Kids say the funniest things!

Jadyn is saying the funniest things these days. She saw my freckles and said:
J-what's that Mommy?
me- those are freckles . I have them on my face too. (as I took her finger and pointed them out)
J- I don't have freckles (as she looked at her legs)
J- Somebody needs to get me some!
How funny! I am going to remind of her of this dialogue if she does get them.

Casey giving Jadyn a bath:
Jadyn had a TT accident at the park. She came home very wet! Casey put her in the bath.
J- Daddy, my tinie (what we call her priviate) is wet. I can't wait to wash it!

Laying Jadyn down last night:

me- I enjoyed going to the park with you today, Jadyn. (looking at her in the crib)
J- and I enjoyed exercising, mommy!

What they pick up???

It is well with my soul!

Casey and I celebrated eight years of marriage yesterday. Well, I wouldn't call it celebrated. Jadyn was sick so we really just took care of her. We layed in bed playing "remember when." Casey asked me what was my favorite married memories...I have so many. It was neat he asked me that because I had spent that day looking at old journal entries where I had written about him over the past several years.

Some wonderful memories that came to my mind were our vacations together. We took one every year before Jadyn was born. Casey and I were both raised in homes where that was important so we both still value "get aways." We had six years together before we had Jadyn which wasn't our plan, but it did give us time to make good memories and enjoy each other and learn each other....... there were fights too!

Other memories: first year of marriage and living on a 400 acre farm! I could write a book on that! So funny! Moving to a city we had never seen......so, of course some of my favorite memories are in Hammond, La. It is where our family began, starting a ministry from ground-up, being a mom, decorating a home......
So, why is it well with my soul? Well, we have made a decision to leave SLU and all of our staff are moving to Baton Rouge. The thoughts of this town,the favorite eating spots, parks, the faces of students,all the beginnings of the ministry, cookouts, lives that have changed and those whose haven't.....it brings so much emotion.

I was reading through my journal of prayers that I had asked God to change the heart of girls who I have now been discipling for three-five years. What a joy and privilege! It's so easy to forget where God has brought us! I love that the Old Testament would always build an alter/monument to remind them of God's faithfulness.

In the entries I saw my heart and how I had so much passion. Where has it gone? Has it gone? I read some of the entries and it sounds like I want to "save" the world. Maybe my passion has matured some...I always refer to myself as Peter..... the one who was quick to speak, passionate, young --immature but through sanctification He will continue to strip away the sin that prevents me from serving Him out of a pure heart!

It wasn't well my soul last year at this time.....it wasn't HIS timing but it is now. He has gone before us! I can't wait to see what he has in store at LSU. Wow....we are going back to square one on a huge campus at age 30!! Whose parents are hanging out in the dorms! ha...

So, these next few months we are trusting God that He will provide a home for us, close to campus. I want a home with a big den so I can have lots of people in it!

This move will be bitter-sweet. I have loved this campus and the "small beginnings." The Bible says don't despise the small beginnings......oh, so true! God, thank you for the lives that you have brought from death to life! May you continue to change hearts, marriages, families, our nation, world through us all...as ambassadors of the Gospel!

*know this was long....this was for me.... :)

Here we go again!

Well, we are about to evacuate thanks to GUSTAV! Fun Fun. Going to leave tomorrow to north Mississippi. So, needless to say.... I'll be blogging post and pictures from it. ....staying safe....

Go to sleep Jadyn!

Some days Jadyn won't go to sleep! I walked in to her to room to check on her and there she stood with no clothes on! I just couldn't help but laugh.

Daddy and J reading.

I can't spell...... KO?

So, Casey looks at my blog and points out all my misspellings! I am sorry.... I really never read over what I write.... I should....and if I did.... I still probably wouldn't notice!!

What a treat!

For the past couple of weeks Jadyn has been waking up at normal time (7:00a.m). So, I tried getting her and putting her back in our bed. It's so funny. We don't even talk to her we just put her in the bed with us and put our backs to her. She goes back to sleep.

This morning she didn't wake up till 9:15! Casey took advantage and slept in and I got up and had a quiet cup of coffee! I cant remember when I have done that! So, needless to say....I hope it stays this way! Maybe not till 9:15 but at least 8:00!

Friends --- are worth it!

If anyting I "caught" that was not "taught" to me by my parents was that they valued frindships. We would vacation with famlies, eat at each others houses, drop by without calling... So, I too love to do that as well and long for it more....a community

The Browns (who are good friends of ours/Crooms since 2000 when the came on staff with CO) drove from Birmingham to see the Crooms, Casey, Jadyn and me. It was so much fun to just laugh and be with "old" friends. We got babysitters (free babysitters--our precious students serve us all the time by watching our kids) for Friday and Saturday night!

We went out to eat Friday night and then Saturday night we cooked out at our house while the kids were at Crooms house two doors down. Can i say fun and fueling! Every now and then I wonder where the kids were....it was so quiet. :)

It really boils down to we have to make sacrifices if we value friendships....whether it means spend money you don't have to go out,cook out, pedicures, aquarium, getting babysitters, take off work, drive 5 hours with three kids (one who is nursing)...... it's WORTH IT!

Friends are worth it.