Oh, Happy Day!

We had one of the best days ever as a family yesterday. Belle finished up her swimming lessons (see the photo album for those photos) and Lukey teed in the potty again! (I know...you get the good stuff on this blog, I tell ya...) Anyway, as great as both of those two things were, they paled in comparison to the shoutin' time that unfolded shortly after 5:00 pm yesterday evening.

We have been having some discussions with Belle over about the last month about some very serious topics. She has been asking questions about salvation and baptism a lot lately. And to the best that we know how, we would answer them on her little 4 1/2 year old level. She would always seem satisfied and drop the subject after a little bit. And she would always pick the strangest times to bring it up. Well, we walked in the door yesterday from swimming lessons and she plopped down on the ottoman. David and I were scurrying around trying to get things ready to give the kids a bath and start supper among other things, when the sweetest words a parent longs to hear came out of Belle's mouth..."Ok...I'm ready to realize Jesus now!"

David put Luke in his crib so we could focus on just Belle. We sat down and she said, "Let me get a chair for this conversation." She grabbed her little desk chair, pulled it to the middle of the room and sat. We talked for a little bit and she told us what she believed...that Jesus died on the cross for her sins and she is a sinner...that He has been talking into her heart lately and she wants to live forever and ever with Him in heaven. Oh, be still my heart! So right there, on June 28, 2007 at shortly after 5:00 pm...in her still wet swimming suit and dripping wet hair my little miracle from God gave her life back to Him! Thank you, Lord! She says she is now going to tell everyone about Jesus! What more could we ask for? And she was ready to tell everyone. Here she is doing just that...


"Guess what? I got saved today!"


"Can you believe it?"

Now she says, "I need to talk to the preacher. I gotta get baptized!" Glory!

Take Those Shackles Off!

My kids are hilarious! But never more than when they hear the song "Shackles" by Mary-Mary. Here is the song, first of all...



Now, believe it or not my 4-year-old can sing that entire song to the back-up track I have to like it was "Twinkle Twinkle". I can barely get all of those words out!!! Needless to say, she loves that song. She will ask for me to put it in "without the words" on our way home from school and she will rock out the car all the way home. Check her out (with her own made-up moves) as she sings with the words while Lukey dances...



My son, on the other hand, has a slightly different reaction when the song is played. Here is his reaction...

Just Praise His Name!!!!!!

"When you're up against a wall, and your mountain seems so tall. And you realize, Life's not always fair. You could run away and hide, let the old man decide, or you could change your circumstances with a prayer.

When everything falls apart, Praise His Name! When you have a broken heart, just raise your hands and say, "Lord, you're all I need. You're everything to me." And He'll take the pain away. When it seems you're all alone, Praise His Name! When you feel you can't go on, just raise your hands and say, "Greater is He that is within me." You can praise the hurt away...if You'll just praise His Name!

Oh, you can overcome by the Blood of The Lamb, and by the word of your testimony. You'll see the darkness go as your faith begins to grow. You're not alone, so how can you be lonely?

When everything falls apart, Praise His Name! When you have a broken heart, just raise your hands and say, "Lord, you're all I need. You're everything to me." And He'll take the pain away. When it seems you're all alone, Praise His Name! When you feel you can't go on, just raise your hands and say, "Greater is He that is within me." You can praise the hurt away...if You'll just praise His Name!"

--Jeff and Sherri Easter

Our Weekend

First thing is first...Saturday morning when David was getting Lukey ready for his bath, he put him on the potty, which we have done before but with no results. Understanding he might still be too young to fully understand the concept, we figured, why not go ahead and get the ball rolling right? Well, while the water was running (helpful act #1) Luke kept goofing off and laughing and he finally stood up and clapped for himself! So of course, I had to break out the camera.


I'm getting to know my potty chair!


You go boy!


What a gentleman

We realized we hadn't done any photos really since Christmas with David's brother and his family. Sooo...Saturday we grabbed a brush, the camera and the Kerrs and headed out to the Old Mill. For having a husband who detests picture time, one sleepy little boy and a princess who just wanted to run about and play (not to mention the Arkansas "frying pan" weather) I think these turned out a-ok. Here are just a few, but if you want to see them all, go to my photos link on the side and look in the "Family Time" folder. Enjoy!


The Family


I would follow you anywhere, Sister


He just wouldn't quit pestering me!

Then, for Sunday services we went to Clay, AR to spend Father's Day with my Daddy, which I can't recall the last time I was able to do that. I truly cannot put into words (I know you can't necessarily believe that, but trust me on this) what that day meant to me. I got to see my Daddy in a way I had never seen him before. I thank God so much for him and the relationship we have and the relationship David has with him as well. I also want to thank God for my father-in-law, Johnny. They sent me the sweetest birthday card and in it, as he does every year, Johnny took the time to write his own message to me that makes me cry every time. That man loves me as though I was his own. Belle and Luke also gave David some homemade Father's Day things and he loved them! I didn't take any photos of Father's Day as most of the day the kids were FILTHY from playing around in dirt at Grandma's house, but here are some photos for one of the greatest fathers I know. I love you, David, and thank you for being the father God called you to be. You are leaving that legacy...

Breaking Free

A Charge for women to pray over each other at a Living Proof Ministries conference:

Count it a joy, Dear One,
When life gets hard.
God is doing something huge!
He is also proving that
You are NOT a fake!
Be brave, Mighty Warrior.
Your God is with you!
When waves are crashing,
Stand to your feet,
Throw your head back
And feel the wind of the Spirit!
God is painting a masterpiece
With multi-colored trials.
Go forth and display
Divine special effects
To the great glory of God.
YOU CAN DO IT!

I Said "I Do"

David,

9 Years ago today, I said "I Do" and married you...the squirrely, 6-foot-tall, 22-year-old pretty faced boy whom I fondly called Tommy. I look back on that day and say to myself, "Silly kids...y'all had no idea what was in store!" But gosh, I looked into your eyes back then and only knew one thing...I DO love you and I WILL stand by the "for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and health". Who knew how those would fall into our lives. We have defiantly triumphed thru all of those...the good and the bad. While the times may have been tough we have always come thru. I get on your nerves trying to be a perfectionist and you get on mine with your laid back approach. But we were made perfect for each other...a true helpmate for each other. God is so smart! He brought us together in circumstances and ways we would have never thought of on our own. We have shared much laughter and many tears, and I'm so thankful for you.

Thank you for being the husband I need just when I need it. Thank you for being the shoulder to cry on just when I need it. Thank you for being a vessel of God's Truth just when I need it. Thank you for being the vent catcher just when I need it. Thank you for being the Daddy just when we all need it. I know I could never show you enough for tell you enough how thankful I am that I have you, but I am. I love you very much, David and although the last 9 years haven't been easy, they have been the best 9 years of my life!

Love,
Angel Girl

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." --1 John 4:7


The best day ever!


I love you!


Just threw this one in here as a Gift for David!
The force is strong with this one.

Laughter in the Window Part 2

I finally figured out how to upload video, so here is the video I referred to in the previous post. NOW throw your head back, kick your shoes off and laugh your cares away...