Dare To Do Great Things

One song that seems to be constant in my mind these days is a song from Mark Harris called Wings. I love it! It has come to be a song I seem to listen to over and over and over. It has words that express what I feel for Addie, Avery, and Annalise as they are growing like weeds right in front of my eyes. Here are some words that bring tears to my eyes but joy within as God gives me these girls to lead toward His Kingdom.

"That as I watch you grow, I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams. And faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things. I'm here for you whatever this life brings, so let my love

give you roots and help you find your wings."

My favorite part of the whole song is where he sings about faith. The faith that will give my girls courage to dare to do great things. I pray this for them. I want them to believe in themselves and for them to know the courage God can give. So as I send them on their way in this new school year, I am here for them no matter what this life brings and I pray my love would give them strong roots.

I love you Addie, Avery, and Annalise.

Grateful Spirit

As I take time to sit and do this blog entry today my spirit within me is grateful. I am loved by my Creator, I am loved by my husband, my girls think I am wise, and most importantly I have felt a stir from God for quite awhile.
My journey begin last summer when I read a book about Joy. After reading it, I felt that I was ready, ready to let God really use me just couldn't quite put my finger on it on what exactly that certain something was. Through time and reading some books, I feel my character and relationship with God has grown. I feel different.
As the year went on last year, Ryan needed another sponsor to go with him on Student Leadership University trip in Washington, DC. Smart man, he picked me! :) It was there at SLU 201 that God pretty much moved in me and said, "Ok, like the speaker is saying Leadership begins at the feet of Jesus" or maybe it was him nudging me when the speaker talked on God loves you just where you are but loves you too much to keep you there. OK... OK.. I am started to see a common theme happening here. Then, as I return home and start reading 2 different books, plus my quiet time (a daily reading by Beth Moore) I see the common theme continuing on and on and on. So, what is the common theme? My life. My life being totally surrendered to Christ. What? But I knew that and always have. This particular season of my life is different. Its maturity in my relationship with Christ, its really saying ok God I am ready for you to use me. This doesn't mean He will send me to some far away place. God wants me to know that leadership and making a life made to count starts with a close relationship to him and then He will use me in my area of influence for His Glory.
I am grateful for the year journey God has been moving in my spirit, I am grateful for SLU, I am grateful for the books that have been placed in my hands, and I grateful for a God who loves me just where I am but He is ready to move me out because He loves me too much.

"For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared in advance for us to do." Eph. 2:10

First Day of School

In our house, Ryan and I decided we wanted the first day of school to be special and exciting. Last year we started this tradition when Addie started Kindergarten and we wanted to continue it this year and next, and the next.. you get the picture. So, we decided to get up early and have a big, warm, pancake breakfast all together. Ryan is the cook (apron and everything) with his cast iron skillet and serves it up right! We had pancakes and eggs with coffee and chocolate milk for the girls. Its so yummy and fun to take time and sit as a family and eat breakfast on the "big" day.

Another tradition started by my mom (Grammy) is that she comes and spends the weekend with the girls and sees them off on their first day of school. She has done it every year with her 3 grandchildren that have started school. She makes it special and wants all the grandchildren to know how important school is and simple just to show love and support for her dear grandbabies. To me, it shows me how blessed I am to have a mom that takes effort and time to make sure the first day of school is fun. I am grateful for my mom.

So, Addie is off to first grade with an awesome teacher. She's a favorite and another bonus is that she is a Jr High volunteer in Ryan's ministry. We are blessed to have a Godly teacher who loves kids, especially teenagers and take Addie this year and let her blossom in her knowledge. I thank God for Ms. Birch this day. Stay tuned for adventures of first grade but until then here are some pics of Addie's first day of school today.

My Millennial Girl

Seriously.... My sweet, 4 1/2 year old Avery was sitting at the table tonight eating. She proceeds

to tell me and Ryan, while holding an old cell phone, " I am texting my friend Macie."

Crazy!!!

Sad thing is, she was using both hands and pretend texting faster than I actually do! :)

Kenny Krazy

Its no surprise that I am a Kenny Chesney fan. I mean this man has fun, catchy summer songs that can get a woman's blood flowing and ready for some boot scootin. Well, I had the chance, thank you my hubby, for my Mother's Day gift to go to the Kenny Chesney concert with a good friend. My friend Crystal and I were screaming and moving to the tunes of Kenny. This concert was awesome! Literally, no lie it was 7 hours long. The concert started at 4:00 and lasted until 11:00pm. The 3 big names were Leann Rimes, Keith Urban, and Kenny Chesney. I would pay the money all over again to see Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney alone. They are incredible entertainers. I quickly learned why Kenny gets entertainer of the year because he rocks out the house. So, I had a great time with Crystal. It was nice for us to be alone without our kids and have some time to ourselves. We bonded and it was super fun. So here are some pics of our Kenny Krazy night. Enjoy! :)

Leaving for the concert, when our hair still looked good.

eating our nachos and trying to get a pic of ourselves.

Crystal found Kenny in the crowd!

There he is, the one and only. :)

Keith Urban singing his heart out.

PJ Prater Posse

How come new pj's are so much fun?

Man, I love these girls!

Count down

As many of you know, I am a huge country fan yet alone Kenny Chesney. Saturday, August 16th, in Reliant Arena in Houston, Texas will be two young mommy's screaming at the top of their lungs for Keith Urban, Leann Rhimes, and yes the one and only Kenny Chesney. You see, I am so excited about this concert! I couldn't tell you the last time I went to a concert and spent 6 hours watching country singers or out with a girl friend for a night on the town.

Sad I know, I don't get out much!

Ryan gave me these tickets as a Mother's day gift and its been sitting in my dresser drawer in an envelope. I mean come on that is such a tease having to hold your concert ticket for 2 months!

Not much longer, I'll be singing the tunes to Kenny and Keith. Stay tuned to what might be one of my most craziest events since becoming a mommy of 3 girls.

Pjs, Coffee, and the Olympics

Need I say more? I love the Olympics. Ryan and I both are athletic and sport fans so this is like high priority in this house. The Olympics trumped Disney channel! So, my tv has been on almost 24/7 since opening ceremonies last night. Did you watch opening ceremonies? It literally was unbelievable and so awesome! We had a couple come over and he is a pastor with Ryan and she is a good friend. They have 3 girls so basically its like estrogen level over flow in the house when we get together. :) Anyway, we ordered pizza, I made cookies and peach cobbler for dessert and yes we had ice cream too. Its not a night out with friends unless I prepare a dessert. OK back to the Olympics...we all watched the opening ceremonies and it was incredible. We all kinda laughed and said, "man, can anyone really beat this?" We got the girls in bed about 10:00 last night and then stayed up until 11:00 to watch it until the end. It was moving and powerful to watch our world come together and honor and celebrate these athletes and their talents.

It was refreshing.

At 7:30 am, the girls are up and Ryan already had the tv on and the games had begun. It was so nice to sit, drink coffee, lounge in the pjs and watch these amazing athletes.

As I type (4:00 pm), our tv is still on and we have watched it almost all day between breakfast, lunch, laundry, cleaning bathrooms, and a sick child.

Its been nice to just be home and enjoy the Olympics. Hey, it only comes around every 4 years.

I hope you take some time to enjoy the Olympics. :)

My Greatest American Dog

Here he is.... OBI-WAN, our Australian cattle dog who is an absolute sweety. We rescued him after losing my childhood cattle dog, Buster, who was 15 yrs old.

Because I am a reality show lover and animal lover, I am soo enjoying the new show Worlds Greatest American Dog. Its so cool to see the people interact and train their dogs, the loyalty, love, commitment. Needless to say, me and the girls were glued to the tv last night. Cool show if your an animal lover, especially dogs. Check it out.

OK. I am posting pics in honor of Pioneer Woman, she is a hoot and has a lot of spunk and life to share. I visit her blog daily. Check her out...thepioneerwoman.com

She is a real treat.

Its just not right

I am officially spoiled... well at least when it comes to beaches. I had my in-laws in town for a week and one of our many adventures together was a trip to Galveston Beach. Fun, yes. Pretty , No! I love the beach just not Galveston beach. Its a shame that sand has to be brown and hard as a rock and the water looks like your swimming in lake. Its just not right!

I am used to white, soft sand with crystal blue/green waters. A place you can make great sand castles and catch fish with nets because the water is crystal clear.

Ahhh, Florida beaches, now that's just right! :)

Overall though, we had a great time and it seems that the girls don't seem to care. They just love getting in the sand, playing on their buggy boards, and jumping the waves. Here a couple of pics of our day at the beach. Enjoy!

Hurricane-Really??

OK... I never kept up with hurricanes, tropical storms, crazy coastal weather until I moved down to Southeast Texas 6 yrs ago! I mean, I grew up in West Texas where its flat land, mesquite trees, oil jack pumps, and West Texas football. (which is the only thing anyone cares about) Anyway, I only have a quick moment to post as my husband just got home from work and we have to pull in all our potted plants, lawn chairs, etc. As of yesterday, a quick disturbance formed in the gulf and quickly moved to a Tropical storm and might become a hurricane as it hits landfall Tuesday morning. Crazy!!! I mean I thought I was doing good at getting to Kroger at 8:45 am this morning and the place was already hopping. Bread, peanut butter, water, ice, etc. Everyone had the same items in their baskets. Hmmm, I am thinking at this point, I wasn't that worried but seeing so many people filling up their baskets and grabbing batteries and flashlights like it was Christmas time at a toy store, this took my nerves to a different level!

Then, I am thinking hmmm...God did you really move me to a place that I have to board up windows, stock my shelves for my kids sake, and tune into the weather like 24/7? Hmmm, Colorado or Tennessee mountains sound soo much better about now! :)

Well, we are ready to go! Keep us in your prayers as you read this or think of our family. I'll be posting more soon, if we have power. Thanks Y'all!

My Challenge

A few posts back, I challenged myself and you to memorize a scripture for each month so together we can have God's word hidden in our heart and so we can truly know His word. Its the first of August and I am excited to tell you what I am doing for this month to help me grow better as a woman of God, better as a mom, and better as a leader. First of all, I will continue to have my daily time with God and start my new memorization of scripture for the month. Secondly, I started reading a book for strictly bath time and its called "Nurturing the Leader Within Your Child What every Parent Needs to Know, and Thirdly I purchased the book(you know the one I ranted and raved about that was promoted during my DC trip) "Made To Count." This book is the one I am really ready to read. It will be here in a couple of days so hold on because you know I'll post on something incredible from that book!

Whew, a lot to input in this stay at home mommy brain but I am excited about my challenge. I have needed to be stretched for awhile. So, I wanted to share my goals for this month and my memory verse. I decided to choose memory verses that really would help me in an area of my life that I feel God is speaking to me. I need to tell you that I came across this verse during my morning bible study time just the other day and in fact it came right during my reading of the book "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter. I knew it was the verse that needed to be rooted deeply in my heart. Here it is..

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6

There you go! My journey for the month of August. I'll share from time to time how its going and how God is using my morning bible time or how He is using a certain book. Now, I want to encourage you my friends to journey with me. Pick a book about marriage, parenting, a woman of God or simply just pick a scripture to know for the month of August. Memorize mine with me. I would love to have some of you journey with me and share life.

So, let me know, what gets your blood pumping, what excites you about a new month?

A Smell

You know, the one that no matter if you just ate or how full you are, or you're not even hungry but this smell enters your system and your strong will is out the window! Well, thanks to Ryan it entered our car this afternoon. While we were out running errands, he proceeds to tell me that he needs to get Cinnabon rolls from the mall for a game they are playing during the Jr High service at church. Because its Matrix Madness Sunday, the 2 winners will get a Cinnabon cinnamon roll and enjoy it on stage. Anyway, he enters the car and proceeds to tell me that he got us one. Great-basically its 1000 calorie in every bite! But then, the smell gets me every time. I love these things and no matter what time it is, I could eat one!

So, whats your 1000 calorie bite weakness? What smell gets you and makes you eat no matter how full you really are? Buttery popcorn at the movies, someone grilling outside, etc????

Tell me I am not alone!

In Celebration of....

my DAD today. Happy Birthday! The dad who stood in the stands at all the Jr high basketball, volleyball games, yelled for me as I ran hurdles in the track meets, or the dad that danced at my high school pep rallies as I cheered for a big 5A west Texas football team. ( west Texas high school football, that's another post!) Wow, I have soo many fun memories with my dad as I have grown throughout the years. Now, I get to see him be the fun grandpa to my 3 girls. Its fun to see him share his love for Destin beach, feed them unlimited popsicles, or just making great memories in their own backyard of trampoline and swimming marathons. Whatever it is, my dad is a GREAT dad/grandpa! I am blessed to call him dad as he raised me in a church home, made sure I knew how important church was, and the love and sacrifice he made for me and my sister. So today, I honor my dad on his birthday. Thank you dad for your legacy of love. I hope you have a wonderful day today and throughout this coming year.

I love you! Happy Birthday!

Kara