Birthday Party Time

Some of my favorite images of twelve...

My girl is crazy for the zebra.

She has sweet friends who know her and bought her cool zebra stuff.

Zebra cake with twelve candles.

Yes, we got her a phone. She is texting right now. You can't avoid it I guess.

Sissy wanted to help her open her presents.

Her card that momma made her. I make her one every year.

Her favorite color is blue and she loves zebra stripes.
This too shall pass eventually.

Sweet memories. Precious times. Sissy slept through her entire party because it was her nap time. This was good planning on our part so that we could focus on the older girls. FUN! FUN! FUN! I love being a momma! I love this zebra strip lovin' almost teen. YIKES!

It's Her Birthday

I can't believe that it has been twelve years since darling kiddo's birth. I was thinking around 10:00 PM last night about where we were twelve years ago. Keeping Em in the womb was mighty tricky and required a couple of weeks of hospitalization and four weeks of bed rest. On July 29 late in the night, I had some complications again and went to the hospital after waking up daddy. I tease daddy because waking him up was not easy. They decided they didn't have to stop my labor any longer because Em was ready to enter the world. She was born on July 30 in the early evening and was perfect in every way. She captured my heart the moment I laid eyes on her. What a blessed gift she is to us! Oh how we love her!

I was thinking about how fast this time has gone and how I wish I could just stop it for a while and savor it. Savor the moments with her when she is still young enough to be under my roof, sitting on my lap, or sneaking away to "play" with the door closed. I know that these moments are fleeting and will be gone very soon. Somehow, knowing this doesn't make it any easier to swallow. I have to admit watching her grow up is so hard for this momma. She will always be my baby girl.

Happy 12th Birthday Em!! You are my first born. The little one who first made me a mother and caused me to fall in love with this job. I always tell you that being your mom is the greatest job I have and that is so true. I love you with all my heart dear one.

Catching Up

It seems like weeks since I posted last Tuesday about our delay. We have had a full week and are still waiting for news. Please continue to pray that God will move mountains and bring us quickly to our baby girl.


In the meantime, we have the joy of the Lord that is present in our hearts in spite of our circumstances. The rest of week looked like this......

National Pie Day was on Monday! Darling Kiddo made a chocolate cream pie (her favorite) to take to school for extra credit. Delicious extra credit!!!!

Off to Chicago to go to the.....

This was truly an adventure. So many beautiful Chinese faces all around us. We were definitely the minority. We waited two hours (heard it was a six hour wait the day before) for our chance to get to the window to apply for our visas. The woman at the window was kind though and even asked us about our Jill.

Then off to the new American Girl store. This would have been the highlight of our trip when darling kiddo was younger. These days, its just a chance to "remember when" as she is way too grown up to buy dolls now. We did buy the Chinese New Year outfit for our Ivy doll though. We also awed over the sweet matching clothes for the Asian Bitty twins. Hope those are coming to my house to play with soon!!!! So precious. Simply can't wait!


Darling Kiddo also had Civil War day at school. She dressed as a nurse and even took her lunch in a metal pail just like during civil war times. She loved it as history is her favorite subject.

Hope your week was as full as ours. Happy Sunday to you!

First Day of School

As a momma, I hate the first day of school. School takes my girl away from me a whole lot more than I like. (It also brings with it homework-which I loathe!) Anyway, the first day of school is unavoidable so I took the chance to snap shots of my baby's first day of sixth grade. Yes baby and sixth grade just don't seem to fit together. It seems like just yesterday she was born. NOW she is 5'3" and wears size 10 shoes! Always my baby though..




Here she is not-so happy to be getting up early this morning (OR MAYBE SHE IS ANNOYED THAT I AM ALREADY TAKING PICTURES--NOT SURE WHICH)!!





Dressed and Ready to go!! A new backpack and supplies is always super exciting. She picked out a teal and blue backpack. (Her favorite colors this year.)





Getting in the car to ride the ten minutes to her amazing christian school to begin another year.




What a wonderful young lady she continues to grow into. My prayer for her for this year is that God's word continues to take root in her heart and that she can grow in her understanding of Him and His will for her life. Love, love, love that child..

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Eleventh Birthday!! Here's to eleven wonderful years with the best and most darling kiddo in the world. Momma loves you so very much!! You have brought us so much joy and we are so blessed to call you daughter. I pray that God would use your life my sweet one radically and that His glory shines vibrantly through you each and every step of the way!! You are a true blessing!!

Letting Go

It is that time of year again..Darling Kiddos eleventh birthday is just around the corner. Every year we do many things to prepare for this special day. I make a card just for her with her favorite colors, cook her favorite meals, and throw a big party.

So my darling kiddos eleventh birthday is in three days and we don't have a party planned. Every year about six months before her big day, we would begin planning the party for the year. It has always been grand, huge, spectacular, and expensive. Presents piled all around her, cake, games-you name it we've had it. As God has begun to change my heart and lead me to reprioritize my life, it was clear that this huge extravaganza was unnecessary and had to go. Instead of a big party this year, we are celebrating with a few people who mean the most-no big production and nothing that has taken six months to prepare for.

Which leads me to this..Reprioritizing can be painful. It has not been a big deal for the darling kiddo, but for me-down right hard. Why does it matter so much? Why do I base whether or not I am mom of the year on how great her birthday party is? Why have I made it such a big deal? Why do I feel like I need to spend a minimum of $100 on a gift for her? (This year she asked for a movie. It took everything within me not say-you have to get more than that!!)

As Jesus continues to change who I am a little more each day, I am thankful that He hasn't given up on me, but at times, being obedient and letting go is painful. So worth it..but painful. Praying that God continues to change and mold me into who He desires me to be and that I will be obedient regardless of the cost.

The Best Day EVER!!

Today was the Best Day EVER because I spent the entire day with my darling kiddo doing something that we both love HIKING!! It is peaceful, serene, and free (can't get any better than that)! :)




She loved the waterfalls, rock formations, and beauty. She didn't love the mention of venomous snakes on the danger sign before entering the park, but she quickly got over those fears with a little encouragement. :)



How could a momma not love a day spent with her sweet girl-watching her skip rocks for thirty minutes, squishing her manicured (she's been with grandma) toes in the mud, and listening to her laugh. How I love this child.. What a huge blessing God has given me in her!!



We ended our perfect day the same way we end most perfect days-at the ice cream shop..non fat cookies and cream yogurt for me and chocolate marshmallow for her. This is our favorite ice cream shop in Utica. One we frequent after most hiking trips.



Sure seems like as she becomes a teenager..she is slipping away a little more each day..so these days are gold to a momma who can't believe her precious girl is turning eleven in a few days!! As close to perfect as it gets this side of eternity!