Happy Second Birthday Zoey!!!

Zoey,

Even though I only get to see you a couple times a year, you have been such a blessing to me.  I'm always excited to see new pictures of you and video's.  Aunt Kacie loves you!  Happy Birthday Sweetheart!  I hope you have a great day!

Love,

Aunt Kacie

Kindness....

Everybody knows Proverbs 3:5 Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding.  I've been reminded of this verse often over the past year....with a close friend loosing her husband, another close friend being unemployed, another close friend struggling through the first year of marriage (children being involved in each of these situations).  Then of course in my life as two of my three grandparents are struggling health wise.  I've prayed and I've sang the song Blessings by Laura Story to remind me that God is in control so often.  Yet I've never looked at the context that verse comes in.  So...onto what this post is really about lol  Proverbs 3:3 Don't ever forget kindness and truth. Wear them like a necklace.  Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.  Wow!  We are taught as little children to always tell the truth...and we should always tell the truth.  But what comes before truth in this verse????  The word KINDNESS!  How important is it that are kind with our words and the truth we tell?  The truth is so important but maybe we need to work on not letting that get in our way of loving and being compassionate when telling it! 

Lunch Time....

I don't claim to be a writer of any kind....so for those of you who are good at writing, please excuse mine :)
Many days, well, usually 4 days a week (because one day a week my hubby takes me out for lunch) I sit in front of my computer while I eat my lunch and catch up on my emails or check out what's happening on News Cow or see what kind of gossip I can find on Yahoo!.  The other day I thought, as I was reading the headlines on Yahoo! and not finding much I was interested in, "you know, this time could be used for something much more productive than reading gossip on Yahoo! I need to find a devotional book and spend this time with Jesus"  Well, I didn't think a book would work very well because I couldn't leave it at work because 1. what if I wanted to read it at home and 2. things seem to be disappearing around my work place (like my bag of Scentsy samples, my brand new bottle of Advil and my pretty new pen).  But I'm also not very good at remembering things in the morning.  I'm doing well to get my 6 year old and myself out the front door no later than 7:25 with breakfast, backpacks, dance clothes, purse, phone..........you get the picture.  So, I looked online and found Manna for Moms....*sigh* <3 It's amazing!  There are tons of different devotions online that I can just pull up and read right there.  Not only are they all online but next to the title of the devotion it says Read this if you are feeling......... so I can find a devotion that fits my need that day. 
 Today I read about "Do-Overs"  It talked about how when a child is growing and learning they often mess up,  but they don't sit there and think about it and dwell in guilt because they couldn't walk across the room the first time.  They fall down and get back up and keep trying...no matter how many times they fall, they keep walking.  Wow....how much we can learn from our children!  I dwell and dwell and dwell in guilt....for years I've been dwelling in guilt.  But I shouldn't be...I've asked my God, my Wonderful Awesome Amazing God, to forgive my sins....ALL of them...and He HAS!  This of course doesn't mean that we don't need to be careful, watch what we say and do.  When we snap at our children, we don't know how that will effect their precious spirit but, when it happens we need only to ask God for his forgiveness and we have it...then we need to MOVE ON.
Thank you Jesus for you everlasting love and forgiveness. 
 

1 John 1:9—If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to purify us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 8:1—Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Okay...

So, the reason I have not blogged for 9 months is because 9 months ago my best friend Tash surprised me for my birthday...in more way than one.  I wanted to make that my blog but because it was a surprise, I didn't have my camera and I have not gotten the pictures from her yet...but I can't wait any longer!  Tash and Zoey flew from Chicago to Kansas City and then drove to Wichita to surprise me for my birthday.  It was the BEST birthday present I could have asked for until....she told me that her and Zoey coming to see me wasn't the ONLY surprise.  SURPRISE she was going to have another baby!  It was really funny the way she told me...if you want to hear the story ask and I'll share.  Well, on Sunday, Lucas James was born.  I don't many pictures yet but when I do you can be sure that I will get them up here asap!  I'm so excited for Josh, Tash and Zoey and I can't wait to meet baby Lucas!  Welcome to the world baby Luke!

Happy Birthday Marc

My little boy is 4!

Happy Birthday Marc!



Birthday Cake Number One




The Tractor Nightlight




A little too much Birthday




Birthday Cake Number 2



Birthdays

I believe that in my family...February is the month with the most birthdays.  Happy Birthday to just a few special people in my life...



My brother Jeremy




My Cousin Erin




My Aunt Kirsten

Happy Birthday!  I love you guys!



Here it goes...

I usually do not do New Years Resolutions...but...this year, I have decided to loose weight.  I started weight watchers today and am very excited about it!  Just thought I'd share that :-D

Winter Wonder...Stupid Land :-(

Stinky smelly smushy slimey sucky SNOW....I HATE SNOW.  Came home tonight and guess what my husband was doing???  Oh, that's right he was thawing out our water lines because they were FROZEN and we had NO WATER IN OUR HOUSE.  Okay, I'm done...I'll quit complaining. 

For Josh, Tasha and Zoey.....

Have a great time at Disney World.  Here are some memories from my last trip to Disney World!  Kirsty Jo had just turned one!



She had fun!



Isn't she cute?!



You can't see it in this pictures but glitter was falling from the sky.  That's why she was looking up!

Have a great time guys!  We love you!



Christmas Day!!!!

Kirsty Jo hanging the key for Santa on the door.  We hung a key because we don't have chimney.  My dad gave it to the kids, if you want to hear the story ask and I'll tell ya.

Kirsty Jo and John spreading Reindeer food on the ground.  Marc didn't do any of this because he fell asleep on the way home from Christmas Eve Service.



Missing our friends, Josh, Tasha and Zoey this Christmas.  Love you guys!




Christmas Morning!




Marc's PJ's says Dear Santa Define Good....they fit him perfectly!





Kirsty Jo got a Pillow Pal from her brother for Christmas.  She loved it!



Christmas with my parents with my nieces Autumn, Sakura, Rhiann ....



and of course my adorable nephew Marshall




Daddy and Marc.

We had a wonderful Christmas.  Unfortunately in the mess I lost my camera for a few days and didn't get any pictures from when my Aunt Kirsten, Uncle Stan, cousins Brie and Nate and Uncle Cory were in town.  Or any pictures of the Groom Christmas. We pray that your Christmas was as wonderful as ours though. 



Ketchup...Pictures of Pre Christmas Activities

Kirsty Jo wearing the apron my Great Aunt Allison gave to me when I was a kid

Miss Brinley almost a week after her baby sister came home

Baby sister Aubrey!  We think she is pretty sweet!

After KJo's Christmas Program

Kirsty Jo's Christmas outfit

Marc being an angel...it didn't last ;-)

Christmas Program at Church

Santa visited the Coffee Shop

Love this picture!

Left to Right: Kirsty Jo, McKenzie, Santa, Preston, and Marc

Isn't she a doll?  No, she's a cookie.  This was her costume for the Nutcracker

After Nutcracker

Christmas Eve

Thankful.......

Tonight, I'm putting dinner away, listening to my daughter groan because I've asked her to go get her math homework so we can practice counting to 60 and also listening to my son scream because he "really did not care to take a bath tonight", I walk over to the fridge and find this covered by a picture of Kirsten and Santa....
A piece of paper with a rainbow in the background - given to my by my Nanny over the summer when I had lost my job...she had typed

I lift up my eyes to the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip
He who watches over you
will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over
KACIE
will neither slumber nor sleep

The Lord watches over you -
the Lord is your shade at
your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night

The Lord will keep you from
all harm-
He will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your
coming and going
both now and forevermore.

After reading this I silently prayed, as Kirsty Jo was just getting to 39 and Marc was hugging my leg (sobbing), I thanked God for giving me these blessings.

Opening Christmas Jammie's Christmas Eve

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  Christmas was great!  We had a wonderful visit with my family from Georgia!  Although I cannot wait to see them again.  I will be adding pictures tomorrow evening of the last couple of months.  Hope you all are doing well!