Princess for a Day . . . well, maybe for Life

Friday was Kara's birthday party. The first guest to arrive was (dare I say) her boyfriend. Justin showed up a little while before the party and helped Kara wake up from her nap.
Here they are looking out the window waiting for the other guests to arrive.
Everyone patiently awaits for their picnic meal of hotdogs, macaroni & cheese, and baked beans--Kara's favorites. Notice Kara is still sticking close to Justin (better not let Daddy see).
Here you can see Abby and Josiah enjoying their dinner.
After Kara finished her food she thought it would be a great idea to help Justin finish his food.
Uncle Phillip even showed up to make Kara happy
Here is Kara opening her presents
Thanking Justin for his present
And Finally the best part -- Cake and Ice Cream

YES I'm PREGNANT

Sorry for all of you who did not know this bit of information. I did not intend to make it a public announcement through comment on your blog Alicia (SORRY). I guess I thought I had already said it on the blog but I guess that is my absent mindedness (I can't believe I actually used to be an organized person). I am currently 12 weeks pregnant -- Only about three to four more weeks of morning sickness if anything like the girls.

Happy 2nd Birthday

Thank you Aunt Phyllis, Uncle Doug, Cousins Aran and Robbie for the wonderful Cowgirl Outfit. I really love the boots. Now I can be just like Daddy (only in red).


















This morning, for my birthday, Mommy took me out for coffee. Well, neither of us really had any coffee. I had a yummy strawberry drink which spilled all over my dress. Mommy gave me some chocolate covered coffee beans and a muffin (which I had to share with my sister).

We had lots of fun.











Mommy even took me out for a ride in my favorite vehicle. Afterwards she took me to the bookstore and bought me a pretty baloon with purple flowers.

What a fun morning.

Seeking a Heart of Gratitude

Here is an adorable picture of Lydia and her Opa (grandpa). This was taken the day J.A. was ordained (about a month ago).

Kara loves talking about her Oma and Opa and is always going to the refrigerator and looking at their pictures (when she's not pulling them off and carrying them all over the apartment).

Kara loves her sunglasses and her hats. She is always trying to wrestle them away from her sister and forever yelling out "MINE" We are trying to work on sharing, but she is refusing to acknowledge that she understands the meaning of share.

Here again is a wonderful picture of the most amazing man in the entire universe. He is also the best father. Kara and Lydia just adore their daddy. I am so thankful for the blessing God has given me and the privilege to be married to such a godly man. I pray I will always be content and rejoice in the blessings God gives me.

This morning in Sunday School, Pam Fox talked with the women about developing contentment in our lives. She began with a discussion of how Miriam (Numbers 12) publically complained against her own brother. She mentioned how often our relationships with other people determine our spirit of contentment (especially those relationships with family members whether they be siblings, parents, or husbands). She then showed us the spirit of contentment in David (I Samuel 24); and how when Saul was continuously trying to kill him, David refused to kill the Lord's anointed even when all of David's men were encouraging him to take the opportunity (seemingly from the Lord). Even though I have only been married for four years, I see how easy it is to complain if one only dwells on the negatives (not that J.A. has very many). I long to have a heart of contentment: willing to be content in every circumstance and situation the Lord places me in.

Heb 13:5-6
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say:

"The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"

Family Picture

Easter Egg Hunt

Kara and her friend Josiah had a wonderful time on the tire swing out at the playground after we finished taking family pictures.







After awhile, we changed the kids out of their Easter clothes, and J.A. and John hid Easter eggs in the park. I think we had ten eggs that the kids had colored themselves. We also had several other eggs filled with dinasours, frogs, candy, jelly beans, and money. When Kara went out to the park with her Easter basket, she immediately began finding the eggs.




However, it did not take her very long to discover that some
of the eggs had candy in them. She was soon opening up the eggs to try to see how much candy she could eat before mommy and daddy informed her she needed to look for more eggs.

J.A. even gave Lydia the opportunity to find an egg. However, she decided that the moment was much better spent trying to sneak as many rocks into her mouth as she could before Daddy realized what she was doing.

After all of the eggs were found we went inside and enjoyed a wonderful dinner.

Resurrection Sunday

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. Kara and Lydia looked adorable in their matching Easter dresses. Lydia's bonnet kept falling over her eyes, but it didn't seem to bother her. When we got home from church we had some family pictures taken outside and then prepared Easter dinner with our friends John and Nicki.