30 Days I'd Like to Re-Live

Please note that I didn't say 30 days I'd like to go back and change. The older that I become, the more I realize the fragile nature and unreliability of memory. And because of that, there are days I wish I could go back & visit- like watching a movie for a second time. You always see things in more detail the second time. And having lived so much life since these days my life experiences have made the memory of these days so much more precious. These are my choices. 

30. The day my brother was born. I was only 3 but I wonder what I thought and felt that day. 

29.The day I received the PLC scholarship at UCO. Life changer. 

28. Any day from my trip to Disney World. 

27. Any day where I used to be a size 6. 

26. Any Friday night I spent in the sidelines as a high-school cheerleader. 

25.The day I moved away from my parents. 

24. A day from one of my summers in Grove at my grandparents lake house. 

23. The first time Ryland kissed me. 

22. Any of the nights I spent in my grandparents' Barnsdall homeplaces.

21. My 16th birthday. 

20. A lazy summer day poolside with my family as a teenager. 

19.Any night where my babies were tiny enough to sleep all night on my chest. 

18.A day from my time as an RA working for my friend Steph. 

17.A day from Energy Camp where I met my Morgan. 

16.Any Miriam adventure from any decade. 

15.Any Falls Creek day from my teen years. 

14. The day Ryland proposed to me over a picnic at Birch Lake.

13.Any Christmas Eve/Day of my childhood. I am so homesick for the magic of those sweet days. 

12.The days that my kids said their first words and walked for the first time. 

11. Graduations- high school & college. 

10.The first time I saw the ocean in junior high. 

9.Any post-football game cruising session with Aubrey and Charity in the Merc. 

8. The first time I ever sang in church. It took so much courage. Still makes me a nervous wreck. 

7.The day after fall finals at college- any year. What feels better than Christmas break at home during college? 

6. My first day as a teacher in 2005. 

5.Any of the days of my honeymoon in Jamaica. 

4.The days I found out I was expecting my kids- June 13, 2008 and February 6, 2010. 

3.The days my children were born. 

2. My wedding day. 

1.  The day that Jesus became more than a story, he became mine. The most important day. I'm so thankful for this. It truly gives meaning & purpose to all the other days. I hope each of you have experienced this "day" in your life. 

What day would you like to re-live? 

Jesus!

A birthday party conversation:

My Kara gives Isaac a green, segmented, plastic, snake for his birthday.

MY KARA: "Isaac, what are you gonna name your snake?"
ISAAC: "Jesus!"

I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I do know that it is a funny thing.

My Kara

This lovely lady holding Isaac in the front row is "My Kara". My apologies for the awful photography.

Well not "My" Kara, but that is her affectionately given nickname in our house.

I met Kara almost two years ago when the hubs took his current job in our church. Kara is the daughter of our church's family pastor. She is the youngest of his three amazing, beautiful, daughters. She is almost 16 and is a ball of energy and fun.

She has been a consistent babysitter for our kids. She  even came over at 7:00AM last Easter Sunday morning on a morning I COULD NOT MISS and kept a fever stricken Isaac until my mom was able to get there.

Isaac is the one who started calling her "My Kara". I think it might be because her other nickname is Karadactyl. And as a lover of all things dinosaur, it is obvious that he would migrate to that.

When Kara comes over she always lets my kids call and talk to her parents, Miss Kendra and "Reb Keb". He loves that. She plays hard with him and always makes an effort to talk to him at church.

Hope also loves her. She will go to Kara before anyone else at church, and Kara has also purchased her 2 hairclips: a ladybug, and flower. Since Hope is the most fashion forward member of our family, this has obviously made her a "My Kara" fan as well.

I am so thankful for people who love my kids and take time to make them feel special. I am thankful for knowing my kids are in hands that are fun and safe. And I am thankful for the dates with my husband that Kara allows me to go on. This is a season in our marriage where we NEED to date. I love that hott hubby more than ever and I need to sit and talk to him over a quiet table every once in awhile so that I don't go crazy and face punch a stranger... but I digress....

Anyways, I love my Kara, and we love having her in our lives. That's all.

3rd Birthday for a Big Boy

Before I start this post. I need you to look at the tragic baby girl in the picture above. She had an ear infection, and ran a fever the whole weekend before the party. She woke up on party day feeling better and with no fever. "Yay!", I thought. Wrong. An hour before the party her fever shot up preventing her from attending this party in her adorable swimwear. Thank goodness that her Jeje stepped in and took care of this poor, unfortunate, bathing beauty. Let's have a moment of silence..........

Enough of that. Let's talk about the party.

We celebrated Isaac's 3rd birthday at the YMCA. We went swimming and then had cupcakes, Capri Sun, and ice cream.

It was Isaac's first party with friends. He loved it and it made me feel so blessed that he has such sweet little buddies in his life.

Not bad for 15 minutes of decorating.

Isaac wanted a "Nemo" cake. This was a cupcake cake. Well played, Reasors. My boy LOVED it!

This is the only photo we have of Isaac in his swimsuit. Thanks for nothing Uncle Lane!

Isaac with Pawpa and Uncle Lane. Can you tell they are related?

Isaac and his cute little pals. I love them!

Blowing out his candles.

Cupcake time.

Mr. A was a fan.

Uncle Lane hates unposed pictures. But this one was way too sweet not to post.

Pawpa helped Isaac open his gifts. Jeje and Pawpa got him a marshmallow shooter. Thanks a lot.

Buddies watching.

Hugs for his Kara.

A happy birthday, indeed.

We are so thankful for good friends, a happy day, and three sweet years to celebrate. Thank you God for all the sweetness that was today.

Zoo Pals

On a rare warm day in January we went to the zoo with one of my oldest and dearest pals and her cute daughter.

Seeing my kids with my friends' kids makes my heart happy. And there was a lot of happy this day. Happy and granola bars.

God is good.

And dang, these are some cute kids.