Quotable Quotes!

Today has been a cleaning day, which also means lots of time for thinking! I enjoy multitasking, so being able to clean and think is actually fun for me! (I know, I'm weird, but finding pleasure in the mundane is necessary or else cleaning becomes quite a chore!) I was reflecting today on several quotes I've heard over the past couple of weeks and how they apply directly to my life. Here is one of them!

1. Carolyn Mahaney on her GirlTalk Blog shared yesterday about glancing through a magazine on display in a waiting room. The theme of the particular issue was "Planning Your Dream House." Here is what Carolyn had to say...

"As I surveyed the glossy pictures of these gorgeous homes I began to imagine what my dream house would look like—situated on the waterfront, with a large front porch and plenty of rooms for my children and grandchildren to visit.

After a moment or two of fantasizing, I came to my senses. How quickly I had been drawn in by the worldly, self-centered agenda of this magazine! As a Christian woman, my “dream house” shouldn’t be one of mere aesthetic beauty, or luxurious comfort. Rather, I should aspire to have a home like the one Peter Marshall once described as possessing “an atmosphere in which it was impossible to keep from thinking of God.”

I want those who live in and visit my home to experience peace, order, beauty, joy, and laughter—all reflections of the gracious character of our Savior. Now that’s a house worth dreaming about—and working for!"

Wow! How easy it is for me to become discontented in thinking about how I would like for my home to be decorated or how easy it is for me to be tempted to see what others have and desire to have what they have - thinking that would make my home more beautiful and comfortable. Thanks to Carolyn, I have been reminded what is truly important for my home. I DO desire for all of those who come through these doors to experience the joy, comfort, love, laughter, beauty, and peace that can only come through our Savior Jesus Christ! So today as I have been cleaning, I have not been looking around and wishing for things to fill in different shelves and spaces, but I have been praying for the couple who is coming over tonight for dinner and for our friends who will be here to play cards on Saturday night. I have been praying for the little feet that have been walking up and down and up and down and up and down the stairs this morning and for the little girl that has been rolling all over the floor! I have been praying for the man who will walk through the door at 5 PM today from a hard days work, hoping he will be able to find rest and laughter when he arrives!

It's time to get my girlies up right now, so hopefully tonight or tomorrow I can add a couple more quotes to the list!

Snips and Curls!

Well, life has been a little busy lately =)! Nothing unusual, just taking care of our little darlings. Hopefully I'll get to write out some of the thoughts I've been wanting to put on paper all week before long. But for now, I only have a few minutes before I need to feed little Sydney! (I'll post some new pictures of her tomorrow!)

What girl doesn't enjoy being pampered? Around here, it has begun early and it is so much fun! Reagan loves having her hair curled and her Grannie sent over some rollers for her to wear last weekend. Although with all the humidity the curls don't last long, they sure are cute for a while!

Today I gave Reagan her first haircut! She was so cute and sat so still in her little yellow chair. She is so excited about being able to put her hair in her little box that says "First Haircut"! She just held it in her little hands as I cut it! And of course after it was all trimmed up we had to blow it dry and style it. Girls are just too much fun!!

Play Day While Daddy is Away

What girls don't like going to the mall for the day?!?! We met Dena, Mia and Ella for a fun day at the mall this morning. Mia is one of Reagan's best friends and Dena wanted us to take them to get their picture made together. They were so cute (I'll post one when I get it from Dena!) When they were done, the lady gave them lots of stickers and two big balloons! And if that wasn't enough, they got to play in the play area and get Happy Meals! It's such a joy watching our girls learn and grow and laugh together. I just wonder what they will be like ten years from now!!!

Steve is in San Diego this week and we are missing him already! Since we told Reagan he was flying away for business last night, she has been pretending like she's an airplane all afternoon! Her imagination is expanding everyday and when I start my day I look forward to hearing what new and creative words are going to come out of her little two-year-old mouth! I didn't realize playing pretend would still be fun at 26!

Mia, Reagan and a little girl they met at the play area.

Mia, Ella and Reagan

Baby, Big Girl, Beach & Bugs!

Saturday we packed up the girls (which always takes much longer than expected =)!) and headed to New Symrna Beach for the day! Dad, Mom, Amy and Grandma Deaton were there for the weekend, so we invaded their condo with lots of baby stuff for the day! Reagan loved going down to the ocean and playing with her daddy and grandpappy! Sydney didn't have as much fun as her big sister...she enjoyed the nice cool indoors much better.

Here's Reagan with a dragonfly!

Reagan just loves her daddy and grandpappy!

She has become quite fearless jumping into the pool! Thanks to Mrs. CoCo, she's doing so good in the pool (especially spitting out the water when she comes back up!)

New baby news:

Sydney laughed last night for the first time and is rolling all over the place! She's 4 months old now and is just as cute as a button. She watches Reagan all the time and just loves her big sister. Sometimes I think she's going to fall out of her seat while she's looking for her sissy! She, like Reagan, enjoys sucking her thumb. She also loves her little pink blankie!

Baby Dedication

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." Psalm 127:3

Sunday while we were at church we had Sydney publicly dedicated to the Lord. We did this for several reasons.

First, we had her dedicated her because we realize that this little girl belongs to the Lord. We realize that we are responsible for raising her to love and serve our Lord.

Also, we had her dedicated because we realize she is a precious gift from our heavenly Father. It is not by chance, or just because we wanted a baby that we now hold little Sydney, it is because God chose to give us this baby!

Third, while standing before our friends and family in the church, we resolved to raise Sydney with God's interests in view. We purposed with all our hearts to love and provide for her. We resolved to train her away from her own sinfulness and point her towards the Creator and Redeemer of her soul. Oh, how we need the Holy Spirit's help in training, raising, teaching, disciplining and loving our daughters!

Lastly, we dedicated Sydney to invite others to celebrate with us and ask for accountability as we raise her. We wanted to welcome others into our joyful celebration of Sydney's life and also we know without a doubt that we need the help, observations, and insights from those around us!

After church, our family came over for a dinner in honor of little Sydney. We spent some sweet time worshiping our Sweet Savior and thanking him for the precious gift he has given our family. We also prayed for all the little girls and that God will rescue their little souls and draw them near to Him! What a glorious day that will be!!

Sydney on her dedication day! She was so happy all day!

Great Grandma Deaton holding Sydney!

Sydney in her dedication outfit!

Woo-Hoo!

Mark and Sissy (my brother-in-law and sister for any of you who may not know them) have finally sold their house! They are packing up and getting ready to go! Earlier in the year our church planted another church on the west side of town. Mark and Sissy have been going to Grace Church (that's the church plant church) since it began. We have been praying with them for their house to sell since they put it up for sale months ago. Please pray with us that everything will go through this week on the sale of their home and that they will find something else quickly that matches their likes and budget!

Ainsley, Madeleine and Emma - getting all packed up!

Geocaching!

2 Mondays ago, Steve, two of our friends and I went on a double date and did a little thing called "geocaching". If you've never heard of it, it is almost like a treasure hunt! People hide all kinds of items all over the place and you use a GPS to locate where the item is hidden and then the fun begins! The first one Steve picked for us to do was in a swamp behind an apartment complex. Kylene and I made it about half way and then decided we would let the guys finish looking for that one! The thought of coming face-to-face with a banana spider (or worse) was a little to frightening for me! We found 2 out of 3 that evening! Then on Saturday we decided to take the girls out to UCF and look for more...people hide them EVERYWHERE! It was so much fun. Reagan was so excited to go on her first geocaching adventure after her nap. We searched for almost 2 hours in the UCF parking garage and when we were about ready to give up I spotted it! Steve found one more that day hidden in some woods beside a pond and Reagan was able to trade out her first treasure! She traded a yo-yo for a toy car! We've decided that geocaching may be more fun for all of us when it gets a little cooler! 100 degrees is a little warm for hunting for small items hidden in large outdoor areas! Steve took us all out to eat afterwards.Steve and Reagan walking on trail at UCF.

We found it! Reagan's 2nd Geocache find!

Reagan found a little car in the box that she wanted to keep!

Sydney was so tired when we were done with the day!

I just had to add this sweet picture in!