Kindergarten! SIGH!

Today was kindergarten dedication at our church.  My baby girl is heading to kindergarten tomorrow.  I can't believe it's been almost 6 years, since she blessed our lives.  Before the service, I watched her little smiling face and saw how excited she was.  She couldn't wait to go up and be prayed over....she couldn't wait to hear them say her name....she couldn't wait for it to be all about her and kindergarten.  Drew asked me if I was going to cry during the service, and I told her I was trying to think happy thoughts.  Everytime I felt the lump, I just looked at Elliot.  Her excitement helped my happy thoughts remain.  As for the rest of the weekend, well I've shed a tear or two or a million.  And as for tomorrow...well....it won't be pretty!!

 NPayne and I laying hands on her as they prayed a blessing over her!!

While E was getting ready for dedication, she asked if Pinky Pie, her most loved possession, could come with her to school for rest time.  I told her there wasn't a rest time, and she let out a heavy sigh.  She will leave Pinky Pie behind tomorrow for the first time in her little school life, but I know she will be okay.  Pinky Pie will be waiting in her booster seat and greet her when we pick her up!!

School

I can't believe it's that time again....starting school!  My children are getting ready, except maybe one, but I am NOT!  Summer went by so fast, and I so enjoyed having them home.  My oldest will be a sophomore, and my youngest will be in kindergarten.  Where does the time fly to?  I wish I knew, so I could go there and slow it down a little.  There are some things that I want time to go by fast for, but school starting is not one of them. I miss my children already, and we are already about halfway into our busy lives that exist during the school year.  I'm praying for a wonderful year for my children and for yours!

Just Married Again

NPayne and I renewed our wedding vows this past Saturday.  We've been married for 20 years....I am not sure how that happened, since I'm only 35; but.....   It was a wonderful afternoon, and we were overjoyed to share this event with our family and so many of our close and lifelong friends.  Our pastor, Cindy, led the service for us; and as you know.....I simply adore her.  She was amazing.  She spoke about marriage and how marriage can be work and how they can be fragile and how they can be forgotten, because we get so busy and wrapped up in our children, jobs, etc.  Honestly NPayne and I have never had to "work" very hard, because of the type of personalities we  he has!  ;)  But we have been in the "fragile" state a few times, and we have been in the "too busy" state some as well.  As our children have gotten older, we have become more busy; but we have also been able to carve out some alone time....as we run out and grab a burger and chat, just the two of us, for 45 minutes or so.  NPayne and I recited traditional vows, then we shared some personal words; and he cried....just like he did on our wedding day.  I was not nervous on our wedding day or on our second wedding day, but he was on both; and he cried on both.  It's a beautiful thing to see your husband shed tears while he tells you how thankful he is to have you in his life.....okay...well now I might cry!  The photo above is us lighting our family unity candle....it was one of the ways we involved our children in the ceremony.  The girls thought the entire thing was spectacular....they loved it all.  Cindy said many profound things, but my favorite thing she said went something like this....while she was leading us all in a closing prayer....she spoke about the light that each of our children shine.  I couldn't have been more overwhelmed with joy when I heard those words.....that's what I strive for as their mother....to help them learn by actions and words how important it is to have relationship with Our Savior and how important it is to be His hands and feet!  When you think about it, not only marriage can be "fragile"; but any kind of relationship has a "fragile" state....even the relationship I have with Jesus.  Unfortunately that one is the one I need the most, but the one I take for granted the most; because I know HE will always make time for me....sort of like NPayne!

BEACH!

Just to wet your whistle.....here are some pics from our little beach trip. 

I will post more soon! 

 All of the kids minus my boy....he wasn't in the picture taking mood.  

Quite honestly, he has done 110% better with pictures over the last year; 

so I didn't want to stress him out over it. 

 I got some great ones of him riding the waves that I'll share later.

My baby girl....Elliot!  

There are so many lovely images of her from this trip, 

but this one spoke to me! 

 It's like I can see straight to her soul through her eyes in this photo.

I can't stop looking at it!

BRIDALS! I LOVE YOU SO!

Ashley's Bridals.  To see more, click here!

Home Sweet Home

We're home, and I'm exhausted.  We just spent 13 hours in the car, and I have to work tomorrow; so why am I awake so early in the morning?  I wish I knew.  Post more soon!

Thoughts and Opinions

When I was trying to explain why there were so many people at Chick Fil A yesterday to my teen, I was trying to figure out the best way to explain it without taking sides or sounding like I was judging on either point but also sharing with her what I believe. I explained to her that there are some things that are very controversial, and the two that came to mind were homosexuality and abortion. People will never see eye to eye regarding those topics here on earth....they just won't. And whether I support those things or not, I have the right to express my support or non-support as long as I do it in a way that is not hurtful to others. I do not have the right to condemn or judge others ever. Support/Non-Support is very different than condemning and judging. With that being said, I have certainly been judged and have certainly placed judgements on situations and people in my life. As I've grown as a person, christian, mother, wife, friend, daughter, and in my relationship with God; I've discovered many things....REMEMBER THESE ARE MY OPINIONS!
1. I always have something to be thankful for!
2. It is not my place to judge!
3. Love is the greatest commandment, and if we all truly love our neighbors and embrace them; existence would be much more peaceful.
4. Being discerning and being judgmental are two different things.
5. I take most public things I hear with a grain of salt.
6. I can co-exist, be compassionate, embrace and have a relationship with people who dont' share my beliefs or lifestyle. It's not always the disagreement or situation which causes a ruccus, but it's usually the reaction to the disagreement or situation.
7. Not everything is God's plan, sometimes it's part of the worldly circumstances or a choice that someone has made...but God will bring good from it....if I will open my eyes and see it.
8. God is good....all the time!
If someone believes that homosexuality or abortion (I use those two just because those are two things I spoke to my teen about) are sinful things-which I'm not saying I do or do not (and will not get into that debate on FB); and are willing to condemn someone because they are gay or have had an abortion; then I should also be condemned for.....gossiping last week, or yelling at my child yesterday, or coveting my neighbor's pool, or not keeping the sabbath holy! Does that make sense? Sin is all the same in God's eyes, and as my friend Lisa said....we are sinners, we all fall short! We gossip, we eat too much, we don't honor our mother/father, we lie, we lust, we let anger or worry or temptation separate us from God; and that's just to name a few. Thank God for His mercy and grace! If we don't agree with someone's beliefs, instead of condemning them, let's love and embrace them. This is the point I was trying to get across to my teen. I have people in my life who are homosexual, who are alcoholics, who have had abortions....and it doesn't make me love them any less....whether I live the same lifestyle as they do or not, whether I share the same beliefs as they do or not, whether I believe those are sinful things or not. I also have people in my life who are not christian or have different spiritual beliefs than I do....and it doesn't make me love them any less either. And I am SOOOOOO thankful that they don't love me any less, because I am a heterosexual...non-alcoholic...christian woman who has not had an abortion...but has made my own questionable or bad choices in their eyes and mine. I will do my best to teach my children right from wrong and share my beliefs with them and why I believe the way I do, but I realize that some beliefs they will develop through their own life experiences, struggles, and relationships; and they may be different than mine. Yes I will do my best to raise my children to be accepting, loving people who know when to trust their own discernment but also recognize the difference in discernment and judging others. And I will continue to practice these things right along with them.

Romans 14:12-13
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

Yes, I think Jesus calls us to love our neighbor, but I don't limit my thoughts or the power of love and think only christians can love their neighbors. One of the general definitions of LOVE is.....Love is also a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection —"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another"

However my personal opinion AS A CHRISTIAN is that, I do believe that I have the responsibility to let people know that the love I have to share is because of the love Christ has lavished on me. If I had not felt Christ's love so fully, I probably would not be able to love others as easily. It all comes from HIM! I also believe that I have NO right to judge anyone on their choices, beliefs, lifestyle, etc.; and that should be left to Our Holy Father.
THESE ARE ALL MY OPINION! Take it for what it's worth!

My Family!