KIRSTEN IN THE ARENA

I rarely get the chance to blog any pictures of Kirsten. All my girls have PKS (photographer's kid syndrome), but Kirsten most of all. However, when she is on a horse, she is in a different world, and I can snap away!! Actually, these pictures are all courtesy of "MR. Timeless and Treasured" - didn't he do a great job??

Look what Dad caught!! He snapped just as she fell. Part of learning to ride well is learning to fall well. She was fine, just a little bruise to her ego.

I just sent Kirsten off on a missions trip to the mountains of Tennessee. I'm praying that her life be changed this week, that she moves outside of her typical-teenage-self-centered world, as she discovers the unspeakable joy of becoming the hands and feet of Jesus. I pray that God will gently take her apart piece by piece and put her back together again in His perfect way. I wish I could have gone with all my small group girls as they experience God in a fresh way, but it's good for them to fly alone too! They are with a great group this week, keep them all in your prayers!

MY DANCING POPPY AND OZ PICTURES

This is my beautiful Hannah dancing.

Hannah's BFF Madison was in several numbers of the show - here she is in the Emerald City scene.

A little lift with Karlie and Madison!

A few of the main characters - they were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!

We are so glad Nana was able to visit and see my beautiful little ballerinas!!

LITTLE BUNNY FOO-FOO

Here's my precious little bunny!! She did a GREAT job performing on stage for the first time. Actually, she PREFERS to be in the spot light, unlike most other members of this family.

Are these not the cutest little bunny tails you ever did see?

With her buddy Brooke.

That's my girl!

Emily had a very special little part when she handed the Cowardly Lion his crown!

Ta-Da!!

DANCE RECITAL

Hannah and Emily were in a dance recital this past weekend, Oz, A Magical Journey. It was a GREAT show, kind of a combination of "The Wizard of Oz", and "Wicked". Here are just a few pictures of before we left for the dress rehearsal.

Emily getting make up put on for the very first time! Notice the little half-smile, just like her daddy.

Emily was a bunny and danced to "Little Bunny Foo-Foo".

Hannah was a red poppy in a field of red poppy flowers! Beautiful!

Pictures of the show to come soon!!

BABY BIRD - ARE YOU MY MOTHER?

Hannah had one of her dreams come true the other day. She is an avid bird lover. We are lucky to back up to a natural preservation area, so we have LOTS of wildlife in the area, with more birds than you can imagine! Hannah was out playing in the yard when she noticed a little baby bird just hopping all around the yard. She captured the poor little thing with her net and had lots of fun playing with it for a little while before she let him hop away to look for his mother. One of Emily's favorite books is by P.D. Eastman - Are You My Mother? She had lots of fun that evening going through the stoy of our little bird adventure and comparing it to her favorite story.

Hannah is SOOO happy. She has been working towards owning a pet bird by this Christmas. She has to work very hard on her homeschooling between now and then, and she just may earn herself a pet bird - now I think she may work even harder!! I have to admit, it was very fun to hold the little guy and pet it's little head!

This may be one of my ALL time favorite pictures of her. There are very few things that make Hannah as happy as being with God's little creatures. Just before I snapped this picture, she looked at me and said "Mommy, I don't ever want this moment to end!!!"

MY NEW CHIK-FIL-A THEME SONG

If you only knew how truly accurate this is of my life and my love affair with Chik-Fil-A. It's even one of the songs on my "Beatles CLOCK"!!!!

Too funny!!