The World of Girls

Isn't it always the case for girls, even women, we want what we don't have. I remember being young with thin, straight, & stringy hair. I envied those girls with thick curly hair. I went years getting perms ~ oh, yeah! Not to worry, perm days are long gone. I love having short hair, though I bleach and layer for thickness. Okay, the point of this blog, I cracked up at my girls this week. As we got ready for Hope's graduation they were getting their hair done (by Grandma Debbie) and came home with opposite hairdos. My curly headed Hopie came home straight haired and my straight haired Abbie came home curly. A classic case of wanting what we don't have. I chuckled to myself because I have been there myself. Contentment is a beautiful place to be ~ especially if you have been on the other side of it.
The girls looked beautiful ~ from the inside out!

Our Spicy Boy

Just a snapshot of our little boy exploring the kitchen. He loves to do this to the spice cabinet several times a day. He is so cute

~ alright, he is so stinkin' cute!!!!

Playing House

We had so much fun this past weekend. The Abshire house jumped from three children to five for a of couple days. Our good friends (Rob & Keri) went camping for the weekend and I asked if their two younger girls could stay with us. I was so excited when she said yes! Our girls were so excited to have their cousins for the weekend. Abbie had sleeping arrangements done before they even got there. She also picked out their outfits, made our schedule (full of swimming), and tried to plan our meals. She is soooooooo her mother's daughter! We had a fabulous weekend. The giggles, squeals of happiness, and best of all the several unsolicited "I love you Auntie" were heart melting. Here are a couple of pictures of the "organized chaos".

Birthday Boy

I must be mistaken. There is NO WAY that it has been a year since our baby boy has been born. The calendar tells me that Friday was May 9th, so we celebrated with family & a couple of friends Luke Josiah Abshire's 1st birthday. That is crazy. It has been an amzing year. I just wanted to post a couple of pictures of the birthday boy.
He loved his cake!
Just like his Mama!

Eternal Trophies

We recently had our Awana Grand Prix, which is racing pinewood derby cars. It was a fun day. Our girl's cars actually did pretty good, thanks to Papa the mechanic! They each won a trophy in speed! While Papa & I are handing out trophies, there are events unfolding that we were unaware of. In the older boy's club there were three boys who came together and raced their cars. Well, two out of the three each got two trophies, while the third boy got nothing. The boys were celebrating their victory and Papa & I are moving on to handing out more awards. Abbie noticed the third boy sat all by himself and had tears in his eyes. She went to her Papa, who is announcing all the awards and wanted him to "help him". Papa explained that he couldn't , he had no control over who got the trophies. She then came to Mama and pointed the boy out and explained what she saw. I, too, knew I didn't have control over who got trophies. But the mama in me went over to console the boy, which lead to more tears. My heart is just breaking at this point. Then the next thing I see is two angels (named Abbie & Hopie) handing this little boy their trophies. The boy just lit up. He was so thankful to these two little girls. He jumped up and joined his friends in celebrating. My girls were celebrating inside too. I am choked up at this point, as I am trying to keep it together. We still are in the middle of an awards ceremony. Abbie turns to me and tells me, "Mama, I feel good in here", as she touches her heart! I just start crying and told her "I know Baby, that is Jesus telling you that you did good"! It is a true gift to see the Holy Spirit work in and through your children. We went out for ice cream later that afternoon and Abbie lending over and whispered to me, "Mama, I still feel good in here." I just have to say "Thank you Jesus!"

Praise Ye the Lord

Luke has done the cutest thing, for a season. He would just throw those arms up in the air and give us the best grin. So we decided that he was just charismatic. We would sing "Praise ye the Lord" every time he did it. He would just laugh and keep doing it. We loved it. Then when he starting dropping food off his tray and we would say "no Luke", he would throw those arms up in the air and grin!
Man ~ he already knows my button!
Praise ye the Lord!!!

Solids!

Luke is venturing into the world of solid foods! Just a quick picture of him expressing his joy over coffee cake & milk. Not to mention Bentley, our dog, loves his new job on the clean up crew.I know my girlfriends can hear me saying it.........

"he is so stinkin' cute!!!!!"

Boots

It is crazy sometimes how the smallest thing can grab you just like that. As I was going around picking up the house the other night, and all was quiet, I was caught off guard. It happened when I went to go put my stable boots up in one hand and grab Luke's boots in the other. The flood of thoughts and images returned of this past year & the future. The fun this incredible baby boy has been watching him smile, crawl, and get vocal. To "wow, he will someday fill & follow in these boots". This journey of mothering is so incredibly humbling, especially since I fall so short of my desires. But I have been so very blessed to see His hand of grace in my children's lives. Thank you Jesus! Be with this little man. May I point him to You and he walk after You, Lord.Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Jesus goes to lunch

As I was tucking girls into bed the other night, I found Hopie snuggling with a figurine of Jesus. I told her I would put it up for her. She informed me that I needed to pack Jesus in her lunch pale that next day, that He was going to the park with her. So, yes, Jesus went to lunch and the park with Hope on Friday. I have a feeling Jesus loves being at the park with little children.