Playing with Pawpaw

Grandaddy

Meme

Playing at Jamie's house

Daddy's highschool friend, Travis, brought his motorcycle:) He was officially the coolest person to the kids!

The kids loved Travis:)

"Duck, Duck....Goose!"

Training Day

Stroller, kids, juice, cell phone...we were ready for the walk. No different than most days, except for the fact that it is exponentially hotter this week, the wind has blown about 30 miles an hour everyday and I am more pregnant than before:) So, I get about half way through the walk, and I am feeling the burn. I don't always walk with the kids and I don't always walk a mile! Most days I go for a nice stroll, in the evenings, by myself, and come back refreshed. But, I realized I would have no time that evening to walk, so I chose to go in the morning, pushing 70 plus pounds of kids...against the wind! I turn onto the final street, and I begin to chat with the Spirit. I was kindof griping about having to walk and was also pondering about what drives you to care for your body. Then, He softly said "It's me." "I am the still small voice that subtly urges you to care for my temple." Now, I am certainly not the picture of perfection when it comes to a completely healthy lifestyle, but I certainly would be quick to take the credit for an incredible act of will power when it comes to a healthy decision. He was so compassionate and patient as He reminded me that in ALL things He receives the glory and this is just one example of how He is the creator of ALL good decisions that we could ever make. He reminded me that the deep down desire to keep this temple in a healthy state was placed by Him and that He was proud of this very small effort. "What a kind thing to say! Thank you God." I thought.

Then....it happened.

I look up and notice and older gentleman trimming his bushes. He was sweating a great deal because, by now, it was getting pretty hot. He appeared to be crippled on his left side, but was able to stand without assistance. As I approached from across the street, he suddenly turned and said "Ma'am" with the sweetest smile I had ever seen. I said "Yes sir?" Then he said the most amazing words as he put his beautiful hand over his heart

"God bless you, ma'am....you have been trained well!"

What an incredibly odd thing to say to just anyone, but how incredibly accurate those words were to me! My God cared so much about our seemingly light conversation that He voiced it through this precious man. He wanted it made known that every good and perfect ANYTHING

(idea, gift, act) comes from Him! They were words directly from my Father to me......the Ultimate Trainer of this Temple!

Discovery

It's just kindof been one of those weeks. The ones where you are super reflective, a little hard on yourself, and certainly not feeling like the most disciplined of God's children. I'm just now 12 weeks pregnant with the 3rd Durham, and although I feel new energy approaching, it still takes alot for me to stay "on my game" throughout the day. I want to spend my much needed time with my Father, have fun with the kids, educate them for that particular day, keep my house up, cook one to two meals, spend time with my hubby when he comes home and on top of it all, constantly be ready to act when the Spirit says...oh, and sit for a second when it's available. So, needless to say, rarely does my head hit the pillow at night that I feel accomplished and satisfied.

Then it happened. I walked outside and found that my daughter had managed to find the most remote and random mud puddle in our back yard! Now this puddle was not even rain created, but "neighbor washing off fence" created. And she not only found it, she DISCOVERED it! I mean, if she could have submerged her body anymore she would have. You would have thought she had never stepped outside before in her life:) At first, I admit, I was a little irritated with the soon-to-follow clean up process, but Monty quickly snapped me out of that by laughing hysterically and asking for the camera:) As soon as she stood up for the picture, my heart said "that's what I feel like!" I just felt like I was covered with situations, self-imposed agenda's and ridiculous goals. I am amazed how easily I put myself in performance mode for the Lord, rather than belief mode in His power!

So, here I was with this great revelation, and a passionate prayer for an answer.

Then, just as quickly as my heart asked, the answer came. Monty asked Mayce to stand still while he washed her off, and this was her reaction...

Priceless. She could have just stood there, but no, she welcomed that cleansing water with open arms, knowing ALL the dirt would be gone in a matter of seconds.

And, yes, you guessed it...just as she had hers, here was MY discovery. He never made me feel overwhelmed and bogged down, I did that. He never asked me to set those limits on myself, I did that. All He asked is that I believe... believe that He sent His Spirit so that I can do all things through Him. Believe that even in a grocery store, my prayer could change a life. Believe that the circumstances He allows can only be faced in His power and not on my own. Believe that the wife my husband needs and the mother my children need can only be found in the woman submitted to Him. Just believe... by faith... arms open wide... as He washes me white as snow.

Hellllooooo Heat!

For the last two months I have been telling my children, daily, that it is still too cold to swim. SO, at the first sign of a remotely hot day, we were in the pool!! Let me rephrase that, the kids were in the pool, I was sitting in a chair eating mint chocolate chip ice cream:) Enjoy!

Wet, saggy swimsuit and sandbox = too funny!!

Happy Birthday, Bryce and Mayce!

I can't believe my babies are 3 and 4!! Here are a few pictures from their little party we had last weekend:) We have some incredible family and friends who came out to celebrate with us and made it VERY special! We love each of you! I didn't get near as many pictures as I should have, but since Durham #3 is well on the way, I was doing good to remember the cupcakes:) (HAHA!) Bless you, Bryce and Mayce....you bless your daddy and I more than you will ever know!

Mayce's precious friend, Daily, came all the way from Abilene to surprise her for her birthday! They are so sweet together:)

Payton and Bryce

Daddy time:)

The wonderful swing set my dad built:)

The Heart of Worship

"...and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven."

(2 Chron. 30:27)

Lord...you take my breath away.

Saturday Night

Saturday night, our precious friends, The Terry's, took us to the Rangers game....all you can eat, might I add!! We had so much fun! I wish I could say that the kids were totally into the game, but that would be a lie! They watched it here and there, but mainly decided that when the little red, blue and green dot raced around the field, that they would officially attend a Rangers game any day:):) We also had a little bonus during our game....THIRD DAY!! They played a pre-show, and during the game they showed up right above our stands to take pictures with a few selected fans:) Let me just take this moment to say that I have, in fact, met Third Day. Some friends and I were standing in line at Whataburger, and we turn around to see Third Day in line right behind us! We tried to play it off cool, but we failed miserably:)

So, back to the game, we tried to snap some shots, but I am not the greatest photographer! Let me just throw in a side note here and say that my husband and "all you can eat" go hand in hand! I have never seen him eat so much junk in my life! I almost threw-up just watching him:) Thank you, Joe and Melissa, for such a sweet gift! We love you guys!

Third Day

Easter

Here are a few pictures from our mini Easter egg hunt:) We just hid them in the backyard and turned them loose! Thank you Nana/Pops and Grammie/Gramps for making the eggs a financial investment instead of just a cavity investment:) They will appreciate it someday:):) Praise our Risen King and the precious gift the Spirit is to us every second of the day!

Bryce was trying to be a chicken:)

Filling up our piggy's!

Sabby

Just wanted to tell our sweet friend, Sabby, thank you for being so stinkin' incredible!!! She not only introduced me to the wonderful world of sushi, but she continues to bless me with a beautiful friendship off 13 years...and growing! Thank you, Sab, for ALL the Starbucks runs and long hours of c.d. burning:) Thanks for loving my kiddos and showing them the love of Christ! We love you!

Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let It...wait...what???

We've had a couple of crazy days...we went from 70 degrees to 32 degrees pretty stinkin' quick! We were driving home in the icy mess today, and I just mentioned to the kids that I really had to concentrate on the road because it was "slushy." Mayce quickly piped up, in great excitement I might add, and asked "is it cherry or coke?" Yes, folks, that means one too many visits to the Target Icee machine! She literally asked me if she could lick the road!! Never a dull moment.... be blessed!

Tuesday....

Today!

Well, we ran out of daylight, so this is Faceless Snowman, and his trusty sidekick, Blob Boy.