Up late playing in the kitchen with Elli.
My side kick, always ready to lend a hand!
We made Enchaladas, custard, pineapple &
strawberry cake, cut strawberries and
watermelon...all for Miss Charli's birthday
celebration with all the Grand's tomorrow!
This is it!!! The final party for my little Charli girl!

I'm looking forward to watching her eat cake and open gifts!!!

Love you's baby!
Mama!

Heart of a soul surfer (click for website)

In one instant life can change!

Why do I spend so much time worrying about things that have NO ETERNAL impact? That' s the question that I've been asking myself lately!!! The list goes on and on of those concerns that are so time consuming yet have no value or investment in the lives of those around me. Lord, what do you want me to do with my life? I want BIG! I know that BIG is choosing to do the small. In watching this wonderful DVD on "The Heart of a Soul Surfer" I realized that the BIG is us stepping out in small steps of faith in order to encourage those around us so their eyes and their hearts can be opened to the possibility of allowing God to show up in their lives! To let go and let God!

Take some time to watch this DVD of Bethany Hamilton (a young surfer who lost her arm to a shark)! Be inspired by her willingness to look fear, hopelessness, pain and sadness in the face and turn instead to a life filled with the peace that surpasses all understanding; in a world that gasps at such a tragedy and says, "poor girl, she'll never be the same again." You know, they are right but not in the way they thought! She has been made new because she chose to trust her life to the only ONE who can make her life worth something whether she has her arms or not!

Father, God, Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Friend, Comforter, Strength, Deliverer, Rock, Help in time of need...The list goes on and on and on and on of who God wants to be in our lives! He wants to be our all! Help me Lord to relinquish MY will, MY desires to you so that MY life (which is really YOURS) can have meaning beyond what I can imagine or dream. Help me to live outside the box that I so comfortably tuck myself into each day! I love you Lord and I look forward to what YOU have in store. Give me strength to endure the trials, faith to invite Your will and love to encourage others in the joy you have for them!

Luxury (click for photo)

Phil is at the Costa d'Este in Vero Beach for the next few
days for the partner retreat as I slave away here at home :-).
(Why were the wives not invited??? - Come on guys!) He's there
for work but who wouldn't enjoy even work at such an amazing
place! We will be going there for our anniversary this year!!!
Looking forward to it! Enjoy the perks babe! I'm gonna go cry
myself to sleep now :-) J/K - enjoy your time!
Thanks for working so hard to provide!!!

MAY 13th - 9:02 pm (click for photos)

What is significant about that day and time? My sweet Charli entered the world!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET LITTLE 1 YEAR OLD!

It went too fast! We enjoyed the day!

Phil off with us
time with God
Cafe on the deck
Gymboree - C loved it!!!
Cracker Barrel for bfast - where we told E & R about there new baby! (yummy blackbry cob)
sang happy birthday
home for a long nap - C loves to fall asleep in our big cozy bed & we love to cuddle her!
Juicing for snack - Carrot and apple
Driving to visit Gma Sue & Colby we came across a large Gopher turtle - had to pull over!
sang happy birthday
Visited with Gma & Colby - new swing set
Visited with Gma Mary - suffering from the resuts of dialysis - my heart aches for her!
what a change of life!
Visited Gma Dotti - too bad Gpa was not there - Gma down from kidney stones and UTI
looking forward to getting her healthy!!! Don't like seeing her so down! Hang in there mom!
Home for a fabulous Papa made dinner of Fish, rice and veggies
sang happy birthday
Wrestling
sang happy birthday
off to bed...Good night!



*did not have cake today (had it at her beach party last weekend) - trying to let go of how I think a first birthday should be...Tons of present opening, crying children, cake in the face, lots of activity...wanting to appreciate the blessings in a regular day with acceptional people!!!

Thanks to all of you who called/sent videos...love you much!!!

Happy Birthday Big Geel!
Mama

Where does the time go? (click for videos)

Johnson's visit
Esther play
Mom's Day
Mom in hospital
Charli's bday...so many things to share so little time.

Enjoy the videos!