Layla's Dedication

This morning Layla, along with 6 other babies, was dedicated at our church.
the bible Nonni and Poppi gave her

fell asleep in her daddy's arms

big bro holding his baby sis

2 beautiful girls!

this pretty much sums up our family picture experience! Collin we need your help!

Layla's 1st Tutu

and her first time in the johnny jump up...look at those fat legs!!!

Yellow Belt Testing

oops, left this one off the end of the post!

So Owen tested for his yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do today. He did such a great job!!! Little did I know they wouldn't be given the belts today or even find out if they passed today! Needless to say I had a disappointed little boy after it was over. I have no doubt he'll get his belt!

warming up

ready stance

high block

middle punch

knife hand chop

the white belt form

kee hahp

baby sis watching

preparing to break his first board!!!!! i had NO idea he was going to do this, neither did he, and he was the first one to do it!!!

Way to go Owen, I'm so proud of you!!!

I WANT A NEW MARRIAGE

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE SERIES!!!! A challenging message to say the least. I encourage you to visit the NewSpring website, click the Resource tab then a list of audio/video series comes up and I Want A New Marriage is at the top right. LISTEN TO IT!!!!! Week 4 is INCREDIBLE!

***UPDATE*** I'm listening to the BEAUTIFUL series now and again, WOW! You should listen to this too!!!

Mothers Day

My mom wanted to attend her old church in Pawley's for Mothers Day, so we loaded up the kids first thing Sunday morning and headed to the beach. After hearing a wonderful message about Obedience we all went to Carrabba's for lunch then to the outlets to do a little shopping.

couldn't get Layla to look at the camera :)

she definitely inherited that expression from me!

Look at how good she's sitting up!!! She did fall over quite a bit, but she did great!

I LOVE this outfit!!! Leigh gave it to Layla and I had BIG plans for her 9 month, standing up, session with Collin Smith and this outfit, since it's a 9 month size... Well, as you can see my little chunky monkey at only 4 months fills it out already! So I'm hoping she can wear it for her 5 month? sitting up session.

Baseball!

**UPDATED** new pic courtesy of Kathleen K.... Layla and I ran off the field when we saw these clouds looming overhead...

Baseball season has started up again at the YMCA. Owen is doing 'coach pitch' this year and the first game, after only 2 practices!, was on Monday.

Hampton, Owen, and Derrick

cute boys!!!

baby girl watching her bro on the sidelines... oh, and these pictures were taken by the new and upcoming, soon to be a well known photographer, Kathleen K!

Ariel Spring Retreat

I would love to be able to expound on the teachings I heard this weekend... but I can't. I am not a writer, I am not eloquent with words, and I have a hard time filtering what's in my mind into words that make any sense (see what I mean, that probably didn't make any sense) What I can tell you is that it was INCREDIBLE, as always. If you've never been, you need to go! There is one coming up in October in Roanoke Virginia. If you can't make you can listen to Thad and Emlynne's sermons by visiting their church website, Church Of The Apostles

The new Christ Church!!!

Worship was AMAZING!!!! The Holy Spirit was certainly moving amongst us!

Bishop Thad Barnum....INCREDIBLE! This photo was taken during a time of testimony, which is something they've never done before and it was AWESOME! I hope it's something they'll continue to do. It was wonderful to hear how the Lord was working in these lives, how He had spoken to them during these incredible teachings! I hope that one day I might be able to stand and testify publicly what He is showing me. I know if I tried, at this time in my life, I wouldn't be able to speak through the tears and emotions... The first retreat I went to with two of my BFF's, we cried the ENTIRE time!!! The 3 of us went to another one that year and we cried a LOT of the time. The 3rd retreat only 2 of us went and we cried a little...He was growing us... healing us from our brokenness. This time I went alone, well without my compadres, I MISSED Y'ALL! I cried during worship, tears of JOY, tears of thankfulness for what He has done in my life, tears of adoration. I am so thankful for the ministry of Thad and Erilynne! I'm not sure where I would be had they not come into my mothers life. Had I not WITNESSED the change in her, had she not become a FAITHFUL servant of our Lord Jesus Christ! Mom, thank you for being obedient to what we've all been called to do! I pray that I might one day be the example to my children that you've been to me.

Two beautiful women right here, my mom and my 'aunt' Sara, she's really my Godmother...they have been best friends for 35 years!!!

Nonni and Layla

3 generations at the Ariel retreat

Beach Boy

Here are some of the MANY pictures I took of Owen on the beach this past weekend...

He's a lover not a fighter

I love this picture! I played around with some effects on these and this one reminds me of some old photos of my dad when he lived in Hawaii

he looks TOO grown in this one!!!

fun action shot

sweet feet!