Smile

Over the last 6 months or so I have received a ton of compliments on my smile. It has been weird and it has been so often that it got me to thinking. My first thought was why now? Am I too old and nothing but my smile looks good anymore? Chris told me it was just men hitting on me, but I noticed woman made the same compliment. I wondered if it was because of Chris, but I have been in love before and my smile didn't seem to catch people's attention...so what is different about me now?

And then it hit me...

I am more of who God created me to be at this moment than ever before.

I have been in love. I have been happy. I have been content. I have been satisfied. I have been fulfilled. But never before have I been so in tune to God and His plans and how I fit into that as I am now. And what people are seeing isn't me, but Christ within me making me beautiful. Funny how just a smile can draw people in.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch with Aby and McKinley last week and the kids had alot of fun running around and choosing their pumpkin to buy and pretending to ride the tractor. The weather is still very warm here and hardly feels like Fall or Halloween, but despite being in the 80's we had to go on our annual pumpkin patch outing.

MBR

My boyfriend rocks...

because he is a great gift giver. Chris is one of those people in which you don't want to tell him what you want as a gift for your birthday or Christmas because what he will come up with on his own will be better than what you could have asked for. He takes the time to listen and observe and he knows just what to get to make a gift more than just a gift. And it doesn't just go for me, he did great in picking out Troy's birthday gift too...so good that I thought his ex-wife did it!! :) He knows it doesn't matter the price tag amount or the brand name, but he always thinks about the receiver and what they would really enjoy.

I collect fun socks and here are a pair he surprised me with one day!!

Party!!

Troy had his birthday party over the weekend. We went and toured the fire station. It was a lot of fun and the firemen made it so special with the hats and goodie bags and letting the kids get in the truck. Troy received a ton of great gifts most of which consisted of Lightning McQueen or Thomas the Train, two of his favorites! It's so hard to believe he is 4, but everyday I realize he is growing up just in the way he talks and thinks. He is very articulate, but sometimes a bit shy. He loves the outdoors and anything to do with bikes or skateboards or scooters and racing them. 4 years ago I was nervous about having a boy and didn't know if I would be able to connect with him, but I realize now that was a silly thought. He is very much like me and in that way alone we are able to connect...and also butt heads, but he is a precious gift and I am so glad to be growing him into who God has created him to be.












And, of course, Teague LOVED the cake!!

Stop growing!!

Today Troy is 4...I wish he would just stop growing!!

More birthday festivities

Troy's birthday is still a week away, but Sonja and GG came into town to celebrate early. We celebrated by having the dinner and cake of Troy's choosing and, of course, gifts. Troy got a Leap Frog Tag Pen and different books to go along with it. It's basically a pen that reads the books to him and at any point he can stop on a word and it will re-read that word. He has been playing with it non-stop. It was so nice to spend some time with Sonja and GG, and Troy and Teague loved showing them all their toys. GG kept saying she couldn't believe Troy was turning 4 and really neither can I...only 5 more days with my 3 year old!