The Winker....

O.M.G. I got to take photos of T.H.E. cutest boys around on Saturday. The youngest, at the ripe ole' age of four, just won my heart with his unsolicited winking. **sigh**

To all the pretty girls at his preschool....WATCH OUT!!! This little guy is a heartbreaker with a capital H! :0)

More favs to come!

It occurred to me....

In a rather low-key way, it occurred to me that God really does know what He's doing.

I know. That sounds so silly, but really. He DOES.

In reflecting back over the last three years I can name many things I've asked God for over and over again. ad nauseam. Financial stability, job security, a good man, the girls to grow up happy and successful, direction on my business and on and on.

I've beat my head against the wall feeling like He wasn't there. Like He wasn't listening. Like He didn't care.

It's in the reflection of the last three years that I truly see His work. I see how when I lost a great job, HE provided. I see how when my account was below zero, HE provided. I see how when a bad relationship tore my self-esteem to shreds, HE spoke to me in love. I see how when my girls had choices to make and faced hurtful things, HE spoke to them in love. I see how when I was ready to quit trying to start a business, HE pushed me on.

He knew what He was doing.

It's frustrating more often than not to have to wait and see where God is sending me. I have a feeling you are like me.....I'll go through ANYTHING if I just know the outcome. And that's not possible....only God knows.

I've learned so much and some days struggle to fully grasp how far I've come. A sinner saved by grace. I wish everyday I could think as clearly as I am today, but I know that the fog that falls over my eyes is only temporary. I can lift that fog if I just keep reflecting while moving forward towards God's next goal for me.

I pray that you, too, can look back and see how God has worked in your life. He's there. You just gotta look.

Day 10....

I have been married for 10 days. 10 wonderful, glorious days.

We didn't go on a honeymoon (unless you call taking the girls to Adventureland because we had free tickets only good for the day after the wedding a honeymoon). We didn't live together before we were married either.

So the last 10 days have been spent packing and preparing for the big move. I know....most people would NOT consider all that "glorious", but I'm we're not most people.

My husband is the greatest man I know.

And I'm not just saying that because I'm goo goo eyed, over the moon in love with him. Which I totally am, by the way.

He's the greatest man I know because through all the craziness of packing, moving, his being in limbo for nearly a week and finally getting in, unpacking, arranging, sorting and making sure his daughter has what she needs and is comfortable, he SMILED, LAUGHED and proved to me that marrying him was the VERY best decision of my entire life.

So, Marky. THANK YOU for the past 8 1/2 months. THANK YOU for for being the man that God created you to be. THANK YOU for loving me when I'm ridiculously crazed and my brain is on overload. THANK YOU for being my husband. I pray over you every night while you sleep and THANK GOD for the gift of YOU.

Here's to the next 50 years, baby....

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Preview....

Sigh....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUG!!!

Taylor is 11....going on 30....today.

We made eggrolls and watched old home movies from when the girls were BABIES last night. I laughed and then I cried a little. I miss them being so little with funny voices and funny faces and they way they thought about things. I love who they are now, but I miss who they used to be. I know....all parents do!

I didn't get many pictures of her last night as she totally avoids me or just makes faces so I don't get anything good of her, but I did get these.

This is her reaction to the card Mark & Sarah got her. It was a dancing hamster and the card plays some funny song I've never heard but evidently is all the rage based on her and Carli's instant break dancin', bustin' a move type of reaction.

Then she got a new black scarf from her sisters. She did this with it 'cuz...ya know...she's 11. And old now.

Then this is her this morning at 6:30 a.m. Bright eyed and bushy tailed! Not. It's the fourth day of school and it's just now hitting them that this getting up early thing stinks! Shoulda listened to mom when I told them to practice getting up early last week and they wouldn't be so tired this week! :0) (oh...check out the scarf being worn properly by an 11 YEAR OLD and not an old lady!)

And so....the ignoring begins.

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY, TAYLOR!! I'm so proud of who you are and what you are becoming!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO!!

That's not me anymore....

While in the throws of a HUGE crisis last evening, I neither yelled nor hurt anyone.

That's not me anymore.

While sitting on the side of the road in a stalled car, running late for soccer practice, too far to walk home, too far to walk to town, I didn't panic (too much) or cry.

That's not me anymore.

Frustrated beyond belief that my car, which I pay too much for each month by the way, is down for the count and the odds that it will need a very large sum of cash to fix it are huge, I neither kicked its tires nor threw myself into on-coming traffic.

That's not me anymore.

Having a man in my life who not only loves me, but wanted to drop everything and "rescue" me was a unique experience. A man who, by just the sound of his voice, pulled me off the ledge of "OMG, NOW WHAT?!?" and back inside to "Everything will be ok".

THAT'S PART OF THE NEW ME.

My car broke down last night. One the side of the road. In the middle of the country. For no apparent reason other than to test my ability to stay calm and show me how far I've truly come in the last three years since Jesus became my BFF.

Anger and hissy fits are sooo last year.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." ~ James 1:2-4

AMEN and AMEN....

OH...MY...GAWD...Becki, look at those girls...they are SO big....

Title creatively brought to you by Sir-Mix-A-Lot and his infamous tune "Baby Got Back". Yeah...wait 'til you look below and you'll get what I'm talkin' about.

I'm cheap. Have I told you all that yet? I am. Can't stand to buy the school pictures the girls get taken TWICE a year. I know. TWO times the misery of horrible, posed, never gonna use except for the player cards for soccer, pictures. You know the ones. No offense to any of those people who take school photos but...yuck.

So I have taken matters into my own hands. It's about time. I know.

Yesterday was the first day of school for my kiddos. They are gettin' SO big. Makes me laugh and cry and clap my hands and giggle then cry again.

With this one, my work is almost done here, people. She is a JUNIOR. Yeah, I know. Just last week she was standing in the kitchen butt naked, but for the saggy diaper and her curly white blond hair, I swear.

And when I said..."Hey Y'ALL! Momma wants to run outside a take a few pics of her precious babies!" in my best southern accent, she failed to understand that her paint splattered soccer t-shirt, worn and tattered and lived in would need to be changed for something much more fancy lookin' for SCHOOL PICTURES. Oh well. I happen to think she's gorgeous anyway. 'Cuz she's MY baby.

Corn is so pretty. It is. Just took these while the girls dog piled each other between shots. Thought you might enjoy something farm-ish in this post too. Yep...I'm nice like that.

Oh, my sweet Taylor. My work with this one is headed into its "busy season". She started 6th grade yesterday and is officially in junior high. I seriously would NOT go back to junior high to save my life. And I really like my life but it just ain't happen.


Of all my girls she is the most camera shy. She really just freezes up as soon as I put it to my face. She gives me a goofy smile or closes her eyes...anything to get out of taking a picture. But she is gorgeous. Wish you could see her how I see her....crackin' jokes, laughin', tattlin' on her sisters, trying to be a friend to everyone....even the girls at school who have hurt her. She has learned to love them anyway while guarding her heart. Check out her all natural, God-given mole just below her lip. I so know....very movie-star-ish, don't ya think?

And then comes this kid. Too smart for her own safety, more energy than Alli and Taylor put together, athletic, musically inclined, super photogenic and loves to "pose" as soon as she sees my camera come out of the bag. Carli started 4th grade yesterday and can DO ANYTHING she tries. She is just that girl.

My little corn nuts....

Wow. I really don't have words for the next few other than it's sooooo awesome when I actually get to capture them lovin' each other. :0)

OH....MY....GAWD. Who is their mother?! So rude. Wait. I AM!!!! Hee hee!! LUCKY ME!!!

So our fearless search for the perfect school photo replacement is still in high gear. Just wanted to share round one with y'all. You know....'cuz I can.