Beach Trip 2011

Our family

My Sand Fleas

All the Kids on the Trip

Ella

Ella the Mermaid

Leah

Leah Waiting on the Waves to Get Her

Shelia and Me

The Kids Gathered Round to See the Fish Bryan Caught

Leah in the Pool

Ella Jumping Off Into the Deep End with NO Floaties!

Going to Tell the Beach Bye-Bye

These are a few pictures of our beach trip with the Easley family this year. Unfortunately, not all of their clan was able to be there for one reason or another (some of the older kids had work or basketball games). [There was an extra child because Maggie took a friend since all of her older siblings weren't there.] Anyway, it was HOT but we had a great time. We haven't been to the beach in a year (or two?) and it was sooooo great to sink our toes in the sand and listen to the waves crash on the beach.

Most of the kids were stung repeatedly by jellyfish, but it did not deter them from the ocean. Even Ella suprised me by not completely losing her cookies the first time (and there was a total of three) she was stung. The kids built sand castles and fed crackers to the sea gulls. Maggie and Peyton made sand mermaids of the little girls. Leah screamed and cried when we first got there because she was scared of the ocean but when it was time to leave she screamed and cried to stay.

Bryan, Shelia, Charles, and I were even able to to out and have a grown up date night thanks to Maggie and Peyton. I can't even begin to say how bad I needed this trip. I think we all had a great time. Only problem...it wasn't long enough. There was a house across the street from the house we stayed in and it was for sale. I asked Charles if we could buy it and he said "Suurrreeee." So, looks like we are moving to the beach!

Ok, Ok....in my dreams! Oh well, at least we had a good beach trip!

Kindergarten Graduation

The cake

The diploma



Showing off her new earrings

A very wet Ella and Eva

We (the Roughton and Raye families) had a Kindergarden Graduation Ceremony for Ella and Eva this past Sunday afternoon. I had briefly thought about it when Shelia told me how special East Memorial's ceremony was but kind of dismissed it. Then Dana suggested that we do something for Ella and Eva. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a good idea. I vividly remember my own kindergarten graduation. I remember shopping for my white dress and I even remember my part for the ceremony---singing the song after the Pledge of Allegience. So, all of that said, we decided to have them a pool party at the Raye home. Bryan, Dana's husband and Eva's daddy, has his own brick oven pizza catering business so he made us some super yummy pizza. We also had salad and fresh fruit....and cake, of course! The girls had a great time swimming (as did their siblings, Leah and JB). The water was cold and there were four consistently quivering chins but they had a great time. We presented each girl with a diploma and a gift. Ella has been wanting some new earrings so bad for so long, so that is what she got. Gee, where has the time gone? I can't believe that baby I brought home from the hospital - on what seems like yesterday - is now a kindergarten graduate. Does anybody know how to freeze them?

Gymnastics Meet

Girls at the Armory

Leah with her medal and flower

Ella with her medal and flower


Both my gymnasts

These are a few pix of my proud gymnasts! This was Ella's third mini-meet and Leah's first. She was so excited to finally get her own medal. They both did a great job. I was especially proud of Leah because she was so scared and overwhelmed by all of the noise and people that she actually started to cry right before it began, but she stuck it out and stayed with it and once she got on the balance beam she was fine.

Inductive Bible Study

I just completed a Precept Inductive Bible Study on the book of Titus. I must say this was very eye opening. I have done many Bible studies before, mostly by going to Lifeway and getting a study and doing it on my own. This study was through Precept Ministries by Kay Arthur. What it does is take Scripture and break it down word by word. My mom said it was like dissecting ~ which is actually a great way to describe it. I must say until now I feel like I have only been surface studying. I learned so much that I don't think I would have any other way. I am hooked! This can really be the only way to really dig in (well, not the only way but certainly a really good way). I feel like I will read my Bible differently from now on. If you have never done one of these studies, I would highly recommend it. We are going to start the book of Romans in the fall and it will take us 1 1/2 - 2 years to complete! That is how in depth it is. I am so excited!

Two Front Teeth....GONE!

Well, I guess it's official...my little baby is a little girl. Tonight she lost her two front teeth....yep, both on the same night. She is so proud. She is six years old and has now lost six teeth! She is so excited. And, in my opinion, she is so super cute! Just wanted to share!

Easter Reflections 2011

Ella summed it up this way: "This was the best Easter ever." And, I must say, it was good. We started off on Saturday night when I got home from work by making Resurrection Cookies. We have never done them before, but it was great. I love being able to provide hands on lessons that really help them understand Scripture. The kids loved it. They were too excited to get up Sunday morning and check out the cookies. Well, I have NO IDEA what we did wrong, but these things did not turn out right at all!! I followed the recipe perfectly, but the cookies were a flop. But, the lesson was great. Here's a picture of the cookies. They looked great from the outside, but inside what was supposed to be hollow was a gooey mess.

We recovered from the cookie disappointment and got ready for church. Here is a picture of my beautiful girls. I am too blessed! They are amazing little creatures and I am so unworthy.

Speaking of unworthy, that is just what I am when it comes to what Jesus did for me on the cross. Our church had a mini-passion play during the opening part of the service and when the person playing Jesus walked by me, hunched over, beaten and bloody, weary, and carrying his cross, he made eye contact with me. I can't imagine REALLY looking into the real Jesus' eyes on that day. But I know that one day I WILL look into those eyes. I am just so grateful for His unfathomable love, mercy, and grace. And then seeing him after he had risen, what excitement and joy. And He wasn't just alive on the third day, but today and every day. To really sit and meditate on it all is almost mind-blowing. All I know, is that I am grateful for His sacrifice and that He chose me. Wow.

Worship Like a Child

Oh, Ella. What a sweet heart and love she has for Jesus. She is always talking about Him, and it is obvious she has a genuine, child-like love for her Savior (as should we all). I'm telling you, sometimes she inspires and challenges me. Well, yesterday evening, she was "painting" on the computer (something she taught herself to do) and she created this picture.

I asked her exactly what this was, and this was her explanation.....the person is Jesus; the star is the bright star the shephards followed to find Him when He was born; the house is the stable where he was born; the cross is, of course, to represent the fact that He died on a cross; the green up and down arrows represent the fact that Jesus came down from Heaven and then was resurrected after His death; the clouds represent how He will come back. WOW! From a 6 year old.

As I was doing my quiet time this morning, I read in Malachi. I read in 2:15 where it says "He seeks godly offspring." My commentary says "God seeks godly children even as He seeks for true worshipers." Then it was talking about when God talks about His pleasure...how in 1:10 He says "I have no pleasure in you." Of course, here God was speaking to the people about their apathetic "worship" of Him. So, my commentary said "pleasure: The word describes the desire of God to smile, even to laugh with joy at true worship from a godly people." All I can say is, I think God got a chuckle out of Ella's picture. It must please His heart to see one just love Him for who He is...not what He has done, necessarily, but just because of who He is. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." He so delights in our children!

Well, the challenge I took away from this morning's time with my Lord....in Malachi 1:6,7 the people where sort of back-talking to God and asking, "In what way have we despised your name? In what way have we defiled you?" These questions show the halfheartedness of the people. They were essentially saying, "We are making sacrifices, what else do you want?" But what He wanted from them, and what He wants from us, is OUR BEST. The question posed is this....Do we offer God our best in worship, or do we just go through the motions? I will admit, there are some mornings that are just more difficult than others, and I am just going through the motions. God says we are to serve Him wholeheartedly...in a choice of half-hearted service or no service, He would choose no service...in a choice of being warm or cold, He chooses cold. He doesn't want what we feel like giving...He wants OUR BEST. So, the challenge to me this morning is....am I giving Him my very best....every day, every time I worship, always...am I bringing Him pleasure and making Him smile and laugh with joy because of my worship.....are you? Just a thought.....