit up. They were all going to wear them yesterday to church. If my dad became a bit long winded, they were going to flash their bling rings. They are so fun...and no they didn't have to flash their rings.

Another table had Easter egg trees and chocolate bunny candy holders that looked like real chocolate with festive Easter place mats. I could go on and on. All of the tables were beautiful and unique. I believe that we had 143 ladies. We enjoyed delicious catered food, fantastic fellowship, and wonderful worship together.

Rachel and I had the privilege of picking up forms at each table for a special door prize. So, we got to visit with almost every lady there. We were overjoyed to hear so many that were glad to see Rachel. I can't tell you how many precious women hugged her neck and told her that they have been praying for her and would continue to pray. We were about in tears until we came to another table where the Lord blessed us with a special surprise.

A wonderful lady from Colorado told us that we didn't know her but that she has been reading my blog and praying "hard" for Rachel every day. She said, "You have no idea how many people you may never meet are praying for your daughter." And then I became a puddle of tears.

God is so good!

Sweet Hannah didn't have the time to go with us to the Ladies Spring Celebration because it was the night of the junior high dance and her dance card was already full...before the dance even started.

I had to laugh, a sweet boy that she has known since Kindergarten asked Hannah to go to the dance...and her best friend S...and another friend named M. Three dates in one night?

By the way going to the dance means you meet at the dance and maybe say hello and dance a few dances together, but that is it. She is only 12!

They had a great time. We had fun stories to share from our night and Hannah had fun stories to tell from her night. We stayed up late sharing and were blessed to sleep in on Saturday.

Yesterday was special for Mr. Incredible and I. We were blessed to sing together right before the Lord's Supper. We sang a song by Avalon called, "You Were There." We LOVE this song!

The words are so powerful...and I always enjoy singing with my sweetheart.

Whew! I typed more than I thought I would. I better get back to studying before my next class of students arrives. I am getting ready to take my Teacher Certification ExCet tests. Please, pray for me Saturday morning if you think about it. I have to be there at the early hour of 7:30 and the test is suppose to take 5 hours.

I wonder if I can pick up an IV from Starbucks on the way! Ha!

I better run. Blessings to you on this new day!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Look Out World...Here She Comes!

The day she had been waiting for finally arrived!
We practiced driver's education, took an online course

(Virtual Drive of Texas is great!)

and practiced and practiced and practiced.

She has been driving us everywhere since June.

She could hardly wait for her 16th birthday...until she discovered that it fell on a Saturday.

Hello Driver's License Office...we need you to open today!

We knew that would not happen so we waited 2 long days until they opened

(at home not at the DMV).

It was worth the wait. I had all of the forms and paperwork with me...I think it only took 5 minutes to get her license. It was over before we knew it.

Here she is getting fingerprinted:

It's looking very official:

Ta-da! The moment she has been waiting for:


One happy, new licensed-to-drive-on-the-sidewalks-only (just kidding) driver:




What a day!

Sweet 16: Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice!

I just had to share some pictures from Rachel's 16th birthday. It was a special, sentimental kind of day. Her daddy and I woke up early and patiently waited for the birthday princess to wake up. It reminded me of 16 years ago waiting for our princess to arrive.

We had a leisurely birthday breakfast and then Granny & Grandpa came over for a visit:

And they brought 16 beautiful ballons:

Nonnie, Poppie, Aunt Sissie, Uncle G, and the Cousins A's came to visit a few days earlier.

I'm sorry that I missed getting to snap some photos.

We made it a special birthday week celebration.

Daddy, the girls, and I had fun looking at old photo albums and baby books.

We laughed together and cried together too. It was a special day.

Here is daddy with his oldest daughter on her special 16th birthday:

And I had to jump in there too. A girl only turns 16 once!

Spider Sisters through and through...be still my heart!

(If you have daughters, you must get this book by John Trent)

After a delicious meal at the Olive Garden,

we enjoyed a special birthday cookie (Rachel's request):

Happy birthday, sweetheart!

I love it that you just wanted to have a family celebration this year instead of a big party.

We have been through a lot together in these few short months of 2009.

We treasure the gift that you are and the memories that we have been blessed to share. You are far more than sugar and spice and everything nice.

May God bless you with many, many more birthdays to come!

Meet the 3 G's

A few Saturdays ago, after Hannah's last basketball tournament, we drove home, settled in for a bite of lunch only to hear...ping...kapow...whamo...coming from the neighbor's house next door.

Here is what we found:

That's my mom & dad....aka Granny & Grandpa.

The 3 G's: Granny, Grandpa & the Guns...sounds like a group doesn't it?

I've never seen this side of them before...it was so out of the ordinary

and shocking that I had to grab my camera

and snap a few 100 photos.

(Don't worry, I'll only post a few.)

So, what does the pastor and his wife do on a chilly Saturday afternoon?

Look and see:

I think that gun is as big as my mother...I mean shot-gun Granny!



Mr. Incredible couldn't stand it, he had to get his big guns out too! Ooh baby!

I think this is a pretty cool shot. Did he hit the target?

Well, yes he did and so did shotgun Granny and shoot-em-up Grandpa.

A fun time was had by all.

Joyfully,

Kristi

Please visit Kim for more Friday Funnies.

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday!

We have soooooooooo much to be thankful for, don't we?!

Today, I am thanking God for a dear daughter who took it upon herself to pull some very overgrown weeds this week. She knew this would help her momma and she did it with such a thankful heart. Thank you, Hannah!

When I see this pile of weeds, I can't help but think of the Master Gardener who prunes away the weeds in our lives. While it is so painful, the results are always for our good and for His great glory.

I'm thanking God for the beautiful weather we have been having.

The sun feels so good and I am loving walks with Mr. Incredible after work.

Walking together gives us precious moments to walk and talk about our days.

I'm thankful that Rachel is off all pain medicine and feeling very good. I'm so thankful for a loving church family, encouraging community, and all of you amazing bloggers who have so faithfully prayed for her!

My mom told me this story last night and I was so thankful to hear it that I had to share it with you too. A young man in our church made it through the first recession job cuts where he works. When the second cut came, he still had his job but a 65 year old co-worker did not. This young man went to his boss and asked to take the man's place. He felt confident that he would be able to find another job if they would please keep the 65 year old man on staff. His boss agreed. Isn't that amazing? I admire J's faith and trust in the Lord and his selfless act on behalf of his co-worker.

She told me another incredible recession story too.

Another young man, who will soon be related to another couple in our church (he is marrying their granddaughter this weekend) lost his job 3 weeks ago because the company he was working for had to scale back on employees, as so many are having to do these days.

Anyway, with it being 3 weeks before his wedding, he quickly found an in-between job while sending his resumes out to other companies. From what I hear, he is another wonderful, young man of great faith. Anyway, the Lord blessed him with another new, wonderful job that gave him a $1,0000 sign on bonus and he will be making $10,000 more per year. Isn't that incredible?

We may be in recession, things may look bleak to the whole world, but God is still on the throne. He has not forsaken His children; He will never forsake His children and we should be praising and thanking Him all day long. Don't you just love stories like these?

I do.

Whether we realize it or not, we have stories of God's faithfulness

to tell too and I can't think of a better time for the world to hear them.

What has God been doing for you this week?

Joyfully,

Kristi

For more Thankful Thursday posts, please visit here.

Joy at the Work of His Hands

Happy Word Filled Wednesday!

(Please, excuse the way this picture is being displayed...Blogger does not want to cooperate today for some reason)

The verse says:

"For You, O LORD, have made me glad

by what You have done,

I will sing for joy

at the works of Your hands." Psalm 92:4

There are signs of spring all around...there are signs of spring in my heart too!
We are rejoicing in the goodness of all that our great God has done.

Rachel is doing so well, Hannah is having such a blast in junior high, R and I are blessed to overflowing.

Our heart sing for joy at the work of His hands! We are humbled by His love and the very thought that He somehow takes joy in us...what a wonderful thought!

He takes joy in you too. How has He made you glad today?

Joyfully,

Kristi

Please visit my friends for more Word Filled Wednesday inspiration

Hannah Hoopin it Up!

My Basketball Playing Girl!

She is the tallest one on the team. Jump! Baby, Jump!

Here is Hurricane Hannah going for the rebound:

What delight getting to watch my baby playing her heart out on the court!


These are pictures from her last tournament.



They won the first game by quite a lot...it was fun to watch!



They lost the championship game...it was not as much fun to watch.



We can hardly wait to play junior high ball next year!



Way to go, Hannah!
You are a champ in our book!

Good News!

Hello...it's me. I'm sorry I've neglected blogging. We thoroughly enjoyed our spring break together last week and I still have so many pictures that I need to post from basketball and birthdays...but for now that will have to wait. School is back in session.

I couldn't wait to share this with you:

The second half of Proverbs 15:23 says, "...how delightful is a timely word!"

We rejoiced at Rachel's doctor's appointment last Friday!

The neurologist is so pleased with Rachel's progress.

I hesitantly asked him if it was realistic to hope for zero headache days in the future.

And his reply was, "No! That's not unrealistic at all." It would be unrealistic to think that she will never have headaches again, but very realistic to believe that one day soon she will have days or weeks where she is headache free. Hallelujah! We can hardly wait for that day!

This good news made me feel like I could dream big dreams again for our daughter...the ones only a few weeks ago that I was afraid would never happen. How delightful is a timely word indeed. God is so good!!!!!

We are back in school this week and our 16 year old daughter drove herself to school today. I just watched her go to lunch with a good friend who has been counting the days until Rachel could drive her to lunch.

I have to say that I like having her in the car with me but I also remember exactly how she is feeling now. Getting to drive is a special thing. I am marveling at the young lady that she is becoming but begging time to slow way down a bit!

I better eat some lunch before I head back to class. I'll try to post more pictures for any of you faithful ones that may still be reading my blog. I'm sorry for the many days that I haven't blogged. I'll try to do better...but no promises. Ya'll are the best!

Joyfully,

Kristi

AKA mother of a teenage driver!

Happy Sweet 16 Rachel!

Happy Sweet 16th Birthday Sweetheart!

I could cry just typing those words. My heart is so full of precious memories of wonderful you. It seems like yesterday that I held you in my arms for the very first time.

We have shared so many firsts, you and I...and I pray so many memories are yet to be shared.

Sixteen years today, my life changed completely.

God blessed your daddy and I with the most wonderful gift next to Jesus.

When I was little I often dreamed of being a Momma. It seems that I waited my whole life for you...and I'll tell you a little secret...I had high hopes and dreams for you...and you and your sister surpassed them all.

Look how tiny you were at only 3 weeks old:

It was so fun to play dress-up with you. I think we could have changed your clothes 5 times a day and never run out of things to wear. You are the first grandchild on both sides...they had been waiting for you their whole lives too.

Here you are on your first birthday:

My journal entry for this day says, "God truly exceeded all of my greatest desires, anticipations, expectations, and prayers when He handcrafted you. I remember praying that you would be a beautiful reflection of God. Oh, I feel like I see Him when I look at you. I love you so much sweetheart. You have brought so much joy into our lives. I can never thank God enough for you. Each day is a blessing!"

I still offer those same prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord every day...and I see Him even more whenever I look at you. Oh, sweetheart of my heart, He shines so beautifully through you!

Do you remember your Pocahontas phase? I just had to share this photo. How special that Aunt Sissie saved some Pocahontas wrapping paper from your 3rd birthday to wrap your 16th birthday present in. You are dearly loved by everyone!

My little dancer:



Growing much too fast. Where is that baby face?

My special Spider sisters! (I love this special sister book that Granny gave to you when Hannah was born). You are a wonderful big sister and an excellent role model. Hannah's card to you tells you how much she loves you and looks up to you...and she does.

I remember this picture like it was yesterday:

...and this summer when we gave you your first car (be still my heart!)

We will have one more picture to add when you receive your driver's license!

You are a true gift from the Lord in every way.

I know that your life hasn't been very easy over the last 2 months. Your faith in the Lord has never waivered. You are an encouragement to everyone that knows your story. We thank God for what He has done and what He is continuing to do.

Happy 16th birthday, sweet child of my heart! You are dearly loved!

Love,

Momma

xoxoxoxo

Rejoicing in the Goodness of the Lord!

We are rejoicing! Rachel's headaches are staying under a pain level of 4!

She was able to go with us to church yesterday and we all rejoiced!

It was so good to be back in church and sitting together as a family.

Our church family was so wonderful to welcome Rachel back.

We cried several times throughout the morning with many precious saints who are faithfully praying for our daughter.

Our worship time with the Lord and our church family was so sweet and refreshing to our souls.

We thank the Lord for this wonderful gift.

Rachel woke up feeling a little weak this morning but she is determined to make it to school every day, all day long, this week...and next week we get to have Spring Break! Yay!

I have a lot to tell you about Hannah's basketball games and a few fun moments from our weekend. But for now, I've got to get my grades posted for the six weeks, I have A LOT of homework to do for my night classes, and Rachel turns 16 on Saturday, be still my heart!

My blogging may be a little sporadic this week, sorry!

Thank you for dropping by today. Ya'll are such a blessing!!!

Joyfully,

Kristi

PS A BIG thank you to all of you who encouraged me after Friday's post. Thanks for sharing your Mom stories. Rachel and I are back to the same great relationship that we normally have and I haven't eaten a chocolate bar in 2 days. Woo-hoo!