Psalm 23

The other night the girls were asking me what book of the Bible was the largest and just different questions like that so anyways we got on the subject of the book of Psalms. I said you all want to hear my favorite Psalms. So I had them close their eyes and in a slow and soft voice read Psalms 23 pausing to add some visuals. When I finished Karly said "mom I could totally see that can I draw it?". She drew a sweet picture of Psalms 23. It was precious how she used her art ability to express what she was hearing from the word of God.

My sweet girls, I pray often for you - Ps. 42:1 "As the deer pants for streams of water, that your souls will pant for God". I have learned so much about God because of you. My prayer life has increased because of you, that is for sure. Thank you girls for making me want to grow closer to him so that I can be a better mom to you. I love you both more then words. I know you will not read this until you are much older and I have it made into a book for you.
None of us know what tomorrow may hold so I want to tell you and tell you how much I love you.
Ok now I am going to go give them both some lov'n. Goodnight!!

Adoption...Adoption...

Adoption...it is all around me. Yet again this week a friend told me they are adopting, my pastor announced they are adopting again. I cried when my pastor announced it, I felt the sting of jealousy when my friend told me but yet here we are still at the talking and praying about it stage and it has been what 6 years now. It's not a matter of if but of when for me.

My quiet time yesterday talked about the idol of control always wanting to know what is next. That is so me, I so confess that I worship the idol of control. I am not saying that proudly I was very convicted of that yesterday and had to spend some time asking for forgiveness.

You can ask my parents when I was a little girl they would ask me what I wanted to do when I grew up and I would say "I want to run an orphanage". I am almost haunted by those words now and seriously think what did God lay on my heart at such a young age.

I am planning to go to China in the fall on a mission trip if Karl lets me that is (pray). I am going to visit and help out in the orphanages. I know it will be a very hard trip for my heart. I could hardly look at Leslie's pictures from her trip but I know this is something my heart wants to go through and is willing to go through.

Adoption...Adoption what a beautiful gift. My grandmother was given up for adoption during the depression. I asked her one time how that made her feel and she said "oh I was the lucky one, I would have starved to death had my parents not adopted me". My grandmother's birth mother died days after my grandmother was born of starvation. My grandmother was reunited with her siblings in her 60. Their stories were so sad. They said their memories of childhood were filled with the death of their mother, of watching a wealth family take away their baby sister and of being hungry all the time. I am so thankful for the family who adopted my grandmother and gave her a wonderful life.

Mowing is for Boys!!!

Mowing is for boys in my book. Karly is messing up my over all Big plan. My Big plan is for the girls to help me with the house work not help Karl with the yard work. Actually, I must say they worked for hours in our house this last weekend. See this is how I got them to do so many chores. I took them up to Justice's to look around and of course it was "I want this and I want that", so I said "do you have any money?" the answer "no". Well, "I guess you all need to do some chores around the house". Extra chores that is cleaning up after yourself is expected and you do not earn money for that.

Here is the list and the dollar amount for doing the chores. Of which they got to choice which ones they wanted to do.

Vacuum stairs - $3.00

Master bath (floor, toilet, sink) - $3.00

Front bath (floor, sink) - $2.00

Vacuum living room - $1.00

Vacuum master room - $1.00

Vacuum upstairs - $3.00

Dust downstairs - $2.00

Dust upstairs - $2.00

Sweep kitchen - $2.oo

Load and unload - dish washer - $2.00

Empty all trash cans - $2.00

They loved it. Karly earned $15.00 and Madie earned $10.00. It was great!

Then as promised we went to Justice's to spend.

Cheap labor and I know my future son in laws are going to love them for being good house keepers. Karly is very OCD about cleaning which works out great for me.

Three Sweet Shots of My Three Favorite Peeps

Karly getting ready to go have spring pictures taken at school.

Madie Moo strikes a pose for mom also.
Both of these pictures turned out so much better then the school pictures.

Long hair ok, dirty bike/motorcylce no way. This is our nephew's dirty bike.

"Are my roots showing?" by Tina Hutchinson

On Monday nights at my church, www.fbcsmyrna.org we are having a women's bible study. The study is being lead by Tina Hutchinson. She is not only leading it but wrote the drama and the study. She is amazing. She has such a heart for ministry.
Some how I got the honor of being "Gloria" each week. I am a salon owner and along with Jennifer Bishop who is my employee, Nancy. We try to start the evening off with a humorous little skit that ties into the message.
Last nights message was on how the world has labeled us but that is not the way God views us at all. It was great to be remind that he values us for who we are and not for the way we have been labeled.
Tina has a blog also check it out it will inspire you http://www.tina4hope.blogspot.com/ .
Last night Brenda White, who totally cracks me up, acted with us. She was so funny, I had to not look at her so that I would not crack up.
Brenda is the one with the towel on her head and the face cream, she apparently tried to color her own hair and burnt her face and hair, so Gloria is scolding her while she applies corn starch to her itching scalp and cold cream to her face.
It was to funny and messy!!!
I am not going to quit my day job for acting that is for sure but boy do I have much higher appreciation for those in theater. WOW!

Spring Break 2008

Spring Break in Hot Springs National Park, Ar.

Madie strikes a pose for mom. This picture was taken using a disposable camera. It looks like an Alison Bynum!


Emily 7, Autumn 4, Karly 10, Bethany 9 and Madie 7.



Karly and Madie all dressed up for Easter. I surprised them by sending their Easter baskets filled with goodies. Karly called and said "mom you always know what I like".








The picture to the right is at The Historical Arlington Hotel. Karl and I love to get away when we are there and stay a night at the hotel. My Mom always takes them on a hike up the mountain behind the hotel where they run into some of the natural hot springs. Hot Springs is such a cute little town.