The Rodeo

Tonight for JJ's birthday she invited us to go to the Rodeo. It was SO MUCH FUN!! We had box seats, great food, and drinks. The kids absolutely loved it. Before we left Regan and Hayes were so excited about signing up for the event where the kids ride the sheep (I forget what it's called). We got there, signed them up, and then had a ticket fiasco. So, once we signed them up they had a drawing and neither one of them got picked. They were both so sad. So, we ordered dinner, ate, watched a little bit of the rodeo and then were off to "face" painting.

The "face" painting ended up on the arms as tattoos. :)

Next to the face painting was the big huge bull. The mommies decided to get up there and get their picture taken. Then my girls wanted on it too. They were so cute.

Me, Jennifer, & Stephanie--the mommies

Regan, Kennedy, and me

The funny, but stupid thing was that while the girl was taking pictures JJ and Jennifer's mom, Cheri had our cameras taking pictures. Well, once we got off the bull, we hoped over and bought pictures...not realizing/thinking we already had some on our camera. DUH!!! $10 A PICTURE!!!! $20 later!! Crazy! It was so fun though. Good times, good times. Maybe next time we'll actually get to take Nathan.

Cowboy Pops

Happy Birthday, JJ!!!

JJ with Regan, Holt, Kennedy, and Hayes

JJ and Pops (Jane and Jim) have been our dear friends since they were our neighbors on Calistoga. They have loved our family like we are their own. I absolutely LOVE and ADORE them. JJ is such an inspiration to me. She defines what it means to be a Godly woman. Happy birthday, JJ!!! We love you!!

(I do have to say Happy Birthday to Kassie and Chad B. This is a day full of birthdays! Hope you have a good one!!)

A Picnic at the Park

Today we had nothing going on, so told the girls I would take them to the park and have a picnic. It was so fun...and HOT!! We asked if JJ wanted to come and bring the boys. They had such a good time. The highlight of the park is ALWAYS the swings. That's all they wanted to do, so I had to limit the time on that.
Then, after all the sliding, swinging, climbing, digging we had a picnic and came home and took a nap. Thanks JJ for going and bringing the boys!

Isaiah 40: 28-31

I have come to absolutely LOVE these Bible verses. It really tells us just how strong God is...and we're not.

Isaiah 40: 28-31:

28 Do you know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can

fathom.

29 He give strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Just a little something so that you know you're not alone. God is there and He is the strong one, not us. And that's okay. Just someone to hold you up and draw strength from and lean on. STRENGTH...such a strong word.

Bible Study

I started a new Bible study yesterday. I am so excited about it! I am doing Beth Moore's Stepping Up. I have never done a Beth Moore. I have heard they are EXCELLENT! She inspires me....and I've only done one day. Crazy! One of the things she was talking about was about people being low, down, feeling like they are never going to get out of the situation. And then she said something that I should have known and realized all along, but it really "hit" me then. She said, "You are only passing through the moment. You are not stuck here!" She was talking about the pilgrimage to God. We read Psalms 84: 5-7:

5 "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their heart on pilgrimage (going to God).

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength til each person appears before God in Zion."

It just really hit me. We are on a journey to God, to be closer to God. We are ONLY PASSING THROUGH the moment. That just hit me like a ton of bricks. I have several blogs that I read daily...if not more than once a day. One of the ones that I read, I read last night. She was talking about Psalms 84: 5-7. Do you think God is telling me something? We have been through a HORRIBLE year. In fact, I am so ready for 2009, but we're only passing through. AMEN!!!

6 years and still counting!

Nathan and I have been married for 6 years today! We have been through A LOT in our short married life. More than most people will ever go through. I love him dearly, and I am so thankful that I have him in my life. He is my best friend, a good husband, a GREAT dad, and a good provider. I've always said that because he is so crazy, he will always keep us young. I love you, Nathan!!

Happy 9th Birthday, Hunter!!!

Hunter, the birthday boy!

We went to our dear friend's birthday party this morning at the spray park. It was so fun to watch all the kids run and play. Hunter is turning 9 years old (next Sunday). I can't believe it! I remember the day you were born. Happy Birthday! We love you!!!

Kennedy hitting the pinata

A Sinner's Prayer

This morning the girls and I got up and headed out the door before 8 to get some good ole Chic Fil A breakfast. We were early to VBS, so we sat in the car and ate. While the girls were eating they were watching a video that has all of the songs and motions from VBS week. As everyone knows, Regan is always so curious. She wants to know what every words means. Then, she has more than enough questions to follow that. Well, this morning she asked what eternal life was. I explained all of that to her, and she said, "I want to have eternal life." Oh what a happy day! I have tears now just thinking about it. So, I told her that she could have eternal life by confessing that you are a sinner, and that Jesus died for our sins. I told her that if we acknowledged that we want Jesus to lead our life and ask Him into our hearts, that we could have eternal life. So, we prayed the prayer. She is so excited!! She went into her class and told her teachers. They all talked about it in class and the other kids wanted to know more about it. What a great story to tell!

On a more personal note, someone asked me the other day how well I knew my friends. Well, I could name people first and last, kids, husbands, and sometimes jobs, but the one thing I couldn't say was my friend's story of salvation. I would love for you to email me (alpurnell02@yahoo.com) and share your story. I think they are all unique. Plus, it will help me KNOW you better.

I will post more once we talk to Pastor Aaron and find out when Regan will be baptized. Nathan and I are elated. Now she'll get to see her baby brother for the first time...next to Jesus!!! Amen.

VBS...Day 3

Well, it took longer than expected. Here are the pictures of the girls and their crafts from VBS. The theme is Power Lab. So, everything is science related. So the girls are wearing their goggles and have their experiments in the beakers (slime). :) It's been fun, but tiring!!

VBS

The girls and I started VBS this week. It is always so tiring, yet so rewarding. I have a group of 9 kids (boys and girls) ranging in ages from just finishing kindergarten to having just finished 3rd grade. The girls go to their own classes. Regan is actually doing what I am, but in a smaller preschool version. It's really neat to talk to her about. Please pray for our VBS this year that the kiddos will come to know the Lord, and have a personal walk with Him. I'll try to get a picture for you tomorrow. This morning was absolutely crazy!

Update on showings

Thank you so much for your text messages, phone calls, emails, etc. We didn't have any luck with the showings. One couple didn't want 5 bedrooms, and the other couple just saw a house that morning that they liked better. I am still hopeful and know that God has a plan. So, thanks again!

Prayer Warriors

I need my prayer warriors! They are showing our house tonight at 7 and then again in the morning at 10. These are two different people. Just pray that they will both fall in love with the house. Pray also that they will make an offer that would be worth accepting. Thank you!!

Red, White, and Blue

I have always loved these colors. I love them even more when they're on my truck. I am official (inspection and plates/registration) in Texas. Yeah!!! :)
Up next, the driver's license. :)

You know you're old when....

someone (my dad) asks you what you want for your birthday and my reply is, "bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, and a dust buster." :) Ha! Ha!

P.S. My birthday is not until July...he's an early shopper. Thanks, Dad!!

He's here!

Carter is officially here. He got here last night. We are so excited (sad to say) that he is here! I will post his headstone once it comes in.

An Evening of Dance

Even though we did not make it to Little Rock for Regan's dance recital, we had a WONDERFUL dance recital with Regan in Texas. :) My mom is the high school theatre teacher, so she planned for Regan to be able to perform in front her friends and family last night. It was so neat. It was just like the real dance recital: costume, set design, programs, announcing her, lights, etc. It was a memory that will last forever. Thank you everyone for coming! Thank you mom for all of your hard work!!

The Program

The make up with "eyelash make up" on. The hair. How beautiful! Our "helper". :)
We're ready for the show.

The dance to Pink Panther.

"Introducing" Mom and Dad.

Interviewing Regan...quite hilarious!

We're so proud of you!Mims, the one who made it happen.

ALL of Regan's flowers. :)A celebration with cake afterward.

Some, but not all of the cousins and friends.

After all of that Regan said, "Maybe next time I can miss my other dance recital and I can perform up on the stage at Mims high school." Good times, good times!

THANK YOU!!

Spray Park

On Tuesday my friend Lesley and I took the kids to the spray park. We thought this would be a great idea because the big kids are still in school. So, we thought no one would be there and the kids would love it!! Well, we were wrong! :) Not only were there a million people there (they all had that clever idea), but the kids didn't really get into it. Elle, Regan, and Kennedy just wanted to hang out around the mommies and not play. Maybe we'll try again another day.