Catching Up

I realized that I haven't updated our family blog in a few months! I will spend the next couple blog posts catching up on what we've been up to. Check back soon!

School has Started!

We officially started homeschooling today! Callie is super excited and I am eager to begin this journey. Check out more about our homschooling adventures on my other blog Busy at Home. I will be journaling our experiences in home education, along with my thoughts on faith, family, ministry, parenting, etc.

Here is a pic from our first day at the "Reid Academy."

A Page Is Turned...

When Trey and I began dating 8 years ago, I don't think it was long before we knew that we would get married. The story of how we met is kind of long, but ultimately God brought us together. There is no doubt in my mind that Trey is the man that God created to be my spiritual leader, best friend, and partner in life.

One night after Trey and I had been dating a while, he told me about a song that meant a lot to him. He said that he wanted to have it played at his wedding. It was called "A Page is Turned" by Bebo Norman.

A little less than a year later, we did have that song played during our wedding ceremony. As I listen to the lyrics of that song today, on our seventh wedding anniversary, I realize how true they are to me. We have gone through a lot of trials and had many challenges in the last seven years. We have also had some amazing blessings, the most important being our two daughters!

I am so proud to call Trey my husband. While he is not perfect, he has been exactly what I've needed. I know that God created us for each other. Trey has consistently been a godly spiritual leader for me. He encourages me, supports me, listens to me. He is a wonderful father to our girls. I can't imagine life without him.

Just as these lyrics say, he has been the one "to hold me up when I come undone." Happy Anniversary Trey, I love you!


"A Page is Turned"

A page is turned by the wind to a boy in curly grin
With a world to conquer at the age of ten
But as history unfolds and the storybook is told
He finds salvation but not at the hands of man

And the God of second chance
Picked him up and He let him dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing him, the one
To hold him up when he comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And now a man, here you stand
Your day has come

A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl
With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled
By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow
With a careful cover of love that will not fail

And the God of second chance
Picked her up and He let her dance
Through a world that isn't kind
And all this time, preparing her the one
To hold her up when she comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And grown up tall, here you are
Your day has come

Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand
And warm within the ardor, she took his heart instead
And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand
Just for her hand

A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife
And there is no secret to the source of this much life
When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again
Just a chance to somehow rise above this land

Where the God of second chance
Will pick them up and he'll let them dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, they're sharing with the one
That holds them up when they come undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And once again, here you stand
And once again, here you stand
Your day has come

Almost time for School...

I can hardly believe that the time is fast approaching for Callie to begin school. When she was born almost 5 years ago, I felt I had all the time in the world before she would start school. Wow...time sure flies!

As Trey and I were starting to think about Preschool, and discussing what we felt was best for Callie, I had this strong urge to look at homeschooling. I never in a million years thought I would consider homeschooling my children. The idea was pretty much foreign to me. I honestly thought it was for "strange" families that wanted to shelter their kids from the "real world."

My first year of college I made a GREAT friend. She had been homeschooled, and she was NORMAL! (haha) It really changed my view of what I thought "homeschooled kids" were like. Even with that, I still thought I wanted my kids to attend public school and be involved in all the extra curriculars, school dances, etc.

Last fall God really started to change my heart. We moved and I have met several families in our church that are or have homeschooled their children. I realized that while I don't want to completely shelter my kids from the world, I do want to make every effort to teach them God's Word. I want their education to come from a Christian perspective. I want them to know the truth. I really started to feel like God was calling me to homeschool Callie.

I talked to Trey about it, and honestly he wasn't sold on the idea. After researching some curriculum and info on homeschooling, and talking to other families that have done it, we decided to compromise. We agreed that I would homeschool Callie for this school year (preschool). After we see how that goes we will decide if we want to continue homeschooling or enroll her in public school for kindergarten.

I am so excited to start preschool with her this fall! Even though I am a little worried to start something new like this, and take on such a big task, I feel at peace. I know this is what God is calling me to at this time. Please be in prayer for us as we begin this new journey!

Children are a BLESSING

I have had this on my mind a lot lately. I wanted to share my feelings on children and what a blessing they truly are.

Raising children is not easy. Being a stay-at-home-mom is not necessarily a "glamorous job." In fact, some days are just down right exhausting. BUT, I can not imagine my life any other way. From the moment I found out I was pregnant with each of my children, I was in LOVE with them. There is no way to adequately describe the love a mother has for her child. I was amazed when my oldest was born how much I unconditionally loved her. I would do anything for her. I never knew it was possible to love another person that much!

After I had Callie, I felt like there was no way I could love another child as much as her. My mom told me what her mother had told her, "God gives you enough love for each child." When I found out we were expecting our second child, I realized that was true. Little Ashtyn has filled a void in our lives that we didn't know existed! I can not even picture our family without both of these little blessings.

I tell my children every day how much I love them. Even when they are being stubborn, annoying, defiant, and cranky. I still love them.

The other day, we had a rough half an hour. As I was cleaning up messes and getting the girls under control, Callie said very matter-of-fact, "This is why you shouldn't have kids." I quickly told her, "Mommy loves you and Ashtyn SO much. And there will never be a time that I don't want you."

I want my children to know that I wanted them. That I have loved them from day one. That there is nothing that they could ever do to change that.

Our culture today doesn't love children. Women abort their babies every day. People abuse or neglect their kids. People see children as a burden, or inconvenience. There are too many children in the world that aren't wanted, cherished or loved.

I want to teach my kids something different. Teach them what the Bible teaches. Children are a blessing.

The Fourth Of July

This post is a little late, but we have been VERY busy. Last week was our church's VBS and we were gone a lot. Not to mention, that I had a horrible cold...

Anyway, we had a great 4th of July at the beginning of the month. We were visiting in Illinois and got to go to the annual cook-out with friends and family. Which of course included lots of great food and homemade ice cream. Poor little Ashtyn wasn't feeling great all day though, she was running a low fever and just wasn't her usual happy self! So, when it was time for my niece and nephews 3rd birthday party, we kept Ashtyn at my parents house and Callie went with my parents to celebrate with the triplets.

That night we took Callie to the fireworks in Robinson, and she really enjoyed it. We brought some ear plugs this year, but I think she would've been fine without them. We sat literally right underneath the fireworks and it was really pretty. All in all, we had a pretty good day:)

Patriotic Girls

One of the things I really LOVE about having two little girls is dressing them up in the same dresses and getting pretty hairbows! My mom bought our girls these dresses for the 4th of July, and I must say they look adoreable. These pictures were taken after church on Sunday.

What We've Been Up To...

So, I have to say that we are LOVING summer!! I have the girls outside as much as possible, to take advantage of the sunshine and warm weather. In addition to our daily walks through our subdivision, and playtime on the swingset, we have added WATER fun.

We got a pass to our city pool which also has a "splash pad." Basically it has all kinds of fountains shooting out water, and the girls love to run through it. Ashtyn has a blast!! Callie is doing really well learning to swim this year. We are hoping to start offical lessons soon, but she has a great start.

We also joined the Country Club here, so we have been utilizing their kiddie pool and regular pool. This summer has been a lot of fun so far!!