Tuesday, September 30, 2008

INSPIRED BY BROOKE

A few weeks ago, while reading through my friend Pam's blog,
she had some pictures of her little Brooke playing with play-doh. I realized (rather ashamedly) that I had NEVER let Emily play with play-dough. (She gets it in Sunday School!!) Probably that third kid thing. I had done my play-doh time, I was done. No more scraping it off the floors, digging it out of the carpet, combing it out of hair, retreiving it from the dog's mouth. And then I started to feel a little guilty. I remembered we had a huge container of nothing but play-doh "stuff" - tucked deep in the storage room somewhere. I got up the nerve to drag the thing out - there was play-doh in there that was probably 13 years old. Seriously, some of it had even crystalized. Daddy happened to be home that day - he decided that Miss Emily NEEDED to have some fresh play-doh. So the three of us went to the store and she had a rather difficult time choosing which colors to get. (Yep, the play-doh selection can be rather overwhelming). Boo and Daddy had great fun that day with the play-doh. She had a great time finding all the treasures in that old play-doh container full of stuff - the classic barber's chair, Dr. Drill and Fill, the list goes on. It's funny how after the first kid or two, those things seem like they just aren't worth all the hassle. Then you grow up (and so do your kids), and you start to really treasure those times when they are still so small. And how something as simple as play-doh can bring such great joy. One of the very nice "side effects" of having a teenager and a toddler in the same household, is that Mom and Dad really start to understand how quickly they grow up, and start to treasure the moments in a way they didn't before. Play-doh moments are a treasure too. Thanks Brooke.
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Monday, September 29, 2008

MY FIRST DAY AT BALLET

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Hi there!! It's me, Emily. I'm going to tell you all about my very first day at ballet. This is me at my house all ready for my first class. First we have to take my sisters to school - and then we're off!!
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This is right when I got to my ballet school. I went in and mom helped me get my real ballerina shoes on. Those shoes just always make me start dancing. I think I'm a little bit nervous about being a real ballerina, I'm just not sure about leaving mom to learn how to dance. See my fingers? They were a little nervous too.
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I was the first one there, so my nice teacher let me go in and check things out. This is the very first time I walked into my class. Mom got all teary thinking about how many more times I would walk into here. This is where my big sister first learned to do ballet, and with the same teacher too. Everyone says Miss Lindsay is so nice. I'll decide that for myself. I have lots of big girl friends that dance here - Madison, Karlie, Madeline, Hannah, - one day I want to dance just like them.
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I think my feet were getting a little bit "apprehensive" too.
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I just met my teacher Miss Lindsey. I think we just might get along fine. She is so pretty, just like a real ballerina (like me).
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Miss Lindsey told me that I am a princess. How did she know? She put these princess things on me, but I'm not quite sure I feel like a princess yet.
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Oh wait, yep, I feel some "princess" coming on. I think it's the tiara.
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I think I'm going to like this place.
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I can't wait to go tell mom ALL about my first dance class.
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Bye Miss Lindsey. I think I love you.

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Sunday, September 28, 2008

FIREPROOF YOUR MARRIAGE


Sneak Peek: 'Fireproof'' @ Yahoo! Video

We saw this movie Friday night with a group of friends - it was so much fun and a GREAT movie - I would highly recommend it!! I can't wait to try the 40-day Love Dare.


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Friday, September 26, 2008

A TINY MIRACLE

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Is this the cutest little guy you ever did see? This little guy has quite a story to tell. His mom was Kirsten's teacher a couple of years ago, and we all got to experience the journey of his adoption. He is a precious tiny miracle - and now we get to see him every week here at our house while his Mommy spends some time with Hannah.

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Thursday, September 25, 2008

A PRICELESS GIFT

When I opened the mail today, I was so surprised to discover this envelope- notice the return address says "Back Yard". I recognized the address as my childhood neighbhor. Over the past year, my very oldest childhood friend and I have reconnected through e-mails, blogging, and a shared, unparalleled passion for photography. You can find her blog HERE.

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I opened the envelope and found this baggy that says...
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We have spent hours reminiscing about special moments shared together throughout our childhood - it's strange how many things come back to you (and how very odd they are) when you really stop and think about it. I mentioned in an e-mail once about how I remembered where there was a little place in her backyard where apparently a fish aquarium had been emptied, and how I loved playing with the colorful rocks.
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She shared these memories with her mom, and her mom mailed me some of these priceless little rocks straight from my childhood!! Can you believe that over 30 years later, she still had some of them in her yard? They certainly are no longer as colorful as they used to be. Maybe it was more than an aquarium that had been emptied, but that is what I remembered it to be. I can't wait to find a tiny little glass jar of some sort to put them in. I think they will permanently live in my kitchen window. Thank you Ruth Ann - for bringing back a special little piece of me. It made me think about how God orchestrates our lives. How he can use something so simple and ordinary, even rocks, to do extraordinary things in our hearts. I thought of how the colors had faded over time, but in a way, they were even more beautiful now, in their old age. And I knew without a doubt that they were the very same rocks. I thought of how the simple things that we can do for others, can mean so very much to someone. I marvel at the way He plans our paths to cross others lives at the most perfect timing, and then bring them back together again decades later. What wonderful gifts our God gives us. How great is our God.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

THE WEBB FAMILY

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I had a great time last night doing this session with the Webb family, some friends from church. It was an absolutely beautiful fall evening, crisp and cool, and perfect light. They are a very fun family!! You can see the slideshow HERE by entering the code "webb".

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Monday, September 22, 2008

COOL

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It's a rare occasion that I actually get to snap some pictures of "boy stuff". I caught this during FUEL last night at church. I'm not particularly fond of "skater dudes", but I like this guy a lot, and he was doing some pretty cool stuff.

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BLESSINGS

I'm finding myself today feeling so incredibly blessed, I can't seem to hold the tears in. I just need to share how wonderful our God is. Sometimes I wonder when the real life struggles are actually going to arrive - are they here and I just don't realize it? Or is it all in my perspective? I can see God working in my life and in my children's lives, and it is so exhilirating. I just got off the phone with Hannah's teacher, and I am simply at a loss for words. I feel so honored that God has placed our family in such a wonderful school, that He has blessed us with teachers for our girls that couldn't be a more perfect fit. How often is it that one gets to hear such incredible wonderful things about our own child when we get that call from school? When a teacher diligently prays for my child that God would show us exactly what she needs. When a teacher prays together with me, over the phone, thanking the Lord for placing this precious girl in her class. When the teacher tells you that your child blesses her? When grades really don't matter all that much, it's her heart that we are longing to see grow wise, strong, compassionate and eloquently spoken. Thank you Lord, for teachers - for amazing christian women who have passionately devoted themselves to our children.
Why has God blessed ME with so much? A great husband - who does everything he can to make our marriage wonderful - even if I don't realize it? Lord, help me to be what my husband needs. Why did He choose me to shepherd the most amazing group of teenage girls on the planet? They teach me so much more than I teach them. Lord, show me the path to lead these girls on - that they may follow you in every area of their lives. How did I end up with the priveleged job of teaching hundreds of preschoolers (yes, all at the same time) about Him? And make it so much fun along the way? Why did he give me the gift of photography? Of all people? I pray that I honor Him with every picture I take.
My prayer today is that everyday, I can see and feel His goodness surrounding me. I pray that every day my number one goal is to live for Him and please Him, honor and glorify Him in every single thing that I do. Thank you Lord, for the blessings that are overflowing in my life.

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THAT 70'S GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!

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This weekend was That 70's Girls Night Out at Mountain Christian Church. I had a great time photographing the evening! It was so much fun to see all the crazy outfits and and see everyone dancing disco - it was very GROOVY!!! You can see a few more of the pictures on my FACEBOOK. In a few days or so - all of the pictures from the evening can be seen on the official Girls Night Out picture website.

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Saturday, September 20, 2008

SHE IS MY SUNSHINE

Happy Saturday!

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

MAKING COOKIES

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My girls are home from school today, they have both been battling a cold or allergies or something all week, so we decided a day of rest would do them both some good. We enjoyed a morning of baking cookies today, and delighted in a "slow" morning again, no rushing to get ready for school. We miss summer.

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NEW TESTAMENT REWIND


You can click the link below that will take you to an audio of The "New Testament Rewind", which was a drama skit that some friends and I did for our Children's Ministry Sunday at Mountain Christian Church. It is JUST as funny to listen to as it was to see in person!!! It will begin as soon as you click on the link - there is a little two minute intro before it starts!! ENJOY!!! (It is sooo funny!!)

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

A MORNING IN THE GARDEN

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