Ssssshhhhh.......It's a surprise!

If you have hung around this blog for any amount of time you know that there is an old cowboy that I (Elizabeth) am quiet fond of. Well that cowboy, Ben, turned 80 this year. I wanted to do something special for my buddy's birthday. So another buddy of mine, Steve, and I had been planning a surprise birthday party for Ben for over a year. Ben would not take kindly to the idea of throwing him a birthday party so it was a “Top Secret” operation. Yeah, you try to pull that off with a child like my Hope around. So I made sure to keep real quiet about anything having to do with the party, in hopes we could pull this thing off! I can’t believe we were able to do it, but we did. Ben thought he was attending Steve & Sara’s anniversary party. He walked up carrying his covered dish for the party. Ha! It was too funny to watch his expression as he figured out that it was his party, filled with lots of old friends & family. Family even flew in from other states to make it to this Critter’s party! We served over 100 people that evening. It was an absolute blast!

Here is a collage of pictures from that evening.


Here is a link to the entire party:
Ben's 80th

Cowboy wisdom: Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Funny Conversations Continue

We only live 30 minutes from the big city, but I dread the trip. We had to make the trip to pick up many & much needed items & food. So the van cleaned out & loaded with children, we are off. The children were great, but getting tired. After the 5th store and several hours later, they were so ready to go home. So was Mama, trust me on this one. We had been longer than I expected and picked lunch up at the grocery store. Groceries loaded, children buckled, we are ready to get gas & head home. Then it starts....."tummy hurts....Mama, tummy huuurrrrts!" For my little man who is branching out in his vocabulary, these were serious words. I envisioned barf all over the back of my head, his car seat (that stinks to wash), and the van full of groceries. Fortunately we hit the gas station with no barf. I took Luke out of his car seat and talk with him. His whines subside, as I think he had a gas bubble. He was dead set though, that a car wash would make his tummy better. Seriously...a car wash?! He loves going through the car wash. So back in the car & on the road to the car wash.

Abbie starts: "Mama, I am sick!"
Mama: "WHAT???"
Abbie: " I am sick & tired of being in Bakersfield!" :)

We both just started cracking up!
I just said Amen, sista....we're outta here!

Devotions for Luke & Mama

Luke is getting to such a cute age. He just turned 3 and has added so much to his vocabulary. I love to listen to him pray. At bedtime tonight we had the sweetest time. I got him "The Jesus Storybook Bible ~ Every Story Whispers His Name". Can you feel how precious this Bible is just by reading it's name? I LOVE this Bible. Let me just share my absolutely favorite line about God's love, it is:

Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking,

Always and Forever Love!

I love it!

So we are reading a story of how God makes a way. It is the Moses & the Red Sea story. At some point in the story I turned and asked Luke, do you think that sea can stop God? He came at me with such a ferocious "NO", that I was almost startled. When I asked the question I really didn't really expect an answer, but boy, he did not disappoint me! I loved it. We enjoyed our little devotion song and sweet prayers before tucking my little man in. I walked out of his room with my spirit re-energized.

Sweet times with Jesus!