we like it! we like it!

Hey, Daddy!!!

We like the sand...

can you believe it?  :)

It's a real vacation!

We can step on it...

We can touch it...

We can play in the cold water...  :)

And we're all smiles...

 
Love, Your Girls!

3 days...

Well...


Here we go!


I have known for some time that I wanted to again participate in an event for a good cause.


Last time, my brother, Brad & I trained for and *ran* the Chicago Marathon...that cause was our nephew Hunter who is now a survivor of Aplastic Anemia and a cord blood bone marrow transplant survivor.  We were able to raise right around $14,000...it was truly amazing.  God is so good!  You can find the story of this journey at: http://milesformarrow.blogspot.com/

It was an AWESOME experience -- in ways that I never imagined.  It's amazing how running for hours & hours puts things in perspective.  And allows you to think.  And pray.  And doing it for someone else...for something so important, that is what carried me through the mornings I didn't want to get out of bed and on the rainy weekend mornings.  


{and allows you to have all sorts of interesting experiences...like finding a way to go to the bathroom in the middle of farm land.  so sorry to all the farmers that were eating breakfast on those Saturday mornings!}


SO, why this event?  
I have been so touched by people I have known {and some I haven't known personally} who have had to deal with breast cancer.  Some who have lost the fight and some who have survived.  It's incredible how many stories are on the internet & how many nights I have cried at my computer for someone I don't know, but feel like I know.  Because these women have families, kids, husbands, and people who love them.  And as with all cancers, it is life changing.  I cry for those that have such strong faith that they walk into the face of it, and even if they don't survive, their families do.  And they fight through the pain, for their family.  I think as a woman, it's something that you can't help but feel touched by.  We all know someone who has been touched by this disease.


My goal is to raise $3,000.  
I would love it if you would support me...
if not monetarily, please keep me in your prayers.
This will be physically & mentally challenging, so I would appreciate your support!


Also, if anyone is up for it, and available Sept 23-25...I would love to form a team!  You will be treated to a lovely stay at Casa Johnson before & after the event -- and a tour of your nation's capitol!  :)   


Better start walking...

multitudes on mondays

13.  Little Bit in her swimsuit.  All day.
14.  New tradition...early morning book reading {2 each!}
15.  Warm blankets from Korea
16.  Laughing in unexpected places...squirrel laughs
17.  A shop vac
18.  My girls' love for their UB...and his willingness to help out
19.  Haircut conversations with my SS  :)

Counting, counting...won't you join in?

girls' weekend!

Another trip on I-95...

it's good to be naive.  :)

The girls & I dropped the dog off at the kennel

and loaded up for our big weekend in NC.

We hurried to get out of town before the rush of cars leaving DC for the holiday weekend.

HA.

We were at a dead standstill on the ramp to get on 95.

Why didn't I just switch it up, you ask?

Go a different way?

Oh, it's because I LOVE driving at night.

To a place I've never been.

Let me just say,

IT WAS WORTH IT...

To see these 2 together again!

Abby has been missing her precious friend Ella since we left Korea.

And I think the feeling was mutual!

It was as if they hadn't been apart.  So sweet.  Makes a momma's heart happy!  :)

We were hosted by Ella's Aunt Betsy.

Talk about a trooper!

It was so wonderful to have a home to land...plenty of space for the girls to trash!  :)

It was so fun!

Dressing up, games, Barbies...

and Monkey Joe's!

{as you can see...Beks did just fine keeping up with the big girls--AND found a new friend!}

Janelle took the girlies out for new, matching pajamas!

My girls refuse to wear anything else now...

Beks tells EVERYONE about them.  And wants to wear them in public!  :)

That's it for now, 

but we get to see the whole Davis family sometime in the next couple of weeks.

It's the only thing that has kept Abby happy...

that and pretending the AF might actually send us to the same place again someday.

We can dream, right?!  :)

mommy's helpers

Had I known how well morning chores would go over, I would have started them years ago!!

Rinsing the dishes is really Abby's job, but she has an assistant now.

The assistant is a little scary.  We need more plasticware.  :)

What should I have them do next?

The possibilities are endless...

:)

multitudes on mondays

Perspective.  

It's all a gift.  

Continuing to count...consciously looking for things to be thankful for.  So much to count, but so easy to forget in the emotions of life.  The difficult times, the times where I just want to rant & the times where I just can't stop what is coming out of my mouth.  

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

This is what I'm doing.  I'm looking for the good.  It's there--I just have to look.  And look HARD some days!  :)  

6. Reservations made, plans forming, lists to check...something to look forward to!

7. Technology that keeps us *close*

8. Rain on the window & pajamas on girlies

9. Little Bit singing This Little Light of Mine {don't let Kay-ton blow it out!}

10. Getting up every morning and trying to do better

11. Sound of Big Stuff reading & loving it...this momma's prayer answered

12. Clean sheets

Won't you count with me?  Beat me to 1,000!  I dare you!  :)

why abby wants to *off* the groundhog...

Sometimes the noise level makes me want to go outside & lay in the snow too, buddy.

I understand the need.

She finally went outside for longer than 2 minutes!

A girl & her sled...

 A super cute girl who doesn't mind wet hair.

The two snow bunnies!

This is how we got her out of the house...

Hey, shouldn't someone tell her to point her sled a different direction?

Where IS her mother?

More fun with Daddy...

mulititudes on mondays

Okay, so I think I'm ready to jump in...reading Ann Voskamp's book.  It truly is amazing.  I have been following her blog for a while now, and what a beautiful writer.  Gifted.

So, I'll add my list to the growing number of people wanting to focus on being thankful.  Giving the thanks to God.  Not just when things are easy, but always.

1. Chocolate kisses to count the days
2. A fourth round...just until she wins
3. Early morning girls crowding in my bed
4. A husband who puts others before himself
5. Furry warm snuggles on the couch from the hairy mongrel

Small beginning, but big intentions!
Bloggy love,
jpb