We love our Dutch!!

We had a big week of spending Thanksgiving at the hunting camp----and Reese's first Christmas program at church. I'll try to get pics up of all of that one day this week. In the meantime, I couldn't resist posting these 2 pics of Reese and Dutch. I just absolutely love how much my daughter adores my daddy----and vice-versa.

Gigi, you'd have been proud!

Reese had a "visitor's day" at ballet a couple of weeks ago. I enjoyed it so much. Instead of doing a recital, they basically invite the parents, grandparents, etc to come see a class. So, instead of just seeing a 2 minute dance at a recital---you get to see what your child is doing for about 30-45 minutes. So, so cute. Here are some pics.

Look at all these little cute girls!!

Some of Reese's best moves. : )

A few more cute shots:

When the girls got a little too excited, the teacher got them to lay down at their spot and take a "nap". Smart teacher---the trick really worked.

The Perfect Saturday

A few Saturdays ago, the kids and Lee and I spent all morning running errands together, then went to Miss Myra's for bbq and football. Then, we spent all afternoon in the yard with our neighbors (Chad and Grace) and our 4 (combined) kids. It was perfect. Pics and some commentary are below.

Witt and Reese rolling down the hill in our backyard. And, later, wrestling and play "fighting" to gain control of the football that they were playing with. Our kids (ours and the Laniers) play so well together. It is truly a blessing to have them next door. (And, like our child, Witt loves to be in his PJs all day long. And, like us, his parents usually let him.)

Poor John waving at Hance in an effort to have someone his size play with him. Unfortunately for John, the "big" kids are way more fun and enticing---Hance just walked on by him.



This picture is from the next day after church. John playing on our stairs down the the basement. Such a cutie. This kid totally has my heart.

Halloween

Just wanted to post some pics from our fun Halloween night. We spent the evening with our friends next door--Grace and Chad---and their 2 boys, Witt (5) and Hance (2). Our neighborhood has a parade and then everyone goes from there trick-or-treating. It was the fun, tiring, stressful, candy-filled night that we all expected.

Reese and John before we headed out on the big night. Reese was Sleeping Beauty (or "Sleeping Boodie" as she pronounced it) and John was an Alabama football player (and, no, I am not already pushing my desires for his future on him....not me...never).

As you can see, the wagon was not used for the kids----they were made to walk. Instead, the wagon was filled with John's diaper bag, sippy cups, and---most importantly---enough beer to make the night a little more bearable for the 4 parents being dragged along on this escapade.

Here is Grace leading the pack (except John) up the street to the start of the parade.

Here is Reese chasing Witt. Those 2 play so well together. The next picture is her trying to get Witt to hold her hand. He, of course, would not b/c his 5k friends were around and all of us know what kind of teasing he would get if he was caught holding a 3 year old's hand. : ) My little girl is already boy crazy.

Here are the 3 "big kids". As much as Grace and I tried, this is the only decent picture of the 3 of them that we could get.....and, we weren't even trying to get John in the mix.

Here is John trying to get in on the trick-or-treat action. I looked around later and he had walked up a driveway and found himself surrounded by older girls "oohing" over him. My little ladies man. I'm telling you, John, stick with the Alabama football player plan, my son. The ladies love it.

Seven Prayers A Day

I copied this from the Bring The Rain blog (link in my sidebar). I thought it was excellent.

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I don't really care that much about whether or not my kids are book smart.

Let me explain.

I do care, I just don't care as much as I care about other things. I don't sit around and pray that my girls will learn to read today, or that they will understand a foreign language by the time they are 6, or that they will know their times table by next week. I do spend a lot of time asking God to give them "undivided hearts (Psalm 86:11), " and praying "that they will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel when they open their mouths (Ephesians 6:19)." I pray that God will help them to be good stewards of their time, their money, their words. I pray for their character, their faith, their decisions, their husbands. I want them to be wise, Godly women who chase after the Lord.

I'm thinking that instead of getting a "My kid is on the honor roll" bumper sticker, I may create a "My kid has an undivided heart" one.

And then people will make ones that say "My kid kicked your 'undivided heart' kid's butt" stickers.

Maybe not.

But, the point is that one of the most important things I am privileged to do as a mother is to pray for my children every day.

The other day I came across a verse that God used to prompt me to write this post. If you are a mom (or have someone else you want to pray for specifically), I hope you will join me as I do this for the next 7 days. It struck me that I need reminders during the day to be praying over my girls, and I decided to choose 7 events in a day that would remind me to do so. Then, I chose verses that had to do with that time of the day (for example: as my kids are getting dressed in the morning) and then I put them on notecards.

Here are the events and verses I chose:

1. When they wake up: "Let the morning bring (child's name) word of your unfailing love, for she has put her trust in You. Show (her/him) the way (she/he) should go, for to you (he/she) lifts up her soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8)

2. When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help (him/her) bear with others and forgive whatever grievances (he/she) has against others. Help (him/her) forgive as the Lord forgave (him/her). And over all these virtues, help (him/her) put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossians 3:12-14)

3. While they are eating: "Teach (child's name) the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach (him/her) that (he/she) can do everything through him who gives (him/her) strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13)

4. When they go out of the house: "(Name of child), do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Adapted from Romans 12:2)

5. While they are taking a bath: Lord, give (name of child) clean hands and a pure heart, and let (him/her) not lift (his/her) soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let (him/her) receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God (his/her) Savior. Let (him/her) be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6)

6. When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, be will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

7. While they are sleeping: "I pray that (name of child) will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that he/she may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which he/she shines like a star in the universe as he/she holds out the word of life-in order that he/she may boast on the day of Christ that he/she did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Ephesians 2:14-16)

I feel like God has been reminding me more and more lately that I need to live my life in prayer. For my children, husband, family, friends, country, those in need, etc., etc. As a mother, it has been so pivotal for my children to hear me praying out loud over them, and I want to commit to do this every day (seven times a day!) for the next week. If you care to join me, just copy these verses onto index cards (or, if you came here from Jessica's blog, feel free to print them on pretty scrapbook paper and embellish your little heart out....:))

Let me know if you decide to join me, and please keep me posted (either by comments or emails) if God reveals anything to you/your children this week.

Have a great (and prayer-filled!) week. And may God bless you and your babies richly.

Angie

P.S. I keep trying to come up with fun acronyms for this little challenge, but they all stink. Anyone have any ideas what we could call it? Something to do with seven prayers a day? (But S.P.A.D. isn't a cute name...I know). Let me know if you think of something...

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I am going to start the above today. Even though I am not with my kids during several of the events above....I know about the time of day when they happen and commit to praying for them at those times.

Won't you join me to pray for the kids in your life?

If my people...

As I'm sure most Americans are, I have been thinking alot about our nation and our world, and the state they are in, lately. Whenever I do, I am so tempted to pray..."Lord, help all those evil people in the world to stop doing bad.....you know the real sinners. And, help those Hollywood-types to get off their liberal high horse and get some common sense like me."

Then, a couple of weeks ago, Rick and Bubba (radio talk show hosts, if there is someone reading this that doesn't know) were interviewing (I think it was) Max Lucado. Max made a very interesting point that struck me. He quoted the following verse of scripture:

2 Chronicles 7:14...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now, whenever I've heard that verse, I've prayed the very self-righteous prayer that I discussed above. But, Max pointed out something in this verse that I've never noticed before....God said, "If MY people, who are called by MY name"----not sinners, not atheists, not general non-believers---MY people. What's that God?? You're talking to me in this one? It's not even just for Christians who have backslidden?? Its for good, Southern, church-going, Bible-study doing, praying, practicing Christians like me??

I've never thought about this verse in that way----that God is promising that if His people--ie., us "active" Christians, will humble ourselves, pray and get our act together---God will take care of the "healing our land" part. Now, I fully realize that healing may take place in a way that I don't expect or would choose, and it may come at His second coming---but He does promise healing nonetheless.

So, I guess that "take care of the speck in your own eye, not the log in the other person's eye" verse is for me too. : )

Just thought I'd share what God is teaching me.