This Girl Cracks Me Up

I was so excited to come home to a box from Amazon.  I ordered some new books....children's books, of course.  Tonight Britt and I sat down to read them and I thought it was so cute that she started to read them to me before I could get settled.  So, I grabbed my camera and thought this would be the perfect picture of the day for my Project 365.  I snapped some really sweet pictures.

Then, we got to the last book.....to this illustration.  (I love Mo Willems!)

(from We Are In a Book! by Mo Willems)

Now, it is well known in our family that Britt is obsessed with being able to raise just one eyebrow.  My sister in law can do it about as dramatically as Piggie above and we all get a kick out of watching Britt try.  When she saw this illustration tonight, she started to giggle and then it was on!  She began to twitch and contort her face, giggle and turn her head....it was hysterical.  I picked up my camera and started snapping.  I wish I had been able to video her reaction to looking at the pics on the camera right after.  She was so sure she had gotten that brow way up there.  She must have said, "That is freaky!  I thought I was doing it!  That is freaky!"  about 10 times.   We were both rolling in the floor laughing.   I love her persistence!

She keeps us laughing!

So much growing going on......

Brittney has grown and changed so much since the first day she joined our family.  She has grown in confidence, life experience, as a student, emotionally, physically.  She has learned so much.   We have been able to witness so many firsts with her.....her first trip to the beach, her first birthday party with friends, her first time to be a cheerleader, her first sleepover, her first bike, her visit from Santa and so many more.  We missed so much, but we've been blessed with so much!

The first picture I ever saw of her.  2008

Visiting our house.  Spring 2009

The day Britt joined our family. 5/29/09

One year with our family.  We celebrated by getting
her ears pierced.  5/29/10

Waking up birthday morning. 2009

Waking up birthday morning. 2010

Birthday Girl 2009

Birthday Girl 2010

  

 We love her with all of our hearts and thank God for bringing her to us and making her a part of our family.

Spring Break 2011

Spring break has been just that.... a break!!  A break from the rapid pace we keep daily.  And, boy did I need it.  The weather has been perfect and has allowed me to pretend as if summer has arrived!   It has certainly been a great preview.  We have spent lots of time outside, grilled out and played with family and friends, gone to lunch with grandparents, visited some of the local sights here in town, and the kids went to grandpas at the lake and spent two days.  While they had "lake" fun this was an ultimate break for mommy!   I got a mani and a pedi....went shopping....lounged around....read....got a few things done....and we went out with my brother and sister in law for St. Patty's.  It has been a great break and it's not over yet!!   I will enjoy the last 2 days and then I will enjoy a day back on Monday with time to prepare and then will be energized to welcome the students back to lots of learning yet to be done in the last 9 weeks!  (ok....the energized part....a girl can dream, right? :)

And, because pics are always fun.....a few from the week!

Riley barrowing the Bitty Twins' stroller.  

Nothing like driveway bball with dad and uncles.

Painted nails and mad skills on the court.                                                                  

Enjoying the beautiful weather.

Love this boy!

fun at Vulcan!

Recognizing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

At the start of the new year, I started a photo project 365.  The thought behind the project is to document the ordinary moments of everyday life....to remember the good stuff, not just the big stuff like holidays, vacations and all of the firsts.  It's the ordinary, everyday things we do that make our lives what they are...that will be the memories we speak of when we reminisce.   I pray that I will continue to seek out the ordinary, special moments in each day.....morning routines, rides in the car, afternoons playing outside, working on school projects, making dinner together.  These are the moments that make our children who they are....that mold them into the men and women they will be.  Please, God, help me to appreciate the extraordinary in the ordinary. 

Here are just a few of those moments.....

5/365

9/365

12/365

15/365

25/365

24/365

33/365

48/365

52/365

57/365

Divine Interventions

I am so fortunate to have a group of women at church who love the Lord and love to get together and study the Bible.  We are currently studying Priscilla Shirer's Jonah-Navigating a Life Interrupted.  I am really enjoying it.  It is all about dealing with all of the "interruptions" that come our way in this life.....all the times things are not going like WE think they should.   I've learned that these are not interruptions but divine interventions with God.  We are so fortunate that God wants to partner with us to get through whatever it is we are facing.  Another point made, that I have heard before, that I totally know to be true is that when we are frustrated and feel that things are not happing "naturally," it's because God has the supernatural in store for us.  It's during these struggles and interruptions that we learn to rely on God and receive the blessing of seeing Him all around us working in everything.  

I have a sweet friend who has just endured the most painful struggle I can imagine-she lost her 13 year old son tragically and unexpectedly in December.  He was a friend of my sons and we know the whole, sweet family.  They are wonderful people and I can't imagine the pain they have endured.    Last Tuesday I went to hear her speak to our community about the "interruption" they have encountered with the loss of their beloved son.  She was absolutely amazing.  She gave the most beautiful testimony and shared the supernatural encounters they have had with God through all of this.   God has worked in front of their eyes and behind the scenes through this all and she glorified Him in sharing Him with us all.  I was blessed to be in that audience and I am blessed to be her friend.  God is so good, all of the time.  He's good when we are feeling the blessings overflow around us and He is good when the valley is dark.  He is always good and always at work for the greater good.  What peace that brings!

I've recently started to do a daily devotional with Reed.  He's 14 now and I really feel God urging me not to let these valuable years pass me by....to use every day to help him grow closer to God and to learn that a heart full of love for God is all that really ever matters.  When we were talking and reading last night, we were talking a little bit about how hard it is to be a teenager and resist things that some kids are consumed with.  He opened his Bible and read me a verse that they had learned about in FCA months ago.   Dear Brothers and Sisters, when trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. James 1:2.   It meant so much to me for him to open his Bible and share this with me and how awesome is God for bringing me this word through my son.  First, He sent this word through my church friends, then my dear friend, Kristi, and now through my sweet son.  It is a lesson I will cherish.   How awesome to look at strife and trouble with joyful eyes.  There may not always be "happiness" in certain situations, but there can always be JOY when we live with the Spirit of the Lord in our hearts and the Word of God on our tongues.   Thankfully, there is no trouble greater than God.

Happy List

‎1.  A great birthday full of laughs with my family.

2.  The sweetest niece in the world.

3.  My awesome church family and great friends.

4.  Photography....learning and having fun capturing our lives on film.

5.  A husband who loves me and our family ....and always puts us first.

6.  The two most wonderful children God could have blessed me with!  Thankful for them every minute of every day!!

7.  Sweet puppies!

8.  Laughter!!  Lots and lots of laughter!

This list was obviously in no particular order....just feeling happy and feeling very thankful!!   Hoping all of you out there are feeling happy and thankful too!  

Happy New Year!!

I hope everyone had a great start to the New Year!!  2011 is going to be a great year!  Last night we rang in the new year with some of our family.....good food and drink, football on TV, hats, noise makers...all the makings of a fun time!  Today, we went to Sandy, Will and Alex's house to cheer on the Alabama Crimson Tide.  It was a great game and a great day.   Roll Tide!

I love the start of something new!  And, now that all of the fun of the holidays are behind us, it's time to start a fresh.  I was reading over my last post, the list of things I was thankful for in 2010, and noticed not one thing was a material possession.   I am going to keep that in the front of my mind this year when I think I really "need" something.   I'm starting a couple of new projects that I'm really excited about.  I'm sure I'll be writing about them soon!

Happy New Year!!