Mirror Fun!

Cheese!

Fish Face:

WaDer:

Dinner Party

We had some sweet friends over for dinner this weekend. Luke and Alyssa were pretty fun to watch!

They would study each other and copy what the other was doing-- this is a FUN age!

Refinanced!

We decided to take advantage of low interest rates... In 20 years, we will have the house paid off just in time to send Luke to college!

How To Pray For Your Child- August

Growing up, I took comfort in knowing that my parents were praying to God on my behalf. They still do! My mom sent me an article (from BSF) that breaks apart 12 ways I can specifically pray for Luke this year.

Rely on God's direction regarding marriage, being kept from the wrong choice, and being saved for the right marriage partner (Psalm 37:4-5; 2 Cor. 6:14-17)Choose to remain pure until marriage and that the one he is to marry will also remain pure (1 Cor. 6:18-20)

Heavenly Father,

I pray you lead Luke to his wife at the proper time, that you would give him a very clear leading as to who that is. I pray that they build their marriage with you at their center to enjoy the sweet fellowship that you designed especially for them. Give them common goals so that they can feel unified in the decisions and choices they make for their family. I pray they never have to feel the sting of divorce and that they keep their eyes only for each other.

And until Luke meets the one you have carefully chosen for him, I pray that you keep him sexually pure. Guide his actions to always lay down rules for relationships that honor you and his future wife. Open Luke's eyes to the truth in your Word that sex outside of marriage will never lead to the committed, loving, unconditional love that he needs. Instead, let him avoid all of the emotional baggage and consequence that comes from choosing physical relationships prematurely. Remove from Luke's life any person with evil intentions and spare him from pornography or homosexuality by reminding him of your very clear instructions in Your Word. Lord, when Luke is tempted by Satan in all kinds of alluring forms, you have said you will give him a way out of that temptation. Please be that "Still Small Voice" of right direction cheering Luke on to the right relationship you have waiting for him. It will be worth the wait if you designed it!

In your holy and pure Name,
Amen.

Back to School!

Tomorrow is the first day of Brent's MBA program at TCU... in preparation for the big day, we went to campus to get his books and ate lunch at Fuzzys Taco Shack... a little known campus secret... Mehhh (that is the snooty noise that Brent makes when making fun of something :)! Since it was close to nap time, Luke kind of made the experience a rough one, and when I read that they served feta cheese on the tacos, I knew Brent would not be a fan :) Anyway, I also got to meet Brent's group at a dinner hosted by TCU on Friday night... it is a neat group and I expect they will come out of the program being great friends. The wives and girlfriends were so fun too! Two foreign exchange students (on government grants) from Russia sat with us- they had been in the country for 10 days and we asked them what they knew of Texas... they said cows, cowboy boots, and George Bush. This made for very interresting dinner discussion. We also showed them how to eat a fajita... that alone is worth their trip to Texas :) Good luck tomorrow, my little Horned Frog!

Arrivederci!

As I sit and type this, Melody and Justin have just arrived to their new home for the next 9 months- Italy! We got to send them off in style this weekend at my aunt and uncle's new house. Here are the highlights!

Honey loved on the babies! This is Caleb, Luke's second cousin:

After dinner entertainment:

L'antipasto:

Happy Host and Hostess, Uncle Tommy and Aunt Kay's first party in their new home:

Luke likes spumoni!

One last picture of the cousins... at this point Luke was saying "Momma... GO!" with an authorative point toward the door! Even he was done with all of the pictures :)

Send off Pedicures!

Matching flip flops :)

Bye, Me-Nee!

We love you both!

Try this on for size!

I just broke into my SECOND can of spray starch since I've been married... that is five years, if anyone is counting.

How To Pray For Your Child- July

Growing up, I took comfort in knowing that my parents were praying to God on my behalf. They still do! My mom sent me an article (from BSF) that breaks apart 12 ways that I can specifically pray for Luke this year.

Desire the right kind of friends, be protected from the wrong associations, and be hedged in by God so that he does not find his way to wrong people or wrong places and that wrong people do not find their way to him. (Psalm 91:9-11; Proverbs 1:10-11, 15; Hosea 2:6)

Heavenly Father,

My prayer is two fold this month- prayer for protection and for right associations.

Every day I turn on the news, I shudder at what I know Luke will inevitably face in a society where black and white has turned to grey. That you would command your angels concerning Luke to guard him from trouble is my comfort and joy as his mother. When I watch Luke talk to a stranger for the first time, get on the bus for the first time, drive with his friends in the car for the first time, I will remember your promise and your protection. I will claim 1 John 4:4 over Luke "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than he that is in the world". Knowing that you have all authority over the evil in the world around Luke will help me sleep at night when I send him on his first trip without Mom and Dad or when I hear him walk through the door after a late night date.

I pray Luke chooses associations that will build him up and encourage him. It is my prayer that he deal with peer pressure in a healthy way and avoid friendships that are fake, selfish, or destructive. Lord, if Luke is to make gains in his sin, I pray you strip his gains away and teach him the cost of his choices. Please guide Luke in his profession that he choose a company he is proud to be a part of and give him coworkers and managers that are forgiving and promoting of his work. Design in him integrity that points to you as the source of his right choices, even if those choices are unpopular.

It will be such a blessing to watch you go before Luke and direct his path. Thank you for guarding your children.

Sniff, Sniff

Luke graduated to Walkers II at day care today... this was our big boy ready to go to Skoo, sporting his new back pack that my sweet friend monogramed:

The same sweet friend who also told me about All About Bundt Cakes for his Walkers I teacher gifts (she's been around this block a few times!)... aren't they sweet?!!

The Men Return!!! Hallelujah!

Welcome home Daddy... we missed you!

Nothing like some consistent parenting! Thanks, Brent, for showing Luke how to play with bugs... this on the heels of me showing him spider webs and yelling DANGER all week so he won't mess with said bugs :)

Doesn't he look OLD here!

Grandaddy stayed the night and loved on Allie... man, she was needing attention in a bad way too!

Glad ya'll had fun and glad you are back... we prayed for your safety every night and God answered.

Safari Park Play Land

Luke and I went on a date to the Safari Play land and had SO MUCH fun! This was a great indoor option for a momma who wanted her boy to have fun while Daddy was away!
Luke's favorite was the trampoline... no surprise there since he LOVES him some bounce houses!

Riding the train:

A pretty steep incline!

Crawling through tunnels:

Riding on alligators:

I am pretty sure I scored "cool points" that day, and all for the bargain price of $9.99!