Family, Fun, and Homemade Icecream!

For Father's Day weekend, a bunch of my family gathered at mom and dad's for a couple of days of good ol' southern bbq (compliments of the King of the Grill himself, my dad!) and just plain ol' fun! God sure has blessed me with a great family. We always have a blast when we're together.

Emma got to enjoy homemade icecream for the first time! Some of my fondest memories growing up were of being at my grandparents eating watermelon and homemade icecream. So it was special to me that mawmaw and pawpaw vines were there this past weekend to see Emma enjoy this special treat!

Emma's Having a Great Summer So Far!

Well the swim fun continues. Some good friends of ours have a pool and invited us over earlier this week. This was Emma's first diving board jump! She loved it and went back for more!

Emma's got all of her ducks in a row!

She went to JUMP! ZONE a couple of weeks ago for a birthday party and she just couldn't get enough of it! She's a brave one!

Wohoo!

She loves helping daddy with projects around the house. Here she helped him put up a curtain rod in her new big girl room!

And here she's helping him put together a step stool for her room. As soon as she woke up that's what she wanted to do!

She's such a joy and quite a ball of energy! She's keeping us on our toes. We'll send you more fun pics as we take them. Love you all!

Wahoo!

Well, we have found a couple of ways to stay cool despite the 90 degree weather and drought we have beein having! The first is Emma's favorite past time of course, swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's pool! She is a brave little thing. She was the first to try out the water this year! She jumped in clothes and all at grandma's last week! Thankfully, her cousin Andrew pulled her out! She's a fish I tell you! Already jumping in on her own, trying to doggy paddle around the pool. I'm really looking forward to the monthes ahead. I know they'll be filled with fun!

And the second way, is to ride around the neighborhood with the top down! This was Emma's (and mommy too) first ride in Grandpa's convertible. She had a blast. And yes, I was really nervous at first letting my child climb into the back seat without being strapped into her carseat, but honestly she rode kiddie roller coaster rides at Dollywood more dangerous than this!

More Emma Pics

We have really been enjoying the warm weather as you can see! Emma loves being outside and it gives us a chance to get out of the house after being cooped up all winter long. We were itchin to get out!

Emma loves to help us cook. Michael treated us to pancakes tonight. And Emma was his big helper. I have to say that I married a great cook! I can't make pancakes quite like him. He knows just the right time to flip 'em!

A Great Mother's Day!

Being a mom has been one of the most awesome yet challenging experiences in my life! God has taught me alot these past 3 yrs and I know it's only the beginning of a lifetime of parenting! But it's been neat. He's shown me alot about myself, things I've needed to change about who I am b/c now I have a legacy to pass down to this precious child that He's trusted me with. The responsibilty of raising and equipping this young one to take hold of that which is her's in Christ, so that she may live an abundant and joyful life and experience all that our God has for her. I have a book that is dear to my heart "The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie Omartian. It has been a huge blessing in my prayer life. The following is a prayer that I pray for Emma, found in this book:

Lord,
I bring Emma before You and ask that You would help her grow into a deeper understanding of who you are. Open her heart and bring her to a full knowlege of the truth about you. Lord, You have said in your word, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). I pray for that kind of faith for my child. May she call you her Savior, be filled with your Holy Spirit, acknowledge You in every area of her life, and choose always to follow you and your ways. Help her to fully believe that Jesus laid down his life for her so that she might have life eternally and abundantly now. Help Emma to comprehend the fullness of Your forgiveness so that she will not live in guilt and condemnation. I pray that she will live a fruitful life, ever increasing in the knowlege of YOu. May she always know your will, have spiritual understanding, and walk in a manner that is pleasing in Your sight. You have said in your word that You will pour out your spirit on my offspring (Isaiah 44:3). I pray that you would pour out your spirit upon Emma this day. Thank you Lord, that you care about her eternal future even more than I do and that it is secure in YOU. In Jesus' name I pray that she will not doubt or stray from the path You have for her all the days of her life.

I hope you all were able to celebrate Mother's Day in some way, whether with your children or with your precious moms.

Love to you all, Amy

Let's Go Swimming!

Yesterday, Emma had a little bit of backyard fun! Her friends Will and John David came over to join in!

Emma's Big Day!

Well, we're up and running again! I figured I'd give this blog thing another shot. So here goes.......

Emma enjoyed a beautiful and fun filled day at the beach! Mom and dad luckily only live a couple of hours away from Pensacola so we were able to make a day trip and let Emma get her feet wet! The water was so clear and blue but oh so cold! So, Emma needless to say did not get into her bathing suit this time around. But she had fun none the less!