Week of Milestons!

Wow! Didn't realize it had been over two months since I had posted! So if any of you are still checking this, I will be amazed!

This weekend was crazy! But God used it to reconnect me with my children. It was amazing!

Friday night we had Callie's dance recital! She was beautiful! I was putting her make up on and we were laughing and having so much fun, and I saw the daughter I have prayed for. The one who I can spend time with and enjoy. Callie can be a difficult child...demands tons of attention and is very dramatic. But that night, she was just fun! In my mind, I was picturing me putting her make up on for prom! I know that will be here before I know it, and it made me sad. But it also reminded me that I have very little precious time left to mold her before she has wings and takes flight! How I need to be pouring into her life. How much she needs to know the Word of God NOW! Her is a picture of my little princess!

Then Saturday we took family pictures with John's family. We got some really good pictures and everyone did it without yelling at anyone! Much better than our last family portrait. Reminded me of how much we had all changed in the last two years. I can see a little more Jesus in just about all of us! That was exciting!

Then Saturday night we had a reception for Ava's baby dedication. Another reminder of what an awesome responsibility we have to teach our children the truths of God. Jill Sparks spoke and said, "you can only bring your children as close to God as you are." Wow! That hit home! I want to be best friends with Jesus so Callie, Noah , and Ava can be best friends with Hin too! What a challenge.

Sunday was Mother's Day. Probably my best Mother's Day ever. We made a commitment to raise Ava in the fear and admonition of the Lord (my other two were dedicated on Father's Day, so this was a nice switch!). It was also a reminder of the commitment we made to do the same with Callie and Noah! We had lunch at our house with both sides of the family. John planned, shopped and cooked lunch! It was wonderful! He did great! What a wonderful husband!!!

That afternoon we had Ava's one year birthday celebration. She is such a ham! I can't believe it has been a year already. Makes me sad! She went from baby to little girl over night! She has started standing on her own, and she loves it! She really put on a show for us. We gave her a cake of her own and put up a sheet to take pictures. I will post some. She went right after it and ended up with icing ALL over her! What fun we had!

It was a weekend that God used to just remind me of the important things in life! My family is the MOST important thing in this world to me. Yes, the agency is important, and the orphans need someone to fight for them. However, I am the only mother Callie, Noah and Ava have! I am the only one who can love them the way a mother is supposed to. And I am the only one who can be John's crowning glory! I don't take those two roles nearly serious enough! I pray that God has engraved these lessons on my heart. That when the tough times come (and I know they will), that I will remember the importance of these two roles and love my family through the rough spots!

Thank you God for reminding me of my most important calling in this life!

PS - In case you didn't notice, I don't know how to rotate pics in this program, so either lay down and look at them, or turn your computer on its side! :)