We've continued to have lots of summer fun! Here are some more of the highlights...
Great Grandma's Visit
This time my Mom's mom came and had a great time loving on her great grand kids! I'm so glad that they will know who their great-grandmas are!
Fun With Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins
Caleb, Sandra, and Sam came over for a cook-out one night and the cousins had tons of fun on the swingset. That first picture of Gracie Claire makes me laugh. She looks so full of thought. Probably dreaming about what dress-up outfit she was going to put on next.
Gracie has brought Dre over several times and the girls have loved getting to cuddle him and spend time with him. He is just the most precious thing!
Sam's Birthday
Our sweet little nephew Sam turned 2! That's unbelievable in itself, but Sandra and Caleb pulled off the cutest little golf party ever too! We had lots of fun celebrating Sam!
Randomness
Of course we've also had Father's Day and Summer Spectacular, but those two events deserve separate posts of their own. Here are some random photos from the past couple of weeks. We're having a great summer and can't wait to continue the fun!
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I have so much updating to do with pictures and such...but, that will have to wait for another day. I didn't want to put this off. As most of you probably know, we've been waiting for answers about what God has in store for us. Paul was laid off in February and since then has been working HARD to find a job. Some of what seemed to be the most "perfect" jobs for him came and went and we couldn't figure out why. If you know my hubby, you know he's very employable. He's educated, smart, has lots of experience in his field, and he's good to look at too! Sometimes finding out "why" is not part of the God's plan. The person we go to so much for advice (my Dad) suggested that we start thinking outside of the box. What could we be doing differently? What if I started looking for a teaching job? My first reaction was sadness. What if I did that and God answered by giving ME a job. I'm a stay-at-home Mommy. In my head, that meant I'm not suppose to go back to work until all of my girls were in school. It's what I'd always wanted and planned for. We've quickly learned that our plans are not God's plans. After we prayed about it, I decided that it wouldn't hurt anything to fill out applications and contact people that I knew when I taught. After a couple of days I felt a peace that I don't understand about the possibility of going back to work. I made phone calls, wrote e-mails, and prayed a lot. Without going into lots of detail (this post could turn into a book) I had an interview for a 4th grade position one week and an interview for a 1st grade position the next. I was just thrilled to have interviews. Throughout all of this, I still felt a peace. Being at home with my girls has been the best job that I've ever had. But, if I can't do that, there is nothing I would rather do than teach. I love teaching. This week has become the week of answers. I feel incredibly blessed. God has said "no" and closed so many doors over the past several months. This week he opened two doors for me and I was so thankful to be able to choose which one to walk through. I only say this to emphasize just how amazing and faithful God is. He said "no" to us so many times and then gave me a choice of which "yes" I wanted to take. (I hope this makes sense...if not, I'll explain in person.) Not only did he say "yes" to a job for me, but he said "yes" to Paul going back to school. He was officially notified that he's been accepted into the grad program he'd applied for. We are anxious and really excited to see where all of this leads us.
Even though God has given me a peace about not being able to stay home with my girls, I've had my days when I've struggled with it. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'll probably cry the first day that I leave them to work for the first time since any of them have been born. It'll happen. I guarantee it. :) Even so, God has been faithful. He's allowing me to go back to do something that I love and he's reminded me how being a Mommy can affect my profession. A few weeks ago at church, they played this video. The story behind it is amazing, but there was one line that Pam Cope says that made the flood gates open. She says, "I now understand that being a Mother means that we make ourselves available to other children." That's how I'm going to go into this. I'm going to look at the kids in my classroom through new eyes. When I taught before, I wasn't a Mom. I'm not saying that you can't be a wonderful teacher if you're not a Mommy, but I know that I will be a different teacher this time around. I will be a better teacher because I'm a Mommy. (Meaning better than I was...not better than anyone else. Just so no one will misinterpret. :)) I want my girls to someday know that they helped me become better. And they have. I can't even explain with words the love that explodes from my heart for them. My cup runneth over.
Molly is 7 months old! Seriously?! She is constantly making us smile and is just the best! How are we so blessed to have the three best daughters ever?! Anyway...I tried her first meat the other day (turkey in turkey broth...gag.) Turns out she felt the same way! :o)
And...I just have to include these of Molly lovin' some Daddy kisses!
BTW...keep scrolling down. I just finished lots of new stuff!
It feels like summer is here and we've been busy, busy! My Grandma came for a visit, we've been playing outside in our little pool, and we went to Paul's mom's for a fun weekend.
{Great} Grandma's Visit
It was so great to have my Grandma visit for a few days. She made it just before Gracie had Dre...literally. She got to spend lots of time with the girls, which I love. I'm so glad that they know their Great Grandmothers. This was the first time she'd met Molly...it's always such a cool thing to introduce your kids to the people you love the most. I'm so glad you got to come Grandma! I hope we get to see you again really soon!
I loved this picture so much...definitely frame worthy!
Grandma & Me and Grandma With 3 Of Her Great Granddaughters
Love This Picture...Dad with all of his Grandkids and Grandma with all of her TX Great Grandkids
Splish-Splashin'
BigPa & Gigi (my parents) got the girls a bunch of outdoor things for their birthday (which is in February.) One of the things they got them was a little snap-up pool. They have been waiting so patiently for it to get warm enough for them to finally use that pool. As those of you who live in TX know...it's warm enough. We had so much fun splashing, playing "Ariel," and singing songs while we soaked up lots of sun!
They were SO ready!
Molly was even excited! :o)
SO Fun!!
Fun Weekend
This past weekend we headed up to Paul's mom's for a visit! It was so fun to be able to just relax for two whole days! We ate, swam, and fished a ton! It was nice to be able to spend time with Jeremy, Sharon, and Parker (my BIL, SIL, and Nephew,) and Mimi and Papa (Paul's Mom & Step-Dad.) We really had a fun time!
Goin' Fishin'
It's one of his VERY fave things to do!
Sydney especially loved fishing. She came with us one evening all by herself. She hooked two fish all on her own. Paul pulled them in, of course. She caught the biggest one of the weekend!
Daddy and His Little Fishing Buddy
Sydney's and Gracie Claire's Fish...Gracie Claire had a blast fishing too!
Paul's Granny celebrated her 80th birthday last week and we were so excited to be able to go and celebrate it with her. She's a wonderful lady and we hope that she had a precious time with all of the family that was there to celebrate her!
Granny, Sydney, and Molly
Gracie Claire & Sydney with My Nephew Parker (lower left) and Cousin Carter
Singing "Happy Birthday" to Granny...Happy Birthday Granny!
And just because it's cute...here's Sydney with Papaw!
I am the wife of the best husband, the mommy of the greatest, most precious girls, the teacher of the most awesome students, and the child of the Most High King! I have been given the best life and I strive to live it for Him!
