Crystal Bridges

Friday of Spring Break we met Ashley, Noah, and Caroline at Crystal Bridges Museum. They painted pictures, looked at sculptures, and enjoyed special snacks. While we were there it even started snowing! Snowing in March!?! It was beautiful and the kids really enjoyed it. The kids were all surprisingly good the whole day- I think they all missed each other! Defiantly a memorable last Spring Break day!

Spring Break Monday

On Monday we met my parents at Chick fil a for lunch and play. We then went to their house. The guys decided to make a trap for well anything they might catch. It is so fun to have my parents so close by. I am so thankful my boys will grow up with the special fun you only find with grandparents! My heart is so full!

A taste of Spring!

The first Saturday of Spring was glorious! The weather was amazing! We had soccer practice and then played outside all afternoon! The rest if the week was cold and we even had snow! Spring in Arkansas can be such a tease!

Spring Break Kick Off

These two boys were tired before Spring Break even started. On Fridays we are all just pooped! Friday nights at home are my favorite!

Leprechaun Hunt

The Friday before Spring Break Carter Wayne's school had a leprechaun hunt. All week some mischievous leprechauns had been playing little tricks on the kindergarten hall. Each day, Carter Wayne came home with tales of chairs upside down, cookie crumbs on Ms. Craig's desk, and other such shenanigans! On Friday we took the kindergarteners on a leprechaun hunt. We found "gold" (spray painted rocks) everywhere! Then on the playground we found 2 leprechauns! The kids chased them into the school. We caught up with them in the cafeteria and each class got to dance with the leprechauns. I was impressed with Carter Wayne's dancing- looked a lot like clogging- it is in his blood! ;-) we ended the festivities with green cupcakes, green apples, and green juice in Ms. Craig's room! It was a great day! I was overwhelmed by the blessing I have in getting to be a stay at home mom and not miss these moments. Also, I now have my dad here to watch Sawyer so I can give Carter Wayne my full attention at duch events. Being a stay at home mom is really hard and I am not a natural at it at all, but these sweet moments that my son will never forget mean the world to me! I am so thankful for this family God has blessed me with!

Tonight- We ride!

One of our friends gave us this cool new pretend atv. I love how Sawyer held on with his arms and his legs! :-)

Bunnies and Time Change

Monday at school Sawyer got to hold a bunny and he was super star student of the day! What a day! He was so proud and so excited. He did warm up to the bunny despite the look caught in this pic!
Time change knocked us for a loop! We were all wide awake by 5:45am. I do not like how dark it is in the morning! And we were exhausted last night! Who invented this crazy event anyway! ;-) don't worry we will adjust!

Razorback Family Time

At 5am I left the IBC night of prayer and drove to Sheridan to pick up Craig, Sonya, Cal Cal and Tay Tay. My sweet brother drove us to NW Arkansas and I passed out in the back seat. We met mom, dad, the boys and Rodney in Bella Vista and then all went to the last home basketball game. Most of his family and a razorback game? My dad was in heaven. The crowd was excited, the cotton candy was delish, the company was sweet and the Hogs won! Such a great day! Loved being with my sweet family, even if I did fall asleep a lot. A night of prayer has consequences both good and exhausting! Did I mention that I love having my parents live up here? Because I do!!!

Resting in Jesus without the Rest

I had the best weekend! I was honored to be asked to come and speak at Immanuel Baptist Church this Friday night for their very first women's night of prayer. Ramona and Holly - two of my favorites- planned the event and I loved the whole idea of it all. It started at 11:30pm and ended at 6am. There were 4 speakers throughout the night, 4 prayer stations to go to, praise and worship and amazing food! We were fasting from sleep, not food. ;-) They had 50 to 70 women there- all sacrificing their sleep to pray! Love it!
I left Bentonville that morning so that I could meet up with my accountability partner for life- Lynne! I got to tour the new preschool she helped build and now runs. It is amazing. I am so proud of her. I also got to see Jennifer W. who works there as well. Old friends always bring a smile to my face! Lynne and I got to go out to eat and catch up on life. I love a friend that you walk away from feeling refreshed and closer to The Lord because of your time together.
Because of our late start time I also got to go to dinner with the Geurins and the Vaughns. I didn't eat at both. ;-) loved catching up with these sweet families. The prayer night was amazing! I learned so much and came away with a renewed commitment to my prayer life- especially with my children. I was blessed by getting to share our prayer journey to Peter as well as spending some alone time praying for my precious friends. There is power in prayer and I felt it all night! I also got to hear about some amazing things God is doing in the lives of many friends - including adoption. Again, God is moving! Thank you to Holly and Ramona for inviting me. I love the beautiful painting Wendy did below that they gave me as a gift. So blessed!

Provisionally Approved

We FINALLY got some good news this past week! Our visa application had been provisionally approved!!! That means we are almost fully approved and will soon get the green light from immigration to go get Peter! The wait for our approval letter begins. Soon Peter will be rocking his new soccer jersey!! :-) Phynnily showed him this pic and he said, "I will play and score all the goals!" Precious Peter! Love that boy!

Salsa and Jesus

Last Wednesday night we had a special time with our small group. Rodney and I had won a free salsa bar experience with our favorite - My Brother's Salsa! Mrs. Helen came and served her famous salsa plus recipes that will knock your socks off. The group loved every bit! Nothing brings folks out like food.
We also had some special guests that came to share their story with us. Josh and Lacey Carney have 4 boys and are in the process of adopting 2 girls. They are in the process of selling everything and moving their family to Malawi, Africa! I love these people!!! They are going to be the new directors of Esther's House. Our group loved hearing from this amazing couple and the way they have trusted God. He is going to use them in a special way. We are hoping that our class will help them and pray for them in any way that we can.
We are studying the book Crazy Love and how this amazing love God gives us deserves lives that give everything for him. That looks different for everyone, but we are all called to surrendered lives like the Carneys. I was on such a spiritual high that night. I wasn't the only one because I received lots if texts from people that felt the same way. God is really moving in our small group. I love seeing theses young couples grow in their faith and in their marriages- I count Rodney and I in that group as well!