I've been trying to talk to Christopher more about God and he kind of gets it, but I think it's becoming a little more exciting to him now. I was reading in my daily Bible the other night and one of the verses in chapter I had to read was one that Brandon taught Christopher, Romans 8:31 - "If God is for us, who can be against us." I got really excited b/c I finally had a way to show him and explain to him better about what he's been learning at church and home.
My best friend of over 20 years (wow, that makes me feel old!) and her sisters started their own business and foundation for children who have lost a parent to cancer. They lost their mom to cancer when we were in high school. Mutual of Omaha is doing a campaign for Aha Moments that will become a commercial. Please go to the link below and vote for them! They made it from thousands to 75 and in 2 weeks it will be narrowed to 25 and we can vote again. The top ten will be made into commercials. Please, please, please go vote for them!!! It would be so cool to say, "hey! I helped make that commercial possible!"
Brandon told Christopher that when he came back from morning workouts they could make pigs in a blanket. When Brandon walked through the door, Christopher said, "Daddy, I want to make pigs under a tent now."
My mom found this blog a few months ago and we both have come to enjoy reading, and listening, to it. From what I can tell it is a woman who loves the Lord with all that she has and her husband and family too. She has 7 gorgeous children. Yes, seven. I know. But reading her blog has been an inspiration to me. Did I mention she's an amazing photographer too? She isn't perfect, even if though I think they look perfect... physically. Her latest post I haven't finished reading, but plan to. It's long, but show her heart and her desires for herself and her family and her marriage. I wish that I could say I have the faith and spiritual wisdom that she has, but I don't. I feel like I have really fallen away in the last several years and am trying to get back. Moving as often as we have has made it a challenge to get plugged into a church and Bible studies, but that is something I'm trying to work on b/c it's going to be my life if we stay in the military. I just wanted to be honest about it. Maybe in hopes I will keep myself accountable that way. But I also thought some of you out there would love to find this blog as well.
I think that one of my favorite posts was about her daughters and princesses. Those of you who know me know how I feel about the whole "princess" thing the world has created. I have a sister, but neither of us were treated like a "princess." Don't get me wrong, we were definitely loved, but well, she was more into being a tomboy and I just wanted to be a mommy. Growing up I never liked watching "girly" movies b/c I knew that I would just want the fantasy of it all when I got married and I didn't want something that isn't true. Now that I'm married, I appreciate a good chick flick like the rest of you. It makes me love my husband and that I don't have to go through any of that, no matter how true or false it may have been.
Later, I worried about when I had children that I would have a daughter and she would want to be covered in crazy pinks, sparkling glitter and flashy tiaras and stand on the counter demanding everything be done right now! Yes, that is my idea of a princess. I know, it's not really like that, but I can't help but think it will be b/c we have come to want everything instantaneously, so why wouldn't our children feel the same way? Until I read her post about a princess party her daughters went to. I think we felt the same way about the whole princess thing, but both of us changed our perspective after this party. (I know, I didn't go, but it still did the trick!) If you have a daughter or two, I urge you to read about it. It's the kind of princess I hope to be and to teach my own daughter to be as well.
for listening to our prayers. Even if they are about silly little things like the weather. I want to praise you for the 75 degrees we are feeling today with less than 40% humidity. You knew I needed a perfect day outside with my kids so I could keep my cool with them. I know that whatever my request is, whether it's a small as finding money for a pedicure or cooler temps outside to as large as a family crisis or a career situation, you always answer us. You may not always answer them the way that we think they should be answered, but you always know what you are doing. I just need to be reminded of that too often. So, I thank you God for answering my little prayer for a sweat-free day!

I'm smiling b/c it's been a really good weekend here. The weather wasn't miserably hot, Brandon was finally home, I got to take a 2 1/2 nap and sleep in this morning. The house is a wreck, but I don't care. It was so nice to have my family together and having fun. It's been a crazy couple of weeks for us with Brandon's schedule and having to go out of town. Yesterday we played in the backyard, filled up the pool for the kids, took Brick to swim in the bay, let the kids swim in the bay, came home for lunch, took great naps, went to the commissary, watched the kids ride their bikes, gilled kabobs for supper, watched football, went to bed. Today we made muffins for breakfast, played Wii with Christopher, got ready for church, went to Sunday School, went to a reception at the church, Brandon and Christopher went straight to bed for naps, Sophie and I played with her baby doll and the laundry basket, Sophie went down for a nap, I relaxed on the couch, the boys woke up, we called the Newells about dinner, will soon go to dinner and then to their house to play afterwards. Don't you just love days that make you truly love your life?



