What does God look like?

David and I taught Mission Friends for the first time tonight and what fun! We taught the story of God talking to Samuel (1 Sam 3). Afterward, I asked the kids to draw a picture of what God looks like when He talks to them. What precious pictures to see their view of God and how He is so much bigger than the others in the picture. Our sweet girl surprised us with God and His green hair bow. They each had a different picture of God but one thing they all had in common was that He was big and he loves them. I guess that is what's really important anyway. Oh, to have a childlike faith!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Use your imagination

I have so many things I would like to post, but time just doesn't allow.  I'm only sitting down right now because I have two girls attempting to make me beautiful.  I have tried countless times to take a picture, but they are NOT worth posting - Trust me on this one!  Both of my sweet girls are standing behind me arguing over which one is making my hair look the best.  From what I can see, I have pieces of hair sticking out in many different directions and I'm praying a good shampoo job will put it back in place before morning!

So, until I have time for something more profound, please enjoy pictures of our crazy weekend of birthday celebrations.  I'm still trying to catch up on sleep after a slumber party with 12 10/11 year old girls on Friday night. I have lots of fun pictures, but try to be careful not to post photos of other kiddos without parent's permission, so you will just have to visualize this one also.  Total craziness is all I can say!   On Sunday, we celebrated Tia's birthday and Mimi's birthday together and although it was a bit more calm, getting this family together always calls for a bit of craziness.

   

Sweet girl, your smile will light up a room and has been lighting up our family for 11 years now.  Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with her sweetness!

Bobbing for apples was everyone's favorite.

Lia was  SO happy to see her big brother come home from college!

Is there anything better than a Daddy preparing 

smores for the Princesses in his life?

 Missing one of my big boys, but I have to take a photo when I can.  

Pictures are few and far 

between with my boys these days.

 Tia "11" and Mimi is ?

Lia loves to have her Aunt Sherri read to her.

Happiness

What does it take to make you happy?  

Really.  

Do you have to have the best house or the newest vehicle on the market?  Or would it be that beautiful new outfit or the newest gadget on the shelves?  So many times in my life I've thought, "If I just had that ____ my life would be so much better or easier."  I remember one time I just HAD to have that new vehicle because I'd never had a new one before.  Amazingly, as soon as we drove it off the lot it was no longer new.  Then through the joy of raising three boys, I quickly learned that anything new and nice in my house would soon be held together by super glue, so I better not get too attached to it.  How many times have we thought that our kids "needed" that newest toy only to play with it for a time or two and never to look at it again.

Yesterday, my little artist drew two pictures at preschool that she told me about when she got home.  This is a child who is happy with the simpliest things in life and other than today when she didn't get a nap, usually has a smile on her face.
When I asked her to tell me about the pictures she had drawn, she said this friend was sad because she had no mommy and no daddy.
The letters are just her way of writing new letters to tell her story.

The next picture is a friend that is happy because she has a mommy, daddy, brothers and sister.  The letters are writing, "I LOVE YOU," as she is learning new letters.

That's all it took to turn her picture from a sad face to one with a smile.  It wasn't toys or new clothes.  It was just a family to call her own.

How sad to think that so many other children are sitting in an orphanage or foster care somewhere, waiting on the one thing that will make them happy, 

A Family.

Breakfast of Champions!

I'm sure there are donuts in China, but it is a new food to our sweet girl and obviously one she LOVES just like her big brothers!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

A day at the pumpkin patch

What is better than a beautiful fall day?  Spending it at the pumpkin patch with a happy little girl.  Seeing the excitement in the eyes and faces of four year olds was a such a joy. 

                                                    

                                              

              Picking out that special pumpkin with a sweet friend.

             So many new experiences as she takes it all in.