Couch Potato

Anna Kate loves to watch TV. She has recently started laying on the couch in the mornings while watching her favorite shows - Mickey Mouse, Little Einsteins, and Word World. She even laughs at them!

Prayer Challenge

During the past few months/weeks several people I know either directly or indirectly have been faced with suffering of some sort. The ones closer to home have been on my mind so much. I've cried some tears at times that didn't help anyone; I've said a few words here and there that may have helped a little; but today I woke up thinking about scriptures regarding suffering and realized that the best and most productive thing I can do is pray for each of these souls. [Not that I haven't been praying already - just that turning it over to God is all I can do really.] Sickness, cancer, brokenheartedness - God can heal all of these things.

I'm entering into what I will call a "Prayer Challenge" today. Each time I see someone who I know is suffering in some way, I will say a prayer for them. Each time I start to get upset about something not going my way, I will say a prayer for someone else who is sick/brokenhearted/burdened by something beyond his or her control.

I have been in one of these trials before. It was tragic and sad and heartbreaking. I remember feeling like the world stopped for quite a while. I went through the motions of life on a daily basis, but none of it mattered. It left a part of me broken. It put life in perspective. It made me rely wholly and completely on YHWH - my biggest life lesson yet. He healed the big gaping wound in my heart, but I had to let him. It required effort on my part.

YHWH has promised to heal all of our troubles and ailments if we seek Him.

 (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV) "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

I have witnessed YHWH's healing. It would be such a blessing to see more of it.

A Basketball, S'mores, Baseball Birthday

We celebrated Gracie's 11th birthday last night with lots of friends and family. It has become increasingly more evident over the past year or so that we have crossed into the land of "Preteendom" where parties should not be organized events with matching decor like this anymore: [Please pardon the pictures of pictures - my scanner is currently not working] Gracie arrived in true "Hall" style - riding in her Dad's Monte Carlo with Grandad and Grangran.

Gracie's 2nd birthday - Dora Theme! Can you tell who was more excited about it? Gracie was watching the kids play at the park instead of smiling at the camera. (side note - I'm 9 months preggers with Caroline here.)

We have entered the time when the only requirement for a birthday party is plenty of adult supervision with prepared food to grab at any random time [oh, and a fire to go sit around is nice if you're up to it] - don't try to get them to all eat together or anything like that...just let them go "hang out" with their friends. We had hot dogs, chips and dip, and birthday cake. Jon and his dad built a fire, and the kids roasted marshmallows for s'mores, and some of the other kids' parents led a baseball game with tennis balls ;) Everyone seemed to have a great time!

Gracie's "basketball" cupcake cake

I'm happy to say that the passing into this time of Gracie's life came at a really good time for Jon and me. The hefty requirements Anna Kate has placed on the two of us lately would make it nearly impossible to plan an organized event. It has also probably been helpful to distract me from the tears I might have been crying [if I had more energy] about Gracie getting so much bigger. It is bittersweet to see her getting so big, but it's nice to see her turning into such a beautiful young lady.

It is so hard to believe that 11 years have passed since her birth! Sometimes, it seems like yesterday, and at others it's like a different lifetime. I know her Daddy would be so proud of her if he were here today. She shares the same desire that he had to do the right things with her life. She proved it last year by being baptized.

Yesterday, Anna Kate wore Gracie's 1st birthday dress to church. Do you save clothes that your kids wore to special events? I have saved some of the most important ones. It's been so cool to be able to pass things down from one baby to the next! I meant to get a picture of Gracie holding Anna Kate in the outfit yesterday, but it just didn't happen :( Here's Gracie wearing the outfit on her first birthday [and her first Easter].

Gracie 1yr

As I told a few friends about Anna Kate wearing this outfit, I thought it would be nice if she could wear Caroline's first birthday dress on Caroline's birthday in a couple of weeks. The bad news is that I can't remember what Caroline wore. This must be a result of having two children within two years of each other.  The only picture I could find of Caroline in her 1st birthday dress was this one, and I can't tell what dress she's wearing...terrible picture.

Caroline turning in her 1st birthday penny at church with her Dad

I realize that the girls could care less about what dress they wore, but it's something special for me. It brings back memories of when they were my little babies :)

Happy birthday to Gracie Beth!

Practically Perfect

Mary Poppins has been a household favorite since Gracie was tiny - probably about the time I was pregnant with Caroline when we started watching a lot of movies so I could rest...

Gracie's birthday is coming up, so what better way to celebrate than with an old favorite! Tonight my mom and I took Gracie and Caroline to dinner at Chuy's and to TPAC to watch the Broadway show.

First, let me say that Chuy's was ah-mazing! I had the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom enchiladas and they were delicious but hot!!! The restaurant was pretty cool too!

This was the room at Chuy's that we ate in -the whole ceiling is covered in old hub caps and the walls have drawings/paintings of old cars. I just think it's cool when things like this happen to us - little pieces of their dad pop up in every day life! 

Mary Poppins was an unforgettable show! I'm so glad we were able to see it!

Wearing their new Mary Poppins shirts. We were WAY in the back, but still a great show! Doesn't it look like they already have a tan?!?! This warm weather is awesome! 

It was practically perfect in every way!