November 30th~

I can't believe my son is 8 years old!  

 

We celebrated his birthday while we were with Seth's side of the family in Mississippi this past week. Zach is my introvert and doesn't prefer a lot of attention drawn to himself, but he did appreciate the yummy chocolate cake and fun presents he received.  

 

His favorite gift, a bb gun, is something he's wanted for a LONG time. He was so excited to get his first REAL gun, and has spent HOURS target shooting already.  

 

 

 

 

 

Zach also requested to play football with his cousins when we got back from our trip. So, today out in the cold & wind, these boys were so much fun to watch! 

 

We are so grateful for the young man he is becoming. Recently, his sensitivity to the Lord is something that brings joy to our hearts. I pray for the Lord to continue the work HE is doing in his life.  

I hope that the next 8 years won't go by quite so fast as these first have gone! I can't wait to see all that God has in store for Zachary in the years to come.  

Happy 8th birthday, son! We sure do love you!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

I am reminded of the song, "Blessed be the Name of the Lord" this Thanksgiving.
When I think back on this past year, there have been times of plenty, when abundance has flowed, AND when there has been suffering, pain, loss, & heartache. And in all of those things, I am GRATEFUL. Filled in my heart with gratitude even for the tough times, and things I haven't really understood.

"He gives and takes away. But my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your Name."

On this Thanksgiving Day, I am blessed. I have so much to be grateful for. Surrounded by family on both sides who love the Lord and each other. I have a husband and children that I can't imagine my life without!

Today is a day to count my blessings, although I should be doing it everyday. Even in hardship and pain OR joy and plenty, BLESSED is the Lord and I should never forget anything HE has done for me!

Top Ten Christmas Traditions

1)  Christmas caroling with family on a boat on the Riverwalk (Thanks to my grandparents this has been a tradition the past 4 years I think!)

2) Checking out Christmas lights WHEREVER we go. 

3) Christmas Eve GIft Treasure Hunt from my parents to the grand-kids (always pj's!)

(We always did this growing up, and now my parents do it for the kids!)

4) Memorizing the Christmas Story in Luke 2.

5) Baking goodies for friends/family/co-workers.

6) Aunt Amanda's (my sister w/Downs) Christmas party for the all the cousins

(This always involves a fun meal, a nativity story skit, costumes, treasure hunt and gingerbread cookie making!)

7) Start playing Christmas music around the house & in the car after Thanksgiving.

8) Christmas parade in the hill country.

9) Family pictures

10) Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks.

A few others I thought of were:

* Making gingerbread men on New Years Day! (getting all the goodies to put on them from the after Christmas sales!)

* The kids like to make homemade Christmas ornaments to give to friends.

* Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (although we haven't done this in a few years)

* If we're with my parents, dad has always made Creamed Eggs on Toast for breakfast (a tradition he had when he was growing up!)

* Going out and buying a Christmas Tree on Zach's birthday (November 30th)

* This year we participated in Operation Christmas Child, and in the past we've done something similar to give to other children.

Great idea, friend!!!!!

Looking forward to even starting some new traditions this year!!!!!

Our baby~

I'm supposed to be feeling the baby move around now. At night when I am still, I think that I do. It's a pretty amazing thing. Always is. 


Our baby at 16 weeks:

It's nails are well formed and the legs are longer than the arms now.

Our baby has eyelashes & eyebrows already. 

Because it's muscles are developing, our baby can make some faces now. 

Our baby is able to squint, frown and open its mouth. 

It has developed reflexes like sucking, blinking and swallowing.

Tiny bones in our baby's ears are in place this week, making it likely that the baby can hear my voice when I'm speaking or singing.

The backbone (along with the back muscles) is stronger.

Our baby is emptying his or her bladder every 40-45 minutes. (no wonder, I am too!!!)

The limb movements are becoming more coordinated. 

Our baby is about 3.5 ounces and 6.3 inches. (give or take some)

It can grasp with it's hands, kick, or even somersault. 

Is this not incredible?
Reading this today is what keeps me going even when I feel the way I felt this morning. 
Amazing that all this stays intact, Lord willing, while I still throw up every day!
Lord, protect this little one and give me grace & strength!

Brothers

This morning one of Tiffany's school assignments was to compare & contrast and she could choose her topic.

She chose a favorite topic of hers.....brothers. 

A creative writing assignment: comparing & contrasting

By: Tiffany Prescott

Zachary and Bryan are brothers.  

They both like to play football and uno. 

Zachary likes to collect things however Bryan likes to run and play. 

Zachary likes to draw but Bryan likes to watch movies. 

Zachary is 7 however Bryan is 5.

One has dark hair and one has light hair. 

But they are both boys!

When Chandler heard Tiff read this to me this morning he said "But mom, we have THREE boys!" He didn't want to be left out! He'd be a whole 'nother compare & contrast with the other two! 

It's amazing how 3 boys in the same family can be so alike, but be SO different. We love and appreciate all the differences in each of them!

Randomness

I just got tagged by my friend, Jo, so I've got to come up with 7 random things off the top of my head, I guess! Here we go....

1) I just got back from voting. I think it's the toughest time I've ever had knowing who to vote for, both nationally & locally! But I'm glad God is sovereign and in control over it all.

2) I spent my teenage years growing up in southern California. Since leaving there over 10 years ago, I had lost touch with a lot of people. Thanks to facebook, I've found all kinds of old high school friends and it's pretty neat!

3) Our very next door neighbors also homeschool. They have 3 girls, & we have 3 boys so different activities take place in our backyards for sure! We are blessed with great neighbors though, and their last name is actually Neighbors. :-)

4) I wear a lot of brown. I need to expand my wardrobe colors. 

5) My sis & I have 3 1/2 year old boys who are just about 2 months apart, and now we are pregnant again at the same and will have babies about the same distance apart! 

6) My husband is working as an election official at the polls for 15 hours today. Exciting, eh?  He's the helpful happy person they need around a place like that.

7) I like to make all kinds of soup in the fall & "winter" (well, if you call what we have in Texas winter!) and I'm trying to decide what kind to make today.

 

Don't Waste Your Vote!

Watch this!

Trust God & His sovereignty!

Go vote!

And be in prayer!!!!!

These two were so cute~

10-31-08 ~big sis & 'lil bro~