Not just dirty laundry

Getting up Monday morning this site hit me like a punch in the stomach. It looks like just another pile of laundry, but seeing these clothes neatly stacked next to the door, told me it was the end of many years of fun. After raising three boys, I thought I would look forward to the day when sports came to an end, but now that it is drawing close I tear up at the thought of it. Brandon has played baseball for about 13 years now and has always been so much fun to watch.The way he hit that ball and then with his lightning speed ran those bases has always amazed me. Well, all good things must come to an end and he has decided that he no longer has the desire to play. I'm sure this had nothing to do with the fact that he was getting little playing time all of a sudden. I know coaches have to worry about their job and must focus on winning, but I wonder if they have any idea how they can break the spirit in a young person? As a momma, I sure did want to put in my own two cents worth, but amazing how God has just the right word for us. Guess what mine was yesterday? Psalm 39:1 said, "I will guard my ways so that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle...! Boy, did He know what I needed! So now we wait until football season and treasure the memories of my baby boy running his heart out! Thanks for the memories, son! I proud of how you have handled yourself!

Welcome Spring...Bye, Bye Spring Break!

We couldn't have asked for a better week for Spring Break and I am not ready for it to end. This beautiful weather just makes me want to be outside. It has been a week of doing nothing which is just what I was looking forward to this week. We went to three baseball games and I spent time trying to clean up and organize my house. Other than that I had the opportunity to finish reading The Shack, a very thought provoking book. Saturday was the first day of Spring and we welcomed it with a conference call with our adoption agency discussing a new application we need to complete, breakfast with my sister's family and a day of shopping for the girls and shooting skeet for the guys. Today we did what we do best in our family- eating and hanging around outside. I made my kids favorite cake and Nathan headed back to college.

We are praising God for another donation to our adoption. We needed to make our next payment for our homestudy within the next two weeks and were $5oo short. Thanks to some of my favorite people we are almost there and if our homestudy packet gets delivered tomorrow after being lost in the mail for a week we hope to have a homestudy scheduled soon. The packet has taken over a week to get about an hour away. Remind me to drive it there next time! Please pray that we hear good news on this Monday. Here are just a few of our pictures from the week.


Teaching mom how to shoot a bow and arrow. I will definately have a bruise on my arm tomorrow! Please don't make too much fun of our beautiful barn in the background. It is still standing after 100 plus years!

Their favorite cake, thanks to my friend, Rebecca. It is Marbled Pumpkin and Chocolate and doesn't last long at my house!

We tried to treat Aunt Sherri like a Princess on her special day. It was lots of fun and she even wore the tiara for a little while. Hope you had a great day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Our family breakfast around the table. Good food and fun conversation made for a great day!

Small gifts...Big meaning

Today I am so thankful for a little time to catch up and regroup. I had so many things that just needed tending to and one was a little r and r for this tired mom. Spring Break is here and I am so thankful for the sunshine and cool weather. In the past couple of days I have been blessed with a long walk with my husband and best friend, a wonderful dinner and conversation with my sister and her family and some extra time to just spend in God's word. I have also been so blessed by the generosity and passionate heart of a few dear friends. The following pictures are a couple of gifts I have received from ladies that have a heart for the orphans and needy of the world. A few weeks ago our friends at Texas Stir Fry returned from China and brought us this beautiful wall hanging that that we will treasure as we cling to our Faith, Hope and Love while we wait on our little girl from China.

Click on the picture for a closer view of this beautiful artwork. The words FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE are written in both Chinese and English.


This is a gorgeous bracelet from a young lady, Emily, that just returned from Uganda and gave me this at church yesterday. She is only 16 years old and has an incredible heart for the people of Uganda. She had the opportunity to go there on a mission trip last week and I'm certain God will lead her there again as she loves witnessing to the lost people of this country.

I had never heard of this jewelry until Christmas when my sister gave me a beautiful necklace and bracelet made from recycled paper by ladies of Uganda. These are called Bangala beads and come in all colors and shapes.

A selfless sacrifice

Warning: You might need a tissue if you choose to read this article...

I have been so busy this week I haven't had much time for blogging. For some reason tonight, I decided to look online at our local newspaper, The Wise County Messenger, and the story that caught my eye left me with such emotion I can hardly type these words. Almost 18 years ago, I experienced a sickness that nearly took my life. For some reason, God chose to keep me here and I know He has much for me to do. I plan to do all I can to fulfill His purposes until the day He takes me home. The disease I had was called HELLP syndrome and I will have to give the details of that time in my life on another post. The woman in this article had that same disease and will be going home soon to see our heavenly father. This is an incredible article about her selfless devotion to her son before she leaves this earth. Please take the time to read about her sacrifice by clicking on the above link, and pray for her as you do, but bring along a tissue. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to raise my baby boy and watch him grow into such an incredible young man.

Brandon and Patches admiring each other's new hairdo today. Aren't they handsome!

Needing a miracle

I asked for permission to post this tonight because I know there are lots of prayer warriors out there. We covet your prayers at this time. Our friend, Hank Taylor, has been battling melanoma cancer recently. This past weekend he and his wife Lisa, returned to MD Anderson. Currently, he is in need of a miracle. He is in pain and is in need of a blood transfusion. The cancer has spread to many parts of his body. He is not able to have the chemo at this time as he had planned. We are praying for that miracle and desire your prayers as well.

Our God is a God of miracles!

Today I was given a link to an article called, Brain Difference Between Believers and Non-Believers. It is an interesting article from a scientific point of view on the role our faith plays. Take a moment to read this and know that as we choose to "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD," it not only draws our heart closer to Him, but it does a mighty work in our brain as well!

Another year older, another year better

March is our month of birthdays in our family and as I mentioned in my last post, David and Nathan get to share a birthday. I just wanted to wish my husband a Happy Birthday publicly and post a picture that was taken of us at the Wise Choices Pregnancy Center Gala last week. You are the man of my dreams.

Nathan turns 19

HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY, NATHAN! YOU ARE OUR FAVORITE, MIDDLE SON!

Nathan and Dad get to share a birthday party every year, since they are only two days apart.

I wish I had some of those beautiful baby pictures to embarass him with on my blog, but I don't have a scanner and they were taken before I had a digital camera. So here are a few of my favorites taken at our birthday celebration yesterday and then just a few others. He is a great young man, who is trying hard in his first year of college. He loves to ride bulls, loves his family and friends and just like his momma, he is always ready for a vacation. He has given us great pride and joy over the past 19 years.

He's a steak kinda guy and can put away the food at a Brazilian restaurant.

He loves his cousin, Claire!