Cerah

We celebrated Cerah's 15th birthday today.  We went out to lunch, she invited a friend over for a sleep-over and I bought her an ice cream cake.  It's hard to believe that it has been 15 years since she was born.  It seems like we just brought her home yesterday and yet by the end of the week she will be driving! 

I love presents!

Isn't all this stuff cool? 

That's what we kept hearing

Close your eyes and make a wish

She must like it

O.k, that's why - it's transformers

We love cake

Kodi

Kodi broke his arm Tuesday night at football camp.  I told him he should have waited for a game so he could make it sound good.  Like he was tackled by a 7 foot 400 pound football player or something.  Instead, he has to admit that a 5 foot 4 13 year old pulled on his shirt and he fell down. How humiliating! 

This is him Wednesday morning.  He went to urgent care on Tuesday night and they splint it for him and told him to go to an orthopedic dr.

This is Kodi this morning after he got a real cast on it.  Look how proud they both look.  The first broken arm.  Actually, Anthony is laughing at him but we'll pretend he's not.

For Women

This was sent to me for inspiration:


I know sometimes it seems that we live almost invisible...
laundry, kids, work, wal-mart.

Does anyone notice?

Yes, sweet girl, yes.

There is One who watches you.

He sees that extra patience when you're tired.

He sees that smile you give even when you've got none left.

He sees that last dish you wash, that first-thing-in-the-morning report you finish.

You matter to Him.

You and all you do.

He numbers the hairs on your head.

He counts the cares on your heart.

He notices you.

And He loves what He sees.

You may not feel appreciated at times.

But the heart of heaven applauds you.

Well done, daughter of His, well done.

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Psalm 139:1-3

Cerah's braces

Here is Cerah this morning pre-braces.

And here is Cerah with braces (which she already hates)

She starts driving school next week so I reminded her that her first drivers license would be full of metal!

A Pumpkin Patch

This is Cerah's pumpkin on May 23rd.  She had planted it a few weeks before when it was just a seed that she had saved from Halloween.  There was no special soil, fertilizer, or plant food.  She just planted it in the middle of the yard to see what would happen.

This is the pumpkin plant today - just 7 weeks later.

As I go out with Cerah everyday and examine this pumpkin plant I am always struck with awe at the wonder of its growth.  How amazing that a little seed could flourish in conditions that were not ideal for its survival.  And yet, here it is today and it has flourished and survived.  Not only that but it has planted its roots deep and held firm against the storms that have battered other plants down.  Every day it grows larger and stronger.  It continues to spread out and take over another piece of grass.  It is announcing not only its existence but its perseverence to the world around it. 

When I see this plant I am reminded of a God who promises that just like the flowers in the meadow He will also take care of us if we just trust Him.  And I wonder how different our lives and the lives of those around us would be if we were willing to let God plant us where He wanted us even if the conditions weren't ideal.  How much would we grow and flourish?  How deep would our roots spread?  What would our lives say to other people about the awesome power of our God?  How many lives would we change that would then go out and change even more lives?

Imagine how much bigger this pumpkin would be with fertilizer, good soil and plenty of water.  Now imagine how much bigger we would be with the fertilizer of His word, the soil of His life and the water of His love.

At the farm

Hey, mom....can you see me?

This little piggy stayed home

Cross off milkmaid as a possible career

Who needs to walk when sitting feels so good

This is the closest to farm work she's ever gonna get

Him too

And him....he knows it too - look at that smile

They make this equpment look good

Do we have to get off?

A Sunday stroll

Fun with grandma

Being happy to see grandma.  It's something you never outgrow

Everybody smile

Which one's the grown up here?  You can't tell by size!

Let's all join in

Boys will be boys

It's more fun this way

No more games

Firepit patio

We finally got a patio for our firepit.  Two days were spent working on it in temps of 90+ degrees and 60% humidity.  But, it was worth it.

Here "we" are digging out the area for the bricks.

Hey, don't blame me....someone has to take the picture

All cleaned out and ready to go

O.k, got our rocks, got our sand, and working on the bricks

All finished.  See that wasn't so hard

Now we get to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Look out smores, here we come