"luau-palooza!!!!!"

2 short weeks until my little Priss "will need both hands to tell me how old she is"- 6 YEARS!!!!! Anyway in an effort to divert how sad I am feeling on the inside.... I have totally gone wild with her Luau themed party this year!!!! So much so that my house & every spare closet is packed with decorations & anything else that looked gaudy enough to make its way into my buggy @ any given time this past year. I have MANY sewing projects in mind, but they will have to wait until I can reclaim my sewing room!!!!!!!!!
I can't wait to see how it all comes together...

"coldstone @ the house..."

this just came in the mail today..
a birthday gift from Grandma Harris!

(I'm not sure which is more fun- the gift
or getting mail for my going-to-be 6 yr old???)
Priss & A-man love playing Coldstone &
I love toys that they can play together..

THANK YOU GRANDMA HARRIS!!!!
WE LOVE YOU......

"I'd do it all over again.."

8 yrs ago today I said "I do" to my best friend.... I remember feeling so calm that day- to the point that both Kristy & Cooner swore that I was medicated!!! NO... I was confident that he was the one & excited about our life together. Now 8 short years later- what a journey we have had... 2 BEAUTIFUL children that we BOTH adore & more blessings than we can count. Looking back on our wedding day, I can still hear my vows in my head (we chose to write our own- however we BOTH say that we couldn't do it again).

"Joey- although this moment in our lives is very short, I know that our love will last an eternity. Meeting each other was our beginning, making it to this day has been our progress, & loving each other will be our success. I promise to walk with you as your equal & to listen to you as your friend. I will shield you from pain & protect you from loneliness. I will help you in times of need & encourage you in your trials. I will cheer in your triumphs & smile in your joys. Take my hand & know that you have found your soul-mate. Look into my eyes & see our future together. A doorway has now been opened for us into a new world & I look forward to exploring that world with you from now until forever. I Love You.... grow old with me.."

"with this ring I thee wed & say unto the world- this is my husband of whom I cherish above all others.."

Our church requires pre-marital counseling (an EXCELLENT idea I think) & I remember our Pastor asking us to find a scripture that defined our marriage. Mine is from Song of Solomon -
"I have found the one of whom my soul loves.."~ SO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so today I say "thank you sweet Joey- I can't wait to grow old with you..."

"Revolutionary Love"

Our church is starting a new summer sermon series called "Revolutionary Love" (this will be the 3rd summer we have done it @ our church). It is just what it sounds like. We are asked to show the love of Jesus to our communities & give him ALL of the glory. It really is so cool to see how He can work through us- if we allow Him to.... Anyway we are given these little cards- (they explain the deed & why it was done). Just in my neighborhood last summer I was amazed. I saw a man mow his yard, then mow his neighbor's, then leave a little card on his doorstep. Children gave out lemonade for FREE- when asked "how much is it" they replied "Jesus has already paid for it for you". Children can be the BEST witnesses- I know mine are at times SOO much better than me. Anyway- I encourage you to show His love this week. It doesn't have to be fancy- just from Him!!!!

my sweet neighbor Miss Hazel
dropped these off for me today.
She did not need to leave a card-
I know where her treasure is!!!

"do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.."
~Matthew 6:19

"Handmade Especially for You..."

Alright... here is a little treat from the summer heat!!! Many moons ago Priss broke out with a little case of infantile eczema. I tried tons of over-the-counter lotions & NONE of them really worked. SOOO I decided to try to make something myself. After a few trials & changes I found the perfect combination. My family uses it daily & many of you have gotten it as gifts over the years. I just start with basic glycerin, aloe, & vitamin E. Next I add tea-tree oil & a splash of rose water for smell (all of these can be purchases at Nature's Own). I promise that it is the BEST lotion that I have ever used- try it out for yourself. Maybe someday I will add it to my little business. I can just see it on a shelf along side my hair bows- ha ha!!!!!!!

I mix all the ingredients together in
my stand mixer- then I fill these perfect
open mouth jars to the brim..
(recycled olive jars- just the right size & shape)



next I finish them up with
a pretty ribbon & label-
"Handmade Especially for You
By: Ashly & Josey"
(after all- she was my inspiration for making it...)

"Momma how will I know?"

Each night I pray over my daughter as I snuggle in bed, "God I ask three things for her... Lord help her to love you with all her heart, protect her all of her days, & Lord prepare for her a husband who loves Jesus with all his heart."

It's rather simplistic I know. But it bottom-lines it & I cry out to God for it!

The other night as I was tucking her in & was about to pray what I always pray, Josey asked- "Momma, how will I know if a man loves Jesus?"

My mind raced. This should be an easy question to answer? But then I felt my forehead scrunch a bit to ponder how I would answer her. I knew the answer would need to be simple because after all, she's five.

Then this just came out: "You'll know because he will love you like daddy loves you & daddy loves you unselfishly, just as you are! Daddy is always looking to see how he can give to you, not take from you. And you'll know because he will want to, and he will, spend time in the presence of the Lord. He will desire to spend time with Jesus like your daddy does."

As I went to bed that night, I thought I might have answered her wrong. I thought I could have said something different, or said a whole lot more. But for then, that was the answer that came. And I know this is just the beginning of such discussions.......

"tooth fairy PLEASE stop here!!"

well.... it finally happened... her 1st tooth came out tonight. I am a little sad & she is all of a sudden VERY ready for bed....... I guess all of the "please Jesus make my teeth loose- I have taken great care of this practice set. I will take even better care of the real ones!!"-prayers, finally came through. Josey is praising GOD tonight with all of her little heart!!!!

it is awfully small for such
a BIG commotion...
(what is the going rate for a
tooth these days????)