10 Years

It has now been 10 years since I graduated high school. In some ways I can’t believe 10 years has passed already, and in other ways it seems like it has been so much longer. I loved high school; I loved being involved–varsity cheerleading, honors clubs, FCA. I’m thankful for the friends and teachers that encouraged me. I’m thankful for the memories. But most of all, I’m thankful that God gripped my heart while I was in high school–called me out beyond just going to church, being good, and helping others. He called me to start a Bible study with my cheerleaders, he called me to share my faith boldly, to help bring all of our classmates together to have a senior year full of unity, and he called me to missions where I spent two spring breaks in Argentina and the Domincan Republic. So, as I look back on my time in high school, I thank God for working in and through me far beyond what I could ever imagine—and thankful for where He has me now. Ten years ago, I don’t really know if I could have imagined myself as a stay at home mom, married for almost 6 years, and living in South Carolina–but I’m so glad God has greater plans for me than I could have for myself.  And I most definitely can’t wait to see how God works in and uses Sarah Ann and Reece during high school, and where and what God called them to be ten years later–it’s going to be an incredible journey! Even though I do wish that they could stay my little babies forever!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Just because a post isn’t complete without a picture of the kiddos—here they are watching VeggieTales at Lifeway with Buzz and Woody.

Flowers

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

1 Peter 1:23-25

Reece-isms

Anytime you ask him his name…
Mommy: What is your name?
Reece: My name is Spider-Reecey.

While sitting in his toy car in the garage…
Mommy: What are you doing Reecey?
Reece: I dive (drive) my tar (car) to wort (work).
Mommy: Where do you work?
Reece: My wort at Pizza Pannet (Planet).

When going to get him of out bed in the morning…
Mommy: Good morning, Reecey!
Reece: Where’s Sa-ah Ann?

All day long…
Reece: What you doing, Mommy? What you doing, Mommy?

When being put in his crib at night…
Mommy: Are you ready to get in your spaceship?
Reece: To infinity and beyond!

When telling Daddy night-night?
Daddy: I love you, Reecey. Goodnight!
Reece: I wuv you, son! Goodnight, son!

When talking about his friends…
Mommy: Reece, who are your friends?
Reece: My love Char-e-Man! (Charlie-man)

Saturday

After a lazy morning, we headed out to the zoo around 11am to enjoy a picnic and visit the animals. Well, when we got there it was packed! We changed our plans and decided to head downtown and play at Finlay Park. Reece really likes running all over the bridges on the playground there, and Sarah Ann likes the monkey bars! We loved finally being able to enjoy some beautiful weather after all the rain we had here this week. While we know the rain is very much needed, we have not enjoyed being inside all week! After playing on the playground, Daddy took us on an “adventure” to see all of the waterfalls at the park. I am so thankful for the time we have together on the weekends! What a wonderful Saturday afternoon!

Recitals, tonsils, and a sweet girl, oh my!

Last weekend Sarah Ann completed her first year of dance and was in her very first dance recital! She received a trophy for completing the full year of dance, and we looked absolutely adorable on the stage! She loved wearing make-up, including pink lipstick and mascara, and dancing on the big stage with all of the lights! Her costume was super sweet and their little dances were so much fun! For ballet she danced to “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and for tap she danced to “Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride” from Lilo and Stitch. She really liked wearing her tu-tu for ballet, but her favorite song was for tap routine! We are so proud of her! I just do love my little dancer!

In other news Sarah Ann has been dealing with swollen tonsils and a sore throat off an on for a couple of months now. In the last few weeks there has been no infection, but her tonsils remain swollen, which has lead to some airway obstruction while she is sleeping. We went to the ENT this past week, and Sarah Ann will be having her tonsils and adenoids removed on Monday morning. The doctor things that this will be the best course of action to help her throat, her breathing, and her sleeping. Please keep her in your prayers on Monday morning and throughout the next couple of weeks as she recovers. We are looking forward to her feeling much better very soon, and we know that God is working through in and through this!

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalm 139: 13-16

Go Gamecocks!

Last night we ventured out to Carolina Stadium to take Sarah Ann and Reece to their first Gamecock baseball game! They were so excited about wearing their Gamecock shirts. They loved playing in the stands, checking out the stadium, and watching the Gamecocks play USC Upstate…but I’m pretty sure their favorite part (and Daddy’s too) was the popcorn and Coke! We didn’t get to see the whole game because it started raining, but we had a great time and will definitely be going again next spring! Go Gamecocks!

We are also ready to cheer the Gamecocks onto another Baseball National Championship! Check out these two cuties from the past two years on the day that the Gamecocks won the World Series….

Daddy is so much fun!

Corley Street Park

Building a sandcastle

Playing in the water with their umbrellas

French Fries from McDonald’s

And icees when they arrived back in the neighborhood

Wow, spending the evening with Daddy is so much fun!

Happy Mother’s Day!

my day was filled with early wake-ups, hugs and kisses, sweet cards and gifts, yummy food that i didn’t cook, forever chasing around my little wild man, playing and cuddling, watching tangled, making a grocery list, getting hit was blaster guns, church and tcby, and watching my princess dance in her very first ballet and tap recital!

and i wouldn’t have had it any other way!

i am so thankful that God made me a mommy!

happy mother’s day!

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders.
And blessed be His glorious name forever;
And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Psalm 72:18-19

Isle of Palms

Friday morning we were so happy to be heading back to the Isle of Palms for the first time this year! For about the first 10 minutes I thought we were going to be leaving our wild man at home for the rest of the summer–he didn’t want to get his feet dirty in the sand, he didn’t want to put on his bathing suit, and my white little child who burns like his daddy didn’t want to put sunscreen on! But…after warming up to it all again, he had an absolute blast! He loved building in the sand, dancing around and singing, snacking all day, collecting shells, and running from the waves! Sarah Ann, of course, was completely excited! She only asked about 100 times on the way down if we were there yet! She loved playing in the sand, finding shells, snacking, splashing in the water and jumping in the waves! It was a bit breezy, but the sun was shining and the wind definitely didn’t stop the kids! We are looking forward to many more trips to the Isle of Palms this summer!

Humble

My kids do a really good job of keeping me humble…

Sometimes keeping me humble involves a little boy I know pitching a nice little fit when we are trying to check out at Publix or a certain little girl I know totally acting out at Chickfila because she didn’t get what she wanted… And it always comes up just when I thinking, “Man, things are going really smoothly lately! I’ve totally got this thing figured out!”

But on Wednesday afternoon as I was rushing to get out of the house to run some errands, get gas, and return books to the library, Sarah Ann and Reece reminded me that sometimes we just need to stop and dance in the rain! I loved seeing the joy on their faces as the rain dripped on their cheeks and their smiles as they chased each other around the driveway.

I’m so thankful for the lessons that my children teach me each day, especially sweet reminders of humbleness!