Saturday, September 27, 2014

Dessert

My Mom bought me this book 2 years ago-
I read it and LOVED it.  I still pick it up
a lot to read back through it to be reminded
of all of the good, true things she has
to say.  The author
Ann Voskamp also has a neat blog:
www.aholyexperience.com
The book is all about seeing beauty in all
things and giving thanks.  She encourages
us to count God's blessings everyday.  
"Being in a hurry- getting to the next
thing without fully entering the thing in
front of me- I cannot think of a single
advantage I've ever gained from being in
a hurry.  But a thousand broken and missed
things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake
of all the rushing."
-Ann Voscamp
"To consistently step back, breathe deep,
focus--and know Life is DESSERT--too brief
to hurry.  Too delectable to be distracted
through.  You don't wolf it down."
-Ann Voscamp
" I don't really want more time; I just want
enough time.  Time to breath deep and time
to see real and time to laugh long, time to
give You glory and rest deep and sing joy
and just enough time in a day not to feel
hounded, pressured, driven or wild to get
it all done yesterday."
-Ann Voscamp
"I just want time to do my one life well"
-Ann Voscamp
In the busyness of things.....
Sometimes we have to
"stop and let our souls
catch up to our bodies"
--from another book called
"Ordering Your Private World"
by Gordon MacDonald
" Wherever you are, Be all there"
-Ann Voscamp
"God takes the 'not enough' and
makes it enough"
-Ann Voscamp
"Work on opening the eyes wider,
the heart deeper."
-Ann Voscamp
"Learning slowly to not be so reactionary
while inserting verbal graditude into stressful
situations is almost like being healed of mental
blindness.  I have begun to 'see' again."
-Ann Voscamp
"The greatest thing is to give thanks for
everything.  He who has learned this knows
what it means to live."
-Ann Voscamp
"All I have seen teaches me to trust
the Creator for all I have not seen"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
 "Simplicity is ultimately a
matter of focus."
-Ann Voscamp
"Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again; Rejoice!"
Philippians 4;4

"May the God of hope fill you with
all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may OVERFLOW."
Romans 15:13

Tennessee, Birthday Parties and FUN

*Overnight Girl's Trip to Tennessee*
in the Smokey Mountains
By the Tennessee River
Liz, Anna, Meghan with Piper, Aimee,
Heather, Audrey, Maggie, Me with Cole
and Elizabeth...little Max and Charlie sleeping
(9 girls, 4 babies, 1 boat!!)
Cole feeling the wind through his hair
Lovin' the Lake
Most of us had our first experience in a LOCK.
It is like a water elevator to get boats from
the lake down to the river.  You start at the top
and the huge 800.000 pound doors close in front
of you and behind you and the water level
drops 74 feet-- then the doors open and
you are on the river!  Interesting but eerie!
Buckets full of babies!!
The Pretty house we got to stay in thanks to Liz!
Got to make a quick stop on our way
home to see our favorite Chattanooga families!
Lana and Cole
Mr. & Mrs. Larson with Cole
Group Shot! All 3 kiddos smiling at the 
same time!!
Lily, Me with Cole, Samuel & Lana
CONGRATS to Becky and Christian!!
"Lauren Taylor Noble"
born Tuesday, September 16th!!!
7# 12 oz
Beautiful!
Mrs. Brook, Eyler and Brittany
at EYLER'S Candy Shop Bday Party.
The theme was Shirley Temple's
Good Ship Lollipop
It was a Candy Wonderland!!
Brittany did awesome!
Notice the details...even the gumballs
were in chevron patterned in the
glass containers!
pretty shutters...gumball necklaces...
candy bags to go!
Lemonade stand!!
Gumballs created this ice cream cone
Friends....
Gracie, Leighton, Faith, Milla, Sarah
and Anna
We got to go to Asher's fun MOVIE PARTY
Audrey and Ben set up a big movie screen
in the front yard and served pizza,
popcorn and snacks!!! Great idea!
On the Jumpy Pit at Jesse's 6th Birthday..
He had a Carnival Birthday Party...
we got to play games and collect tickets
for prizes.  Lots of Fun!
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!
Milla was very excited!
Standing by the Fruits of the Spirit
in her classroom!  Her teachers seem
fantastic!
Time with Gran Mum and Cappie!!
Faith excited to upgrade from her crib with the
side off...to a BIG BED!!! She can finally
stretch out!

Sisters sharing a swing by the lake
Cole showing off his skills
Cole's first food!!!
Rice Cereal.....Loved it!
Afternoon outside with buddies at
Ms. White's!
Cole loves being old enough to be up in the
exersaucer!!