SOUL Sisters

I have been extremely blessed by this group of girls that I was put on a floor with my freshman year at Biola University in 1994. Some of us bonded through playing girls flag football together on Saturday mornings, none of us really knowing much about football. We had to come up with a team name, and because we lived on Second Odd (second floor in our dorm and odd numbers), we called ourselves SOUL (second odd ultimate ladies). It has been 10 years since we graduated Biola, and we continue to gather together and create some pretty great memories. We had our 3rd reunion in Seattle this last weekend, and I have once again come away blessed by these amazing, godly women.

SOUL, on the field, Biola U. 1995

7 of the SOUL sisters.....Dephanie, Danielle, Renee, Melissa, Amy,Traci and I, Seattle, WA, 2009!

Readin' fool

This girl has developed a love for books, and has mostly taught herself how to read. When I ask her where she learned she says: "Word Girl" (a PBS show). I have worked with her over the last year on her letters and writing them, but she picked up on reading pretty much all on her own! Watch out Kindergarten!

Pancake love

A lot of love, whip cream and family time :-)

Birthday madness

Annabelle's moment....and yes, that is a teapot cake created by the amazing Summer Miller!

The Birthday Girl in her ballet glory

The new bike!

says Ella: : "why can't it just be all about me?"

Annabelle's newly rited passage into little girl-hood...we painted her fingers and toenails for the first time!

So, if Annabelle hasn't already told you three or four times.....she is now 5! Her actual birthday was Wednesday, Feb. 4th. She had a great day of getting all her favorite food (Pancakes, McDonald's and homemade pizza), and some presents and cake. We got her a bigger bike since her knees come up to her chest as she pedals her toddler bike....kinda embarrasing! And then we did a full blown Dress-Up Tea Party on Saturday the 7th. She told me her invite list which ended up being like, 15 girls, and all of them except for one came! It was madness. And thank goodness there were presents and gifts, because my attempt at game time was disastrous! I thought it would be fun to play Freeze dance, and I had one prize to give away to the winner. So we began the friendly game of elimination, and as each girl was eliminated, they proceeded to either cry, or just refuse to leave the game. But with the help of other mothers in the room, we got through it and declared a winner! In any case, Annabelle had the time of her life, as she had her friends surrounding her. Here are a few pictures of the birthday festivities.

A mom, encouraged

So a dear friend of mine gave me a book for my birthday called "Stepping Heavenward" by Elizabeth Prentiss, published in 1869. The title alone kind of made me hesitant to crack it open, but with the praise she gave me about how this book changed her thinking, I knew I needed to read it. I loved every word of this book. It is a fictional book of journal entries, following a woman's life, and all her deepest feelings and fears in faith and motherhood. It astounded me how much I could relate to this woman who lived in the 1800's. She was so very real and honest about all her shortcomings, yet her faith in Christ continued to mature amidst the shortcomings....or in other words, sin. As a mother of little ones, I am plagued with sin and regret on a daily basis, and this book was such a great reminder of the fact that this Christian life is a journey and I have not arrived...I am not even close, and that's okay. Here is what resounded with me most when I finished the book:
"Every act of obedience is an act of worship." "Why do we waste our lives before we learn how to live?" "I am not sure that we do not learn as fast as we are willing to learn. God does not force instruction upon us, but when we say, as Luther did, 'more light, Lord, more light' the light comes."

Bling

Chris let Ella spruce him up a little with a few rings and necklaces the other night. Personally I like the kissy lips Chris is sporting more than the rings....just my opinion.