Night at the Farmstead

Our school started this thing called "kiss the pig".  The kids bring in loose change and the grade level that ends up raising the most money gets to pick the teacher they want to see kiss the pig.  For every hundred dollars raised the PE teacher will also kiss a pig. 4th grade won and Abigail's teacher was picked, so we skipped soccer practice and headed out for a fun night at the Farmstead.

We met up with boys.
Right away Ash saw the pony rides.
We all walked through the 'creature'.
The kids played on the swings and slides.
And then it was finally time for kiss the pig.  The cute little pig was named Kevin Bacon.  The teachers were such good sports.  They even got the principle and librarian to kiss the pig.
They did the bounce pillow.
Before it got too dark we started through the corn maze.  Abigail and Luke took off, thankful they always made it back to us.
Donuts and cotton candy were eaten.
And pictures were taken.

Our little girl turned 7 over the weekend!

Seven!

We had fun celebrating her and all the love and joy she brings to our family.

Ash is currently into horse.  Recently she has been turning everything into a horse, her bike, the scooter and even the bar stools.  You might say she's horse crazy!  The only thing she asked for this year was a fur real pony.  Well actually she first asked for a real miniature pony that could live in the backyard with Jake, but after many conversations about how that wasn't going to be possible she settled on hoping for a fur real pony instead.

 And she loves her new pony!

I always say Ash is the greatest anniversary gift I ever got.  I don't mind sharing my special day with her, it just makes the day that much more special.  My mom brought some pictures to the party that she finally got developed, the roll of film had been riding around with her in the suburban for 7 years!  

It was fun looking through the pictures, here we are on our 4th anniversary.

And look at our little family now, here we are 7 years later on our 11th anniversary!

Ashy's party didn't start until dinner.  My mom, sister and grandparents came over for kabobs.  The boys joined us for cupcakes.  The kids played horseshoes and took a few whacks at the pinata.  We sang happy birthday and opened presents.  Ash got a lot of nice gifts, many were horse related!  

She was one happy and tired girl when bedtime finally came.

 What a great day!

Ashlynn Faith

She's about to turn 7 year old.
7!
Crazy!

That means she's my big first grader, going to school all day.  This has been a huge adjustment for her.  She's always been a home body, a fan of staying in her jammies all day, and content at creating her own little world to play in by herself.

So, sending her off to school has been real tough.  I tear up almost every morning as I see her outstretched arm waving good bye to me.  Before we get to that point, she's spent the morning asking if she can just stay home, or wants to know how many more days until her next day off. Or she tells me she doesn't feel good and asks if she can call me during the day if she needs to come home.

I tell her that school is her new job.  That going and learning is important.  That not everything in life is easy or always super enjoyable or constantly fun, but I assure her that the pay off is great.  I remind her that I'm always here, that I'm praying for her today and that Jesus, the one who loves her so much, is with her always and is there to help her.

But if I was being completely honest this is what my momma's heart really wants to do ... all I want to do is hold her tight and never let her go, keep her all to myself and protect her from any doubts, struggles or uneasiness. 


It is so hard to send your child off when they are so unhappy about going.  Thank you Lord for the progress we've made so far.

Ash  -
You're a stand out kid.
Ever since you were little you've been very independent.  Capable of doing things all on your own.  You figuring out how something works, how to open it, use it, or get it, all by yourself.  I have vivid memories of you telling me, "i do it myself!".  Wow, I had no idea that meant you'd always be so independent. 
Just the other night you went out to climb in the front tree and as i peeked out at you and I saw you'd come up with a way to make your own swing.
You love to draw, I have many of your self portraits.  You are constantly making things with paper, currently you have a countdown to your birthday hanging on her wall with a box on each sheet of paper that you can put a check mark in when the day is done.
You love like crazy.  If you're into monkeys then you're totally crazy about them, if it's horses then you're all about horses.  Recently you've been turning everything into your 'horse', a scooter, bike, even a bar stool.  You have quite the imagination!  I love to hear what your thinking!
You love to laugh and you can get laughing so hard you cry.  You have quick one liners and are very clever in your responses to people.  You bring a smile to face all the time.
I am so happy to be your mom.  You make me very proud.  
I pray over you every night and thank God for giving me such an amazing girl.  I also pray you always lean on Him, that your love for Him grows daily and that you use your life to bring Him glory and honor.

We love you Ash!

blessings

the other sunday pastor cook told us how God blesses us when he speaks to us through his word.

wow.  that struck me.  

i usually think of a blessing as all the other things, sunshine, children, a home, comfy bed.

it's him, his word, that's a blessing. it's my daily relationship and encounter with him that is the blessing, it's hearing from him and all that he wants to tell me.  when i read his word i find - truth, heart changing, directing, encouraging, correcting, eye opening, love, wisdom, promises,

words full of blessings.

i've heard this all my life, i sing it to my girls,

 read your bible and pray everyday and you'll grow, grow, grow.

and i do, most days, but i got to a point where if i wasn't really digging into the word, studying it, or feeling changed by it right then and there that i thought i wasn't doing it right.  i must not be focused enough, i must not have it figured out, i'm failing at my time in the word.

then i read this

"do not think you are getting no good from the bible, merely because you do not see that good day by day.  the greatest effects are by no means those which make the most noise and are most easily observed.  the greatest effects are often silent, quiet and hard to detect at the time they are being produced."

light bulb, so really you're saying all i need to do is read.

just read.

soak up the word.

fill my heart and mind with his word.

"there may be far more doing than you think in your soul by your bible-reading"

(j.c. ryle, practical religion, 136)

wow.

just read amanda.

the Lord is working in you, he is blessing you through his words.

insta-friday

Good bye Summer, you'll be missed.

We packed a lot of fun into the last month and enjoyed every minute of it!

A new year

Just look at this girl, her smile is a direct link to her heart.

So I now have a 4th grader.

Crazy!

She is so excited to be in 4th grade.

(I loved 4th grade because it was the year I learned about Idaho history and my dad was the 'trapper' at our 4th grade rendezvous.)

This year she finally got the teacher that Cody had 

and her and her best friend, Jaclyn, are in the same class again!

(they've been in the same class every year since kindergarten)

Her teacher told them that they are now considered big kids of the school and Abigail told me she always considered herself a big kid.

It's going to be a great year! 

Look at this girl, when did she grow up on me?  Isn't she beautiful!

Ash has a new teacher to the school this year.

She recognized a few names of the kids in her class.

She has already made 2 new friends but is really missing her best friend, Dryson, from kindergarten last year.

When we went to the back to school night the teacher let them pick where they'd like sit.  The desks were moved together in groups of 5.  Ash picked the desk that hung out by itself.  I thought it was so that she wouldn't have to sit by anyone but the next day she told me she chose it because she's the leader.  That's my Ash! 

She's had a few moments where all the changes have upset her a bit but I told her it would just take some time to get use to and soon it would start to feel like normal.

It is hard to go through changes, my momma's heart is having a hard time with it all too.

I'm sure, even months from now, I'll still be tearing up every time I see them walk away from me.

But I know the Lord is always with them and that comforts me.

Psalm 46:7

The Lord Almighty is with us ...

 Hurry home girls!

Ta-da

my new smile

i'm amazed at how great it looks.  dr miler was right, with braces he could get my smile perfect.

he straightened my teeth, widened my smile, fixed my over bite and then shaped my front gums to make my teeth look bigger.  

smile. perfect.

well almost, he is still working on a little gap with my retainer. ;o)

here's what my smile looked like during my brace face stage

and here's my smile before

i wasn't self conscious of smile before, just ask anyone, i loved to snort and smile but now

 I really love to snort and smile.

i love you mom and dad, thanks for my new beautiful smile!