Football

This is the first year Troy has been able to play football and he acted very interested in it, so he is now a football player. He and Kelby will be on the same team and after two weeks of practice, I think they have learned a little. I think they really like all the gear they get more than learning football, but I guess that's fine! Their first game is not for about a month so maybe between now and then they will learn some more things!!

Date night at a wedding

Richard and I were able to go to my best friend's sister's wedding. I love weddings, and the fact that we were going to be able to go without kids and spend a few hours all dressed up and with my best friends made it even better!! The wedding was so beautiful! The pastor that performed the wedding has known Audra and Ross for awhile and that gave the ceremony such a personal touch that had most everyone in the room in tears! The reception was a ton of fun and really was the perfect celebration after their vows.

Richard and I had a lot of taking pictures in the photo booth! I love that we can have fun together no matter where we go! I am one lucky girl to have found him!!

 

A night out

Over the weekend I was able to go out with the girls for dinner and drinks. It was so nice to be able to sit and visit and laugh with the girls. I have missed seeing them on a regular basis!

Jenny wore a fascinator that another one of our friends brought from England. I loved it, along with everyone else who saw it. She received so many compliments throughout the night!! I'm thinking I need one!

I am so thankful for these women and what they mean to me!! Even though there is distance between us now, I know that girls' nights out will still be so much fun!!

Summer fun!!

We have spent a lot of this summer at Hawaiian Falls.  The kids have loved the slides and cotton candy and shaved ice and just being in the water throughout this hot summer! 

Baylee and Koby usually find someone they know there every time we go and Kelby and Troy are pretty much inseparable, so me and Teague have had a lot of fun hanging out while the older ones go and play!

Also, this summer I applied for a job closer to Richard and I GOT IT!!!   The boys and I have moved into a cute little house and are really enjoying the new surroundings and being able to see Richard and the kids every day instead of just on the weekends.  We are so excited about this next step in our lives and to see what God has in store of us.   

Insecurities

This spring I participated in a women's bible study. We did a Beth Moore book called So Long Insecurities, and I highly recommend it!!  It is a long book, but Beth Moore is so witty that it was easy to get caught up in her stories and humor and not realize how many chapters I had read.  As we all started the book, we knew it would be hard to face our insecurities and even harder to make steps toward getting rid of them, but we all knew a life without insecurity sounded great, despite the hard work that God might ask from us. 

This book was a well rounded book that talked about women's insecurities that we grow up "learning" through culture or family life, insecurities that we allow ourselves to believe from ourselves, men and even from other women.  One point that she really hammered home is that our security is found in Christ and no one else has the power to take that from you.  She used Proverbs 31:25  "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." many times throughout the book and it consumed my thoughts throughout the months while I was reading the book.  I realized quickly that most of my anger, jealousy, and even sadness could be linked back to an insecurity.  Once I realized that, I was diligent to remind myself that I am clothed in strength and dignity and just that simple refocus of my thoughts usually put things back into perspective. 

One part of the book that saddened me the most was the insecurities that we feel from other women.  In some cases the women around us unintentionally make us feel insecure by their dress, career, status or body type.  In these cases, it's our own issue and that insecurity should be dealt with internally and with God.  In other cases, the women around us are intentional in making other women feel insecure, which breaks my heart that women aren't sticking together to build each other up!  In one of our weekly discussions, we were talking about this topic and someone shared this wise truth..."hurt people hurt people".    This statement stuck with me and I found myself thinking back to times when I have been hurt by other women and this seems to always be the case.  It changed my thoughts from anger to pity for them and what they have been through to make them act in such a way.  It also made me think of times that I have lashed out because I was feeling hurt. 

The majority of the book was very empowering and  had great scripture to commit to memory so that when the feeling of insecurity creeps back up, the Word of God is there to silence it.  For me, it's been a daily struggle of remembering who I am in Christ and not letting my own lies or the lies of others overpower the truth that I am His and my security is found only in Him.

Weekend fun!

We took the kids to a Rangers game on Sunday night. All kids under 13 got a Rangers ice cream bowl and it was also $1 ice cream night, which was fun! The game ended up being long due to a rain delay and then 4 extra innings, but the Rangers managed to win it!!
 

We also got tickets to the Kids' Zone at the Ballpark where they could play games and climb on the jungle gym before the game started.  This was the Rangers "T" that was a puzzle you could take apart and put back together. 

This was round 2 of $1 ice cream night!!

On Monday, we decided to meet Tanna and Brylee at the Hawaiian Falls near her house and the kids seemed to have a lot of fun!!  Troy is tall enough this year to do some of the bigger slides and he really enjoyed that!  Teague,Cerly and Brylee stuck with the wave pool, kiddie pool and the lazy river. I love summertime!!

Oh no the Big 6-0!

Mom has gotten to celebrate several times this month for her birthday and this weekend we celebrated again.  We all went to a great little mexican restaurant and then home for cake and ice cream and presents.  The boys are old enough now that they are the entertainment most of the time.  Between Troy taking pictures and wanting to play on everyone's Iphone and Teague making silly faces and talking a mile a minute we were kept laughing most of the meal. 






Amber and Taylor




Amber and I got mom some TOMS that we had custom painted by a friend with the Rangers theme.  They turned out so cute and she acted like she really liked them.

Birthdays in Puerto Rico

The Puerto Rico trip was so much fun!!  The idea to go was thought of awhile back because Mom was turning 60 and Blake was turning 30 this summer so we thought that would be a good excuse to go visit Blake and have a fun, family vacation. While we were on the catamaran ride Amber and I got some fruit and put these candles on it and surprised Blake.   With a quiet and quick rendition of Happy Birthday!



The next night we surprised mom by having the waitress bring her creme brulee with a candle on top!!  She had no clue what was going on!!






It was a great vacation and after a week with no cares or worries I feel rested and ready to re-enter the real world!! 

Catamaran Trip

Our last day was spent on a catamaran ride and snorkel trip. I highly recommend this excursion if you ever go to any island. It's a 6.5 hour trip with lunch, snacks and all you can drink provided. We went to shallow snorkel near a beach and then after lunch they moved locations and we deep snorkeled, where were got to see a sting ray. We had a fun first mate and a fun group of people on the boat, which makes the trip that much more enjoyable! 

Blake and Kenny

Here is where we went to snorkel!!

The first mate who helped us with our snorkel gear and also sailed the boat.