Special Olympics

So strong!

Bean bag toss

Obstacle course

Water relay

The whole family! (yes, Mommy does exist)

"Bike" race

Bubbles! Lots and lots of bubbles!!!

Dancing Queen

"I did it!"

Sitting in the fire truck

Making a bracelet

Getting her tattoo of a frog

Emma was able to attend her Special Olympics for her school. Each child has to complete different tasks to win their medal. Emma did a wonderful job, and we were very excited that Daddy was able to join us this year. There were other activities to do: Emma made a bracelet and got a tattoo! She also wanted to sit in the fire truck and as a special treat, we had popcorn! It was a terrific day! Cannot believe our girlie will be starting kindergarten in the fall.

New Family Members

Meet Lucy and Desi!

Happy Anniversary

My Love and I celebrated our 9th anniversary! We were able to go out for the evening together. It wasn't anything fancy, which is fine since we are both simpletons. It was relaxing though, which is always what I need. These roses are from Nathan, and they bloomed wonderfully! I love you, Baby!!!!

Our Cutie

"Cheese!"

These pictures were taken in her room while she was dancing and singing!

Dancing w/ kitty

Kitty's look says it all!

She wanted to pose w/ her vanity.

We love you, Baby Girl!!!

Strawberry Fields Forever

We made our way to Patterson Farms to pick our strawberries! Emma really enjoyed herself and was more controlled w/ picking the strawberries this year. Every strawberry she picked, she had to show us. It was very cute! There wasn't a big selection, but we did get enough to do a lot of baking!

Flowers

I will never claim to be a professional photographer. I can even say that I am not an amateur photographer. I do though have a passion for it. I have been studying (little at a time) on how to use our camera other than point and click. My favorite things to shoot are landscapes, nature, anything that doesn't move (i.e. people). I believe that aside from maybe doing a little cropping, a picture shouldn't need any touch-ups. Anyway, I'm still learning. These are a few of our flowers in our yard. I am so thankful to the person who invented the digital camera so that I am no longer wasting an entire roll of film to get just a few good shots. Enjoy.

Celebrating Sadness

Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. Ecclesiastes 7:3

"I grew up in a happy family. In fact, as a child I wasn't permitted to be sad. When I felt sad, I tried to hide it from my mother. She never said, "Put on a happy face," but I got the message. Since childhood, sadness has produced feelings of guilt in me. To be sad was unacceptable and un-Christian.
Then, Pat Wenger came along.
Pat works in the mental health profession. One day when she and I were chatting, I found myself apologizing for feeling low. I didn't like myself when I was sad and I couldn't imagine she liked me either. She listened attentively, then said, "Luci, don't run from your sadness, and don't feel bad about being sad. Enjoy it because it connects you to your childhood where it all began. Your sadness can serve you."
I was amazed. She added, "Some of your best work will be produced out of your sadness."
That made so much sense. Of course! Sadness is often better than laughter. It gives me deepening moments of creativity, contemplation, and wonder. And that's true for anyone. Many of the most thoughtful, creative, and well-respected projects in the world were produced from a person's sadness or pain.
If you feel sad today, lean into it. Don't fight it or try to put on a happy face. Feel whatever you feel. You are in a good place. Tell the Lord about it and ask him to connect with you right where you are. Then see what surprising things happen."
-Luci Swindoll (Women of Faith Daily Devotional, 130)


I've often had people tell me not to be sad or to get over whatever it is that's bothering me. To read this text in my devotional and to read directly from scripture that it is okay to be sad, really inspired me. The Lord has me in this place for a reason. He has given me these struggles and challenges for a reason. Will I ever know why? Probably not, but I do know that HE is okay with my being sad. HE still loves me through the midst of these struggles. HE wants me to feel beyond the status quo. It is so wonderful to know that the Lord, Father in heaven is not a fickle being and will continue to love me no matter how I feel.