Look who's walkin'

I have tried several times since I got this footage to get you better footage, failing at all attempts. The lighting isn't the best but he took several steps for the camera. When he wants to get there in a hurry, he resorts to the "crab crawl".

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!"

Precious Time

I recently had a girlfriend post the celebration of her daughter's 15th birthday. It was hard to believe how fast times flies. Nothing has sped up time faster than having children and seeing them grow ~ regardless of their mama's relentless nagging to STOP or slow down. There have been the physically draining times of parenting, lack of sleep, colic, chasing after toddlers, etc. But it pales to the smiles, the giggles, the hugs, and the "I love you"s (it has got to be a taste of heaven). It has been amazing to watch them grow and blossom into little people. Seeing the Lord working in their lives, a repentant heart or convicted spirit, is the most precious thing.

I have been watching my oldest grow up before my own eyes and have been amazed to watch her. Abbie and I recently had a morning that was just fun. It was her last week of school and they were just watching a movie & cleaning out desks. Since Hopie was in school, I saw an opportunity to get some Abbie & Mama time. We had a morning in town that we started off right ~ at Starbucks of course!!!! I with my latte and she with her hot chocolate, both with whip cream! We stopped by for kisses from Papa and he just laughed at us both with our Starbucks cups ~ "Like mother - like daughter." It was such a fun morning of laughing with her and talking about EVERYTHING in full detail. We finished our morning with one of her absolute favorite things to do - shop for shoes! Off to target, with some persistence we found the "perfect" pair for her. We pick up a few things for sissy and headed home. I enjoy this gift of motherhood. I write this even after a tough day of training these little people God has so sweetly placed in my life. I pray I continue to have the eyes to see the work that He is doing in their lives. He has great and perfect plans for these little ones. I am thankful I get to be a part of His plan. ~ "Thank you, Jesus"

Mud pie anyone???

Playing in mud is just too much fun. Hopie stills loves to play in it, Luke has just discovered it, and I occasionally still catch Abbie out there covered in mud. It is a fabulous sight. I can remember each of them discovering mud and decided to share Luke's with you. Even covered in mud you KNOW what he is..........so stinkin' cute!!!!!!

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!!!