Ready for Summer

We are all ready for summer and we have the bumps and bruises to prove it!!  It has been really nice here the last week....please don't look at the forecast because I don't want to hear it!!  The other day Haylee and I got a little sun on our shoulders....I even put the sunscreen in my purse!!  79 DEGREES!!!  Here is some proof of SUMMER TIME!!!

Well we have just been playing!!  I had a FABULOUS birthday week!!   You already heard all about my surprise birthday party!!  Well then on my actual birthday Garrett had his LAST day of preschool.....FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE!!!  How exciting/sad is that!!  He wasn't even sad because "I'm going to kindergarten!!"  His teachers were SO awesome!!  We could not have asked for a better preschool experience!! 

All of the VOLUNTEER preschool teachers!!!

That day for lunch my girlfriends took me out to lunch!!  Some sisters from our church came over and watched the kids and we took of to have ourselves a wonderfully QUIET birthday lunch!!  Thank you guys again for EVERYTHING!!!  They even fought over who was going to buy my lunch (I had a coupon for a free entrée)

That evening Garrett's preschool had an end of the year program!!  SO cute!!!

They showed a slide of all the kids throughout the year....here are all the kids (ages 3-4) that benefited from this AMAZING preschool!!

Garrett and his four year old teachers (teacher Jenny is missing)

Today was a busy and fun day!!  Garrett had T-ball in the morning!!  SO MUCH FUN!!  We then went to the Farmer's Market!!  So crowded, so busy, so chaotic.....SO AMAZING!!  It is a crazy busy place but they produce and stuff they offer is so awesome!!  It was such a glorious afternoon, it was nice to walk around!!

   

How precious is that face!!!  She was in such a good mood today!!

  

After the market Haylee came home to take a nap (all that laughing wore her out!!) and Garrett and I headed over to a birthday PARTY!!!

We got it on like Donkey Kong!!

I guess I'm a pretty good teacher because this cake was AWESOME!!!  WAY TO GO CINDY!!!

Happy Birthday Lucas!!

Haylee has been on a Dora kick lately!!!  Couldn't resist this picture taken' moment!!

And I will leave you on that note!!

BEST DAY EVER!!!

So I'm not sure if you remember how wonderful my birthday was last year , NOT!!!  Well this year TOTALLY made up for it and SO much more!!!  I want to say that I have an AMAZING group of friends!!  I don't even have words to describe how I feel right now!!!  Several of my friends got together and threw me a SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY!!  It was AWESOME!!  Two of my friends, Amy and Kelly asked we could get together today....I LOVE getting together, so OF COURSE I was in!!  Well then Kelly said she was going to come pick me up at 11am!!  We get to Amy's house....and there everyone is......it was SO AWESOME!!!  Chris, my neighbor and good friend made me a journal and AWESOME party hat!!  Megan, my dear friends and wonderful neighbor changed my chocolate cake recipe into a strawberry chocolate chip cake......HEAVEN IN YOUR MOUTH!!!!  They were SO YUMMY!!!  Everybody brought something to make this lunch TOO SPECIAL to describe!!!!  EVERYONE needs to have friends like this because I feel like a QUEEN right now (and I have a crown to prove it!!)  

These are the girls that I have met at the exercise group and they have become such AWESOME friends!!  It is so amazing to have  GROUP of people you can call on whenever you need something....someone to watch the kids, a play date, or just someone to talk to!!  I love you ALL!!!  They even invited my good friends from church, Suzanne and her kids Addy and Seth and Kristin (who is in New York City right now!!!)  

Speaking of Kristin in New York....look what she did!!!  Today she went on the today show and broadcasted her birthday card to me and our friend Cassie (who's birthday is also on the 12th!!) on national TV!!!!  WOW!!  I told you....AMAZING FRIENDS!!!!

You know we have to have a goofy picture!!!

THIS ONE IS FOR YOU KELLY!!!  You said you like seeing your name in my blog!!!

What an AMAZING DAY.....and my birthday is TOMORROW!!

Mom and Haylee Dancing

I've been really trying to limit the amount of TV the kids watch, but when I'm trying to clean or cook the kids seem to keep needing things, but I HATE turning on the TV, so I found this awesome PANDORA station that has great kid songs, so I turn that on and the kids LOVE to jam out.....well and so does mom!!!

Can I just ask that you try not to look at the 25 year but keep your eyes on the 2 year old!!

A Week of Catch Up

Yes!!!  This is a picture of what last week felt like!!  We had EVERYTHING going on....and then I schedule myself to work Wednesday and Thursday!!  What was I thinking?!?  Oh well, we made it through and I had all weekend off which was marvelous!!  

We have a lot of T-ball!!  Garrett has a game every Saturday morning and Tuesday evenings and then his team practices Monday evenings as well!!!  One of the t-ball mom's, Cindy (who has also become a good friend) made Haylee this shirt to support her "Bubba!"  He is number 12 as well!!  "GO BUBBA!!"

    Are you watching Mom???  I MADE it!!!!

Haylee and her playmate Jacinda

Garrett got to play catcher this game!!  He really enjoyed it.....only because he got to touch the ball EVERY play!!

Take a look at this play!!!  WAY TO GO GARRETT!!!!

Haylee would like to play too...

It was such a nice week last week, we HAD to make it to the park, several times!!  On Wednesday several of us met at the park and I believe the high temp that day was 76 degrees!!!  And yes....we still are in Oregon!!  "I'm beginning to think it's looking a lot like Spring Time!"

Saturday was not so nice weather....BUMMER too because we all had the day off!!  Oh well we had fun any way!!!  We decided to take the kids to this ceramic cafe and let them paint their little hearts away!!  I think we in there for over 2 hrs!!!  It was SO neat!!  Defiantly going back....any orders??

Next door to Ceramicafe was a frozen yogurt shop....and you HAVE to have a yummy treat after such hard work!!!

NAP TIME

                                                    



This year for Mother's Day we decided to make cookies!  It was the "You are..." Cookie Jar!!  We were hoping Garrett could help throw in some good words, but after his suggestion of "old" we decided with out him!

Trip to the Dentist

So most husbands give their wives foot rubs or a back massages.... my husband cleans my teeth!!!

Garrett was our photographer in this dental visit!!

Happy Mother's Day To ALL!!

Happy Mother's Day

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life.  ~Abraham Lincoln

Josh and I are very blessed to both have WONDERFUL mother's!!  We were both raised in amazing homes and we pray we can raise our children as well as we were raised!!  

Mom,

Happy Mother’s Day!!  I wish that I could spend the day with you but I know that we will see each other soon.  I want to thank you for everything you have done for me in my life.  You and Dad have given me the world….literally!!  There were several times in my life that wished that we lived in Siloam Springs and I got to hang out with Tyler and Eric and have the same friends my whole life, but if we did that I would not have been to over 27 different countries and be the person I am today.  I know that it wasn’t always easy for you but THANK YOU!!  Thank you for giving Lindsey and I the life we had.  It was WONDERFUL!! 

Thank you for always being there for me as a teenager.  I know that wasn’t easy and you wanted to send me away at times for sure but thank you for not!!  I needed you, even if I didn’t show it.  I will never forget you coming in my room every night before I went to sleep and lying in bed with me and talking!!  Those are some of my favorite memories!! 

I also want to thank you for showing me how to be a wife.  You are a wonderful example of how a wife should treat her husband and the commitment you and Dad have will always mean so much to me.  I know that whatever Josh and I go through, it will be ok and we can make it through!!  You showed me that!!  Thank you!!

I love you so much, Mom!!  I have a great day!! 

Love, Erica

Linda,

Happy Mother’s Day!  I hope you have a great day today, and that David caters to even your smallest most tedious need!  I pretty much say the same thing to you every year…but I guess that’s because it is so true.  Thank you for being such a great example for Erica growing up.  I am glad that Erica and I both have such wonderful mothers, and that you both have the opportunity to influence our children.   Enjoy your day!

Love,

Josh

Mom,

I hope you have a great Mother’s day!   It is always strange when we aren’t together for a holiday. These pictures bring back a lot of fond memories.  I remember you being at every single baseball game and band concert.  Looking back I see all the sacrifices you made for Jessie and me, and that we were the most important thing to you.  You were always so selfless and willing to do anything for us.  I don’t think either of your kids turned out half bad, and I think it is obvious that you are largely to thank.  I am so blessed to have a mother who cares for me and has always helped me out.  Erica and I owe a great deal of our success to you.  THANK YOU!

You are a great mother and Jessie, Erica and I have learned a great deal from you.  Thank you for loving me even when I’m far from loveable (although I was a pretty cute kid!), and thanks for being such an outstanding mom!

I love you very much (even though I’m bad at showing it).  And I wish you a terrific Mothers’ Day!

Love,

Josh

Jody,

Happy Mother’s Day!!!  I hope you have an awesome day and feel the love that we feel for you, even though we can’t spend the day together.   Thank you so much for everything you and always being there for us!!  I know that I could call you and you would be on the next plane out here if I needed you.  That gives me so much peace!! 

I also want to thank you for allowing me to continue with school by watching Garrett.  You were there when we needed you and I’m not sure I could have gotten my degree if it weren’t for you!! 

Thank you for raising Josh in the way you did.  He’s an amazing husband and man because of you!!! 

We all love you so much!!!  Have a wonderful day!!!!

Love,
Erica

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Not Much Going On

So there isn't much going on.  Josh going to school Monday-Friday, sometimes having to go in on Saturday. I'm still working 1-2 nights a week, Garrett is in Preschool on Tuesday and Thursday.  I'm going to exercise group Monday, Wednesday, Friday.  We have church on Sundays, Life Group on Wednesday.  That's basically our life......week and week!!  It's nice to have lots to do, but it doesn't really feel like we're doing anything special lately.  

Josh and I got a little "surprise" lunch date the other day.  Josh went in to school early and forgot that he didn't have class until 1pm that day, so he called and asked if we wanted to meet him for lunch around 11am.  We had a play date scheduled with my friend, Kelly at 9:30am, so we went ahead and went over there for a little awhile. When she heard that we were meeting Josh for lunch she graciously offered to watch the kids to give Josh and I some alone time....MUCH NEEDED!!  Even if it were only for lunch!!  THANK YOU KELLY!!!

We I got back to pick up the kids this is what I found on her wall.....

Thankfully they come off the wall!!

It has also been warming up so the kids have been having more play time outside.  The other day Haylee and Garrett was playing in the backyard while I was trying to get dinner ready.  All of a sudden I heard Haylee screaming and Garrett screaming "THERE'S AN EMERGENCY!  THERE'S AN EMERGENCY!!"  When I got outside Haylee had fallen on the concrete stairs and skinned her knees pretty bad.  Both of them were bleeding and Haylee was crying pretty good.  After she stopped crying I set her on the counter and as soon as Garrett saw her knees he took off.  I thought he was running away from the blood (because he HATES blood...a couple of times I've thought he was going to throw up after the sight of blood!!)....but he comes running back in with one of his Spider-man band-aids!!  He said "Haylee I know what will make it all better!!" 

....and of course it made it all better!!

Haylee's hair as been really going out!!  It seems like everyday it gets longer and longer!!

I know it's not a really good picture of her but you can see her hair pretty good!!

Part 1: The Help Meet

"And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him....And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam....and he took one of his ribs....And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a women, and brought her unto the man" (Genesis 2:18, 21-22).

So if you have been married for any amount of time, you've probably noticed that your man isn't PERFECT....every single man is a "bone fide sinner".  And your men have probably noticed by now that you are a "selfish fallen creature" as well.  Marriage is hard and it takes a lot of work to create a heavenly marriage. 

In the above verses, it states that God created women to be an help meet.  It laters says in Proverbs 18:22 that the men who find a wife find a GOOD THING and obtain FAVOR of the Lord.  Do you realize what that is saying ladies???  If you are a wife you were CREATED to do something, to fill a need, you have a purpose and you ARE A GOOD THING!!  "You are, by nature, equipped in every way to be your man's helper....You were created to make him complete, not to seek personal fulfillment parallel to him.  A women trying to function liek a man is as ridiculous as a man trying to like a women.  A unisex society is a senseless society-a society dangerously out of order."

About four thousand years after Eve was created for Adam,  Paul writes to the Corinthians "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman for the man" 1 Corinthians 11:8-9....and guess what?  2000 years after Paul's letter to the church in Corinth.....GOD HAS NOT CHANGED!!

Sometimes I don't feel like my husband "deserves" my help or my all.  He's not fulfilling my needs, so I decide not to fulfill his, but God does not say ANYTHING about what he deserves.  "Your excellence as a help meet to him may very well be God's plan for improving his leadership role in the family."
Debi goes on to tell a story about their office.  She states that her employees know a lot more about the computers, finances, and even spelling, but when she ask anyone of them to do something they do it because she is the "leader" in the office.  She states, "My place of authority does not mean I am better, it only means they are there to help me do my job--BETTER!!"
It is our jobs to learn how we can help our husbands in every way possible!!  "A virtuous women is a crown to her husband."  Proverbs 12:4


"A wise women doesn't take anything for granted.  She is thankful to be loved and seeks to make herself more lovely."

Time to Consider

This is a study page that she provides at the end of every chapter

* Make a new habit.  Think fo a way you can be a helper to your husband and start today!

* Locate the following words or traits, in the Bible, as they relate to a women of God.  Write the verses  down ans ask God to work each of these attributes into your character.

                      1.) Virute

                      2.) Graciousness

                      3.) Wisdom

                      4.) Prudence

                      5.) Goodness

*A good help meet will have a passion to be of service.  Her first calling is to be to the service of her husband, then her children, and when time affords, her passion of service will spill over to serving others.

Created to Be His Help Meet

I got this book several months ago, Created to be his Help Meet by Debi Pearl.  I read this when I first got it and feel like I need to read it again.  I decided this time I would blog about it!!  For one because I feel like I will learn more if I'm writing about it and two I'd LOVE to share it with you!!  It is GREAT information for wives that "reveals God's plan for obtaining a heavenly marriage."
Debi ask that before you read this book, make a list of TEN things you would like changed in your marriage.

A little about the author (from the back of the book):
"Michael and Debi Pearl have been married since 1971 and  have 5 happily married adult children and a growing number of grandchildren.  They are the authors of To Train Up A Child, which has sold over 630,000 copies in English and Spanish and has been translated in many other languages.  Between them they have authored over 20 publications creating sales of over a million books.  They are the founders of NO GREATER JOY MINISTRIES and publishers of a FREE bi-monthly magazine.
To subscribe go to http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/

Cake Party

I told you a week or so ago that I offer to help my friend, Amy with her daughter's 6th birthday cake, but instead of JUST having me come over and help she threw a PARTY where 25 women came an learned how to decorate with fondant and see how EAST decorating a cake can be!!  

I was showing them how to roll out the fondant, lay it over the cake and then just start cutting out pieces and putting it on!!  SO EASY!!

Having fun and making a MESS!!!

Look how AWESOME everyone's cakes turned out!!!  Simply AMAZING guys!!!

Busy, Busy Mondays

Our lives are ALWAYS busy, but Monday's are "Busy, Busy Monday's" in Garrett's words.  We get up in the morning and eat breakfast and then are at "Momba" (they don't have a license to use the word Zumba)  by 8:30am.  We are usually living the 9:40 (or 10am like today).  Garrett then has an hour long music class from 11am-12pm.  We are home by 12:30pm, where we eat lunch and take naps.  Then Garrett has t-ball practice from 6:15pm-7:15pm!!  Like I said.....BUSY, BUSY, MONDAY'S!!

Here is the group of mom's and their kids (there were more running around) that meet Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's.  The women in the middle with the pink shirt holding the sign is Memory.  She is our AWESOME Zumba instructor but we recently found out that you have to a license to "teach" Zumba but a license is really expensive, so all the mom's got together and pitched in to get her the money to get her license.  She was very surprised!!  It was total GREATNESS!!!

Here is where Amy (has become a GREAT friend) is presenting Memory with our "card" and a check.  She had no idea we were planning this!!

Well Easter is over, but I still have pictures I haven't posted!!  We did several Easter Egg Hunts with the kids and here is a collection of them!!

It's been hard for me to not have family around and it really hits me during holidays....like Easter.  I enjoy getting together with family and having a meal.  Being here without family around and hearing everyone's family plans makes it sort of sad.  We were very blessed this Easter though and had several friends over!!  Aric, Kristin and their son Noah (our good friends I talk about all the time), Aric's parents, David and Gail (Gail is Garrett's preschool teacher and David is Garrett's Sunday School teacher) and their daughter, Lindley, and Gail's sister, Wendy (who is also Garrett's Sunday School teacher) came and enjoyed our Easter meal with us.  It was wonderful having a full house....it only confirmed me wanting a big family though!!

Garrett, Haylee, and Noah showing each other love after their Easter Egg Hunt!!

Noah....what a handsome boy

  Happy Easter and Happy Busy, Busy, Monday to everyone!!

Happy Easter