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.

Sisters + Sisters = A Day Full of Fun!

Miss Emma and Miss Bella came over today for an "all day play date." There was nail salon, and beauty parlor, and doll tea parties complete with tiny sandwiches, tiny vanilla wafer cakes, and tiny place settings. There was coloring and crafting. There was fun in the tree house, on the swings, and down the slide. And there was a little down time watching Dora with tiny sisters' heads on on older sisters' shoulders. And of course there was dress up...lots and lots of dress up.

It was a grand girly time at the Lamb house today.

Labor Day Gratitude

#425 A wonderful start to the new school year. Precious class full of beautiful children who represent beautiful families.

#426 Routine

#427 A spontaneous weekend trip with dear friends

#428 A caramel apple that cost $8!

#429 New fabric.... ahhh.

#430 The Cherry Pit... and the sweet lady who reminded me how to miter my corners on my quilt.

#431 Late night laughter

#432 Singing old Sandi Patti with Mary Elisabeth... And the gift goes on, the Father gave the Son, And the gift goes on...

#433 Returning to happy children

#434 Andy, on one knee beside me, reading a blog I love out loud.

#435 Prayer together and then sweet sleep

#436 Morning hot coffee and egg casserole in the oven

#437 Rebecca's delight in doing Les Mis

#438 Waking Caroline for a new day and finding her wrapped up in the quilt that I made for her.

#439 Psalm 143:8 and sharing it with my students.

#440 Hearing Olivia pray it in our group prayer time

#441 Teaching them to search Your Word

#442 "Key Lime" pie for dinner.... the girls delight over "my hard work" to make it for dessert, just like I did when my momma made it.

#443 Another piece with Andy after the girls are fast asleep.

#444 Early morning breezes

#445 Early morning chirping

#446 Conflict with Caroline and learning together.... Proverbs 29:23

#447 Judy's tender words about God's purposes and plans, Mary E's lovely voice and a old song triggering sweet memories

#448 Singing "How Beautiful the feet that bring the sound of good news and the love of the King" along side of the "feet" of those who I worship with...my NCC family... the Body of Christ.

#449 New faces in Morning Worship

#450 Emi walking out of service with her piggy tails and yellow ribbons holding her mommy's hand... black hand in white hand. The sweet life that God has given her in them and them in her.

#451 Caroline.... cute in her new dress for church with hot pink flower headband.

#452 Lessons learned through a 7th grade Bible Test... tears and then laughter.

#453 Lunch with Whitney... sharing deep.

#454 Unexpected party invite for Annaleigh and Caroline to play Laser Tag, their red faces, and fellowship with neighbors

#455 Steak Night

#456 2 Geese for Andy and how he swam to get them.

#457 Provision and rest for the weary

#458 Meeting Drew Rountree.. precious.

#459 Headache subsiding.

#460 Sunday afternoon nap.

#461 Hand-stitching the binding on Rebecca's quilt. Lavender and melon... so yummy.

#462 Dinner with the Collins, enjoying each others company.

#463 Watching Andy give Mia a bottle and how she relaxed into his arms.

#464 Conversation and laughter on the front porch in the dark.

#465 Spend the night playdate for Mabry and Rebecca, Chocolate Masks, Late night giggles, sweet friendship.

#466 Waking up headache free

#467 Morning rain showers

#468 Morning fellowship with You, Lord. 1 Cor. 2:6-16 Deep.

#469 One Thousand Gifts... a second time.

#470 ENCOURAGING words through an e-mail.

#471 Pajama Donut Run... and Pumpkin Donuts and Apple Cinnamon Donuts, a little taste of Fall...literally!

#472 TIME to sit here and reflect on all these "Gifts"...recording my "thankfuls"... that, in itself, is a GIFT!