Sixteen Years

Today is the day, 16 years ago, that I said "I Do" to this man....my beloved.  Who knew then all that these years would hold?  It is a dream come true "doing life" with him.... so much more than I could've asked for or imagined!  (Eph 3:20)  On our wedding day, Pastor Park who married us said, "God sure knew what He was doing when he put you two together."   After 16 years, I can assure you, He did!  

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!

Caramel Apple Wrap

 

I made these tonight!  It is one of my favorite little tricks.  Wrap them in "Caramel Apple Wrap" put a stick in 'em and stick in the oven at 200 degrees for 5 minutes.  The key is to place them on a cute little platter when they come out of the oven... then your family will say things like, "Wow!  These look amazing!  Did you make these all by yourself?"  

Hint.  Hint.  (Publix)

Apples and French Braids and Pumpkin Spice Lattes...Naming them one by one.

#501 Fancy Sandwich Night... a new weekly tradition in our home.

#502 Early morning Sunday on the couch with Caroline curled up under quilts with coffee.

#503 Sharing International Coffee (vanilla flavored) like my momma used to share with me

#504 Everyone waking happy and content

#505 Entering the sanctuary to a kind and loving family

#506 Children in worship with pacis and sippy cups hearing God's Word because worship is for whole families

#507 Responding well to my daughter's rebuke (not fun, but a blessing)

#508 Peaceful sleep and waking at 4:45... wee morning hour prayer in the dark

#509 The peace You bring in that dark hour

#510 Your provision even when it doesn't "look" like what I imagined

#511 The way you lift the burden of the day and carry it for me

#512 Monday mornings in third grade and hearing about their weekends
#513 Olivia... always singing loud and with such exuberance!

#514 Word of Your unfailing love (Ps. 103)

#515 Sharing the girls old matching smocked dresses with Britney

#516 The privilege of resting in my role as "wife"

#517 Walking with Nan... sweet fellowship

#518 Putting my Fall bucket on my front door

#519 Dreaming up new quilt ideas
#520 Providing a new home for the Evans in Charlotte... answer to prayer:)

#521 The privilege of spending my days with eight year olds...getting to hear their thoughts and ideas...so precious.

#522 These words.... "I have made you and I will carry you and I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Is. 46:4

#523 Andy doing homework with the girls and finding JOY in it!

#524 All night rain....again.

#525 Mr. Huguet leading worship in chapel


#526 Drive-In Movie Night at the school... such a fun night of community.

#527 Having Gretchen enjoy the night with us.

#528 Saturday morning sleeping in and Timm's Mill grits for breakfast

#529 Car drive to Sky Top Apple Orchard and Andy's Thankful Game

#530 Hot apple donuts...worth every minute of the long wait in line.

#531 Hot caramel dip and apple slushies


#532 Finding the Arkansas Black when we had just about given up... Rebecca's favorite!

#533 Daddy...tossing rotten apples at the one lone Gala apple (his favorite) and all or delight in watching it drop

#534 Tradition and making memories with our family

#535 Caroline's thrill to find out the mommy actually CAN french braid her hair.

#536 An unexpected reunion with the Barbery family, an afternoon of catching up, and watching the kids pick up right where they left off
#537 A Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte on the drive home...ahhhh.

When upon life's billow you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
(From the old hymn "Count Your Blessings")

How Tall This Fall?

Today we are off to pick apples.... an annual tradition and one of my favorites. Currently, we are all still in our P.J.'s eating Timm's Mill grits and it is almost 10 o'clock. The Lamb family is never in a hurry.
Last year we had to climb to the tippy top of trees to get these teensy weensy apples. It was not a good season.


But this... is ALWAYS worth the trip up there.

I am looking forward to making another year of "apple picking" memories.... if we can just get ourselves out the door!

The Real Star of the Show

On Friday night, Rebecca sang the Star-Spangled Banner at the local football game. She did a beautiful job and her daddy and I were so proud. I tell you what, a silent stadium and your kid with a microphone is enough to make any momma's heart beat out of their chest. After posting on Facebook, many of you asked, "Did you video it?" Are you kidding? It was all I could do to stand calmly and pray through it. It wasn't so much how she did, but how she felt like she did when it was all over. After all, she is in seventh grade.

But she wasn't really the "star of the show." All night I watched her sister take little cheerleaders to the bathroom, run to the concession stand about six times for this that and the other that others needed around her, run her sisters coat to her because she noticed she was cold, happily entertain toddlers, share her chips, praise her sister, love, love, serve, serve.... up and down those stands. That is Caroline...a star content to shine behind the scenes. And that is enough to make a momma's heart swell with pride.

Remembering God's Promises in Third Grade

THIS is my precious new bunch of third graders. Aren't they quite cute? We are having a great time together! Every day is a new adventure and today was "Rainbow Day"! We've just finished studying about Good Ol' Noah and that crazy ark he built. Turns out it was pretty wise of him to build it since God did indeed do just what He said He was going to do. A hard story... but a fabulous reminder that God is always in control. I like that.


We made rainbow fruit loop necklaces.


And rainbow hats.


And rainbow fruit kabobs....

notice the "ROY G BIV" perfect rainbow order!



We painted rainbow nails (girls only!)...

And rainbow faces.


And we made the most amazing rainbow art project...




... which I will be keeping forever. Isn't it truly amazing? So proud.


And we had this fabulous rainbow cake... courtesy of the Lusk family!

I just soaked up their "ooos" and "ahhhhs" when I cut into it. They were all surprised! How fun!

And then we did this really cool science experiment with Mrs. Tonya Lusk... thank goodness for her enthusiasm for all things science. She likes messy and ooey gooey and so do the kids! (Me... not so much.)



Rainbow Day... what a fabulous way to remember God's everlasting covenant with His people.

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." Genesis 9:17

Remembering with a Grateful Heart

#473 FREEDOM

#474 Brad Colquitt

#475 Men and women who run into danger to save others

#476 That the events of 9-11 ten years ago still draw emotion today

#477 Watching my girls watch the events of 9-11 (re)unfold on the TV screen... finally at an age where it makes an impression on them.... compassion in their eyes.

#478 A morning on the porch with the music of the birds, frogs, and crickets

#479 The chill in the air

#480 Reminders from You to pray for others needs

#481 A new day to be a kind and gentle mommy

#482 Isabella's delight to read The Boxcar Children for the very first time

#483 Both girls singing different praises to Your Name in different rooms as they get ready for church

#484 Overhearing their kind words to each other in the bathroom

#485 Braiding Caroline's hair

#486 Watching Rebecca babysit the Jordan girls and how she enjoyed them & cared for them in the sweetest way

#487 Bella's comment to Rebecca... "No. You can't leave, because you have all the good ideas."

#488 A "Date Brunch" with Andy

#489 Piddling around the antique store... the time he gave me to really look and enjoy.

#490 Saturday tasks accomplished around the house

#491 Inspiration for homemade Christmas gifts

#492 Grilling out slider burgers, sweet potato fries topped with blue cheese crumbles

#493 Sitting with Andy while reads Your Word and I write my thankfuls

#494 The gift of a husband who reads Your Word

#495 Healing cheek and the story that goes with it.

#496 New adventures with swim team

#497 The privilege of rejoicing in this day... the day that YOU made...and the privilege of being GLAD in it.

#498 The gift of this day in America and this moment ten years ago when all our lives were changed.

#499 Rebecca singing the National Anthem in the shower tonight.

#500 Five hundred reasons to be thankful. Wow.