Weekend Recap and a Couple of Things I Like

So mid day Friday this happened.  

At this point, I knew my weekend could only get better ... 

and it did.

It is 7:24.  I'm finishing up my 4 o'clock coffee.  I've got this on my hands.

and I'm enjoying smelling the new box of Vanilla Pear drawer liners that is on my bed that I picked up this weekend (for me and the girls).

Our weekend was fast and slow and long and short.  It was great.  We loaded up the girls into my newly damaged van and headed over to Birmingham to wish my brother Happy Birthday at his surprise 40th Birthday Party.  We always have such a fun time with Drew, Rebecca and their boys.  This weekend we even had our first pre-Spring-like weather of the year and it was just as wonderful as it could have been. Here are some photos I shot Friday and Saturday.  We've been home only a few hours and I am already planning our next trip!

:)

Kate and Andrew

John Emmons doing his best to NOT allow me to take a photo ... I did it anyway:).

The four of us heading out to Dram's for Drew's surprise party!!  (anyone else ever had rosemary ketchup?  very, very nice.)

we just can't go "home" without getting Krispy Kreme in our bellies and on our face:)

My Daddy and Olivia!

Always the scene ... everyone piled up together on the couch ... loving John reading his book:)

nothing like a hot dog grilled out on a sunny day:)

the usual races down the driveway 

cousins are awesome:)

waaaaaaaaaay to much energy!!!

John and Olivia loved the "roller coaster"

lining up for the "parade"

Rebecca and Hanson Ellis

fun shots of my 12 yr old just weeks before she's a teenager ...

(sigh)

Everyone gathered around to watch Uncle Drew use a magnifying glass to set an acorn on fire.  Lovely.

Patterson peeking through the top of the fence to see if the neighbor's dog was out. 

Love this of her trying to prop Kate up for a glimpse:):):):).

Kate and Olivia on the back porch taking a break coloring and drinking Capri Suns ...

and Richard and Daddy spending some time together trying to solve the world's problems (seriously!).

Now back to the normal hustle and bustle of a new week.

Tomorrow's Valentine's Day ... we've made our Valentines.  I hope some of you have made at least one. What a fun day to demonstrate God's love for us in a tiny way to those around us!

To God be the Glory.

mk

What a Day for a Daydream

 

What a beautiful day!  I loved walking out and seeing the above image.  Then, after taking that photo, I equally enjoyed seeing the one below:).

Yes, that groundhog just might have been right.  Maybe Spring is on it's way after all.

There's nothing like a little sunshine after a cold snowy winter to bring out the smiles on little girls faces.

I am so looking forward to more days like this!

Egypt

(a snapshot of Cairo that Richard took from his hotel room 2009)

"Fear of Man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." Proverbs 29.25

"The Lord God is a shield.  The Lord bestows honor.  No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.  O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."  Psalm 84.11-12

The above two verses are our family verses for the past two weeks.  Listening to the girls recite them last night (and even Olivia chimed in occasionally), my mind just couldn't help but think of all that is going on in Egypt.  Such tragedy.  Richard was there in 2009 working with the Egyptian Army.  I remember him telling me how beautiful  Cairo was.  How there was so much potential and how he wanted to bring us all there one day.  I remember him telling me how much he enjoyed working with the Egyptian Army.  As I look back through the images he took, I can't help but wonder about those he befriended there.  How are they?  How are their families?  Are they hungry ... are they scared ... do any of them have true Faith?  I don't know if you've viewed any of the AP images coming across the wire from the riots.  They are so telling and if what going on wasn't so tragic, I'd not hesitate to say that they are amazing.

I hope that we are all reminded once again of the blessings we have in our great Country.  I know that these days are a reminder, once again, to me of the importance of teaching our children the lessons of the past and the importance of their future.

What a blessing last night to sit and listen to them recite God's word.  Food was on the table ... even after our bellies were full.  Books were piled on the coffee table and little ones were able to snuggle close to listen without riots in our streets.  And at the end of the day, they were all able to climb in bed, pull the covers up over them and not worry about if there would be peace in the morning.

To God be the Glory.

Sisters?

I took these today after school.

Kate and Patterson  

#3 and #4

After I uploaded them I realized they were both born in November, both born in North Carolina ... almost 3 years apart exactly. They are the only two of my girls who share the same birth month and that were both born in the same state. But ... they don't seem anything alike to me ... you?