Welcome 2014!

Whew!  Christmas came and went in a flash.  Where did 2013 go?  I hear that time flies a lot faster when you get older, but wow!!!  I hope you had a blessed Christmas filled with the warmth of family, friendship, and the Savior's great love!

We started the year with a new little addition.  Isn't she adorable?!  Her name is Carly and she is a Corgi.  In just a few days she will go off to college for Rachel and we are going to miss them both so very much!!!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Thanking God for the absolute best gift ever....Jesus!  And wishing all of you a most blessed Christmas!

My Drum Major

Our baby girl is one of the Drum Majors this year.  Have I mentioned that already?  We are proud so proud of her!  She and her co-drum major received special recognition at the Pre-UIL Marching competition.  

My sweetheart took this of us a week ago.  You can tell in my eyes I am not feeling well (pneumonia) but I wasn't going to miss watching Hannah on the field!

Getting ready for their salute:

It's a cute salute, very unique!

My mom made her beautiful train!

It looks amazing on Hannah and on the field:

They competed in the Regional Marching Contest and received a Division 1 Rating!!! We are headed to the Area competition next weekend.  Yay!!!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

My parents and I are gardening! Yay!!! I'm no longer growing weeds (in my vegetable garden that is) but delicious vegetables! We have a Fall Garden. Delight!!!


We have zucchini and squash:

And the most delicious tomatoes.  I love tomatoes!!

And some of the hottest jalapeno peppers.  They might be small but they are mighty.  Ole!

We have a few herbs too and one day plan to plant roses in the middle raised bed.  What a blessing!

My Latest Photography Floor

My dad built this floor and wall for me!!  It is amazing and my favorite prop!  It is exactly what I have been wanting to find but couldn't.  Dad to the rescue!  It's better than I imagined!!

This floor reminds me of the day my dad and Grandpa built a feature wall in our basement in Kansas many years ago.   Special memories!

Class Ring

Our baby girl has her class ring. Pardon me while I crawl in a corner and sob for a moment. Time, why do you have to fly by so quickly?!

She has counted the days until the Junior Class Ring Ceremony!

They get to sign a letter of intent to graduate.

They carefully pass out the rings and make them wait until everyone has a box.

Then the Josten's rep counts down from 15 (Class of 2015)

It's hard to wait!

Getting closer....nearly time for the big ring reveal:

Ready? Set? Go!

Delight!

It's official!  Our baby has a class ring!

One of my yearbook students snapped this one of the two of us.  My baby girl, please quit growing up so very fast.  We are so proud of you!

My Drum Major

We are back in the full swing of things around here. School began with a bang and there is no looking back. Ready or not!   And my baby girl, who is a Junior this year, is a Drum Major. Her big sister was a drum major her Senior year. So proud!

She has put in a lot of hard work getting ready for band this year and she is over-the-top excited! 

I don't know how she can lead her band, keep time, and not fall off the platform.  I'm thankful she is more graceful than her mom.  Ha!

Love the intensity and concentration on her face.  This is a year that we can advance....fingers crossed!

It's hard for me to take pictures of the football players on the sidelines when I see my baby girl.  Go Hannah!

My Favorite Pastor

My emotions are still a bit raw and it is so very easy for the tears to flow.  My favorite pastor retired this past Sunday.

This is what I posted on Facebook Sunday Morning:
Today is Dad's last Sunday before retirement (and the tears are already flowing). What a precious, bittersweet day today is. My mind is flooded with incredible memories and the joy knowing full well He completed the call God placed on his life with absolute joy and grace! But, Oh, how I am going to miss hearing my favorite pastor each Sunday!

I have many more thoughts and images to share but for now, I simply had to post this one of my dad. He was praying right before the service began....just like so many Sundays that I can remember.  I'm so thankful I had my camera to capture this tender moment.

It's Raining!

What a blessing the rain in our part of Texas is! It's just what this dry desert has needed.  We have rejoiced in God's goodness and the blessing of cooler temperatures.  It has been the most wonderful break from 90 to 100 degree days. 

 

As I was watching the clouds roll back in and looking at the beautifully cut field, this idea popped in my head.  I simply had to do a quick photo shoot to capture our beautiful baby girl in her red dress surrounded by the beautiful dark clouds right before the rain began to fall again. Delight!

 

 

The Next Chapter

I've been a Pastor's Kid for the past 30 years. What a blessing my dad is. Sunday, listening to the Lord's leading, he announced his retirement. My heart is heavy and my emotions a bit overwhelmed but more than anything, I am so thankful that He listened to God's calling on his life 30 years ago, for the blessing of his ministry, the joy of being his daughter, and the excitement he and mom have for this new adventure with The Lord. (I was upstairs running the PowerPoint for Dad as my mom and family were on the first and second row on the far right). I'm so thankful God prompted my heart to snap this image with my iPhone.  I will treasure it!!!

A new chapter unfolds and it is written by The Lord, Himself....it's His story after all. 

It's Time

The Graduation Pictures have been posted, the School Yearbook is finished and sent off to print, my photography orders have been carefully packaged and delivered, and this girl is in need of some family time.  I'm taking a few days to soak in the sun and make memories to treasure with my family....I need a little time to unwind and unplug.  I'll check my emails and messages soon.  

(Please check back for my Oh Snap Class Information and Sign Up on July 5th).

Queen Lemon Cakes

 Hannah has become quite the baker!  She made Lemon Queen Cakes for Mother's Day and we LOVED them so much that she made them for Father's Day too.  Delicious!!!

These little cakes are an act of love.  She spends at least four hours making them and bakes them with lots and lots of love.  I would share the recipe with you, but it's a Hannah secret.

I cannot begin to imagine meringue frosting without my kitchenaide!

And licking the beater is always the best part!

After a quick broil to brown the meringue it is time to serve.  They are incredible.  Thank you sweet Hannah for sharing your incredible gift with us. We love you so very much!

Happy Father's Day

I love my dad!  I really feel that when God chose all of the men in the world to be my daddy, He absolutely chose the best!  I have to keep this short, because I know his love for reading wordy cards...and probably blogs too. Ha!


Thank you for loving mom above all else except for the Lord.  My girls and I were just talking about you two and how fun it is to watch your relationship.  Your love for each other is fierce and so admirable!

This is one of my favorites!  Thank you for loving me....even the times when you loved me too much to let me act that way and for always being one of my biggest fans!

Thank you for teaching me that life really is an adventure and to live each day with joy and a song (you can whistle better than anyone).    This image makes me smile.  You carried every "special rock" we found in that backpack. It surely weighed 50 pounds.





Thank you for making my dorm at Baylor feel a bit more like home.  I was the only Freshman in either dorm who had a custom built vanity, book case, and place for my refrigerator. That was awesome!

I watched as you beautifully officiated a special wedding last weekend.  The words you chose and the way you made the couple feel so special was wonderful...but nothing compared to my wedding.  I pray you have the blessing of officiating at Rachel and Hannah's weddings one day too!  And thank you for loving me enough to make my man take a test before we were allowed to get married.  We will be passing this on to our girls for sure!

Thank you for the way you love your granddaughters!  Oh, they love you so much too!  You are some of their biggest fans and encouragers.  I always adore basketball season, but I love it even more when you are sitting right beside me as we are watching Hannah on the court!

I could have posted a million other pictures and written so much more.  I really am trying to keep this short. Ha!  Thank you for being the Dad that every girl dreams about having, the Spiritual Leader that every home desires, the Grandpa every grandchild wishes they had, and my favorite Pastor in the world.  Happy Father's Day!  You are dearly loved!

Double A Plays Baseball...and Sings and Dances too!

My youngest nephew is playing baseball.  Woo hoo!  After a Senior Session Premiere, I grabbed my camera and our family headed to the ballpark.

I think he was glad to see us.  Look at his smile!

He patiently waited for his turn to take the field.

As his big brother, my oldest nephew, did a little coaching.  

Looking good in the outfield AA!

And this is where the fun begins!  He was picking weeds in the outfield and slinging them around.  Too funny!

It must get a bit boring in the outfield but not for AA!

He won't admit it, but it looked like he was singing songs and doing a few MC Hammer moves.

Duh, nuh, nuh, nuh....you can't touch this!

Really, "you can't touch this!"  Or rather, will somebody please hit me the ball! And then he did another MC Hammer move where he did a little dance from side to side.  I thought I had it on video, but I was giggling so much, I guess I didn't hit record. Ha!

So fun!

His cousin, Chan was a bit bored too:

After that inning, the dugout was busting with enthusiasm.  "Hey Coach, is it time for snow cones yet?"  Ha!

 After a quick inning, AA was back in the outfield.  Where was that weed?

Oops! I think I've been spotted!  And the dancing and singing stopped.  Sad moment.  Ha!

 Chan was as intense about the game as his dad....

....well, maybe not! Looks like his daddy is getting ready to throw his hat again.  Ha!  The life of a coach is difficult.  I wish he could tell you the story about his baby girl putting on her baseball uniform for the first time.  Hilarious!  And I'm with her, baseball pants are made for boys, not girls....or they would be soft and fluffy and pink!

I love Chan's intensity in this shot:

and this one.

Finally, it was his turn to bat.  Batting has to be the best part of baseball!

Oh, how I love him!  I could never hit the ball!  It might mess up my hair. But AA can hit the ball well!  

Back in the outfield.

While his brother grabbed a second to look at Aunt Kiki.  I love this nephew too!

Meanwhile, back in the outfield....

I think this one of Double A is my favorite from the night!  Yeah right, you weren't singing, buddy! 

Double AA, you made the game so fun and your Aunt Kiki is super-awesome proud of you!

Please, don't stop singing, dancing, and picking weeds in the outfield because that will mean you are growing up too fast and I'm just not ready for that!  Sing at the top of your lungs and I'll sing with you!