BIG SISTER..... SO BIG

Yesterday we registered Kyria 

for next year's kindergarten class!!!!!!

WOW - - - She is getting to be SUCH a big girl.

I shall try to remain composed, 

but just thinking about that first day is a bit hard...

 

Please pray for us as we prepare for this momentous occasion!

Resolution - 5

Philippians 4:6

"Be careful for nothing: 

but in every thing by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving 

let your requests be made known unto God."

Recently my Pastor spoke from Philippians about having joy. His first point was the need of having "right prayer." This verse very plainly speaks of how we are to pray. But the one thing that always stands out to me is "with thanksgiving." Perhaps this is because giving thanks is one of the things that is universally God's will - for all Christians. (I Thessalonians 5:18 - "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.")

One thing that often is difficult for me is thanking God for the things I don't understand or like. I hear the sweet voice of my baby saying... "Thank you that you can make Nana feel better." and my heart is smitten. I must thank God IN EVERYTHING. Perhaps some of you do not struggle with this, but at times - I do; and this is why God has been dealing with me (and maybe others, too) about thankfulness and having joy.

My Pastor went on to say that we must have "right thinking" (Philippians 4:8) and "right living" (4:9) in order to have the Joy of the Lord in our lives. We must ponder on things that are true and honest and lovely and pure... and we must DO the things we have learned, received, heard and seen - in the lives of those who have served God (here it is Paul) with their whole being. 

The book of Philippians has been called the Book of Joy - though it was written from prison... surely I can be thankful and have joy, too! And I thank Him for these lessons... God is only good, no matter what!

SONBEAMS-Raising up sunbeams for HIM!

I know that I posted about this wonderful resource before, but she has put a new product out: the ABC BIBLE MEMORY VERSE SONGS! and I am very excited about this. It is currently only available by downloading .mp3 audio files; but also available is a Parent/Teacher guide with lessons and accompaniment tracks for each song. There are 26 songs (corresponding with the letters of the alphabet) and the lyrics are included with each purchase.

This would be great for children's choirs at church as well as at-home use! 

I have become part of her affiliate program, so if you decide to purchase any of her products, I would appreciate it if you go to her site by clicking on one of the links from my blog! :) She also has dry-erase chore charts in addition to her 26 week preschool curriculum. 

She is also getting ready to welcome a new blessing to their family, so please pray for safety and health for her and her family!

PROUD to be an AMERICAN...

...I believe there are many flaws in her that only God could fix (not more governement bailouts or interventions or whatever); but I love America and think she is the greatest nation on earth! Here are a few pictures from a forum that John likes to go to (sometimes people just post the pictures they've taken and tell about the camers, conditions, etc. - please check out the pics THERE... as well as posting about other topics of interest to Mac users). I hope you enjoy them as much as I did... look carefully :) This one just finished swooping down to the water!

They were taken by the Lock and Dam #14 on the Mississippi River.

WOW!! God created this wonderful creature... 

and it is OUR national bird!!

an aspiring photographer...

These are some pictures that Kyria took of Mikalah!!

I know I'm a little biased, but they are quite good :)

I think she has great potential :)!!! She loves to get involved with whatever Daddy is doing, and he is currently learning as much about photography as he can. He loves to capture the moment... and help keep memories alive. Kyria is following right behind him! Of course, it doesn't hurt that Mommy loves photography also :)... 

This is one I took today :)

Mikalah Elisabeth... sitting pretty!!

Isn't she SWEET??? :)

Can I change my mind?

We had chili for supper on Saturday.  Kyria was less than thrilled when I told her and promptly requested a PBJ sandwich- which was refused. Then she saw something on the counter that looked yummy... and our conversation went something like this:

"What's that, Mommy?"

"It's a cake."

"Is it for dessert?"

"It can be."

"Mommy, I like chili. I'm going to eat it all gone."

"So you like chili because we have cake?"

"Yes."

She is crazy silly sometimes.

Hope it brought a smile to your mouth...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here are a couple pictures from yesterday... 

sorry, Anya didn't get in on the action.

happy girl

pretty pink valentine

sweet girl...

Resolution - 4

"Practice makes perfect..."

How many times have I heard that? It is something we here when we are having difficulty doing/learning something. And I needed to hear it, yet again... Practice being thankful! in order to BE thankful!

God has used my children to teach me things many times... I see my own unthankfulness mirrored in their attitudes and it gives me pause... to examine my heart - to reevaluate my responses. I must practice being thankful and joyful each day in order to teach it to my children. And, while I do want to have the testimony of being a thankful person, teaching thankfulness to my children is a priority in my life. There are so many people who complain all day about everything; and I have my days also. 

But I pray that the Lord will help me become a consistently thankful person - one who says "Thank you, Lord" each day  - for whatever comes my way... for this is one of the few things specifically laid out as the will of God for each person... no matter what else you may do or be - we must give thanks! And we must practice everyday in order to get better at it!

II Thessalonians 5:18 - 

"In everything give thanks: 

for this is the will of God

 in Christ Jesus concerning you."

sweet beautifuls...

I like my baby sister...

she's MINE!!!

I REALLY love her alot!!

Anya Ruth LOVES to hold Mikalah!! It is so sweet to watch, though this was THE first time she has "held" her unassisted (it was more like I just sat Mikalah next to her). :) Of course, Kyria holds her more often... even feeding her sometimes... she is SUCH a "big helper girl" - as I call her. I can hardly believe that she is almost 5!! and will be going to school this fall!!! 

Enjoy the pictures!! 

myself...

interpreted: "I can do it myself."

and with THAT face :) -  

I don't doubt her!!

Anya has started becoming Miss Independent! She want to do it herself... and says "myself" to tell me so! Her vocabulary has become a little easier to understand. She says Kia and Lala for her sisters and lets me know if Lala is "shh - seepin" or "wakup" and she says "boo-pah" for Pooh bear :). She is a darling (as they all are!), and she LOVES her purses and shoes and has a definite flair about her.  I can not believe she is nearly 2!!!