Ball girl

Who would have thought? Ek loved softball! loved. Not my prediction, but, oh, I was so happy that she did. The first and second grade girls were together. There were 2 teams, so they played each other 10 times. Not one of them complained over that! They seemed to just enjoy being out there together. Ek was a Brave. She had a hard time remembering if she was from Atlanta or Alabama. hahahahaha I loved being out there, at the field, with H on one field, Ek on another and L sticking with me to take it all in. Ek would run out to the field to get just next to the pitcher where she would get a great chance to get a lot of balls. She made amazing progress as the season went on. She progressed from good t hits to hitting the coaches pitches. She had a hard time swinging through with that heavy bat hitting that heavy ball, but she was always grinning on her way to first!

Good try

The school year ended with a bang and has just kept moving at full speed. The last day we had a carnival, a pizza party and the last ball game. When we got home I thought how great it would be to have a picture in the same place as the first day of school picture. HA! The kids were so wiped out they could not smile. too hot. too tired. I think we took a bath and laid out for the rest of the day.

first day,

last day,

building

I am really quite disappointed that I did not take my opportunity when I had it. Today Ek and H were playing legos. Ek was building houses and H was building trucks. While he was building his truck he decided it was a marshmallow truck and he made marshmallows. So he made a truck that had an attached trailer that held his mini marshmallows. adorable! He even had a lego hand truck to tote them on loaded in his truck. My disappointment was I didn't get a pictures. I did get a picture of their home.

Please note the diving board from two levels. And the stairs to the second level. I think it may be a beach house since it is on risers but I did not ask. Ek was an eye doctor who had taken the week off to catch up on charts. hahahahahaha Great building kids!

Dancing girl

The way I see it is I have 2 options... quit or keep going. I really don't want to quit, so here I go...

Yesterday was Ek's dance recital. I thought she did great. She was a bit dependent on the teacher helpers in the morning dances but the afternoon dances, I thought she did amazing. She said tonight, "I just love to dance mommy." Well, there you have it! I asked her how she thought she danced, she said, "awesome." She also said after her first afternoon dance, "Mommy, I didn't even think I could do it that good!" So grateful that she was pleased with how it came together. She worked very hard at her dance lessons this year and I'm just glad that she enjoyed it, felt good about and wants to keep going.

During the last dance last night, she was standing on a folding chair on the side stage watching. Her face was glowing from the lights on stage and it was very dark where we were standing. She had a glowing grin on her face while she watched and was even imitating what they were doing. She was obvious to anything else around her, she was just in awe of the seniors who were on stage. It was such a joyful sight to see her just enjoying that moment and seeing her look up to those girls who have worked so hard for all these years.

This morning as we were at church, Ek was the only one with me. J was bringing the other two to second service. We were singing about raising our life to the Lord. I was praying for her sweet life that the Lord will bring her to the place of giving her dance to Him and dancing for Him. And just asking for big things for her life. I can't wait to see what it will be.

Tuesday night

Hey Babe!

Amazing to hear from you! So grateful to the Lord for the technology to know you are great. I can hear your excitement and so grateful you are in the Lord's will.

We have had great day. Bible study was a great wrap up of our study. Trusting in the Hope of our Lord. Of course, Christ is our Hope. We we have that anchor for our souls, our minds and hearts are filled with peace. It has sure been true of me while you have been gone.

H and I snuggled and watched a movie during nap time after i picked some more squash and made another casserole. If I am a bit yellow when you come home, its not my liver, its my wonderful squash!! After school, Tara kept the kids for an hour while Ronda and I went and swam in the pond. We swam the to one end, turned swam to the other end, swam to the dock, got out, ran up the hill, ran back down and jumped back in, and did it again. We did it 3 times and it took us about 45 minutes. Beautiful day in the pond, we swam with one duck and again saw no other animals- wa-hoo! I got back to Tara's and she wanted to go to the store to get a few more things for dinner, I didn't let her, I brought over some squash, potatoes, peas, and fruit and we had a feast-- half of her meal and half of mine. Mike ate like you- his second plate was as big as his first! We came home and put our sweeties to bed. I'm about ready too! but I will stay awake a while and pray for you...

I love you,

Hurry home to us when your work is done,

k

Tuesday morning

Hey Honey!

So great to hear from you. So grateful you had a great day. We are hoping today will be amazing. Really hoping for miraculous results in these people's lives and that they would stand for Jesus in such a dark place. I was praying for you yesterday in the Psalms to look to the Lord for your strength. He is the Rock who holds strong.

We had a good night last night. H played a good ball game. Got some great hits. He ran right out to the pitcher's spot every time and was so anxious to get the ball. He was playing Jacks team, so I sat with Susanne and Pam, L enjoyed sitting with Thomas. Christy took Ek to hear last Monday dance class of the year. It looks like next year her classes will be earlier in the day on Monday- that will be better. H was missing you last night, but I tried to love him well. We keep praying for you! I got them to bed as early as I could- they were tired. Tara came over to see the pictures I had received from McGinnis and I talked to Christy for a while about how we are praying for you.

I am really looking forward to Bible study today. It is our last one before summer. I tell you it has definately made an impact on me. You know it is all about recognizing lies that we tell ourselves and replacing it with truth. What a valuable thing to spend time in. I have realizied how often I tell myself I am overwhelmed and forget that God has chosen me to bear fruit, that he has a plan for my life and his main heart for me is to love. I also this last week have had to combat anxiety with the reminder that God loves me and is working good in my life. It is amazing how God's work can transform our minds, hearts and lives. So grateful for my Tuesday group-- I sure am going to miss them this summer.

Love you! Can't wait to hear about the transformed lives there. Praying for your day!

Love you, k

Monday afternoon

Hey babe!

Thinking of you so much!! So grateful you are serving God with your life and your talents and your time. He is worthy. Think of all he has done. We have such hope!!! I think our greatest gift is love. I do love you. So grateful for His love. Trusting in it!!

We had a great morning. Got Ek and H off. L to your parents and went to the swim party. The kids had a blast and were so good. Robbie, Jaden's mom, Surrelle and I got in to swim with them a bit. Jaden's mom and I were saying how much Paul- Jaden's dad and you would have so much fun swimming with them too. But not sad, just happy to know you love us and peaceful to know you are where you need to be. They had a great lunch of pizza, Chick nuggets, fruit, chips and tons of desserts. Ben Butler said he wanted to swim there all summer- the food was great!! Tina and I laughed and laughed. Ek is swimming great, getting her confidence all the time, she is really working on blowing her bubbles underwater, she's going to be a great swimmer! L was asleep when I got home and H was watching your dad in the garden. H is supposed to have ball tonight but I think it is suppposed to rain- we've had bad luck in the rain dept. with ball!!

Well I'm off to spend a bit of time in the word while its quiet.

Oh our wet suits came!! Really good black box with a man in his suit coming out of the water- looks very serious. Mine is super tight- maybe too tight, we'll see. Fun though!! Oh and some pics from McGinnis came- they are amazing! We are so blessed!!

Love you! Keep doing what your doing! Praying!

I put your update this morning on FB, Shann, Channon Collier, Christy Kendrick, Megan Shirley, Beth White, Lee Garner and Heather Evans all commented. You have a lot of faithful praying for you!

Love you!

k