16 minutes ago
Monday, May 23, 2011
Look what I found....
One rainy winter Saturday, while I was busy doing something in another part of our house, this was created on our kitchen counter. A sweet gift from Nicholas....oh! how I love that boy!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Happy Birthday Olivia!!
Just wanted to send out a shout to our niece (and cousin for Nicholas and Caroline) Olivia! She is 7 today! Miss you sweet girl and wish we could be there!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The Princess & the Frog Faughter/Daughter Ball
In March,
Caroline took an elective class at her school during their spring break. The class was "The Princess and the Frog", and they studied New Orleans culture, cooking, dancing, and the movie. It was really neat! My favorite part was the "Father/Daughter Ball" towards the end of the week (and the 'grand opening' of the girls' restaurant on the last day, where they served beignets and mint juleps!)
The Father-Daughter Ball was the first time that Caroline and I had a special time for just the two of us. They made beautiful invitations during their class, and she delivered it to me with tremendous pride. She had her hair in curlers the day of the ball, and put on her prettiest dress. I wore my 'royal attire' as instructed, with my tuxedo & tails coat, but with a pink shirt to match :)
I lost count of how many times Caroline thanked me for taking her to her first ball, and for our Father/Daughter date...I had no idea exactly how much it would mean to her for me to spend some time with just Caroline and her daddy...an incredibly meaningful evening! It definitely challenged me to carve out special time for my baby girl much more than I had...
It was quite simply, a magical evening with a beautiful little princess!
Caroline took an elective class at her school during their spring break. The class was "The Princess and the Frog", and they studied New Orleans culture, cooking, dancing, and the movie. It was really neat! My favorite part was the "Father/Daughter Ball" towards the end of the week (and the 'grand opening' of the girls' restaurant on the last day, where they served beignets and mint juleps!)
The Father-Daughter Ball was the first time that Caroline and I had a special time for just the two of us. They made beautiful invitations during their class, and she delivered it to me with tremendous pride. She had her hair in curlers the day of the ball, and put on her prettiest dress. I wore my 'royal attire' as instructed, with my tuxedo & tails coat, but with a pink shirt to match :)
I lost count of how many times Caroline thanked me for taking her to her first ball, and for our Father/Daughter date...I had no idea exactly how much it would mean to her for me to spend some time with just Caroline and her daddy...an incredibly meaningful evening! It definitely challenged me to carve out special time for my baby girl much more than I had...
It was quite simply, a magical evening with a beautiful little princess! 
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Lack of updates.
Tornado sirens, severe thunderstorms, flooding, power outages, straight line winds for 3 weeks. Just thought I would let you know why we haven't updated our blog in forever. We have many updates-- just haven't been able to spend much time on the computer. Thank God we are fine--only lost power for 14 hours and no damage to our house. When I talk about the school day with Nicholas and Caroline they now say "we didn't get to do XYZ because we were in the hall in the "turtle" position!!"
Fun Times.......or not!
Fun Times.......or not!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Happy Birthday Mom!
Today is my mom's 60th birthday and 41st wedding anniversary! Thought I would do a post just to say Happy Birthday. (she doesn't like her picture taken so this is a picture from a couple of years ago!)
Friday, April 1, 2011
Devotionals
I receive daily devotionals from Proverbs 31 ministries. I love getting these each day! Over the past two days it is almost as if the writers were writing these just for me. Here is a little snippet from the last two days, they have reminded me that we are being held in the palm of God's hand as we walk through this tough place!
No matter what current circumstances you find yourself in, with our Living God there is always a place of “thus far” waiting around the next bend. This is a place of celebration, praise, complete humility and gratitude before the Lord. I have discovered the hardships we go through are all worthwhile when we get to our place of “thus far.” From a grateful heart, we can pour our blessings back out to the Lord as we cry, “Who I am Lord, that you have brought me thus far?”
Dear Lord, forgive me when I don’t sit and take summary of Your tremendous favor in my life. Your blessings are far superior to anything this world can give me. Help me to remember my place of “thus far” when Your plan for my life leads me to another season that may be risky and cause me to walk by faith and not by sight. I offer this praise of thanksgiving to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
and from the day before:
“And we know (we know it even if we don’t feel it) that in all things (even the ones we can’t even fathom being used for good) God works for the good. (He works for the good. Our job is to walk with Him day by day. His job is to work the good.)
Dear Lord, thank You for this hope. Thank You that You don’t waste our tears, our struggles, or those places rubbed raw from years of trying and failing. Once we do what You’ve instructed us to do, You always do what only You can do. I know You will bring good even when I can’t see it or feel it. And what a comfort that is to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
No matter what current circumstances you find yourself in, with our Living God there is always a place of “thus far” waiting around the next bend. This is a place of celebration, praise, complete humility and gratitude before the Lord. I have discovered the hardships we go through are all worthwhile when we get to our place of “thus far.” From a grateful heart, we can pour our blessings back out to the Lord as we cry, “Who I am Lord, that you have brought me thus far?”
Dear Lord, forgive me when I don’t sit and take summary of Your tremendous favor in my life. Your blessings are far superior to anything this world can give me. Help me to remember my place of “thus far” when Your plan for my life leads me to another season that may be risky and cause me to walk by faith and not by sight. I offer this praise of thanksgiving to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
and from the day before:
“And we know (we know it even if we don’t feel it) that in all things (even the ones we can’t even fathom being used for good) God works for the good. (He works for the good. Our job is to walk with Him day by day. His job is to work the good.)
Dear Lord, thank You for this hope. Thank You that You don’t waste our tears, our struggles, or those places rubbed raw from years of trying and failing. Once we do what You’ve instructed us to do, You always do what only You can do. I know You will bring good even when I can’t see it or feel it. And what a comfort that is to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Teachable Moments
I love it when God gives me the eyes to see teachable moments as they occur around me, whether it be at home with the kids or at work with the kids...It has been a while since one of those teachable moments included just me and the Lord!
Sometime last spring, Karen bought me the coolest kite ever (yes, a kite, as in a flying thing on a string...). She found an X-Wing fighter kite at Sam's Club (love of flying things meets my geek Jedi-self). She had watched it drop in price, and when it fell to around $20, she snatched it up for me. What an awesome wifey! I tried to fly it last spring on a windy day, but the ship just wouldn't 'sail'. Even Rayden commented on my steadfastness, as I literally tried for over an hour trying to get the coolest kite ever airborne. Yesterday afternoon, we had a blustery day at home, and renewed with a strong sense of purpose (and some Super-glue on some of the parts), Caroline and I set out to fly our kites...her Disney Princess kite (that cost $1), and me with the coolest kite ever!
Well, I only wish I had pictures...it was a complete, absolutely, purely miserable utter failure, again. We got the Princesses in the air (for $1) , but the X-Wing just wouldn't take off. After about an hour (at least I'm consistent), I just caved. I was so frustrated at that kite that I tiptoed near the border of my religion, even with Caroline well within earshot! Nicholas rode his bike to the big field where we fly kites, and he actually left us and returned home early. Only later did Karen tell me why...Nicholas told Karen that he had to come home early 'because Dad was getting really mad at his kite...". After Nicholas left, I called it a few harmless names, like 'you're a piece of _ _ _ _ (it rhymes with 'crap'). I finally yelled at the kite (yes, a grown man/young adult yelling at a kite). I exclaimed, "Why won't you just be what you are created to be? What can't you DO what you are created to DO? That's all I want!!!"
let that marinate in your spirit for a moment...
After I got that off my chest, I sensed the Holy Spirit saying to me...
Do you feel better now? Do you have any idea how silly you look? Even better, aren't you glad God doesn't do that to you, every time you are less than what you were created to be, or when you don't DO what you were created to DO?
I'm not a preacher, but every believer is called to minister to others. God wanted me to share this one with anyone that would have ears to hear...how many times have we wanted to shout at objects (or people) about not doing what they're supposed to do? We were created to worship God, to enjoy a relationship with our loving Father...Praise God above that He doesn't blast us when we aren't what He created us to be, or when we don't do what HE created us to do...
Peace and blessings to you all!
Nick
Sometime last spring, Karen bought me the coolest kite ever (yes, a kite, as in a flying thing on a string...). She found an X-Wing fighter kite at Sam's Club (love of flying things meets my geek Jedi-self). She had watched it drop in price, and when it fell to around $20, she snatched it up for me. What an awesome wifey! I tried to fly it last spring on a windy day, but the ship just wouldn't 'sail'. Even Rayden commented on my steadfastness, as I literally tried for over an hour trying to get the coolest kite ever airborne. Yesterday afternoon, we had a blustery day at home, and renewed with a strong sense of purpose (and some Super-glue on some of the parts), Caroline and I set out to fly our kites...her Disney Princess kite (that cost $1), and me with the coolest kite ever!
Well, I only wish I had pictures...it was a complete, absolutely, purely miserable utter failure, again. We got the Princesses in the air (for $1) , but the X-Wing just wouldn't take off. After about an hour (at least I'm consistent), I just caved. I was so frustrated at that kite that I tiptoed near the border of my religion, even with Caroline well within earshot! Nicholas rode his bike to the big field where we fly kites, and he actually left us and returned home early. Only later did Karen tell me why...Nicholas told Karen that he had to come home early 'because Dad was getting really mad at his kite...". After Nicholas left, I called it a few harmless names, like 'you're a piece of _ _ _ _ (it rhymes with 'crap'). I finally yelled at the kite (yes, a grown man/young adult yelling at a kite). I exclaimed, "Why won't you just be what you are created to be? What can't you DO what you are created to DO? That's all I want!!!"
let that marinate in your spirit for a moment...
After I got that off my chest, I sensed the Holy Spirit saying to me...
Do you feel better now? Do you have any idea how silly you look? Even better, aren't you glad God doesn't do that to you, every time you are less than what you were created to be, or when you don't DO what you were created to DO?
I'm not a preacher, but every believer is called to minister to others. God wanted me to share this one with anyone that would have ears to hear...how many times have we wanted to shout at objects (or people) about not doing what they're supposed to do? We were created to worship God, to enjoy a relationship with our loving Father...Praise God above that He doesn't blast us when we aren't what He created us to be, or when we don't do what HE created us to do...
Peace and blessings to you all!
Nick
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