Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day weekend with Jason's family at the lake. This was Colson's first time to go. I think he liked it but was also wondering what in the world we were doing. He had a cold too, bless his heart but is feeling much better.

As I was packing I pulled out my maternity swimsuit I wore the summer I was pregnant with Reese. Wow, talk about memories flooding back. I held it so tightly to my chest because when I wore that swimsuit she was alive. I had never done that with a piece of clothing before. I can be fine one moment and the next that deep aching pain stabs me in the heart. I was a mess the rest of the day.

Thankfully one of my best friends Ashley just happened to be driving through NWA and stopped by to see us. Is GOD good or what? What would we do without wonderful friends?

One of her sweet daughters Anna

Zach & Rachel
We've decided we are going to have to watch these two!

Colson still loves his swing. I can't believe he had to wear a jacket just three days ago. So thankful it's warmed up.


I will share more about our weekend soon. I need to get our lives unpacked and organized. It seems just when I get everything together we go out of town again. ; )

We are so blessed to live in America. Where we have the freedom to worship, travel, go to school, and follow our dreams. Thank you to everyone who serves our country and protects us! No job is ever too small.


...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.


2 Corinthians 3:17

Dog Days

I love recording funny little memories of our boys. I joke with Jason that one day Zach and Colson may not care but their wives will want to know! I enjoy hearing stories about Jason and seeing pictures of him when he was a little boy.

This little guy showed up at our house recently. He was so sweet. We had never seen him before and have no idea where he came from. Scary!


Our German Shepherd Riley loves people and is great with kids, but she has never been a fan of other dogs. She tried running him off but gave up because he was determined to stay. ; )

He had several names while he was with us...Raspberry, Cowboy, and my favorite, "Riley's friend." 


Zach feel in love with this little dog, but of course we had to call someone to pick him up because I was too scared to have a strange dog around the boys. I did get a little teary eyed though when he left. Hopefully his owners were able to find him. Z is still wondering where he went. ; )

Ri got her summer haircut, too. She is much cooler like this, but it just makes me laugh.


Have a happy and safe weekend!


For great is His love toward us,
   and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Psalm 117:2

Special Day

My handsome husband's birthday is today. The boys and I took lunch, this cookie cake, and some balloons to his office to celebrate.

Z and Jason played some golf, too.

We finally have a crawler! Colson explored Jason's office and played with Zach's cars. I spread out the cars to keep him busy. ; )


Jason, I love you. You are my rock. My best friend. My heart.


Happy birthday!


You are the most excellent of men...


Proverbs 45:2

Yum

This cutie loves to eat. He opens his mouth like a little bird before the spoon even gets close to his face. I hope he will always be a good eater!

My new favorite...

I loooooove yogurt and ice cream. Not the Yoplait yogurt but the TCBY kind of yogurt. It makes me happy to walk down the ice cream aisle at the grocery store and see if there is any new flavor I would like. So silly I know (I'm sure some of you do it too!), but I found this little jewel a few weeks ago. It's wonderful! Aren't you hungry now?

For in Him we live and move and have our being.

Acts 17:28

New Seat

I hope ya'll are having a great weekend. The sun has been out, and we have had a lot of fun with the boys. ; )

This cutie is finally out of his carrier! So nice.  

I'm so glad because my back couldn't take much more. ; )

Colson likes it a lot, and Zach is ready for him to face forward like he does.

Sweetie pie (don't worry, I fixed the strap)

Enough pictures, Mom! You think they would be used to it. ; )


Just for fun...

Recognize this face? We were just doing this with Zach...almost 3 years ago. ; )


Through the Son, God also reconciled all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in Heaven, thereby making peace through the blood of His cross.


Colossians 1:20

3 1/2

Zach is 3 1/2 years old today. Wow. He acts and talks so grown up but is still my little boy. He has a gleam in his eyes, and a mischievous smile. I'm so proud of him! He is in such a sweet phase right now, and I'm holding onto every minute of it.

I love what Z is saying these days and how he says certain words, so I've made a list so I will always remember. ; ) He speaks very well (and constantly!) but has some words that he has definitely made his own.

Vitninin - Vitamin

Nake - Snake

Bwanklet - Blanket

Epod - Ipad

Feeduwer - Four wheeler

Wook - Look

Slinky - Swinkly

I'll be sad when he starts saying these correctly. ; )

The other night he was so tired he told me, "I've run out of batteries."

He loves to say, "I'm busy." I guess he hears this a lot (about us describing him). ; )

"Not boss me around" is a response Jason gets sometimes when he tells Z to do something.


He frequently asks "Why?" when we ask or tell him to do (or not to do) something. A few days ago when he said this to me, I gave him my serious mom face. He thought a few seconds and then said, "Yes ma'am Mom!" He didn't know what he was saying yes ma'am to, but he knew it was a perfect response. Ha! Those words were sweet to my ears because he did it all on his own.

When I was pregnant with Colson, the workers at the gym asked Zach what his baby brother's name was. When he answered it sounded like "Toaster" so now this is what they call Colson. Not a bad nickname! Too funny.

We are so thankful for our firstborn son. He's rambunctious, smart, tender hearted, and loud. He keeps me young, too. Ha! I don't know what we would do without him!

We love you, Zach!


From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.


John 1:16

Friends & Winner

I can't tell you all how much I think of you throughout my day. I never imagined the LORD would bring women in my life through blogging who I consider precious friends, but He has! I'm so thankful for you. I haven't been able to visit many of you lately, and I miss you so much! I really do.

The boys are at such fun stages and get most of my attention. I don't want to miss out. ; ) I love each and every second I spend with them. I love learning more about them, watching them play, having real conversations with Zach and practicing with Colson how to say, "Mama." They are my joy and heart.

I hope to catch up soon especially since I ironed three weeks worth of clothes this past weekend. ; ) Seriously. People tell me they don't iron because they buy clothes that don't need ironing. Where do people get these kinds of clothes?!


Okay moving on. ; )


The Picky Sticky winner is # 20 (www.random.org).


Congrats to Blogger2! I'll email you with the details. 


Thank you for entering this giveaway! 

By day the LORD directs His love,
   at night His song is with me...


Psalm 42:8

Butterfly Release

I recently became involved in a wonderful group called SHARE. This group is for parents who have lost children, and everyone has been so encouraging and sweet.


We attended their 8th annual Butterfly Release a few nights ago.

On the way there we drove straight into a severe storm. I was so disappointed because I just didn't think we were going to make it. Also how do you release butterflies in the rain? Of all nights.


We pulled over at a gas station for a few minutes and the storm let up a bit. I was so determined to go, but I didn't know how it was going to work. Z was so excited about the butterflies, too. He really wanted a green one. ; )

The release did happen, and it even stopped raining for awhile. There were several other families there, and it was nice to know although I may not know their stories we have a common bond.

When I gave Z his little envelope he said (very loudly), "Is it green?!" He is really into green these days.

I have never done anything like this and was amazed at how a live butterfly could be inside the envelope.

Z was so proud.

We were outside for about ten minutes and guess what GOD did? He painted a rainbow in the sky just for us. It was absolutely beautiful. Just like Him to do.

Z really is very gentle but his poor butterfly! He loves to hold any bug he sees and of course doesn't understand that really doesn't work well. It would fly then he would want to hold it then it would fly some more (I'm sure trying to get away). ; )


It was a very special night. I love that Z could be involved, and I'm thankful for events like this that we can do as a family to honor Reese.


Through the praise of children and infants You have established a stronghold against Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 


Psalm 8:2

10 Months & Giveaway!

*Blogger has been having some issues, so hopefully Reese's flowers post will appear again soon. I'll be so sad if it doesn't! 

*I bought the dress I wore Mother's Day at Dillard's. It's one of my favorites. I would wear it everyday if I could. ; )

I say this EVERY month, and it's no different now. How can my baby boy be another month older?

 Colson, we love you more than you'll ever know. Your smiles, your giggles, your faces remind me what life is all about.

God really outdid Himself when He gave us you. 

Happy 10 months, Colson!

Get excited about another Picky Sticky giveaway. ; ) They have new stickers that document a baby's second year, too. Cute! They also offer "belly stickers" to document a pregnancy and "years of fun" stickers.


Leave a comment to win a Gift Voucher for $15 on a set of Picky Stickys.

Don't forget to leave your email address if this is the best way for me to contact you.

I'll announce the winner Tuesday night. Good luck and have a wonderful weekend!

...what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?

Psalm 8:4

Spring Flowers

For I know the plans I have for you...

plans for your welfare,

not for disaster,

to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Colson helped me with Reese's spring flowers. ; ) I love the yellow. Bright, cheerful, and hopeful. This is just his second time to be outside by Reese's garden. It was sweet having him there with me, and I know Reese thought so, too. 

For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

James 4:14

Mother's Day Weekend

Mother's Day was wonderful. I didn't know how it would be for me this year, but I knew having Colson in my arms would be just what I needed! I wasn't as nervous as I was last week, either. ; ) I was sweating a bit, but no one could tell. Ha!

Thank you so so much for your prayers. I am amazed. I felt them all day long. ; )

We were a little worried about how Z would do standing in front of everyone, but he did a great job. Later he asked me why we didn't dedicate Colson in "his" church. Sweet thing.

A few funny things I definitely want to remember...

Z did not want to wear his shoes, so he walked across the stage barefoot. Nice. This was not a battle we wanted to fight that morning. ; )

Minutes before we were to walk on the stage, Jason went to grab a sucker out of my purse in case we needed to "encourage" Z to behave. While he was gone, I suddenly felt this warm liquid dripping down my arm. Colson had spit up all over his shirt, my arm, and the floor. Thankfully a friend ran to the bathroom with both boys and me to clean up.

Just as we walked off the stage, Z turns around and yells, "BYE, G-DADDY!" You just have to laugh sometimes.


Our pastor encouraged us from Deuteronomy 6:6-9. These verses are about impressing GOD's Word on our children's hearts throughout each day.

Jason's side of the fam

I love being a part of this family. ; )

Plus my mom

We missed you, Dad!

Just a few desserts for our amazing moms

Delicious!

Thanks also for your advice about Zach's hair. ; )


O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!


Psalm 84:12

Mother's Day

There are many different types of mothers. Some have their children in their arms, others do not. Some mothers give up their babies to give them a better life. Some mother another woman's children and take them in as her own. 

You can never have too many people in your life to mother you. ; ) I'm so thankful for my mom, and I'm blessed to be a mom to my three children. Love you, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to all moms today.

A precious woman shared with me something Elizabeth Edwards said about losing a child. I had not heard it before, and it's wonderful.


"If you know someone who has lost a child...and you're afraid to mention them because you think you might make them sad by reminding them that they died, they didn't forget they died. You're not reminding them. What you're reminding them of is that you remember that they lived, and that's a great, great gift."

My heart is with all of you who have felt the pain of losing a child. You are not alone. You are not holding your baby today, but if you know Jesus one day you will. 


Mother's day will forever have new meaning. I honor you. I pray the LORD gives you more joy than you ever thought possible just as He has given me.

He is good.

...I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

2 Timothy 1:12

Twinkies

 Z loves his little brother! Colson is a trooper. ; ) He laughs at anything Zach does, and all Z needs is an audience so it's perfect.

 I think I'm going to really get into matching or coordinating the boys' clothes as they grow up. Fun!

 Colson just goes along with what Z wants to do.

 Last night about 30 minutes after I took these pictures, Z said, "Hey, we have on the same shirt!" He was so excited. It was cute because he didn't realize it until then (even after I had told him...we are working on our listening skills). ; )

 I'm very sore from the cardio tennis class I tried yesterday morning. I loved it! The women in it were nice and welcoming, so I was not too embarrassed when I missed the ball (completely!) a few times. Ha! It's good to laugh at yourself sometimes, right?

 I'm so nervous about Colson's dedication this Sunday. I have no idea why, but whenever I think about it my stomach flips. It will be a special day, and a lot of emotions go along with it too.

Those cheeks! Jason and I laugh at how we called Zach a "force" when he was a baby. He was so compact and heavy. I thought of the name "tank" for Colson because he is so much heavier than Zach was. He is still not crawling, so I know this will change when he starts moving. He may just skip right to walking. ; )

So I have this question...Zach's hair is silky and falls straight down to the front. The longer it grows of course it goes right into his eyes. I brush it over to the side in the morning and use hairspray, but it only lasts two seconds. Does anyone have tips for keeping his hair over to the side better or for longer? Thanks!




GOD raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.


Acts 2:24