Enough said...

Lady Vols

My Christmas present to Brian this year was tickets to the Women's SEC Basketball Tournament. We are huge UT fans, especially women's basketball. The tournament started on Thursday - we didn't go because UT didn't play until Friday. Friday, Macy went to the game with her daddy. She was infatuated with the jumbo-tron, loved the hotdog and cotton candy...but was done after that. She told her daddy that she would rather watch a movie. So, Saturday we got a babysitter for the girls and saw UT play Vanderbilt. It was a great game!!

Here is Candace Parker making one of her 30 or so shots of the evening. And...because they WON!!, we will be attending the championship game tonight. More to come on that.

Fun in the Snow, Day 2

Just a little over a week ago, we had about 2 inches of snow, and the girls had a blast. Well, we had another "winter storm" on Friday night and awoke to a beautiful white scene. We got about 4 inches this time. Macy was chomping at the bit to go outside and play again in the snow. She wanted to make "snow angels." Daddy wanted to take her sledding...but we don't own a sled. That didn't stop daddy!!

Library Time

It seems as though this week has been a lot of "firsts." Macy went to her first movie, first time for both girls to build a snowman and now first time going to the library. Our church just built a new library and they decided to have story time on Friday's. It was so much fun. They listened and sang and danced. Macy even helped pick out some books to read this week.

Princess Farmer and Her Day of Fun

The last three nights, I have had an aweful time going to sleep and staying asleep. Too much on my mind, I guess... Last night, I actually went to sleep before 11pm, but at 2:30, I was wide awake. Got up for a while and then tried to go back to sleep, with no luck. So, at 6:00 I decided to get some things accomplished while the girls were still in bed...(like that huge pile of laundry you saw in the last post). I was sitting at the kitchen table (unnoticed) when I heard Macy's door creep open. She tip toed around to our bedroom door, peeked around and wanted in the bed with daddy. Well, my little Princess Macy was ready to sit on her thrown for the day...

It was "dress like a farmer" day at Mother's Day Out and boy did Macy have fun. They learned about animals and even had a "pig parade."

After MDO, we decided to go for ice cream. Yummy!

Then for a ride in the wagon...what a beautiful, sunny afternoon. 65 degrees today and 4-5 inches of snow in the forcast tomorrow. ?!?!?

Molly absolutely had a ball...the only problem on the ride was that Molly's feet were touching Macy's feet and Macy was just not going to have that.

Macy then picked some very pretty flowers for Mommy...her pansies.

AAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

Have you ever had one of those moments when you just wanted to scream or run away? This is what happened when I saw this...

I had been gone all day yesterday and returned from choir practice last night to find that my husband let the girls absolutely trash the house. The kitchen was a mess with food and dirty dishes laying everywhere, toys all over the living room, the tray to the high chair still had food all over it, dirty clothes laying on the floor and even dirty diapers laying on the changing table...and Brian was snug as a bug in a rug in our bed.

Then I looked around the corner and I couldn't believe my eyes!!!

MY LAUNDRY ROOM!!! 4 baskets of laundry waiting just for me! At this point I thought, how quickly can I get back into the car and go somewhere, anywhere...with a MAID!! I guess this is God reminding me again of my purpose as a mom. (Don't think I didn't tell my husband what I thought of the mess!! HA)

Changing my life, one step at a time

As you have read, I just began blogging last week. What a difference in my life. I always kept a journal growing up and would do really well for a little while writing in it every day, then every few days, then a couple times a month, and...well, you know where this is going. But blogging is different for me. Maybe it is because I am older now, maybe it is because I am in a different stage in my life, who knows? All I know is that it is the most theraputic thing I have done in a long time. I can brag about my kids or my husband, tell about their great accomplishments, or just write what is on my mind.

A friend of mine, who I am getting to know better every day, told me about a blog she reads: Proverbs 31 Ministry. As I talk more to this friend, I have realized how many of the same things we have been through, are going through, and probably will go through. The devotion that was on this website for March 3 has literally changed my life. I struggle so much with what my purpose is in life. I had a great job as Director of Operations for a healthcare marketing company before I had my children and was driven to succeed. That was my purpose (or so I thought). While I was there, I got married to Brian. That was my purpose (or so I thought). Then I had two beautiful girls and things became a whirlwind. I felt as though I did the same things over and over and over and that what I did didn't matter. BUT IT DOES!!

God hand picked me to be Brian's wife. God hand picked me to be Macy's mother. God hand picked me to be Molly's mother. I am responsible for preparing them for the future, teach them about Jesus, and protect them. Wow, that that is a big job. But, that is MY PURPOSE! I have had to remind myself that it is more important to sit on the floor and play with my girls than to worry about the fingerprints that are all over the glass table or the unmade bed or the toys still sitting on the floor of the living room. Those two precious babies need my attention and my time.

Below, I have copied the blog that I read yesterday evening:

Sometimes I wake up on Monday mornings a little grumpy. Time to do it all again. I'll buy food that gets eaten. I'll wash clothes that get dirty again. I'll sweep floors that an hour later will be littered with crumbs.Is there more to all this than just doing the tasks of everyday life?Before I jumped into the normal routine this morning, I sat with Jesus. And I found some big truths as I took a little glance into David's life. Despite how others saw him, his own propensity to sin, and lack of position in his own family, David had the sweet reassurance of God and that was enough.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

To his older brothers, David was a pest. To his father, Jesse, he was just the youngest son. To on-lookers, he was just a shepherd boy. But to God, he was the one destined to be king. And not just any king. His lineage was the one from whom Jesus would come.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Even how David was anointed to be the future king is a telling story. In 1 Samuel 16, God tells Samuel that He has rejected Saul as king and chosen one of Jesse's sons to be the replacement. Think of the list of qualifications that must have run through Samuel's mind for such a position: tall, smart, articulate, brave, groomed, well mannered, a natural born leader. "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his outward appearance or his height, for I have rejected him (meaning Saul who had these qualities). The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (verse 7).

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Samuel had Jesse line up all of his sons before him. All of them were to be looked at. Yet, Jesse doesn't call David in from tending sheep. Was this an oversight? An assumption? A judgment call? A necessity? A deliberate choice?

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Samuel passes on each of Jesse's sons and then asks, "Are these all the sons you have?"I imagine Jesse with a quizzical expression replying, "There is still the youngest but he is tending sheep." Surely one who spends his time taking care of animals is not the one to take care of a nation.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

As soon as Samuel saw him, he knew he was the one. David was anointed to become king. But he was not immediately ushered to the throne. It was years before David would be recognized by the world. So, where did he go after being anointed as king? To a refining school? A government academy? Military training?

Nope.He went back out into the fields and continued to shepherd his flock. A king doing lowly tasks. A king whose character was being refined in the fields of everyday life to prepare him for his calling.How like us. In the midst of smelly laundry, dirty dishes, snotty noses, misplaced keys, overdue library books, bills, and that birthday gift that still needs to be mailed to grandma - there is training there. There is character building. There is attitude shaping. There is soul defining. There is heart grounding. All of which must take place for us to become what God intends.

Ever feel overlooked by the world? Take heart sister- we are handpicked by God.I am not just doing tasks. I am building a legacy. I am shaping God's kingdom. I am in the process of not only discovering my calling but that of my family as well. And I don't know about you, but it sure does make me look at my everyday tasks... even the smelly laundry in a whole different light.

Dear Lord, thank you that even when I feel overlooked, I can rest in the fact that I am handpicked by You. Help me to live my life for an audience of One. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Auditions

I have been blessed for the past 3 years to help judge the Select Chorus kids for their semi-annual Coffee House. So, today I got to enjoy about 15 auditions and we will have 23 tomorrow. Whew! If you are interested in hearing these guys, they perform March 13th and 18th.

This group was very interesting...they did a rap song called "Jesus Walks" and yes, it was a christian song.

These girls sang a Reba McEntire/LeaAnn Rhimes duet. GREAT!



This group was awesome. They sang "Wagon Wheel" - what talented kids Linda has...singing, mandolin, bass, fiddle, guiter and banjo (not pictured).



These girls did great, too. They sang "I Need a Hero."



This guy was just too adorable!! He sang "Fallen" from the movie, Pretty Woman. It was great!!

Girls Day/Night Out!

An absolutely fabulous day was had by all!! This morning Macy and Molly played in the play room at the church with a new friend, Emma Grace. She is the daughter of our new music director and she was accompanied by her mother, Jen. Macy and Emma Grace hit it off right away...maybe it's that curly hair and cute bows!! We ate lunch, most of the time each others. Macy loved Emma Grace's cheese and they both loved Jen's chips. It was a free for all!

They were watching Emma Grace's daddy playing a little ping pong and were having just a good ole' time!

We then came home for a quick nap and met up with Emma Grace and her mom again, along with Maddie (from Mother's Day Out) and her mom, Jessica. We ate dinner at Chick-Fil-A (99 cent kid's meals on Monday's, woohoo!!), had ice cream, ...

...then headed to the movie!! I am sure you are saying, heading to the movie with a 2 1/2 year old, are you crazy? Well...we have a brand new movie theater that opened today offering $2.00 tickets (children free), $1.00 popcorn, and $1.00 drinks!! Now, can you really pass that up? Oh, and they were showing Charlotte's Web - great movie for kids. They are offering this deal all week, so we most definitely will be going back!

The girls had so much fun...giggling, holding hands, sharing popcorn, playing ring around the rosie (yes, during the movie), and just plain having fun!

Macy and I had so much fun spending time together today. I just love that princess, I could just eat her up. She is my baby girl!

Welcome to Spring...maybe

What wonderful sites that we get to see when spring is in the air...the blooms of flowers that have been waiting for that first bit of warmth...and the blooms of those wonderful weeds that have been hiding all winter.

Here are some of my favorite sites of spring...





Macy loved driving her car down the hill, doesn't take much effort that way...unless the fence gets in the way. I thinks she gets her driving skills from her daddy.



The groundhog told us we will have more bad weather and our weatherman tells us there will be snow this week...so we have to enjoy these moments while we can.

I Want to Play in the Snow

Today was such a beautiful day...so much different from the weather we have been having over the last few weeks. Macy was so excited to go out and play, but she was just a little confused. You see, on Wednesday it snowed about 1-2 inches and daddy came home to help make a snowman with the girls. Now, Macy asks several times a day to go out and play in the snow. She asks for her gloves, her coat and her hat. Sweet thing...thought I would share the fun that they both had on Wednesday.

Molly didn't quite like the snow as much as Macy did. She didn't like leaving the gloves on.



Macy enjoyed getting to know Frosty. She was very friendly. Mommy and daddy had to be creative with "the corn cob pipe, button nose and two eyes made out of coal." It was more like "a clothes pin nose, eyes and mouth made of spray paint, and two arms made out of celery sticks." Needless to say, by the evening Frosty had lost his head and part of his midsection by the sun and Thursday morning, all that was left was his scarf and hat. Maybe it was the Titans hat....(hmmm).