Dancing

This and That

We have had a busy couple of weeks, a couple of colds and ear infection. In the midst of everything we to Haley's first bowling birthday party, who knew Haley could carry a bowling ball...oh wait, who knew Evan could carry a bowling ball. Yes, it was completely dangerous. He was able to sneak over to the balls coming out of the return when I was helping Haley bowl and managed to drop two on the ground. Thankfully, he missed his toes both times. It always sounds like the ball is going to bust through the hardwood lane. Anyway, Haley loved it and is ready to hit the lanes again.

My mom got the Evan a chef hat and apron because he is so obsessed with the kitchen. The kids were cracking me up as Haley attacked Evan with the salad tongs. He thought it was great fun.

On another note, my friend Dustin is home from the hospital today. Praise the Lord. We are still praying for continued and complete healing (he does have 4 tubes running out of his body) and patience for Kate as she takes care of Dustin and her one year old.

Photo Shoot

Despite the wind, Haley's cold and Evan's ability to dart before any picture was taken, we got some cute family shots at the Grapevine Train station.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Haley's prayers for our friends Kate and Dustin are so sweet. Today at naptime she prayed, "Thank you God that Dustin is feeling better, Thank you God that none of Dustin's doctors get sick so they can help him, Heal Dustin fast, be with Kate and baby Nora and (my personal favorite) Help us celebrate with joy in our hearts Dustin. Amen." I had to ask her to repeat the last part a couple of times to make sure I was hearing her and she said, "No mom, I am saying CELEBRATE with JOY". So sweet.

Prayer Update

I'm sure if you have been joining me in prayer you have been to Kate and Dustin's blog, but I just wanted to post that he is out of surgery, they feel good about his treatment and hopeful about his healing to come. It is going to be a long road ahead and we're going to be right there to pray, encourage, cry and love the Wallace family each day until Dustin is jumping over our ottoman or doing a handstand in our living room once again.

Thank you so much for hearing our cry for prayer and for answering with a resounding glorious amen. Kate feels all your prayers and can't believe how God has drawn thousands of people around the country to encourage her family in this time of need.

If you are reading this and you aren't a believer in the power of God's love and peace, then I beg you to read Kate and Dustin's story and watch how it unfolds in the coming months. Life with the Lord isn't easy, we aren't guaranteed a pain free life or one that is endlessly happy....but we are guaranteed a life that is full of endless LOVE, PEACE & JOY. It is the kind of life that is deep down in your soul joyful even in the midst of pain because you know that life on earth isn't forever. There really is something more...because of the sacrifice of his God's one and only Son, we can live forever (John 3:16).

I can't even begin to imagine life without the love our Savior shares through the hug of a friend or smile of a child. And I have a hunch that as Kate and Dustin continue to walk down this recovery road they are going to experience pain and hardships but they will also experience the immense love of Christ POURED over them by all those that have prayed and joined together to help them through this time. May God be glorified.

Join me in Prayer

Jed was helping our good friend and now neighbor, Dustin, move into their new house on Friday when Dustin got pinned between the moving truck and their new house and was rushed to the ER here in Plano. He was under observation all night and then he had surgery this morning and the doctors discovered that his pancreas was severed in two by the force of the impact. Needless to say, he's in a lot of pain and there will most likely be two more surgeries to help repair his pancreas. His road to recovery will be a long one with the possibility of being on lifelong medication to help his pancreas perform its jobs.

Kate and Dustin are feeling all the love and support of friends and family but I covet all your prayers.

Updates on their blog:
http://kateanddustin.blogspot.com/

Please pray:
-that God helps match up the right doctors for Dustin's needs
-that Dustin's doctors have wisdom and skill as they operate on Dustin again in the next couple of days
-that God provides peace for Dustin and Kate throughout the days and nights while they are in the hospital
-that little Nora, their 10 month old, would feel love and be settled at her grandparents
-for Kate's parents to know how to love and comfort Nora while her parents are away
-FOR DIVINE HEALING for all of Dustin's injuries

Parent's Visit

Could you have ever imagined when you were a kid, or especially a teenager, that you would ever love your parents so much that you would tear up at the sight of their plane landing or could not stand to see them go? It is the most amazing thing in the world to have your parents by your side...or even in your house just for a weekend visit. The love and joy it brings me to see my parents playing with my kids is unfathomable. Really, do we have to get older or could we all just stop growing and enjoy life at this stage for just a minute more? Would it be asking that much to roll down the hill again or stop and smell the flowers just one more time? I am so thankful for the joy and gift that family brings and praise God that we get to catch a tiny glimpse of His love for us as we share love in our families.

But seriously, how could any place in Texas be so far from Oklahoma...the states touch for goodness sake? I wish my parents lived next door too so we could play together everyday.

Dressed for Spring

Haley asks everyday if it is spring yet. It is hard to understand after a few days of 80 degree weather why it is technically winter, but today she was able to wear her new dress from Aunt Shana to church and she was so excited.

Cowboy Boots

These boots have been around the block. They were custom made for my great-aunt Betty and have been photographed now on both children. I don't know what it is about boots but my kids love them. Evan insisted on trying them on and was so frustrated when he couldn't walk in them because they came all the way to the top of his thighs. Here is a picture of Haley at about the same age in the boots at my parents house. So fun to see them together!

Read Across America Week

In honor of Read Across America Week, the kids have been hitting the books....OK, so maybe they were hitting each other with their books, but for a minute, they were really sweet "reading" together in the red chair. Oh, and yes, Haley is a reading ballerina. Yesterday we were naming the things we were thankful for on our walk home from the park. I said, "thank you God for the beautiful warm sunshine" then she said, "thank you God that I am going to be a famous ballerina when I am big." It is always good to set goals and dream big:)

The Breakfast Tower