Catching Up

Tuesday nights are supposed to be my dinner night. I'm not always the best at planning ahead, but I've been doing a little bit better (sometimes). Anyway, this tuesday, all the boys ended up being gone, so we had Wes, Char, Josh and Preston over for dinner. I was just going to make a bg chicken ceasar salad, but we need to make it go a little farther, so mom had the great idea of adding noodles to it..and it turned out to be pretty good! Not the greatest picture, but I thought to take it just before the salad was gone.

Josh, Char, Wes and I

COUSIN NIGHT! Saturday night the Smiths had people over to watch a movie, and after everyone left...if was just the cousins! We talked and laughed for awhile, and we stayed the night! Nate, Keek and Rach...when you guys come for Katies wedding...we have to have a sleepover!!

Clay & Kate

Clay Gabe and Wes

Dancing the night away! The Bartows had a coming home/going away DANCE party for Tyler. Matt and Peter taught everyone "The Hustle". It was alot of fun!

Date Night

Friday nights are typically the nights Wes will take me on a date. I always tell him that I want him to surprise me with what we're doing, but then usually try to figure it out instead of letting it be a surprise. Anyway, we went to outback to get food TO GO and brought it to the beach. We had to eat some of it on the way there as it took awhile to get there, and we were both starving, and we didn't want the food to get too cold! Well it was a blast, we ate and then just sat on the lifegaurd stand and watched the surfers (and played around with my camera that he got me for my birthday;) ) I am so thankful for you Wes...thank you for always laying down your life to serve me and make our dates special!

Waiting for our food...

Baptism- They want to live for Christ!

Wes under the water.

Sean under the water
Josh just coming out of the water

Danny sharing his testimony...

Will he be a preacher??? Eric Hughes prayed for the boys indicating that three chords to make a rope are stronger than one. And how these brothers (the three of them) can encourage and provoke each other in their walks with the Lord...and how much stonger they will be growing together in the Lord. Thank you Eric for all you impart to our family..We love you and are blessed to call you our friend and Pastor!






Charity and Josh waiting for their turn to be

baptized

Wes, Josh and Ray waiting to be baptized

B
Bret sharing about what it means to to Baptized

Many of our church family and friends supporting every ones decision to make a public confirmation of the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

Baptism - They want to live their lives for Chirst!

Lyle singing Katie's Birthday Song

"My Little Girl"

Our little girl turns 21!

Katie turned 21 on Saturday so we had a few families and several of Katies friends over on Monday to honor her for her special day. A highlight of the evening was when her "popie" (daddy) wrote her a surprise song and sang it while everyone was gathered to share some thoughts with her. He spent the afternoon up in our bedroom working on this song for her....it was so thoughtful! Of course I cried, I think Katie shed a few tears too. She did say it was the best birthday present ever! (we hope to try to post the song if we can figure out how add it to our blog). Several people took time to honor Katie with words of encouragement, which is always a special time for birthdays around here.

As I was reflecting back on the evening I was reminded of Gods kindness to our family. He has blessed Katie , and all of us, with such dear friends . We are so grateful for how God has filled our cup to overflowing with people who love, encourage, exhort and pray for us. Thank you all who have become such wonderful examples to our family as well as extrodinary friends - We love you all dearly!
The next post we hope to share the "group gift" purchase which I hope you'll enjoy. Thanks again for all you who helped to make Our Little Girl's Day Special!! Here are some more pictures of the evening spent together......

Summer Fun . . .

Mag Mel Chels Jap and Me...eating lunch at the park after chruch! Our families came today so it was alot of fun! Usually it is just the singles that go out, so it was a nice change to have our families there (Smith, Dowling, Kamrath & Johns)! It was a beautiful day, a nice break from the extreme heat!
Rach and Heather

Sean Beau and Danny

The Mommas!

Saturday - we went to the beach for the ENTIRE day (10-5), and then that night we went to Brusters to get ice cream! I am so blessed with such great friendships and an amazing family.

Wes and Preston carried me part of the way back from the beach on the cooler! SO Strong ;)

Me and my cutie boy....

Mel and Jac

The boys had a blast playing bachi ball (sp?) all around the beach! We went to Sandbridge and it was beautiful. Thank you everyone who came, it was pretty cold and really cloudy at first, but the lord blessed us with what turned out to be the perfect beach day! When I woke up in the morning, I thought with a complaining heart "Man, of all days, we planned on going to the beach (on my bday) and it has to be so overcast..what a bomb day." Well we ended up just going anyway, and at first it was all gray skies, really windy, and actually kind of chilly ... but it ended up being a wonderfully sunny day! The lord blessed me in the midst of my sin!