Monday, April 16, 2012

Remembering What Jesus Did for All of Us

Easter 2012

The Legend of the Dogwood flower says-- "In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the print of nails. In the center of the flower, stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember."


Family Easter Picture...
We went to church Easter morning---but, we didn't get to hear the music because the music is a little too loud for Faith's little tender ears...so, we don't go in to the sanctuary until the music is over...We missed singing! Thinking through some Easter Hymns... it always puts a smile on your face to sing "He Lives":
"He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart."
Faith

Milla... (deciding on her own to pose!!!)

Faith giggling in the bunny ears

Milla taking a turn in the ears....
one of my coworkers shared the idea for Easter morning to tear up cotton balls and leave a trail from your child's room to their Easter basket... and leave a carrot with a bite out of it!! Sounded cute so we tried it.... but, it just so happened that the night before I had just taken off my toenail polish and used cotton balls-- so, Milla walked out of her room Easter morning- she saw the cotton and said "these for our toes?"... I said "it looks like the Easter bunny was here!"... she said "No, these for our toes!"

Hunting for Easter eggs in our neighbor's yard



Dying Easter Eggs

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Impromptu Indiana Adventure

My exciting, adventurous Mom called at the beginning of the week and told us that she was headed to Indiana on Thursday and would love to treat Milla, Faith and me (Brandon had to work) to buddy passes to join her. I LOVE going to Indiana to be with our family and get to spend time at the farm--so, (although I was a little overwhelmed at first thought thinking of all of the prep/packing and wondering how we would make it through the airport) we had to make it happen! So, just a few days later we found ourselves heading to the Atlanta airport!!!



Here we are at the kiosk checking in!
Mom, Milla and Faith




2 roller bags+3 carry-ons+a stroller with a baby+a toddler=we could have used one more hand!! I know people do it all the time (and with more children than 2)-- but it really takes some planning and organization--I will try to figure out how to pack even lighter next time! Some tips-- just pack the diapers you need for the airport and then buy some when you get to your destination* be prepared when you go through security to take your baby out and break down your stroller to put up on the conveyor belt * Know that they do allow you to bring milk/breast milk/formula through security even if it is more than 3 oz. *
Everything was lush and in bloom when we arrived in Indiana. This is the view from the kitchen window at the farm. Aunt Connie brought the outside in by filling the house--the tables--and the windows with fresh lilacs and Japanese magnolia blooms. It was beautiful! The farm truly looked like a fairy tale or a dream!

Milla lucked out and got to ride horses twice in one day!!! Aunt Connie's friend Cheryl teaches lessons and was nice enough to let us come to her barn and get a quick ride!

Even Faith got to take a ride...you can't go to Indiana and not ride a horse! With hands surrounding them they got to make half of a loop around the ring together on a really calm and gentle horse! (Love this shot of sisterly love!)

In the afternoon Aunt Connie's friend Kelly-- who boards her horses at the farm was so generous with her time and gave Milla a little lesson. At one point the normally docile horse got spooked and Milla got tossed off the side!!!!-- but, Kelly was right there and caught Milla in the air and immediately put her right back on! Milla was tough-she didn't shed a tear--it only took a few minutes of getting comfortable and her smile reappeared!

Kelly also introduced Milla to (and let her pet) one of the chickens.

There are about 12 chickens at the farm-- they get a bunch of pretty, fresh eggs daily!! You would think you are looking at Easter eggs--but these are the way they find them in the chicken house.

Mom was having a photo session with Faith in the lilacs!



Grandma, Faith and Mom going for a ride on the golf cart. The town of Centerville is so laid back and the traffic is slower-- so, you can actually ride the golf cart on the road if you are headed somewhere nearby!


Milla admiring the horses in the field

Milla and Faith enjoying the breeze on the front porch

Some great memories are made in the kitchen at the farm...singing, dancing, great talks...etc...

Aunt Connie, Cousin Sara and Mom (Crisann)
*So many people get my Mom and Aunt mixed up because they look so similar-- they are not twins-they are 2 years apart!

Faith and her Great Grandma Rhodes (emphasis on the GREAT!!) Her mother's name was "Bessie Townsend McConaha"... my middle name is Bess, Faith's middle name is Townsend, and Milla's last middle name is McConaha!

We always insist that Grandma play us a tune on the organ when we visit with her! One of the songs she plays a lot is "Known Only To Him" that has the great line... "I know not what the future holds- But I know who holds the future".
We are so thankful that we got to spend "Spring Break 2012" in Centerville, Indiana having a Girl's Weekend with our family! It was refreshing and cherished!

Monday, April 2, 2012

What We Want For Our Baby Girls


Faith's Dedication was at Browns Bridge Community Church on March, 18. They did a program for the babies and their families at 3pm. Each family is seated at a round table in an auditorium-- they start out with music, a slide show and a talk on parenting with tips on raising your children in such a way that you are pointing them to Jesus. After the talk-- each set of parents stands at their table and shares with their family what they want for their child. (We weren't just put on the spot-- we had previously done the homework that they require and listened to 3 messages--- that included some good parenting advice-- http://www.brownsbridge.org/babyd )
This is what we hope and pray for Faith:
1. For her to love Jesus and always have a growing relationship with Him
2. To experience life beyond status quo-- to be INTENTIONAL and live a life of PURPOSE-- to be HER and not conform--relish the way God made her
3. To have a servant's heart and be compassionate to others (like Jesus)
4. Freedom (and the guts) to follow her dreams-- to Let Jesus be her guide and influence (not the world)
5. To love and appreciate nature and all of God's creations
6. To have a supportive, encouraging, motivating family
7. God's gift of PEACE (actually ALL the fruits of the spirit-- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control)
They asked you to think of practical, every day things you want to do to try to move towards the things you want for your child. This is what we want to strive to do:
1. Pray with her and for her, 2. seek to grow spiritually (they say the greatest factor in helping your child's spiritual growth is your spiritual growth), 3. seek to be good role models ( want to be selfless, faithful, motivated, active, loving, and outdoorsy) 4. Brandon and I want to show her how much we love each other, 5. Read the Bible to her and help teach her the stories and truths, 6. Encourage her-- lift her up, listen to her, not be sarcastic, be sensitive to her feelings, 7. Dinner as a family, 8. take her places and introduce her to new things-- (see the mountains, the ocean, sunsets, flowers, trees, animals...etc), 9. provide-- work hard and smart, 10. stay involved and close as a family-- talk and address things-- not brush then under the rug (even when it is hard)
A special verse that came to our minds for Faith is JEREMIAH 17:7
"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they go right on producing fruit."
A lot of our family members were able to join us in the celebration---
(Cappie, My Mom, Milla, Brandon, Me with Faith, Kelli and Brian, Brandon's Grandparents, my Grandma Dunnington, my Dad, and Brandon's Mom and Dad)
***Tears started to spill over at the end of the Dedication program as two vocalists sang Darius Rucker's "It Won't Be Like This for Long"....
He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all night
Lying there in bed and listening
To his newborn baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says,
"It's gonna be okay"

"It won't be like this for long
One day we'll look back laughing
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby, just hold on
It won't be like this for long"

Four years later, 'bout 4:30
She's crawling in their bed
And when he drops her off at pre-school
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says, "What can I do?"
She says, "Now, don't you worry
This'll only last a week or two"

"It won't be like this for long
One day soon you'll drop her off
And she won't even know you're gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It won't be like this for long"

Someday soon she'll be a teenager
And at times, he'll think she hates him
And he'll walk her down the aisle
And raise her veil,
But right now she's up and cryin'
And the truth is that he don't mind
As he kisses her goodnight
And she says her prayers

He lays down there beside her
Till her eyes are finally closed
And just watching her it breaks his heart
'Cause he already knows

It won't be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
And this phase is gonna fly by
So he's trying to hold on
It won't be like this for long
It won't be like this for long