School Normal - 1st Day of 1st Grade

Yesterday as we were driving around as a family... getting those last minute school things... Jordan mentioned that she was ready for things to get back to normal.  Then I think she realized that things had been pretty normal for the past 3 months - so she corrected her statement and clarified by saying, "Well at least our "school normal"."  I liked this - SCHOOL NORMAL.

Today is the 1st Day of 1st Grade!  We had so much fun this morning.  Please click on Living Above Ministries to read more about our morning...





We love you all dearly and wish we could see more more often!
Penny

They really do love each other!

I came downstairs Sunday morning to find my children together!  Sharing a chair and watching a movie!  I ran as fast as I could to find my camera - I didn't care about the lighting, or the staging - I didn't want to miss documenting the fact that they really do love each other!!!

In fact, after I took the picture - they asked if they could stay there for a few minutes longer before getting ready for church!  Wow!  I almost knelt down and praised the Lord right then & there!  I pray daily that my children will get along and not fight.  That they will share their toys and develop a great relationship with one another - and on this day - they did!!!  They shared a chair, space, and time together!!!

I did thank God for answered prayers on this morning!  Don't miss these beautiful moments with your kids!

Hang Time with Daddy

I love that my husband is a Pastor!  I love that he puts God first in his life.  I love that we can share our faith together.  There are some parts of his job that indeed are difficult and are not always comfortable... but one of my favorite things about his job is that we can go up to "Daddy's Office" and John can love on his kids - even if just for a moment.

This week we have a mission trip here from Ohio.  They are literally transforming our church as well as encouraging us in our work here in New Orleans.  They are such a blessing to us right now!  Yesterday we went up there to see all that they are doing and John was able to share a precious moment with JP while they played the guitar together.

I was really a very special moment.  I know John treasures these times with the kids.  It's such a wonderful thing to see and I just had to take a moment to share it with you.

What do you think... Preacher or Music Minister - which one is in his future?

A Mommy can dream right?

Snack Time with Jordan & JP

With 2 small children at home all summer there is a tendancy to have the "snackers" all day long.  Do you know what I mean when I say, "snackers?"  This is the VERY strong tendency to want to eat things like chips, cookies, candy, etc - all the live long day!

Now, this is neither affordable or good for my kids.  Plus, if I got up every time they wanted to "have a snack", I would never get anything else done in my house.  So, at the very beginning of the summer we established 2 snack times a day - one in the morning (9:30) and one in the afternoon (2:30).

Yes, my children even know the exact time that each of these specially prepared "meals" occur and I promise you when I say, they do not let me go one minute past!  It really does us both good.  It holds me accountable to stop what I'm doing and fix them a healthy & fun snack and spend a little time with them in the process and keeps them from snacking all day and eating us out of house and home (and as a result not eat their dinner!).

This solution has worked beautifully thus far in our journey through the Summer.  It's always a nice surprise to them what the snack will be and I love making them smile!

How are you getting through the summer?  

What neat tricks have you learned that you can share with me?!  

I would love to hear them all! 

(yes, the picture above is from today's afternoon snack time.  I know the pickle seems a bit odd and out of place - but they LOVE pickles and I don't always have them around - so it was an extra special treat today!)

Lordy Lordy! Looks who's 40!!!!

Today is John's birthday!  I can't believe he's 40!  We both feel so young!  Of course our 2 children - Jordan (6) and JP (3) definitely contribute to this feeling - but it still feels strange to say, "we're in our 40's!"  (I turn 40 in just 3 small months).

We have a really fun day planned if it would just stop raining!  I will definitely post more about this momentous day when it's over - but I just wanted to start the day blogging about the love of my life!

I met John in 2000 at First Baptist Church Euless.  He was leading worship for the Single Adults (about 350 in attendance!).  Now just to give you a visual... he had hair longer than mine, a beard, and had just finished a road tour with his band... yes.. he was a rock star in my mind!  And I even did that high school girl thing and imagined him singing to me!  And I can now say, as his wife of 8 years - he still gets his guitar out and writes songs about me!  It is as good as you think it might be!!!

He is my very best friend and I love spending my life with him! 

He makes me laugh hysterically...

He holds me when I cry....

He's a great jungle gym for our kids - even when he's tired...

And he can cook a mean steak - better than any Ruth Chris's, or Smith & Wellinsky's - I guarantee!

So, today, my love... it's all about you!  

Thanks for making my life so wonderful!  

Happy Birthday!

I love you!

Summer Days in New Orleans...

I love it when you you can have one of those snapshot-kind-of-days!!!  You know... the day where you're getting stuff done and the kids are being great and everything seems to fall right into place?!

In reality, I probably have those more often than I recognize or take the time to celebrate.  My husband has inspired me lately (in his recent sermon series) to celebrate the ones I love more.  So... here at the family blog I'm taking a few moments in between laundry, groceries, and managing the "he hit me's and the she hurt my feelings" to celebrate my life!

The kids have been swimming or playing in the backyard, Jordan made her bed, JP & I played catch this morning, I've gotten about 3 loads of laundry completed (from washer to closet!) and worked on some blog time and even made myself a healthy lunch!

I do love my life and praise God that He has given me these 2 beautiful children and a wonderful husband who adores me.

I would write more... but I'm already hearing, "M-O-M-M-Y!!!" from the stairs - so back to parenting I go and the To-Do List.  Thanks God for this brief moment to recognize the sweet spots in my day!

Another Wonderful Year @ Grandmother & Papa Camp!

Last week the kids were at "Grandmother & Papa Camp" - and the theme this year was "God's Top Ten!"  All week long they learned Bible verses, camp songs and created crafts all centered around The Ten Commandments!  It was nice to know that they were enjoying time with their cousins and learning great Biblical truths from their grandparents at the same time!  All the while, John & I were off in Colorado relaxing in the mountains!!!

Just to prove that they did learn something while attending Grandmother & Papa Camp I wanted to share with you a brief story about a conversation that went on in the backseat yesterday:

I had just picked the kids up from an afternoon of playing with friends.
JP:  Mommy I really wanted to take Braxton's toy home with me.

Mommy:  I know, but it belongs to Braxton.  You can play with it again the next time you go to his house.

JP:  But I wanted to take it home with me today!

Jordan:  JP!  Do you know what you're doing?!  You're so, like, COVETING!

I was thrilled to know that 1) my 6 year old knows what coveting is and 2) that she remembered what she learned last week from the Bible!

It just goes to show you that they do listen and they do remember and it makes a difference in their lives!