Thank you GOD!!!

Amazingly my town seems to have a lot of people who do not understand what a red light is. They just run lights right and left. I see it EVERYDAY. I've learned to slow down and look both ways before going even if I have the green.

Well yesterday I pulled out of church and stopped at a red light. It turned green. The car facing me had it's blinker on as did I and we both hesitated. I kept thinking why is he waiting to go. For some reason I thought - "I have to be careful". About 3 seconds later Brian says what are you waiting on and I said I don't know and started to pull forward and Brian suddenly yelled STOP right as this GIGANTIC Expedition sped through a red light going at least 50. Seriously fast for this street which has a 35 mph limit. I would have gone if Brian hadn't yelled. My light had been green at least 10 seconds so it wasn't like she was running a fading yellow. The woman would have annihilated my little sebring potentially killing me and Salem (she was on my side).

I am SO mad. People need to watch what the hell they are doing. Thank you God for protecting us.

Living Wide Awake

Here are a few profound thoughts from what I have read in Erwin McManus - Wide Awake. Think about it. Get the book. It's SO worth it. You can read excerpts at the above link.

The future is waiting within you.

What would happen if all of us discovered our God-given dreams? To live our lives in such a way that everything we did – every choice, every act – was used to fulfill those dreams. If all of us began to live "wide awake," the world would never be the same

Very few are meant for a life of notoriety, yet all of us were meant for a life of significance. We should never confuse fame with greatness. The former is about what you do for yourself and the latter is about what you do for others. It is in this way that all of us have heroic lives to live. We are all called to serve the greater good.

When we live wide awake, the world begins to reflect the kind of place in which God intended us to live. After all he places us in paradise and expected us to take care of his creation - so much for a good start. Now we need to step up and reclaim what was lost. Jesus came to bring out the best in us. When this happens we should expect that everything else will change for the better.

There is a future that needs to be created and it is waiting for you and me to wake up and get out of bed. The alarm has sounded and it's time to shake off the slumber.

You know that little bit of sadness that greets you in the morning? Maybe it's there because you're not doing what you're supposed to be doing. You're not living the life you're supposed to be living. You're not dreaming wide awake. It's your soul searching for it's hero.

I may not know you personally but this I know about you without question - there is a hero within you waiting to be awakened.

It's time to live, to create, to imagine, to dream...Wide Awake

So I want to share something exciting and scary!

So Brian and I are going to do some things to totally change our lives. :) We're very excited and I hope you are as well! Please keep us in prayer and to be honest it's natural that some might have feels of apprehension for us. If you do just praying. This is just the story of what we're doing and we're constantly seeking God and His will but truly feel that God is behind this all.

It's going to be a risk but Brian has been miserable with our business. It's too stressful on us as a couple and way to hard on his back. He's wavered about getting an MBA, going back to school to become a chiropractor etc. But while Brian was in Brazil, God kinda gave him an epiphany. He's tired of being unhappy. And we've been reading some Erwin McManus stuff - Wide Awake - about following your dreams to do something great - not to live in mediocrity etc.

So Brian has decided he wants to go to flight school to get certified and eventually next summer be able to fly commercially. The he wants to get a plane and start a travel service for Missionaries - something like Mission Travel is what we're thinking. We'd start with just the 20 churches and 150+ people who fly to Sao Luiz to work with Marcelo each year. This would be a huge blessing to missionaries who fly 24+ hours for a 2 week trip there and back. It would literally add 2 days to their trip. For instance, Brian's dad goes and the plane trips are getting harder and harder but he wants to keep going. So in theory the next year we'd probably be broke but it should enable us to have financial freedom within a short amount of time - like 3 years.

And me...I was scared to talk to Brian about it but he's open to it. I am going to try and get money together to have Weight Loss Surgery in January. I am going to go with a procedure called a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I would be self pay and it's really expensive in the states. So with help from Obesityhelp.com I am looking at two reputable Dr.'s in Mexico. I have come to the sad reality that I just I can't do this on my own. I fluctuate these days between 225-235 and my cholesterol so high I feel like it's IMPERATIVE that I get this weight off. My diabetes is under control but that combined with high cholesterol and being overweight give me something called "Metabolic Syndrome" and puts me at a 20% risk of having a heart attack in 10 years. I am 40 - my girls are 6 and 3 so I have to get healthy. I have to.

So anyway - these are major areas for us. Basically it would change our ENTIRE life. And we have to come up with a lot of money in a short amount of time so we're going to tighten the belt and stop spending on anything extra completely.

Brian will be taking lessons starting in mid December. Forty hours will get him started and he can work towards getting checked out in the twin engines and bigger planes in January and February (maybe March) while it's slow. Then he'd do a lot of cross country flights while we did God's Care. We'd keep our lawn care business but when the flight service is off the ground, we'd hire another full time worker and not take many new customers and hire a payroll service to handle everything else. Of course that would eat into the profit but we wouldn't need to live on it then and we could use that for savings and such.

To be honest Brian and I've really been at odds lately and we finally realized while we were apart (me in Dallas 3 days and then him in Brazil 9) that we're both just unhappy - him doing what he hates and me with my body and self image.

And one of the futuristic perks is that with a plane we could help people who otherwise couldn't do missionary work to get down there more affordably. It would be a business but it would be God's business so we would always help people the same as we do with our lawn care business. For us - we could spend our summers there which we've talked several times before about spending 2-3 months a year there - we just assumed it would have to be winter due to the lawn care business. We could buy a decent house for less than $20,000 and a car and have a second home and let Brian minister while the girls and I worked in the church in the big city (we aren't going to the actual jungle - maybe just to the town of Primera Cruz - a town of 10K that they go to before they trek into the jungle).

So I wanted to share. As you can see this is a ton of info. It's funny cause we both texted each other on last Wednesday when he made it back to the states saying we needed to talk! Me about the weight loss surgery and him about flying. I know it seems weird and fast and all but we're like that. Once we make a decision we try to act on it soon cause we both are impatient and it wears on us.

Five Humans

Whoo Hoo!!! Look what I just read on the FiveHumans Blog:

I wanted to tell everyone about a very special community of people that truly embody what being an advocate is all about. The mothers, fathers and courageous children and adults living with Noonan syndrome are a strong group with a voice that can’t be ignored. They won the Next Cause vote by an overwhelming margin. Therefore, this month, FiveHumans will be creating a shirt for Noonan Syndrome awareness inspired by the stories, emotions and experiences shared with us by the NS community (the actual shirts will be available for pre-order when the design is complete and will ship a few weeks later). We have also partnered with the Noonan Syndrome Support Group to be the recipient of donations for the Noonan syndrome shirt. Stay tuned for more information as we will soon be announcing when the shirt will be available for pre-order.

How exciting is that? I am BEYOND excited. And if you've never heard of FiveHumans you need to know who they are! FiveHumans is a company with the self appointed task of curing ignorance around various causes through hip, fashionable clothing. Their clothing helps people become advocates because they spark conversation and spread awareness and Noonan Syndrome is a cause not well known. They always say - "Ignorance is a Curable Disease!" AMEN!

Remembering Angel & Brynna

October is Infant/Child Loss Awareness Month - so in honor of Angel and Brynna I thought I'd share their story. I know they are safe in heaven but I still miss them each and every day and it's been 6 years.

Brian and I tried for 4+ years to get pregnant. We finally did IVF and transferred 2 embryos. We were pregnant with twins. And a week later one of twins has split into identicals - we had triplets. It was overwhelming and exciting and about 11 weeks we lost one of the identicals. It was so sad but we had so much excitement regarding the other two that we put it out of our mind. At 22 weeks I went to an U/S and was excited to find out the sex of the babies. I had recently returned a rented doppler and finally felt so good about this pregnancy. But at this U/S we found out that one of the remaining twins had died. I was told that I was at risk if I didn't terminate the healthy pregnancy because of the deceased baby but I just couldn't. We had three and were left with 1 so I felt like she was destined to make it, So I was on bedrest for about 14 weeks. I had weekly appointments, U/S and non-stress tests. I developed polydramnios and basically my body seemed to think I was still pregnant with multiples. I then developed high blood pressure and was hospitalized at 34 weeks. I stayed in the hospital a week, went home a week and then came back and delivered Salem Ruth-Rhena. Her sisters are Brynna and Angel. Salem had a rough start and ended up being diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome and Hypertropic Cardiomyopathy. But she couldn't to grow and be healthy and is now a bright and healthy 6 year old without signs of the heart problem.

If you'd like to read more of their story click on this. I also posted a lot of my entire IVF journey and pregnancy and the problems Salem had after birth here.

Their room now!

And this is the big girl's room for now. We redecorated in September 06. Salem is now 6 and Raina 3 and they share until they are old enough to be upstairs (one big attic converted into a HUGE room) without us. I am VERY excited about that room. There is room to decorate two separate bedroom areas and a play area and the bathroom.

The ugly but comfy orange chair is gone now replaced with a desk and daddy's homemade house bookshelf is still there but the TV out. That lasted like 2 months. And the wall decor is finished but I am too lazy to take new pics!

I also left the doors off. They were almost broken when we took them down and I always planned to hand curtains and keep procrastinating.

Raina's Bedding

Salem always slept in her crib for naps even though we coslept at nights. So I figured Raina would too! :) NOT. This gorgeous bedding was a DREAM and I LOVED it and she wouldn't sleep anywhere but my bed or in my sling for months and since I was nursing and needing the sleep we went with it.

This is one of the few times she slept there. Isn't it gorgeous?

A Walk Down Nursery Lane!!!

I happened across Kelly's Korner and saw a nursery tour and had to participate. I am long from the nursery stage but I SO enjoyed planning and decorating and reminiscing. :) Salem's room was all about lambs. I had collected them for years and a dear friend maybe the beautiful quilt(s). I have one put up in a memory box that had been made for Angel.







I'll be back for fun's sake to post Raina's bedding (that she NEVER once slept in) and their room now!

Infertility....

I struggled long and hard to have children. You can click on the top blog link to the left to read my story. My surviving triplet and IVF miracle is now 6 but I can so understand the turmoil and literal pain at waiting to be a mommy and the awful negatives...

Well today I stumbled across the My Haskell Triplet Blog! She has a friend who is raising money to do her 3rd IVF - Lianna.

Lianna also has a contest to help raise money to do IVF. Check out their blogs.

Brian's Coming Home Today!!!

He should have just landed in Dallas. His flight doesn't leave til 1 to Abilene. :) Isn't this a great picture of him?

I did get an email from Marcelo - the missionary Brian has worked with in Brazil for 7 years. He had exciting news about Brian - they are going to get him licensed to fly so he can fly missionary groups down there.

Long term this is excellent for the 20+ teams that go to Marcelo's area. It will save money and time. For Brian it's amazing. He was almost licensed about 15 years ago and wants nothing more than to fly again.

I do have a secret request (that I am not sharing on my blog yet) that I was going to talk to Brian about this week that's highly pricey so I hope between both are dreams we can manage it. Plus with about 20 teams benefiting from Brian being licensed - maybe they'll help. We can run the donations through the church and all.

Anyway - regardless I am just excited Brian is coming home.

Yuck! Mice & Bugs

First off all let me say I have a fantastic house. I love it. Every once in a while I'll get the urge to build or get something "new" and then I realize I'd have to double my inexpensive house payment and reality sets in. But I have to fight discontent a lot. I have no idea why.

But my house is old and has little things wrong that drive me insane. Also we get mice. Sigh! I haven't seen one since Spring when Jessica (Salem's cat that died) killed it and brought it to me as a present. Oh Jessica.....

I feel the same way about bugs. We have our house sprayed quarterly for bugs and mice. I just can't deal with it. And because we spray quarterly if I see anything in those 3 months they come back and spray for free.

So back to the present - we were due to be resprayed in late September. I had been sick, was handling Salem's birthday party and then had MOPS Convention. Then Brian left for Brazil on Tuesday.

Wednesday I saw a waterbug. Nasty. I will kill them but I hate it and I went after it and it got away in my bedroom.

So now we've been sleeping on the couch with my bedroom door shut (yes as if that will keep the nasty creature inside). And yes sleeping on the couch. My 40 year old body hates it.

So fast forward to yesterday. I hear a rustling in the kitchen. I assume Troy or Lily are getting into something. I go look - they are asleep at the back door. I know what I am hearing at this point but I refuse to think about it. It can't be a mouse. It just can't.

I hear it again. In my foot cabinet. Not the one with the can goods but of course the one with the rice and such in boxes that those nasty creatures can eat through.

So I get brave and open the door. I see nothing. HUGE sigh of relief. I must be losing my mind.

I shut the cabinet and turn to walk away and I hear it again. A huge ball of dread builds in my belly. I turn back and open the cabinet again and there the mouse is. Tiny but ferocious - yes all mice are ferocious. It eeks and I scream and slam the door shut.

Salem comes running...mommy what is it? Nothing dear...mommy you screamed...nothing honey...is it a mouse?

Sigh...

How did the mice and bugs know I went 2 weeks past the day to spray to keep them away? It's like they're at some invisible barrier and the barrier instantly drops at 90 days and it's safe for them to cross. And I have 2 cats and they surely haven't keep the mouse away.

So yes Julia and Brenda Ann have fought more intense battles with rattle snakes (I would surely die) but I am now scared to go in my kitchen and clean and cook. What if that mouse eeks at me again?

I have to call American Allied on Monday! Brad to the rescue.

But for now we need to go get pizza. Even though I have an entire cabinet full of food. I just can't deal with it. What if it comes out? What if it bites me? What if I get rabies and die? What if the girls get bit?

Yes I know that's over the top but yeah it's the way I think.

Kreativ Blogger Award!

Thanks Erin for passing this on to me! :) Thanks!!! I really don't consider myself creative. I COPY a lot! :) But it gets the job done. But I find that motherhood has helped me become more creative as well as being a computer guru - well ex computer guru. I don't even know if I remember how to program anymore. But both are creative outsize of the scope of just "craftiness". I LOVE the idea of making beautiful crafts but they just don't interest me as much as scrapbooking, cards, MOPS & this blog.


The blog award rules:

1. List 6 things about yourself and
2. Pass this award on to 6 other bloggers

Okay, so 6 things about me:

1. Like Erin the spelling "Kreativ" drives me crazy! But that's because I am a secret baby names fanatic! I love playing baby name games on one of my favorite boards.
2. I pop my fingers and my toes and my arms and my neck...yes it drives people nuts.
3. I adore being a SAHM even when I am tired and stressed and have so much to do.
4. I am trying to be a vegetarian. It's healthier life style for me with diabetes and high cholesterol and honestly I read the Skinny Bitch book and it was awful about how meat and dairy are processed. I have bought organic dairy for ages now though.
5. I really like tofu! :) Especially in PF Chang's Hot & Sour Soup! Delish!
6. Brian is in Brazil on his 7th mission trip there since the summer I was pregnant with the trips. I miss him and always spend WAY too much money while he's gone. It's how I cope I guess! LOL.

Now to tag...I am fairly creative but don't always share it on my blog but some of these ladies do and some don't but either way I think they are AMAZINGLY creative and respect their creativity at crafts, scrapbooking, fun kid projects and parenting a lot.

Jana - Scrapbooker, Photographer and SO much more!!!
Christi - Graphic Designer Extraordinaire
Johnnie Kay - Have you seen her fall decorations?
LaRae - I LOVE her way with words and parenting ideas!
Shannon - I miss my scrapbooking buddy!
Julia - She has a way with words even if I don't always agree! :) But it does always make me think!

If I didn't tag you it doesn't mean that I don't think you're not creative. Promise! :)

10 Things I Learned At Convention

I was inspired to write this list after reading a similar list at "The View At 5'5". I wish I had met her at convention.

This years MOPS Convention was in Texas! :) WOOT!!! That's amazing cause it helped our entire steering team and one table leader go (11 total). When we fly it's harder to raise funds even though 7 went to Orlando last year and 6 to Nashville the year before. I LOVED Orlando. It was fun and refreshing. But to be honest God broke my heart at this convention. The speakers all said things that emphasized what God had been working in me for ages. The praise and worship and sessions...it all geared together to work on me. We had an amazing time in our two adjoining room with 10 people, shopping, going to general sessions and getting 16 seats (11 for us and 5 for Beltway MOPS. I can't wait til next year.

1. God did not give me my children to make them more like Him. He gave me my children to make me more like Him. Said by Julie Barnhill. WOW.
   
2. It's not hard to be a parent ... it's IMPOSSIBLE. So it's all up to me to let God work through me.
   
3. SDWSCD - Read my other 2 posts about this a little further down. Am I doing ALL I can do?
   
4. God is just sitting there waiting for him to give me the last of me. Why am I holding back?
   
5. What fears are stopping me from attaining my dreams and doing something amazing for God? What dreams do I really want to accomplish in life?
6. I shouldn't be focused on trying to create successful children but raising children to lead great lifes for God.
   
7. What a wonderful team I am a part of at Highland MOPS. I love those ladies.
   
8. My girls were given to me for a reason. God show me how to be the best mother to them.
   
9. I am not Wonder Woman. I have to slow down and realize it's ok to say no. I usually do this well but sometimes I slip and when I do it really screws me up.
   
10. God is calling me to do something WAY outside my comfort zone. I am trying to listen and do it. It's hard.
    
11. I can't wait for Brian to come home from his Brazil Mission trip so we can work on a family vision and how to be a better why to my husband.
    

OK I came up with 11. :)

The Girls Are STILL Sick

Ack it's been a week. I am tired. Salem has missed school the entire week. She has had a fever off and on all week and thrown up all night Tuesday and Wednesday and Raina the fever. Of course they are fine when I take them to the Dr. Of course.

They are better now but had fever all night so a sweet friend is coming over to stay with them so I can go get some blood work done and run a few errands.

I haven't accomplished ANYTHING this week. I was going to paint and organize my bedroom and make it a love nest. :) Seriously! That obviously won't happen before Brian gets home. LOL.

I was going to clean my house from top to bottom! ROFL!!! That didn't happen either. I am SO tired. Wish me luck this weekend. If I get sick too it will be a lost cause.

Girl Scout Patch Fiasco

Did I mention last Monday that I was in SUCH a hurry to get Salem's daisy tunic (I had forgotten) that I didn't make it to the Girl Scout store until 1:45. I had to pick up Salem at 2:45 and get her to Daisys 15 minutes away.

So I get the patches and run home and heat my iron and lay the vest down on my carpet. Yes - that was a big mistake - but the biggest was not putting a towel underneath it.

So I lay it down - it's the vest - we had wanted a tunic but they didn't have her size and it was thinner and more a polyester blend. So I started ironing on the flag and when I tried to move the vest it was stuck to my carpet and I had to PULL it up.

So the vest had a HUGE iron spot on the back (thank goodness the back cause we had investiture) and my carpet has a spot.

ACK! So of course I stopped ironing and cried.

Then the troop leader saw it and just happened to have an extra tunic she picked up at Good Will for $5. Whoo Hoo! Then I had to buy another flag patch.

Now I have to iron it all on by Monday and am terrified.

I need to buy an ironing board. Can you tell I seldom iron?

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Julia's post today made me start thinking about the past when I was the most happiest and the most unhappy. Here is a picture of me in high school - yes amazingly skinny huh? I look happy right?

But that was probably one of the most miserable times in my life. Well it got much worse in my early 20's but it was directly related to my life as a teenager and to be honest just because I WAS so screwed up.

These days I am tired and fat and have problems galore - but I am happy. It's amazing to see the difference. I think the public as a whole would assume I was happier in the first pic. Isn't it amazing how to world equates happiness on the first visual.

Now don't get me wrong - I hate being overweight. HATE it. I am struggling with losing weight and exercising...I want to be fit and healthy. I want it with all of my heart. But I wouldn't go back to 16 with that 16 year old body for the world. No way in heck would I do that ever.

So why do I post this? I have no clue...I just remember looking SO good in this pic and remembering how screwed up and looking for love and attention I really was.

It makes me want to lock my kids in the closet during the teenage years as well.

Highland MOPS Steering Team At Convention

I LOVE this team! This is the entire Highland MOPS Steering Team and one of our table leaders. What an AMAZING time we had at convention.

And I have to add this picture of the urinal! LOL. Only at a hotel with over 4000 women in attendance would they so beautifully convert a men's room to a ladies room.

SDWSCD - Part II

By Mariane Holbrook

I may not win a trophy for the "Mother Of The Year;"
I'll likely not rush out on stage and smile as people cheer.
My name will not be three feet tall on Broadway's Grande Marquis
With brilliant neon lights that flash for all the world to see.

No president will phone my house and call me by my name;
I won't be listed in "Who's Who" for newly-won acclaim.
No one will stand in line to have me autograph a book,
No tour guides will drive past my house so folks can gawk and look.

But there is something that I hope above all else on earth.
I've felt this way, I'm sure, right from the moment of my birth.
When my time comes to slip away and leave this world for good,
I hope I hear my family say, "She did what she could do."

I changed that last line from she did the best she could do to she did what she could do. But it fit perfectly with what I am dealing with in my spiritual life right now.

While at MOPS Convention one of the messages that tugged at my heart enough was when Elisa Morgan spoke about - She Did What She Could Do.

In Mark 14:8 the International Standard Version says: She has done what she could. She poured perfume on my body in preparation for my burial. It is the story of Mary anointing Jesus with the expensive perfume and how Judas and others criticized her and how she gave what she had. She couldn't do anything more. She did what she could do.

What are we doing? Are we doing all we can do? I might never be an acclaimed speaker or renowned activist or Christian leadership guru (all of my favorite passions to be honest), but am I doing all I can do? All God wants me to do? I have to say no.

I am sometimes quite selfish in telling God no. And God knows that and made sure I was at convention this year to hear this message. I don't know if God was using Elisa Morgan to speak to anyone else but he spoke to me.

QUIT TELLING ME NO.
Ignore his voice...
Hello...
Sorry did you say something? (by the way this NEVER works with God).
Yes.
Well I think I'll pass this time.
No you won't.
Yes I will.
Leah...
NO NEVER EVER I will NOT do this...
Yes.
Sigh..
Yes Leah...
Tears...
Yes Leah...
FINE!
I can almost hear God laugh at this point.

As a mom I have often hidden a giggle at one of my daughter's indignation at finally doing what I am telling her to do.

But why does it have to be so difficult? Why must I do this? For some reason it's what I am called to do.

And I wanted to be remembered this way - she did what she could do. So the Lord knows I am going to do it. I am not sure how yet - that will come but I will.

Leah Holamon
Wife - Mother - Daughter - Sister - Friend
She Did What She Could Do

Go Fish Guys New CD - Party Like A Preschooler

The latest album by the Go Fish Guys focuses on their younger audience! Party Like A Preschooler takes songs like Do Your Ears Hang Low, 5 Little Monkeys, and Pop Goes the Weasel and makes them...well, not annoying! Click on the link to hear sample clips.

The Go Fish Guys are continuing their mission of making great music for kids that won’t drive parents bonkers, this album breaks new ground in the world of toddler tunes!

Party Like A Preschooler contains 11 brand new tracks along with 2 bonus tracks from their SNAZZY CD. Sure to be a fan favorite is the new “DAD” track titled It’s Hard To Be Cool (In A Mini-Van)!

Kids music can be cool and the Go Fish Guys prove it once again. Load up the mini-van because it’s time to Party Like A Preschooler!

Note from Leah: Speaking from experience the Go Fish Guys are AMAZING. The music is fun and exciting and kids and parents alike love it. You can order online or find copies in many Christian bookstores. Snazzy is my favorite but Party Like a Preschooler is fun! My 6 year old kindergartner LOVES it.

SDWSCD

Well last week was crazy anyway! :) I had SO much to get done before leaving for convention. Raina ended up staying with a friend named Victoria on Thursday afternoon after we realized Brian couldn't take off cause one of our employees father had a stroke and was out of town. The other guy can't drive the work truck. MAJOR issue as ALL my girlfriends were going to MOPS Convention except LaRae who was going to get John and Julia who was watching her on Friday. It worked out that but was stressful.

We all got on the van and headed off to convention! Everyone gets something different from convention. It's amazing how God does that. I was a ball bag all weekend. That is not typical but God is kind of not so subtly making me face some issues and be true to myself - even the ugliness - and I am SO not liking it. God told me to do something this weekend. I told God NO - he said yes - I said no not ever EVER - he said yes...grrrrr...It sounds comical but it's quite painful and I am SO not ready...

So we're home and Brian leaves for Brazil tomorrow, my house is a wreck (my own fault) and I have a ton to do but I do want to leave you with this:

SDWSCD - it's something we "learned" at convention! Be brave and let me know what you think it means in a comment and then I'll come back tomorrow and post convention pics and enlighten you! :)

I am going to a movie tomorrow. And moving Larrah home this weekend. :) So it is a busy week!

14 Biblical Virtues to Pray for your Kids

Someone sent this to me so I thought I'd add it to my prayers and share it.

Salvation - Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (Is. 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10)

Growth in Grace - I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

Love - Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them. (Gal. 5:25, Eph. 5:2)

Honesty and Integrity - May integrity and honesty be their virtue and protection. (Ps. 25:21)

Self-Control - Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do. (I Thess. 5:6)

Love for God's Word - May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb. (Ps.19:10)

Passion for God - Lord, please instill in my children a soul that followeth hard after thee. (Ps. 63:8, KJV), that they cling to you passionately.

Mercy - May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36)

Respect - For self, others, authority - Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to every-one, as Your Word commands. (I Peter 2:17)

Faithfulness - Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts. (Prov. 3:3)

Purity - Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions. (Ps. 51:10)

Gratitude - Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph. 5:20, Col. 2:7)

Humility - God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all. (Titus 3:2)

Hope - May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Happy 6th Birthday Salem!!! :)

I simply can't believe she's 6. Happy Birthday Salem Ruth-Rhena!!! My sweet baby!!!! Brynna and Angel - we'll miss you forever and see you in heaven one day.

At birth in the NICU.



One year - look at those curls!!!



And the curls EXPLODE. :)



Growing UP!


No more curls...



Mommy was SO sad you turned 5!



Growing up so beautiful!