My Tiny Dancer

This weekend wrapped up another year of dance for Miss Carys.  This was her 4th year and by far the most fun.  It was also her first year of doing competition which we both loved!

 

The girls this year did a Hairspray tap routine.  It was so cute and fun!

 

 

The girls waiting backstage for their first routine.

 

Carys and her friend that she has danced with for 3 years.

How cute at they?

 

They also did a lyrical routine to Maybe from Annie and a hip-hop routine to a remix of It's a Hard Knocked Life.  It was my favorite!

It was so fun to watch the girls grow to be such good friends.  Who, by the way, have some awesome moms too!  I looked forward to class every Monday as much as Carys just so I could chat and catch up with the moms!



The girls giving their teacher a big hug at the end of the recital!

She is seriously the sweetest person I have ever met!



Look at that sweet boy!  He was so proud of his sister and excited to give her flowers!

Thankful Thursday {Baby Edition}

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you know there is a sweet new baby that has blessed my life.  She is my niece.  She is the prettiest baby I have seen in a few years!

To say I am a happy, proud Aunt is an understatement.  I can't seem to get enough o that baby.  I spent most of the day yesterday with her and my sister and didn't want to come home.  (But I do have kids of my own I have to take care of!) 

The kids went back over on Sunday to see her again.  Carys said, "Mom, let's take her up to her room and play with her."  These two will be great friends as Lainey gets older.  Oh yes...and her name...Lainey Louise, the Louise part is after me!  I feel so special!

Today I am thankful Lainey blessed our family!

The Desires of Your Heart

There has been much discussion around our house about where God would have us to serve and what He wants us to do.  The Bible is pretty clear on some areas of serving Him...orphans, widows, and the poor are just few.  There are all kinds of ways to do this and all kinds of places.  So then the question is raised, does He really care as long as you are doing something?  Which we are doing something, but to be honest we want to do more. 

Last night we were talking and Rob said, "So I have been thinking..."  (He does this a lot.  He also has what we like to call "Africa Tourettes."  This is when we will be talking, or not talking, about something not related to Africa at all, and he will start blurting something out about his trip or a thought he is having about Africa.  It is very funny.  I love when he does it.)  "...what if God said what do you want to do Rob.  If I gave you a choice what would you decide?"

I find this to be an interesting question because the Bible says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. " (Psalm 37:4)  I take this to mean if my desires line up with God and what he delights in, then he will give me those desires.  I don't take this to mean if I ask for a mansion and to win the lottery that will happen.  But then I think about Job.  His desire was not to lose his family and everything he owned, but it happened.  God allowed Satan to take all this from Job.  And I think of Jonah.  His desire clearly wasn't to go to Nineveh, but God asked Him to.  And then I think about saying yes to God before we even know what He is going to ask. 

This is all tumbling around in my head today. 

I want to delight in the Lord.
I want my desires to be His desires.
I want to serve Him.
I want to tell stories of His faithfulness.
I want to say yes before I know what he is going to ask.
I want to share His love with others.

So, while Rob and I are discussing what is next and where He wants us, I think our answer just needs to be a simple "yes."
We are willing. 
We are ready.
We trust you. 

The Lord is SO Good

This day has been amazing and the Lord has BLOWN my mind!  First of all I had some great friends help by donating items and helping me set up.  To say my sister has been a huge help is an understatement. My Grandma came and guarded my money box.  And then, there is everyone that came and bought things.  Some of these people don't even realize the way they have blessed me and my family.  Some of them...knew exactly what they were doing.  Like one lady who came...she asked about our trip and talked awhile with me.  She then shopped around a bit.  When she was done she had $4.50 worth.  She handed me a $100 and I said, "Let me see if I have change."  She said, "Oh no.  You keep it."  WHAT!?  I could not believe it!  I mean, why not?  The Lord is that good!  Then there was another guy, with 2 boys that were cracking me up.  The dad was making a pile and the boys kept adding to it.  Hilarious!  We started talking and it turns out, his son just bought our neighbors house and they go to a church in our area and have two kids just around the same age as my kids.  When it was time for him to check out he ended up buying $75 of stuff and again game me $100 and told me to keep it.  I also had a donation jar that people kept dropping money in.  Friends came and bought stuff when I know they didn't need to!  It was truly such a blessing.  I have fought back tears all day! 

Rob said before he left for work, "I hope this is worth all the work."  My response, "Even if I make $100 that is better than nothing."  HA!  I am laughing at myself for that comment.  God said take that 100 and multiply it by 10!!!!  Yup  $1000 on day one!  Seriously!

Rob and I have have a saying, we started using this week, "Say yes to the day."  We want to have the attitude of saying yes to God before we even know what he is asking.  Scary, right?  But think of what we could miss if we say no!  I didn't want to really do a garage sale.  I mean I didn't say no, but it was a lot of work, I had to take off work, ask for help and then sit for three days.  I am not complaining, just telling the truth.  But then I think, if I would have said no, I would have missed out!  On the blessing of all the help I received, on the encouraging words from others today, on $1100 and on letting God work! 

I am so glad I said YES today!