Challenge...

TRUST God with what you can't control!

HONOR God with what you can control!

Jesus Talks to Chas!

At the dinner table tonight Chas says, "when I was at school & scared, Jesus Really Talked to me!" I asked what He said and she replied, " He said don't be afraid!" Cherish then says, "I want to go to school with Jesus too!"

Clay & I just shared a smile! Its dinner table conversations like this that we will cherish forever!!! What a peace to know Jesus is with our baby even when we can't be! Thanks Lord!

BEACH VACATION!

The first week of August we were blessed to be able to take a vacation to Gulf Shores with our friends, the Akins. We also got to hang out with our best friends from Arkansas, The Hays! It was a wonderful week of relaxation away from the busyness of our lives back home. Our girls are growing up so fast as you will see in some of our family pictures. Chastity actually started Kindergarten 3 days after we got back- which is still blowing my mind. (Pictures of that to follow!)

The beach is my most favorite place to be. I'm always amazed at God's power & creativity with the gorgeous, massive ocean crashing to the shore and knowing just where to stop. Then there is the beautiful countless granules of sand (which most people don't care for- but I love!) that God knows the number of and yet His thoughts for us outnumber them! WOW!!! Who am I, that He would love me so much.

Psalm 139: 17 "Your thoughts- how rare, how beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them! I couldn't even begin to count them- any more than I could count the sand of the sea."

We can't even begin to comprehend HIS love for us, yet we forfeit and forsake it daily by placing "our lives" in priority over HIM & the abundant life He has for us! Man- we are missing out. He is the only one who can complete us, yet we search in all the wrong places for things/others who just leave us longing for more. May we seek the LOVER of OUR SOUL more and desire Him above ALL else!

HE is what the beach reminds me of!

(MORE PICS TO COME!)

Cherish's 3rd Birthday

Cher's Birthday Breakfast in bed with her favorite... boiled eggs and peanut butter sandwiches!

Yummy!

I can't believe my precious baby girl is now 3 years old. She is such a delight and brings more joy to our lives than I knew was possible. Cherish has such a bubbly personality and I love her independence. She is who she is and knows what she wants and I think that is a great characteristic. I pray that she does some awesome things for God with her boldness. One thing I know is that whoever she comes in contact with she shares her SUNSHINE and leaves a smile on their faces!

Cherish Momma and Daddy love you with all our heart and wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweetie! We pray that you ask Jesus in your heart and live for Him all the days of your life as He blesses your obedience to Him. Love you always and forever Munchkin!

Mother/Fathers Day

A great Mother's Day...

A Sweet Father's Day...

Yes these are long past due, but here are a few shots from Mother's and Father's Day!

Pool Time

Daddy & his girls at the pool!Chas loves any type of animal... even frogs! Yes, my prissy girl can catch a frog probably better than many boys. With her sweet tender heart, she rescued a few frogs this past week out of the pool...

Amazed, proud and giggly!

At the afterglow...

lovin' on Daddy!

Tampa Beach

Daddy and the girls at the beach while we were in Tampa!

Silly Cherish

So I was in my room packing to go on the mission trip when in comes the Sunshine of my life, Cherish Daisy looking like this... see why she is my Sunshine! (These are one of the girls little baby doll glasses in case you were curious.) There is never a day that she doesn't brighten! Thank You Sweet Jesus for my baby!

Chas' Baptism

Chas before getting baptized.

(waving to Sissy!)

Clay had the honor of baptizing our precious little Chastity this past Sunday. She was so excited, as soon as we walked into the church she was wanting to go get in the water... although no one was there yet, so she waited. Then she was giggly when it was time for her to go in the water & full of smiles. As Clay brought her out there and Cherish saw her, Cherish yelled, "HEY CHASTITY," so you will see Chas waving to her baby sister in one of these pics. It was such a special day for her to show others what she had done in her little heart.

Chas' asked Jesus in her heart!

Just wanted to share some very exciting news for our family with you...

We have recently adopted through COMPASSION a little girl named Elizabet who is Chastity's age (her birthday is actually 2 days before Chas'). She calls Elizabet her big sister already. It has been sweet to see how much she is getting into sending her love through letters, emails and gifts to Elizabet. Well, today I took the girls shopping for Elizabet and we got her some fun things to mail to her but while we were looking for just the right book to send her, Chas saw one that was about the life of Jesus, and immediately before I could say anything, said, "Mom I think this is the one we should send her so she can learn more about Jesus!" So in the cart that book went with no debate! It has been so neat to see how Chas' already has grown a deep love for the LORD at such a young age!

Before I continue, let me just share with you one of Clay and my prayers from before either of our girls were born... "Lord, please help Chastity and Cherish both ask you into their heart at a young age and live their lives passionately for YOU!"

So back to the story of the day... when we got home Chas and I were showing Daddy all the goodies we got for Elizabet at the store (Cherish was napping- "conveniently"). I was explaining to Chas as I wrote in the books and coloring books how Elizabet could learn more about God and HIS love through each one. As I flipped through the pages of the book on the Life of Jesus, Chas immediately started asking questions about the page where Jesus was carrying His own cross up the hill. So Clay and I sat there for a good while just sharing with Chas and explaining more to her about the depth of Jesus' love for us in dieing in our place and how we each sin daily and that is what caused Jesus to have to die, so we didn't have to and that we can live forever with Him in heaven. She had many questions but seemed to easily understand and accept the answers. Then after that to both of our surprise, without even asking her if she wanted to, she turned to Clay and said, "I want to pray and ask Jesus to forgive me!" So we went on to explain to her that it couldn't be our prayer but needed to be her own to God and not to or for us. And without hesitation she was still just as eager to pray for the forgiveness for her sins and ask Jesus into her heart. So right then and there we all held hands as Clay led her in a simple prayer and our sweet baby girl asked our precious Lord into her little heart! Praise the LORD!
I can't begin to tell you how much my heart is overflowing tonight! However, it makes me yearn even more for the day our Cherish will do the same... and so we continue to pray for her to accept our Savior too when she understands as well.

{Now for any of you who has the thought crossing your mind right now, she is just too young... JESUS said, "Let the little children come to me!" I am 100% sure that our Savior, Jesus Christ was smiling down at His precious little girl and am positive "that" thought never crossed His mind! He received her sweet heart just as He did mine or yours!} And HE answered Clay and my prayer!

"Thank you doesn't even touch my gratitude to You my wonderful Lord, but you see my heart about to burst and it's all to praise YOU for what You have done in my baby's life today! I love You!"
~Christi~ one proud Momma!

Crazy Love

go to www.crazylovebook.com and click videos then click just stop and think!

currently reading this awesome book! Check it out!

E-Women's Conference

I wanted to share with you a little of what God has shown me this weekend! I went with my Mom and a handful of other ladies from our church to the Extraordinary Women's Conference. The conference theme was "Free to be REAL!" I loved it. We are so missing out on that as Christians. We are sinners too for crying out loud! Not these perfect little people who always do good. NO we are sinners just as the Lost.... the only difference is we have accepted Christ's perfect forgiveness and continue to! So we need to stop acting like we have got it all together and start living life side by side of those who are in need of a Savior and share our HOPE with them! And once again lets get to work and stop being lazy in our walk with the LORD.

My favorite verses the Lord opened my eyes to this weekend was found in 2 Cor. 3 starting in verse 13... it's talking about how we have a veil over our eyes and can't see Jesus! (Now we can take this in the terms of Salvation... but for those of us who know God, I think we need to do a re-evaluation of our commitment to our Savior. I LOVE verse 16 where once again our loving God gives us once again another chance to turn back to HIM! He says that whenever we turn to HIM, the veil is taken away! WOW! It's like, hello, there is our answer! But He doesn't stop the goodness there... He goes on in verse 18, sharing that with unveiled faces we reflect the Lord's Glory!!! And that we are being transformed into HIS likeness with ever increasing glory!!!


You say, yeah I want that... but how do I get from here to there? The answer is in verse 17... it says, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom!" We are all in bondage to something and He wants to bring us freedom from that very thing, allowing us to live a life full of Hope, Contentment and Holiness that will bring HIM glory! So, let's take some time to slow down in our busy lives to focus on our Loving God and spend some time with Him. He alone is worthy!


After digging into that passage, the speaker, Angela Thomas, then said a statement that is oh so true... "You can live your whole life- die too and go to heaven, and still miss what God had for you!" How sad to think that could be us! But WAIT... you are still breathing... so that means you can change NOW. Ask HIM, "Lord, what do you want to do in and through my life, and give me the strength to do it!"- that has been Clay and my prayer in the past few weeks!

Bottom line... the World won't know what a MIGHTY God we have, unless we are REAL enough to show and tell them!!!!!! So let's stop trying to portray this "perfect, I've got it all together" life to the LOST and let them know we still need our God and His strength and forgiveness everyday... just like them!

--Christi

Girls Preschool Graduation & Program

Chastity and Cherish after their program with their Award's and Diploma. Sissy lovin's! Cherish went over to give her sissy a hug. They are sweetie's!
Cherish with her teacher's Mrs. Pam and Mrs. Louann saying "CHEESE!"

Chas with her Sweet Teacher's Mrs. Kim and Mrs. Crystal! It didn't take her long to love these caring ladies. We have been blessed with such great teacher's for our babies first preschool!

The girls did great in their little program the other night!!!! And, I actually didn't cry! It was so much fun from Cherish singing a little solo, unexpected by everyone, including herself when she started on the wrong song very loudly!!!! I loved it. It was the B-I-B-L-E! Then as Chas and her class came out on stage Cherish yells from the audience to "SISSY" for her to sit in the "RED CHAIR" bc that's the one she had sat in for her part! :) Oh I love these days! And Chas had her own little speaking part which she did fantastically on! I never thought my little Chas would be the one to get up in front of a crowd to say a part- but she did and I was so proud of her. She has come a long way since moving here! I love to see her feel free to be herself! Then the ending was the biggest blessing to my heart- although no one but our family knew it.... Chas's line was.... "We hope you enjoyed our show, now will you please join me for our blessing!" Then they ended by her whole class singing a prayer to God. But it wasn't just any prayer. It was our family prayer that Chas must have taught them! When Chas was a baby and we started teaching her to pray, we wanted to teach her to pray more than just for the food but to thank God for our Family and Friends and also to tell God we love him... and so she had to have shared that special blessing along with her whole class and in turn everyone who attended! Right then the Lord showed me what a difference one little girl can make! I love our babies! And look forward to seeing what the LORD is going to do in and Through their lives, even if it is bittersweet letting them grow up!

I am going to try and get some of their video up loaded on here, but we just got a new video camera, so it might take a little time figuring out how to do it!

Thinking...

"I get nervous when I think of how we've missed who we are supposed to be, and sad when I think about how we are missing out on all the God wants for the people He loved enough to die for." --Francis Chan

Okay so I picked up and started reading one of Clay's books called CRAZY LOVE (Author Francis Chan) and already I'm swept away. Man we Christians are totally missing Gods Picture! Okay... so more to come on the book as I continue reading, however, I wanted to share some verses that have been on my heart the past couple weeks. I'm sure many of you have read them before... but I'm going to share them from the Message Version Bible hoping God sheds a new light on the meaning to your heart as HE did to mine...

"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat- I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?" Luke 9:23-25

I was researching these verses some as the first is what my Dad has tattooed on his back along with a cross and now many more. So I have known this first verse a while, however never truly dug deep into it. But when I read it in this version- I was blown away. WHAT IN THE WORLD... It totally sheds a light on worldliness. God totally wants the opposite than what most of us are striving after. Think about it... We think, "I need to get in control here- God says let me lead!, I don't want me or my family and loved ones to have to suffer- God says embrace suffering!, I have to get something to help me through this, God says self-help is no help at all!, I NEED this, I have to achieve that, I will do that but want this in return, God says Self-sacrifice is the way, HIS WAY, to finding your true self!"

To be real honest with yall a couple weeks ago I started really getting frustrated with myself and other "Christians." And after much praying, I feel God allowed me to get to the point where I am totally fed up with the AVERAGE Christian life! I have told many of those I am close to how I'm completely SICK OF this Boring life! I want more! And so as I began reading this book today, this is how the preface begins... "This book is written for those who want more Jesus. It is for those who are bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who don't want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do." Now that is what I am talking about! Come on guys get on fire for God. We are so missing out on an awesome life He is offering us!

--Christi

Innocence of a 5 year old

We had the opportunity today to take our students to Stadium Fest at Samford Univeristy. It was an awesome time of worship led by Chris Tomlin, Kevin Derryberry, Rush of Fools, and Jeremy Camp. The Word was definitely brought too by Rick Burgess, Bill "Bubba" Bussey (both from the Rick & Bubba Show), Louie Giglio, and Scott Dawson. Many people came to Christ and I just have to say...I was challenged incredibly by the Holy Spirit! However, the thing that hit me the most was after the concert during the Fireworks show. Our five year old, Chastity, was sitting in my lap as I was holding her tight because of the loud, booming sound of the fireworks. While her little eyes just kept watching the fireworks go up into the night sky, her mind must have been at work because what was about to come out of her mouth was amazing. She said "Daddy, do you think God is okay up there?" She was concerned about the fireworks hurting Him. Since that moment that her mind was at work, my mind has been at work. Although the colorful fireworks that we see light up the night sky do not hurt God, it has caused me to stop and wonder... "How many times do we allow the 'fireworks' of our lives to hurt God? You know, those times when we just blow it! As much as it bothers me when I fail the Lord, it must bother Him so much more. When we blow it, it's about like that firework that has just been lit and all you see is a little blur of light going up into the sky. Once it peaks, it makes a loud boom, and totally explodes. I hate when that "boom" happens in our lives. But what blows my mind is this... although we mess up and "blow it" at times with the Lord, his mercy and grace is sure to follow. It's as if once we "hurt" God, He can't wait for us to repent of that sin and learn from it so that He can lavish us with the beauty of His love. It's amazing that God can take what we have made a mess of and "blown up" and shower us with the beauty and magnificence of Who He is! Is that a license to sin...surely not. The book of Romans says, "Shall we continue in sin so that grace may much more abound? May it never be!" However, I do want to say this..."Thank You so much, Lord, for pouring out Your love on a sinner such as me! Forgive me for when I hurt You. Thank You for the reminder from the innocence of my precious five year old daughter! May I constantly remember this incredible reminder that You have given to me tonight! I love You, Father!"
-Clay

Easter

My Beautiful girls heading to church to celebrate Easter!

Chas would tell us that Easter is all about Jesus dying on the cross and now He is alive again after 3 days!

Cute Cherish!

Chastity with her basket from the Easter Bunny!

Cherish Baby with her basket the Easter Bunny brought her!

The girls getting into their Easter Baskets!

Granddaddy surprised the girls with Real Bunnies for Easter! Chas so excited to hold her bunny for the first time!!!

Sweet Cherish and her bunny!

Petting her bunny.

Feeding her bunny a little carrot and lettuce.

The girls enjoying the bunnies! Cherish named hers Alice (after one of her favorite people...Mrs Alice) and Cherish named hers Zoey!

On the way to the lake!

Cherish was actually great at casting her little rod! Although we kept it safe by not adding any hook to hers- she just caught her purple fish EVERY time! Miss Independent!

Cute fishin' girls!

Clay got a bite and called Chas over there to fish with his pole and "She caught one!!!"

She was so proud of her 1st fish!

Daddy was proud too!