Isaac is THREE!!

Isaac turned three on Monday! I can hardly believe its been three years! He's getting to be such a big boy and already showing evidences of God's grace in his life! I love it when he gives Samy his toy or tells me not to forget to give Samy a fruit snack too. There have even been occasions he has let Samy use his Blankie while hers gets washed! I love hearing from his sitters and teachers that he is a joy to have and that he obeyed! I love when I say, "Isaac, Mommy was having a bad attitude and was angry." And he says, "I forgive you, Mommy!" He is such a joy to me and so much fun to get to enjoy everyday!!
We had a big family day on Saturday, partly in celebration of his birthday and partly because he filled up his sheet again for using the potty. We went to the beach, came home for naps, went out to dinner, then walked around the River Walk. The beach was a blast, the kids enjoy it so much! We had dinner at Don Pablos, and dinner out with the kids is always an adventure :o) I had two free kids meal coupons, so the kids each got their own meals. But the only thing Samy was interested in eating was the sour cream and ketchup! She dug right into the sour cream with her fingers and used her french fry to get the ketchup (she wouldn't even eat the fry!). It was rather humorous.
Isaac got to choose his b-day dinner of chicken (and ketchup!), french fries, and tomatoes. But after seeing his cake earlier in the day, he wasn't so excited about his dinner and just wanted cake :o) So, here are some pictures of the beach, dinner, birthday and some other stuff. Enjoy!

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Got your nose!

A few mornings ago Isaac came running in to me and asked, "Mommy, where's Daddy?" I told him he was at work. Isaac said with a slight worry in his voice, "Daddy's got my nose! Daddy took my nose to work!" So, we called Keith and he reassured Isaac that his nose was safe in his pocket and he would bring it home with him. Keith had taken Isaac's nose before bed the night before and he remembered. Isaac was very relieved when Keith got home and gave him back his nose :o)

YET I will rejoice!

Many of you probably know what a disappointing season the last few years have been for Keith and I. So many opportunities it appeared the Lord was opening instead closed; deals at work that looked like they were going to go through fell through instead; many hopes and dreams we have held in our hearts still remain there and not realized. I was struggling Monday morning when I dragged myself out of bed after a dream about another opportunity being lost. I sat and prayed before I opened my bible that God would encourage my heart with His truth and give me a right perspective. I opened to Habakkuk (we're going through the minor prophets in School of the Word at church) and began to read. In this book Habakkuk complains to the Lord, "Why aren't you doing anything about this situation?" (exactly where I was Monday morning) God essentially tells him, "Wait, consider who I am, and keep silent." (I think that answer is still applicable today!) The introduction my bible gives this book sums it up well: "God is not accountable to any person and is in no way obligated to comply with human ideas of how He should handle situations. He is completely wise and sovereign in all His dealings with men." I don't why I'm still astonished when God answers my prayers so directly, but I was :o) I hope as this season continues my heart will be more like the prophet Habakkuk who says, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
I am grateful for this season of much smaller trials than Habakkuk dealt with. God has done much in our hearts and lives and apparently He's not finished just yet :o) May we all end our list of things not being the way we think they should be with "YET I will rejoice in God my Savior!"

Potty training has its priveledges

A few weeks ago I took the kids to the beach with several other ladies from our church. Isaac has the time of his life and as soon as we were home he continually asked when we were going back. So I thought this might just be the bribe that would work for potty training. The adorable picture above is from just over a year ago (he's grown so much!) and Isaac is actually going potty, he just wouldn't do it without his diaper :o) Well, we have made some progress since the beach bribe began. We told Isaac if he filled his chart with smiley faces then we would go to the beach. So last Tuesday we set out for our celebratory trip! Though he's not even close to being a voluntary participant in using the potty, he's getting better! Here are some pictures from our day at the beach (and one of the kids and Grammy & Papaw watching the train go by across the street from our house).

The Big 3-0

For my 30th birthday Keith threw me a party with good friends and lots of fun! We played classic games like an egg toss, water balloon catch, and dart throwing. And also a couple "Survivor" style games. The games ended with an all out water fight with leftover balloons and water buckets. It was so much fun! It was so special to share my birthday festivities with my close friends and even more special to have my mom and dad here! Its been quite a few years since I got to spend my birthday with my parents, and I'm not sure I've ever seen them catch water balloons in a bucket on their heads :o) Thank you Mom and Dad for driving down and for being such a constant, faithful, dear part of my life! You mean so much to me!

Born on the Fourth of July

Of all the days to have a birthday, I think the Fourth of July is the best! I turned 30 this year, which is so hard to believe, and my mom and dad made the trek from Tennessee to be with us. I got to start the day with cards and presents--I LOVE opening presents! We had fun playing outside, ate steak for dinner (which usually only happens when we're with my parents!), and then went to see some fireworks. The kids got to try cotton candy for the first time while we awaited the big show--Samy spit out the first bite and then decided she wanted more. It was such a fun day with my family!
While this was my 30th birthday in this world, this summer also marks my 10th birthday as a Christian! Certainly when I look back at my 30 years of life (what I can remember anyway) I see God's grace in so many ways, but when I see God's handiwork over the last 10 years I am even more amazed. When I think of my teen years and those early college days, it seem like another lifetime, and truly it was as now I am a new creation in Christ!! Praise and glory be to my precious Savior for how He has and is changing me to be more like Him everyday!

Play Day

Monday my friend Meghann and I got to spend some great time fellowshiping without our dear little ones to distract us :o) Instead the little girls and Isaac all got to hang with JJ. The pictures are so cute I just had to tell you to visit Meghann's blog and see them! Just scroll down a little to "Play Day".
http://www.meghannroberts.blogspot.com/

The priveledge of serving

A little girl Isaac's age from our home group was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in April. Little Sarah has been having chemo and radiation since then and in and out of the hospital a few times. I have had the absolute priveledge of serving this family by organizing meals and laundry during their stays at the hospital. I've gotten to see first hand the MANY, MANY people serving this family with such joy--giving up their time, resources, money, and energy. Moms with lots of young children taking the time to make meals and add a few more loads of laundry to their day. Men spending their Saturday morning mowing their lawn so Greg doesn't have to do it. I got a call yesterday from someone wanting to give them tickets to Universal Studios so Greg or Alisha could just have a special day with their older son. I've been handed money on more than one occassion and asked to pass it along and not tell them who it is from. Alisha will tell me how they find out about another added expense only to receive a check in the mail the next day to cover the cost. Oh, it is just amazing to see our gracious God work through His Body!! And I can't believe I get to be part of it! I was just reading in James yesterday:
James 2:14-17 "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
What faith I have seen these last few months in our church! Not just those who are good friends with this family, but people they don't even know. People walking out their faith, caring for those in need because in our greatest need God cared for us by providing a Savior! You all inspire me--thank you for serving this family and more importantly for serving our God!