Christmas Parties

Aren't they just too cute-I love their Christmas outfits
What would a party be without singing!






Flying Monkeys were a hit for the boys!!!!!!!!!

Aunt Kathy gave Katherine her favorite-ISPY
I loved capturing this Mother Daughter Hug

We had a wonderful time last night at Aunt Carol and Uncle Rudy's clubhouse. Hugs, Laughs and of course dessert-YUM

New Babies are my favorite!!

I LOVE babies!!! Our friends had their baby girl at 3Am this morning and I went tonight to see the beautiful little girl. Her name is Elisha and I just had to put a pic up that I took tonight.

Christmas photos rough draft!!

My purple panty princess

My sweet girl stripped to her purple panties when she heard that her Aunt Dawn had sent her a princess outfit. She closed her eyes and with excitement, you could not pay a million dollars for, she glowed!!

Her Aunt Dawn heard the whole thing on speaker phone and humorously called her the purple panty princess. I will ask Larry if he thinks I can put those photos up.

Meditations this week

I am reading quite a few books right now and I felt it was time to quote a few that keep me occupied throughout the day.

"Mindlessly do the bells of secular celebrations jingle for Christmas. Meaninglessly do carols repeat their tinny joys in the malls of America. No richer than soda pop is every sentimentalized Christmas special on TV. Fearless is the world at play with godly things, because Godless is at its heart."
Walter Wangerin Jr.-Preparing For Jesus-Meditations on the Coming of Christ, Advent, Christmas and the Kingdom


"If I teach my son to keep his eye on the ball but fail to teach him to keep his eyes on Christ, I have failed as a father. We must refuse to allow trivial, temporal pursuits to interfere with the main thing. Making the team is a tremendous achievement; however, it must be put in it's proper perspective. No sports endeavor will ever be as important as becoming man or women of God."
Voddie T. Baucham Jr.- Family Driven Faith-Doing what it takes to raise sons and Daughters who walk with God

"You may have left much to follow Christ, dear reader; you may have believed on him, and worked for him, and loved Him, and yet you may not be like Him. Allegiance you know, and confidence you know, but not yet union. There are two wills, two interests, two lives. You have not yet lost your own life that you may live only in His. Unless we are Christ like in our thoughts and ways, we are not one with Him, no matter how we feel. Once it was I and not Christ; then it was I and Christ; perhaps now it is even Christ and I. But has it come yet to be Christ only and not I at all??"
Hannah Whitall Smith- The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life

The Pink Pig

I have our tickets is it time yet???
It was great to have Nana with us all day


Evan would have been just fine watching, NOT riding.

Every year at Macy's there is a ride to benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. This is our first year taking the kids to see the Pink pig. It is a simple ride where you see life size Christmas cards. VERY simple but Katherine was really excited.

My 100th post

Kids in the toy box- I found them reading books together in the toy box and had to take a pic. I have ulterior motives though- one day I want to have proof that they love each other very much and used to have a great time together.

Before the Sun

Waking up before the sun has been one of the most freeing things that I NEVER thought would happen. After years of fighting the early wake up call gave in and told the Lord that if waking up early was going to help me be less stressed, more focused and ready to deal with my kids for the rest of the day then would He please wake me up because all of my efforts were not working. I am so pleased to say that every morning this week He has opened my eyes at 5:50am. One of those mornings I went back to sleep and I definitely saw how irritable I was by about 7am when my kids were up and ready for their drinks and b'fast.

I have been coming downstairs making hot tea, cozying up in my fleece blanket and meditating on the Word of God. I write in my journal, have soft music playing(sometimes) and blow my nose about a thousand times. Have I mentioned I have been sick for three weeks-sigh! By about 7am I put on my workout clothes and for 30minutes I get my body in shape with Denise Austin. The way I feel when I get done and my children start to stir is more then worth the time I could have been asleep. I hope this is not a short lived freedom. My mom has been doing this for years and I believe it is one of the main reasons our family has made it this far. My parents will celebrate their 30th anniversary this year and mom will turn 50! They still love one another and us five kids so much. Her steadiness throughout the years in her faith and marriage is attributed to the time she was quiet and prayerful in the morning.

My Friend Debbie

Debbie and I at her 50th B-day Surprise
Debbie and her sweet man Dante

She calls me today and responds to me like we are the bestest friends ever and she is overjoyed to speak with me. We immediately talk about how our days have been and share stories of things that have made us laugh and cry in the last week. She is always open, honest, and dying to tell you her latest story. She is a great storyteller and I have to to say that I believe a major reason why i tell stories the way I do today is because of her. She has been at most of the major events in my life-My first roles on the stage as -Annie Oakley and Joe form Little Women-The morning I knew I was going to marry Larry(7am)-My wedding-the births of both of my children-and times when I had lost all hope that God had really created me to be this exuberant, outgoing, passionate person that He could really use to touch peoples lives.
I have laughed, cried, worshipped, prayed and given birth with you(spiritually and physically) and I want you to know I love you and I am honored to be called your friend!!


Oh! and I have to say that another part of Debbie that is wonderful to have around is the fact that she can cut hair. I can't remember the last time I went to a hairdresser. And ladies you have to admit finding a good hairdresser is up there with meeting the Lord himself-HEHEHHE

Black Friday Virgin

Well, I am no longer a Black Friday Virgin. I had my first time this past Friday and it did not disappoint. My friend Amy and I met at 4:30am at Toys R Us, after 2 hours we walked out with all of the items we wanted. We collectively saved around $200. We went to Mimi's for breakfast then made our way to the Mall. We found even more deals that thrilled my little shoppers heart. So far my Christmas shopping is almost complete we just have to put together some of our Christmas gifts. Now if I can only figure out what to give my Husband.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Katherine painted this Turkey all by herself. She watched me trace my hand and paint mine and she did the same thing. She traced her hand with the watercolors and made each part of the turkey except the legs. I drew the legs and the beak in for her. It was so much fun to see how well she did. Evan of course wanted to participate but he decided he wanted to eat the paint and the crayons.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for-especially that it is pouring rain here in GA.

Our Journey

We went to Bethany last night for our orientation meeting. It went well and was FULL of information. We will continue to look over it all and decide what is the best path to take for our family. At this time we think it would be best for us to work diligently on some of our debt before continuing our application process. We would be pulled in two different directions with extra money we had if we were actively pursuing our adoption process. Our money would want to go towards the baby but in the long run it would be best if we put it towards the debt.
We did find out some great news though that we want to discover more about and that is interim care. We would be a safe house for a baby where the birth parents have not yet decided if they will place the child up for adoption. As the decision is being made we would have the baby giving the baby an atmosphere of acceptance and love until they were placed into an adoptive families home.
We are confident that we will know what to do at the right time for our family and the other children involved. We know this because we have submitted our lives unto the Lord and HE is faithful!!

Fall colors

A new Journey

Today marked a new day for Larry and I. We got in touch with Bethany Christian Services about preparing to be Foster/Adoptive Parents. Our first training weekend will be in December and we will have a ton of info to process after that. It usually takes 2 to 6months before everything is ready for you to be placed into the pool of families that are qualified to have children in their home. We are going into this with an open heart and the more we know the more we will know which direction to take. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as our whole family(extended included) prepares for the future child that will be welcomed into our home.

At the Mountain

We went to the Mountain with Aunt Robin and Uncle Steve last Saturday. Katherine stayed the night with the cousins in the RV and she loved it. Whenever she smells a fire she now says "Ohh Momma I smell smore's". I think we got one of the best pics of Robin and Steve. They are so wonderful to all of us.

Ladies night

We had a beautiful celebration Sunday night with the ladies at my church. We had an evening celebrating Beauty and all of us got dressed up in what made us feel beautiful. I was going to wear my wedding dress but I didn't want to go over the top. We were served by the men at our church who did a great job! We had a four course meal and even a mime by two of the guys. We each received an award for the beauty we saw in one another and I didn't get home till after midnight.

I just have to give a shout out to, my man, who had the kids all day and on top of that one of them had the stomach bug. Thanks Baby, I love you!!

Ladybugs @ Nana's

Great Grandma Turner came into town last Thursday and the kids went Ladybug hunting at Nana's with her today. They loved it and found tons of them. A few of the bugs didn't make it through the adventure but they each found one that they took in to show their Nana. Good memories!

'Tis the Season

I had a great holiday experience today that I just had to share. After spending a great afternoon adn evening with my family and my grandma, visiting from Ohio, I made my way to the local Starbuck's. I pulled through the drive thru and what did I find...The Christmas menu with holiday script, beautiful pictures of christmas pastries, and last but not least the beloved Peppermint Mocha!!!!! My heart leaped with joy and a smile came across my face that made my cheeks hurt. I ordered my Tall Nonfat Peppermint Hot Chocolate and drove around not phased at all by the cost of this sweet surprise. As I pulled around yet another wonderful find, snowflakes, red Christmas travel mugs, snow covered Christmas trees and the delectable Christmas blend coffee. As the bartender greeted me I smiled and said "It's Christmas overnight" yes ma'am he replied saying that they started at 8pm last night and decorated all night. To my delight I took my drink payed my bill and said "tis the season " as I drove away. My first sip of this holiday drink did not disappoint and I had to call my mom. All you siestas out there know what I mean when I say that!!

Enjoy my sweet friends and let the true JOY of the holidays fill every place of your heart. He did come to give you life and that more abundantly and this is a great time to remind yourself of that truth even if your emotions and circumstances seem to scream at you the opposite. You are not alone and my prayer is that we see His faithfulness to us as we look at the traditions all around us that warm my heart like it did this evening. He topped my great day off with a sweet little bonus that let me know he even cares about the simple things in life that remind me of times when I was surrounded by His promises being fulfilled. Muscle memory is an amazing thing. Let yourself be reminded of the ways He has touched you in years passed and ways He came through when you were sure all was going to fall apart!!

Love you!