Wildflowers....

Our city plants random wildflowers all over and after ballet class today I noticed some in the parking lot. The girls love to play in them and I had my camera. It was a fun way to spend some time and get some great pictures!

7 days....

I'm finally able to sit down and reflect on the last seven days. They have been full of joy, tears, exhaustion, and spring break. A week ago today one of my good friends here who I have gotten to know through Watermark and our play group lost her sweet 28 week old baby boy. There were 4 of us in our play group who were due between May 25th and June 12th. Caren was due with her 2nd baby boy James Bradley at the end of May. She was in a car accident last Wednesday morning and was taken to the hospital to be monitored. She was fine, but in the middle of the night there were complications with her baby. They did an emergency c-section and her baby died shortly after birth. My heart aches for this sweet couple and today was the memorial service. I have been to two funeral now for babies and both have impacted me so much. I have seen so much this past week about the "hands and feet" of Christ. Jay and Caren's community group have supported them in an amazing way and I have seen our play group girls support their sweet friend in the lowest of times. I think I have seen the purpose of community and how we truly do all need one another. It just so happened that our pastor was speaking on community this past Sunday and was able to mention Caren's story as a way to show how we are to care for one another. I have been so grateful for Ellie, Anna, and our baby girl arriving in June.
I had my 28 week appointment yesterday and all is well. I gained some weight which I thought was most likely 10 lbs. in a month! I go again in 2 weeks. I can't believe I am already to these appointments. I love my Dr. and feel so well taken care of by him. The girls love him as well as they go to most of my appointments. He gives them band-aids to play with and a sucker so they think it is a great place!
I am on Spring Break this week and it has been so nice not having to rush out the door or plan anything the night before. We've enjoyed beautiful weather and we are hoping to do something fun as a family on Friday. We've tossed around the idea of camping cause the girls love to be outside and if we are going to do it we better do it before June. We are thinking more of a KOA camp ground so that it is kid- friendly. We will have to think about it for a few more days. What do you think? I am working on the babies room which will be a guest room/nursery. I found bedding for our guest bed and just have to pick a paint color since it is blue and then we will pretty much be done!
I hope you are all having a great week and I know that I am so thankful for where we are at in life with amazing community and a supportive church.

Pictures from our weekend.....

Good Times...

Our community group over the weekend went to Possum Kingdom Lake (no idea why it is named this)? It is only about 2 hours from Dallas and a sweet family blessed us with allowing us to use their amazing lake house. It reminded me of many beach houses in N.C., but in Texas people go to the lake! We have 4 couples in our group and only one has family in town. So we always take our children along. We had 5 toddlers and 2 babies. They did fabulous! We went on a retreat about 6 months ago and it was so much more difficult. It is really neat to see them growing up and enjoy playing together. We got to enjoy time in the hot tub which was like a warm bath for the kids, rides on the golf cart, playing outside, and looking at lots of animals. Ellie and Anna loved to look at the deer which they called reindeer. We also saw a couple of coyotes and horses. After, the kids were in bed we all sat outside on the back porch that had a fire place and enjoyed great conversation about where we are at as couples, parents, and individuals. It is amazing how God knit our group together and we are so thankful they are in our lives. Another highlight was the girls went out to lunch while the guys watched the kids and then the guys went out that night while we watched the kids. It was really fun to spend time together and talk without kids in high chairs etc....! Anyways, we had such a fun time and are so thankful for good friends and the blessing of getting out of the city for a weekend!

We are so proud!!!

So this is a really long, crazy story so you really need to just go to the website. However, two guys on our student ministry staff and a volunteer are always thinking of creative videos and they had this idea a couple of months ago to become the "Fake Jonas Brothers". Well, the videos are hilarious and the producer of the Jonas Brothers movie contacted them about being in the movie. They got to go to NY to film and just premiered in the Jonas Brothers 3D Experience. Well, it got more exciting cause last night they got to walk the red carpet with the Jonas Brothers, Mark Cuban, Kidd Kraddick, etc...... They are famous!!! You must go here to read Alli's and go to their website to watch some hilarious videos. I think it is so great cause these guys really could be on SNL and they are just awesome guys who love Christ above all! Mike went to the midnight showing of the movie and loved it! Way to go Fake Jonas Brothers!