Easter Sunday

I used to just love Christmas (don't get me wrong...I still do!!) but after losing my mom and having Easter fall so very close to her death, I have found a new favorite day of the year =) Today was no disappointment (not that church EVER is).. but Annie signed to the song "Arise my love" and it is always SO powerful when she does her specials. There is something so heart touching to see these signs done to a beautiful song. God gives so many different types of gifts to us and I'm just proud that Annie is obedient (and having a little one doesn't always make that convenient!) because I know so many were touched by her today! Didn't get to hear the sermon (yet...I have a CD) because I taught toddlers today since Cindi was gone for Easter to see her momma. Had a blast with the kids like I always do =) Kids that age are such a riot and so much fun. Thanks to Ashley for her help and company!
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!

Happy Birthday Carter

We had my nephews birthday party to attend tonight... Sheldon ended up staying home (back ouchie) and kept Brandon (who really needed to be in bed WAY before we would've gotten home). So.. it was me and Darian and Gavin. It's been a while since they've had mom all to themselves and especially at a pool =) We had sooo much fun. I showed them that I wasn't lying when I said I could dive (used to be a life guard at church camp during summers.. had my certification and all... WOW that was like 22 years ago... dang I'm getting OLDER..lol) so then mom decides lets pull out the big guns and show them what I used to know.. key word is USED to know... I showed them I could do a back dive. To my shock, it worked out well, but I think I was convinced that it wouldn't and got a butt load of water in my nose. MAN I HATE THAT! at least there was no choking, coughing, or puking involved... but it soooo burns!!!! So I got some mommy points tonight . . Darian and I did the diving board together, and Gavin and I played around a lot in the 3.5 foot water (he doesn't like water in his ears... or face a lot, but praise God he's at least in the water.. that took FOREVER!). I'm just so thankful that God gives us these little tiny babies and they grow so quickly . . . I am truly blessed! Maundy Thursday service was great, Friday night I had some quiet time with Daddy after all the kids went to sleep and we snuggled (he still makes my heart skip a beat even after 12 years) tonight was a great night of fun and silliness with my boys and with the rest of my family (all of us 5 kids were there!!! plus TONS of Carter's friends), and tomorrow is Easter.. my favorite day of all... after you lose someone the ressurection takes on a whole new meaning for you... without that, none of us would have eternal life... He took the keys of Hell, and broke the grip of death forever. I love that Easter is so close to when my momma died... it helps me get through that day by looking forward to Easter where we completely focus on His victory over the grave!

Too cool

I thought this way so cool I had to share it... I was so amazed at what they can do with sand =)



Hope you were in awe like I was... besides I never get tired of hearing that song
It was one of my momma's favorites!

Some fun...

Just posting some pics from lately... can't wait for it to get nice out so we can get outside and start walking to the park! The hat Gavin brought back from the lock-in for Brandon (what a sweet brother!!)
Our wonderful weather Sunday night... gone by 4 p.m. Monday
My brother and Brandon at play... he ADORES his Uncle Randy
Brandon knows Aunt Tracy is always good for a sugar fix
My younger brother Jeremy who lives with us and Tessa my beautiful niece
Me and my niece Princess Ariana
I love my family SOOO much.. 2 brothers, 2 sisters and me... wouldn't trade them for anything in this world!

Celebration of Life

So the 3rd anniversary of losing my mom was Saturday. It's the kind of anniversary that as it gets closer, you want to try and forget it instead of the fun anniversary's that you get excited about. The true blessing was Friday night at the lock in I was talking to Nancy (a sweet friend from our church) who herself is battling cancer. Nancy had no idea that the next day was a day I was dreading because of losing my mom, though she did now that I had lost my mom to cancer. As Nancy and I talked she was telling me that as a person who is looking death in the face yet fighting with all her might to over come this vicious disease she can look at me and tell what a wonderful woman my mom was by the person that I am. She told me to not look at the fact that she is gone, look at all that she gave me while she was here... look at the precious time I had with her, look at the time my boys had with her, and look at the love she put inside of me and the tenderness that she helped instill in me towards others. She said that my mom is not gone, part of her lives on everyday as I live on, and as my boys live on. The memories that we have of the love that she gave will never die.. her love will never die. I think it really took hearing these words of encouragement from a woman who is fighting the battle that my mom lost. She also told me that as a mom, the last thing she wants is for her son to be so sad that she is in HEAVEN. She doesn't want him to spend years of his life wasted in a hole of despair, she wants him to celebrate (IF SHE DIES) that she is with the Lord. Some of this may seem like common sense, but when you lose someone who seemed to be a huge part of what makes your world go round, you lose sight of a lot of things except for the fact that they are no longer here. I guess its a path you have to walk to understand. I told Nancy that the one thing I do know is that God carried me second by second.. minute by minute... hour by hour... day by day ... I learned he truly is always there and will never ever turn his back on me especially in those times of our lives when we cannot take a single step without him holding us up!

Sunday fun

So church was great today =) It was a huge blessing, lots of encouragement, and revelation. I always knew the daddy role was so important, but the way it was portrayed today made me realize even more why it is so important. I've always been excited about the verse that says "he will turn the hearts of the fathers towards their children, and the hearts of the children toward their fathers".... this has always been important to me because my Dad wasn't really "there" in any way except the physical way. Daddy's love is sooooo special and I love to see my kids get excited when their daddy gets home. I know my role as mommy is important and special, but it is such a blessing when I see my kids with their daddy.. playing, doing homework, just being together as a family. How much easier is it for them to understand their heavenly father's love if they have a daddy here on earth that shows unconditional love! I had to laugh when Darian brought up what Ken said about having a lot of wives, and the suicide rate being high in those cultures! Even Darian at 11 understood and LAUGHED at trying to keep more than one woman happy!!! The lock-in was a huge success and the kids had a blast on Friday (they were a little tired Saturday!) So I thought I'd post some pics I took from the lock-in and let everybody see how many smiling kids we had!!!! God is good =)

NO SLEEP

I don't know what's up but I just can't sleep anymore. My neck is part of it I know, but this is getting really old REALLY quick!