Another GREAT Night with Friends

Last night we had the privilege of going out to dinner with some really great friends. With my mom being busy and Ashley being sick we did not get a chance to go out to eat to celebrate our anniversary over the weekend. (good babysitters are hard to come by). So last night our wonderful friends Bob and Cindy took us to Moretti's in Schaumburg. Bob and Cindy are so much fun. The food was great, the squid was big and the coconut onion rings were the best. One of my favorite things to do is go to new restaurants and with our friends it's even better. Thanks Bob and Cindy we love you. Another BIG blessing is that this year my husband and Bob have put in a HUGE garden together. Get ready GBC for lot of awesome produce this summer. Life is good and good friends make it even better.

20 Years!!!!!!!!!

This morning at 5:00am my wonderful husband woke me up with a sweet kiss on the cheek. As of today we have been married 20 wonderful years. In his hand he had a little white box. As all girls know, good things come in small packages. He gave me a beautiful necklace and matching ring. I just LOVE it. Thank You Honey for the beautiful jewelry and for 20 wonderful years of marriage. I LOVE YOU. P.S. He is getting his favorite thing. (a Bass Pro Gift Card)

My Favorite Things

I have a list of favorite things that mean a lot to me. Our friend Trish suggested I do this so here it is:

*spending time in my KJV Bible.
*writing in my prayer journal (going back and seeing answered prayer)
*Hand woven baskets (all over the house)
* hot chocolate on a cold night
* our fireplace on a cold night
* good smelling candles
* body sprays and lotions
*bond fires at the neighbors
*cuddling with my kids
* serving in my local church
*English muffins with peanut butter
*long hot bubble baths
*Shaklee skin care
* my new Bible bag that I take to church
* pretty note cards
*warm blankets
*my ladies Sunday School class
* the ladies ministry at my local church
* homeschooling my children
*snuggles with my husband
*My blog
* getting my nails done with Ashley
* coloring and doing play dough with Paige
* reading Millers books with Quin
* eating out ALONE with Sam
* being used of God to help someone that is hurting
* a fresh clean house (even if it only last 10 Minutes)
* spending time with close friends
* Christmas time

Wow!!!!! All this add up to a great life. I love the Lord and I love my family. I love my church and I am truly BLESSED!!!!!

There is Nothing Like Being Mom

It has been quite a week!!!! I am finished getting ready of another Sunday. I can't wait to see what the Lord has for me this week. As I sit back and reflect on all that this week has given me to do, all I can do is sit back and reflect on how blessed I am. We have had trips to the hospital, and admissions to the nursing home, a sick teenager to help, older people needing help getting medications. We have had sleepless nights and farewell wishes. We have had people graduate and others wishing that they could. We have had skinned knees and bruised elbows. Most importantly we have had the best week to grow closer to the Lord and the chance to sit back and enjoy all the wonderful opportunity to show the LOVE of Christ. We as a family have had the chance to have a ministry this week that was not found in church but found in the inner heart of Christ. The laundry is piling up and the dishes need attention and their are a lot of toys on the floor but tonight I go to bed over joyed that the Lord has blessed us with the LOVE that we have needed to be displayed for HIS glory. Thank You Lord for filling my heart with just what I needed to get through this busy week. As I prepare for the Lord's Day I am truly blessed.

A Great Day at the Races

On Sunday we had a great day at the races. It was a lot of fun and a great success. A big thank you to all who worked to make it successful. Mrs. Evans did a great job on the food and Mr. Lindahl did a great job on the track. Thank you to everyone who participated and made it a great day. Enjoy the pictures!!!!

A Day at the Races

So much Fun at The Teen Rally

I am so excited. For the first time, I had the honor and privilege of serving at the teen rally. IT WAS A BLAST. The Lord has given me a new love for teenagers. This used to be a group of people that was very intimidating for me. The Lord is working on a lot of things in my life and one of them is that He is developing in me a LOVE for teenagers. The Lord has changed a lot of things around here on a daily basis. If someone would have told me a year ago that I would have any teens in my home on a regular basis I'm not sure that I would have believed them. I now have very special teens over all the time. I have really enjoyed having the teens girls at our church over and I can't wait until June because we are having a sleep over with all teen girls. I had a blast serving at the teen rally and I want to serve next year as well. There were four people saved and I know many decisions were made for the Lord today. Miss Debby you are great at hospitality and thank you so much for allowing me to help you. I HAD A BLAST!!!!! See you at the teen rally next year. Oh in case your wondering the theme was Building for the Future that is why all the hard hats and yellow vest ect. Enjoy the pictures (next post).

Teen Rally 2008

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone. I pray that you will enjoy your mom and enjoy being a mom. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and daughter every where. Have a great weekend.

We Are A Blessed Family

Well as you might have guessed by now, our extended family has just expanded. (scroll down for pictures). Today was Steve and Rhonda Spencer's Wedding day. It was a beautiful day and I cried and cried. Sam's baby sister has a new family. Steve's first wife passed away and this afternoon Steve and Rhonda became husband and wife. It was so sweet, Rhonda has waited a long time for the Lord to bless her with a husband and today all her prayers were answered. It was a blessing to watch her get married after so many years of praying and waiting. Not only has Steve gained a wife but Mark, Becca, and Matt have gained a mother. The kids were so cute. Paige was the flower girl and Quinten and Matt were the ring bearers. All of Rhonda's attendants were her nieces and nephews. Everyone was so excited and so beautiful. Paige was so tired that she feel asleep on daddy's shoulder. Thank You Lord for a beautiful day and the picture of purity this wedding displayed. Rhonda is a perfect example of a woman who is determined to live in God's will and she is going to make an excellent wife and a great mother. The entire family is so blessed by her example and testimony. Congratulations Rhonda!!!!! We all love you very much. (Steve and the kids we love you too!!).

More Wedding Pictures

Rhonda Beautiful Wedding

Getting Ready is Fun

Yesterday was so much fun. We took Paige to the salon to get her nails done. She is ALL ALL girl and I as her mother could not be happier about that fact. First we picked her color (of course pink). We then had her nails professionally painted with a sweet little flower on each thumb. Paige had so much fun and she looked so big sitting up in the chair having her nails done. We have a FULL busy day. Daddy is off work today and the rehearsal dinner is at 4:00pm. We have lots of family in from out of town and lots of friends from the past. The excitement is building as the wedding is tomorrow. With all that needs to be done and with Mother's Day on Sunday we are looking forward to a very FUN and busy weekend. THANK YOU LORD for my beautiful little girl. Thank You for all the fun I have had dressing her up and encouraging her femininity. I am TRULY a blessed mommy.

Face Lift for the Blog

I want to Thank Michelle at Shabby Creations for the "spring cleaning" of the old blog. I just love the new look. If you new to spice up your blog check it out. She did a great job and it's very simple to do. you just tell her what you want and she it GREAT. You can e-mail her at bellablog@shabbycreations.com or you can visit her web site at the bottom of my blog. Give it a try she is good at what she does. Thank You Michelle.

Camp Joy

Once again I was blessed by being able to attend Camp Joy this year. It was an encouragement to see all the new people go with us. Everyone said that they had a great time. The food the fun and the fellowship were as good as they could be. If you missed it plan to go on the retreat next year. The time away and the trip it's self is the best. I want to personally thank Miss Debby for all her work to organize and plan the details. We love you and willingness to serve. Thank You.

Camp Joy