Is Sam Really Alive?!?!

NO, he's really not, although Reagan came up with quite a story about him yesterday. See, Reagan doesn't have to nap. She just has to rest during the day with the exception of Wednesdays. Wednesdays we are usually out in the evening and the girls are up late, so she has to sleep those days if she wants to stay up and play. Well yesterday during her nap time she came out of Jordyn's room (where she naps in her little princess sleeping bag!) and had a story to tell. See, I went up there and a table was knocked over - which had several different things on it including a lamp. I asked her what she did (she should have been well asleep by this time) and she said she was sleeping and that Sam knocked over the table. If you have not had the privilege of meeting Sam, let me tell you about him. He's very small, very stinky, and has been Reagan's favorite little bedtime buddy for years now. She loves him dearly. It's probably the only thing she has that she doesn't willingly share (and if you've seen him, you wouldn't necessarily ask her to share him with you!). BUT yesterday, she turned on him! The love was gone when she knew if caught she would be disciplined. Let's just say Sam was not the one to get in trouble!!!

The girls were a challenge all day long yesterday - jumping off the bed, coloring on the high chair (now it's nice and black), arguing, whining, complaining...BUT the grace that we need for each of our days is always available. Many days I don't seek out that grace, but yesterday I could see God's hand working not only on their little hearts, but my heart as well. We had many, MANY trips to my room, but they were precious times with the girls. It gives me the opportunity to share the Gospel with them over and over and over again. I love that I don't even have to leave the house to be in the mission field. Do I grow tired? Oh yes, but when my perspective is on the Lord, I may be tired at the end of the day but not weary! Today we worked through the same issues, and I'm sure we will tomorrow as well, but it's worth all the hard work and it's so cool to see the Lord answering my prayers!! (One of them being that the girls will be caught if they try to be deceiving, so I thanked God after Reagan told me Sam knocked over the table - there was not a doubt in my mind she was not being honest!)

So, tomorrow we begin again! I can't wait to see those little faces and hear what their creative little minds come up with!

Sam...

Our Moms! Our Moms Rock!! Both of them are amazing servants...I know few people like them. Without complaint, with much joy, they serve and serve and serve. They daily give their lives away. Both of them have very different lives - Mom (Steve's mom) takes care of her home and dad and Amy and daily lays down her life to care for Grandma. For years and years she has cared for her husband, her children and all the elderly people that have ended up at their house! Mama, being single, uses her time to constantly be serving other people...whether it is taking turns watching her grandchildren, taking meals to people, serving at the church, befriending ladies in the church, taking ladies shopping, oh the list could go on and on! Both of our moms are continually pursuing the Lord and what He has for their lives. At a time in both of their lives where they could become self-focused, they are both pursing growth and the fruit is so evident. Thank you, moms, for how you love us and love the Lord! At our annual Ladies Retreat both of our moms were honored! It was so much fun to see them being blessed by their friends!!! Here's what their friends had to say about them!!

About Mom from Debi Walter...
Ann has been my friend for over 20 years, and she has always been there to ask me the hard questions. She listens to the Lord and seeks to pursue me when she senses His leading regarding a specific issue. As we have grown in our understanding of Biblical Fellowship, she has been right there growing and challenging me. I am grateful to watch her life because just observing her is a lesson in unselfishness and genuine love. Her humility takes a back seat when I would desire to be front and center. I have learned more from her lifestyle than her words. She lives Biblical Truth, and when she falls short she pursues the input of others, including myself. How I pray that she will be blessed by winning this contest because she is so wrapped up in serving her mom right now that she could use some pampering time to herself. What a gift from God our friendship is.

About Mom from Alisha Townsend...
Ann Roberts contribution to my life and my perspective on life is unlike anyone one person I have ever met. I was given the privilege of meeting with Ann bi monthly and then monthly for a year and a half. I am honored and amazed at the time that she and Jim put into our family! She taught me how to love my husband the way God would have me love him. She taught me in the "you can call me anytime with any question" way. She fielded personal questions about every situation we faced, and always gave me an amazing Biblical answer. Sometimes it took me months to wrap my brain around the answers, but they have changed the way I live. If you ask my husband, her greatest contribution was helping me learn to iron, and committing to complete the ironing each week, which is my husband's "one thing" he would like me to do. (Oh, and much to my husband's delight, Ann irons our clothes when we are in the hospital.) However, she has also taught me things like encouragement and gratitude towards my husband. It was always clear that Ann's goal was to help me grow in my faith and become the person God wanted me to be. She is a shining example of a Titus two woman and I am honored to be the recipient of her mentoring.

(They gave Mom a spa day for her and one of her friends!!)

About Mama from Nancy Soucy (or Mimi as us Roberts girls like to call her!)
Betty Vallery has a servant's heart, and her tireless energy is a gift from above! Twenty plus years ago, Betty was diagnosed with cancer that had metastasized to her bones. She endured a long series of Chemotherapy treatments. She said she used to visualize Jesus walking thru her body healing her, as it was administered. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope". She WAS healed, and I am SOOO glad that I was in her future! I first met my friend, Betty, about 1997, at a TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meeting. When Betty came in I noticed her right away...we were the only ones there that weren't in their 70s or 80s!! The next Sunday was the first day I visited Metro Life Church. When I walked in and saw Betty, we recognized each other immediately. We both began attending the church regularly, she from a Catholic background, and I from a Baptist background. What we found at Metro was totally new to both of us. One day in particular, we met at my home, and spent hours getting to know one another. One of the things we began to ask, was: WHY does this church keep talking so much about SIN? We BOTH felt "pretty good" about ourselves back then. We also admitted that "praying out loud" was not very comfortable, and we saw it done over and over again in Home Groups. So, we began doing it with each other. Now, when a concern is expressed, she is the first to say, "Let's stop and pray about it!" Our "circle of friendship" was completed a couple of years later, with Sheryl Schmatjen. We began meeting for accountability, and Sheryl would confess what seemed to us such "little sins"! We finally began to understand the reality of our sinful nature. None of us have ever enjoyed the fullness of a Biblical friendship before. There is nothing like it. John 15:12-13 says "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends". Betty has laid down her life for both Sheryl and I in so many ways. She cooks, she serves, she cleans, she hosts gatherings, and she chauffeurs us where we need to go. An even bigger example of "laying down her life", is that she turns over her house to my daughter and her family when they visit from out of state! Betty was also a treasured friend to my husband, Jacques. She was by my side the last hours of his life, and was a "servant" throughout the many hours of visits from family and friends the week of his memorial. My grandchildren have worried about me being at the table, eating by myself, or getting lonely, but find that when they call, "Aunt Betty" is there for a meal, or I am "out" somewhere with her. There is no doubt, that one day she will hear our Lord say :"Well done, good and faithful servant!"

About Mama from Eileen Harmon:
Betty Vallery personifies a compelling example of love and care for others. She befriended myself & husband when we first came to Florida, five and a half years ago. Her love & outreach to me after the death of my husband has truly helped me through a very challenging time. She is a ministering angel with skin on!! She is truly going to hear our Lord say to her one day “enter into my kingdom my faithful servant in whom I am well pleased.” May God bless Betty for her wonderful, uncomplaining servant’s heart.

(They gave Mama a gift certificate to go shopping...and I'm so proud of her! She actually spent it on herself!!)

Free Food!

A couple of weeks ago Chick-Fil-A had Cow Appreciation Day which meant if you dressed like a cow from head-to-toe you got a free meal! So, what we will do for free food!! JJ, the girls and I dressed up and met Steve there for lunch (he did NOT dress up!) and we all ate for free! It was fun! Then we had to stop at Publix, so the girls even got free dessert - a yummy cookie! OH, and then it was July 11th (7-11), so we stopped at 7-11 and got free Slurpees!

Jordyn is 2 Months Old Already!

Our little Jordyn is adapting quite well with all of us! She doesn't mind her sisters pulling on her toes or giving her tons of hugs and kisses throughout the day. She is quite content to hear the clanking of Hungry Hippos and the quaking of Lucky Ducks. She is looking around and is more aware of what is going on. Oh, and she is SmIlInG and has even cooed a few times!! Her screaming is definitely getting louder, but she doesn't do it too much! And, guess what?!?! She slept from 11 o'clock last night until 7:20 this morning!! I'm not sure if that's just God's grace since I've been sick for over a week or if she is really starting to sleep through the night! Either way, I'll take whatever I can get!! I take her to the doctor next week for her 2 month check up and the 5 shots that come with it. We are looking forward to see what she's weighing these days - her cheeks sure are filling out!

It's a Date!!

Today Reagan and I were able to step out of the house for a little "date"! It was so much fun!! She has been asking for months to go to Starbucks and she LOVES to color, so we packed our little bag and headed to Starbucks for drinks, coloring and of course, talking!! She wanted hot chocolate - it really didn't matter to her that it's 100 degrees outside and we were sweating just from walking from our van to the store!! I wanted to try the new banana/chocolate smoothie! Well, we got all settled and began coloring and we had our one little mishap of the day...she spilled her cup full of hot chocolate all over me. But did that stop us from having fun??? No way!! Thankfully I had on really dark jeans, so I gave her my drink and got another one! She was so upset, but it gave us a good opportunity to talk about accidents. We talked about what she learned in Sunday school, who she is playing with these days when she goes to class, what her favorite things are about her sisters and daddy and mommy. I had such a wonderful time with her. It was good just to break routine and spend some one on one time with the little munchkin! After Starbucks we had to run home so I could change pants then we went to Target and grocery shopping. What a fun afternoon! Hopefully next week Sydney and I will be able to go out!

A *Few* Pictures of the Girls!

Here are a few (wink, wink) pictures of our precious little gifts! Reagan is 4, Sydney is 2 and Jordyn is 7 weeks old!!

Thanks, JJ, for taking these!!

Happy July 4th!

(I did write this yesterday...just never hit "publish"!!) Today we had a pretty relaxing day! My sweet husband let me sleep late this morning which was wonderful! We just hung out at the house all day (except for a quick trip to get Slurpees and hotdogs). Reagan, Steve and I played a few games of Memory, the girls drew on their Aqua Doodles, Playdoh was out for a little bit, stories were read, we danced some ballet (not Steve!), ska, and Steve danced to the Cinderella song with the girls (so sweet!). We had ants on a log (celery, peanut butter and raisins), pig-n-a-blanket, and macaroni and cheese for dinner! Alas, all three girls had baths! Whew! It was a fun day!!!

OH...and Jordyn found her thumb!!!

Dress Up!

Can you tell I'm trying to catch up a little on my blogging today?!?!

Here are a couple of pictures of Reagan all dressed up...in case you didn't realize it, she dressed herself! Oh, these little girls sure are fun!!

Play Day!

Yesterday JJ so sweetly and cheerfully watched Amanda and my munchkins so we could have a little uninterrupted time to fellowship! The kids had so much fun (and so did we)! When Isaac and Samy had to leave Sydney burst into tears! Here's a few pictures of the adorable little ones!!

My Dad

A couple of weeks ago I found out that my dad had an aggressive form of cancer and the doctors did not expect him to live more than 6 weeks. So, two weekends ago we packed up and headed to Alabama. The kindness of God was evident the entire trip. His kindness towards my Dad, towards my Aunt Pat and towards us. I was amazed at what a peaceful trip we had. My dad and I were able to have so precious hours alone to talk and we all had time together as a family. The girls loved being there and playing loving on their Grandpa. I am so thankful that we were able to make the trip and see him while he was still at home. My aunt graciously gave up her house (which is adjoining to my dad's place) for us and kept us very comfortable. This amazing lady has cared for my dad for the last 15 years. Early this morning my dad passed away.

The peace of God is such a wonderful gift and I feel like I've been swimming in it since we made the trip. I am forever grateful for the last moments and conversations I was able to have with my dad. I am learning to trust the Lord through each and every situation and with each and every life of the people I love. He is making me more and more aware that I say I trust Him, but when the test comes, am I really trusting Him? And as I press into His caring arms I become more and more aware of my need for Him. Thank you so much to those of you who have been praying for my dad and for us!

6 Weeks Already!

Jordyn is six weeks old today and she is getting more chubby each passing day! She is such a sweet little baby girl! Let's see, she is looking around a lot more and when I hold her and say her name, sometimes she will look right at me. Her sisters just love loving on her and helping me with her. They sing her songs all day long and they love kissing her and hugging her.

I know I didn't post her 5 week update and that's because we were in Alabama visiting my dad (more on that trip soon). She was such a trooper! She made the long drive there with hardly making a peep and on the way home she cried for several hours, but all in all she did amazing! I was hoping she would still go in her car seat without kicking and screaming once we got back to Orlando...and she has! She has made many trips to Costco and Publix already and is just as content as can be!

Saturday I took her and Sydney for a walk in my double stroller (which rocks!) and Sydney held Jordyn's hand the whole time. It was so sweet! I wish I would have taken a picture of that moment!!

Oh! And she had her first bottle the other night. She hasn't quite figured it out yet, but I'm going to keep trying! I'm going to try a different kind of bottle tonight and see if she takes to it better!

BUSTED!!

Today I put the girls down for their nap - they nap separately. So, Reagan went into Jordyn's room to rest as I tucked Sydney snug in her bed. Our before-nap-conversation went something like this:

Mommy: Sydney, it's time to take a nap.

Sydney: OK Mommy!

Mommy: Sydney, are you going to obey Mommy and stay in bed.

Sydney: (Imagine an adorable, high pitched two year old voice saying) Yes Mommy!

Mommy: OK, what happens if you don't obey?

Sydney: A discipline.

Mommy: Night-night. I'll see you in a little while.

Sydney: (Again, in a high pitched little voice) Love you, Mommy!

Ah, and the house is quiet. For about 20 minutes. Then I hear a crash-boom-bang and a little girl sounding like she is having a ball! Did she really think I couldn't hear her? She was quite proud of her little mountain! Let's just say after the picture she was "encouraged" to quickly go to sleep!