Wedding Weekend

This weekend was a whirlwind of wedding festivities for our sweet cousin, Suzy, and her fiance' (now husband) Aaron. Belle, Dru, and Lynlee were little flower girls, and did a great job--we were all a little nervous about everyone actually making it down the aisle, but they did! The wedding was at the little glass chapel in Bella Vista and was just beautiful. Afterwards, the reception was at the Embassy Suites in Rogers where my girls transformed into miniature dancing queens. Seriously, they never left the dance floor, and I hate to say, at least one has her daddy's rhythm... not good.

Girls with beautiful Suzy.


Precious little flower girls.

I love this one... the little girls watching Suzy and Aaron's first dance.

Daddy and Dru burning up the dance floor.

Baby Jeb at the wedding.

Got Baby?

Who could forget a face like this?

Short answer. Me. And Matt. And the girls. That's right. Tonight we all went to Pizza Hut for dinner. We walk in, got seated, and suddenly realize... ummm, aren't we missing someone? Oh yes... Jeb was still in his carseat in the Jeep. Matt ran to get him and said he was happy as can be playing with his toys. I was mortified. But let it be known that this is my THIRD child and my FIRST time to actually forget a baby. I don't think he's holding a grudge. That kid will forgive anything for a bottle. (Above is an actual picture immediately following the incident. He looks like he has a forgiving spirit, don't you think?)

Prayers for Grandpa

I am incredibly frustrated tonight. No, I’m very upset—sad, mad... sad. And yes, I realize that it’s not a good idea to blog when I’m emotional, but if I don’t get this out, I may literally explode. I will not go into details because that wouldn’t be the right thing to do. I will say that over the past few months my Grandpa (my adoptive father for those who don’t know) has found himself in the middle of a battle that isn’t his. It involves his sister, my sweet great-aunt who has endured more in the past several years of her life than anyone ever should have to. (I fully believe that God’s plan is perfect, but in my great-aunt’s case, I have to ask, “Why her, Lord?”) In Grandpa’s sincere efforts to take care of his sister, he has found himself in great disfavor with others who disagree with him on the proper way to handle her affairs. And that’s ok. We are all entitled to our opinions, and in this particular situation, emotions run high. That others disagree with Grandpa is understandable… thoroughly acceptable. What is not acceptable, however, is when certain individuals who are a great deal younger than him, call and verbally mistreat him.

Here’s the thing…. There is something that people seem to forget that absolutely astounds me. It’s something called respect, and it’s what you extend to your elders. It is never acceptable to speak unkindly or disrespectfully to an elder, especially a lonely, 86 year old man who sits in his house day after day missing his precious wife who went to Heaven 3 years ago and who is a GOOD MAN—that is worth repeating—a GOOD MAN who only wants to do what is right. Whether he is right or wrong in his endeavors is irrelevant. At 86, I'd say he has earned his right to an opinion. To put it as simply as possible—it’s just wrong—inappropriate, sinful, wicked, bad bad WRONG. In Leviticus 19:32, it says, “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.” There’s no addendum that says, “…unless they do something you disagree with. At that point, you may speak to them as brazenly as you choose.”

Bottom line. I love my Grandpa. I would do anything to protect him, to make him happy. But I can’t make someone do the right thing. I can’t make someone who should know better, act better. I can only pray for them and pray for Grandpa’s protection until this storm blows away. And it is such a storm. And I can ask you… If you happen to read this post, please pray for Grandpa. Pray for his protection, for strength and courage, and most of all for his peace. He protected me all my life. It’s the least I can do to covet your prayers for him.

"How far you go in life," George Washington Carver taught, "depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life, you will have been all of these."

Zach and Josh are SO cool...

http://www.betweensundays.com/

Undeserving

I've been going through some pictures tonight and have come to the sad realization that my baby girls aren't baby girls anymore. Even sadder... I will blink and Jeb will be starting kindergarten just like Belle will be doing next month. Where in the world did the time go? So, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites.

First, Ava Isabelle

About 6 months at Arkansas Tech campus

8 months at Memaw and Pawpaw's

3 years old in Siloam

Finally, Estella Dru

8 months in Pawpaw's field

At 1 year in Siloam

2 years old, again in Siloam

And my fav of them together...


I am aware every single day that I am completely undeserving of the miracles of my life, but so profoundly thankful that God somehow saw it fitting to make me Mommy to these precious little girls. Amazing.

Happy Birthday, Lynlee and Slobber Game

Today is our sweet niece, Lynlee's, 2nd birthday. It seems like she was born just yesterday. Here are some pictures of Belle and Dru with her after her grand debut and also a recent one. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOP! We love you, Smart Girl!




On a different note, we played the slobber game this morning just like we do every morning, and just like every morning, I laugh till it hurts. The rules are simple. The girls lay on either side of me on the bed and cannot move. (Even a slight move can mean disqualification.) I hold Jeb in the airplane position and move him from side to side over everyone very slowly. Whoever the slobber drips on is the loser. And since I'm the one actually holding the slobberer, I almost never lose. It is hilarious, and the girls actually ask to play every morning. This morning I gave Belle the camera and asked her to take his picture from her perspective. If you'll look closely at the first one, you can actually see the slobber falling. Gross, yes, but SO much fun.

Picnic and Pictures

The girls and Jeb and I went to the park today during our home appraisal. We had to be out of the house for an hour, so I used the opportunity to try and get a few more good pictures. We did much better today. We ate McDonalds first, and then I threatened them with keeping their Happy Meal toys unless they cooperated. Nothing like a threat. Here are some of the better ones.

I'll let you guess what drink belongs with who.

Belle loves her some Happy Meal.

Stella with a cheek full of chicken nugget. (P.S. She dips her nuggets and fries in caramel dip. I can't even watch.)



Happy Sisters.

And last but not least... the Jebster, who, I might add was extremely uncooperative and cared nothing for Happy Meal toys. My threat was lost on him.