On Turning Seven...

Baby Girl,

So...7.
It's a big deal.
Mommy remembers turning 7. I got to have my party in the 'party room' at McDonald's. (McDonald's used to be a 5 star restaurant when I was a kid... with pickles stuck on the eyes of the Ronald McDonald that was painted on the walls and twisty-swivel chairs that were brown and yellow.)
I thought it was the coolest thing a girl could do for her birthday. We even got to tour the kitchen and see where they fried the fries...we walked into the freezer to see where they kept all the food. It. Was. Awesome.

I remember wearing a pink t-shirt with a rainbow bursting out of stars and red silky shorts. Granna and Zeke gave me a real watch for my birthday. (and Mimi got you a real watch this year too without even knowing!! Isn't that cool?) It was such a special day.

And now, here you are...seven...and I think we may have just had the best 7 year old party you could have dreamed of. At least I hope that is how you remember it.

I am not quite sure how it happened, but you have fallen in love with horses. You have been planning the party for months as usual. You really wanted to ride a real horse...which is an easy dream to fulfill for a pretty penny. I researched and researched and called around...finally the Lord lead us to the Rocking T Ranch...

the place where your birthday wish was going to come true.

You were all smiles. all morning.

Daddy says, "delight" is the only word that can be used to describe your demeanor.

Bursting with happy.

You filled me up just watching you.

You were kind and thoughtful. Giving your friends a chance to brush Annie, too...

Everyone could hardly wait for their turn.

This is the face. Eyes all squinty...new front teeth showing...

shoulders hunched up...little squeals.

You could hardly contain your excitement.

E was happy to be a cowboy too.

I hope you remember this day always.

I hope you remember Annie and Zippy.

Baby Jasmine and her mama, Daphne.

I hope you remember chocolate cupcakes, with chocolate icing and sprinkles.

I hope you remember how big you felt on those horses.

And how the wind felt in your hair as you sat on my lap on the hay ride.

I hope you remember your new and lifelong friends all there to celebrate YOU.

'cause you are

WORTH CELEBRATING!

Happy 7th Birthday, Chlo Bug.

You are loved.

Yeee Haaw!

What Are We Supposed To Be Doing Today??

This was one of those Saturdays that left me with a gnawing feeling that I was forgetting something...

But between Kevin and I we could not place what we were supposed to be doing...so we did what we wanted to do.

The kids bickering and jumping from couch to couch by 10 am clued me into their need for some outside play time.

We got out of our pajamas and headed to the park...bed-head and all.

I took my book (Mockingjay...finally got it from the library!) and a blanket. Found a few shady spots (as Chloe seemed strangely obsessed with me being in certain places with 'good views'....so I moved several times according to her wishes. #nowpleasegoplaysoicanreadinpeacechild)

C and E played in the creek...while I read. They rescued snails and made a habitat and found their secret hideout...climbed 'the tallest tree ever' (which in reality put them a full two feet off the ground)

There were a couple times that a breeze blew in and I had to pause to breathe in the moment.

As all summer days do here in grand ole' Georgia...the heat became unbearable and our tummies were rumbling so we headed home with sandy/muddy bottoms and filled up hearts.

Turned out to be a pret. ty. good Saturday...

It's Official...

We now...hereby...officially live in Gaines Vegas.

I know...we have actually lived here for 10 years.

But something about painting your child's name on 'the Rock' makes it feel official like.

There are actually 2 'Rocks' in town.

The Big Rock by the local high school and the 'Baby Rock' at Chloe's school.

People reserve a date to paint whatever they want to on it.

(Ok...you have to have whatever you plan to paint approved)

and it changes frequently.

The big rock changes probably every few days...the baby rock not as often.

Kevin painted it from 10pm to 3 am...using rejected bedroom paint

(why, yes, we did reject 'school bus yellow' for Chloe's nursery. shocking.)

He painted the entire thing...front and back

in hopes that at least some of it will remain for months.

E and C's nonsensical names are even painted in some secret spots.

Hoping they will be there for years! :)

Music Monday

Well...look at me...two Music Mondays in a row...
What. on. earth? :)

Any chaos or questions in your life right now? Me too.

Let's remember that One Thing Remains...

His love never fails...it never gives up. It never runs out...it goes on and on and on....

Even when it threatens to feel not true...we must believe the Truth...

He loves us and is working for our good.

Funny Guy

This is Eli following directions.

I asked him to go get his shoes on so that we could go.

He clomped over to me and said,

'Ok. I'm ready, Mom.'

P.S. This is your current favorite shirt.

You LOVE it.

You want to wear it ALL the time!

All Smiles...

You had a good first day!

You were all smiles when we picked you up.

Turns out you DO get to play outside for recess...AND

you get to play with ALL the other first grade classes!

So that means you and your BFF, Ella, still get to see each other and play!

YAY!!!

We stopped by Corner Drug for ice cream with the Moore's.

This is pretty much expected on any special kind of day.
And leave it to the Williams kids to be goof balls for the picture. :)

You were hammin' it up...

So thankful for a great first day of first grade!!

Music Monday

This may be the one and only Music Monday I ever post, but I wanted to share some songs that have been ministering to me a lot lately.

This one makes me want to get my 'sway' on. Seriously. Get me a choir robe and send me in!

I heard it first driving down the road several months ago...and then again a couple days ago. I will admit that it is the first worship song I have ever heard that is predominately directed to the enemy. Each time I listen to it, I end up shouting and with chills from my head to my toes.
Sing it, Tye Tribbett!!

This past year, the enemy has worked very hard at trying to kill, steal and destroy our lives...
I would like to submit my whole hearted AMEN...accentuated by pyrotechnics at the end...just like this song. :)

Now, this second song is much more chill...we just heard it for the first time at church yesterday. The message brings tears to my eyes and I am claiming the Truth that He makes beautiful things out of dust and out of us.

Enjoy...let me know what you think. Do these songs speak to you??

(BTW... If 'Beautiful Things' is a good representation of the band Gungor,

I may have found my new favorite band....just sayin')